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Post by waybig1010101 on Apr 15, 2018 4:02:58 GMT
Jose is relieve to see the old Haruko again. For a moment he was worried whatever that her transformation was going to be permanent. He waited a few seconds to see if anything else is going to show up to fight them. He has the strange feeling that he if lets his guard down, he is going to end up getting blasted in the back by shotgun shells. He slowly makes his way towards Haruko and Sid, while shooting, "Hey, guys over here!"
Chase wipes the sweat of his face, and gets up on his own. He didn't even appear to acknowledge Gen as he turns around to spot Huntsman covered in blood. As he absorbs the scientists souls, he couldn't help but wonder what had upset him. As the shapeshifter creates a unique ladder to help them climb out, he simple walks towards the direction where Huntsman had recently visited. As he steps into the room, he couldn't help but sigh to himself. Ignoring the horror show as best as possible, the soulless man walks towards the center of the room. "I figure you at least deserve to see this." He spoke as if someone else is in the room with him.
Chase walks out of the room without looking back. He soon climbs out of the hole a minute or so after everyone else is out, and gradually walks towards the others. He looks at Sid with slight confusion. "What are you doing?" His asked while his eyes narrow as the scroll in Sid's hand fades away. "He turns his head towards the direct of the other noteworthy souls he could pick up on.
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Post by HungryHunter on Apr 15, 2018 9:45:42 GMT
Dan no longer cared about punching Gen and Huntsman. He just watched the last wisps of smoke vanish. Was it necessary to kill her? Was there anything they could have done differently? A pink-haired psychic just hit too close to home. Qiang needed a big hug when he got home. Heavy limbs pulled him up the ladder after Gen. "What happened up here?" Dan asked nobody in particular, kicking over a grey slab of rubble.
He walked around the others to search through the remains of the building. He looked for limbs sticking out from under stones, hoping he didn't see any. After a minute of searching, he saw movement. Sid sprang into his line of sight, and quickly he scrambled over a mountain of gravel to see Jose standing, battered and bruised, Haruko flat on the ground. "Haruko!" He slid down the side of the side of the hill. He knelt by her side, helplessly staring. He didn't know how to check for a pulse, or what he'd do if he found she didn't have one. "Everybody's here except Rin, and Gen and Huntsman are looking for her. You, uh. I'm sorry I don't know your name, but do you know first aid?" He gestured for Jose to come over and was about to search her for her first aid kit, but that was in the kaspa.
Huntsman heard Gen's exclamation and sniffed the air. "That way." He helpfully pointed in Rin's direction and slithered along the ground towards her. He heaved his body up onto the stones above her to look down with beady button eyes. "Hey. Need blood? One of the guys I killed back there had type O. If not, the rest are that way." His tail flicked in the direction of the others. She smelled like Gen. She even looked a little like Gen. Whether she had his charming personality or not was yet to be determined. He raised his head as more scents hit his nose.
"Hm. Hey Gen, you can do all that armor stuff again, right? But longer?" He stood up on his hind legs, looking like a meerkat made of red socks. "Oh yeah, that's at least two more of these guys and a bunch of... humans?" He hesitated another second before he suddenly dropped and went scrambling towards the others. "Fuck this! You two get going, we're out of here. He charged right past Jose, only stopping for a second to look at Dan with irritation. A few tendrils shot for Haruko's neck and touched rested there feather-light. "She's got a pulse. Pick her up and get your ass in gear." The tendrils retracted and Huntsman was scrambling again, moving like a massive lizard.
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Post by TimePuppy on Apr 17, 2018 20:57:25 GMT
Just looking at it, Arthur knew Lance's lightning spear would be even worse than his hail of fire arrows. It was good then that he managed to disarm Lance and give Haruko an opportunity to be rid of the spear. It resulted in a brilliant flash and several tons of concrete falling down which Arthur didn't even notice. Even though he wasn't looking directly at it, the flash blinded him. He was thankful for Haruko's defense while his eyes adjusted to the lighting.
"Is everyone alright?" he finally asked, right before Haruko collapsed.
"Apparently not." He rushed over to her side before she completely fell, so she wouldn't hit her head when she landed. That would be a terrible way to die after all this.
It wasn't long before Gen, Huntsman and the rest of the group joined up with them. The big guy in the pink suit, Dan or something, quickly rushed over to check up on her. From the way he was acting, you'd think she was dying.
"Don't worry, man. She took a beating, but it was nothing too serious considering her power output. I think she's just exhausted. She used too much mana during the fight. Not to mention the mental toll that form must have taken on her. So just let me handle this."
Arthur pulled out two pieces of blue candy out of thin air. It was mana candy, a special treat/mana infusion that Arthur's world started producing, based on candy he found on an old adventure in a reversed tower. He ate one of them to restore his mana before channeling it into Haruko to give her back some energy. He saved the other to give to her after she woke up.
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Post by Vapovile on May 21, 2018 5:45:59 GMT
“What’s his problem?” Sid asked as Huntsman scrambled away, climbing over the run-down shacks of the town towards the coast. The next second, his question was answered as a massive portion of the wall was pulverized. Dust and rubble rained down over the heroes. Sid coughed and through his watery eyes, saw two figures stepping through the rubble. One was slender but appeared to have a massive head. When the enemy stepped closer, it became clear that instead of an oversized skull, the woman approaching just had massive weapons attached to her shoulders. She wore a tight, sleek black suit, apparently lightly armored by the way it shone. Steely highlights wrapped around her jaw and stood out in bolts around her body. Much more imposing was the figure behind her. It was just like the armored super soldier Sid had met in the factory, but even more massive. The bulky armored frame was covered in shiny dark blue plate that looked like it could withstand a tank shell, the figure’s head masked by a rounded helmet with a black void where the eyes would be, the inside displaying a HUD detailing the number of people in the vicinity, the air quality, the temperature, and various other readings. His bulky gauntlets were carved with the designs of feathered wings extending toward his shoulder, his hands having sets of retractable talons that extended 6 inches past his fingertips. In his right hand was a strange weapon that appeared to be a flanged mace with 4 rectangular points on it, a guard protecting his knuckles at the base. The mace was made out of a shining golden material, clearly drawing the eye to the leader.
