Description: "Dear Diary, Meeting Igniz is always a big deal. I was asked to tell him about what I have been up to, but he also answered questions I have had. Angel told me I shouldn't take just one person's answers as fact, but Igniz must be an exception, I think. I'll have to ask her. He also wanted to see how I was doing with my combat skills and I gave him a demonstration. I think I did all right. But he's quite fast, and very smart. - Kula"
Today is a day that Igniz himself had asked Kula to report to his throne room. Only a few people have ever been called here, all members of NESTS save for the few whose blood had to be forcefully removed from the many walls where the sun itself bleeds in through the many colored windows. But there wouldn't be any executions today. Nothing but simplicty.
Igniz would speak to Kula directy. Of her many travels, her meetings, her thoughts her feelings. One must always know to give Diana and Foxy that extra guiding hand to aid them take care of Kula and many others.
Sitting is his chair, full in battle suit and without even being cloaked, save for the cape he always wears, the man sits plainly underneath light perfectly positioned to land upon him. He looks regal, perfect, god like. And that's all that matters. Perfect in every way.
And Kula was called to come in sooner or later. He was expecting, and for good reasons.
It's impressive how a room so far beneath a mountain can look so glorious. Intimidatingly large, full of pillars, and a long, long walk to the throne of the god of NESTS himself, even those who were invited to the chamber can't help but feel a certain presence, a certain inspiration at the magnificence of the Cartel's leader.
Entering through the doorway opposite the grandiose throne itself, Kula strides across the room with purpose, passing through the shafts of sunlight that manage to enter the chamber via flawlessly engineered shafts in the surface of the mountain. Alternating between light and darkness as the young clone draws nearer to the throne, she is dressed as she often is, with her NESTS designed violet leather body armor worn over a black bodysuit. Her long hair, mostly unrestrained but for a pair of small braids someone decided to tie in the short locks over her ears, is a natural auburn color, her eyes deep violet.
She strides with confidence and respect. She is, as she's often told, the pinnacle of NESTS research to this date. The most dangerous thing to come out of their labs, the result of billions of dollars and countless man hours. She is an engineered killer, capable of going toe to toe with many of the most powerful people on the planet at such a young age. It's any guess what might come of her in another three or four years, if she lives that long. Perhaps she has the potential to become /too/ strong.
But with her perfectly ingrained submissive nature, is that really any danger? Docile, easy to guide, and open to being taught by those within the hallowed walls of NESTS, the girl with only two years of life behind her steps up to the base of the throne before dropping down to a knee in a bow of respect, her long hair falling over her shoulder along her side. Head lowered, eyes half closed, she speaks quietly, "Kula Diamond at your service." She's so proud of that last name of hers. None of the other clones got one after all.
It's true. Most clones were named Krizalid, K', or K9999. None of them had a second name. Even Whip didn't get a second name after her life was stripped. But Kula, perfect, pristine, all of it in one box. Perfect. Perfect as a Diamond. And that what Kula was, after being created with no problems, no strings attached. Kula was a Diamond. And that's what her last name would be.
Igniz would never be too happy. A last name encouraged Kula to be more individual, a sense of person. To live and to hold a name. Today, however, Igniz would think nothing of it. Nothing of it at all. Kula had been completely docile to NESTS, fighting and winning, or at least fighting each and every battle Igniz would ask of her. This was no different from day to day, but now, atop the throne, he could see how perfect Kula was with the light creeping upon her. This base was Igniz's legacy, and in all of them pieces of this legacy hid, results from projects that were under took here.
But now, sitting straight up, the chair molded from onyx, created and made by hand to resemble a chair. Igniz could not sit in anything less divine. Now, here, acknowledging Kula, Igniz nods. "Hello, my child," Igniz begins, his voice soft and flowing, "I'm glad you came. I have but little things I would like to know to help better take care of my daughter." The man announces, offering a hand down from the high throne.
"Please, tell me about your travels, the people you've met, the ideas they most likely forced upon you. I want to hear everything and know everyone you met. It is the only way I can make sure to protect my precious snowflake from groups such as Ikari." Igniz almost chokes at the word. He dislikes it greatly, his face smiling and happy still. Only a little disgust penetrates. "I will be more than happy to listen to all you have to say!"
Her gloved hand comes up to rest in Igniz's as he reaches down and Kula rises up to standing, glancing up at the blonde furtively, offering him a quiet smile, before lowering her eyes again. He asks after her excursions into the outside world and Kula is quiet for a moment. So much to tell, so much to think about. At first the question is overwhelming. All the people she's talked to, the things she's learned, the ideas she's gathered, the battles she's had...
"I found many of those who have turned away from NESTS. The Toy Man- I mean Maxima, he was the first. His gifts from NESTS made him strong but I was stronger. He spoke nothing but lies about my life here, my purpose, about how well I was or was not being taken care of." She glances to the side, thinking back on that encounter, how he tried to avoid fighting her at first, perhaps not taking the very young looking NESTS operative seriously. She taught him otherwise though.
"That was the first time I ran into him. The one called K'. The one I'm going to defeat." she continues, eyes glancing up at Igniz after a moment, her smile from a moment ago gone, her tone very somber. She speaks of her purpose, as she sees it, after all. She exists because of K''s betrayal. "But I was too tired then and Diana helped me get away. I knew I would find him at a later time. I could feel that within me we would meet again."
She falls quiet then, pausing, her demeanor improving a little, "But I know that I can handle the Toy Man now and if you ask that I do away with him for having turned his back on everything NESTS gave him, I can and I will."
A smile creeps across Igniz's face as he nods, "I see." He states, a common line among many. "I'm glad that you've met both of them, for they're one of our greatest threats as long as they plot against us, and not only us, but the world itself. Unfit to live in this beautiful world, I have made the mistake of allowing them to partake of it." Igniz exclaims, honestly saying, for once, that he may have done something wrong. But in a different way.
"But that will all come to an end sooner or later. I'm proud of you Kula," Igniz exclaims, a hand softly reaching upon her head, mussing with her hair just a little bit before retracting back and towards his chair. Kula Diamond. A gem more precious than the one she is named after, Igniz thinks of her as remarkable work, an achievement. A daughter. To her face, yes... but what about behind her back? Well, that's an entirely different question. Igniz loves his followers so.
But unlike the Kula not too long ago, her smile disappears into the inky blackness. Even in full light Igniz has lost it before his eyes. There must be a reason. "I'm proud," Igniz begins, "proud of your strength of character more than your physical strength." Igniz exclaims, "But what troubles you today, my daughter? Why do you not shine brightly, to fill you room with your own beam?" The god of NESTS continues.
