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Post by rihochan on Oct 13, 2006 4:00:58 GMT -5
"... or not." Kaito said as Kenpachi toppled to the ground, blood spraying from a thousand razor sharp slices in his flesh after only a single pass. Kaito shook his head, "Wasting time and energy with a technique that gives minimal benefits for a large use of blood power... I guess that technique isn't all that it was cracked up to be. I don't know why my little sister wasted her time on you." He shook his head in disgust, "If you had managed to lay a blade on me, I would have gone along with you, but this is just pathetic. I guess I'll have to keep helping the blood-crazed megalomaniac for a while longer." He turned from Kenpachi's still form, whistling brightly as his form faded into the darkness.
At that moment, Yachiru's teleported in in a flash of azure light, landing lightly before Kenpachi's still form. She looked at him and sighed, "Ken-chan, you really should learn to stop challenging people who are beyond your strength. You are just lucky that none of them were seriously targeting you or you would be long dead." She draped his arm over her shoulder and teleported back to the village, already wincing mentally at the scolding she would have to look forward to when Grandpa Tiamaris found out she had left him alone long enough for him to get in this state.
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In the home of the vampire hunter clan known as the Ashkuli... ______________________________________________________
The vampire-hunter girl woke up in a daze, her head feeling like it would split open and pour out her brains at any moment, "Damn, what happened?!" She looked around and was surprised to find herself in her clan's headquarters... The last thing she recalled was lunging at that strangely attired vampire after being badly wounded by another she had been hunting in the forest. She sought around her bed for her sword and was dismayed to find it missing, "Grandmaster Tiamaris won't be happy if he finds out I lost my sword... damn!" It had been her first mission from the man who had raised her like his own daughter, and her entire unit had been wiped out.
At that moment, the door to her room opened and in stepped Grandmaster Tiamaris, wearing his usual ragged clothing and fondling that purple orb as usual. "So you are awake are you?"
She got down on her hands and knees, and despite the pain in her head said, "Grandmaster, my unit was wiped out, it was all my fault. I will accept any punishment you name!"
He smiled his usual gentle smile and put his hand under chin to raise her up, "It is all right, I sent you into a situation beyond your understanding before I myself understood what you were facing. There is no blame that you were defeated. The fact that you survived is more than enough to prove your abilities."
"Thank you Grandmaster! I am not worthy of your forgiveness." She bowed her head once again.
"However... we need to discuss some further... training..." His voice trailed off as she toppled over, the stress of the conversation causing her to lapse into unconsciousness.
He smiled his usual smile, his golden eyes shining through the illusion of brown for a moment as he looked down at her fondly, "Yes... I shall have to give you some special training...."
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Post by kenpachi on Oct 17, 2006 10:13:23 GMT -5
Blood spurting, the screams of the fallen, the damned, feeding, the rigor of fallen foes. Pain, much pain and suffering. Kenpachi awoke, the void surrounding him, Madness lying beside him. “Well, that hardly went as planned, did it?” asked Madness, “He was much stronger than we expected. Even though we knew that it wouldn’t be effective I surely expected to last longer than that.” Kenpachi lay there silently, listening to his other half talk. “Are you sulking? Come now, at least we proved it could work.” “The variation we still know nothing about. I could work or it could kill us. Our integration granted us nothing, unless…” Kenpachi suddenly smiled, “All my abilities from you have the same connotation. The old Western legend…I had forgotten” he said, his voice not entirely unhappy. “It is time” came Madness’ voice. A gate appeared and they walked through it.
Yachiru suddenly sat up. She had been hanging from the ceiling, waiting for Kenpachi to awaken when suddenly his aura signature had completely faded out. This is impossible; his wounds from Kaito-chan weren’t that bad. With mother’s serum he should have been fine, albeit feeling pain in every inch of body. She burst into the room. Kenpachi lay on the bed, his body withered, his cheeks falling in, and his body twisted in rigor. “Pretty ugly isn’t it” came a voice beside her. Kenpachi looked at her slightly shocked face until she looked at him in disgust, “I can’t believe I thought you had actually died. That was a mean trick to play, I should have thought of it first. How did you do it anyway?”
Kenpachi shoved aside his old carcass and said. “In the first legend of a hero, part man, part immortal he sought to find eternal life. While he could not be made a god they pointed him to a mystic herb that when swallowed would grant eternal youth. When he tried to return home, the herb was lost, and he died as mortals are bound to do. I have to go feed, that little move set me back pretty far on my blood levels.” He turned to leave only to find Yachiru hanging on his back, “I’m not letting you get away again from me Kenpachi. Grandpa Tiamaris was furious.” Kenpachi smiled to himself and dashed out of the room, running outside into the night. “Kenpachi-ni-chan?” Yachiru said, a question in her voice, “Yes Yachiru” “What happened to that herb in the story?” “It was stolen from the hero. That’s why humans are said to still be mortal. Whoever would have partaken in it would become stronger, to constantly evolve.” “Who stole it?” “A serpent”
A Few Hours Later
Kenpachi sat, drinking one of Riho’s vials, draining it, placing it with two empty ones that he had finished. “Feeling better are we?” came Tiamaris’ voice, fondling his orb. “Yes I am. That vampire…he was a level above what I expected” “I know, that’s why you need to come with me.” Tiamaris tossed his orb into the air, suddenly appearing by Kenpachi, hitting his neck, bones shattering instantly. He reached up to grab his orb and suddenly stopped. “Looking for this?” Asked Kenpachi, holding himself by his legs, the orb in his hands, deftly tossing it back to Tiamaris. “As you see, I’ve, well, evolved a little. Don’t worry, I’ll go with you, there’s no need to force me. You said you would show me how to really use my power.
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Post by rihochan on Oct 27, 2006 0:34:08 GMT -5
Tiamaris turned away from the canyon where Kenpachi was training by fighting against a strange creature that seemed to be entirely made up of blades and adressed the darkness, "Kaitou..."
Kaitou appeared, kneeling before his only true master, a massive scythe laid on the ground in front of him.
"What do you think of him?"
Kaitou replied, "Raw potential... given a century and a lack of blood-link to the Captain and he might stand a chance."
Tiamaris' ancient gaze was amused as he regarded the true eldest of his blood-children, "You didn't look deep enough. If he is willing to give his life, there is a way he could finish it now."
Kaitou looked up at his true master reproachfully, "It would be unkind to tell him about that. My little sister would never forgive you."
Tiamaris looked into his orb, his eyes sad beyond bearing, "I'm almost out of time... our people are almost out of time... this world is almost out of time..."
Kaitou looked up into his master's eyes and spoke, "Master...? What do you mean?"
Tiamaris' eyes became distant, "I've delayed things for as long as I could, to create a solution to the crisis. I drove Captain mad, I made sure that boy got in his way, and I manufactured my dearest daughter's blood-rage towards him... all for this time. I've used my own children as tools towards an end that none of them will hopefully ever understand." The orb began to glow softly, revealing a scene that caused Kaitou to gasp in utter surprise.
"Master... what?"
"Do you understand my reasons now? Does this knowledge satisfy your accursed curiousity?" Tiamaris' ancient voice was full of bitter sorrow and regret, and the force of it floored Kaitou as if he were a mere human child, leaving him gasping for air.
Kaitou slowly rose from his prone position once the storm of Tiamaris' rampant will had subsided, "You always put it forward as indulging your love of chaos... Why didn't you tell us sooner?! Maybe there would have been something..."
"...you could have done?" Tiamaris interrupted mockingly, "Your role in this is over. When Riho awakes, she will have reached the plateau that I require. She will cast aside the accursed fate my siblings and I brought down on this world. I have used every means to mold her evolution to this final time."
"What is so different about her?!" Kaitou asked wildly.
"She is my daughter by birth, not just my blood child! She is becoming something beyond a vampire... unfortunately you will not be there to witness it. I can't afford to have you present when she awakens... you are just too unpredictable a factor." He held up the orb and it began to let out a dark radiance that permeated Kaitou's body within moments, and Kaitou's mouth opened in a silent scream as the orb's terrible radiance turned him to stone, leaving him as an eternal monument sitting on top of a cliff.
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Post by kenpachi on Nov 13, 2006 17:53:31 GMT -5
Sorry for the wait all. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kenpachi swung Madness, its long blades chained together, striking at the form that stood before him. The creature bared its fangs, dagger points jutting at odd angles and pulled a sword out of its body, rushing him in a fluid motion, thrusting the blade towards Kenpachi’s heart. Kenpachi nimbly dodged, leaping up into the air while at the same time wrapping Madness around the blade. He gave a single tug and the blade shattered, the pieces reforming on the body of the beast, now snarling with pain and anger.