“INVADERS!” His voice boomed into the destroyed cavern. “YOUR MURDERS HAVE CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF THE SUPREME LEADER OF ATLUS ISLAND! YOU SHALL PAY FOR YOUR ASSAULT ON MY NATION WITH YOUR MISERABLE LIVES!” He called into the massive room, Sid feeling the ground shake slightly.
Sid locked eyes with the titan who ruled this island, stretching his legs. “Well, I guess I still need to use these.” He patted his Gainen boots and stood. Quickly his eyes moved to the side to make sure Haruko was taken care of. He saw Dan carefully lifting her body, already backing away. “Bye!” A tiny crater was all that was left behind when he took off hundreds of feet in the air. He could barely see the massive man from this height, but what he did see made his blood run cold. There were more of those things. Dozens at the very least, maybe more than 100. Armored, inhuman cyborgs pouring across the gaping hole, swarming like ants. Bullets began filling the air around him as they attempted to shoot him down. Sid kicked off the air like he was swimming to pinball around in the air. Soon, he neared the ocean, seeing a white yacht pulling up to shore. He kicked his way down to clumsily land in the sand. He looked back to see how everyone else was keeping up, and saw they were making progress toward the boat. His eyes then widened in shock when he saw the armored leader take a single step forward...and instantly appeared 10 meters in front of Sid. “How the fu-” Sid started to bring his leg up to kick away the approaching titan, but a loud booming sound echoed out to indicate the leader had broken the sound barrier with his sudden boost of speed. “YOU ATTACK MY SUBJECTS, AND THEN RUN AWAY LIKE COWARDS?!” His voice boomed toward Sid as he approached. The kickmaster couldn’t hope to raise his leg in time before the strange mace was swung straight for his head. He closed his eyes and waited to be taken by the void.
Strangely though...nothing hit him. A loud crash was heard right near his head as Joseph’s mace slammed against what appeared to be a glass wall, made up of small white transparent shards. His mace rocketed backward along with the owner, Sid looking back to see a strange woman standing several feet in front of the boat. She looked to be in her early 30s, her attire consisting of a long sleeve button-up white t-shirt with a light purple vest over it. She wore a long black skirt that reached down to her ankles, and wore a pair of shiny black shoes. Her eyes were a pleasant light green, and her light red hair reached down to her mid-back with two small braids down the front. On her left side was a black sheathe that held a long saber inside. She was holding out her right hand toward Sid.
“...You just going to stand there all day? Get to the boat!” She ordered. Could they have made this stealth mission any more loud? The white glass shield extended around the group, forming a small tunnel that extended toward the boat. The bullets that crashed against the glass were quickly shot back out toward the owner with the same velocity as when it made contact. Joseph roared as he slammed his mace into the glass tunnel once more, sending several fissures through the ground with the force of his strike. The woman in sleek armor launched a barrage of rockets that slammed against the tunnel from the other side, coating the area in a thick layer of smoke. If the group were to look at the ground, they’d see several large craters at the base where the force of the rockets ripped apart the ground below. Sid took the chance and gave the lady a thumbs up. “You're awesome, lady! We’ll talk on the boat!” He called to her, the woman rolling her eyes as she concentrated on keeping the tunnel active. “Not like I am trying to rush you or anything...wait, I am. Let’s go!” She yelled at the people still in the tunnel, motioning with her head toward the boat Sid was stepping into.
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Post by Kuma on May 25, 2018 2:52:43 GMT
Worried about Rin, he didn’t even listen to Huntsman's question, and as the mayhem started, Gen wasn’t paying attention at all, mostly worried by Rin’s welfare. -Rin! RIN! WAKE THE FUCK UP!- The former Spirit Boxer was trying to wake her up, but she was out cold. He was clearly distraught, ignoring the chaos starting to brew in their surroundings. Gen finally glanced around him, realizing how fucked they were. “Can’t ya do somethin’?” He asked to <Battle> “No can do kiddo, you burnt through all the fuel I had for the day, if we started this partnership earlier…” Gen snapped mentally at him “Zip it!” The former Delinquent took a decision and deadlifted his sister, placing her over her shoulders, in a fireman carry. Without looking back he started running as bullets whizzed around his head. Yet nothing was touching him. He reached a large boulder and slid towards it, using it as cover. His eyes turned to the side, looking at the wall he just had in front of him while running. The cyborg soldiers aim wasn’t bad… as his silhouette was clearly marked with all the bullets that didn’t hit him… somebody had been deflecting the bullets. Gen looked around with frantic eyes, but he could only see the others escaping or engaged in their own problems.
-Who fuckin’ did this?- He muttered until a small giggle reached him from above. He slowly looked up, and just over him, standing parallel to the ground, with his toes piercing the boulder, there was a very young child, he was dressed in simple white cloth, wrapped around several times over his body. He had a collar of buddhist prayer beads, 108 to be precise, and his hair was opalescent, white, but with rainbow-like edges on his unkempt and messy mane of a hairstyle. His eyes sparkled with a strangely youthful energy, while also showing a deeper wisdom. A big grin, from ear to ear, was the sole decoration of his extremely pale and unmarked face, no scars whatsoever. -WHAT THE FU- But Gen’s question was interrupted as the small child tapped his forehead with two fingers and both him and Rin vanished alongside him, leaving only a trail of sparkles behind them, that quickly vanished as them, lost in the dust and shockwaves of the battle around them. Gen, with Rin still on his shoulders fell flat on his ass on a small puddle. At first he was looking down on the clear water and rocky bottom of the small pond, but then he raised his eyes and his chin almost dropped under the water level.