"If... if there is anything the matter, please, ask anything of me. I'm here to help you. You know I care deeply about you, Kula." Igniz announces softly to ownly her, his features barely changing, the smile plastered on his face as if he was stone, and his hair brightly making its own statement.
He seemed rather concerned. Seemed.
As he speaks that he's proud of her, Kula brightens, even giggling girlishly at the hair musings. His admission of maybe doing something wrong doesn't even register with her. In her mind, the mistake was K' and Maxima's to be made, that they would turn away from all NESTS seemed to offer her just made no sense at all. But there are a lot of sobering topics for a girl with her inexperience to ponder, and Igniz asks after those, perceiving that there is more to be learned by prying further.
Slowly the young teen looks up, violet eyes focusing on the face of the leader of NESTS. No fear, no dread of the powerful man, only respect and trust, a child's trust for an adult who has never done her any harm as far as she can tell. "Well..." she starts, before falling quiet, hands coming together, fingers folded between each other. She wasn't sure who she was going to ask her questions of. There are a lot that handle the girl, but none that do so full time. It would be far too much work for any one person. Like raising a child. That can kill nearly anyone. Including most of her caretakers. It's complicated. Good thing she's so docile.
But with Igniz asking her so directly, emphasizing that he'll listen to anything she has to say, Kula decides to spit it out - the topic that has been strongly on her mind as of late. "I know that I was made to deal with K' and others like him. And I have been trained very very much to be able to do that. That it's the most important thing for me to be. But..."
She looks up to Igniz a second time, expression quite solem, "What happens when I finish with him? What would my purpose be then? Will I even have a point anymore?" The great question of 'working ones way out of a job - or a life', as it were.
Igniz listens carefully. Even as the girlish demeanor of Kula begins again, it quickly and softly seems to be replaced by the girls calm, calculating demeanor that once more sets in when she stands before him, beginning to speak her mind. A mind that Igniz cannot read. Cannot at all. One that she has to speak to him.
Sitting up and leaning forward, his eyes lock upon her own, attempting to get everything from her. Everything. Every bit of physical or mental note that he can take. As she folds her hands together, slowly beginning to speak, Igniz doesn't move promptly. He moves, slightly, if only to get a better position to sit.
And then Kula speaks - one of their dangerous most ferocious creations embodied in a child speaks of purpose. Diana and Foxy never defined it. To live was her purpose, but to destroy K' was also her purpose. Maxima was there certainly as well, but to speak of purposed beyond her target? Well, that definitely did not come from NESTS.
Igniz pauses. Indeed. "To live, Kula." Igniz exclaims, "After K' and Maxima are taken care of, what can you do?" Igniz muses, "What couldn't you do?" The god of NESTS exclaims. "Why, you can do whatever you want Kula. There most definitely will be a celebration, a party with all your friends, and finally, if you wish, another assignment. To kill them both is a test." Igniz exclaims, "One I'm sure you are capable of."
Igniz folds his hands, looking directly towards Kula with a rather fitting smile. "You will be promoted, loved, and feel a sense of accomplishment. Would this not be enough?"
As the answers come, they seem to speak to the very heart of a matter that had been troubling her for some time now. What exists after the purpose that she felt defined her existence had been accomplished? All her training, all of her upbringing was for that point in time, was it not? At least, that's what she had convinced herself.
But with each word that falls from the mouth of NESTS's divine leader, new purpose, new meaning wells up within the girl's heart - a deep fount of hope springing up within her engineered 'soul'. It is as if he speaks the words she longed to hear, the answer everything she could have hoped for. She can do whatever she /wants/ to do. Everyone told her she had no choices, no power to decide her fate, but Igniz holds out the light of freedom before her, speaking to that thing all sentient creatures eventually desire - choice, freedom, autonomy.
Her nod comes haltingly at first, her wide eyes reflecting the profound impact his words are having, but then she nods more eagerly, the weight of it all settling in. "It would be. It would be," she repeats, hands clasped up in front of her. She exhales, sounding relieved, one of the biggest questions on her mind finally answered. It will make it easier to fullfill her duty when the time next comes, knowing that after all is said and done, her place and purpose at NESTS is secured beyond this most important of tasks.
Her expression warms, lowering her arms against her side. She thinks back on others she has encountered. The training exercises, also known as Saturday Night Fights and Neo League matches. She met interesting people in them, some which gave her a new outlook, or new ideas, but none which provoked any soul-searching, confusing questions. Except one. "Is the girl called Shurui... is she really important to NESTS too? Is she like me?"
Igniz smiles, it seems he had said exactly what Kula had wanted to hear. His words were chosen carefully, constructed so that nothing would let her down, nothing would cause her to think entirely different of the situation. Of course, K' will still tell her differently, but with the knowledge she now holds, will K's words even have an effect?
To Igniz, it isn't worth worrying about. There wasn't a moment that he thought that he would never win, never conquer the world, and most evidently, all traitors taken care of. If there wasn't something Igniz hated more than failure is traitors. Failure could be redone, but when someone is a traitor, they are always one, and have to be taken care of. Swiftly.
Continuing to look down towards the creation named Kula, Igniz looks into her eyes. Sparkling pools of hope and joy. This must be how a parent feels when they first tell them they're taking a trip Disney Land.
And then, the question comes that Igniz did not expect. He had thought of them all, but to answer a question about Shurui, well, Igniz momentarily paused, beginning slowly. "Ah, Shurui. Yes. She's a most complicated case, but yes, she is important in her own way." Igniz exclaims, and then at her second question, he gives off a warm laugh, "No one could be as special as you, Kula. You're the apple of our eye." Our as in the entire organization.
Igniz had to have dealt with a great number of questions, and each one deflected gracefully, answered save for the real purpose of Shurui. The god of NESTS smiles, looking towards the girl.
"I hope I had exclained everything enough to satisfy you, Kula. I wouldn't want to hide anything from you." He finishes with, looking down towards the girl with his caring eyes.
Kula nods as Igniz states Shurui is important in her own way. She had been certain that was the case. Otherwise, why would he go through so much trouble looking for her? Having people spy on her and monitor her actions? It must be that she was important. But not as important as Kula. The easily mollified girl beams as he states that she's the pride and joy of all of NESTS itself. Could there be any greater praise than that?
"Thank you," she states when he states that he hopes to have answered her questions. For the time being, it seems there is nothing else troubling her thoughts, the girl looking calm, clear headed. All it took was the right words from a source she's been raised to trust implicitly, and all doubts, clouded thoughts have been dealt with, for now.
