Throne of the Guilty RP

Story

Long ago in a time where the world was slowly decomposing to ruin, overcome and weary with boredom, The Old God has given mankind an opportunity to take his seat in the heavens and inherit the universe as they see fit. There were tales of men who took up arms to compete for the seat of God, eventually their weariness and greed caused them to turn against each other therefore, negating the contest; The Old God foresaw this. With a flick of his wrist he crafted the Thorns of Fate, divine weapons made for humans he saw as fitting candidates for his throne. Each Thorn has special powers within; fueling it’s wielder with great energy--but with a price, of course. To make things much more interesting, The God has invited a variety of different races, shunned in society, to join the game for retribution. Every 4.5 Billion years, The Old God begins to slowly rebuild the world and let it start anew, therefore single handedly destroying all life, however, this can be stopped if there is one winner.

Years passed, a winner has yet to be decided.

---

Hello, welcome to my RP. This was an idea I had floating around in my head for a while so I thought, why not use it? While I have participated in a RP before, this is my first time GM’ing in one so bear with me if I ever seem to be in the wrong.

Rules

If you would like the join the RP shoot me a PM. Don’t post your characters up, I will need to manage your stat increases.

Keep all your posts in third person; it reduces the pain of telling who is whom.

Use the king’s English, mate! Try to use proper English when writing, we all make mistakes, so try and edit when you know you’ve messed up.

Try to make time in your schedule to RP, there will be times where I myself won’t be online to write. You can PM me or contact me by Skype (Ezlare)

DO NOT post any OOC comments in the thread. If you have any questions, let me know by either Skype or PM (See above)

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Terminology



Locations
The Tower of Gaia


The Pinnacle


Wastelands



Alliances
Players will form alliances based on alignment and compatibility in the near future.

Races
In this RP, players will have a variety of races to play. Some of these races were invited to participate in the game to claim the throne as retribution for being cast out from the rest of the races.

Humans(Unlimited players): A general norm in the game. The humans were among the first of the four races to be selected for the game. For this they are hated throughout the confines of the world by the other races. (Receives a +1 boost for int.)

Demons(Limited to 2 players): Temporary servants of The Old God just for the occasion of the game. He has offered them retribution if they participate in the game as well as the humans. Some will be hostile and attack on sight, while others will do what they can to assist. (Able to do bonus damage on human characters; +1 on str)

Nekomimi/Kemonomimi(Limited to 3 players) : Humanoids with animal characteristics. (i.e A cat eared human) Branded as outcasts, these creatures now run amok in unknown parts of the world. It is extremely rare for a human to spot one alone, as they are rather quick on their feet and are illusive. The Old God has invited them to participate in the game for a taste of the throne. (+1 bonus in dexterity; -1 charisma around humans)

Fallen Angels(Limited to 2 players): Cast out from Heaven for their underhanded deeds, these once divine beings seek redemption; they intend to surpass God himself after being invited to participate in the game. (Are able to cast more potent spells compared to other races; +1 in vitality)


Bestiary

Character Sheet

Major NPCs

NPCs will be put up as the story progresses.

Kulora Waverly


Ikki Kuohana


Claire Hermione


Asahina Enma



Name: Solaria Phi Argenta



Thomas Reiss

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Player Characters

User: Bagman


User: Katsucha


User: TheLoneGentleman


User:Cinia Pacifica



User: Hiroyukishota



User:『Valentine_K1S5』


User: BlinkXPoke

Updates:

1. Bagman's profile added.

2. Katsucha's profile added.

3. Cinia Pacifica and Hiroyukishota profiles added.

4. 『Valentine_K1S5』 profile added

5. BlinkXPoke's profile added.

6. No more PCs are being accepted.

Above the universe stood a large kingdom, within it were townspeople, living out their days peacefully, taking in the serene atmosphere of the large and majestic structure before them. The castle was decorated to the teeth; marble flooring, professionally painted artworks, and walls carved from gold which emanated a light so bright, it could match the very existence of the sun itself. The people walked through the streets as normal citizens of a kingdom would do-- these people, however, were not ordinary humans. They could be easily judged and differed from a human from their outworldly demeanor, and their attire, which could be defined in one word as angelic. These people move and speak as if they have nothing to worry on. Yes, indeed, they had something, or someone protecting them, one who passes just judgment on those who would threaten his people’s way of life.

Within the castle stood an ample hall, pillars stood around the confines of the marble floor they stood upon, supported by a rather Roman style architecture-- the very makings of a throne room. A very bright light emanated from the center of the room, the very place where a throne stood. What seemed like a man sat on the throne in contemplation; he wore a large hooded robe, enough so that which he could cover his face, what could only be seen was his mouth from under it-- the man himself was the source of the aforementioned light, illuminating the entire room in his grace. The silence was soon departed after a tuft of dark red smoke appeared next to the throne, out of it came a girl, she wore a kimono, washed in the hue of Autumn, and horns, sticking out from the sides of her head seeping passed her lengthy hair, colored in onyx, she seemed no younger than twelve years old. Her voice was soft spoken but with full of mischief as she bowed after emerging from the smoke.

”My lord,” She said obediently. ”The preparations are almost complete. Solaria and I have made sure it.”

The man turned his head to the girl slowly. ”Excellent Asahina, see to it that they are delivered to the locations I’ve marked.” The hooded man ordered, his voice bellowed across the hall. ”Let’s hope it does not turn into a bloodbath.”

The girl rose to her feet and saluted, she smiled deviously. ”...Who knows? It may be interesting this time.” She said before engulfing herself inside another tuft of smoke, vanishing from the room.

The man looked to the center of the room, a large portal was formed, revealing a large planet-- Earth, it was. The man smiled at the image. “All in due time...” He said to himself.

---

From outside of the castle was a balcony, not far off view from the sunset and high above the coast of town. On that balcony stood an Angel in wait, his hazel eyes sparkled as he ogled the falling sun in amazement. Seeing the sun from her distance must have left the man mystified. A tuft of red smoke formed in mid air, Asahina emerged from inside looking rather nonchalant. “Yo.” The Angel turned to the girl with a face of distrust.

” Ah, daughter of Hell. So you finally decided to show yourself? And where’s the exiled one?” He asked coldly.

”Solaria’s...absent. Asahina said with a quick gulp of spit she darted her eyes to the side to avoid the man’s glare. ”But it’s fine, you got me. The boss said to get the Thorns to the locations he marked.”

The Angel clapped a hand to his forehead before sighing. ”Fine, let’s just get this over with.” he said as wings appeared onto his back.

”Hold on.” Asahina said, she looked serious for a moment. The Angel turned around impatiently. ”What do you think will happen this time? Will it end up a bloodbath like last time?” she asked. The Angel merely smirked at this.

“God knows. He remarked before jumping off the balcony, he batted his wings and set his course towards Earth.