-Where the fuck are we?- He asked as his eyes darted from corner to corner of his new surroundings, still incapable of believing his eyes. He was sitting in a circular pond, one of dozens, forming a watery staircase towards a sculpted rock formation, akin to an altar. Sitting atop it was the young boy, looking down on Gen with the same happiness radiating smile, waving his hand. -So you’re Reiji’s student? The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree… or was it like that with his other student? Or it was the other way around?- He rambled, seemingly trying to put a lot of information into a few words. Gen, dumbstruck, looked at the kid, tilting his head with confusion until it finally dawned on him. -Nensho Dai-Sensei?- He asked, while pointing at the kid. -You’re correct my boy, welcome to my current abode, I call it Seikuken! We have much to discuss.- Gen couldn’t believe it. Reiji’s master, a legend among martial artists all around the world, a living museum of technique and wisdom… was this kid. HOW!? That was the question that ringed inside his head as he looked up towards the Grandmaster of the Mountain Slaying Fist, who was sitting, with his legs playfully swinging below him.
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Post by TimePuppy on Jun 2, 2018 21:35:14 GMT
Arthur started running towards the boat. After how the fight against Lance went, he didn't really want to fight this giant guy. Fighting his seemingly endless swarm of combat ready servants seemed as an even worse idea.
As he ran, he saw someone appear before Gen and Rin then disappear with them. Arthur paused for a second. "Shit..." He looked around, but all he could see was the horde of enemies trying to get to them. "Shit!"
There was nothing Arthur could do about it now. All he could do was hope they could get out of whatever was happening to them. He leaped onto the boat, ready to help anyone else if they needed it. Even Huntsman.
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Post by HungryHunter on Jun 3, 2018 7:19:10 GMT
Dan sighed with relief when Huntsman confirmed a pulse. "Then everybody's okay." When the wall collapsed, he instantly lifted Haruko and shielded her unconscious form with his broad body. Only a few pebbles sprinkled over the crowd, the dust that poured in a tsunami much worse. Dan coughed and straightened up, squinting through the haze. What he saw was enough to give him chills. The emperor himself strode into battle, a towering thing, all gaudy gold and royal blue. Dan tensed himself for battle, a mad grin taking his face, but something niggled in the back of his mind. It wasn’t just that he had Haruko in his arms, although that was the first thing that came to mind, being very nice and all. Maybe throwing my life away for a good fight was acceptable when I was alone, but now there’s people who care about me, and one who needs me. His grin turned into a grimace and he lunged backwards, kicking out a ball of energy from a bare foot to buy a moment’s distraction before he spun and turned tail. His defenses raised just in time as bullets riddled his back, deflecting all over off his reinforced skin. “Ow ow ow ow!” He complained with each step, sliding and bounding his way down to shore. He made a final, desperate leap to the boat, landing rocking it.
Huntsman, already atop the boat, spared him a glance as he walked below deck to place Haruko on the solitary bed available. “Where’s Gen?” He was standing watch like a horrible crimson meerkat. “He and Rin weren’t with us.” Dan’s brow furrowed and he walked back out onto deck to look to the island. All that could be seen now was the Titan Emperor standing beyond the shield, looking in with nothing but a despot’s hate in his eyes. Dan put his foot on the side of the boat, staring into the eyes of this unstoppable force. Every muscle told him to brave it, to find a way to power through.
He could rescue them, even if he needed to use the Avatar State to do it. He could feel it calling, the promise of the power to save them. He closed his eyes and stepped back. Tears stung his eyes, but he didn’t let them out. They were just two people. He couldn’t let himself risk everything for that. Not after everything he did in Russia. Huntsman above sprung for shore, but was repelled back onto the boat by the shield. “Fuck! Lady, we’re not all aboard! We’re missing a good-looking idiot and his sister!” The snarling little beast hissed at the captain, clinging to the side of the boat so hard the wood bent in his claws.
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Post by waybig1010101 on Jun 4, 2018 2:28:20 GMT
Confuse by the situation Jose hesitates to move. Suddenly he feels a hand on his shoulder. He turns around to spot a blond man with soulless emerald green eyes. "The fuck you standing around here for?!," Chase shouted as he shoves the earth shaker in the direction of the boat. The young bounty hunter's feet begin to move as he runs. Chase examines the Emperor for a brief moment. If he could use one word to describe the man's soul, he could think of no better word then narcissistic. The man truly believed he was the center of the world, and that everything orbits his existence. The value the emperor has for himself could not be understated. The man's very soul seems to be a mirror of the largest ego Chase has ever seen, even compared to his own master. What flows from this soul was not only a sense of superiority for the individual that is the emperor, but also for what he stands for. His soul appears to be made of iron, a reflection of the man's incredible determination for his ideals. However that determination is almost shadowed by the raw rage consuming the man at this very moment. Making matters worse is the man is overflowing with power. The emperor's strength surpass his own many times over. He is too dangerous to face one on one he realized, let along with a small army.
Chase proceeds to swing his sword in an arching motion, suddenly a wall of flames erupt from the ground to separate the two groups from each other. He imagine it won't do much in the way of stopping their advancement, but at least the smoke from the flames can aid in their escape. He then turns and runs away. He arrives on the boat the same time Dan informs the captain that they are missing people. "Fuck em," Chase said. "Its not our fault they can't make it back to the boat on time. Besides if we don't leave now.-" Veins begin to appear all over Jose's forehead as he charges Chase and prepares to throw a punch at the man, however one glance from the man stops Jose in his tracks. This man's killing intent, while not the strongest he has felt, was unique. There was something too unnatural about this man. "We should wait for them," Jose shouted.