"That's all." She pauses for a moment, before adding, "I did collect some of the things you've asked us to get. I'll continue doing that like I'm sure everyone else is. All those that have garnered your attention will be taught a lesson, one at a time." She's quiet then, a beaming expression on her face, having learned everything she wanted to know for now. After all, coming from a man like Igniz, how could there be any room left for doubt?
Ah yes, Kula had seemed to be busy. Excellent. Already getting a few things? Much more than K9999 or anyone else more importantly. Kula had shown to be productive, self sufficient, intelligent. Everything Igniz could ever want. Perhaps even more so than Krizalid, but Krizalid follows orders most of the time, and a powerful ally at that.
Looking down upon Kula, the god of NESTS smiles. It's a nice smile, one that graces his face as he looks down towards the girl. Thank you, she says. Thank you for the answers? Perhaps giving her life to feel alive? Without Igniz, she would not exist. None of this would. One reason why, in his mind, he was a god. And nothing but a god. How could a god be without creating? A preposterous notio.
"Oh, you're welcome Kula!" Igniz states happily, "And thank you as well. You've been showing very good work. I'm sure all you reveal the truth to will learn to be repspectful in my presence. You have been more than helpful in the days that have past." The god exclaims, "Very helpful indeed."
Productive, clearly seeking affirmation for her existence and confirmation of her purpose and place within NESTS, Kula is everything Igniz's scientists promised she would be. A smile, some kind words, a pat on the head might just be enough to keep her right where she's supposed to be - a scientifically engineered soldier, perhaps the first of more to come eventually.
The girl returns Igniz's smile with her own. Here is living proof of Igniz's power, a living entity brought into existence by the people that worked for him. Sentient, capable of learning, deadly, easily directed. What more could one want?
She beams as he describes her as helpful. That's all she wants to be. Have her caretakers be proud of her, happy for her accoplishments. She bows then, respectfully, quickly, finding herself invigorated by all the good things the god of NESTS had to impart upon her. Rising out of her respectful bow, the girl stands quietly, folding her hands together in front of her, quiet then.
Igniz floats then, so far unmoving too far as he looks about. Nothing is said. Nothing needs to be said. Everything that had transpired is already over and moved on, but now, there is so much to be said. So much to learn, so much to continue to learn, and then finally, finally Igniz, after sitting for so long stands up.
With his cloack falling behind him, the god of NESTS rises, slowly and precise, even his cape rising behind him. To Kula he smiles a soft smile, "Very well then, Kula. I have only one request to you." The god exclaims, raising his hands at his sides as he begins to walk past Kula, along the halls, the lighting flashing upon him as he moves before stopping a distance of yards from Kula before turning about.
"Could you partake in a training excersize?" Igniz exclaims, "I haven't yet to gauge your physical strength but from afar. Would you give me this honor?" The god of NESTS commends, raising a hand towards the girl as his cloak behind him floats, his hair floating from an unknown wind. "Will you?"
Kula turns slowly to watch Igniz as he walks along the long hallway, stepping through the alternating shafts of sunlight and gaps of darkness, moving amongst the pillers. His voice carries easily within the chamber, the acoustics such that one could easily hear him speak from the throne even if they were standing at the entry way so far off from the onyx seating.
A training exercise? Kula nods, her voice eager, "Nn!" she confirms. As if she would deny Igniz any request he should happen to make. This will be so much unlike her normal training within the base. Few can truly contend with the girl. Even experienced field agents can't quite manage to go toe to toe against her. Those who handle her daily training routines often ask her to not use her full strength, or to fight without activating her control over the icy elements. But she knows Igniz would ask for no such thing, nor should she ask if she should use her full strength. Using anything less than her full ability would be disrespectful.
She came in wearing her armor and gloves, as if prepared for the possibility of a training exercise to begin with. "I would be honored." the girl states, drawing upon the strong manners that have been taught to her, paying her due respect for Igniz. She breaths in quietly then exhales softly, a shimmer of white energy passing over the girl, leaving in its wake sky blue hair and a small flurry of ice crystals swirling immediately around her. A localized breeze toys with her hair in the otherwise sealed chamber, causing it to wave in and out behind her back. The power she was infused with in the lab has been activated, her perfect control over it demonstrated once again. A stark difference between her and the rogue K', to be sure.
She doesn't take long to focus or prepare. Her fighting skill is nearly all instinctual at this point anyway - reflexes programmed by scientists, attack algorithms designed by some of the best AI authors there are. And now Igniz gets to see what all that money and time has brought him. With her power activated, Kula grins for a moment before her expression becomes more serious. This is an important moment for the girl, she mustn't disappoint.
And then she begins, advancing toward Igniz. While he may be able to float, she appears to skate, her feet slipping easily over the dry floor as if she was simply skating over an ice covered pond, her finite control over ice letting her create her own path as she goes. She leaps from a little ways out into a graceful spin, her right leg kicking out as she twirls around, aiming to strike Igniz against the chest and leave him open to the second kick that comes after she lands - a sharp snap kick, her foot rising up over the level of her head in demonstration of her flexibility, a swath of powerful, icy chi left in the wake of the limb!
COMBATSYS: Kula has started a fight here.
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Kula 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Igniz has joined the fight here.
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Kula 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Igniz
COMBATSYS: Igniz blocks Kula's Ray Spin.
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Kula 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Igniz
Honored. She would be honored. A correct response to the God of NESTS. For his creation to feel honored to fight him, and why shouldn't she? He is a god, and few get to fight him at his full strength where he doesn't toy or prod. Instead, Kula will find Igniz's strength there full fledged. It would only be fair that a member such as Kula be demonstrated that Igniz is a man worthy of his divine name, of his divine heritage.
And what better way to prove than to show. Something that few could really accomplish. But, ah, Igniz is treated to the vision of her transformation. The reverse engineering of K''s strength, NESTS legacy. Intuition and modification of their first method. Perfection. Shimmering ice appears, infused about her figure. Perhaps even her soul and heart are frozen. If they were, it was a small price to pay. What is the value of the heart if there is no strength for the heart to fight?
And then Kula becomes serious, skating across the Throne room floor, slipping about it as she goes. Marvelous. Simply stunning. She would easily win the olympic gold for it if she had joined. And to a heckler, it would be rather fatal, givin the attack. But to Igniz, the attack could be thwarted with work. Quad fields of chi rise up without even a motion, slowly both strikes against him, their velocity and momentum disappearing almot entirely where they strike with much less force, but still appreciable damage just the same.
Igniz is looking deep into it, his vision fixated on the strike. The battlesuit responds, feeding him information and the best possible outcome. To know ones strength is to know the ability to defeat them, and now, Igniz knows what Kula can do. A very important piece of imformation. At least, to begin with.