This is a waste of time. I’m going to finish this right now. “Alright Madness, let’s see what we can do about that.” Kenpachi recalled Madness, suddenly throwing it like a spear into the creature’s body. The beast let out a cry of pain, then drew Madness into its own body, its form suddenly compressing, reforming itself, the metal of the blades reforming itself into a suit of armor. “Well, that didn’t go as expected. Let’s see if that’s just for show.” The armor lunged towards him at lightning speed, drawing another weapon and cutting him across his torso, suddenly dropping low, trying to angle the tip towards his heart, Kenpachi crying in agony as his body was rent apart. The creature swung its arm back, throwing Kenpachi back on the ground, his wounds already beginning to heal. He staggered to his feet, spitting blood up from his mouth eyeing the creature. “That there. That…was a work of true genius, trust me I won’t be taking you lightly from now on. You’ll do well to treat me the same way. Now Madness”
Seven strands erupted from the armor, shattering the metal as it untied itself from the positions in the armor that it had occupied like wires through clay, a scream erupting from the lips of the creature as it fell back in agony. “Even when I don’t hold Madness I can still control it. Did you really think that the bond between a bloodblade and its creator is so shallow that you can win that easily?”
The creature pulled itself up from the ground the metal of its body reshaping itself into another form. “Every time you transform you get more powerful, huh, let’s see what you end up as. It's something impressive I hope, I don’t want to be bored.” The creature stood before him, its face now covered by a simple metal mask, a final sword in its hand. Leaping forward with speed far above that of even most vampires it thrust its swords towards him, spinning on its forward foot as Kenpachi tried to sidestep it cleaving a deep blow, the sound of metal resonating as the sword dashed itself against Madness, launching Kenpachi backwards against the side of the cliff, his bones breaking and reforming simultaneously, the blade of the sword flew from the hand of the creature, plunging itself into Kenpachi’s neck, blood spurting out of it like a fountain. That speed, it’s like when…, the creature was closer now, walking with grim purpose. “Madness, why won’t this wound heal?” You don’t have that much blood power left. You used up what you restored from drinking that elixir healing yourself and manipulating me with that stunt of yours. All the usual ways are gone. “Then there has to be something else. What is it?” There was a moment of silence, the creature now upon him, followed by the sound of steel being drawn of out flesh as the creature poised itself for a final thrust into the heart. Kenpachi’s stared at the creature with the eyes of a dying man saying aloud, “Sound’s absolutely crazy Madness. Let’s do it.” His fist slammed into the torso of the creature, launching it away as vampiric aura spilled out of his body. “I’ve seen your transformations, now let’s see how you like mine” his body returning to its serpentine form, “Seems I burned up a little more than I expected to so I might as well make the most of it.” His right arm shot out, burying itself in the chest of the creature, ripping away flesh leaving the body to convulse in pain. “That blow didn’t just drain your aura, the aura toxin I put into your system will immobilize you, probably kill you. I’d stay around and finish the job, but…” Kenpachi said, beginning to sway a little, “I have to…” his voice falling short as he collapsed to the ground. Yachiru and Tiamaris surveyed the scene, Yachiru trembling with impatience, finally yelling, “Grandpa Tiamaris, Ken-chan had just gotten well after Kaito had his fun. You actually sent a blade golem after him? There was no way he should have won that.” Her eyes suddenly looked thoughtful, “By the way, how did he win that?” Tiamaris looked down at her, “Kenpachi needed the training, he might actually be able to fight the Captain now. As to how he did it…” his voice trailing off. Yachiru looked up at him, pouting, “Come on, please tell me. You know I hate secrets, especially ones about Ken-chan” Tiamaris sighed, stroking his orb, “Fine then. Kenpachi has something that many vampires forget the power of. He probably wasn’t aware of it himself until just now. To put it simply he has the ability to age.” “Isn’t that just a side-effect of the forced evolution he put himself through?” “Well it is a side effect, but the fact that he ages is proof of that he has an amount of life force that diminishes with time as mortals do. If he uses that energy I’m sure he’ll get impressive results.” Yachiru looked at him, slightly shocked, “But if he uses that then…” “Correct. He will age and the time he would have normally had will be gone. I’d say that little trick probably cost him about a decade but he’ll probably be fine when he wakes up. Could you take him to the infirmary for me?” Yachiru picked up Kenpachi, teleportation circle already glowing, and left.
Tiamaris walked over to the body of the creature and removed the mask, the face of the vampire-hunter girl staring back at him. “Grandmaster Tiamaris, I failed again.” She said in a low voice. Tiamaris continued to rub his orb, saying, “Nonsense, you did just fine. I selected an opponent I knew would challenge you. When you awake the fusion will be complete. Then you’ll get you next assignment. Good luck Maia.” The two of them suddenly shimmered out of sight leaving the canyon as if nothing had happened.
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Post by rihochan on Nov 14, 2006 3:11:57 GMT -5
Tiamaris looked at Maia's sleeping face sadly, no matter how much time passed, no matter how many times he saw it, it still amazed him how much her female descendants inevitably had that same intense brilliance about them as Riho had when she was human. He looked into the orb that never truly left his side and spoke to it inside his mind, :How is the fusion going Albert?
An emotionless voice echoed in his mind from the orb, :The subject is assimilating the replica at a furious rate. The results are looking to be most satisfactory. Her physical capabilities will be enhanced by at least seven times, and her latent psionic talents will be brought to the fore. My analysis indicates her primary talents to be pyrokinesis, telekinesis, and thought-sensing. She will also possess minor precognitive abilities that will give her a certain edge in battle. As for the manipulation of raw energy... that is a talent inherited by the entirety of your mortal descendants. I estimate that if she used the sacrifice technique she would likely be able to reduce this continent to gray ash, but it will be some time before she masters its use.
Tiamaris smiled sadly and queried the orb once again, And her sisters?
I have confirmed as of five minutes ago that Miss Calice and Miss Felicity are quite safe in that town on the other side of the world. There is no need for concern.
Tiamaris was not quite as reckless with his mortal bloodline as one would believe from his ruthless sacrifice of her other clan members. He had long since spirited away her sisters and covered up their disappearances by announcing premature deaths due to childhood illnesses. It was somewhat cruel, but the world could not afford for his mortal bloodline to disappear this early in the game. "The male descendants all seem to inevitably be much weaker than the female, why do you think that is?"
Unknown. Unable to confirm a reason for this anomaly.
He sighed once again, "Nevermind, its not like I ever had any hopes that would clear up." He sat back in contemplation, What of Riho?
I have accelerated the flow of time around her resting place as requested. However, the drain on your power was more significant than expected. It is likely that you will be somewhat tired for a few weeks.
It can't be helped. That mad son of mine has made contact. The acceleration of my plan has become an absolute necessity. He snorted in irritation, Really! I never thought he would find a path to the Abyss. Now that he has mapped it out with his clumsy blundering we have less than a year to complete the preparations.
The replica has been assimilated. The orb's dry voice informed him.
Maia's eyelids twitched and opened to reveal crimson eyes with a gold spiral for pupils. Inside her breast beat a second heart of gold-flecked red crystal.
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Post by kenpachi on Nov 16, 2006 8:12:55 GMT -5
Kenpachi awoke, a dazed feeling overcoming him as he tried to rise. “How long was I out?” About three days. How do you feel? Kenpachi paused for a moment, “Well my mind feels as if I had been a human who had quite a few too many drinks, but besides that…good. Why is that? I thought for sure that I would be more drained than this.” You shed your skin again and went through another transformation. You’re older now, but only marginally. There are…other changes as well, but their exact natures escape me. The one we fought, you saw the memories as you slept? “Yeah, I did.” Kenpachi chuckled briefly, “I guess if I keep doing that I could kill Noob, but I would probably end up killing myself in the process. I have to get back to training” his voice cutting itself off as he fell back onto his bed. “After I heal myself I guess. Where is some of that elixir?”
Yachiru came bounding into the room, jumping on Kenpachi’s midsection, “Ken-chan you have to stop being so foolhardy, I can’t believe you accepted a challenge against a blade golem. It was so…so?” “Brave?” “No, amazingly stupid. Usually a vampire has to evolve twice before it takes one of those things on. And I can’t begin to tell you the stupidity of using that technique, I mean, an attack that drains the time you have left. Are you suicidal?” “Maybe a little” “Ken-chan! If you die you won’t be able to fight mother again.” “Fine, I’ll try not using it. But with it I could destroy Noob and finish off what I need to do.” “Once you do that, will you have anything to live for?” Kenpachi didn’t answer.
LATER THAT NIGHT
Are you worried? Kenpachi looked down at Madness, a hint of sadness in his face, Yeah, I guess I am. Using that technique…It should be a last resort. What? Are you worried about what she said that when you defeat Noob there won’t be anything to live for? No, not that. If I use that technique much more I won’t have enough life to fight Noob. I need to regulate myself. I need to find other methods to hold out on until I get to that level. So, it’s back to training is it? Yeah, but where else is there to go for us. I can’t evolve anymore and I can only do the integration every once in a while if I don’t use my life force to speed up my growth. If you can’t evolve… Madness you know what happened the last time that happened. I do, but do you have any more choice in the matter.