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Post by Kuma on Jun 4, 2018 3:26:40 GMT
Suddenly from out of thin air Gen and Rin appeared over the group already in the boat, crashing into the deck. Rin was still out cold, while Gen, who managed to land, while carrying his sister on his shoulders looked around. -What the fuck are we waitin’ for?!- He asked. -Let’s leave this fuckin’ island already.- He looked at the horizon, with resolute eyes, while adding in a whisper. -I’ve places to go.- Anybody with inquiring enough eyes would be able to notice that the many wounds both the Shishioh siblings were treated and Gen seemed to even have a bit of stubble. Too little time passed between them vanishing and appearing again. Or maybe something else happened, but Gen didn’t seem to be in a talking mood. Unloading Rin over the first comfortable spot he could find and sitting right besides her, checking her current state.
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Post by Vapovile on Jul 2, 2018 5:22:51 GMT
The woman stared at the tunnel as everyone came aboard, a bored expression on her face that seemed unfitting for the desperate situation unfolding before them. She glanced at Huntsman crashing into her barrier, shaking her head in reply. "I am the only thing keeping you all from being paste right now. I am not about to fight an army to save two people." She stated in an annoyed tone of voice. Luckily, Gen and Rin appeared out of thin air and made their way onto the boat. "What do you know, they made it." She stated sarcastically to Huntsman, stepping into the cabin and slamming the reverse, which sent the boat flying backwards until she could change direction and rocket away from the island faster than most normal boats could possibly go.
The island looked like a warzone from the distance they were currently at. Black smoke drifted upward from the rubble left behind by Joseph’s rampage. He repeatedly slammed his mace into the glass-like tunnel the woman had made, the shockwaves creating multiple craters in the ground beneath his feet. He let out one last roar before placing his mace on his shoulder, glaring at the boat in the distance.
Joseph stared at the fleeing boat through Mia’s barrier, only turning when it passed over the horizon and the shields finally vanished. He slowly shrank as his armor retracted, finally returning to his true form. His green eyes cast about until he found his head of security. “Tell me you at least got their names.” He adjusted his collar, looking down at her. Lara shifted uncomfortably. “Yes, sir. There was Sid Renen-” “Never heard of him.” “Fumi-” “Her either.” “Jose Hernandez-” “A BHA member. Yeah, I expected one or two of those.” “Arthur Crowmwell-” “Haha, what!? Isn’t he the CEO of- ah, fuck it, go on.” “Huntsman-” “Ugh.” “Gen and Rin Shishioh-” “The guys involved in all that Osaka nonsense? Interesting.” “Bo Xu-” “That wasn’t Bo. Too young. Dig deeper on him.” “And Haruko Miyata.” “A Miyata.” Joseph’s brow furrowed. “She doesn’t appear to be affiliated with the other Miyatas. She doesn’t work for the HWIC and was given up for adoption at a young age.” Lara quickly added. “Even so, I hope it’s the HWIC.” Joseph rubbed his chin as his eyes looked to the horizon. “I was going to take them eventually, but the sooner the better! We’ll make the HWIC bow, break their will and shame them! I will have Aria Miyata herself bend the knee before her public execution. Organize a clean up crew and get Simon’s lazy butt over here, we have work to do!” Lara and the cyborgs saluted and parted for their king and he walked through. He committed the names of the interlopers to memory. He’d have them all chained before him. With each step, he imagined that he was stomping on their faces. Ah, it gave him such ideas for their punishments when they finally submitted. He could not wait.
Back on the boat, they had gotten several miles away from the island before the boat slowed to a stop near an empty sand bar. The woman stepped out of the cabin and leaned against the doorframe to the room everyone was seated in. “Alright, we’re all safe now. I guess you want me to explain what’s going on, huh?” She stated, adjusting her hair. The woman gave a small sigh before launching into her speech. “My name is Mia, and I work for the HWIC. This was a secret mission they gave to the public so we could gain intel on that place.” She pointed toward the island they had been on. “We’ve had some difficulties putting our own agents there, so this was the next best thing. I assume you managed to get some intel on that place past the wall?” She asked. Sid was the first to pipe up. “Yeah, I fuckin’ did. You see those soldiers that were shooting at us? They were implanting cybernetics into dudes! And there were slaves inside that fuckin’ wall! What is that place?!” He asked.
Mia rolled her eyes and took out a tablet computer from her right side. “Atlus Island. It has some of the most lax laws on gambling and drugs on the planet. So you can imagine the people it attracts, hm?” She said, looking at Sid with contempt. “That person with the mace was their ‘supreme ruler’, Joseph Dawnguard. I was sent here specifically because I am one of the only people who could possibly get you all away from him alive. You’re welcome, by the way.” Mia clearly resented being here. “We will gather detailed reports from you all once we reach our HWIC-sponsored base. From there you will receive your rewards for all your hard work. The HWIC thanks you for your cooperation.” She was clearly reading off her tablet for the last part. Finally, Mia turned and went back to piloting the boat through the chain of island they were in. Sid stared in disbelief at the doorframe she had stood in.
“...what the hell is going on here?!” He yelled out in disbelief.
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Post by waybig1010101 on Jul 5, 2018 5:40:58 GMT
“I think the room is a tiny bit too humid,” said a female voice behind a small wooden desk. “Is that all you have to say? What about the decor?” The red haired woman remains silent. “Come on Aine. You have been living with me for thousands of years. How you learn nothing?” “Maybe it would be best to remove the grand piano?” Aine asked uncertain. She has never been inside a therapist office before, but from what she has been told about them, she couldn’t understand the point of the piano’s presence. In fact she couldn’t understand her master’s intentions at all, yet she dare not question his behavior outloud. “The piano? Have you gone mad? How else will I be able to entertain our guest? With silent background noise? I’m trying to create an atmosphere here.” Aine remains silent as she has learn a long time ago it was best to just let her master ramble on.