Floating backwards to make some room, Igniz nods, "Very good, Kula. An excellent start." The god of NESTS exclaims, once more continuing with Kula's training and treatment. To be sheltered without knowing it is the greatest ruse a god could pull. To have the heavens and stars visible, but unreachable. Only one of many of Igniz's tresspasses against humanity.
But to be a god, must he obey the rules of humanity, or shall he make them? Once more getting into position, the god of NESTS grabs at the air infront of him, a sword appearing in hand as he remains poised towards Kula. No action is taken at first, but firing himself forward, the god of NESTS slices as he kicks off, cutting off the hover for a moment for an extra boost, the sword breaking into sections as it cuts towards Kula, aiming to seperate and catch on anything with the many serrated barbs. The chain was created as a quick, effective way to bring the fight towards other.
COMBATSYS: Igniz successfully hits Kula with Trans-Axial Slice.
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Kula 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Igniz
She comes out of the second kick by stepping back, her foot snapping back down to the ground, the sound of small, shattering ice crystals echoing throughout the hall as the sole of her insulated shoe crunches just a little. He defended her strikes, the momentum of her kicks and the sting of her chi reduced by defenses so advanced as to defy the comprehension of most of the world's scientists. So too is the capacty for his suit to record. Governments would pay dearly for such technology - the ability to read the capacity of another human, breaking down the complexities of an individual down to digital readouts.
A freezing mist swirls around the girl as she draws back just a little, arms at her sides as she hasn't need to use them for defense quite yet. Igniz speaks up a smile breaks through the solemn expression for a split second before she's back to being completely serious. And not a second too soon, as the chain sowrd Igniz brings to bear is completely serious as well. Against the power of Igniz, defense is critical and Kula doesn't hesitate to bring up her best options.
At last her hands lift, waving through the air, painting two ice barriers intended to intersect the sharp barbed weapon before it gets close. It works, to a certain extent, the weapon smashing through first one, then the other, but the momentum is too much to be stopped by those shields alone. The girl raises her arms, attempting to find off the remaining power of the blow, only to have it slash along her side, sharp cuts etched into her violet, leather jacket as Igniz retracts it. It provokes a small hiss, but the jacket at least absorbed a bit of the damage. Small cuts in her skin visible through the gash in her body suit bleed for a split second before the blood freezes solid - a defense mechanism against losing too much blood in combat it would appear.
It is in the aftermath of the strike that she goes back on the offense, slipping forward and low at first, only to pop up from a few feet out, her right arm encased in a gauntlet of jagged edged ice, her clenched fist crashing in toward the battle suit covered chest of Igniz. In close like that he can feel the cooling temperature around her, the air resonating with the living well of chi that she is.
COMBATSYS: Igniz counters Medium Punch from Kula with Void Genocide.
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Kula 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Igniz
Ingiz was preparing for something to come. Even as the chain sword carried out, carving at Kula, one could almost see Igniz carried himself differently, towards the side slightl as if waiting for Kula to make a move, and then carrying out his plan. A plan that would span countless years behind and ahead, and much like every caculated move he makes, he moves akin to in battle and the world itself. Just a small bit of this man can be seen here and there. How would he hide his identity from the world for this long until finally he was ready to make a move?
But Kula's options are limited, along with Igniz's. To give and to get, to watch for what Kula would do and act with it. And it it seems he has an opening as she charges forward, her blood cooling quickly to seal her wounds. Igniz watches carefully. It was like watchning a masterpiece.
And then she strikes, a gauntlet of ice shoved directly towards Igniz's chest, aimed to break into the battlesuit that covered him. The cool air that creates it seems to be notable to Igniz. Even the shield that Kula projects about herself, the shell that she had used to dull his attack. And in turn, Igniz struck back, raising a hand mid swing, inches before the gauntlet struck to deliver an eruption of chi towards her chest, driving her back across the ground, sending her hurtling through the air. A quick but deadly flare of pure, white chi. Igniz's chi. A god's Chi. He makes no movements save for giving her time to get back up.
Her hand comes forward, but the chance to connect and deal a damaging blow doesn't present itself. The speed, the precision with which Igniz reacts leaves himself unharmed, his mastery of chi outshining even Kula's remarkable potential. The ice sheathed over her arm shatters as his chi blasts her backward, transparent crystals falling to the floor, ringing out with each sparkling crack.
Kula is sent back, hurtling through the air, her trajectory taking her near one of the pillers. Her left leg snaps out, hooking around the piller, her hand reaching out to grab it as well, and in one smooth motion, the girl spins around it, slowing her momentum and regaining control, coming back around the other side into an aerial pirouette that has her landing on her toes and spinning to a stop.
There is a faint grunt that escapes her lips. The armor that protects her from the worst of physical damage does nothing to ward of attacks that care not for physical barriers such as the chi Igniz used against her. But at the same time, she has been designed to withstand a lot of that very type of energy. She'll be able to fight on for sure. Silent but for the need to breath, the girl stands up straight, lifting her right hand, bringing it up to her mouth.
Fingers toward Igniz, palm facing up, the girl inhales then exhales, a white shimmer of icy energy washing over her as she breaths. The breath that started as a single exhale becomes a gout of dangerously cool ice and snow, many of the crystals forming into rings of razor edged projectiles swirling in the midst of the enegy tearing through the air toward Igniz. It is deceptively silent, just as the young girl he fights. But in that silent danger lurks.
COMBATSYS: Kula successfully hits Igniz with Diamond Breath.
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Kula 0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Igniz
Igniz wasn't prepared to strike against it. He wasn't prepared to make a move against Kula, perhaps in an attempt to save bits and pieces of armor that could be used elsewhere. Micromanagement is what Igniz runs on, and here, he would simply aim to stop Kula from striking him, the bulky armor that he carries moving to get out of the way. But it doesn't. Instead, he finally witnesses the full strength of Kula's assault, one he hasn't witnessed in a great deal which simply impresses him even more.
Kula's uncanny ability to exhale shards of ice and snow, little razor edged crystals hurling towards the god of NESTS and striking, cutting and striking even more so, over and over as he does. Impressive. Terribly impressive and NESTS created such things from the blood of another man's blood. A terrbly hard manuever, but accessable to NESTS as a whole within years of practice.
The shards cut into the armor, even some strike Igniz's face, leaving small cuts and bruises here and there. But it's only to beginning, as Kula will find, to something much more truely terrifying.
