Dark Age Legends

[D. Ein]

//good usage of the Stalker there, DM\

The Colonel lead the recruits into a wide chamber with several other instructors standing there. One was an extremely thin and pale man, whose bones could clearly be seen jutting out of his skin. He was wielding a bow. The other one was an old, ancient almost, woman, in ripped and damaged rags. The third was none other than Cain Ryleh himself, the Scribe of Unlife. There was also an immensely huge man in an executor's coif, with a long, metal-studded, painful-looking whip on his side. The thin instructor spoke.

-"Now you will be divided into groups. Those of you that wish to be trained in the way of the bow and arrow will come with me, instructor Aahzmandius. If magic is your forte, you are to come with Instructor Gamall." He pointed to the hag. "The Colonel will be your instructor if you want to train with melee weapons. This time, however, we have another addition to the training course. If you want to be an elite Necromancer - a Necrolyte - go with the Scribe of Unlife."

The group divided into four parts. Instructor Gamall appeared to have the most recruits with her, oddly. Ein went with Aahzmandius, the ranged weapons teacher. The group passed through a hall with tall arches, through which the blood-stained Arena outside was seen. It was covered in an eerie blue glow from the time dilation aura. On the other side of the hall were the occasional doors, some leading to sleeping quarters, others to training rooms. The group walked all the way around the arena, and entered a very large, closed room. It had all sorts of ranged weapons in it, as well as ammunition, training dummies and the such. Ein noticed another gigantic man with a whip and executor's garb.

-"Now then," Aahzmandius began. "We will determine what sort of a weapon you will be using. The main difference is the size, power and range. For this, you will be put through tests to determine which one you like best. You!" He pointed to Ein, whose stomach just sank. "You will be first. Take this."

Aahzmandius handed Ein a gauntlet-mounted crossbow. It was laughably small, but armed with menacing-looking short bolts. They were jet black, yet reflective - Ein saw his reflection in one. At least five of them were lined up in a chain-like fashion along the side of the gauntlet.

-"The trigger is located within the gauntlet. Now, you see those dummies to your right?" Aahzmandius pointed to several wooden bodies strung up from the ceiling. "Hit them, before they hit you."

As Ein opened his mouth to say "What did you just say?", he noticed from the corner of his eye that the dummies dropped down from their strings, and were now moving. One of them shot a spear at Ein from its hand. He barely rolled out of the way as the spear impaled the wall behind him. Not able to think straight, he pointed the gauntlet in the dummies' general direction and squeezed the trigger. The crossbow fired with unexpected force, recoiling his arm way up, as another spear came flying from the second dummy. That one directly hit his gauntlet, and nailed it to the back wall. Ein yelled in pain, as he was hanging off of the wall by his hand.

-"Well, looks like the agility based weapons won't do for you - the one shot you manage to fire ended up stuck in the roof. Enforcer, please take the pupil off the wall."

The executor-esque brute ripped the spear out of the wall. Ein fell down, his hand bleeding all over the place. He clutched it, with a grimace of sheer agony on his face.

-"In that case, let's see if you're better with a more... calm weapon. Here."

The instructor handed Ein a pill. He obediently swallowed it, and the pain from his hand was gone - though the wound was still there and bleeding vehemently. Aahzmandius picked the gauntlet crossbow up from the floor, and handed Ein a different weapon. This one was truly awe-inspiring - it appeared to be three crossbows combined into one, the actual bowheads forming a triangular shape at the end. All three crossbows were loaded. Ein also noticed a scope with a glyph scratched onto it on the weapon's side.

-"This is a heavier, more powerful weapon which requires careful aiming. This time you're far away, and the dummies still haven't spotted you. Once one of them is hit, however, you will have to deal with the other one quickly. The trigger is on the handle just in front of the shoulder mount."

Ein took the weapon. Indeed, it appeared to be shoulder-mounted - that's how large it was. He put it on his right shoulder, and found the scope to be resting comfortably against his eye. With his free hand, he twisted the lens to focus in on one of the dummies' head. Once he was sure that he could hit it, he pulled the trigger.

