Springtide Rosalia 2021 - Rosalia #11) Hell is Alone
[Toggle Names]Description: In the blazing depths of an abandoned hellscape, three combatants face off for the rite to continue on. For as the message says: "It was written 'We are each our own devil, and we make this world our hell.' Here, you will put that to the test. Each of you carries within you a heavy guilt. Only one of you will be set free of this hellish prison. And only by force will you earn your parole. Your trial begins now."
[TSINGHUA]
It's hot, terrifyingly so.
The city of the damned is a truly nightmarish place. Large, stone buildings stretch out across the reddened horizon, going on for as far as the eyes can see. Buildings with runic inscriptions and harsh, jagged edges, the interiors little more then barren rooms which house the demons that inhabit this place, and the tortured souls that find this to be their hell. How such people end up here is unclear- Though many would jump to religious or supernatural reasons. The enviroment is made up of jagged rocks, sprouting upward from a massive river of fluid lava. The lake forks outward in many directions.
Curiously, gnarled sounds of infernal machinery can be heard- metal chains and wheels located above and within the lake for some unfathomable reason; Do they generate some source of power? One has to wonder what the purpose of such is.
Nontheless, somewhere within the endless stretches in the City of the Damned, lies a large, circular rocky protusion out of the magma, connected to more overhangs and juts by large, metal chains- serving as bridges for those brave enough to use them. While this protusion lacks buildings, in the ground are carved runes and patterns in a unknown tongue and style.
On this protusion, a creature starts to wake up that stands out from his surrounding, in it's long, white garb and forest green hair. He looks clean, yet untouched by the ash and rust of this place. The boy knew that he would find himself in the Rosalia somehow.
But this? He could not have anticipated something this inhumane.
He had slept in Sybil's cottage the night prior, after a hearty meal of rabbit with a side of emotional manipulation. And it seems as if he woke up here. Still sleepy, he takes a look around.
Almost immeadiately finding himself in a barely contained panick.
If there's anyone else there, he would not notice them yet, as he scrambles to his feet and starts muttering under is breath.
"N-No, where- where am I?!"
[VENUS]
Venus already was taking a huge step. She got an invitation, and she went for it. Even dressed in something nice, even if she wasn't totally comfortable with it. She made her way to the place said on her invitation, in a limo no less. She was a bit confused on she got out, and then poof she was teleported. At least it didn't teleport the limo or the driver with her.
Once she arrives at the destination, she is disoriented a moment, as if her brain wasn't taking in where she was. Then she hits herself a few time, as she was wondering if she was hallucinating... A few moments later. "Ok, this is not the party I was expecting to be at... Think Venus, think." She looks all around, trying to find a clue to what was going on. "The only thing I can think of is, somewhat, some way I will have to fight for my life." "Definitely you will have to do that." "I can't fight in this dress." "Who cares about the dress." "Point taken." She rips her dress, so it comes out high up on her thighs. "Well I won't be able to return that dress definitely not."
After that's done, she looks around "Now what... Survive I guess. If I can." "Can you?" She shivers and shrugs, not quite realizing Tsinghua, or anyone else is nearby at the moment.
[BISHAMON]
Though the nightmarish landscape may be uncomfortable for most, the third member of this challenge finds himself very much at home. Two sets of glowing red eyes blink open, one shadowed beneath the rim of an ancient samurai helmet, the other peeling back layers of crimson armor molded over his pecks. A breath escapes both mouths, body swaying as the creature known as Bishamon becomes fully aware.
Perched high atop an arching bridge of stone, the possessed warrior has an excellent vantage from which to see not only Tsinghua's slow stir to wakefulness, but Venus's abrupt arrival and bit of wardrobe destruction. The weight of his gaze is heavy, a malicious presence that joins with the oppressive heat rising from the lava below to sap at the spirits of the pair. But before he can act upon his intent, rose-hued letters form in the air before all three combatants, floating there just long enough for each of them to read.
'It was written 'We are each our own devil, and we make this world our hell.' Here, you will put that to the test. Each of you carries within you a heavy guilt. Only one of you will be set free of this hellish prison. And only by force will you earn your parole. Your trial begins now.'
A snarl of reflexive hatred bursts forth from Bishamon's lower mouth, drowning out the weary sigh that gusts from the upper. Sword blurring up from where it had rested point-down before him, he cleaves a whistling path through the hovering letters and leaps forward through their fading remains, falling a good 20 feet before impacting the rune-etched stones between the two humans. The giant yellow teeth within his gaping stomach glisten in the orange glow of their surroundings as he pushes up from his crouch, muscles writhing beneath his dark blue skin as he takes up his katana in both hands.
[TSINGHUA]
"Eeyah!"
First, he notices- and recognizes Venus. "No- Not- Not you, not you again- What have you done? Why am I here?!" But at that point, his attention is drawn elsewhere. The letters, and up to Bishamon- And he visibly recoils, taking multiple steps back at the sight of the horrifying Darkstalker. "Hnrng- So this- this is what Madam Alucard finds to be 'entertainment'" Most of all, the boy looks fearful at the entirety of this situation, as he wrecks his mind-- Venus had beaten him once before, and the other creature looks even stronger.
He feels like he's just prey for these two.
"I- Is there no other way.." Tsinghua protests, looking downward- But he enters a stance. Perching himself on a single leg with the other knee raised upward, grabbing his cane and pointing it backward non-committally, letting his eyes float between his two opponents all the while.
The messenger is shaking, as he prepares to defend himself.
COMBATSYS: Tsinghua has started a fight here.
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Tsinghua 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Bishamon has joined the fight here.
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Bishamon 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 Tsinghua
COMBATSYS: Venus has joined the fight here.
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Venus 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 Tsinghua
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Bishamon 0/-------/-------|
[VENUS]
She blinks... it was the nice, but not so nice guy that was speaking to her. "What I did?" It doesn't go further right now, as there are letters going into the air.
She ponders a moment as she reads the letters, and she didn't care enough over the former, and didn't know the latter, to even think of sacrificing herself. "Well fuck me. That's not a good party at all... I hate this." "Can't blame you." She was nervous, especially when she saw that new guy she didn't know about. "Oh great, now we have a blue guy with a katana." She mentally prepare herself to dodge things, and hit later. It also looks like she's pondering her tactic. "I won't go down easy." But the way she says it, it sounds like she expects to go down. "Let do this then." She gets into her stance, but wasn't sure, eying both of them, and until further notice, she considered Bishamon the bigger threat.