As he stands, the god of NESTS hovers precariously, making no movements after he initial attempt as if he was letting Kula strike once more for her competency, but he does not. Instead, he aims himself towards the girl, and looks closely. Very closely. To how she moves, fights, acts and even breathes.
Who would not stop and marvel at such a construct that would come to be known as Kula Diamond?
COMBATSYS: Igniz focuses on his next action.
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Kula 0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Igniz
She lowers her hand, the yellow glove encrusted with small flakes of ice, the surface of it frozen simply by being a part of focusing the powerful surge of chi laced wind sent Igniz's way. Small snow flakes drift down from her hand, swirling toward the floor as she lets her arm rest against her side. Igniz holds his ground and begins to observe. And what a sight to observe. Young in appearance and even younger yet in mind.
The scientists would have aged her further, given her the health and fitness of a girl five or six years older than the figure that stands before the god of NESTS now. But they had already accelerated her aging drastically to get her to this point. When they saw that all their hard work had paid off with a successful infusion of that twisted take on the Kusanagi's divine chi, they didn't want to risk advancing her any further. Any number of things can go wrong with accelerated aging. Best to let her simply begin to age normally now rather than risk losing it all...
Igniz's acute attention will notice the way her breath becomes briefly visible when she exhales. A phenomenon that sometimes happens even when she hasn't activated her combat potential, especially whenever she gets tired or stressed, and is less capable of maintaining the seal. Her body temperature is low. A normal human would be dead at that temperature, but she moves as easily as any living thing. She's flexible, fast, and remorseless with her attacks, as if she doesn't even fully comprehend just how punishing her power can be - or simply was never taught to care.
She isn't actively aware how much information Igniz is gathering on her, acting purely on instinct and routines practiced time and time again in the training facilities. Igniz holds back, and Kula advances forward, taking perhaps that chance that he might not be able to defend himself against what comes next. Her algorithms tell her to attack swiftly and aggressively, the girl darting in quickly. Her next attack comes from multiple directions. Her right hand clenched into a fist slams out, attempting to strike Igniz directly in the chest again the instant she gets in close.
But her left hand is the one working the magic, fist clenching, a long shard of ice appearing behind Igniz. A shard that she 'pulls' back by drawing her hand backward, threatening to stab directly into the powerful man, perhaps even through his armor. At last the girl steps back, her right hand opening and unleashing a final, piercing spear of ice directly toward Igniz from the front. Attacks from all directions threaten his defenses as he gets to see the danger of combating the ice weilding combat project.
COMBATSYS: Igniz reflects Behind Slash from Kula with Nega Genesis.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kula 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Igniz
A work of crystiline beauty that even gem cutters, experts from all over the world could not match even in a thousand years. Kula was the most precious Diamond that the earth itself had seen in quite a while. And NESTS has placed it there, through the fire and flames they had reverse engineered according to the anti hero genes of K' and Kyo, making something entirely different than just infusing. She was a live. A living, breathing creature created with the ice inside.
And it was true that they had held back. With such a success, they did not need a K10000. To do so would throw away the millions of dollars they invested in the girl, fool hardly toss away the years of growth that they had sat through the make sure that she would form naturally, slowed only by the process itself, and even the ice like nature that Kula was given. Many things had been factored in.
And the results are astounding. In all his years he had not seen anything so innocent and deadly. This was undoutably better than Maxima and K', perhaps combined. Compact, deadly, obedient. Even her demeanor was brighter and easier to hide, unlike K9999's temper or K''s hard head. Even the ice that she exhales are more important than Whip, a traitor that was given a second chance, and then failed to do anything with it. Even modern medicine must be kept away from Kula. An anomally many would attempt to cash in on. The girl with a heart of ice. Medical journals filled with information for sale. This would belong to NESTS itself, or disappear entirely. Just like K' or Maxima or Whip.
Seeing. Watching. Igniz finds out many things, everything he needs to know about the girl that he had might have missed in the lab reports from Diana and Foxy, and other nameless scientists that took the project from their hands during completion. Extremely low body temperature, seals, activatable powers. Perfect for NESTS. The ability to be more than what meets the eye. Just like how Kula comes at Igniz. There was more than meets the eye.
For a moment, Igniz was stunned. Partially due to her thinking, but it was simply not enough. The shard of ice appeared behind Igniz, even as the clenched fist slams out, missing barely. Another shard of ice appears behind him, one he locates through the sharp drop in temperature, thermal sensors on the battlesuit quickly instructing, guiding through use of radar. With an uncanny movement, Igniz escapes nearly with a sharp turn, the ice itself being pulled towards Kula, and then, finally, with the final thrust...
Meeting a wall of imaculate chi, one that streams out, stopping Kula's assault dead towards him, but instead, speeding up her own spears of ice, unable to break the suit, unable to even strike it. Almost as soon as the white chi drives the assault back on the owner, it disappears, Igniz's hand slowly lowering towards his side. "Clever." He exclaims. She had learned her powers amazingly well as of late.
And with timing appropriate for a god, Igniz threads the needle of piercing ice and turns the attack back on the girl. There are few in the world that could have accomplished such flawless defense in the microsecond of time that presented itself in which to react. A brilliant flash of chi obscures everything from sight as the two ice lances are consumed by Igniz's powerful control over chi.
The impact sends Kula sliding backward, arms raised in front of her, crossed over her in a defensive position, trying to weather out the powerfully bright blast that Igniz summoned on demand. He remarks that her attempts to get past his defenses were clever and the young girl favors him with a smile, her eyes peering out at him from behind bangs tossed by the small air currents constantly in flux about her. She's hurt, the two powerful energy strikes leaving their mark, her leather armor scuffed or charred in places, but she's still mobile, and her breaths coming strong, controlled - she isn't winded yet, in spite her efforts and constant manipulation of chi.
But thus far he has managed to rebuff her attacks, giving the clone something to consider, forcing her to think actively rather than operate on autopilot. How to get through such flawless defense as Igniz? Nothing can surprise him in the end, can it? Nothing can confuse his superior mind combined with the constant feedback obtained from his suit. The icy blue haired girl pauses for a moment, legs bending slightly as her entire body tenses.
And then she springs, the girl leaping up into the air - not for Igniz, but for the piller nearest him. Her hands and feet smack against the piller briefly before she drops back at the god of NESTS from a different angle, her momentum spinning into a swift kick, a small sliver of ice along the bottom of her shoe sole adding a sharp edge to the attack as she attempts to rake his back on her way down to landing behind Igniz.