The weapon reacted unexpectedly. The bottom crossbow fired, and the bowheads automatically rotated and fired again, throwing Ein off aim. The dummy's head was impaled on the wall, cut clean from its base by the long projectiles the weapon fired. Regaining control quickly, Ein turned the weapon towards the other dummy and fired. Before it could react, its head was mounted on the wall right next to the other one.

-"Well done. Keep your current weapon, student."

-"Sir, my name is--"

-"Your name is not important. We will get to that later." Aahzmandius turned to a different student, a frail-looking girl. She was looking at Ein with sympathy. "Now that you've seen how the weapons perform, you are free to choose the one you wish to try first. You! Come up here."

The girl took the gauntlet weapon. She put it on her left hand, and fastened the belts around the weapon to match her thin wrist.

-"Begin."

The dummies came back to life, both firing simultaneously. The girl dove down to the ground, and before the dummies reloaded, fired the gauntlet with a steady hand. The weapon appeared to be extremely quick, and fired in bursts of three. Both dummies fell down with six bolts sticking out of each.

-"Well done. Next!"

A rather fat man with a moustache was up next. Instead of picking either of the two weapons already tried, he picked up a generic speargun.

-"Just a speargun? Hardly worthy for a Stalker, but if you know how to use it, then go ahead. Begin."

The recruit shot the weapon at one of the dummies, cleaving its right appendage off. It fell down harmlessly. The other one, however, managed to shoot a spear at the man's foot. Pinned to the ground, he wailed in pain. The dummy took the opportunity, and fired a spear directly into his mouth. The concussion shot beheaded the recruit. The rest of the students gasped.

-"Silence! These things are to be expected. You knew what you were going up against. Next."

--- --- ---

The first lizard man arose almost instantly. His eyes were glowing a deep purple, indicating Kronos' direct control of the creature.

-"Nice start, Draven. Keep it up. However, I'd rather resurrect a mass of opponents, instead of getting one by one. Kill at least four hundred, and you'll have reinforcements."

The glow faded as the lizard fell back down...

[Drannic_Lord01]

"What the...?" Ben pulled his sword out of the undead rat's forehead and pulled the nergy back into his hands. he then prepared a large, white fireball and threw it at the beast's head again.

"It doesn't look like normal weapons will have any effect!" Ben said back after launching the fireball.

"Right! These aren't normal weapons, you know." Jacobie rushed forwards and slashed his two katanas at the great beast's side, where Ven had just slashed at.

"Nor is mine!" Justin took out his demon fang and lunged forwards with a fierce trust. The combined effects of all the enchanted weapons burned off the side of the rat's flesh. It's bones were visible, but the creature was still fighting. It squealled after having a side of his body singed off.

"Uh oh... duck!" Justin slid under the giant tail that was slashing towards himself and Jacobie. However, Jacobie was unable to evade, and he was sent flying backwards, crashing into the wall with a loud "clank." He fell to the floor and held his wrist, which was slashed with a deep cut, straight through the black bracer.

------------

"So, do you think they've got to the king yet?" Tiberius asked Dori, "I mean, the sewers have rats and all that, but-"

"How do you know if the sewer even has rats? What if there are none to be seen? What if they just have to tred through the murky sewage?"

"Trust me, nothing's that simple. Besides, all sewers have rats! I just hope they don't have to face any mutated rats... those guys are the biggest rats I've ever seen."

"Yeah, well thy're warriors. I'm sure they can handle themselves."

"If we can't even go in the sewers, then why are we standing near them? This smell will never get out of my robes..."

"Good point. Let's get away from this pipe. How about those bushes back there?"

"How about 'I don't care'? Let's just get the hell away from here."

"Yeah, let's" Valiko added.

------------

[Dude Man]

"I'm sure normal weapons will have an effect on it." Duilin said as he ran towards the giant rat and smashed his mace onto it's side. "You'll just..." He gave another swing. "...have to use them a lot."

Duilin then gave another swing but this time his mace was empowered with his fire magic and he smashed with great force, smashing out a bone from his ribcage, and the beast started to catch flame. Likely the flame wouldn't be of too much help, but it looked kind of cool.

--- ---
//I assume Draven just killed and or highly wounded all the lizard men, it wasn't 100% clear.\

Nex and the elites arrived as the fire mage stood surrounded by the wounded/killed lizard men.