He always had a tendency to ask for her opinion on matters relating to things that didn’t interest her, but never appear to care to listen to what she said. Then again, she didn’t really care either. “Why do I even bother,” he sighs to himself and walks to another room. As his fingers wrap around the doorknob he turns around to say, “Just let me know when she’s coming,” before he walks into the room and closes the door behind him. Aine turns around to face a pair of elevator doors wondering why her master would bother with all this. She examines her desk for a moment to notice that there was a small button in the center. Directly below the button was a small yellow sticky note that said, “Press this button when she walks in, Aine.” “This is ridiculous,” she mumbled to herself. No matter how long she has been enslaved to her master she couldn’t ever get use to his personality.
A rumble came from the other side of the room, ending with a ding when the elevator doors slid open. Cell lay there rolled in a fetal position. Her naked body had been rid of its cybernetic implants, but she was still a bag of bones barely wrapped in skin. “Why do I still think?” She slowly sat up, looking with confusion at the room. “I don’t want to think anymore…” She lay back down and hugged her head. Aine looks at the opening Elevator doors, yet couldn’t she anyone stepping out. She waits for a moment before hearing her master yelling from the other room. “Why aren’t you pressing the button?!” The door opens and the Spirit of Unbalance walks out. He is wearing a tight black suit with a red tie and a pair of wide len glasses. “Come on, Aine! You had one job here! I’m this close to redoing this whole thing!” He emphasized by bringing his index finger and thumb closer together. “You know what, I’m re-doing this! And when those elevator doors open you press that button. Got it! ” And with that he snaps his fingers. A moment later the elevator doors closes.
With another ding, they swung right back open, leaving Cell exposed again. She just shivered and curled tighter. Aine just stares at the button for a moment. Baffled by her master once again. Suddenly she hears a loud and forceful cough coming from the other room. She presses the button and immediately the doors swing open. “Well, hello there! This is a pleasant surprise. I wonder who it can be,” he said with a fake smile on his face as he walks over to the elevator doors to view Cell shivering. “Oh my? Are you alright my dear. Perhaps you would enjoy a warm beverage. Sadly one of my other employees drinked all the grown up stuff already, so I only can offer you tea or coffee.” Cell slowly lifted her head to look at him. “I don’t want anything. I just want to die.” She told him, unfolding to lean against the elevator wall. “But… that already happened, I thought.” She looked at her hands like she thought she’d see right through them. Nodding his head he bends down and offers her his hand, “Let’s go inside my office and talk. Aine, fetch us some tea.” He looks back at her and adds, “Also, bring her some clothes to wear as well. Can’t have her exposing my ‘gift’ when she gets out of here.”
“Creon! Come get your food!” A small cat suddenly emerges from the shadows and pounces into Chase’s arms. “Hey, I’ll play with you later. First you got to finish your dinner alright. He sets the cat down next to a small white plate containing a mix of dry and wet cat food. As Creon begins eating, the soulless man walks over to his fridge and pulls out a bottle of beer and some microwaveable food. Before closing the fridge door he turns around to address his new roommate, “So...do you want anything to eat?” he asked awkwardly. He still wasn’t use to this new setup. Cell stood, covered up in a black sweater and pants. “Eat.” She said it like she didn’t understand the word. She had been tube fed for however long she was in that state. It was all a haze now, looking back at it. “I would like that.” She suppressed a gag at the idea of that mush going down her throat. “I also want to ask you something.” Chase begins to warm up two plates in the microwave and proceeds to sit down at the small table with only two chairs. He opens the bottle of beer with a quick flick of his thumb.
“Go ahead and ask,” he told her as he begins to drink. Cell eyed the drink, bringing back clearer memories. She had tried to drown the voices out with alcohol sometimes, and when that didn’t work turned to harder substances. Not hearing them now was so strange. To think without anybody else sharing your head. So silent she still felt like screaming. “If I killed myself, I’d just go back to him again, wouldn’t I? To his world.” She eyed the knives carefully put away on his kitchen counter. Chase follows her gaze and sighs. Why the fuck did they have to give me a suicidal roommate? He asked himself. He puts the bottle down and walks over to the kitchen counter and retrieves one of the knifes. “Here. If you want, go ahead and try. But honestly, considering the shit you have been through, I imagine things can only get better for you from here on out. Though, you’re right. It would just be wasting your time. Besides, I’m not sure if that ‘mark’ will even let you make the attempt,” he said as he sits down and proceeds to drink again.
Cell pulled out her sweater to look down at the new mark branded into her chest, right atop her highly visible breastbone. “Then I won’t try. But I can’t believe it’s all good now. This Spirit man. I tried to read him. He’s worse than Joseph. And now I work for him.” The knife slotted itself back into the rack. Chase watches the knife go back into the rack with a mixture of awe and concern. “Joseph?” Chase asked with a bit of genuine curiosity. Is that the guy who chased us out of the island? “Who is Joseph?” Chase asked as he looks directly at Cell and glances at her soul to she her internal reaction to the question. “My brother. The one who did that to me.” The table shook and Chase might notice his chair had began to hover. “Not just that! He broke my mind in the first place! He took me to that fucking island against my own will and surrounded me with slaves! He said he loved me, that he’d do anything for his siblings, and I believed him! Can you fucking believe that!? I felt the suffering of the slaves and asked him to stop it, and do you know what he did!? DO YOU!?” Everything was floating now, even Cell herself, walking through the air to grab Chase’s face. “He lobotomized them! All of them in my wing of the palace! He cut their brains out and put machines in them, just like he’d do to me! And I’ll kill him! All of them! I taste their sins in my soul! They thought they had cast the devil into the pit, but she crawls back, every… every…” Everything fell back to the ground, Cell crashing down onto the table. She looked paler and thinner than ever. Chase calmly holds onto Creon while the shit in his apartment smashes against the floor, and suddenly the microwave begins to ring. “Before I grab the food, I just want to make sure of something. Are you done with your tantrum?” Cell numbly nodded and sat in her chair. She silently ate her meal and at the end, drug herself off to her room.