COMBATSYS: Kula successfully hits Igniz with Light Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Kula 1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0 Igniz
Igniz cannot simply escape it all, especially as Kula powers herself into him. Quick reflexes powered by a strong will escapes Igniz's attempt to simply move out of the way. The movemnt itself was timed, however Igniz had used the suits powers to quickly, causing the entire suit to be sluggish, removing options that could have saved him the strike, but to Kula's credit, it was impressive. Leaping about the piller itself, if only for a moment before leaping towars Igniz, the small silver ice underneath the shoe gleaming.
As she comes down, Igniz retracts, unable to get away completely. The ice cleaves into the front of the armor, powered by the force of Kula. Sparks gleam from his suit, raining down as he's forced back. The armor was tough, able to take some of the most powerful forces known to any fight and reduce much of the damage, but it was not impervious as Igniz could hope. Sending Igniz back, reeling and breathing louder is no easy feat, but Kula has accomplished it.
She was, little by little, whittling him down. But he himself was not completely slow, and by no means unable to fight back. With many of the systems of the heavy battlesuit still available, the god of NESTS has a plethora of strikes for him to use. But which? It is uncertain. But as he moves methodically towards Kula, not leaping or striking out, simply floating forward, he allows a moment of recognition.
And then, at the pinicle, a hand strikes out, aimed towards Kula. A simple methodical strike, plain and simple, yet a blur to the eye, almost impossible to see as his hand shoots out, the entire arm being driven for Kula's chest in an attempt to drive the girl back in the most simple, brutal technique Igniz has. A strike.
COMBATSYS: Kula blocks Igniz's Medium Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Kula 1/-----==/=======|=======\-------\0 Igniz
Her little stunt off the piller landed her a quick kick. Hardly the most powerful strike ever, but it left a mark, a few sparks evidence of the sharp edge of her shoe doing its job of cutting through the battle suit, if but a little. Kula lands and immediately starts skipping backward, her right hand up at her hair, keeping it out of her face as she tries to put distance between her and Igniz so that she can come up with another plan.
But he advances swiftly, movement provided by the suit he wears, another impressive feat of NESTS engineering that the rest of the world can only dream of. His punch comes fast. To the mortal eye it might seem invisibly fast, his arm moving from his side to strike out toward her torso. It's her reflexes that save her there, Kula's mind detecting the movement just in time to direct her arms up in front of her, crossed over each other directly at the point of impact.
The power behind his strike is enough to send her skidding backward, feet losing traction for a moment, her arms knocked out to her sides as she flails for balance. But rather than regain control in order to slow down the girl rolls with it in the end, her skidding converted to skating as the girl darts around one of the supportive columns, out of sight from Igniz for a moment.
Out of sight, but not out of mind - his senses will detect the massive surge of chi, the drastic drop in temperature from where she vanished from, a warning that something big is coming next. An ice slick expands out over the floor from the concealing piller, the air over it coated with a thin layer of vaporish mist. The expanding surface of ice jets toward Igniz himself as Kula steps out from behind the piller at last and leans down, planting her hands against the floor.
All of the ice and chi seeks to conceal the real danger, the real direction of attack coming a moment later... It's time for Igniz to bear witness to one of her strongest attacks as suddenly a sharp, jagged spire of ice launches out of the floor at his left. A second one lunges up from his right, just as sharp as the first. At last a third from in front, the ice crystals glinting, their edges razor fine as they threaten even more harm toward the god of NESTS should his defenses fail him here. All three attempt to trap him but in the end they can't last forever, the icy spires collapsing, the sound of glass-like ice shattering as they strike against the floor.
COMBATSYS: Igniz blocks Kula's Diamond Edge.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Kula 0/-------/-------|=======\-------\1 Igniz
The air itself may be eternally cool, thanks to Kula Diamond. Her strength is in her ability to manipulate ice, and even then, the real danger that Igniz faces is completely real. She's pushing herself towards him in an extended strike. At lest that's what Igniz thinks as she darts behind a column. Out of sight, out of mind, right? Unfortunately not.
The god of NESTS pays close attention, massive surges of chi, ice. Igniz's systems were primed earlier for anything to come. But Igniz imagines what Kula may do. Anything perhaps. Anything. Any weapon can be formed out of her ice, blades, axes, perhaps anything really. But the drastic drop of temperature barely registers after Igniz begins to move. The systems unable to notice it.
But as Kula explands out with the ice slick expanding out, the god of NESTS repels what he can. The strike is coming, but where. It takes seconds, moments he does not have to find where the attack is coming from.
And there, there is the jgged spire of ire that comes towards him. Almost from all sides to the spires come, icy spires coming towards him as they shatter, but all about, white chi appears, searing about him as it slows the progress of the spires. Many of them dissapear before striking, others barely striking into the man's suit. Still, the worst was avoided. Exactly what Igniz had hoped to do.
Now, turning back towards Kula, assaulted from every direction as the battlesuit is stuck in the worst condition, Igniz pushes the assault. For a moment, Igniz's hand glows a powerful white chi before a quick hurl is seen, sent tumbling towards the NESTS creation, Kula. It is nothing to scoff at, even as his systems recover from the entirely hard to stop attack.
COMBATSYS: Kula reflects Divine Arrow - Air from Igniz with Counter Shell.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Kula 0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0 Igniz
Even as the spires are collapsing, the energy holding them together withdrawn back into the local flurries that swirl about the girl, Kula looks neither pleased nor disappointed, her expression neutral, her eyes taking in the ebb and flow of energy within the battle. When dealing with the likes of Igniz, there is no point in feeling discouraged that he is able to contend with the best you send his way. The man transcends beyond most mortal fighters and his mastery over energy is something to be feared by any who seek to combat him.
His energy surges through the air toward Kula, blindingly bright white chi that illuminates all the dark corners of the chamber, creating rapidly moving shadows on the far sides of the pillers as it threatens to smash into the NESTS project. It carries with it enough energy to easily overwhelm Kula with a direct hit while also being so large as to be difficult to avoid cleanly in the long chamber.
Rising up from her position of leaning against the floor, Kula reacts in the splinter of time left to defend herself. And in that moment, Igniz has the opportunity to view one of the many tools she was equipped with to contend with the likes of K'. The incoming chi may not be the stolen flames of the Kusanagi, but it is subjected to the same reaction that a fiery attack from K' might have been as Kula waves her left hand through the air in front of her, leaving a swath of ice and sub-zero chi lingering in the air for a moment. The second step is the most critical component of her defense, her right hand reaching forward, fingers stretched out as she inserts her yellow protective glove directly into her own churning field of chi.