"Well...it's nice to see you've still got your spirit after all these years." Nex said with enthusiasm to Draven. "I'd say I'm surprised to see you still kicking but I suppose you could say the same for me..."

[D. Ein]

//I'll try to get the Ein thing over with as soon as I can. He's in "time dilation", so I guess it wouldn't affect anyone if time's going much faster there. I'll have several months pass in the next few posts, if not a year or more (but only for Ein)\

The next few months were focused mostly on perfecting aim and reaction time, as well as strength, agility and stealth ability. During this time and the rest of the tryouts, Ein's group was reduced several people. Whenever someone misbehaved or did something out of order, the enforcers, as they were called, punished the rule breaker with a swing of their whip. One swing was enough to rip off a sizable chunk of skin from a body, if the person was lucky. If not... one of the recruits hand their arm twisted off. The possibility of attaching a mechanic arm was there, but the instructor decided not to waste a perfectly good arm on what he described to be "a complete failure like that."

Another major death contributor was the reaction time development exercise. It took place in the arena. On one side, there was a cannon - on the other was the student. The cannon fired large cannonballs repeatedly, and the person in question had to dodge them. This process "weeded out" twenty people, and Ein witnessed several of them smashed into bits, decorating the rear archways of the arena. He, however, didn't have to perform the exercise, as his weapon did not require agility. He was timed on his firereload rate, and an unsuccessful time would've resulted in a whipping. Thankfully for himself, he was busy learning the weapon and practicing with it in the time allotted to him, allowing him to pass.

One day, at the meal hall, Aahzmandius interrupted during breakfast - something that never happened before.

-"Students, I believe it is in your best interest that I tell you this - tomorrow is your final test before being open to the full Stalker program. Prepare yourself as much as you possibly can. I promise you, the challenge will be tough; but if you succeed, you will be a quarter of the way of becoming a true Stalker."

The mysteriousness of the statement did not prepare Ein for the next day as he would've liked it to. The students were taken to a portal glyph along with the other two groups - the first time Ein ever saw them after the first day at the academy. Their numbers appeared to have dwindled, as well. Many of the melee stalkers had numerous scars covering them, and the mages were burnt in many places. The Necrolytes were the only ones who weren't present.

The glyph portal led to an island. Once everyone passed through, Kragos greeted everyone.

-"Today is a big day for some of you, and last day for many of you. I will not speak much, so listen while you have the chance. Your objective is to kill another stalker -" There was a unison gasp from the crowd, including Ein. "-who isn't from your group. That is, mages cannot kill mages, rangers cannot kill rangers, and so on. Once you kill a recruit, collect their head. Those who attempt to strike a head-bearing student will be turned into an undead minion."

The headmaster paused, adjusting some small device on his wrist. He then looked up.

-"You have 30 minutes of immunity. After that, the hunt is on. Good luck."

---

Ein managed to find himself a high spot up in a tree on a hill. The branch he set up on was large enough to support three of him - and the tree canopy hid him well from the hostile eye. Now all he needed was to find a target...

He scanned the visible area with his scope. After a few touchups, the glyph on the scope allowed him to see through thin solids, such as leaves. The coast seemed clear... for now, at least. He moved further to the left...

...Bingo.

There stood a glyph user, next to a wooden house. He looked as if he was about to enter it. Ein aimed carefully, zooming right into the man's head, and pulled the trigger.

The spear hit bare wood. The illusion of the man vanished, leaving a dimming glyph on the wall. Damn, Ein thought. They really do teach something here in Kandarin about glyphs... Very well. Next target.

It was a good while before Ein found another Stalker. He was already on way too high of a zoom, so he adjusted the scope to focus better by zooming out a little. That's when he noticed that the Stalker was already carrying someone's head.

What the hell. Maybe just kill this one? No... Being turned into an undead minion didn't appeal all that much to Ein. He was sure that the Kandarinian instructors were watching. Very well...

The Stalkers were definitely running out now. Only after 30 minutes of watching did Ein notice another, melee-based Stalker. He decided not to take any chances, aimed right for the heart and fired.

Unfortunately, the melee Stalkers were way too well-trained. The trooper was able to hear the spear coming, so he turned... Bad idea on itself, it was, as the spear was lodged deeply in his right shoulder. Clutching the wound, he fell down on his knees. Ein smiled, and pulled the trigger again.