[BISHAMON]
Sides expanding with each slow breath through the gaping maw of his guts, Bishamon's head turns left, crimson eyes falling upon Tsinghua, while a long purple tongue slithers free of his gut to taste the air in Venus's direction. A single drop of saliva stretches, falls, then splats against the stones with a sizzle as he takes his time deciding on a target.
"You should flee." the human mouth murmurs quietly in Japanese, voice heavy with bone-deep exhaustion. "Kien hungers for blood."
[TSINGHUA]
Uh oh, the Samurai is looking at him.
"F-Flee where?! This- just- I don't want to be stuck here!" The boy shoots back, he notices Venus glancing toward Bishamon, and as such decides on focusing his gaze mainly on the Samurai. Yet, he does not attack- Instead opting to take a step back, and observe the swordsman's motions and actions. "If I could, I would- If I could run back home, I would."
"But the message was clear- I will not be the one to get trapped!"
COMBATSYS: Tsinghua calculates his next move.
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Venus 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 Tsinghua
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Bishamon 0/-------/-------|
[VENUS]
the man she didn't know tells them to flee. Tsinghua had a good question. Flee where... "It sounds more like a fight or suffer the consequences forever."
After saying that, she looks at Tsinghua a moment, then at Bishamon. She walks toward him. "You feel like the bigger treat here, especially with that Katana." She makes a fists of her hands. "Here goes nothing." She gives him a right to the face, then a left, then another right. If she had her way, she would give 10 punches in all, picking up speed with each ones, but she wasn't sure about this. Beside who said she would take the time to think about it...
COMBATSYS: Bishamon just-defends Venus' Multiple punches!
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Venus 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 Tsinghua
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Bishamon 0/-------/-------|
[BISHAMON]
"Anywhere." Bishamon replies bluntly, "Anywhere but here."
Taking two long steps back, he positions himself so that he can see both Venus and Tsinghua without having to turn his head, taking up a powerful stance a mere 7 feet from the drop off into the bubbling lake of lava. The fanged maw in his gut continues to pant and drool with growing excitement, large eyes focusing upon Venus as the brunette approaches.
'FWAP!'
Deflecting the first blow with a flick of his sword, the demon bares his normal teeth at her and lets out a snarl of barely-contained frustration.
'FWAP, FWAP, FWAP.'
Blow after blow is parried with easy efficiency, no motion wasted as he turns aside the rapid flow of fists.
Side-stepping the last blow, Bishamon sweeps his sword back and down, the gleaming blade trailing pale blue wisps of ghostly energy. Crimson eyes now alight with rage, he launches himself forward into the girl's personal space and brings his sword powering around in a single horizontal slash, energy writhing across the razor-edge of the cursed blade.
"If you will not listen, then you Will DIE! I will take my peace from your corpses!"
[TSINGHUA]
This creature is entirely intending on using lethal force-
Tsinghua wasn't, he could never bring himself to do that. About Venus, well, she is hard to judge- he isn't sure. The boy quells his fear, the trembling slows down- and he darts toward the fighting pair, toward the Samurai more specifically. While he was busy fending off Venus's flurry of blows, Tsinghua attempted to sink his palm into the swordman's side, first attempting to pull his arm out of the way should he attempt to block.
"There is no choice."
COMBATSYS: Bishamon successfully hits Venus with Iaigiri.
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Venus 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 Tsinghua
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Bishamon 0/-------/-----==|
[VENUS]
She watches the big guy, with wider eyes than she intents to. He just blocked everything. It doesn't even look like he has any problems with it at all. She gives a slight shake of her head. "Do better." She's saying to herself, but it might not look that way.
She then concentrates. She sees the sword come toward her, she jumps back, she's not going to get hit by that... or she does. She feels a sharp pain as she misjudges the length of the sword and actually gets a cut across her stomach, bleeding. The dress is not doing too good either, as it looks even worse with a cut there. At least it's red.
"This is how it will be played?" She actually brings one hand to the cut, pressing, and getting blood on the gloved hand. "Fine then."
After that, pondering quickly his option, she kicks toward his left knee, see if that could be a weaker point. She was aware of Tsinghua, but at the moment, he wasn't seen as the bigger threat.
COMBATSYS: Bishamon Toughs Out Tsinghua's Shou Tui!
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Venus 0/-------/----===|======-\-------\0 Tsinghua
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Bishamon 0/-------/----===|
COMBATSYS: Bishamon blocks Venus' Medium Kick.
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Venus 0/-------/----===|======-\-------\0 Tsinghua
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Bishamon 0/-------/---====|
[BISHAMON]
"There Is No Play!" the demon roars, abdomen yawning wide to let out a low, gurgling groan that vibrates the air around him. Whatever mercy there might have been in the samurai at the start of this match has gone, and the eyes that turn upon Tsinghua's charging form know only hate.
Moving with the motion of the Chinese boy's hands, Bishamon allows his arm to be lifted, turns into the driving palm so that it hammers into his armored ribs. Pushing through the blow, he brings his sword whipping around and hammers the pommel backward toward Tsinghua's forehead, before stepping away and driving the bloody tip of the blade down to pierce the stone floor of their arena, catching venus' foot on the flat of the blade and coming dangerously close to removing a couple of toes..
COMBATSYS: Tsinghua blocks Bishamon's Random Strike.
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Venus 0/-------/----===|======-\-------\0 Tsinghua
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Bishamon 0/-------/--=====|
[TSINGHUA]
Tsinghua frowns as the monster breaks through his attack, but barely manages to take his cane- Putting it before his head horizontially to absorb the Katana's pommel- "Yah!" It blows his guard open: The walking stick almost leaves his hands, and his arms feel numb. In response, he whips his weapon's silver head diagonally upward in an elegant swing, aiming to have it slam into Bishamon's chin from below- Trusting in the fact that Venus's focus also seems to be on the swordsman.