She looked at the sparse furniture. Just a bed and a side table. It was better than sleeping among tubes and needles. She couldn’t complain. She was all out of rage and all that remained was a bone-deep exhaustion. She undressed for bed before noticing a door in the corner of the room. She floated over to give it a peak. If it lead into Chase’s room, she wanted to know about it now. Instead, it was a cramped bathroom, barely enough room for the mirror she reeled back from. Her body was whole once more. Her head and abdomen were no longer spotted with metal plates and blinking lights, but their reminder was found in the lack of a single hair on her entire body. It was like a newborn, something birthed directly from a vat.
The image wasn’t helped by the way her skin stuck to her bones like it was glued there. She looked like if she stretched too much, her skin would tear away and she’d be walking bones. And of course, the brand. The latest humiliation inflicted upon her flesh. Thoughts of surgery flashed before her eyes. Compared to that, it was nothing. But the feel of fire still lingered, and the mark it left on her was forever. She could only be thankful it was covered entirely by pretty much any clothing she would wear. She looked back at the clothes on her floor. It was odd to have those back after so long. They were comfortable enough, warm at least. She could live with them in public. She carried herself back to the bed and flopped limply onto it. She could feel nightmares awaiting her, but that was no different than any other night. She closed her eyes.
Jose takes a deep breath before taking a step towards the top of the hill as he wishes he could wipe the sweat out of his eyes. His back muscles are beginning to kill him as he proceeds to take one more step forward. Needing something to distract his mind from the pain he asks, “Master, is this really the best way for me to built up my strength?” Goemon, sitting cross-legged above the boulder Jose was carrying, smiled, while drinking water. -Yes and no.- Was his initial reply to his student inquiry. The Karate Star then proceeded to explain. -We’re aren’t building up your strength, at least not directly.- He took another sip, shielding his eyes from the glare of the sun, looking up the hill. -Human bodies are brittle, Hernandez-kun.- Goemon took another sip from the bottle. -When we use Ki, we put our bodies to the test, is almost like putting a firecracker inside a bottle, the blast will get stronger when contained, but soon it would rupture the container is trapped in, trying to get out.- He spoke from experience as his fist was still sore when there was too much humidity in the air, after his fight with Tadao, months ago. -We learn to open the receptacle that are our bodies and let calculated blasts escape from the inside, but to do that, the rest of the body must be strong.-
He finished the bottle, pressing it against his head and turning it into a ball of plastic, placing it inside a backpack that rested over his crossed legs. -You need to strengthen your body without the use of Ki, your muscles need to become denser and your bones sturdier, so you can control larger quantities of Ki with ease.- He kept explaining. -That’s how my master explained it, only that he used from F-words, and that’s how Fukuma dai-sensei taught him as well.- He made a pause, reminiscing about his master. -That’s why I’m telling you not to use Ki or your Natural Powers to carry the stone, as we’re currently working on increasing your physical body, just like I did when I started training for real.- Jose continues to climb higher and higher as Goemon explains the purpose of this exercise, yet Jose could barely comprehend his master’s words as he is on the brink of passing out any moment now. As he is about to reach the apex his feet begin to slide down on the hill. “Damn it,” Jose muttered. Why did Goemon have him do this after a rainstorm? His legs are completely covered in mud. Yet making him do this without his shoes may have been the worse part, as he could feel most of his toenails starting to peel off from the brutal journey up this hill. Digging deep down once again the young martial artist searches for his own natural strength to push own. He digs his feet deeper into the dirt as he tries to fight gravity’s pull and push himself back towards the top. All the while resisting the urge to use his powers or Ki. He didn’t want to cheat himself by using his other abilities. Besides, even if he tried his master would know about it and make the exercise twice as difficult.
Jose finally manages to stop himself from sliding down and once more takes a step forward. “By the way master…” Jose said in-between deep breathes, “Shouldn’t you be training yourself?” As he takes another step forward his vision begins to go a bit cloudy. Goemon smile got wider. -I’m training my young student.- He replied, still not moving from the place. -You haven’t noticed that even with you swaying the boulder I haven’t fell off?- Goemon commented, as he stood up, standing on a single leg while lifting the other. -I’ve been training to focus my center of mass and balance to further improve the transference of power from my legs to my fists.- Jose would also start sensing Ki, like an incandescent point of energy inside of his master -And I’ve been refining my Ki through mediation, trying to improve the quality of my Mountain Slaying Technique, one I’ve been developing.- If what Goemon was saying was true, he might be talking about his own Master Technique to add to the increasing arsenal of the Mountain Slaying Fist. -Part of you carrying me up here was to allow me charge my Ki and prepare to use my technique, for the first time.- Suddenly the Earth Shaker trips and lands on one knee. To Jose it feels as if the entire weight of the boulder just transfer onto his knee, causing an extreme amount of agony. However the pain helps the bounty hunter to stay awake. He looks forward to see the marked spot where he needs to place the boulder. It is only a few feet in front of him. As his good leg is shaking from now supporting the majority of the weight, Jose forces himself back to his feet while fighting through the pain. He muscles begin to bulge up as they reach their limits. While releasing a mighty scream he takes one more step forward before hurling the boulder at the top of the hill with all his strength.