Kenpachi rose without a word, heading for the exit, suddenly pausing as a sword blade swung down from the other side of the arch. How did I do that? “All right Maia, you can stop that now, attacking someone as they’re walking out of a doorway.” Kenpachi chided, a tsk emanating from his lips. Maia fell down in front of him, her now red-gold eyes staring at him, “How did you know it was me? There was no way you knew I was there. And how did you know my name?” “Your aura.” Kenpachi said, his eyes glowing slightly as they blazed red, “I can sense it. Yours has changed quite a bit since our first meeting. Integrating with that thing changed it, correct?” Maia swept her sword back, preparing for another strike, suddenly stopping, a surprised look on her face, “What? You used my blood to learn all that?” Kenpachi looked at her, a slightly surprised look in his eyes, “I didn’t say that…” his voice ending as a gout of fire sprung up at his feet, singing the his clothes as he leapt back “Nice move, but this place is a little cramped for a good fight, let’s take it outside.” Kenpachi replied, aiming Madness directly at Maia, suddenly shooting it directly at her. Maia blocked it on the flat of her sword, the force pushing her out of the doorway and into the night air. “A red moon is out.” Kenpachi mused, now back to back with Maia, “A good time for a fight.” “Agreed” said Maia, her sword now burning as she swung towards him, colliding with Madness’ blade, now wrapping itself around her sword and swinging towards her. She suddenly moved her head to the side, dodging the assault and pulling on her sword, trying to bring him in closer, yet all she managed to do was pull Madness further out. “So that’s your bloodblade’s ability, to extend itself and act like a whip.” Kenpachi smiled, “Well that’s right, but that’s only half the fun.” Maia’s arms and legs suddenly snapped together, “Madness also becomes invisible and can split itself into multiple parts; my control extends over each segment.” Kenpachi sat down cross-legged on the ground, inquiring, “Well I’ve answered a lot of questions but I have a few more for you. More precisely, who and what are you?”
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Post by rihochan on Nov 16, 2006 15:17:55 GMT -5
Tiamaris appeared from behind a pillar, "I can answer that question for the both of you. She is your new partner."
Maia's eyes widened, and despite her restraints she tried to kneel, "Grandmaster!" She exclaimed reverently.
Kenpachi's eyes narrowed and suspicion stole into his voice, "Grandmaster? What is this all about?"
Tiamaris tossed the orb up into the air, catching it in his left hand, "Quite simply, I have concluded that you need to face opponents closer to your own level to allow you to grow. Blade golems are mere killing puppets with moves that in the end are predictable to anyone with half a brain. The Captain's madness makes him unpredictable by any standards, whether in battle or outside of it."
Maia seemed confused, "Grandmaster, what do you mean he is my new partner? I don't understand..." There was something of the child betrayed in her expression, and despite himself Tiamaris felt a pang of guilt. However, he was nothing if not good at concealing his emotions, so none of that showed in his expression.
"You both need to train, and though Kenpachi defeated you easily enough this time, as you spar you will find yourselves growing stronger and more used to your power. Maia... I am not just the current Grandmaster, I am the first, the second and so on. I have always been the Grandmaster of the clan." He passed his hand over his eyes, cutting through the illusion and revealing his true self.
Tears streamed down her face and when she spoke it was in a choked tone of voice, "Then everything was a lie? Hunting vampires for the good of all was a lie?"
He vanished and appeared before her, taking her chin in his hand, looking into her eyes and gently stroking her hair as the orb began to float around his head, "No, it was not. There was a need to restrain the actions of the vampires, so I created vampire-hunters and ninja. Kenpachi is hunting a particularly powerful vampire, and he will need your aid to do it. I have planted a replica of my orb inside of you so that you may access powers normally beyond human capabilities. Train well with him, and learn to work together. Alone, neither of you will succeed." With that, his body faded into mist and disappeared along with the orb.
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Post by kenpachi on Nov 17, 2006 17:32:19 GMT -5
“I can’t believe I’m following a vampire. I trained all throughout my life to dispatch scum like you.”
Kenpachi let out a sigh, saying exasperatedly, “You mean like that vampire scum of a grandmaster you have?” knowing full well saying so would only serve to anger his hesitant companion.
Maia’s eyes widened, her voice stammering with anger, “You freak”, her attempt to draw her sword foiled by the invisible lashing that held it in place, relaxing from the hilt of her sword as her anger abated.
“Don’t make me regret undoing the bonds. I know Tiamaris wants us to work together but if I really was serious about killing you I would have simply instructed Madness to tear you to shreds” said Kenpachi, “Don’t worry, you wouldn’t believe the surprise I felt when Tiamaris turned out to be the founder of my ninja village.”
“You were a ninja?” Maia asked, her voice revealing genuine surprise, “Being a vampire never…?” her voice trailing off, thinking about the ramifications of this.
“It never was a problem? Well, there were some little issues. Like some people trying to stick a stake in me. And the shame of being bit by a monster and being feared. And there was the time when I killed my best friend’s father. Even though my vampiric side was sealed no one trusted me. Besides that everything went fine. I was able to progress quickly in my studies though.”
Maia stared ahead at his back, “What do you know about Grandmaster Tiamaris?” Kenpachi looked over his shoulder briefly, “Not much, not nearly as much as I would like. I know Tiamaris is the progenitor of the vampire race, the blood father to some of the most powerful vampire’s in the world. He wasn’t lying though. At least when it came to the talk about the need to regulate vampires. If the vampire race is to continue existing, those who would bring the wrath of humanity have to be punished. And Noob wants to create an army.” A bitter tone coming into his voice. “What about you. How’d you become a vampire hunter?”
Maia remained silent, continuing to plow along after Kenpachi. “Did I hit a nerve?” “Not really, it’s just that Grandmaster Tiamaris was the only family I still have. I made it my life’s goal to try to match him.” Kenpachi chuckled a little, “Seems that you and I have more in common than I thought.” “What do you mean?”
Kenpachi suddenly stopped, and turned around, drawing Madness and lunging at Maia. Maia pulled at her sword, drawing it and burying it into Kenpachi’s chest, his momentum bowling her over.
“Ouch, why did you stab me?” Kenpachi muttered irately, pulling the sword out of his body “Why did you charge me?” A peal of laughter came from above them. “Come now, fighting against each other. That makes my job too easy.” Kenpachi sighed and muttered, “That’s why. He just appeared.” A vampire stood at the top of the plateau, leering over at them. “Kenpachi, the one our sire seeks and the girl that Simon played around with. I get two for the price of one.”
Kenpachi stared at the vampire, “So Noob is still trying to recruit me. I thought I told him that he could go to hell. I suppose you’re one of the Order. Let’s have some fun.”
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Post by kouencage on Nov 17, 2006 21:30:41 GMT -5
"No its ok i got this one." The shadowed figure jumped up and through a couple shuriken at him and drew the sword on her back. She whispered something under her breath and her sword burst into flames. She thrusted her sword in the vampires chest and broke the blades tip in him. He laughed,"You think this tiny piece of metal can kill me one of Noob's order?"
Just then his chest glowed a bright red. his chest swelled and and his skin slowly melted and his clothes caught on fire. She sat back and quietly listened to his screams with pleasure.
When he saw nothing more than a pile of ashes, she waved and she was completely engulfed in the shadows.
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Post by rihochan on Nov 18, 2006 1:39:53 GMT -5
:I guess I'd better report this to Grandpa Tiamaris, eh Mischief? Yachiru spoke to her blade as the strange ninja withdrew from the scene of the slaying of one of the Captain's foolish blood-children. Yachiru was in a bad mood because Tiamaris had ordered her to observe this particular group of vampires. It was really beneath her to have to watch lesser creatures such as these. Beings that would never measure up to a fraction of her power.
:I don't really see the necessity... It isn't like he is being very active about hunting them, he seems to be picking off the weaker ones that go off by themselves. A good strategy, but the Captain will just make more. Mischief had a tendency to dismiss anyone that didn't immediately catch his interest.
:Yeah, I guess it doesn't really matter... but we should still tell him. It isn't like the council to send them out without informing him. She rubbed Mischief's hilt absently.
:You think the council is using the master's distraction to distance themselves from him? Mischief's mental tone was somewhat doubtful. Yachiru had a tendency to see shadows where there were none when she was in a bad mood.
:I wouldn't put it past them. They've done it in the past. She sighed and laid back against the rough bark of the tree she was sitting in.
:I still remember the purge... Mischief's mental voice was quiet... and full of remembered fear.
:Its best not to think on things like that. Lets go report to Grandpa. Despite her attempts to put it out of her mind, the memories of the terrible purging of ten ninja villages by Tiamaris alone for the crime of attempting to break from him rose up into the front of her mind as she called her power for the teleport.