"Nali!" (there)
[VENUS]
She was fine with Tsinghua focusing on the samurai, she was planning on doing the same. He was indeed the bigger threat, as she meet sword instead of a knee. Even cutting into her boot a little. She backs up a bit, and slams her right fist into her left opened hand, as she seems to be upset.
This however he seems to focus his attack on Tsinghua, she only had to place herself around to attack. She quickly ponder what she will do before unleashing it.
As she sees Tsinghua swinging his weapon upward, Venus goes low to pull the man's legs from under him, maybe she could even make him hit the cane harder, who knows. Either way, If she manages to make him fall, she then kicks his head very similarly to someone who would punt a ball. "You can't be better than both of us damn it." She seems to get angrier, even though the fear could still be felt around.
COMBATSYS: Bishamon barely endures Tsinghua's Medium Strike.
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Venus 0/-------/----===|======-\-------\0 Tsinghua
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Bishamon 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Bishamon interrupts Take a nap from Venus with Kirisute Gomen.
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Venus 0/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Tsinghua
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Bishamon 0/-------/=======|
[BISHAMON]
"Fools!"
Jerking his face away from Tsinghua's rising staff, he takes the blow squarely on the side of his helmet, metal striking metal with a loud CLONK! The blow seems only to enrage the beast further, however, both sets of crimson eyes falling upon Venus as she circles his planted blade and dives in low for his partially armored legs.
"I am Bishamon!" he bellows, gut mouth groaning horribly along. Powerful muscles flex beneath his blue hide as he tears his sword free of the ground, soul-wreathed blade whistling up to catch Venus across the chest and drive her up and back amidst a flare of ghostly energy.
"Wielder of the legendary sword Kien! Wearer of Hannya! I will send you to hell in two pieces!"
[TSINGHUA]
The boy steps back in fear, as the swordsman yells. He had been able to keep some measure of composure, but as he sees that blade carve into Venus for a second time..
He knows that sooner or later, he will be next. His luck will run out.
He trembles, the gravity of the situation setting in deeper then it had before. What /would/ happen if he just.. ran? He seriously considers the possibility. Would he be disqualified, immediately cursed with remaining in this prison of a city? Or would he have to be hunted down, until there is truly only one person left standing. He can't know.
For the time being, as he steps back, he spins around- His palms hovering a few inches apart from eachother as energy begins to build in between them. The swordsman seems to be expert at dealing with strikes, but how about a different kind of attack?
Maybe he will find a weakness.
The energy develops further into small, transparent fragments whirling around between his hands. As he reaches the apex of his spin, he puts out his palms: A wide barrage of sharp wooden shards threathening to dig through the gaps in the creature's armor!
[VENUS]
What can Venus do... Not only is she not hurting him in the least, she's taking courses to become a sausage, and if it continues that way, she will be thin slices.
With that said, Venus gets caught, deeper across the chest as she flies up, and back, blood flying in the air as well and going on the ground. "Argg". She does manage to flip herself in the air and at least land safely for the time behind, on one knee.
She takes a deep breath and stands back up. "I am VENUS!" she screams. "Mentally ill and a disappointment to my parents. Should be taking pills to be happy, but pills just make tired, like a fucking zombie." She makes her way back toward Bishamon, wanting to distract him, as Tsinghua does his attack. Not that what she was saying was wrong.
She continues speaking. "I belong here, you belong here, and he belonsg here. But the fuck I will take it down without taking the fight further. So come on, show me why my parents are right!" She takes a deep breath and slams her fists together as she seems to pump herself up
COMBATSYS: Venus gains composure.
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Venus 0/-------/-======|=====--\-------\0 Tsinghua
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Bishamon 0/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Bishamon dodges Tsinghua's Mubo Shi Bei Jian.
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Venus 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 Tsinghua
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Bishamon 0/-------/=======|
[BISHAMON]
Where blood touches the blade of Bishamon's sword it seems to stick, briefly staining the polished steel before being absorbed into the hungering metal. However, that blood which makes it to the ground pools within the carved runes, steam rising as the stone beneath glows red with reactive heat.
"Perhaps you will be less of a disappointment in death." Bishamon snarls back toward the screaming girl, attention swinging away from her just in time to witness Tsinghua's hands thrusting forward to unleash the storm of deadly life.
Moving with preternatural swiftness, the demonic warrior flings himself sideways in a wild dodge, soaring off over the edge of the platform with nothing but boiling death below him. However, before he can plummet to a toasty demise, he snaps his left hand out and snags one of the thick steel chains that curves back up toward a stone bridge suspended high overhead. Swinging himself around the chain, he shoots an evil glare back over his shoulder toward the Chinese boy, right hand lifting his sword high overhead...
"SSSSSHSHLING!'
Bringing the cursed blade down, he cleaves clean through the enormous chain and sends the lower half dropping away into the flames, his half swinging back toward the platform with gathering speed. Once he is safely back over stone he releases the makeshift pendulum and hurls himself through the air, sword lashing out in a vicious cleave toward Tsinghua's right side as he tumbles by behind him.
COMBATSYS: Bishamon successfully hits Tsinghua with Power Strike.
- Power hit! -
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Venus 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 Tsinghua
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Bishamon 1/-------/=======|
[TSINGHUA]
"N-No!" Tsinghua yelps out, as his attack gets sidestepped entirely, their opponent looking like they're about to fall-
Only to make that frankly stylish recovery.
He didn't see it coming, how could he? He feebly attempted to put his arm in the way, to stop the blade at it's base- Yet is slashes past, carving through the side of his arm- and all the way past and into his side.
"YAAAAAAAAH-"
A gut-wrenching scream, as the messenger crumples forward into a heap, stomach-down- Desperately clutching for his opened side. It had torn through his garb, blood flowing freely- The stream gets caught by one of the carvings, the crimson streaming down through a line carved in the stone- possibly for this exact purpose. The very slightly tiled surface would make it fall all the way down into the lava, evaporating with a /sizzle/, a metallic smell filling the air briefly.
Thankfully, the cut at the very least did not seem to have hit anything truly vital, but the pain is enough to make the boy sob into the stone- He doesn't want to be here. But yet, he realizes that laying down now would only cause more of this hell, and through muffled gasps and grunts, he pushes himself to both feet. Tsinghua puts his palms firmly against eachother, a faint outline of a sphere made from roots surrounding him. Normally used to catch and redirect energy, he instead sends a concentrated close-ranged shockwave of neutral chi right toward Bishamon, hoping to finally land a solid hit on the horrifying creature.
