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Post by HungryHunter on Jan 6, 2019 8:32:16 GMT
"You're right." Hammond nodded, putting the poisons back where they belonged. "I was thinking it must be Morton, but the grades got me thinking. Morton never successfully made a potion in his life. He's a half-step up from mundane when it comes to magic. Morton couldn't use ingredients he picked up in the Sidhe, and he couldn't afford raw angel dust, even squirreling away money from his purchases, excessive as they were." Hammond sighed and walked back towards the room where the family members were gathered. "Can you stay with the kids while I arrest him? I don't want to do it in front of them." Hammond asked before approaching Elliot.
"Mr. Botswright, can you come with me into the entrance room? I want to talk to you alone." He gestured to the door. Elliot's eyes widened for a second, but he nodded. The two exited and for a moment, all was quiet. It was only a few seconds before the mansion was shook and smoke blasted through the open door. "DURWARD! DEFENSE!" Elliot's call came just a second later and the golem sprang to life, running through the smoke to join his master. "Dad!?" Morton yelled, jumping up. "He... fucking hell, he really did do it." He ran his hand over his shorn head.
In the blasted entryway, Hammond shoved himself to his feet and immediately fell again. One moment of hesitation from the both of them and Elliot had fired. It was overkill, fueled by a rare moment of panic in the life of a man who was always in control of the situation. Hammond was pretty sure he was missing something, but his nerves were far too shot to figure out what. He saw enough blood already on the ground that it likely didn't matter what organs were gone. He coughed and smoke poured out. That hissing rasp he heard, was it the voice of death? He hadn't believed that death could have a voice for years, but now, who knew? He was on the edge of the greatest mystery in the world.
For some reason, he didn't feel even a tingle of fear. It was kind of fitting in a way. Killed by a criminal he had backed into a corner with his reasoning skills. There was a satisfaction in it. A dastardly mastermind, unable to outthink him, gunning him down in desperation and throwing away any chance he had at freedom. Will Terry think of it that way? The thought rose unbidden and the pain that the wound couldn't bring came. His limbs scrabbled, desperate to make him rise. He was that selfish, to desire some poetic death befitting his favorite genre over life with his damn husband!?
Something hard as steel grabbed him and pressed him to the ground, holding him tight. His injuries overrode the strength of panic, and he could only wiggle feebly as something was pulled over his face. His mind slipped away, but not before a voice came. "You will be alright. I promise." Hammond sleepily nodded in agreement. Whether that was the angel of death or not, it was good to hear. He drifted into a sleep without dreams.
Ludomir did not stand from his position at Hammond's side. His arms had come apart into an army of small tools, cleaning bits of dirt and fabric from the gaping hole in Hammond's abdomen. "Mr. Rosenberger will be perfectly alright, although I'm afraid neither me nor him will be of much use in several minutes. You must handle Mr. Bottswright yourself." He said, not looking away from his patient. Morton had peeked out of the door way into the room his father torched.
An entryway kept spotless for decades was blackened, covered in soot, little bits of fire still eating at the walls. It was just another piece of the reeling flood of information wrecking his mind. "Uh, Gan, I think I know where my father went. I can't help you fight if he attacks you, but I can direct you to him, I hope." He glanced back into the living room, where Madriel had the other two Botswright children gathered in her arms, eyes like a bird of prey's glaring at anything even remotely threatening. Elliot wouldn't seek to harm them, right?
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Post by othus on Jan 8, 2019 7:13:23 GMT
Gan did not move as it all happened, he calmly walked towards where Hammond and Elliot were only to find him seriously injured and on the ground. When the doctor told Gan he would need to "handle" Elliot by himself, he simply shook his head, Morton also seemed to have a wrong idea as to what the job of a bodyguard was, but that wasn't even the main issue.
"I'm sorry to tell you this right now Morton, but your father breached our contract and thus, I am no longer under his service, nor yours" The bodyguard made a brief pause as he looked at the scene, Aubrey and Lucian were going through quite probably the most traumatic experience of their lives and, while Gan could relate, this was all about business. He looked at Morton once more, wondering if he had the guts to act.