Asahina sighed, ”I was right, it will indeed be interesting this time.” she wore a face of content and then dematerialized into smoke.

---

Meanwhile in a small town just off distance from the city stood a house, it wasn’t too sizeable or too minuscule for whomever lived inside. The people know many a story of the person living beyond the brick shelter but all cower from the sound of her name. The girl always retired within her room, she was more than just an outsider or shut in-- she was a NEET. Her housekeeper would often come in to make sure she’d eaten after at least after a couple of days of her wasting her life away in front of her computer.

“She’s a very nice girl once you get to know her,” her housekeeper would say. One day her housekeeper peeked into her room to check on her. “Kulora! Ms. Waverly, have you eaten today?”

Kulora only nodded in affirm, she remained silent as she clicked away on her computer. The housekeeper rummaged past piles of garbage consisting of assorted wrappers and trashbags. She looked to Kulora with disgust as she proceeded to place the trash into the nearest bin. After disposing of the trash she placed a bag of food next to Kulora after removing her figures from the computer desk, they seemed to be of a Japanese nature, the girl seemed to be fixated with things of this sort. The figures would always be of a...well endowed, woman along with her pillows, which were lengthy and had pictures printed of the women. Kulora’s outfit was no different from these girls in the pictures either, it was as if she was mimicking the girls in the shows she watched. “Kulora...you need to eat something.” Her housekeeper said, concerned. She figured the girl was lying about eating, it would often slip her mind as she was preoccupied.

“....Fine. Kulora said as she opened the bag and sheepishly ate the food laid out before her. ”May... did anyone see you come in here?” Kulora asked in between bites, the tone of her voice was partly concerned and partly with distaste.

The woman jolted at the question. “Only a family living next door, it seems they just moved in. Nice people.” She said smiling. Kulora clicked her tongue and shook her head in exasperation from this.

“Why don’t you want people to know you exist? I’m sure everyone would have forgotten the incident all those years ago. You were just a child Kulora, I suggest you get over it.” May advised before walking out of the room.

Kulora sat back in her computer chair and sighed. She pinched the bridge of her nose and stared out of the crack of her window blinds. ”There was another fire last night...” she said to herself before hearing May’s voice from across the house.

“Kulora. you have a package!” she yelled. Kulora raised a brow at this, she knew it herself that she spent an abnormal amount of time in front of the computer but she had no recollection of ordering anything recently. May brought the mysterious package into the room. “Okay, I have to leave Kulora. Please, just… take care of yourself miss.” She said before closing the door behind her.

Kulora then opened the package, to her surprise, what she found inside was nothing compared to lewd figures and collectables-- no what she found inside was something she would never order-- a sword it was, a katana to be exact. As soon as she touched it, she felt an unfamiliar surge, like something flowed through her. Kulora withdrew her hand hastily in her surprise. ”What the hell…?” She said. Kulora slowly eased her hand back to the blade and grabbed the hilt. She ripped the blade from the scabbard out of curiosity, the blade sung as she did while she felt an immense stroke of heat come over here. Suddenly a black cloud appeared in the middle of Kulora’s room, engulfing her, the next moment she was gone, leaving the entire house empty.

The streets of Tokyo are bumbling with noise. Busy pedestrians are making their ways across the roads choke full of all manner of hovering vehicles. The skyscrapers clad in holographic signs and adverts, show through their windows busy workers on their computers. This city was the pinnacle of technological advance as far as most people were concerned but it hadn’t lost touch of its roots. Far out from the boisterous business districts stood a lone wooden dojo in serene silence, interrupted occasionally by the clash of bamboo.

Inside, an intense kendo match was taking place, the two participants unrelenting in their offensive. They prodded each others defense for an opening with neither giving way, their shinai beginning to splinter from the intensity of their blows. The crowd was leaning ever so closely as the battle drew on, it was a larger than their usual class as students from neighbouring prefectures had come to watch as well. It was a match long awaited by many, one like no other between two of the few remaining Hachi-dan kenshi of modern Japan, Naoki Takamura and Aiko Shinsaku.

The match had been going for more than two hours with the kenshi tirelessly exchanging blows, it was a battle of attrition and by now one of them would slip up. Drawing back from each other for a breather, they stood their ground and the crowd rose in anticipation. They were pretty exhausted, both were taking big breaths and beads of sweat ran down their bogu. Exchanging looks to each other, they both were intent on making this their final strike.

The two circled each other in silence, eyeing their defenses and waiting for the opportune moment. Though it was only a simple sparring match the two were fighting as if they were out for blood. With the drip of sweat hitting the floor, they dashed forward, their shinai charged to strike. The silence was torn asunder as they gave a mighty kiai, their shinai in full swing. Anticipating the clash of bamboo, the audience were surprised as the blades passed each other.

”A feint!?” Aiko realized much to late as Naoki let out a smirk.

”HERE IT COMES!” Shifting his blade, Naoki put all his soul into this blow. ”MEN!” He swung sideways, striking Aiko’s helmet. ”DO!” Continuing his strike downwards, he broke the shoulder strap of her chestplate. ”KOTE!” And bringing it back upwards, he struck her gauntlet, shinai flying out of her hand and into the air. Silence returned as the crowd stood awestruck by Naoki’s technique. Aiko’s shinai dropped to the floor and Naoki brought down his splintered and broken shinai.

”T-three points scored. Winner is Naoki Takamura.” The shinpan called, all three raising the red flag in favor of Naoki. The crowd roared in celebration and cheer as the kenshi stood at ease. Naoki removed his helmet, revealing his deep green, sweat drenched hair and a triumphant smile on his face. Members of the crowd went to congratulate him as he continued to take off his armor. Noticing Aiko with a similar reception, he picked up her shinai and walked over to give it to her.

The crowd made room as he approached, excited to hear the two’s after-match exchange of words. Aiko was mulling over her broken strap, her dog ears drooping down at the price to fix it though noticing Naoki approach they perked back up again.

”Good work out there.” He complimented her as he held out her shinai.

”T-thanks, you too.” Aiko sheepishly responded, taking her shinai back. ”It was a good match.”

”Yeah.” Naoki agreed enthusiastically, looking down to his shattered shinai. ”It was worth the sacrifice. . .”

”Um, if you’d like I could repay you with a replacement!” Aiko nervously shouted, seeing her opportunity to step up.

Naoki was a bit surprised by her but appreciated her offer. ”Really? In that case, I will pay for your equipment as well.” He declared.

Eh? But mine will cost a lot more, it wouldn't make sense for the winner to have to pay up like this.” Aiko argued, she didn't want to trouble Naoki further after already having challenged him.

”Nonsense.” He remarked, placing his hand on her head to her surprise. ”You've already paid me with a good fight.” He smirked as he continued to pet her. Aiko didn't say anything back but she had a content smile.