[VENUS]
"I prefer to stay alive despite all odds in a big fuck off to them." She frowns and sees his whole prowest with the chin and all. "The hell, that's impressive..." But then Tsinghua takes a bad blow, and see seems to be empathic to it. "NOO!!" She runs toward Bishamon and Tsinghua, blood still falling from her. Not a ton, but enough. On her way she asks "Any chance you can just jump into the lava?" She had to ask, not expecting a positive answer, but why not.
Once she is close enough, she aims a hard punch toward his left kidney, through the armor. Her hand will certainly not like this, that's assuming even if she manages to do damage through that armor, or through his defense. Anyway she was already feeling pain like she never had before, and figured she would also get it worse before this is over.
COMBATSYS: Bishamon blocks Tsinghua's Guding Gen (Xiru).
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Venus 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\1 Tsinghua
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Bishamon 1/------=/=======|
COMBATSYS: Venus successfully hits Bishamon with Side effect.
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Venus 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Tsinghua
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Bishamon 1/----===/=======|
[BISHAMON]
Impacting the stone tiles hard, Bishamon rolls across their surface in a clanking tumble of leather straps and metal plates, coming to his feet with surprising agility for such a muscular guy with a demonic face for a torso. Fanged maw panting for breath, he turns his snarling face toward the sobbing boy and glares at him as he pushes himself to his feet.
"You do not deserve peace. But if you stop fighting, I will give it to you. I will grant you your final rest."
There is no gentleness in the growling grind of his voice, the swordsman stepping threateningly toward Tsinghua and the gathering orb of energy. Bringing his sword up, he slants the blade protectively across his face and grinds his gut mouth closed, the beast's eyes snicking shut to weather the point-blank blast.
Even still the attack detonates with enough force to force him back a step, absorbing his focus so completely that he doesn't notice Venus running up from behind. Her request has just reached his ears when a small fist crunches into the back plate of his armor, sending him stumbling forward to clang down heavily upon one knee.
"Pathetic Child!"
Blade whistling through the air in an arc of reflective steel, he cleaves out behind him in a low swipe meant to hack deep into the girl's left calf, hopefully driving her back and slowing her down enough for him to power to his feet, still reeling from the pain in his back. %
[TSINGHUA]
"I- Do not want to die..."
He responds, weakly. Going against his instinct to run (I mean, he'd have to cross one of those chains!) He grabs his cane, and rubs his hand over the surface, lacing it with chi. It grows a few wood-like, sharp protusions. He holds it above his head pointing toward Bishamon, before swinging it downward, a diagonally overhead swipe aimed at cracking the collarbone. "Yi!" Then spins around, crouching and swiping toward the knee "Wu!" And finally, steps backwards, balancing on leg and thrusting out his cane, the very tip growing a sharp spike of pure chi that risks penetrating into the Samurai.
His focus is not, and hasn't been on the struggling Venus- For the boy, this is momentarily only about his own survival- He does not have time to worry, and besides.
Once, and if this monster falls, he will have to turn on her."
COMBATSYS: Bishamon successfully hits Venus with Fierce Strike.
- Power hit! -
# Disabling hit! #
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Venus 1/---====/=======|=======\-------\0 Tsinghua
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Bishamon 1/---====/=======|
[VENUS]
She actually hits the Armor, and does something to him, but damn it hurts her hand, maybe she broke it for all she knows, but she is still up. "What does it matter if I hurt, I am worth nothing anyway." Though when he goes for her left calf, she is certain it will be easy to jump over it, until her wounds make her jump quite a bit lower than she wanted to, an she gets cut, nastily. She falls on the ground with a cry, as more blood comes out of her."Ow, the fuck."
It seems she might be down for the count, but after a little break she took while Tsinghua did his own attack, she got up. She winces heavily as she puts weight on her bad leg, pushing more blood out of it "If I don't make it, maybe Tsing can. Fuck this shit, you kree ninja wanna be." She goes toward Bishamon, and grabs his arms from behind, and then she screams, pain, frustration, low self esteem, nasty people. She puts everything into that screams, and tries to throw him down. If she had her way at all, he would go into the lava, but she probably won't even be able to actually throw him, but she gives it her all, and whatever happens, she's not standing after that, she falls on her ass, her legs not able to carry her further at the moment.
COMBATSYS: Bishamon blocks Tsinghua's Teshi Baji.
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Venus 1/---====/=======|=======\-------\1 Tsinghua
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Bishamon 1/--=====/=======|
COMBATSYS: Bishamon dodges Venus' Strong Throw.
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Venus 1/---====/=======|=======\-------\1 Tsinghua
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Bishamon 1/--=====/=======|
[BISHAMON]
Lit from below by the roiling orange flames of the lake, Bishamon brings Kien up into a two- handed stance, blade slanted back over his shoulder. With the last of the blood stains fading from the weapon's gleaming surface, it is left bare and beautiful, steel flickering like fire in a cloud of shimmering mist.
Eyes burning beneath the curved moon of his helm, the demon whirls his Katana over to catch Tsinghua's spiked staff on the flat of the blade, disengaging to swing it counter-clockwise in a looping parry that catches the following low swipe and batters it aside. Holding his ground, he brings the sword whistling back up to catch the final thrust close to the hilt, wood grinding across metal as he locks his guard against one of the spikes and stops the weapon dead.
A wet gust of breath escapes the yawning maw of his stomach to ruffle the boy's fine clothes, chest eyes peeling open to stare the boy square in the face. This close, weapon to weapon, strength to strength, the might of the swordsman is undeniable. This might be the end.
And then Venus is there, hands latching on to his arms from behind and dragging him backward into a desperate throw. Sandaled feet lifted clear of the ground, he brings his legs swinging up and turns the improvised suplex into an effortless back flip, passing over Venus as she flops to the ground and touching down gracefully a short ways behind her.
Blond hair settling behind him, Bishamon lifts his blade and points it over the fallen girl's head, point leveled at Tsinghua's chest.