As the boulder flew majestically through the air Goemon remained standing on it as if it wasn't’ moving. The Karate Star’s balance and coordination was completely undisturbed as the rock landed on the marked spot, still standing in one leg. Goemon exhaled and slowly placed his lifted foot on the boulder. -We need to prepare for the next Spirit Boxing Invitational and I think this technique might help me push through the competition.- Goemon lifted his hand as the Mountain Killer Ki gathered around his fingers, turning from golden to bright, volcanic red, shining like a beacon. -Karate has many techniques, most of them are banned on competitive matches and even in Hidden Tournaments, but the Spirit Boxing Federation doesn’t mind a technique unless is not performed with your fists.- The red flames surrounding Goemon’s hand, signaling this being a Guts-type technique changed, morphing into crackles of red lighting. The bolts coursing over his body made his hair stick up, turning his majestic afro into a mess of spiky columns as he exhaled, letting out condensated vapor out from the sides of his mouth.
-My master…- Goemon’s voice got gruffer and deeper, as if channeling all this power was somehow affecting him. -My master told me that of the many techniques of Karate none is more prohibited during tournaments than this one.- Goemon’s muscles keep tensing up, turning almost into living stone, carved by lighting. -My recent experience against Tadao made me remember his teachings and made me realize my self imposed limitations.- He explained, struggling to control the energy on his fist as he explained. -Our style focuses on focusing the power and then releasing it, but we don’t care much for speed.- The lightning, added to his comments about limitations and recent experiences cleared pointed to something, somehow, Goemon, managed to change the nature of his Fighting Spirit, from Guts to Speed. -”Nothing is deadlier than a thrust Goemon, because...” and you’ll excuse me using this word, but I’m quoting my master “...nobody fuckin’ expects a spear piercing their bodies in a fight with hammers.- Goemon’s hand was still extended, his fingers straight and radiating energy. -This is my technique, one I trained, developed and hopefully perfect with my blood, sweat and tears.- He glanced at Jose. -And you’ll be the one to inherit this one first Hernandez-Kun.-
When Goemon glances at Jose he will discover that his apprentice has passed out from exhaustion. The Earth Shaker lies motionless on the muddy ground. His face completely in the dirt. Goemon’s confident smile vanished, a bit disappointed of giving one of his better teaching speeches to a half-dead crowd. Heavily sighing he unleashed the technique, unseen to Jose’s eyes, at least for now.
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Post by HungryHunter on Jul 6, 2018 3:40:28 GMT
Weary, jetlagged and sore, Dan Drake limped to his front door. He had to climb three flights to get here, and his bad knee was beginning to act up. He checked his tattered suit and sighed. It was worth it for how much this job landed, but it was still a shame. He should have asked Haruko to fix it back at the HWIC office. Being thanked for helping her out was a good puff to his ego, but it wasn't going to keep his nice clothes intact. He stepped inside and hung up his hat. Two children sat in the middle of the room, surrounded by children's books and musical instruments. "Hi, Mister Drake!" Cosmina cheerfully waved.
"Hi. Cosmina, I told you Qiang's bed time is 8:30. What's he doing up at 1?" Dan crossed his arms and leaned on the kitchen counter. "He said he couldn't sleep without you being around." Cosmina responded, Qiang nodding in agreement. Dan rolled his eyes and sorted out a few bills from his saxophone case. "Here you go. Get yourself home." He handed Cosmina the money and picked Qiang up. "Thank you, sir!" Cosmina pocketed her cash and pulled out a teleport scroll to vanish. "Did you have fun with Cosmina?" Dan smiled as he carried Qiang to his bed, sheets decorated with murky green lobsters. Qiang nodded and Dan's head flooded with music and pictures from storybooks.
"Well that's good. I'll call her up next time I'm out, okay? Just make sure you go to bed on time, okay?" He tucked Qiang in and felt worry beaming into his skull. "Hey, no. Come on now. You don't have to be worried when I'm out. Daddy will be fine." Dan realized that the cuts he got earlier were still clear on his face, alongside the equally obvious wear and tear to his suit. His smile faltered. He could have died today, and where would that have left Qiang? At best, Haruko took him in, but she was there too. He rustled Qiang's hair and tweaked his ears and stood to leave. "I love you." He turned off the light, little images of hearts flowing into his mind from Qiang's. His smile faded when he left. It wasn't just sore muscles and a tired brain now, but a guilty soul. He entered his own room, removing his damaged suit to stand before his bathroom mirror.
His entire back was one big bruise from when Cell threw him into the wall. A little harder and ribs could have cracked. A long gash was bandaged on his side. A little slower, that that would be through his guts. And how much worse was it on a dozen other adventures? He couldn't roll that dice on a whim anymore. He gave his battered body one more once-over as he undid his ponytail. The marks Huntsman left on his face still stung, standing out clearly even in dim bathroom lighting. He had to find a more stable source of income, one that didn't risk killing him. This money could last him a while, but hardly forever. Thoughts of employment were on his mind when he went to his bed, and brought a frown to his face in his dreams.
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Post by Kuma on Jul 6, 2018 3:51:32 GMT
Gen was sitting on the boat, looking at the sleeping Rin, right beside him. His eyes wandered off from his sister, looking over board and gazing at the horizon. His face was a mask of grim determination, the kind of expression somebody decided to walk through hell has. The period of time he vanished from the island was much longer that what it seemed, as the man who rescued him, at least Gen thought he was a man, took him somewhere in which time didn’t matter as much. The Hot Blooded Brawler thought about the scene that unfolded to him once the mysterious individual took him away.
“-Young student of my student, fruit of his student, I welcome you to my humble house, Seikuken.- Hibiki Nensho, the greatest Martial Artist alive, was levitating over a pond of clear water, talking to Gen. -Wait a fuckin’ minute.- The Hot-Blooded Brawler said. -Ya can’t be Nensho Dai-Sensei, he is older than Fukuma-sensei, ya can’t be older than 10 years old.- The levitating Avatar of Martial Prowess in front of Gen smiled. -Your mind is closed to possibilities young student of my student, once you run out of enemies you need to find others to fight when humans cannot bring enough challenge you need to seek new enemies.- Gen shook his head, confused. -What the hell are ya talkin’ ‘bout? New enemies? Who’re ya fightin’?- Nensho smiled again, irradiating peace. -When humanity doesn’t do the trick you seek to fight something else, something greater.- The Hot-Blooded Brawler pressed the top of his nose between his index and thumb, shaking his head again, even more, confused than before.