---

It was quite late, the match had started in the afternoon and ended sometime before dinner. Naoki was rushing back home to his apartment, he hadn't even changed out of his sweat drenched kendo uniform. ”I think katsudon would be nice tonight, something very filling after a long hard day.” He nodded in confirmation, listing off the ingredients he would need for his feast tonight as he opened the door to his apartment.

It was a compact one room apartment though inside Naoki had a fusion sengoku-anime otaku decor going on that created much visual noise. His plain white walls were stacked with floating shelves lined with various figurines of popular bishojo animes and even a rack of display katanas by a complete set of armor. After such an exhausting day, he decided to take a long relaxing bath to clean off the sweat. Dipping into the hot bath, Naoki relished in the soothing water and took the time to be alone with his thoughts.

”Man, today was quite amazing. Aiko did not disappoint me at all. As expected from the embodiment of Takasugi.” Naoki smiled in satisfaction to the match, already associating it to his Sengoku style delusion. ”She’s a strong girl but you know, she’s quite a cutie as well. Especially those ears of hers, ah so cute~” His smile began to get lecherous as he continued to think about the kemonomimi kenshi. ”Ah, she’d make a fine waifu. . . “ He sighed, his perverted smile turned to a conflicted frown. ”. . . if only she weren't 3D. . . “

After his bath, he adorned his †˜usual’ attire. A set of earthen color samurai robes with his green trademark, fur collared coat and a set of leather hand guards. Walking into the main room, he struck his signature pose, ”The Brave Blademaster Daimyo, Naoki Takamura returns! Now then,” Naoki jumped quickly out of his pose and switched the TV on. It immediately turned to an anime that featured high school girls and katanas. ”Oh, just in time for Sengoku Gakuen.” Naoki remarked as he sat down to watch.

Grabbing hold of a dakimakura featuring an exclusive print of one of the characters, Naoki noticed a package that was hiding underneath it. ”Oh, what could this be?” He asked himself as he opened the lid of it. Revealing the contents, he was shocked.

”I-is this. A shinai!?” Inside the package was what appeared to be a shinai covered in a carry bag. The possibilities of how this got here ran through Naoki’s minds. ”I haven’t been expecting an order for a shinai as of late. Aiko? No. That was only today, even with the efficiency of couriers, they couldn't possibly deliver a package in less than an hour. Which must mean.” A sudden realization struck Naoki, he chuckled at the thought. ”This must only mean a mysterious benefactor has decided to support my cause!” He exclaimed in excitement, laughing triumphantly as if he were moving ahead in life.

”Very well, I accept your dedication. To know that I would need a new shinai after today is commendable. Now then, let’s try it out.” He grabbed the covered shinai and was surprised as he lifted it up. ”Oh? What’s this?” The weight and feel of it was much different to a shinai, rather it was heavier and felt more solid. Opening the carry bag and pulling it out, he was amazed to find instead a proper sword.

”A chokutou!?” He exclaimed again, inspecting the weapon in his hands. It was a straight, one edged sword decorated with a green hilt and scabbard matching with Naoki’s coat. ”. . . It would seem my benefactor has something else in mind. Still, this has a good weight to it. The quality of its construction is top notch as well. How about a test swing.”

Gripping the sword with both hands, he raised it above his head and gave it a mighty swing downwards, ”CHESTO!!!” he cried as he brought his blade down, a powerful wind following behind and scattering his collection of figurines and manga all over his room. ”Ah, this isn't good. I didn't mean to swing that hard.” He thought to himself as he panicked at the mess.

Before he had a chance to clean it up however, his room began to fill with a dark cloud that spiraled around him. ”What!? He scanned his room, searching for whatever the source was. ”Dammit, the Shogunate is onto me already!?” He readied his new found blade, anticipating for something to try and strike through the cloud. To his surprise, he realized he was sinking into the floor, looking down he saw a large portal had opened up under his feet and was swallowing him in.

”Damn, I can’t get out. This was their plan all along! Damn shinobi!” He struggled trying to pull himself out but it only made him sink further in. Already past his waist, he was finally about to be engulfed completely.

”Crap, I’m not gonna make it.” Naoki extended out his arm towards the TV. Ichi-chan! Wait for me~!” and with those last words, the clouds dissipated, leaving Naoki’s room completely empty.

(This is a joint post between: Cinia Pacifica and BagMan.)

Raguel was unhappy. The world was more lawless than ever, and there was only so much one fallen angel could do. This world needed him, it just didn’t know it yet. His wings fanned out behind him in the strong winds high in the sky as Raguel silently brooded.

There were many in the lawless earth that deserved no chances, those who should be executed on the spot and there were also those that were innocent, few and far between. However, Raguel could do nothing by himself and the time for that dreaded game was drawing nearer.

As Raguel looked down to the earth, he came across a sight of greenery. Grass, plants, trees. Moreover, gardens of beautiful blooming flowers – mostly filled with roses. A world such as this still held such a serene sight. As he shifted his sight from the flowers, he saw a mansion. A large establishment of deep-brown and red in color. It seemed relatively empty and unpopulated for the most part, until he saw the sight of a peculiar being sitting across a table beside the garden, outside the mansion.

There was a strange vibe he felt from this lady...

Raguel smiled, recognising the face of another from heaven. Gracefully descending towards her, his wings beating slowly, he landed in front of her.

“So this is where you’ve been holed up,” Raguel remarked, “Ignacia.”

The lady referred to as Ignacia didn’t move to the words. Instead, she chose to resume her activities coldly; simply picking up the cup of tea placed before her – her eyelids closed as she took a sip from it casually. “Raguel, yes?” She asked before placing it back on the saucer. “Didn’t think I’d meet you so soon.”

Ignacia was clad in a red top, and a dark-red skirt. She wore black arm-long pair of gloves and a pair of thigh-long black stockings to go with her attire. Her hair’s color was a mixture of auburn and blonde; neatly tied into twin tails with black-lacy ribbons. Her pupils’ color was of a vivid crimson, with which she viewed the radiant sun with a pleasant look; apparently enjoying the weather.

“How have you been?” Raguel asked, making small talk.

“Under the weather lately,” Ignacia replied, almost immediately. Her expression was plain. Some would find it to be a waste – with how gifted she was with her facial features – for her to not make use of her natural beauty. However, Ignacia doesn’t share such sentiments of human beings, much less understand them to the great degree to actually come to an agreement. “This world – it’s a little suffocating at the moment,” she said. Ignacia had been making similar comments regarding the world for quite some time now. In fact, she was tired of the news and the occurrences of the law’s breakdown. To escape the madness of the world; she came out here to relax and have a nice cup of tea. Her maid’s tea was always relaxing.

“Unsurprising, a world without laws is no world at all,” Raguel commented, sounding displeased.