"Must this worthless girl sacrifice herself so that you may live?" The question is snarled with raw contempt as light begins pouring from the demon's armor. At first an ominous red, the tone shifts, color brightening to a brilliant gold that burns against the crimson of his eyes. "Songs have been sung about the heroes I have slain. What are you but a short-lived obstacle in my path?"
Question posed, the monster launches himself forward, bounding effortlessly over Venus' fallen form and closing on Tsinghua with a descending cleave of his cursed blade. That slash is followed by a looping horizontal slash first one way, then the other, each blow accompanied by a step as he attempts to drive the smaller man backward to the very edge of their arena.
COMBATSYS: Tsinghua reflects Kyouka Yoroi from Bishamon with Dong Gen (Xiru).
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Venus 1/---====/=======|=====--\-------\0 Tsinghua
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Bishamon 0/-------/-======|
[TSINGHUA]
With Bishamon's elegantly performed parry, the boy feels the damp breath of the chest-mouth, looking at those large eyes with terror as he feels the power and threat of the opponent's energy build. Locked in the clash, he finally breaks free as the Swordsman evades Venus's attempt at an attack.
"Hrrrrng-"
When he sees that energy coalesce around his blade, Tsinghua puts together his palms- It's similair to that earlier technique, as a sphere of plant-matter surrounds him again. Yet, this time around, it is far from transparent- It is almost entirely opaque. Bishamon would find that his fist slash bounces off the wooden barrier, and the second? The roots would entangle his blade, restricting his motion as the Samurai's energy gets sucked up into the wood like nutrients from the ground. Once sufficiently fed, the matter forms itself into a small sphere in front of the boy, full of all that energy and releasing Bishamon: Yet, almost instantly after Tsinghua pushes the sphere toward the Samurai, colliding with his armoured chest in a fierce explosion of both Tsinghua's own, and the swordsman's energy.
"Please- Please go down already!" He pleads, feebly.
[VENUS]
After Venus was down from the throw that didn't work at all, she stayed down for a while. She hears when Bishamon speaks to Tsingua. She sees him bounce over her too, but at the moment she stays down, recuperating, and bleeding. She hears sounds, but isn't really watching yet.
She ends up seeing Tsinghua counter attack. She grinds her teeth harshly as she forces herself up. By the time the explosion of energy happens. She is up "This worthless girl prefers Tsinghua a hundred time over you.".
Once up, she moves as quickly as she can behind Bishamon, grabs his rather massive neck and jumps wincing rather hard, but still puts her knees into his back. If she has her ay, and with the explosion momentum, she falls back with him, knees slamming into his back, and armor. She screams as it happens, as it damaged her leg even more because of the move, but she pulled hard, to dig in more, before she finally let go.
COMBATSYS: Venus successfully hits Bishamon with The Chiropractor.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Venus 0/-------/---====|=====--\-------\0 Tsinghua
[ \\\\\\\\\\ <
Bishamon 1/-------/=======|
[BISHAMON]
Having his first blow deflected clearly catches the wrathful samurai by surprise, crimson eyes narrowing as his followup plunges into the vines and is trapped there, plant life coiling around the blade. Leaning forward, he increases the pressure, leveraging his considerable bulk into an attempt to force the cursed sword through, to cleave a path through the vines and into the boy beyond.
It doesn't work.
Teeth bared in a constant snarl of fury, Bishamon can only grunt and growl as the golden glow leaves his armor and passes into the protective barrier, causing the plant life to glow from within. It is at about that time that Venus lands on his back, knees digging in beneath his armor and thin arms clamping hard around his muscular neck.
"Fool Girl!" he roars, tugging fruitlessly at his sword. Either unwilling or unable to let the cursed weapon go, he can only watch as the construct before him flowers forms into an orb of pure golden light, Tsinghua's palms ramming it squarely into his demonic chest with an eruption of light and sound.
Flung backward off of his feet, the samurai crashes down atop Venus, the young fighter's knees driving up into his back with a loud series of cracks and pops. Grunting and snarling, face contorted in a mixture of pain and rage, he heaves himself sideways off of the girl, rolling away through the smoke of his smoldering breastplate to shove himself slowly up onto one knee.
"This," he grunts, sword tip spiking into the ground so he can lever himself painfully back to his feet, "You have accomplished Nothing. You will fall before me. I Will Have My Reward!"
Tearing his sword free of the ground, he levels a quick, back-handed swipe toward Venus' rising form, attempting to force her back under the threat of another nasty cut across the shoulder.
[TSINGHUA]
The tides are turning, and a measure of confidence returns to the boy. "K-Keep pressuring him, ms. De Milo- He- He is getting tired!"
Tsinghua shouts, pressing his hand on the wound in his side, the bleeding had slowed down significantly. When Bishamon makes his strike, the messenger darts in with his cane- jumping behind in an attempt to catch the samurai by his neck with the cane, the boy dangling behind his back as he hangs on the stick as it's placed vertically in front of Bishamon's neck- all the while kicking his sides with a noticable lack of elegance.
All this in an attempt to restrict the monster's breathing at least a little bit- really attempting to not give him as much time to recover.
COMBATSYS: Venus dodges Bishamon's Medium Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Venus 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Tsinghua
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ <
Bishamon 1/------=/=======|
[VENUS]
She was amazed it worked, but wasn't going to complain. She could feel the throbbing pain in her leg. It didn't really have time to heal at all, but the two other cuts had slowed down at least. So there was that.
Part of her wanted to just stay on the ground and not move anymore, but another part of her just wanted to hurt the samurai even more, and that part on out.
She focus on Bishamon as soon as he starts o get up and talk to her, just keeping her eyes on him, as she slowly makes her way back up herself. once the swipe gets toward her, she spins around on her good leg , to evade the sword completely, and get in what she thinks, is a good position. She then does a swift kick toward his head with her bad leg, not with a lot of strength, but perhaps enough to assist Tsinghua, if things works out.