Click.

That's all that came. Just then, Ein noticed that all three of his spears were already fired - he needed to reload. Damn! However, just as he was about to turn away from the scope, he noticed the Stalker spin his head wildly somewhere above, to his left. His neck was subsequently impaled by a barrage of six small black bolts, and the frail girl he saw a while earlier hopped out of a tree. With a smile, she cut off her victim's head. Ein decided not to watch, but as took out the spears to reload his weapon, he could've sworn he saw the girl turn in his direction and wink...

Well, third time's a charm, right? With his weapon fully loaded, he scanned the area once more. Surprisingly, he noticed another target very soon - the same glyph user that he failed to kill earlier. The mage appeared to be drawing another sigil on a large stone. Now he'd definitely not take any chances, Ein thought. He aimed right for the eye, as he saw the figure look up...

-"I have you now."

A strong blast of flame from beneath Ein knocked him off his branch. He fell down painfully on the ground, right on a large binding glyph, making him unable to move. Above him stood the mage Stalker he was just aiming at, in flesh and blood...

-"You really thought that I would let your kill attempt just pass me by? I was watching that illusion, you know. I saw the spear strike the wall. It was pure luck that when I came out to investigate, you tried to aim at something else, and it was pure skill that I calculated from the spear's angle where you were. A carefully cast spell tricked you nicely into triggering a portal glyph, teleporting me right below you... I took the time to etch that glyph, you know. My first kill... oh, I'm going to get your head off of you while you're still alive."

Somehow, the mage didn't do a very good job on his glyph, for all the training he was offered, and for all the time he had to make it nice and proper. Ein could still wiggle his fingers. Using that, he began to trace a sigil of his own in the sand, while the other Stalker took out a knife.

-"...hmm, yes... How would I go about making your death nice and slow? I know... I'll cut from the sides, first. Then from behind. Only then will I cut the throat."

The mage approached Ein, the knife poised at his neck. Almost there...

-"I'm going to enjoy this..."

Ein could feel the steel on his throat. Out of time, damnit... he put the finishing dot onto the sigil.

A swirling green portal opened below the mage. His hand slipped, and the knife struck Ein's eye, plucking it out. Ein squealed in pain as the vortex sucked the mage in. It closed midway down the mage's neck, severing his head off.

[Mikado]

Somewhere on the beach of Tjed, and white figure was lying.
He couldn't hear anything.
He couldn't see anything.
He couldn't smell anything.
His mind flew off to an other dimension.

"Master..."
"Master...."
Shuichi couldn't see... Only feel.
"Yes my friend?"
"It hurts.. so much.. even more than ever.."
"I know my friend"
"Please master.. do something.."
"If I could I would my friend."
"You know she's following us, right? She will find you soon."
"She'll find US soon."
"Sorry my master.."
"Don't worry my friend."
"Please master, don't call me your friend."
"Then you stop calling me your master."
"I will stop my lord."
"Thank you my Companion."
"..."
Shui heard a sight that echoed a few times.
"If she will find us what will you do?"
"Fight her."
"Will you succeed? Will you survive?"
"I won't if I won't try."
"I will help you."
"You don't need to."
"That wasn't a proposition."

Silence..
And then a strong pain is felt over his whole body..
"Master you should leave, you are already at full powers.. this chat is unneccesary"
"Agh... I... You.. feel this pain all the ti-

But the meditation ends, as if someone forced it to end..
Shui wakes and stands up.
"I probrably am okay right now.. but what about our friend?"
Shui turned toward the cat that was next to him all the time.
"If you could only talk..."

The wind blowed once again.

[Xorlak]

The flames consumed the undead creature quickly and it writhed in pain, chunks of flesh and bone simply falling off.  Ven stood but was extremely dizzy, the burning creature appearing as an orange blur before him... Blast it, what was wrong?

Ven gritted his teeth and dizzily charged, his blade gaining a brilliant white luminescence.   Bringing it above his head he slashed down, sending a bright white arc of energy souring across the room.  The crescent of light cleaved the beast's torso and it roared, nearly causing the knight to lose his balance.  The flames died and the undead rat monster tumbled to the floor as a charred mess.  The crimson eyes flickered for a moment, then died.