“Indeed, I’ve never witnessed such an unsettling situation ever since I’ve came down here,” Ignacia stated, heaving a sigh as she made a complicated expression, which was edging towards a clear frown, but it continued to remain blank as it had been so far.

“How long ago was that?” Raguel said, half jokingly.

“Hmm… I’d say quite recently; not too long ago, in fact,” Ignacia muttered an answer, after taking the liberty to ponder for a moment regarding Raguel’s question.

“I’ve been stuck down here for too long,” Raguel said, “Long enough to have seen the greed and injustice humans spawn.” Raguel offered his hand to Ignacia.

“As fellow Angels I think we should work together to fix this world,” he stated his proposition.

“Hm,” Ignacia – once again – took her sweet time considering a suitable reply for Raguel’s offer, before finally speaking up, “I, too, have witnessed human treachery, and the sins they plot and commit,” she agreed, standing up from the chair. It was the first time she faced Raguel – their eyes finally meeting. “Moreover, it was I, who was plotted against,” she stated, showing a melancholic smile. “I agree. This world indeed needs its remedy.”

“So you will help me?” Raguel asked.

“Yes, I don’t see a problem with it. You wish for a world with proper law and order, yes?” Ignacia asked – her lips stretching to make a smile – confirming Raguel’s motives.

“That is all I ask,” Raguel nodded, “Justice must be carried out.”

“I want a world with better culture and morals, but justice too, is compulsory, and is definitely in need,” Ignacia stated, giving a single nod to signalize her favor towards the concept of †˜justice’. “...However, I’d love to know; why have you fallen?” She asked, with her smiles taken down. She didn’t know what to expect for an answer. Some came down from the Heavens; choosing to fall down to the earth for their own reasons. Usually they’re due to disagreements. Other than that; Old God would punish angels and have them forever wander the lands of mortals.

Raguel looked darkly at Ignacia, “I chose to fall,” he answered, “The Old God is unjust and lazy, I could no longer serve under him.”

Ignacia raised an eyebrow to this confession. So it was the former – she thought. Certainly, it’s what marked a sane angel. “Oh, so you’ve finally realized? Good for you,” Ignacia said, apparently happy that someone shared the views as herself. ““Someone like him – who toys with humanity merely for his personal joy and pleasure – should be disallowed from owning the throne.”

“I agree,” Raguel said, “There is no good he can do for this world, as much as I detest the greed of humans, he is the true injustice.”

“Indeed,” Ignacia agreed, before turning to face her mansion after coming to a realization about something. “I’ll have to prepare myself for this childish game that he has devised. What will you be doing now?” Ignacia asked. Frankly, she didn’t think Raguel had any particular place to go to. Ignacia was aware of the world’s current state, so was Raguel; it’d be cruel to let him go back to the chaotic parts of this city – Pasadena – now. Her manners and social etiquette spoke for themselves as she came to a conclusion for her next set of words, “I don’t mind letting you enter my manor, of course.”

“I would be most grateful,” Raguel said, accepting Ignacia’s offer.

“Feel free to make yourself at home, then,” Ignacia said with a gesture of a proper host as she made way into her home.

“Welcome to my humble abode.”

The floors were mostly covered in red carpets. There were many portraits – works of arts – put up in the walls. Other than the color of red, one could see gold intricate designs. Ignacia ushered Raguel towards the fine-looking furnitures as she made way up the stairs. There was a television on in the walls, and Raguel could see it clearly. It seemed to be portraying some of the most violent events going on while the government was in an absolute mess; unable to deal with it...

“If you wish to make yourself more comfortable, feel free to ask for anything from my maid over there,” Ignacia said from the staircase – halfway over it – before moving on.

Removing his helmet, Raguel revealed his shoulder length brown hair and chiseled features, “Thank you for allowing me to enter your home,” Raguel said apologetically to Ignacia before turning to the maid, “I hope it’s not too much trouble,” he continued bowing to the maid.

“Oh no. If there is anything you wish to have, please ask,” the maid said, putting up a hand in the face of the humble and proper gentleman. “If there’s nothing, I’d insist in at least getting you a cold glass of water,” she offered.

“That would be most appreciated,” Raguel nodded, before taking a seat nearby.

“Please wait a moment, then,” the maid gave the smile of a professional before giving a terse bow and going off to get water at a brisk pace, as Raguel took a seat into the comfortable sofa.

“This is awful,” Raguel said, almost disappointed, as he saw the horrible events unfolding on television, “This is not Justice,” he said as if he was a disapproving father.

The maid brought the glass of water, and placed it before Raguel in the transparent table. “Thank you for waiting,” she said before backing away silently.

“And that’s the tip of the iceberg,” Ignacia claimed, coming down from the stairs now, few minutes had already passed by now. The events shown in the television was mesmerizing as they were aggravating. On the other hand, her dress took a complete change, as she wore a short skirt, and a top with multiple openings to her milky white and fair skin. Her bellybutton was showing, too. The bracelets and hard-looking rings over her red gloves and leggings hardly counted as armory. What was this young lady thinking, exactly?

“Preparing doesn’t take so long as I am only in requirement of clothes that makes it easier for me to move,” she stated as a matter of fact as she sagely nodded to herself, with her eyes closed.

“Isn’t that clothing too revealing, Ignacia?” Raguel asked taking a sip of water.

“My, revealing clothes are but the latest trend,” Ignacia said, placing a hand over her hip in a provocative manner while wearing a delightful face. Basking in fashion – regardless of the morals – was but one of the guilty pleasures of a girl.

“I do not like these modern fashions,” Raguel admitted, “They promote lust in men and women.”

“Mn, perhaps, but that may be one of the factors driving the survival of humanity,” Ignacia replied only agreeing with half of his notion; she didn’t seem to particularly care about lust in the matter. “It’s not particularly against the laws; hence I do not hate it. This is, after all, easier to move in”

Raguel still seemed to have more to say on the subject but dropped it, not wishing to upset his host. “So you know about this farce of a game the Old God is hosting?” Raguel asked, remembering something Ignacia had said, moments ago.

“Of course, I’ve seen this game take place before,” Ignacia replied before sitting opposite to Raguel, the maid immediately offered her a glass of red wine that picturesquely gleamed sweetly with the illuminating ceiling-lights of the hall. “It’s nothing new that the Old God is bored,” she said, absolutely sure of the Old God’s feelings towards, well, everything about the world.

“It’s disgraceful, that’s what it is,” said Raguel angrily, “The arrogance of one being should not be allowed to reach the levels his has.”

“I suppose so,” Ignacia replied, furrowing her eyebrows at the sounds of the Old God’s atrocities. †˜Pride’ was a sin for a reason. If it went atop one’s head; it’s bound to bring problems, naturally – which tends to extend to the others. She’d regard it as a social stigma. No one would even doubt that she personally hated this Old God, too. “It may sound like I’m repeating myself but… my aim is to build a world with law and order in place. As long as there are rightful laws everyone benefits from; everyone should be happy. Evil will be continually purged if need be. Would you support me in my endeavor?” She needed to reaffirm Raguel’s aim and conviction to this ordeal. She needed an assurance of his resolve. She needed aid. As much as she could get. It’d take everything to revolt against the Old God.