COMBATSYS: Tsinghua successfully hits Bishamon with Armed Combo.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Venus 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Tsinghua
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Bishamon 1/-----==/=======|
COMBATSYS: Bishamon blocks Venus' Light Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Venus 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Tsinghua
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Bishamon 1/-----==/=======|
[BISHAMON]
"Curse you, Boy." Bishamon snarls, ribs expanding as the mouth in his guts pants and drools all down his front. Recovering from the missed swipe at Venus, he plants his feet and ducks, attempting to slip right under Tsinghua's leaping grapple. Rather than striking his throat, the cane smashes across his nose, forcing him to rear up in pain as the boy's weight drives the stick firmly up into his face. Arching his back, kicks thudding into his armored sides, he still manages to bring his sword up in time to bat away the bleeding girl's kick, staggering past her toward the center of the arena as he attempts to shake the stubborn boy off.
"HHHHHGHRRRRRRRRRGH!"
Gut mouth letting out a groaning rumble that vibrates the stones beneath him, Bishamon staggers to a halt and plants his sword in the stone for balance, human mouth gasping for breath.
"Fool..." he pants, fanged maw yawning wide. "You think you can outlast me? This fight, has just begun."
As he speaks a long, purple tongue slithers free of his stomach, foot after foot of arm-thick appendage slopping wetly forth to taste the surrounding air. Then, with the horrific speed of a striking serpent, the tongue lashes out over his shoulder to try and coil around Tsinghua's middle, the slick, meaty snake squeezing down with bone-grinding force as it tugs and lifts, working to drag him off of the demon's back and hold him suspended before the monster's waiting maw.
COMBATSYS: Bishamon successfully hits Tsinghua with Oni Kubi Hineri.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Venus 0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0 Tsinghua
[ \\\\\\\\\\ <
Bishamon 0/-------/-----==|
[TSINGHUA]
And just like that, the hope and confidence is snuffed out. Tsinghua was still latched on, being too late to let go of his weapon- As he sees that tongue coil out toward him, he releases his hands- His cane clattering downward onto the stone, before it starts to roll down towards the Lava, ever-so-slowly. As the messenger is still mid-air, he couldn't protect himself well: And he gets wrapped up and crushed, his head jolting upwards as all the breath and energy are wrenched out of him, ribs snapping and cracking underneath the pressure. His expression is a twisted visage of his wetting eyes and mouth each opened wide.
Yet no breath, and as such no sound escapes- while Tsinghua is carried up until right in front of that gaping maw. Tears stream down, as he attempts a feeble kick forward, between the stomach-eyes of this monster. He looks utterly terrified, even moreso then before.
[VENUS]
Her kick was blocked. She isn't exactly happy about it, but she isn't too surprised either. When she is left alone by the man, she takes time to recover a bit
"You're pathetic, Sir Tsinghua can take anything you ditch out at him. you will never take him down. The more you strike him, the stronger he will become. So say goodbye! Tsinghua for the win!" Yes she's trash talking, and she's declaring Tsinghua the winner instead of herself. After that, she starts laughing quite loudly, perhaps she broke down, but her eyes were more intense than ever before, and she observes while composing herself.
COMBATSYS: Venus gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Venus 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Tsinghua
[ \\\\\\\\\\ <
Bishamon 0/-------/-----==|
COMBATSYS: Bishamon blocks Tsinghua's Light Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Venus 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Tsinghua
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Bishamon 0/-------/-----==|
[BISHAMON]
"Such wild confidence in one mere moments from death." Bishamon snarls, left hand coming up to catch the boy's flailing foot before it can make contact with his chest. Glaring up into his twisted face, the demon forces the tongue to unravel, dropping his thoroughly slimed prey carelessly to the ground.
"Await my return, food."
Pushing up from his lean against Kien, the samurai drags his sword free of the ground and rounds on Venus, approaching her with the slow deliberation of a hunter stalking a doe.
"It is good you are so confident. I would not want the flesh of both meals tainted with fear."
Then, all at once, the lolling tongue of his gut lashes out, attempting to snag Venus by the ankle and drag her skidding across the rough stone toward him.
[TSINGHUA]
He was so close to death, if Bishamon had chose to do so, Tsinghua had no doubt that he would be chewed up by that gaping mouth at this point.
But the samurai lets him go, leaving the boy to fall down to the ground in a crumpled heap- Twitching disturbingly as the pain of his broken body catches up. Guttural sobs ring out, a uncomfortable noise originating from the very back of his throat, blood running out of his mouth.
While Venus's words might have been inspiring, the boy could not live up to that standard. He is not a fighter, he doesn't like to fight. He doesn't get stronger through pain and suffering- He does not have the motivation for such. At the same time, his cane reaches the end of the platform- falling down the rocky protusion and into the sea of orange, the wood catching fire and the silver melting almost within a pair of seconds.
And because of that, the boy starts to drag himself away from the fight, his arm pulling himself forward in thoughtless desperation, although catching his breath all the while- Finally after a few seconds managing to stand on his two feet, clutching his chest as he glances backwards to the scene unfolding between Venus and Bishamon.
COMBATSYS: Tsinghua gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Venus 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Tsinghua
[ \\\\\\\\\\ <
Bishamon 0/-------/-----==|
COMBATSYS: Venus dodges Bishamon's Quick Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Venus 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Tsinghua
[ \\\\\\\\\\ <
Bishamon 0/-------/-----==|
[VENUS]
"I am done being scared. I will probably die, but I will do so with dignity... or doing something incredibly stupid." "You probably did so already." She shrugs her shoulders.
Once she's done talking, she watches Bishamon, not really watching Tsinghua pulling away or anything. She's really focused on Bishamon
When the tongue comes torward her ankle, she simply moves her foot out of the way. She then lets herself fall in a sort of elbow drop, attempting to hit said tongue, not even sure that would hurt him, bu there has been crazier things in her life. "I hope this hurt." Either way, she ends up on the ground from the move.
COMBATSYS: Bishamon dodges Venus' Back the hell off, Elbow edition.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Venus 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Tsinghua
[ \\\\\\\\\\ <
Bishamon 0/-------/-----==|
[BISHAMON]
The steady clap of leather sandals on stone rings out across the platform, just audible over the distant clang and rattle of hellish machinery. Without even missing a step the samurai whips his tongue out of Venus' path, allowing her to strike the ground hard while the slimy purple appendage whips back over his shoulder in a flailing strike toward Tsinghua's back.
Sword swinging into a ready position high overhead, he approaches Venus with grim implacability, eyes burning with hate.