Ven tried to stand up straight, but he couldn't.  The world spun around him.  Teetering around, he touched the bleeding wound on his left arm where the monster's bladed tail had slashed him.

"Erg... pos...ion...?"

He collapsed on the floor, his sword clattering next to him.

----

Draven spun a full circle, deflecting the blows of five angry lizards.  He clenched his fist and the crimson blade disappeared within it, his entire glove glowing red as a result.  He slammed his fist into the ground and a tremendous explosion lit the sky, the flames blasting the charred corpses of lizards in all directions.

He stood there, on fire, as the demon approached.

"Well, well, what do we have here?  I'd recognize that voice anywhere...  Still slaving for Retan?  Oh, that's right, you and your pals got your own club.  Clawscratch or something.  Whatever."

He folded his arms.

"So tell me, Nex, are you the same thing that screwed up Valos' mind?  You have no idea how hard it is to find a good man, and then you worthless demons step in and screw everything up.  Or are you something else now?  Wait, you know what?  I don't care..."

He held out a palm, and a brilliant crimson orb swelled before it, growing by the second.  He smirked.

"I think I feel like melting your face either way..."

[Dude Man]

"Ven!" Duilin ran towards the knight as he fell to the ground, and picked him up. "Ven? Are you alright?" He then looked at the others. "Guys, I think he's poisoned. Do any of you conveniently have a high strength antidote on you?"

--- ---

"Oh yes, that's right, Valos had to die, pity that." Nex laughed and then spoke in a mock-pity tone. "It was nothing personal, I know how hard it can be to loose such a good soldier." Nex then twirled his scythe. "But hey, keep your chin up, I want to make a clean cut around your neck."

The demon laughed manically as he dashed towards the fire mage spinning his mace as he advanced forward. He then slashed his scythe aiming across Draven's neck...

[Trent]

//I think I'll have Anti step in now. :]

Anti was now within eyeshot of the Dark Continent, having recovered enough so that he was up to 90%. He would be there in a few seconds. He went ahead and started to charge an attack in his left hand... Chidori. Even though he planned to destroy Draven all the same when the alliance had worn out its usefulness, he was still an ally at the moment. He was gonna have his back. Whoever that was... They would now have to deal not only with Draven, but the Zerobi no Anti as well.

--- --- ---

Zion was trying to find someone... anyone he knew. Well, in the direction of the Dark Continent, he could feel Draven. Yeah, that wasn't gonna work, especially since he could feel Anti going in that direction, and fast. He continued to scan the planet, and eventually found Duilin's distinct half-demon energy. "We're going this way." He pointed in his direction, and turned off that way. The other three followed.

[Drannic_Lord01]

"I'm afraid I have nothing..." Justin began, "What about you, Jacobie?"

"Hey, don't look at me! I fix wounds, not infections..."

"Ugh, stand aside! I'll take care of this." Ben ran over to Duilin and Ven. He held out his hand to where Ven was wounded, and there seemed to be a light blue glow around his hands. He moved it back and fourth over the wound, and the light soon faded.

"This technique is one I don't... quite favor... but it is useful for poisons and extreme cases of damage to one's ally. It takes part of the caster's life energy and gives it to the other to heal a wound, or in this case, cure a poison... the most it could do to me is exhaust me to the point where I would fall down and could not move, but luckily, I happen to have a potion for THAT." He pulled out a silver veil with orange water inside and drank it all down. His feeling had been restored.

"Ven, are you feeling better?"

------------

"Man, it's really taking them a while... I'm seriously beginning to wonder if they've gotten hurt somewhere in that passage..."

"Oh, quit your whining, Jason. They'll be back soon."

"Jason? The last time anyone called me 'Jason' was two years ago at the monistary. Just call me Tiberius."

"Why do you prefer to be called by your last name, 'Tiberius'?"

"Why do you prefer to be called by your first, 'Doriana'?"

"Forget it... Just quit whining, I'm trying to concentrate..."

"Tippical of you to try and 'concentrate'... and what would you be concentrating on?"

"What do you think? I'm looking for any kind of flaws in their magically-powered airships..."

"What kind of flaws, a leak in their magical flow or some sort?"