-What the hell did ya do? Did ya fought aliens or somethin’?- He asked, trying to land of the correct answer through sheer luck. Nensho chuckle danced in the air, like an old melody being played for the first time again. -No young student of my student, that might be in your future though…- He made a pause to allow Gen’s chin to drop 2 or 3 meters after than line and returned to talking before the Former Delinquent could interrupt him. -I fought against things that can’t be fought, Martial Arts were just a stepping stone to finding my true path, as I became a Sage, fighting not just what can be touch, but also what can’t be seen.- Gen, getting a little frustrated at this point, popped his neck. -I don’t care if ya’re the fuckin’ God of fuckin’ martial arts, but if ya don’t make fuckin’ sense in the next 30 seconds Imma gonna deck ya in the schnoz!- Once again Nensho chuckled as if he was hearing a young child say something amusing.
-Right to the point, just like Reiji, I can understand how you became his student.- Nensho floated over the pond of water, moving closer to Gen. -To put it in your words you might understand, I look this young because I, and excuse my language, made time my bitch, or at least clobbered it enough for it to leave me alone.- For a moment there was a moment of silence, as Gen’s brain was trying to process what Nensho just told him. Then, once the idea hit him, like a freight train, he fell on his ass and started realizing two things. First one, since he entered here he couldn’t feel any Ki or any energy of any sort coming out Nensho, because he was inside his Ki, and second, he remembered Rin. -Ri- He turned around looking for his sister, his eyes locking on her, resting in a pile of pillows, her wounds completely bandaged, in fact, his own wounds were bandaged as well. His eyes slowly returned to Nensho, who now hovered close to him. -Don’t worry young student of my student, you’ll be safe here and you’ll join your comrades as you escape, time cannot get us here, so I have time to explain why Reiji sent you here.-”
Back in the boat, Gen stood up, putting a blanket over Rin, while he started looking around, trying to find Haruko. As he did that, his mind kept remembering the talk he had with Nensho.
“-You see my boy, Reiji didn’t join the extermination squad to fight the Gainen because he wanted, I sent him myself.- Gen, who always thought Reiji joined, according to his own master words, because they convinced him through the power of Friendship and the determination of the leader of the squad, was clearly surprised by the information. -I foresaw that the Gainen would become a great danger for the world, as their species was something new, something only seen once before across the multiverse.- The Hot-Blooded Brawler head was slowly melting at this point, as the information kept pouring, but the mention of multiverse jogged his memory, of his dreadful experiences in the Dimensional Waypoint. He shuddered for a second, trying to push those memories away as Nensho continued explaining. -The Gainen aren’t natural, they’re the fragments of a dead universe, sticking to ours like leeches, drinking from the conceptual energy in this world. Their final goal, at least of most of them, seems to be gathering as much energy as possible and consolidating it into a single being.-
Nensho made a pause, letting the confused Gen think about what he just said. -But to reach that point they will destroy this universe and everything in it, containing that knowledge into a singular entity.- Gen opened his eyes upon realizing that he saw that before. -To my knowledge, there was a single case of the Gainen plot, at least other Gainens, working.- The Hot Blooded Boxer took his hand directly to his forehead, remembering the headbutt that almost killed him back in the mysterious prison he was trapped in. -And that being was the one that pushed Eiyu Shomei into madness, the one who feeds the Bureau with all the false information about the Gainen, he wants to absorb the energy the other Gainen are taking and fuse with them, to increase his own might.- Gen was sure that he knew who Nensho was talking about and he mouthed. -I thought that the Extermination Squad ended his life during their battles so many years ago, but now somebody else was influenced by this being and is about to bring the end to all civilization as we know it.- The Hot Blooded Boxer couldn’t even believe what Nensho was saying. The End of the World?
-You need to find Reiji, he saw the man behind this plot and he can point you in the right direction, I cannot see him, somebody blocks my sight.- Gen started to think, his mind racing. -Where is Fukuma-Sensei?- Nensho smiled, as he vanished, sending Rin and Gen to the boat. -Shirokumo, Reiji is in Shirokumo… and take the pink haired Miyata-girl, she has seen the man who will bring the End of All Things, she can identify him.- And that’s when Gen landed back into reality, on the boat.”
Gen finally found Haruko. -Pink… Miyata-san…- His eyes were burning with determination, the same flames Rin had when she asked Haruko to help her rescue Gen in Osaka. -I need yer help.-
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Post by TimePuppy on Jul 19, 2018 20:13:35 GMT
Arthur gave his report in the HWIC base, helped Haruko get home after her chat with Gen and made sure she was fine, said hi/bye to Katie, got sad Cosmina wasn't there, and finally went home.The thrill of the mission already died down completely by the time he arrived. At home he found his daughters watching TV in the living room, and in the kitchen he found leftovers from the dinner Loveline made. After eating, he joined Love and Haze on the couch to watch the rerun on a movie he's seen many times before and regale his daughters with stories of the adventure (only slightly embellished).
"Oh, I wonder if I can mix up my regular form and Insanity mode and make, like, Super Insanity Mode!" Loveline exclaimed ecstatically. Then her face dimmed. "Wait, they're not the same as Yamiko ad Opal Song... Drats..."
"I wonder if I'll ever get into tough and dangerous situations like that... I don't think I could get out of them like you..." Hazel pondered the future she would have in a couple of years, excited and terrified by the situations that came to mind.
Soon the conversation moved to what the girls were doing while he was gone and before they knew it, it was time for bed. Tomorrow they will find another adventure, or another adventure will find them. That's the nature of the hidden world after all. It's hard to find a truly calm day. And that's how Arthur liked it.
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