“I would be more than happy to assist you in bringing Justice to this world,” Raguel said, half smiling.

Ignacia smiled at the response. She felt true delight from these words, but then she looked above towards the chandelier fitted with illuminating bulb lights before long. There was a glow of a different kind, which she found peculiar; it caught her attention in no time. She stood up, intently looking into this new yet strange occurrence. It seemed like… a shape of a weapon? The light drifted away from the object as it floated down to Ignacia. The ethereal radiance broke apart as if a substance of glass was broken down with a hammer, except that there were no noises of shattering, before the fragments vanished into the air. If a more suitable metaphore was to be used – it was as if the equipment was wrapped in a mystical cloak, which was just taken off.

It was clearly a lance, which shined and sparkled magnificently as it reflected with the lights from the ceiling. “Is that… ” It stayed in the air before Ignacia, before she held it, her maid came in holding a trolley.

“Mistress, this package was delivered just moments ago, there’s no name or recipient addressed over it,” the maid informed with anxiously. It could be anything. It could even contain something as dangerous as a bomb inside. Who knew what could happen, now that was world was like this. She could be targeted by just about anyone. The mistress of this maid, was, after all, the owner of an entire company selling cosmetics, beauty products, and a brand selling fashionable clothes for females all over the world.

“...At a time like this? Open it up.”

“Understood.”

The maid then proceeded to unwrapping the box tentatively as sweat rolled down across her face, and soon opened it for all to see. There was but an axe inside. The maid soon picked up a note that lied beside it. “To Raguel, it wrote,” she said.

“Well, this is certainly new,” Ignacia commented on the matter. She wondered if this was a prank, at first. But then, †˜Raguel’ would be a name known obviously all across the Heavens. She doubted that anyone in this world would know Raguel, as he seemed to openly hate most human beings, so far. The only conclusion she could reach, she that it was sent by a messenger of Old God. The same could be said for her lance.

“Is this some kind of joke?” Raguel said, looking at the axe, realising the irony behind the gift, “An executioner’s blade… how crass,” he said unamused, “God’s wit grows tiring.”

“You know what? This lance is but an irony, too. I really feel like beating him up now… ” Ignacia said, her teeth ground as if remembering something irritating as she looked up to the spear. It was the first time in a long time where she was truly enraged. Her wrath was clearly incited, evident by the glint of fire from the intense look in her eyes. “Very well. I shall take up your challenge. I’ll cleave the shame from this lance and myself with it, by defeating you at your own game,” Ignacia declared boldly and bravely, without any thought for fear; taking hold of the lance. A burst of light wrapped around her, and she soon vanished before the maid and Raguel.

“W-What?! Mistress!” The maid exclaimed at the disappearance of her mistress; shocked.

Raguel laughed heartily, “It seems your mistress has stolen the march on me,” he said, examining the Axe before him. Grinning his hand hovered over the hilt.

“Very well, I shall become an executioner,” he said, “Your executioner,” he said looking upwards before grabbing the Axe and disappearing in the same fashion as Ignacia.

“Him too?! …H-How am I going to live without my mistress…” the maid pondered openly. Who knows what would happen to the poor girl.

In the depths of Hell somewhere in the farthest regions away from the screams of the dead laid a small nation one of many located in Hell. Many destroyed buildings could seen along with many that were still intact. A variety of demons were walking about in town. Some working on damaged buildings while others attacked each other. A mix of a peaceful and chaotic atmosphere was present in different parts of the city. In the city center, a grand mansion stood out from the rest of the buildings. In one of the halls a young demon girl dressed in a maid outfit hurried along the hall with an angry expression on her face. Upon reaching one of the rooms the young maid knocked on the door and spoke. “Lady Henrietta are you in there?” She shouted, waiting for a response. After a minute of silence the maid open the door and went inside.

As she entered the room she quickly found who she was looking for. On the bed laid a young looking demon girl who was sound asleep. The maid then approached her, “Lady Henrietta please wake up.” The maid said as she gave a small nudge to Henrietta. Upon feeling the nudge Henrietta slowly open her eyes looking around. She then smiled and looked at the maid “Good morning Astraea.” Henrietta said happily as she began to get up, covering herself with the bed sheet.

“Lady Henrietta do you even know what time it is right now?” Astraea said a bit angrily as she then pointed at the clock in the room. “It’s already past noon. I’ve had to take care of all your morning meetings, my lady. I’ve had other servants looking for you all morning just to find you were sleeping in my room.”

”Aww, don’t be mad Astraea you know I prefer for you to take care of those meetings, they're no fun for me.” Henrietta said with a giggle. ”I’m certain you did an excellent job without me anyways.

“That’s not the point, my lady. You’re the lord of our nation now, you have to show them you’re capable of ruling our lands.” Astraea said angrily. “We’ve just achieved peace ten years ago thanks to you my lady after being in civil war for more than three hundred years. I’m certain our people don’t want another long war.”

“Don’t worry about that Astraea, I won’t let that happen again. I did promise my cutest maid after all. But you know you’re a more capable ruler than me, why don’t you take my place already?”

“M-my lady you know I can’t to that! I don’t have the strength like you to rule.”

"Tehe, now Astraea don’t deny it. You know your strength almost rivals mines, you just have to have more faith in yourself."

“My lady please don’t say silly things like that.” Astraea said as she then got closer to Henrietta. “Plus my lady this isn’t the time to discuss this. Please get out of my bed and go to your room to get ready for the other meetings today.” Astraea said as she then pulled the bed sheet off Henrietta, her face suddenly turned slightly red.

”Kyaa, oh my I didn’t think you would want to see me like this Astraea~ Henrietta said with a smile on her face.

“M-my lady why were you sleeping naked on my bed!?” Astraea stuttered as she turned around. “Please get dressed.”

Henrietta stood up from the bed and then walked up behind Astraea. ”Don’t be shy Astraea we're both girls, you don’t have to look away.” She said as she hugged Astraea from behind, placing her hands on Astraea’s breast.

“Kyaaa, m-my lady what do you think you’re doing! We both might be girls but you know why I can’t look!”

”Tehe, how cute caring deeply for your innocence.” Henrietta said as she then began to slowly fondle Astraea's breast. ”Of course as dragons we have our pride but don’t forget Astraea, I’m not a full dragon.”

“Kyaa, please my lady I’m not ready for this” Astraea said as she slowly began to give in.