"Something that could not be breached by physical means... something hidden from us... and possibly, the passengers are blind to it as well."

"Great. More cryptic phrases. Care to explain?"

"No, but it does not matter now. I do not care to grant your request. Sleep..." Dori threw her hand forwards towards Tiberius and he fell to the ground, unconcious.

"You know, you didn't really need to do that... Unless your concentration is THAT important..."

"Oh, but on the contrary, I did. I need to focus, and shutting out an idiot was required."

"Oh Really? It would be nice of you to use his name once and a while."

"He is an imbicile and a fool. I don't even know why he is here..."

"He's here because he chose to be, as did I."

"Is that what you think, Draken? Did any of us really intend to follow him, even if it costs our very lives? Think about that while YOU rest..." Again, Dori flung her hand towards Valiko, and he fell on the ground, unconcious, next to Tiberius.

"I hope that's the last of the fools..."

"As do I." Dranniconias didn't look as normal as he once had. His youth was beginning to leave him, and he was changing back into Valimore.

"Ah yes, Valimore... Had a nice rest while your... friend... was out and about, did you?"

"You could say something like that, yes. Had any luck finding the temple?"

"Are you kidding? We haven't even gone near where it's said to be."

"That's quite a shame. And what of those up there, those airships. Have any luck finding the draw-back to those machines?"

"Not a one, but we shall see... I was also wondering if I could get some information on the one we travel with, on Constantine."

"Oh, do you now? Very well, I will tell you what I can."

"Why is it that where ever he walks, people around him are inspired to follow? It's strange, his connection is to magic, to the holy element."

"Well, that's quite a good question you pose. Quite unique, his influence is. Either it's a tool he uses... or a weapon he most powerfully weilds."

"Just tell me this... Why did you cast him out of the order, have him exiled, and then send him to me?"

"Heh... It's a long tale. I wouldn't want to bore you with the details..."

"Go ahead. We've got time, and who knows, it might even be interresting."

"Very well... I shall start from the beginning."

"Please do."

"There were certain complications with in the order, of which I had assembled. And they weren't quite pleased with my direct presence... certain members with ambition... and lust for power. You do know that there are techniques within magic... against where there is no defense..."

"Quite. Continue."

"People I trusted... people I relied on for assistance... betrayed me. They all attacked me, without warning, and for a time, I was exiled from my own order. I was cast out, stripped of my power... exiled..."

"YOU were exiled? Interesting... I had not known. You mentioned stripped of your power? How so?"

"The betrayers held magic techniques in their power that destroyed magic itself. My dark powers were... severed, in a way. However, they all had that same ambition, that same lust for power... they all fought for the ruling position of the order in my absence. I returned to them with my power restored from my father, but found that they had all killed themselves, and those that survived died of their injuries. Curious... or convenient, perhapse..."

"Convenient without a doubt. What did you do after you regained posession of the order?"

"I began to exile those that became too powerful... those whom I saw as a threat to my power, and to my possition of office."

"Was there anyone whom you kept that somewhat matched your strength?"

"Of course I did. I am not such an idiot to leave my army in shambels by removing those too powerful for it. I made sure all of my remaining minnions were a reflection... of myself. Cruel, corrupt, and obeying. I did have four others that resembled my power greatly... after I united the tribes of the north, of course."

"The tribes of the north? How did you manage to do that?"

"It is another tale for another time, I'm afraid. Besides, you should still have some work to do in finding that breach in defense."

"I'll be looking forward to our next session, then."

"As will I be."

------------

[Jenia]

A cold wind began to blow in the land of Tjed.
The feeling of something ominous approaching was quite clear, and several people around the harbor began to scan the area with an expression of worry.

To their dismay, a blast of black lightning shot up from thin air, scaring several into running and paralyzing others into staring into what appeared to be a black hole.

The hole soon dissipated, revealing a furry woman held within the hand of a towering black being.

"Well, I never expected the orb to react to your power, of all things..."

Indher didn't seem too worried about the red-pupiled deity holding her within the very palm of his hand.

...I have consumed it's crafter's soul. It would be strange for it not to react to it's creator's being...

The black being did not move it's mouth, nor the voice seemed to be coming out of him.
Rather, it felt like an echo from far away...