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The training grounds some time later... _____________________________________________________
Maia and Kenpachi clashed, both denied their favored weapons by Tiamaris' order. As they fought, backlashes of the meeting of their powers pulverized nearby rocks and withered nearby plants.
Tiamaris watched the scene from the side of the petrified Kaitou while he listened to Yachiru's report. "So they sent in Kouencage, eh? That one is somewhat more troublesome than some of the others they could have sent. Kouencage only listens to orders when it suits Kouencage's style." He grimaced to himself. He was going to have to include yet another random factor into his equation. Things were going to be getting more interesting than he would have liked very soon.
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Post by kouencage on Nov 19, 2006 0:04:00 GMT -5
When she got back to her humble little cave on the out skerts of a ninja owned territory,she placed her equipment down and looked at the broken edge on her sword.
"Thats the fifth one this week." She picked up her sword and touched the broken part. she closed her eyes and the sword began to glow. The edge grew back, and she placed it next to her cot.
She took her armor off and laid it next to her weapons. She toook a glance at the mirror on the wall. On her shoulder was a gigantic scar. She rubbed it and sighed.
She smoothed the cloth and Just as she laid down she said, "Am i that easy to follow me?"
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Post by rihochan on Nov 19, 2006 5:07:37 GMT -5
"Oh of course it isn't. You are one of the five masters of the shadow techniques." Tiamaris materialized from thin air. "Though you really shouldn't reveal your presence before you attack an enemy. Yachiru saw everything and I knew who you were from her description." A small bottle of sake appeared in his hand. "If I remember correctly, this is your favorite, isn't it?" He tossed the young kunoichi the bottle, which she deftly caught.
She sighed in exasperation, "Having you find me isn't much better than having the Captain's brood finding me."
His eyes were as cold as ice and his voice filled with the icy rage that all who knew him were afraid of, "The council should know better than to interfere in these matters. Their knight stands on the field, there is no reason to put another into play."
She had never been intimidated by him like her fellow students had been. Oh, she was aware that she couldn't stand up to him, but she didn't back away in terror from his rage like the others had. However, at moments like these, the stories of the great purges rang more true than not, "You mean Kenpachi? He's a tainted weapon that might turn in the hands that hold it. The council can't trust him." She popped the cork out of the bottle of sake and took a gulp, gasping at the wonderful acidic burn as it went down her throat. She absently adjusted her metabolism to burn off the alcohol and simply enjoyed the burning sensation.
"It's not like they can trust you either. If anything, you are far too whimsical and headstrong to be trusted to simply follow orders." Tiamaris had given her and a few others special training on one of his annual visits, and he had set his observations on them inside his orb. Recalling them was the work of a mere nanosecond.
She flicked a strand of hair away from her face with her right index finger, "As long as it isn't boring, I don't mind following orders. At least this way, I'm not stuck on messenger duty."
"What did you do to get stuck on messenger duty?"
She put her finger to her chin and leaned back against the cave wall, "It's hard to remember... maybe it was burning the village elder's house down? Or maybe accidentally setting fire to that village in the lowlands? Hmm... or it might have been that time I started that forest fire..."
He waved his hand hastily in front of his face, "There is no need to say anything else." Always waving those burning swords of hers around... I guess that aspect of her hasn't changed.
"Anyway... so why did you go through the trouble of seeking me out?"
"I would like to ask you to report to me rather than the council."
Her eyes lit up with interest, "Seriously? The council won't like that."
He rolled his eyes, "That kind of goes without saying now doesn't it? Unfortunately, if they get themselves any more involved in this matter, I will be forced to do a more complete purge and rebuild the ninja as a whole from scratch. That would inconvenience me greatly, as it took a great deal of effort to bring the ninja this far."
"Well..."
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Post by kouencage on Nov 19, 2006 20:59:37 GMT -5
“.... Only on one condition, you introduce m to Kenpachi." She Begin to sit down again on her cot.
"Ill see what I can do.” He turned through his orb up and caught it then disappered.
________________________ Ten Years Earlyer... ________________________
"HOLD THE FRONT GATE..." Flames bursting up from houses and children screems echoed in the halls of the little vilage on the river as Vampires attacked.
"Honey, stay in the closet...Ok?" There was Fear screaming from her mother’s voice. "Ok mommy” she backed into the closet and closed the door.
"Please dont, please I beg you...NOOOOOOO!!!!" When the little girl heard this she ran out of the closet. She picked up a knife on the counter and through it at him.
The Vampire turned around, "What’s this an appetizer huh" The mother hanging on by a thread said "No Don’t!"
"Oh this is your daughter, ill make her death quick.” He pulled his bloodbane out and stabbed her in the shoulder. Kouencage Screemed pitch-black sword slowly was absorbed as she screamed the sword sank in to her arm faster.
The vampire started to yell at her "No, What are you doing...you little bitch" He Rushed at her and before he hit her a barrier though him back.
When the sword was completely consumed the vampire started to disintegrate.
Kouen ran to her mother but she was already dead. She sat next to her and cried till a man in black came and said, “Come with me”, in a sympathetic tone.
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Post by rihochan on Nov 20, 2006 2:44:31 GMT -5
Deep underground, in Riho's resting place, the time acceleration spell rapidly nears the end of its purpose...
_______________________________________________________
Yachiru sighed, Kenpachi and Maia had been training for four days straight and neither of them had even noticed the passing of time. Holding a block over the sunlight in the area was beginning to wear her out. :I wish those two would give it a rest. I mean, I know they are trying to get stronger, but this is really exhausting.
:It's not like you can't hold this for another ten days if you really needed to. You just don't like using your real power for things like this. Mischief always knew how to ruin a perfectly good grouchy mood.
Yachiru sighed once again, her shoulders slumping in defeat, :You're right, but it's still annoying. Normally this would be Grandpa's job, but he went off somewhere.
:I wonder whether he'll get the council to back off?
Yachiru gave a sort of grim half-smile, :Knowing Grandpa, he's trying to recruit that ninja. He doesn't like to confront the council directly if it can be avoided. He says it messes up the experimental data.
:I get a bad feeling about that ninja. She's a reverse empath; and emotion absorber rather than a senser or a projector. Particularly dangerous for incomplete bloodblades like Madness and me. If we aren't careful she can absorb us.
That wouldn't work against Sorrow though... Sorrow would just eat her soul from the inside if she tried that. The thought made Yachiru somewhat nauseous. She'd seen a reverse empath try her skill on Sorrow, the death had been particularly gruesome, with the body an unrecognizable hunk of shattered bone and torn flesh, and the soul a tattered cloak floating in the ethereal winds. It wasn't a particularly pleasant memory.
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Post by kenpachi on Nov 20, 2006 17:33:28 GMT -5
Maia and Kenpachi met once again, the exchange setting off a flurry of blows both of them sliding backwards as the force of their blows forced them back. “Not bad Maia, I’ve never known a human to fight so well, it’s truly impressive.” “You’re not bad for vampire scum either.” Both of them stood there, smiling at each other, the battle stirring them onwards. Kenpachi suddenly paused, saying aloud, “Hey, how long have we been fighting? The sky hasn’t changed color, but it feels like we’ve been here for a while.”
Shuriken suddenly flew from above the canyon towards Kenpachi, stopping short as he caught them barehanded, sidestepping and holding a Kunai out, now perfectly placed at the throat of Kouenkage. “I assume that you are Kouen. I heard about you briefly upon my return to the village. The pyro with an attitude who demanded to see me and was denied by the Council.”
“How did you see that coming? I’m one of the five masters of shadow techniques.” Kouenkage said, her body quivering with rage as she proceeded to disappear into the shadows once again, the same result emerging. “How can you match me?”
Kenpachi smiled as he disappeared, Kouenkage body suddenly wracked with blows, “How can I match a master? That’s quite simple. You were never told of all of the other masters, I’m sure. Otherwise the Council would find me telling of their little secrets.” Kenpachi remarked casually, “That you’re a master of shadows does not surprise me. What surprises me is that you found me. The Council doesn’t know where I am, only Tiamaris. I’ll have to have a little talk with him, especially considering that I already have a sparring partner. So, what do you want?”
“I want for you to pay. Your race has a debt to pay our village. You have cursed the village with your presence and what has the village gained in return? A few random deaths by the hand of one of its own members. Where were you ten years ago when I was cursed? What have you been up to?” Let’s find out.” She said rising, vampiric aura swirling out of her, grabbing his arm.
Kenpachi felt a draining sensation images flashed through his mind, ceasing when they broke contact. “So you’re a reverse empath. Let’s see what happens when you bear the full force of memories. Madness!”
Madness sprung out of its sheath, hurtling towards Kouenkage, Yachiru’s voice crying out, “No Ken-chan, that’s what she wants!” Kenpachi pulled back, trying to stop Madness in vain as it pierced Kouenkage’s skin, the tip of the bloodblade sucked into Kouenkage’s body, her form wracked with the mental agony she was experiencing.