COMBATSYS: Tsinghua auto-guards Bishamon's Improvised Smack.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Venus 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Tsinghua
[ \\\\\\\\\\ <
Bishamon 0/-------/-----==|
[TSINGHUA]
He knew he couldn't have expected the swordsman to leave him alone, worse still, he didn't even have his cane to use to defend against that disgusting tongue.
But as he'd see it come in, his hand would be stretched out instinctually- And from it, a burst of vines erupt to constrict that tongue for a brief moment, halting it's momentum and protecting the boy against the attack. And in that moment, he makes a realization.
"Why don't I just make a weapon?"
And like that, the vines twist and slam against eachother, transitioning into a wood-like substance in the form of a gnarled, moderately long stick with a bulbous head. He inspects the weapon for a moment, before nodding. The successful defense had restored some confidence, at least enough for him to attempt another strike- Albeit one from a safe distance while Bishamon was facing Venus. Still trembling, he reaches into his robes, looking for something and.. pulling out a pen? Tossing it in front of him, it halts it's motion in mid-air, a sight that may be familiar to Venus. The kinetic energy paused, Tsinghua aims for a moment, looking across the shaft of his branch like it's a rifle, before swiping it toward the pen in a controlled manner. Horizontally with a very slight downward angle. The pen vibrates with energy, roots growing out of the surface before turning transparent and vanishing in the air. The messenger checks once more before nodding- Finally releasing the effect so that the writing tool flies toward Bishamon, curving downward before rising up in an odd angle, attempting to dig itself right between one of the Samurai's armored plates!
[VENUS]
Venus misses the tongue, and the elbow hits the ground, which reverberates inside her body. "See that was stupid."
She winces and pulls herself back. She sees Bishamon coming as she finishes getting back up. "If you would have ask me if I would participate in such a fight for my life, let alone last this long, I would have told you... Of course!! I am Venus!"
As she talks, she also see Tsinghua from the corner of her eyes and she nods her head. It did looks familiar. To aid in what is happening, Venus simply pulls back her fist, and punches toward the man's nose with a solid right. "Come on baby, hurt me, one more time!" "There's no hurt me." "Fits better."
COMBATSYS: Tsinghua successfully hits Bishamon with Guding Gen (Hu Qi).
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Venus 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 Tsinghua
[ \\\\\ <
Bishamon 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Venus successfully hits Bishamon with Medium Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Venus 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 Tsinghua
[ \\\ <
Bishamon 0/-------/=======|
[BISHAMON]
One step closer, than another. Bishamon's slow advance continues even as his tongue rebounds off of another spectral barrier of vines, retreating back into the darkness behind his dripping fangs.
"Inform the devil that another is coming behind you." he snarls toward Venus, grip tightening upon the hilt of his sword as he prepares to meet her charge with bloody, bloody violence. And
then...
'SHHTHNK.'
The zipping pen vanishes into his body with a squirt of blood, stones glowing to life beneath him as the swordsman staggers forward. Face going slightly slack, he drops his sword, flailing it toward Venus' fist, but strikes only air as she darts beneath the block and hammers her fist into his face with a soft CRUNCH. Head rocked back, he staggers a step, blood dripping from his not quite broken nose, and opens his mouth as if to speak. However, all that escapes is a soft grunt, bloody drool leaking from between his lips.e
"Hrk..."
Taking a final step forward, he forces his eyes to focus. Forces his gaze to square upon Venus as ghostly blue energy gathers around him. Demonic mouth letting out a final, horrible groan, he releases the pent up souls in a sudden rush, flinging the wailing souls toward her as the last of the fight departs him. Dropping to one knee, he buries his sword in the stone and slumps forward over it, demonic eyes closing and second mouth latching shut as the possessing presences retreat, leaving a badly wounded man with pale skin slumped over his sword, runes burning crimson beneath him and armor utterly inert.
COMBATSYS: Bishamon can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Tsinghua 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Venus
[TSINGHUA]
Tsinghua gives a sigh of relief as his attack penetrates skin, creating the opportunity for Venus to deliver that final punch. Tsinghua looks in suspense as he makes his final attack--
And he almost can't belief it when the monster finally falls. The boy stumbles, a sudden wave of dizziness hitting him as he falls to a knee, supporting himself with the self-made branch while looking at this final exchange.
Well, Final until Venus and the boy would have to fight it out- Though he is not thinking about that at this moment.
Tsinghua pants, asking a final question whether she'd get hit or evade-
"W-What now, ms. De Milo?"
COMBATSYS: Tsinghua takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Tsinghua 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Venus
COMBATSYS: Bishamon successfully hits Venus with Karame Dama.
Grazing Hit
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Tsinghua 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Venus
[VENUS]
Venus watches the big man, he's... he's falling, but oh oh. He didn't take mouthwash, and now he's sending those things to her. She tries to dodge, sidestepping with both of her legs
She manages to get out some of it, not getting hit as much as she should have, but her bad leg makes her stumble, and she falls on one knee, getting it by the furious energy. "Ow. Almost, but the fucker is done."
She lifts her head to look at Tsinghua, listening to him, as she takes her breath. "Now, we take a vacation together." She chuckles, and slowly makes her way back up, forcing her leg to take her weight again. "But that won't happen, so unless you want to lay down for me, we finishes that by a fight you will most likely win, and you say goodbye before leaving, I don't think I will see you ever again after that." She looks around. "Maybe I belong here anyway."
COMBATSYS: Venus takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Tsinghua 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Venus
[TSINGHUA]
"You- You use quite some strong language, ms. De Milo." He points out with a polite smile and closed eyes.
The boy looks her way, with sympathetic eyes. "I.. do not think that will be necessary, Madam." His eyes drift from her, to the ground- Idly inspecting the runes that form this arena. "I can't take this anymore, I surrender. Strike me down if you must-
"BUT I FUCKING SURRENDER! I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE--"
The boy's very first F-bomb, dropped in this dire of a situation. He starts to sob after he yells, seemingly spent and discharging his emotions. "This- This is- I can't take another second of this- of conflict such as this. A fight- being hurt, having to hurt. It's always hurt." The messenger looks up toward the red-hued, smog-filled sky.