"What will it be, Morton? do you wish to hire me back as a bodyguard and escort you and your family to safety? or, perhaps, you need a hitman? think very carefully Morton, I'm not like agent Rosenberger, I'm a Musashi, and there is only one type of justice our clan imparts"
He signaled with his head at Morton so that he too would look at his brother and sister before making any choice.
"whatever choice you make, it will shape the future of this family, be smart and make haste, your father is getting away as we speak."
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Post by HungryHunter on Jan 8, 2019 22:33:21 GMT
“You… you would just let him leave if you don’t get paid!?” Morton sputtered. “Don’ look a’ it until yer home an it’ll be worth more’n they paid ya.” Madriel appeared, stuffing dried leaves into a bag and tying it closed. “I need a bodyguard. I was gonna talk ta Elliot ‘bout my resignation, but ‘e’s in a pissy mood.” Madriel smiled, showing off her vicious fangs.
“Those leaves will turn to solid gold upon your arrival in your home, that is true. But I would not recommend making a contract with a fairy regardless.” Ludomir advised, not glancing away from Hammond. “And I don’t want you going with her to kill my father! That’s a little more important!” Morgan stomped his foot. “I won’ kill him. Jus’ help him go ta’ jail. Then ya’re gonna end our contract!” Madriel poked him in the chest. “...I will free you, but I don’t trust you not to kill him. Gan, I’m hiring you as my bodyguard to confront my father.” Both of them turned to Gan, expecting him to take their side.
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Post by othus on Jan 10, 2019 3:02:30 GMT
"Sorry Madriel, but I'm afraid I'll have to decline your offer."- He replied calmly with a slight smile on his face, there are Some things that just can't be bought with money.
"I just wanted to see how far Morton was willing to go, and it seems like he made his choice. He has proven me he is a man more than capable of taking action with a level head"
Gan set his hand over Morton's shoulder before looking at him directly, the God of war was feeling slightly happy, Morton had made a choice he himself couldn't.
"Guide me to your father, I'll make sure to bring him back."
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Post by HungryHunter on Jan 10, 2019 7:02:33 GMT
Madriel growled in irritation, but she backed away when Morton landed the bodyguard’s services. “I can’t say I much like your little game, but I can’t fight him. I don’t even have my spear.” Morton grumbled, taking off down the hallway he suspected his father had gone down. It was a straight line to a backdoor that lead out into a courtyard. It mirrored the house’s horseshoe shape with two tall hedge rows framing it. At the very end of this yard, surrounded by flowers, was a marble gazebo. Within the gazebo was Elliot, sitting with his arms around a spear. Durward stood between him and Morton.
“I don’t think he’ll attack me, and Durward can’t. But still… stay near me.” Morton breathed deep and approached. Durward blocked his path. “Why?” He asked past the golem. “...I lost control of everything. You couldn’t master magic at the greatest magical school in the world! Aubrey listens to the help more than me! Lucian isn’t even mine! And don’t you try to argue, I had the tests done!” Elliot yelled from within the gazebo. “So this was all to… take control!?” Morton tried to weave past Durward and was rebuffed. “Nancy cheated on me. You denied my connections in getting a job while spending my money. I needed to retake the reigns of my life! Lucian I would just quietly shunt into a good job out of the public eye. I would just need to free Madriel and I could focus my time on making sure Aubrey doesn’t turn out like you!” Elliot stood, spear functioning as a crutch.
“Father, you’re sick. Turn yourself in.” Tears were streaming down Morton’s cheeks. “I didn’t run here to turn myself in. I came here to take control in the only way I can now.” Elliot lowered his spear to point at Gan. “You understand what I’m talking about, don’t you? Unlike my son, I was the champion of the duel club in my days at Gateway. All I can control now is the means of my death… or life, if you are not worth the vast funds I paid to acquire your services.”