Kenpachi looked at Madness, a hint of fear in his face as he realized the depth of the situation. He looked towards Yachiru, now standing besides him, “Yachiru, Riho once said that if a bloodblade is broken the owner never grows stronger. Was she right?” Yachiru looked at him, regret in her face, “Sorry Ken-chan. That’s correct, but that’s not the extent of the damage. Madness is deteriorating; when the blade fully disappears you’ll die.” Kenpachi glanced down at Madness, the blade already beginning to melt. “Is there any way to reverse the damages?”
Yachiru glanced at him, a question in her eyes, “Well I guess that if you managed to rejuvenate your bloodblade in time you may be able to return to normal strength but that requires evolution and you can’t do that.”
Kenpachi continued to look at Madness saying, “Yachiru, I’ve only had Madness for a little under a dozen years but I’ve figured something out. Bloodblades are reflections of vampires and take on certain types of vampiric characteristics. Some react to blood, while others take on vampiric abilities. Madness wants to be completed just like I want my body to evolve.”
Yachiru gazed at Kenpachi, her eyes intent, “To complete a bloodblade while you yourself don’t is unheard of, this process should be impossible because the process requires contact with a manifiestation of your bloodblade, which requires you to enter the recesses of your soul again.
“What if I could bring a physical representation into this world?”
“That could work but…”
“How much time do I have?”
Yachiru sat on the air, thinking, “Hmm, Mischief says that it’ll probably take a week for the blade to fully dematerialize.”
“Good. I need a full week of practice. Please continue to keep it dark for me so I can keep up training. Maia, I have a request for you.” Maia turned her head towards him, “What is it?”
He motioned over to Kouenkage’s body, collapsed and trembling on the ground. “Take care of Kouen. I want to see her when I’m done.”
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Post by rihochan on Nov 20, 2006 20:13:57 GMT -5
Tiamaris watched the scene with a slight smile of amusement on his face. "Pretty much went as expected. Still, I had hoped he would be a little less hot-headed." Behind him appeared a figure that seemed to be entirely encased in black plate armor with spikes erupting from the shoulders and clawed gauntlets. "You'll do the job, won't you... Shadow of Condolence? After all, my dear daughter created you for this kind of thing."
The figure's voice seemed to echo within its armor and a faint blue glow emanated from the eyes, "There is no value to me in this. It is my duty to watch, not interfere. Regardless of the purpose of my original creation, Mistress Riho gave me free will and the power to observe them."
Terrible black light emanated from Tiamaris' hands as he turned towards the figure, "So you won't follow my orders? Impertinent puppet!"
The figure silently watched him for a few moments, "I will give him the knowledge... but I will not be the avatar. He will have to create his own, just as Mistress Riho did. Otherwise, some part of his blade will always be owned by Mistress Riho and he will be unable to use it properly. Even so... he does not have the skill neccessary to create a truly complete bloodblade. The result will still be much stronger than a normal bloodblade, but it will lack the... substance of Sorrow and Chaos."
"That can't be helped. He is far too young to understand the meaning of eternity. Even I didn't fully understand the concepts until more than a millenium after Riho finished Sorrow." Tiamaris looked up at the blackened sky, his ancient eyes looking at something other than what was there to the naked eye. "We have less than a year. Its going to be very close." To Tiamaris' vision, the well of the Abyss opened to reveal the horror he had been seeing for more than twenty millenia. To defeat that horror he would do anything, even to staining his hands with the destruction of souls.
"Looking at your son won't do anything to prevent what is coming. You are only making your obsession worse, Ancient of Darkness. This world is merely one of thousands such, there is no need to spend so much time creating plans to save it. Destroying him won't atone for making him in the first place and casting him into the Abyss."
The ground around them froze instantly under the cold strength of Tiamaris' rage. Tiamaris had never been capable of the fiery rage of a mortal, his anger was the anger of the soul, cold and implacable. "What do you know? You defective puppet?!"
The figure was as expressionless as always and its speech was utterly flat and emotionless, "As I said, I am a watcher. Time is irrelevant to me, and I was curious as to the reasons for your incomprehensible actions."
Tiamaris eyes turned completely black and his body began to bulge, his form melting and reforming into a massive black dragon. "You have no right to look into my past, you damn doll!"
"I am satisfied."
"What?!" Tiamaris' voice was terribly deep and guttural coming from the throat of his huge form, and it vibrated the ground with its strength.
The figure looked at him silently, "The last piece of knowledge I sought. The sight of the Ancient of Shadow's birth form. Creator of the vampires, the demons, and the dragons. The one whose power can return an entire dimension to the stream of chaos... I always desired to see your true form. The fact that your daughter will soon take your place doesn't bother you? Your existence will eventually be negated."
Tiamaris calmed himself down, and carefully reduced himself to his normal state, "That is my secondary goal. Can you not understand that? However, her mind ranges into places even I cannot reach. That is why I sought to make her the ultimate instrument. If I simply sought to negate my existence and that of my son I would have outright created my replacement. I desired a generation, a continuation of my existence in some part within my successor. Riho has surpassed all my expectations however... I wonder what kind of Ancient of Shadows she will be?" His eyes returned to their normal golden color, as if he were simply a vampire.
"Still, that doesn't answer my question. Why do you wish to save this world? You have destroyed thousands of similar worlds in your time as Ancient of Shadows."
Tiamaris looked over at him with a slight smile on his face, "I had no choice when I was made Ancient of Shadows. I was created along with my brothers to oversee this dimension. One by one, my brothers chose to fade into the darkness, but since i was the last I was not allowed to die. When my son was born, I quickly realized that he was an existence that must not be. He devours everything simply by existing. Truly, the world I do this on is somewhat irrelevant, my son has already eaten hundreds of others. Its just... I took a liking to this dark world."
The Shadow of Condolence turned to mist and faded away, having recieved all the answer he would ever get.
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Post by kenpachi on Nov 21, 2006 8:05:45 GMT -5
Kenpachi awoke, glancing at Madness, the blade continuing to disintegrate at a slow rate. I'm sorry Madness, this is the only way I can make things right. This would have become a necessity anyway, all you've done is speed up the process.
There was a sudden flash of movement, Madness projected into Kenpachi's mind We have company calling, it seems Tiamaris still wants his stake
The Shadow of Condolence stood before them. "Greetings, I am the Shadow of Condolence, watcher of this world and others. I have been sent to help you attempt to complete your bloodblade."
Kenpachi glanced toward him quizzically saying, "Attempt to complete it? There is no time for an attempt, there is only success or failure."
The armor seemed to glare at him, "Impetuous child. Riho was correct about that. Even if you are able to change the form of your blade in time I doubt you'll be able to create a true bloodblade. Even with the knowledge I am to give you I doubt you will be able to grasp the concept."
Kenpachi glanced at him, a strange look in his eyes. "If I was a lost cause could I do this?" He waved his hand over the air, a ripple appearing as something was carried out of it, a reptilian face appearing. "I know this much, that I need an avatar. I learned much going through Tiamaris' memories. We're I to fully grasp them I would find myself a mindless shell, you may find that I have a decent grasp of eternity already." He looked straight at the armor, "Perhaps this "knowledge" you are to impart upon me will let me see all of what Tiamaris that I can."
"Perhaps. Perhaps you have more potential than I thought. Perhaps you may be able to survive. There are few exceptions in this world. Perhaps you will prove me wrong."
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Post by rihochan on Nov 21, 2006 14:58:59 GMT -5
Shadow of Condolence spoke in its hollow voice once again, "My mistress concieved that such a meeting might occur. She did not anticipate it would be such an urgent matter, but that is of little concern. Follow me." The plate-armored creature was surrounded by the azure light of a teleport spell, "The mistress has always had high hopes of the abilities she placed in your bloodline, so she felt the need to leave the knowledge of a bloodblade's completion with me. Lord Tiamaris' order was actually quite redundant as Mistress Riho told me that under no circumstance was I to allow you to die before she awakened from her sleep."
The azure light filled Kenpachi's vision and he found himself on a massive plane under a starless sky, "Where the heck are we?!"
"Another world created for the testing of weapons. This world regenerates itself infinitely so it is of little matter how much destruction occurs here."
"I see..."
"Now since the mistress is not awake to show this to you herself, I will show you a complete bloodblade as an example." The creature held its hand up above its head and a maelstrom of multi-colored lights came down and coalesced into its hand. "This is Chaos... Mistress Riho's second bloodblade which she entrusted to me." The lights solidified into a sword hilt that seemed to have no blade. "She told me to inform you of its nature so that you would not foolishly attempt to touch it. Mistress Riho, like all of Lord Tiamaris' bloodline, was born with the ability to manipulate raw chaos, the source of existence itself. I do not mean his vampiric bloodline, but his true children. This ability has a tendency to cause great destruction, and Mistress Riho concluded that its presence would be a hindrance to her evolution. So she set about seperating the ability from her consciousness and created a second bloodblade. It seals the power of chaos that exists within her. If you were to touch it, your body would instantly be returned to the sea of chaos from which this dimension was born."