Indher easily lifted herself from the long, thin arm and skillfully performed a backflip as she jumped down to the ground.

"Anyway, since you need to sleep and you can't leave this world, how about you sleep inside a human?"

Indher smirked.

"You get plenty of time to sleep without any chance of being disturbed that way!"

The black being did not respond. It continued to slowly lower the arm which held her earlier as he stares at the woman with a blank expression.

Indher took the liberty to look around.
The harbor was pretty much empty by now, as most people have regained their senses and left in a hurry.
Not too far away, however, a small figure was seen sitting on the beach.

"How about..." Indher proceeded to accusingly point at the not-so-distant figure "HIM!?"

[Mikado]

Shuichi looked up. He felt a presence. Two of them.
"How could they come here?"
He turned toward them, and saw a weird creature holding an weirder creature.
"I can't rate them of their looks, maybe they are just weak people.. or powerful enemies."
He looked at his cat and mumbled something to him in an other language, the cat jumped on Shui's shoulder, and sat on it.
"Be prepared." Shui warned his cat and walked toward the weirdos.
We walked calmly toward the pair, while the wind was blowing in his clothes making him look like a anime cliche.

"Hi there!"
He turned a bit forward, smiling akwardly kind.

[Xorlak]

As the spell was cast upon him, Ven's breathing stabilized and he seemed to sweat less, though his eyes remained tightly shut.  The spell had stabilized his condition and had stopped the spread of the poison throughout his body, although it seemed something more was required to cure him...

----

Draven didn't budge until the demon was at point-blank range.  By then the burning orb was some three feet in diameter.

"Worthless peon."

The explosion was massive.  He detonated the orb as he held it, and a brilliant pillar of fire blasted outwards from his palm, tearing through the ground and throwing boulders into the air...

[Dude Man]

"Okay, he's looking better…but...It looks like he stills needs more help. I'm not a healer so I don't know what to do." Duilin looked at Justin and Jacobie. "Guys, you think you could take him back up to the surface? Me and Ben need to leave Tjed. Just find a big slouchy lizard man guarding a house, his name is Lagart and he'd likely recognize Ven if you just walk near him."

Duilin thought for a moment.

"I have a friend who is this little red skinned dude, a not-so-evil imp. Maybe he might be able to help, the guy reads a lot of books so maybe he might have read something about curing poisonous infections."

--- ---

Nex was pushed back a few yards by the massive flame but then he stepped forward his cloak covered in fire and he stepped forward and began speaking in a deep raspy voice.

"It is now your time Lars Draven. You have plagued the world far to long and therefore you must be damned." Once more Nex started to spin around his scythe. "Now you will be damned."

With his free hand he ripped off the burning robes and threw them away. "Ahaha! I've always wanted to do that." The demon laughed. He then continued stepping towards him.

"You know I think I've figured out you hate demons so much. You've spent your whole life practicing your fire magic, seeing it as the one thing that can kill anything. Then an entire race comes along that has a near immunity to it, so you start tempering tantruming like a little boy."

The cloaked demon points his hand at the 'flameboy' and begins to gather red lightning energy in it. //Not shooting it yet.\

"Must be such a bummer to be you." Nex says mockingly.

[Trent]

The purple blacklight demon pierces through the smoke. He arrived just in time. "Chidori!!!" The lightning covered hand is thrusted out toward Nex's head...

--- --- ---

La la la, stalling for time... la, la, la, stalling for time! //It's a one-liner, but it's an Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog reference. :]

[Dude Man]

"What is this?" Nex asked, as he narrowly dodged the oncoming fist by leaning backwards, his scythe disappeared as he let it go and his hands hit the ground as he did a couple of flips, his hand still glowing red. He then landed on his feet.

"Not even man enough to fight me alone?" Nex sneered. "I'm disappointment in you flameboy." He continued charging his red lightning energy in his hand as he looked at strange creature. "I have no idea how I can give any offensive comments about your appearance so I think I'll just have my elites kill you."

The two Talonscar Elites jumped in front of the glowing dark energy being.

"DIE!" They both shouted as they shot forth a barrage of energy blasts at the being.

"Don't you think I've forgotten about you." Nex said bluntly to Draven.