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Post by othus on Jan 10, 2019 8:08:44 GMT
Listening to Elliot made Gan feel rage, family was not something determined only by blood. He might be a sad individual, but his actions were those of a madman. A thin golden aura enveloped Gan's body as he clenched his fists, getting stronger with every word the head of the Botswright uttered.
"I will not let you continue this vendetta at the expense of innocent people, Elliot. If you are so eager to know what you bought with all that money, let me give you a taste of it"
Within the 2500 agents of the Musashi clan, Tenjin was known as the most powerful of them all, a living weapon capable of killing just about anything. However, it was Gan the one everyone feared the most. The mix of brutality and Technique had no equal in the clan, the way he demolished entire armies of monsters without even drawing his blade at times earned him the title of God of War.
The floor shattered as Gan unleashed a colossal amount of God ki on the golem in the form of a one-inch punch, it was an attack delivered with speed and precision far beyond human capabilities. He did not care on whether this fight would destroy the Botswright state or not, he made a promise to Morton and he would fulfill it.
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Post by HungryHunter on Jan 11, 2019 5:52:13 GMT
Gan snapped from 0 to 1000 in an instant. The sonic boom was all Morton could catch of the movement. All he knew was that in a single move, Durward was thrown back and his chest dented in. His long arms caught the pillars of the gazebo and sprang him back forward. One of them shot forward in a brutal straight, seeking to punch Gan from a full 10 feet away. The other arm shot out past the Musashi agent and swung back to strike at his kidney from behind.
“I don’t intend to continue, Gan. I know damn well what I’m in for now. If it’s not you, it’ll be the HWIC.” Elliot grinned at his foe and stamped the butt of his spear into the ground. A wave of smoke flowed along the ground, crawling out through the grass and rising into the form of a giant serpent. The smoke came to life with lightning and solidified into an enormous being of scales and flesh. It weightily uncoiled, enormous body entirely surrounding Gan. It was roughly serpentine, but with a skull like a monitor lizard and a frill supported by structures resembling tesla coils. The banana-yellow beast did not attack, just forming a limited ring for Gan to fight Durward in.
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Post by othus on Jan 11, 2019 6:51:36 GMT
Gan swung his right hand after punching the golem, it was clearly quite tough. He smiled upon looking at the dent he made.
"Well, ain't you a tough bastard? bring it on!" -He said as he signaled the monster to get closer.
The spring-like movements of Durward were expected just by looking at his build, but Gan had no idea how much control the creature had over them. The agent dodged the first blow and guarded against the second using a layer of Ki, it was clear the creature packed some serious punching power, as the blow stung his arm. the surprises did not end there, for Elliot decided to summon a creature to serve as a ring for the two.
"You think this is quite entertaining now, don't you? give me a minute and it will be your turn"
he turned towards the golem once more, but signaled it to wait, the bodyguard took off his jacket and unbuttoned his shirt, folding both and then teleporting them away. a full Irezumi suit was displayed over his chiseled physique.
Gan quickly dashed back into the range of the golem, his hits packed full force as he aimed exactly at the same spot, the golden glow was akin to violent flames on his fists, roaring with the intensity of a wildfire out of control.
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Post by HungryHunter on Jan 11, 2019 7:29:29 GMT
Elliot whistled and Durward stopped stiff while Gan stripped to the waist. He didn’t respond to Gan’s taunt, just watching until he was ready and pointing. “Durward, kill that man.” The golem sprang back into action, but Gan was faster. His fists hit home right in Durward’s center, diving right past the butler’s impressive range. This time, he didn’t fly backwards. The force instead blew right through him, ripping a hole in the magical robot, through which Elliot could be seen.
There wasn’t even a moment of hesitation before he struck back, steel fists snapping at Gan’s flanks. “Gan! You have to destroy the seal that gives him life!” Morton had recovered enough to offer advice. “I don’t know where it is, but try closer to his head!” His warning came just as one of Durward’s hands tried to wrap around Gan’s neck and hold him out at arm’s length, farther away from the golem’s body and the master he defended.