"Your point?"
"A complete bloodblade is always meant to contain something rather than embody it. Within Sorrow lies the endless instinctive despair that is born of her subconscious knowledge of her own fate. That despair was too much for her current form to contain so she created Sorrow. Essentially, a complete bloodblade is a temporary house for something your body cannot contain. Your blade Madness is very different. Rather than containing your insanity, it is simply a weapon with a limited consciousness linked to your soul. That was the fundamental flaw of the Captain's method of creating bloodblades. To make Madness complete you will, as you are already aware, have to draw out the representation of his consciousness from your soul into an avatar of your creation. By completing Madness, however, you will be effectively cutting out and sealing a portion of your soul inside the weapon. All those who attempted it before you after recieving this instruction were broken by the process and lost the ability to function." It said all this in a matter-of-fact way.
"I don't care, just tell me how to create an avatar."
Shadow of Condolence was silent for a moment and then, "Very well. All the materials you will need are present on this world. Madness itself will inform you of what you need. I have already taken the liberty of implanting the knowledge within it." It started to leave, then turned around and spoke, "You should understand one thing about the Ancients. They were the overseers of this dimension. Light, Water, and Earth each chose to perish long ago, but Shadow is not given that liberty without seeking a replacement. He made many attempts before creating Mistress Riho, and most ended in terrible disasters. Understand that it is impossible to destroy the Ancient of Shadow without a replacement in existence. Once Mistress Riho awakens, she will ascend the 'throne' and Lord Tiamaris will seek his death... by any means. Mistress Riho herself is entirely unaware of the many reasons Lord Tiamaris had for her shaping, and her rage when she awakens will most likely be devastating." With that, the armored creature vanished in a flash of azure light.
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Post by rihochan on Nov 22, 2006 15:18:48 GMT -5
At that moment, the time acceleration spell came to an end and cracks began to appear slowly but surely in the shell of the chrysalis containing Riho... ________________________________________________________
Maia struck for Yachiru with her blade but once again her strike was diverted from her target by a mere brush of the small vampire's hand on the flat of the blade. Maia grunted and called flame from behind Yachiru as she pulled back and struck once again, but Yachiru jumped on the edge of her slashing blade and launched herself over Maia's head, twisting to face Maia as she came down. Yachiru held out her palm facing Maia's back just as she touched down on the packed dirt of the practice ground and an invisible fist slammed into Maia's kidneys, launching her into the surrounding canyon walls. She managed to twist around and get her feet under her to reduce the impact somewhat, but she was too exhausted to launch herself at her small trainer again.
As Maia collapsed from exhaustion to the ground, Yachiru walked towards her, "It's good that you want to continue training here, but don't waste your stamina. You'll do yourself more harm than good if you continue to push yourself this far." She said that, but Yachiru was actually quite happy with Maia's progress so far. Koencage was still quite unconscious inside a barrier on the edge of the training grounds, time frozen around her so she wouldn't get into any trouble.
Maia pulled herself into a sitting position against the canyon wall, bits of powdered rock, covering her face with a faint red dust. "Errgh... If I don't push myself hard, that guy will get even farther ahead of me."
Yachiru smiled brightly and held up her index finger against her temple with the thumb pointing outward, "I wouldn't worry about Ken-chan, he himself won't be getting any stronger. His blade will be." Yachiru jumped up and perched herself on thin air. "More importantly, if you push your body too hard while you are dealing with new powers you might burn yourself out. Get some rest while you can. I'm going to bed." With that, Yachiru banished the sun-barrier and sank into the earth.
Maia felt her consciousness fade as she gave into exhaustion and everything became shrouded in the velvety darkness. _____________________________________________________
Kenpachi struck with his bare palm, shattering the chain connecting the nunchakus. He then pivoted on his left heel and launched a kick into the Liar's diaphragm sending him flying into the distance. "Well, thats one distraction removed. I guess I'll get to work."
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Post by kenpachi on Nov 25, 2006 15:02:42 GMT -5
A few days had passed in the world that the Shadow of Condolence, the monotonous scenery unchanging, even as the destructive force inside of it raged on, constantly reforming as the earth was hewn apart.
Kenpachi stood in the middle of the plain, panting for breath. "Well Madness, that was interesting."
Are you alright? The division of your soul left no ill effects?
Kenpachi looked down at his arm. It, as had everything else he had destroyed during his training, regrown, but it had taken a different appearance, the skin turning black as if the flesh was rotting off of the bone.
"Well I suppose it's a relatively small price to pay." Kenpachi muttered, "The concept of eternity itself was worth enough for this. Besides it teaches us a lesson."
And that is? A joking tone coming into Madness' voice.
"Before you can gain anything in this world you have to give something back in return. A gained my powers by losing the trust of my village, I lost my ability to evolve by gaining more power quickly, and I completed you in exchange for my right arm."
And almost all of your bloodpower. I don't know if the past few days were unavoidable, but it's irrelevant. We also learned the ability Riho-dono brought into your bloodline.
Kenpachi smiled grimly, "True, but we still need to master your new form. Let's finish that off."
Madness' broken form swung around, its tip diverging and curving around the hilt, sliding forward upon itself. The blades crept along Kenpachi's arm, locking itself into his skin while the hilt disappeared, replaced by a cylinder upon which the blades curled. "Your new form deserves a new name. Ouroburos Madness."
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Post by rihochan on Nov 25, 2006 19:33:18 GMT -5
Tiamaris eyes snapped open as he awoke from his slumber and he smiled grimly at his right arm, which seemed to be almost translucent for a moment before snapping back into reality. He flexed his hand, ascertaining its solidity then looked off into the distance his eyes glowing with an inner light, "She awakes... finally."
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The cracks in the chrysalis widened and flakes began to break off and fall to the ground, leaving trails of silvery dust that shone in the darkness. Then the chrysalis burst, shards flying out at speeds, lodging themselves in the walls of the massive cavern. Out of the dust and remnants of the chrysalis stepped Riho, but she was much changed. Her once dark hair was now completely silver, her skin golden-brown, and her eyes... entirely black with not a speck of color. As she emerged, the flesh upon her back writhed and two azure dragon wings burst from her flesh, spreading out and beating the air. After a few moments, the wings furled behind her back, and her eyes returned to the relatively human-looking gold eyes she had possessed before entering the chrysalis. However, occasional streaks of silver flowed through the gold at odd intervals as she surveyed the dark cavern. She took a step out of the crater made by the destruction of the chrysalis, and where her foot made contact with the cavern floor, ice spread out like silver veins from the point of impact.
She looked herself over and her eyes began to blaze with rage. No longer was Yachiru's survival hidden from her eyes, and her anger was so intense that stalagtites and stalagmites began to burst at random, spraying shards of limestone all over the cavern. Her voice, when it came out, was full of cold rage that seemed to freeze the very air around her, "Father..."
At that moment, the black armored figure of Shadow of Condolence appeared before her, and knelt at her feet, the bladeless sword that was Chaos held before him as an offering to his creator. "The time for me to relinquish this has come..."
Her eyes viewed Chaos silently for a few moments before she reached down and grasped it, her fingers curling around its ornate hilt tightly. She drew Sorrow with her right hand, and with the two bloodblades in hand, vanished in a flash of azure light. Shadow of Condolence regarded the spot from which she vanished for a few moments before the light faded from his eyes and his body collapsed into dust... his task completed. ______________________________________________________
Aboveground...
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Riho emerged and found herself surrounded by thousands of vampires, every one of them armed with a bloodblade. Her rage grew at the sight of so many enemies and a wall of black and red radiance emerged from her flesh and instantly negated the existence of several hundred, body and soul. Her rage was causing her power to flare and surge at a frightening rate, and in her cold and sharp vision, she saw nothing but enemies.
She smiled a smile that froze the vampires in absolute terror, even the blood-command of their master unable to drive them forward. She held up her bloodblades and they met over her head... and vanished. Her wings began to change color, becoming colored with red and white as well as azure.
She had reclaimed that which she had put into the bloodblades, and for the first time in her existence she was complete. Her smile never faltered as she held out her hands and every last one of the horde of vampires were reduced to their component parts, then to the chaos from which all matter and energy was born. She drew the chaos to herself, bringing it into her body with a flash of terrible white light that lit up the entire plain.
She closed her eyes, and her smile warmed somewhat as she viewed Kenpachi in her mind, "He has done better than I had thought. I'm glad." Her tone was approving as she once again vanished in a flash of azure light.
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Post by kouencage on Nov 26, 2006 1:03:46 GMT -5
Kouen jolted up at the feeling of an emence energy, "wow....." her eyes drifted to the east.