The transformation from loosely assembled matter into a mirror smooth barrier of single-sheet ice happens just in time, the brilliantly bright white energy crashing against the reflective surface. It threatens to shatter, the girl pouring a lot of chi into it to keep the rapidly appearing cracks from spreading. In the end it holds and a portion of that very energy is sent hurtling back toward Igniz, leaving the ice wielder unharmed. Witness just another way she has been engineered to contend with the fires of K', proving to be in every way the Anti-K' she was designed to be.
Releasing a winded gasp, the icy-haired girl draws her hand back, the barrier allowed to fall to the floor, shattering into a remarkably fine powder before it begins to melt away. All around her, the evidence of her attacks is beginning to diminish, the ice slick, the remains of the spires all melting or evaporating into vapor that surrounds the two fighters. For all the energy she can drive at an opponent, it would appear she's starting to run dry.
COMBATSYS: Igniz dodges Kula's Reflected Divine Arrow - Air.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Kula 0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0 Igniz
Beautiful in action and in existence, Igniz is witness to a move that's entirely more unpredictable than he expected. Even during the strike, the god of NESTS wasn't sure it would work, but the ability for Kula to reflect it did not cross his mind. Until of course, the action had occured. He had tailored it just perfectly, so that she wouldn't be able to, but still, it had happened, sending the god of NESTS into a defensive position.
The icy air hovers about as it occurs, the crystaline ice hovering infront of her before the churning chi creates a barrier, forming the small shards into a perfect, flat surface of ice, enough to reflect the arrow back at him. One that tailored to stop others from charging into it head first and repelling it. The tip was turned about in Kula's barrier, and aimed directly back at the god of NESTS. He would not let it in so easily.
For once, the god of NESTS had enough distance, even as the arrow hurried and disappated towards him, rushing at him as if a ghost was passing through the air, searing the air as it moves. And the god simply moves towards the side, hurrying in a quick but decisive movement with the only idea in mind is to continue the arrows path, and to let it fade out and sparkle behind him, disapating into nothingness. But the god of NESTS would not simply continue on without conflict. Almost as he floats towards the sides, he hurries inwards, floating towards Kula even as he moves behind pillars, he would always come out the next, appearing and disappearing as he made he was about for the attack. She had proven her worth. Her strength was admirable. She was powerful, her actions smart and well tailored to the situation. She would instil a sort of bone chilling fear to those that continued to defy NESTS. An enforcer without scrupals, without power that most definitely could corrupt. She was perfect.
As Igniz approached, his hands were still unmoving. They floated at his sides, left open for any sudden movements Kula could make, may make at any time. But that would not stop him from pushing the offensive. Even the cloak itself that he wore was an instrament of battle, slithering across the ground, moving across the columns and the floor itself before rising towards her legs, aimed only to wrap about them, squeeze and hurl her towards the same columns that she had used before. A rather brutal tactic, but if it gets the job done, a rather suitable NESTS tactic.
COMBATSYS: Igniz successfully hits Kula with Medium Throw.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Kula 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Igniz
There is no slowing down now, the demonstration exercise clearly nearing its completion. Kula uses the limits of her strength to send Igniz's energy hurtling back at him, but he refuses to be struck by that brilliant arrow, the projectile continuing on past before fading into the darkness. But there's no time to ponder the energy's trajectory, as Igniz is moving forward, propelled by power capable of closing the distance extremely quickly.
Tired, but not oblivious by any means, Kula watches for another strike, or perhaps a kick, her combat algorithms trying to catch the angle of the next attack to come her way in time to defend herself from it. But this one comes from a direction unanticipated, a means of attacking practically unique to the leader of the Cartel that gave her life. Too late she recognizes the cape for what it is and he may notice the last second attempt to leap free of its clutches.
The animated cloak catches her around her shins, leaving her attempt to spring out of the way cut short. Swung around right back the way she was trying to avoid going, Kula struggles to correct for it in mid-air, hoping to twist herself around and control her landing. That piller gets in the way of that recovery effort however, and the violet clad girl smacks against it, folding around the support beam before spinning into a heap on the floor behind it, landing hard and uncontrolled.
She lands with a gasp, tumbling a couple of times before landing on her hands and knees, the ice around her beginning to diminish as she grows weaker from the battering she just took. But she lifts her head, her red eyes peeking out from behind sky blue bangs, and seeks to spot Igniz. And then comes the question, out of the blue. "Why does K' have to wear that red glove? What is wrong with him?"
She has but perhaps one final icy attack left in her, and it is with that in mind that a white halo of energy shimmers out from around her right hand as she pushes up to her feet and begins to dart toward the battle suit clad god.
The aura shimmers into a sphere of perfectly smooth, translucent ice, her fist buried in the middle of it. And then she's come close, slamming her right hand forward, the sphere of ice shifting in dimensions as suddenly several sharp lances of crystal jut out from it - sharp as knives, strong as steel, and as long as spears, they threaten to harm Igniz's torso as Kula leans forward into long ranged, icy attack.
COMBATSYS: Igniz reflects Critical Ice from Kula with Nega Genesis.
-* CRITICAL HIT! *-
[ < > ///////////////// ]
Kula 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Igniz
To slow down against the god of NESTS would be suicide. An unrelenting offense tied in with a rock hard defense could simply cause him to slowly widdle you away until you are nothing. Like water to a great mountain, year upon year layers are chipped off through the rivers swift currents. But it was not a stream or a river that had came down upon Kula, but instead a flood.
Kula's data flooded Igniz as she's whipped against the pillar, only to scrape herself off, getting up and fighting yet still. She was tough, aiming to fight on still even as the ice diminishes about her. As the temperature rises in the room, one can only imagine that Kula herself was getting weaker. Igniz would be letting up, perhaps today he would not finish the fight with his full strength, instead, let Kula stand. Catch her strike, and finish there. Leave for a picnic or get NESTS juice to drink. This was not the case.
K' once more became the topic of her wandering mind, poising the god to take action. Even his, the traitors name spoke of in a sort of questioning manner must be dealt with. Why must he wear the glove. What's wrong with him? Everything. A defect. The best NESTS could do at the time, but a defect none the less. One of the many reasons he was tossed aside like trash.
But the trash seems to linger, and the garbage men never came. And now Kula is interested in garbage picking. Igniz's smiling face loses its glow for a fraction of a second as Kula fires herself forward, the aura into a sphere shines forward, shifting into lances of ice that threaten Igniz entirely. But the god of NESTS does not retrea, instead, a sizzling portal of immaculate white chi appears again, buzzing out into existance against her ice, pushing the sharp knives back on the owner. But not nicely, the portal actually moves, only to push the ice deeper into Kula as it strikes back, as if he was answering her question with a warning. But perhaps it was something for K', given to Kula at the mention?