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Post by othus on Jan 11, 2019 7:43:22 GMT
Gan was actually surprised to see the golem still move even after getting a hole in the middle, he truly despised magic. as the golem went for a grip on his neck he set one of his arms at the same height to avoid the strangling, it was a crushing pressure, so Gan had to act quickly, the words of Morton gave him an immediate hint as to what to do.
"Since the boxing match is over...I'll let you have at it: Kikoha! "
Gan opened his palm as he shot a powerful burst of Ki energy right at the head of Durward, creating an explosion. was that enough to deal with the creature? Using Ki that way drained quite a lot of energy.
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Post by HungryHunter on Jan 11, 2019 8:11:22 GMT
Gan’s ki blast was more than enough to eradicate the strange head of his strange foe. Little bits of metal rained down over steely shoulders, making a noise like rain on a tin roof. Durward’s grip didn’t loosen and he drew back his fist, using the full strength of his arm to fire off a straight with the power of a steam engine right for Gan’s gut. However, he could now see something at the base of Durward’s neck, hidden on the inside right where it met the body.
A little magic scribble, a language old yet still spoken. Before Gan could do anything, a burst of wind blew his hair forward and a rock soared past to smash into the letters. There was the clang that would be expected, then an unnatural hiss. Durward’s grip still remained as stiff as before, but very suddenly, his every joint went still. Morton was panting, hand out. Just that little burst of wind had nearly drained him of mana, but it had been worth it to preserve Gan’s ki. “And events continue to soar out of my control.” Elliot looked at his son with an unreadable expression.
He walked forward to meet Gan, spear revealing itself to be a partizan in the sunlight, with vicious blades coming off from the sides of the spearhead. He allowed Gan to disentangle himself from Durward’s grip before lunging forward, golden spearhead crackling with blue lightning while his summoned serpent did the same. Electricity arcing off the serpent’s frill sought to strike Gan from behind, a perfect pincer maneuver.
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Post by othus on Jan 11, 2019 8:50:28 GMT
Gan broke free from the now totaled golem, the moment Elliot stepped forward with the intent to kill, Gan decided it was time to get serious
-Virtual Machine no.04 Online-
his regular clothing was immediately replaced by an emerald green armor with exquisite details that made it look like dragon scales. He opened both hands, one pointing towards Elliot and the other towards the serpent as a transparent shield dome was made out of his Ki, the bubble held against long enough for Gan to get out of the pincer.
"I will not hold back Elliot, you are a dangerous man, one that needs to stay behind bars, for that, I will bring justice with my blade"
Gan drew the golden hilt of his blade which revealed a beautiful green edge, a dragon pearl was beautifully set at the base of the blade with the Kanji of power marked into it. The blade Jyuzumaru was one of the five greatest metalworks in Japanese history, also known as the Tenka-Goken. Its quality was superior to that of legendary blades like Akane's Kaneshige and rivaled that of Soon's almighty Take Mikazuchi. The Musashi clan arduously looked for these five blades, managing to get only 3 of the five thus far, the wielder of the final blade being none other than Tenjin.
"Jikiden Eishin Ryu: Ryū Hi Shō!"
Powerful cuts of green Ki energy flew from Gan's blade in the shape of an X, aimed directly at Elliot's familiar, the attack was not designed to cut through, but instead to cause insufferable pain.
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Post by HungryHunter on Jan 11, 2019 9:13:23 GMT
The flash of lightning off of Gan’s protective dome was blinding. Elliot hopped back to watch and wait. Gan was allowed to enable his armor, and had enough time to attack the massive serpent that lay behind him. His attack, calculated to cause pain, certainly did so, but apparently not much. The ki slashes only made shallow injuries in the snake’s body. Elliot took advantage of Gan’s focus on his summon to step in and thrust. His speartip didn’t reach Gan at all, instead suddenly erupting in a plume of fire. The summon rolled backwards like a massive log, staying out of range of the fire. From a safe distance, it struck again with arcs of lightning.
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Post by othus on Jan 11, 2019 9:41:49 GMT
Gan once again shielded against the magic attacks, for an old man, it was crazy the amount of magic he could wield on command
"Give it up, Elliot! had you been in your prime, you could have done something about my Ki barrier, but I'm quite confident you won't be able to outlast me as you are!"