There she saw a white light brighter then anything she had saw before. The energy she felt, felt like the river of chaos she had seen before. She got up and lifted her hands. The white light seemed to slowly disappear, but a small strand of something she couldn't reconize flue to her.when the small strand of energy hit her hands she fell back.
She loooked at her hands and legs. they appered to have gone invisible for a moment but quickly regained its color. 'i wonder what would happen if i got a full dose of that energy.'
With that she jumbed up and disapperd......
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Post by rihochan on Nov 26, 2006 15:49:27 GMT -5
On the endless world where Kenpachi has completed his bloodblade... _______________________________________________________
Kenpachi felt a surge of power and turned to see the newly changed Riho emerging from thin air in a flash of azure light. Her wings were furled behind her back and her aura was quietly humming with the chaos energy she had absorbed a short time before. "I've come to bring you back to your world." She looked at his arm and raised her eyebrow in amusement, "You seem to have activated the latent abilities I left in your human bloodline. Good boy." She held her hand before her and it began to glow with a faint green light, "You can control chaos to a limited extent now, though you can neither produce nor absorb it. I will do something about that arm of yours..." The green light enveloped his useless arm and it dissolved into particles of white light before reforming into a perfectly healthy arm once again.
Kenpachi flexed his restored arm, looking at it with some surprise, "Umm... thanks... I think."
Riho smiled a disturbing smile and he found himself enveloped in azure light and transported back to his world. She turned and her wings unfurled in all their multi-colored glory, launching her into the air.
In Kenpachi's mind resounded a parting message, :I will be seeing you later... I want to have a little talk with Tiamaris. He has a lot of explaining to do.
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Tiamaris looked down at the spot where Kouencage had been resting only minutes before with amusement, "Foolish... your body won't be able to handle chaos for long without the buffer of vampiric blood. Even with the adjustments I made to you while you slept, you won't be able to handle it for long... foolish girl."
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Post by kenpachi on Dec 1, 2006 11:22:37 GMT -5
The azure light around them faded and Kenpachi found himself back in Tiamaris’s training area, Yachiru passively sitting on the air over Kouencage, worry on her face, some of it alleviating she noticed him, “Ken-nii-chan! Your back! Did you manage to do it?” Kenpachi smiled, “You bet. And Riho brought me back. It’s a little earlier than I thought but I’m glad to have her back. You should see her; she’s on a whole new level.” Yachiru said nothing, fear showing in her face, “Ken-chan, we have to leave. Mother and grandpa Tiamaris are going to fight. We’d be destroyed if we decided to stay. I can carry you and Maia when I teleport.”
Kenpachi suddenly looked down at Kouencage, asking “What about her?” Yachiru sighed, “She absorbed some of my mother’s chaos, so much that she won’t survive much longer, only a vampire can control chaos and I’m not one of them.”
Kenpachi looked down at Kouencage, his face taking on a resolute expression and he sunk his fangs into her neck. “What are you doing Ken-chan?” asked Yachiru, “There’s no time to feed now, we have to leave!” Kenpachi lifted his face away, his tongue licking up the blood around his mouth, “I’m not just taking a meal, I’m turning her. She might not be able to manipulate Chaos but I can. She has some of Madness in her so I’m going to try to incorporate that ability into her.”
The ceiling suddenly shook and Kenpachi looked up, “You’re right, we do have to go. Now!” Yachiru’s teleportation circle span outwards and they were consumed by it, leaving the battlefield.
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Post by rihochan on Dec 2, 2006 5:22:09 GMT -5
Riho met her father in the canyon training ground, her wings flaring with terrible power that occasionally lashed out to pulverize nearby rock formations. Her golden eyes were cold and full of rage, for a dragon's rage is cold as a world floating around a dead sun where a mortal's would be hot as a blue giant.
"So you came, now that all is revealed." His voice was somewhat strained, for the forces she was giving off were somewhat painful even for him.
"Of course, there is no way I could simply let you go after you went to all the trouble to make me your successor." Riho's voice was so cold that it seemed as if the very air would freeze. Flares of chaos twined arouind her arms, forming patterns that made no sense and showing scenes that had no meaning. However, the two took little notice of such small things.
"It was necessary."
Her eyes flashed and a massive portion of the canyon wall dissolved into chaos under the pressure of her rage, "Necessary?! You convinced me Yachiru was dead, you drove Captain to madness, and you used my mortal descendants like pawns without my permission! And to make everything worse, you've bound me to the same eternal hell that you yourself have been bound to for millenia!" Every sentence was puncuated by another piece of the landscape dissolving into chaos and flowing into her body, and the flow of chaos around her grew brighter by the moment, "Why?!"
His eyes were calm but full of a sorrow and bitterness that would have driven a mortal mind to madness, "Because even after all that I've lived through and all the terrible things I've done, I cannot bring myself to kill my son, no matter how much of a monster he is."
She heard the truth in his words, but she couldn't be soothed by the truth any longer. She lashed out with the gathered chaos and it hit him in a wave that disintegrated the stone wall of the canyon behind him and went on to extend the canyon for several miles. When the dust cleared he stood there still, his left arm missing at the elbow and dripping blood into the already red dust of the canyon floor. "I know the other truth too... the one you seek to hide from me." She said this with a bitter smile on her face, a malice in her eyes towards him that he had never seen before.
His eyes widened, he had not expected her to sense that much, "No..."
Her smile was fierce and her eyes blazed with cold fire, "I hearby bind you!" Around him gathered an immense amount of chaos, turning into bloodred chains that enwrapped every portion of his body. She held up her hand, and it changed into a scaled dragon's claw of blue and red. "You shall live eternally, powerless. You shall never know the death or oblivion that you crave, you shall walk this dimension for as long as it exists, never allowed to fade away and die. I say again, I hearby bind you, Tiamaris!" She clenched the claw and he screamed as he was bound eternally to the world once more, but this time utterly powerless to affect the world around him. His eyes turned a very human brown and he collapsed to the dirt of the canyon floor, weeping in despair as she turned to leave.
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Post by kenpachi on Dec 5, 2006 11:42:47 GMT -5
Kenpachi felt the surges of chaos around him and turned to Yachiru. "Take care of them." he said, pointing to Maia and Kouenkage, who was now twitching on the floor. The transformation had begun. Yachiru pouted and swung forward with her foot, knocking Kenpachi down. "Sorry Ken-chan, Tiamaris asked me to keep an eye on you. I'm not going to let you walk out of here by yourself. Cappy-chan is still after you, I won't let you fight him when you're like this."
Kenpachi gazed at her for a second and said, "That's regrettable" suddenly disappearing from sight, his body sinking into the floor only to appear behind Yachiru, "Please. This is something I have to do. And now that Madness is complete and I well...have figured some things out, I can do them."
With that he sunk into a wall, disappearing from sight. Yachiru gazed at where he had been momentarily before, remarking "Twisting chaos into portals? When did he learn that?"
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Post by rihochan on Dec 5, 2006 18:10:41 GMT -5
Riho observed the writhing fields of chaos that surrounded her as she walked away with a thoughtful expression on her face. Then she smiled and held out her dragon claw arm and the chaos began to flow toward her, forming a swirling orb in front of her that grew more and more solid until all the chaos was gathered into it. "Now to give it form..." The swirling orb narrowed and lengthened into the shape of a nodachi (long katana) and solidified. Her clawed hand reverted to its human appearance and took hold of the black enamel sheath just below the plain cloth-wrapped hilt. She grasped the hilt with her right hand and drew the blade slowly, throwing the sheath to the side and caressing the strange blade with her left.. The blade seemed to constantly swirl with all the colors of human conception, never seeming to stay the same for any two seconds.
Her lips turned up in an amused smile as Kenpachi appeared behind her in a flash of dissipating chaos, "Riho..." His eyes were gleaming with excitement as he drew Madness from its sheath. This time the blade was in a relatively simple single bladed form, though there were hints of its amorphous nature in the black swirling void that was the blade.
She turned to him, her smile echoing his, she closed her eyes for a moment and her wings withdrew into her back, her clothing reforming itself after them. "Let us avoid unnecessary elements in this battle. Chaos is too... chaotic for a test of skill. So lets go." She grasped the hilt of her knew blade with both hands and they launched themselves at each other with a speed that was beyond human sight.
He thrust at her face with his blade and she swiftly turned it with her own, causing him to lose his balance and fly with bone crushing force into the remnants of the canyon wall. The dust from his impact surrounded both of them, and she sensed his unbelievably fast approach from behind her. This time, their blades crashed together near the tips, sliding down until they met near the hilt. The impact sent out a shockwave that shattered the already much abused canyon floor, causing rocks and rust-colored dust to fly away at tremendous speeds. They parted and met again and again, their blades crashing and wounds appearing and healing as they fought furiously across the canyon floor.