"I almost- no, /we/ almost died to that monster- yet we are expected to keep going?! No- No. I can't- I won't stand for this any longer- I won't entertain these savages with this performance any longer- I... I.."
"I will find another way out of this- But I surrender, she wins- Take her- Take her away... please."
COMBATSYS: Tsinghua takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Tsinghua 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Venus
[VENUS]
She listens to Tsinghua, she watches him. "I don't know if it will work, one part of me wants to beat you to a bloody pump, but nan, not like this, not if you're not into it." She tightens her fist. "I am not so far gone I will blindside you. We are standing because we worked together after all." She closes her eyes. "You've earn that, no hitting you out of nowhere like a bitch." She falls on her ass. "Can I ask you a question? When we met the first time..."
She stopped there, not saying anything, then she just said. "It doesn't matter. We both feel guilty about something, does it mean one of us deserves to die more than the other... I don't know... Part of me wants to live as a big fuck you to everyone. You hate me? Well tough luck because I am alive bitches." "You tell them girl." "Shut up please." "You just told yourself to shut up." She puts her head in her hands.
COMBATSYS: Venus takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Tsinghua 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Venus
[TSINGHUA]
"I don't get people like you, ms. De Milo. I truly don't."
He shakes his head, before transtioning into a sit of his own. "I do not understand why people like to fight- I have always been pushed into fighting- Because of my 'duties' or because I get attacked.. but I cannot fathom why anyone would do it for fun."
"And on top of that, I don't understand why I am even here- what- what 'guilt'?! How am I supposed to feel guilt when- when others do all these things to me... It's not my fault- it, it never is!" He is barely talking to Venus at this point, more rambling about his own problems. He barely notices the woman talking to herself, or at least does not think much of it.
But then, he looks up- some hope seemingly having sparked within his mind. "Yes- Yes- That, that can- that might work.. He tightly grips the golden amulet around his neck, before kind of.. talking into it. "ms, Katherine- Please, please help me- I can't do this any longer. Safe me from this nightmare.." He leans back and forth, as he clutches. Desperately hoping for a rescue of some kind.
[VENUS]
She takes a deep breath, and looks at Tsinghua. "Fighting is the only thing that makes me feel normal. I just enjoy it a little too much at times. You don't know how much I would like to sever your spine right now. The more I hurt and the harder the fight. But you've been a good partner." She pauses a moment
"By the way, you know, I don't think..." She starts to stand as she speaks. "That your surrender will..."
She doesn't get to finish, as she is surrounded by a black shroud and then she's not longer with Tsinghua.
Instead she finds herself at a banquet, in a dress that can't really be called that anymore. She falls on her knees. "Well fuck me it actually worked." She actually gets self conscious, as the strength and good feelings she gets from fights, was now leaving her fast.
[TSINGHUA]
"Sever- My spine..?" That seemed to have hurt the boy somewhat, after they fought so valiantly together. "They must accept this- They just-"
And then, she vanishes. "..oh." A deep sigh, as he is alone again. "There's that." He says sadly, before erupting in a fit of guttural coughs, each cough coming with a shock of pain through his throat and chest- one of his hands grasping for his neck. "Now I.. just wait? I- I know she will come- She- She said that she would.. I'm sure she'll be able to talk to someone and.. I can go home. I could finally go home."
His features twist into a desperate grin, as he wipes off his teary eyes. "That would be so nice..."
[RACHEL ALUCARD]
Those attending the banquet Venus finds herself don't seem to pay her state of dress or collapse to her knees any mind. Instead, creatures both human and clearly inhuman mill about, gossiping, sampling the exotic foods available from around the globe at the various tables, and otherwise seemingly just having a wonderful evening. No one will notice if Venus slips off to seek refuge in a nearby building or rose garden for peace and quiet, and unlike the place she just got removed from, there doesn't seem to be any aura of hostility, danger, or traps lying in wait to punish said retreat. Whatever danger existed for the visiting girl in this deadly castle has passed.
For the boy left in hell, with only an inert figure of the possessed samurai nearby for company, minutes would tick by. Only the heat, smell of sulfur, and steadily flickering lights of flowing lava in vast ravines would keep him company. Occasionally, a screech of something horrific echoes somewhere higher up in the stone ruins, and now and then he'll swear he sees something shifting in the shadowed windows nearby... but nothing ever comes to investigate the aftermath of the violent, desperate battle for survival, nothing comes to attack the lone boy left behind.
Thirty minutes pass without incident and without reprieve. The still figure of the man known as 'Bishamon' remains still and should Tsinghua even hazard getting nearer to him, the crimson runes surrounding him will begin to burn with white hot heat, discouraging any such closer scrutiny.
Another thirty minutes pass. Is this to be his fate now? Left here for eternity?
Suddenly, Tsinghua finds himself removed from the hellscape as abruptly as he had arrived, a shroud of black washing over him, the sense of being ripped violently through fierce winds and vast distance, and then he finds himself returned to where he was taken. All evidence of the nightmare he endured remains, all the aches, the pain, the harm.
One thing is different, however. The long staff he used to deliver the final blow against the demonic armor, is much smaller now, closer to the length and size of a thick marker, easily fitting into the palm of his hand.
Glyphs glow on its surface in faint scarlet:
"Trust in your own strength."
The glow fades after a minute, but the message remains on miniture replica of his desperate weapon. Taking hold of it, he would feel something - there was power there, just beneath the surface. Familiar, as if somehow an incredible amount of his own strength had been compressed within, waiting for him to tap into it in a moment of need. A token proving that what he just endured this night was not merely a dark figment of his imagination. As if the wounds alone weren't proof enough.
[VENUS]
Venus did seek refuse in the rose garden. It was better for her. She couldn't be with people right now. She did get something to eat from the banquet, but she took it quickly and almost like a thief. Once at the garden she laid down, she ate, and she tried to calm her mind, which had one part attacking her, and one part was wondering why she just didn't attack Tsinghua anyway and just know him out, that was her right. She doesn't get much sleep, if at all that night, but at least the garden is help, until finally she is back home so she can feel bad about herself in a known setting.
Log created on 11:30:41 06/03/2021 by Bishamon, and last modified on 10:16:57 06/05/2021.