The bodyguard dashed for Elliot as soon as the serpent ceased its attack, with surgeon-like precision he aimed at the fingers of the Botswright, looking to literally cut the grip he had on his weapon, the emerald blade was coated with a golden glow that made it all the more sharper, the wind whistled as the edge passively cut the air, creating an eerie melody on the garden.
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Post by HungryHunter on Jan 12, 2019 2:22:22 GMT
Elliot wasn’t quite as fast as Gan, but he was quick enough to dodge to the side. Gan’s slash only nicked his knuckles, leaving his fingers intact. He would have been in trouble with Gan so close, but the snake struck again. This time, its lightning attacks went around Gan, forming a cage of lightning. The serpent vanished in a flash as Elliot swung his spear in, trying to slice his ribs. Halfway through the strike, he thrust forward, electricity from the containing cage drawn into the point of the spear.
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Post by othus on Jan 13, 2019 10:54:11 GMT
Gan deflected the spear attack but as the electricity returned it struck him cleanly. He did not expect such an elaborate maneuver, it was probably the result of many hours of training with his familiar while for Gan was the first time fighting against such a creature.
The electric attack tensed up his muscles instantly, a sharp pain attempting to paralyze his body in the spot. had he been a regular man, he would have probably gotten killed by the attack.
Despite the pain and the intensity of the attack, Gan roared as he pulled through, extending the range of his blade with Ki in yet another attempt to incapacitate Elliot as he swung at his shoulder.
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Post by HungryHunter on Jan 14, 2019 4:29:07 GMT
Elliot was once more quick enough to retreat from Gan’s attack, only letting it open a shallow gash on his chest. “Come on, is brute force all you have!? I could have chained a troll by by door for that!” As much as he retreated, he didn’t enter the gazebo, instead trying to skirt around the edges. Morton didn’t get it for a moment, but he quickly realized the problem. His father’s weapon was unwieldy inside of the gazebo itself. The pillars would restrict its motion. He would be using his summon to control where Gan could move, but mana was clearly at a premium now.
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Post by othus on Jan 14, 2019 7:44:32 GMT
Gan slightly smiled when Elliot taunted him, he clearly was a warrior at heart. The Musashi agent positioned himself so that Elliot had the pavilion structure behind his back
"Give me a break old man, I'm trying my best not to kill you, but if you insist!"
The god of war sent out a powerful wave of air pressure towards Elliot, looking to send him flying into the Gazebo through one of the pillars, he would quickly follow to get the ground advantage.
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Post by HungryHunter on Jan 15, 2019 4:01:13 GMT
"I'm not old yet!" Elliot thrust his spear forward, but Gan's blast of force deflected his strike before reaching his body. Elliot went right through one pillar and tumbled back to his feet on the gravel. He acted at once, backing towards the other end of the gazebo. His hand pulled back, dark, smokey flames gathering. He swiped his palm, laying a roaring wall of flame between Gan and himself in an attempt to cover his escape route.
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Post by othus on Jan 15, 2019 4:18:52 GMT
Gan was already inside the structure when Elliot began to make his flame spell, knowing he would try to get away as soon as they entered. The Musashi agent put up a countermeasure of his own almost immediately.
"Kekkai!" He said as he traced with hand signs an area around the gazebo, sealing the space with powerful ki barriers, leaving only the top open for the heat of the flames to escape, the heat quickly piled up despite the maneuver, making him slightly sweat on the forehead, his eyes still seemingly piercing through the smoke, as he was able to feel the life force of his opponent.
"You won't' get away from here Elliot, this is the showdown you wished for!"
Gan was not able to use any other form of Ki while the construct was active, but he had full confidence he wouldn't lose with the battlefield advantage, as well as a serious strength difference. He sliced with all of his strength at the wall of flames in order to make an opening, he would jump immediately after and follow with a relentless barrage of sword strikes aimed at the extremities of the mage.
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