As they fought, the fierce gleam in their eyes only grew brighter and each strike grew stronger with the force of their pleasure in the simple act of fighting. However, with two such powerful fighters it was inevitable that one of them would make a mistake and break the spell. As Kenpachi thrust his blade toward Riho, he grew excited and over-reached, leaving an opening. Riho evaded his strike and took her left hand off the hilt of her blade, slamming it into his ribs with a force that instantly collapsed his rib-cage and sent him flying into the canyon wall, Madness tumbling through the air to lodge in the ground. The impact left a crater in the wall that stretched for over thirty feet and was ten feet deep with him in the center, coughing blood from his pulverized lungs.
The sheath for her nodachi appeared in Riho's hands and she sheathed it while she strode quickly over to him. She looked... sated. Like she had just eaten a feast made by the greatest cook in the world. She was... satisfied, and the glow of that satisfaction spread through her as she walked toward him. Though she hadn't noticed it at the time, his blade had managed to dig a furrow through the flesh between her shoulder and neck, and she absently caressed it with her hand as she walked toward him, leaving the skin smooth with the only evidence a wound had been there a bloody rent in the leather.
Kenpachi had a satisfied smile on his face, they had faced off and she had not taken him lightly or denigrated his skill as she had in the past. She had taken him seriously, and if she hadn't used all her powers, the same applied to him. He couldn't speak for the moment, with his chest a mass of crushed bone and mangled flesh, but Riho spoke for the both of them.
"I feel... refreshed. All my anger has been washed away." Her eyes were now a strange reddish gold flecked with azure and they were filled with simple pleasure. She held her hand out and a few small bits of rock were reduced to chaos and gathered in her hand. She put that hand palm down on his chest and the bones and flesh melted together before reforming his body to its normal form.
"Me too..." He said in a low whisper as he fell into a deep sleep.
She looked at him fondly and levitated Madness over to his side, :The boy did a great job. I really am impressed.
:I'm impressed too, Riho-dono. You have certainly ascended to a new level. Madness' mental tone was respectful as he replied to her silent communication.
:That's my damn father's fault. Oh well, he won't be doing anything like that anymore... and all I have to do now is... take out my dearest gaping void of a brother while my descendant and Ken-chan go after the Captain. With that she vanished in a swirl of multi-colored lights.
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Post by kenpachi on Dec 31, 2006 20:58:06 GMT -5
Kenpachi stumbled through a portal into the hiding place where Yachiru had taken him along with Kouenkage and Maia. A voice called out "Ken-chan", quickly followed by a blow to the head. He looked up, gazing at the angry face of Yachiru.
"Where have you been for the past week? You disappeared just like that with no help to go running off...Are you completely insane?"
Kenpachi looked at her apologetically, "Sorry Yachiru. Making the gates is imprecise, if I can't see or detect where I'm going I risk getting lost amid the dimensions, I could even get hauled into a different world, one other than the world of Shadows. Since you masked your aura and the location of this hiding place there's been much guesswork. In the end I just wound up finding and reopening the old portal."
Yachiru seemed somewhat mollified but was still didn't want of completely rid herself of her frustration, saying "I couldn't keep Maia-chan here any longer without killing her, she decided to rush out to meet you. It seems that both of you are total idiots." beginning to pout as she floated on air.
"Do you know where she is right now?"
"Yes. But you're not going to be happy with the news." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maia glared at her opponent as they fought, meeting in radiant displays of fire as she and her opponent, fangs jutting from his mouth, met. They had been fighting for the past hour yet neither showed sign of fatigue.
"Still alive human? I'm surprised, most of your kind are at my mercy after a few minutes."
"Well, I happen to have a good sparring partner."
"Blade, are you finished yet?" came a voice some distance away, "Do you need my help?"
Maia turned her head to see where the voice came from, her eyes resting upon the house, a gaunt vampire looking at them.
"Come now Nikolai, of course I can handle her. Come now."
"I'm getting bored. Besides, we were supposed to meet with The Captain by now, we have to get going." Nikolai said as he drew his bloodblade, moving towards Maia at top speed.
Maia flinched as the sword drew close to her, halting just before it touched her. She looked; suddenly noticing Madness entwined around the blade.
"If you're bored Nikolai, I'll let you have some fun. Let's just have it somewhere else." Shadows began to ebb around them, drawing them away, "Maia, I leave your current fight to you."
The darkness consumed both of them, suddenly flowing away, leaving both Kenpachi and Nikolai on a large platform, tendrils of darkness clawing away at the edges. "Let's not let this be another draw."
Nikolai grinned, "Fine. I owe you for that bite. Come Retribution, destroy him. "His bloodblade changed form, tendrils spouting from the blade as they hurled themselves at each other, meeting and breaking apart almost simultaneously. Nikolai stumbled back, his body raked with now healing wounds, before heading back into the fray.
The pattern continued over and over, Nikolai becoming more damaged each time. Kenpachi glanced at him calmly, saying, "So that's it. The more damage I do the stronger you become."
Nikolai grinned, "It's too late now, I've already reached full power. I thought your bloodblade was finished, yet it still has its original form."
Kenpachi looked smugly at him, "Don't worry, I did finish Madness. It was about the same time I realized what your master wanted of me. I am a gatekeeper, that's is the ability Riho passed on through my human bloodline. To be more precise, I'm a specialization, a breed of chaos manipulators. I can't form world, I can only travel between them" Madness began to writhe in his hands, becoming amorphous, "The forces of all the different worlds kept drawing upon, increasing the divide in my nature. Do you know how many worlds exist? I'll show you one of my favorites."
Nikolai screamed as he was dragged through the portal, hearing Kenpachi's parting words, "I hope you enjoy hell."
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Post by rihochan on Jan 2, 2007 22:03:05 GMT -5
As Maia and Blade fought, she felt her perception twisting, her emotions fading into the background. Gone was her almost instinctive hatred of the beast, gone was the vague fear of death that all humans possess, and gone was anything other than absolute focus that she distantly and emotionlessly realized was not her own. She saw where her opponent would strike before he could, and not only evaded but unleashed perfect counters that cleaved his ever-healing flesh again and again until even his unnatural constitution ceased to heal the wounds.
Blade was panicked, even though he was still a little faster and stronger than her, he not only couldn't hit her, but found himself being struck in turn over and over again. He felt weaker with every strike, and he realised for the first time in a very long time that he could lose his life. He was incredulous. Lose his life to a human? Not a chance! He lashed out with a blistering series of thrusts and slashes designed to break through her guard, but found himself outmaneuvered at every turn until with two deft slashes she removed both of his arms at the elbows. He fell to his knees screaming in agony.
The details of a finishing technique flowed into Maia from the same place as her altered perception and she held out her hand. In it formed a small orb of yellow light barely larger than the tip joint of her index finger. Blade stared at the orb in fascination as she looked intently into his terrified eyes. The orb vanished and Blade felt a moment of relief until he felt a terrible burning coming from within his body. He tried to scream, but his lungs were gone. He tried to weep, but his tears dried in the heat of his burning skin.
Still lacking anything resembling a human emotion, Maia looked on indifferently as he blackened into a charred statue within moments, then collapsed in a pile of ash. Her emotions came back with an almost audible click and she had time to feel horrified at how easily her own will was suspended by the thing in her chest before she collapsed into unconsciousness.
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Tiamaris cursed as he felt the replica's access to his consciousness fade away with Maia's collapse. "Damn! Now that I'm powerless I have no mental barriers. That thing is going to access my knowledge every time she gets in a little bit of trouble." ______________________________________________________
Yachiru in the meanwhile was dealing with her own little crisis as a Feltshcrich demon was summoned into her sanctuary to the sound of the Captain's insane laughter. The thing was over ten feet tall with scales and two hooked horns and red eyes that glowed with the hatred that the chaos-born felt for Tiamaris' favored. :It looks like he learned some new tricks when he accessed the Abyss. He couldn't perform a summoning of this level before. Mischief said some very naughty words as several more of the creatures appeared, each holding massive hooked swords in both hands. Feltshcrich demons were fast, strong and almost invulnerable. One would have been trouble, but... ten were more than even they could handle. One Feltshcrich was more than capable of reducing a small city to ash within hours, with ten you could destroy a continent... that is if you could prevent them from eating you.
Yachiru was irritated for her favorite illusion and delusion techniques were useless against the chaos-born. Then she had an idea, she sent out a mental call, :Mother! I need some help!
A sense of irritation and a surge of raw power into her body over the link were all that she recieved in return, but that was more than enough. She sent the power out in wisp-thin strands that quickly formed into a latticed web around the suddenly confused creatures.
One of them lashed out with its swords at the web and found its blades being sliced rather than slicing through the webbing. Yachiru smiled cruelly as the creatures realized their predicament and tried to unleash their power to break out, but she simply twitched her wrist and the webbing drew together through the space where the Feltshcrich's bodies were. Gobbets of perfectly sliced meat and bone splattered on the walls, but none fell on the smiling non-child with the ancient eyes.
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