”Kyaa. My, saying things like that yet your tail says otherwise. Henrietta said as Astraea’s tail moved slowly around her legs. ”Now then, why don’t we have our fun.” Henrietta said as she began removing Astraea’s clothing. Minutes passed as Henrietta continued to have her fun with a flustered Astraea who had lost herself in Henrietta’s actions.

“M-My lady I’m…” Before finishing the sentence Astraea open her eyes, believing she was in bed with Henrietta. She was suddenly confused. After a minute she realized what had happen. She then looked around and saw Henrietta by the her mirror as she was fixing up her clothes. “L-lady Henrietta!” Astraea said angrily as she quickly approached her.

”Oh, Good afternoon Astraea did you have a nice nap?” Henrietta said giggling.

“D-Don’t pretend nothing happened! Why did you cast your charm on me!” Astraea said angrily as she tried not to show her embarrassment.

”Aww, you noticed. I was certain I had casted it perfectly.”

“You would have if it wasn’t for the fact that I woke up as I was about to cu…” Astraea’s face suddenly turned bright red as she then looked away. “Anyway, Lady Henrietta. I hope you’re ready, we are heading out to your first meeting.”

”Tehe, but that sure was naughty of you Astraea imagining me doing all those naughty things to you. Henrietta whispered into Astraea ear as she approached her.

Astraea’s face turn an even brighter red, she stood there stuttering as she tried to speak.”Y-you’re the one who put those images in my head, my lady. I-I would never think of letting you do things like that to me!”

An hour had passed since Henrietta and Astraea had gone to meet one of the neighboring lords. Things had gone peacefully, Astraea carefully explained the situation as Henrietta listened, only giving her input when needed.

"Finally~" Henrietta said as she stretched. "I told you, you can handle these meetings without me.” Henrietta said as she then stood up from her seat.

"I already told you my lady, that doesn't matter. You are our lord, you must be present." Astraea said as she walked up to the door. "Just make sure you keep keep coming to our meetings, my lady."

Henrietta pouted but then smiled "Don't you think you're getting ahead of yourself. Talking to your lord like that" Henrietta said smiling to Astraea.

Astraea panicked as she then quickly went on her knees. "I'm sorry my lady, I didn't mean to talk to you in such a manner. It's just that we have much work to do."

"Tehe, I would think by now you would stop falling for that. I can't stay mad at my cutest little maid ever"

Astraea gave a sigh "You'll never change even a little, will you my lady." Astraea’s face suddenly turn grim as suddenly, Henrietta had drawn out her blade and slashed it out towards Astraea.

Having closed her eyes Astraea awaited the strike to hit her. After a while, she slowly opened one of her eyes, confused as to why the strike hadn't hit her yet. In front of her was Henrietta with anger in her eyes but she was not looking at Astraea but behind her instead. Looking back carefully Astraea could see a demon was struck by Henrietta's sword.

"Astraea move." Henrietta said angrily. Astraea simply nodded and complied. "My, to think you were trying to kill me using my cute little Astraea as a wall. Now then how to dispose of you?” Henrietta said with a wicked smile on her face.

The demon tried to speak but before he got a word out Henrietta quickly withdrew her sword from the demon’s chest and proceeded to cut him in half. Henrietta then sheathed her sword "Well that was rather boring, he didn't even put up a fight.”

"My lady thank you." Astraea said still quite shocked as to what just happened. "How did an assassin get through our security I'm certain we left no openings." Astraea said as she then signalled to other servants to come and clean the bloody mess.

"My lady I'll be cancelling your other meetings so please take a bath to wash off the blood." Astraea said as she began walk away but was held back by Henrietta.

"Where do you think you're going. You're covered in blood as well. Have one of the other servants do it. We can have a bath together instead.” Henrietta said as she pulled Astraea near her and began dragging her along.

"Lady Henrietta, please hold on I still have a lot of things to finish." Astraea pleaded with no avail.

After two hours, Henrietta headed back to her room. After having her fun with Astraea, she thought it was time to get ready for her daily training routine. As she was about to begin changing she noticed a package on her desk. Wondering why no one told her she approached it carefully. "Nobody but Astraea and I should have access to my room so who could have left this here."

Henrietta opened the package wondering what could be inside. Once open Henrietta notice a letter which she grabbed and began reading.

“Hello esteemed citizen, are you weary of the ordinary lifestyle you lead? Do you wish you could possess the ability to rule a world and all of the people who inhabit it? Are you just plain bored and you want something to appease it? If you say yes to any of these then The Old God calls upon you.”

Henrietta had a smile on her face upon reading the letter. "I'm sorry Astraea but this is something I can't say no to." Henrietta went and got her own piece of paper and began writing a letter herself. Once finished she placed it on her desk and went to take a look at the package again. "I'm certain there is something in here I can reply with." Henrietta said as she looked into the package again. She then notice a blue jewel in the box. As Henrietta picked it up she was instantly teleported.

Joseph Hesperian (BlinkXPoke) & 381381 (Hiroyukishota):

Far from any nearby settlement was a small log cabin, slightly elevated on a hill, and at the edge of a large forest. This was Joseph’s home, where he chose to live after separating himself from civilization. He had grown tired of countless efforts of trying to sway people to a peaceful lifestyle, and had actually planned to end his own life here. However, he had enough hope left to continue on, especially after his revelation.

He had been living in this area for a couple of months by now, and successfully learned how to live off of the land sufficiently enough. While out foraging, several days prior, he had come across a strange orb lodged into the ground near his home. It gave off a strange aura, and within it, he saw a similar vision to one he had earlier: ten gates leading into somewhere in the cosmos, each representing a trial, and at the end lied an unknown power. For now, he didn’t dare touch it for fear that it would be a one-way road down its path. Joseph didn’t feel like he was prepared for it.

Today, he was out in the forest, simply to bask in the atmosphere. He had a stockpile of various supplies already in his cabin, and had taken a walk. There was a lot to think about: the Shadow War he awakened in, the people he rallied with his speeches, the violence he witnessed and tried to stop, and his isolation here. He couldn’t decide whether his actions were justified, if it was alright for him to leave it all behind, to have even attempted to make change in the first place.

There were also the unexplained memories of things older than he should be able to remember. He has vague memories of wars where people fought with swords and shields, some upon chariots, some within older tanks, and some with inferior guns to those that exist in this day and age.

Then, there was the ten gates, all with different nuances. Some represented law and order. Others lead to pure chaos. One lead to a worlds of deception, others lead to mysterious truths. It was a confusing image to decipher.

As Joseph occupied himself in self thought, his ears was picking up minute vibrations in the air, slowly but surely it grew in intensity, far too loud to ignore as his attention was finally robbed back to reality. As Joseph turned to it's source, a trail of fire swept over his head, it's heat ferocious as he even felt the heat on his skin and the noise ear shattering deafening. Joseph squatted down as the objected flew past, crashing nearby and throwing disturbed earth all over. Joseph only dared to recover himself when silence finally returned.