Either way, Igniz stands straight, his hand once more returning to his side with a flick of his hair. "He was incomplete. We were never able to seal his fire entirely. The glove is much like yours, allowing him to utilize his powers without the chance of them accidently going off. A small defect in an entire defect." The god of NESTS blows it off, attempting to continue to leave K' as more as an object than a person. For, to extinguish a person, it's much more... personal.
Similar energy is used to defend himself against her icy strike as Kula uses the last of her reserves to try and land one final strike. The ice spears shatter as they collide against Igniz's barrier. If she had enough warning, she could have dismissed the ice, keeping it from endangering herself as the jagged, sharp crystals are driven back at her. But worn out and distracted as she is in that final moment, the blades meant for Igniz strike her instead, propelled by his chi mastery.
Most cut across her in small scrapes, leaving gouges in her armor or slashes on her arms. But the main shaft of the lance spears her directly, cutting easily through her leather armor as it imbeds itself in her torso, leaving her stumbling back, a little shocked at the pain that registers in her system, never having been pierced by her own ice in such a way before. Her right hand reaches down to grip around the spike and the ice begins to melt at her touch. Blood spills out from the wound left behind and the girl presses her hand over the injury. Unlike the shallower scrapes from before, this time it flows freely, not freezing in place.
The girl grimaces, dropping to her knees on the floor, her hand staying pressed against her injury. A shimmer passes over her, the icy blue melting out of her hair and the crystals floating around her turning to droplets and falling to the floor. "I don't understand," she whispers, voice strained by the pain that racks her now. "Why did he run away. If he stayed he could be finished, right? Why would he betray you after all you did for him?" Kula asks, her left hand planting against the floor to prop her up. Curious, but never suspicious, something seems yet to be missing from the whole picture. Why are there so many liars out there defending /K'/?
COMBATSYS: Kula takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Igniz 1/------=/=======|
COMBATSYS: Kula can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Igniz 1/------=/=======|
Igniz did not get out of this entirely unscathed of course. He had been wounded, completely pained through the fight. Kula had fought entirely well, as much as he could have asked from her. And now, when it finally ends, Igniz stops, moving back towards his throne of onyx. He does not move to help Kula up as the lance imbeds in her chest. It would be bad for her. For the project. Instead, on the armrest of the chair, Igniz hits a simple switch which sends a notification to the medics to rush the room, six in number, to stop the blood loss as much as possible before too much spills out. The ground may be covered in a thin sheet of ice if Kula was aloud to bleed. But for a mere parlor trick the life of a saint should not be thrown away.
Turning about and sitting among the thrown once more as the clatter of medics can be heard as they rush the throne room, Igniz takes Kula's question, giving a simple answer for a simple question. "Some people," Igniz exclaims to Kula, "do not value what they have until it is lost. K' was spoiled. He thought that he didn't need NESTS, need me to take care of him." The god of NESTS exclaims, "K' is one of these people." He explains further, as if Kula was a child. Which she was, but not in growth.
The medics are here by now, moving to help Kula up, remove the lance, to stop the bleeding and take her away. Today's procession was over, unless Kula had any more questions of course.
She would only have to fight against the doctors attempting to assist her forcefully. For answers, was this not a fair fight?
Remaining kneeling, Kula hasn't moved by the time the medics arrive, the fight having exhausted her strength completely and the wound leaving her reluctant to move, lest she just make it worse in trying. Igniz takes a seat atop that pedestal from atop which he governs, rules, dictates, and reveals, and the now auburn-haired girl listens intensely, now-violet eyes focused on the blonde deity, as if even the severe pain she was in wouldn't be enough to deter her from paying attention.
As he speaks, she nods slightly at first. Just like she suspected... he's hot headed, stubborn, no doubt he has an ego of sorts, or some kind of chip on his shoulder. She nods more as Igniz continues, her trusting expression making it clear that she sees no cause to doubt his words. "Nn," the quiet girl nods as she's helped to her feet by the doctors. She won't struggle against them - all her life she has been taught to submit to their care, their tests without complaint. "It's too bad," she says after a moment, expression thoughtful. "But now I understand my purpose more fully."
The scientists pay their reverence toward Igniz, bowing, nodding their heads quietly as they shuffle into place to escort the two year old girl out of the chamber for medical attention. She's strong, her recovery isn't even a question of if but simply when. And for her pain she walks away with so many questions answered, so many concerns cleared up. Perhaps it will make it easier to do what she knows she must...
She pauses at the exit one last time to glance over her shoulder toward the god of NESTS. He is as formidable in combat as she had imagined he would be. Smarter, swifter, stronger than she or anyone she had ever met to date. Surely he must be the most powerful man in the world... and beyond. At last she turns quietly to accompany the doctors back to the labratory floor. Time for them to patch her up and run some more tests, the cycle continuing as it has for all of her life.
As Kula departs the throne room, Igniz watches. The doctors take her away to be healed, to have the lance removed from her chest. The many tailors to repair her armor, the scientists to recreate the suit itself. The work of NESTS is never done. Never slowed. Never poor. Igniz demanded quality from those that work for him, and if not that, respect. High atop the dias in the center of the mountain, the God's paradise existed.
But he was troubled. Kula was asking more questions. K' and Maxima more active. K' had begun to make... friends. As much as his egotistical, uncharismatic attitude extends, the god of NESTS was not thrilled to hear that others could stomach it. To force friendship on the man, from what he had been told by spies and other survelience that NESTS could afford. The YFCC, High Schools, and now no doubt 'Vanessa', who he had met only briefly in a SNF match would perhaps even add to the growling list of problems against him.
It was true he had been more active, less scared for the harsh light to be shined upon him and NESTS itself. After many years of lying dormant, the fangs and venom of NESTS were finally built, and the time to strike was now. But had Igniz delivered the venom, or has it yet to be used? Was the many now aware a threat, or a nuisence? And Shurui, a question in many peoples mind harbored 'Why her?', K' himself interested as he had seen himself.
But these questions were unable to be answered at the time. For Igniz's sleep would still be as pleasent as each night before. No sleep would be lost, nothing changed. The base itself had not yet been found. An advantage for th time being. But how long until their memory would return? The procedure was still new, and the lapse of memory could not continue forever. The mind forgets, but the body remembers.
Igniz will be ready when it happens. He would not be foolish as Vega had shown him in pursing the ideal of world dominatin. He would take slowly, softer steps to shake the foundaries of the major cities. For he was a God. His power unlimited, his words truth. The ideal could not be wrong. He could not be wrong.
Log created on 00:17:04 05/28/2008 by Kula, and last modified on 16:31:40 05/30/2008.