“What was that…?” He thought out loud as he approached the crash site. He couldn’t think of what possibly could have caused this. Am I in the middle of another warzone or something…? He thought, almost jokingly, but this was a scary and perhaps accurate prediction to him. When he arrived at the source, however, he was surprised. There appeared to be a young girl in the center of the wreckage. He immediately closed in on her and called out, “Hey, are you okay!?”

Joseph words of concern were not registered to the girl in question. The impact of the crash had exceeded within predicted parameters, immediately and forcibly initializing self recovery protocols. 381381, while physically still function on the outside was robbed of control from the insides as self preservation took control instead.

"Scanning. Scanning. Scanning."
Droned her as she remained still as a rock, "Scanning complete. Integrity damage levels: 40%. Acceptable function levels breached. Commencing auto repairs."


“Huh?” Joseph slowed his pace as he approached the girl. She still appeared motionless, but she seemed to be saying something. He couldn’t hear it well, though. He continued walking up to her, and repeated, “Are you okay?” The closer he got, the more he noticed peculiar features of this girl. From a distance, she seemed pale, which was already strange considering the fireball she came in from. But she seemed to have robotic arms and legs, as well.

There was a saying - "curiosity killed the cat". As Joseph got closer and nearer towards 381381 so did he inevitably entered 381381's net of safety. More specifically, Joseph has entered boundaries considered too dangerous to the 381381 that was still in the middle of recovering.

"Process: Auto repair halted." 381381 droned,still undergoing self recovery, "Unidentified living organism detected. Commencing repel maneuvers." Her arms unfolded, replaced with firearms as 381381 pointed it towards Joseph.

“Whoa!” Joseph backed off from the girl and put his hands up. “I’m not here to fight… I mean no harm…” He told the cyborg-girl while staying as still as he could. He didn’t want to make any motion that could potentially cause her to fire on him.

A beam of red light emitted for the gynoid, stretching to encompass Joseph as it travelled, scanning him from legs first, slowly to his head.

“Eh…? W-what’s going on…?” The light scared Joseph. Was she targeting him? Is he being scanned in some way? He couldn’t tell. All he could do was continue to stand still with his hands up. The beam continued to process Joseph as it studied him, finally reaching his head. However, an audible, negative buzz was emitted which had the beam once more scanning through him, this time from head down. When it was finally finished did 381381 finally brought her weapons down, unfolding them.

"Process: Auto repair recommenced. Integrity damage levels :10%. Model number: 381381 initialization approved. Initializing. Initializing. Initializing."
381381 body glowed a soft green as her the final stages of her recovery took place, rounds that have pierced her frame was forced out and the wounds sealed. Dust and dirt that previously stained her fizzled as a membrane thin field established around her, returning her to a state of pure whiteness again. When 381381 finally opened her eyes, her first words formed towards Joseph.

"381381 asks. Unidentified specie, identify yourself."


Joseph slowly lowered his hands once the android-girl’s weapons were stowed away. He sighed in relief before answering her question. “My name is Joseph Hesperian. Who might you be?” He was curious about the origins of this girl. The auto-repair process she had just gone through suggests that she was recently involved in some kind of violent encounter. What did they make this poor girl do?

"Species: [Joseph Hesperian] recorded. Subject: identification of 381381 identified. Request acknowledged." 381381 continued to stand where she crashed as she processed Joseph enquiry, "381381's model code is 381381." She replied.

“3813… Ah, that’s kind of hard to remember…” Joseph scratched his head while trying to speak with this android-girl. Her manner of speech was so… well, mechanical. He had a thought to give her a proper name, but he wasn’t sure if she’d accept it. In the end, he decided it would make the entire conversation easier if he didn’t need to remember a number sequence. “Can I call you Marie?” Joseph decided on the name simply because it was the first name that came to mind.

"..." 381381 went silent. The silence continue to stretched, slowly turning to a uncomfortable and awkward one. However, as the one who created it, 381381 too was the one who broke it.

"Why? ... 381381 enquires the reason to an alteration of identification."

Joseph chuckled nervously as he honestly answered, “I thought it’d be easier to call you that…” He paused for a moment, before adding, “I think the name suits you, too. It sounds more graceful than a string of numbers.”

Logic engines evaluated Joseph's line of reasoning but resulted in a list of errors. For not because his reasons were invalid but 381381's logic engines had failed to recognize herself as any species or object in existence. Thus an entity without a designation should not and could not be named.

"381381... is a gynoid. Gynoids do not need such things"
She referred herself with the closest thing she could compare herself with, whereas inside, logic engines had already concluded her action to be listed under the term - "lying".

“No matter what you are, you should have a name. You’re just as human as me, or anyone else.” Joseph told the girl. He felt as though she shouldn’t need to be a living weapon.

"Human..." 381381 muttered.

[Human]

Pronunciation aid: hjuːmən

Definition : of, characterizing, or relating to man and mankind: human nature.

Going through her logic engines, at least on the appearance, she resembled humanity. 381381 glitched from acknowledging Joseph reasoning, her core cycled a fold faster to compensate enough processing power to overcome it resulting in a sudden influx of heat. The buildup of heat redden 381381's logic engines , more specifically where her face was as heat vented from the back of her head.

"S-species:[Joseph Hesperian] r-request of alteration model code: 381381 to [Marie] is a-accepted."

Joseph smiled as the girl allowed him to call her †˜Marie’. However, he was somewhat concerned with Marie’s current state. “Are you alright, Marie?” Joseph wasn’t particularly adept with technology, but he could clearly see that Marie was overheating. He would help her in someway if he could escort her over to his cabin, but he could feel immense heat from where he was standing.

Multiple ports ejected from 381-, Marie's within revealing thrusters from both her back and legs. Instead of throwing out flames, steam was ejected out in a furious manner, covering Marie from sight from Joseph. Losing sight of her, the only identification of her still being around was her robotic voice, "Scanning. Scanning. Scanning. Scanning complete. Model code: Marie core temperature: acceptable. Emergency cooling protocols ceased." The mist of hot steam rapidly started to disappear afterwards, revealing Marie's figure once more, droplets of water forming on her surface. "Subject:enquiry of integrity. Marie's core temperature has returned to acceptable perimeters Species:[Joseph Hesperian]."

Joseph was relieved to see that Marie was alright. However, he was still wondering what caused her to essentially fall from the sky. “So, Marie, why are you here? This place is far from where any other people live…”

”Subject: Explanation of presence identified.” Said Marie as her systems picked up increased fluid ratios on the foot below her, concluding a potential clogging hazard, Marie’s back thrusters bled fire as she levitated off the crash site and near Joseph before recovering all the thrusters, “Model code: Marie was assaulted by the human species.” She continued.

“That’s terrible…” Joseph commented sadly. He remembered the state she was in when she had just crash landed: she was in tatters, full of bullet wounds. “What happened…?” He had assumed that she was sent on a dangerous mission. Regardless of what could of happened, Joseph felt bitter that there were yet more victims of pointless violence.

The data engines within Marie processed all available methods towards Joseph enquiry, deeming the best method and running it on the hardware that named Marie. The mechanical halo above her head descended to her palms as Marie beckoned it to her by wirelessly. Pointing out her right index finger, a port emerged from the tip as Marie connected it to the halo from a previously hidden socket. Data flooded Marie’s vision, a stream of number visible on her visual receptors as the halo projected out a clear three dimensional footage beginning from her first awakening to it’s grisly finale.

Joseph watched the video intently, until Marie was forced to defend herself by killing all of people around her. He turned his head away as that part played, with a pained expression. When it was over, he had various questions about what happened prior to that bloodbath. “Why would he try to attack you? There was no reason to…” Joseph spent a moment thinking about why Marie would appear there. “Were you sent on a mission there?”

Marie detached her finger from the socket when the video ended with the halo hovering back to it’s original spot of her head. “Subject: Enquiry of data logs identified. Model code: Marie data logs dates back to 02 days ago. Data log details Marie’s Initializing sequence as the first ever log inputted.” Thus, by Marie words she simply had no memory prior to the event she shown to Joseph. What he saw was everything.

“Is that so…” Joseph returned to his thoughts. She only started up two days ago? What was she created for…?

The chill of the outside air started to affect Joseph. “Ah, it’s cold… Would you mind coming with me back to my home?” He asked Marie as he held his hand out, “Hold my hand,” He gestured to the ruined surroundings “The uneven ground could prove tricky even for you”. Marie complied, agreeing to the logic as she grabbed hold of his hand.

The moment he made contact with Marie, a strange feeling came over him. It was similar to the feeling he had when he set his eyes upon the strange orb that appeared near his house. He looked straight at Marie for a moment. What is this… Is she connected to that orb in some way…? Another chilly wind struck Joseph to pull him out of his thoughts. “Let’s go.” He still pondered over the orb as they headed over to his cabin.

When they arrived, Joseph immediately went over to the orb lodged into the ground near his cabin. Once again, he saw the ten gates within it, along with a similar aura that he felt from Marie. He had to know. “Do you happen to know what this is…?” He asked Marie while pointing at the orb. Joseph words were lost Marie when her visual receptors detected the orb, multitudes of systems overlaid her visuals - Thermal signatures, X-ray, Grid visions were just the dozens that had simultaneously erupted to activity. Unconsciously, Marie had started to study the orb as she walked closer and closer towards it, pulling Joseph along as her hand was still locked with his. “Scanning. Scanning. Scanning. Scanning..” The words continued to drone from Marie’s audio projector, a pure robotic voice lack any distinct pitch or tone. Joseph who notice the abnormality continued the struggle fruitlessly against unyielding mechanical strength as he was dragged nearer and nearer. Finally, within hand’s reach Marie reached out for it.

“Who... are... you?” She uttered before a torrent of light engulfed the both of them. Faster than lightning, dazzling as the sun, there was no negotiating - The two simply was unprepared for it. As fast it descend so did it too faded, but when it did the entity known as Joseph Hesperian and Marie were no longer around.

Charging into battle with his trusty halberd Tyrn spun it with great force. Ten fully armored human knights that stood before him steeled themselves. Smiling at their resolve he slid to a halt in front of them. They moved back suspiciously pointing their spears at him.

"Let us make this a fair match!" yelled Tyrn. Stabbing his halberd into the ground he placed one arm behind his back. Then he grinned and waited for the knights to take the bait. Angry, one rushed forward.

"You dare to make a mockery of our knighthood!" he yelled charging with his spear. Tyrn stepped deftly to the side and kicked at his legs hard. The man flipped slamming his head so hard his neck snapped. The rest of the knights began to back up. Tyrn laughed mockingly.

"Is he the only one among you with the stones?"questioned Tyrn. Suddenly a horse came galloping up. The knights began to cheer. The man on the horse prepared a lance as he quickly closed the distance. Tyrn timed the horses gallop and jumped back. With his free arm he punched the horse into the ground. The man took the opportunity to strike and stabbed forward. Catching Tyrn deep in the shoulder the knight was sent flying as the lance got stuck, the long blade jutting out of Tyrn's back. The arm that Tyrn was using went limp.

"Go ahead and switch to your other arm demon!" yelled the knight full of confidence.

"No need child," answered Tyrn smiling. The knight now drew his sword from his sheath and dashed towards Tyrn. Tyrn ran forward and slid in crouching down so that the lance sticking out of his back was jutting forward. The knight stopped narrowly dodging his own spear. Tyrn still crouched, bit the man's ankle and lifted him into the air. Jumping back he slammed the man onto his halberd he placed earlier. The knight slid down slowly coating the handle thick with blood. Writhing in pain the knight yelled out.


"All of you strike now! This is our only chance! yelled Ser Gould. The nine other knights gathered their resolve and charged. Tyrn grinned as he turned to the men ripping the lance out of his arm with the arm he pretended didn't work. They slid to a halt, but it was far too late. Stabbing forward he impaled five of them on the knight's halberd and swung them up and over smashing their heads on the hard ground. Leaving the shiska-bob of knights on the floor he turned to the four who were starting to retreat. Catching two of them with his long arms he crushed their skulls, and ran over the the horse from before.

Kicking the dead horse he pinned another down as he walked over to his halberd and stomped on Ser Gould. Ripping it out the writhing knight went limp. Then with proper aim he hurled the halberd through the air and stabbed the final knight through the back. As his wound to the shoulder had begin to heal he slowly walked over to the knight he pinned under the horse. Seeing the knight struggle he began to laugh. The knight who didn't share in Tyrn's humor was positively hysterical.

"Please just let me go! I have a wife and son. They need me! pleaded the knight.

"I suppose I can't have all the meat." said Tyrn with a grin. Looking off to the distance he saw a pack of wolves waiting to feed on the left overs of the battle. Leaving the knight pinned under the horse the wolves ran in to seize their meal. The screams of the man echoed across the battle field as he was torn to pieces.

---

Carrying the knight's spear with the five dead knights on it on his shoulder like a trophy he made his way back to the castle. The smell of fire and blood always told him he was home. Walking through the open gates he strolled through the barracks to his tent. Some of his comrades were around the fire talking among themselves.

"See you brought a snack home with you." said Ezma the only girl of the unit. Her brown boys cut of hair, and skimpy leather armor made her the fantasy of most of the men in their small four person unit, but her cut throat attitude kept them at just that. Suddenly the flash of another woman's face went across Ezma's face. Tyrn shook the image out of his head.

"What's up with you? asked Ezma biting into a piece of bread.

Stabbing the blade into the center of the fire Tyrn turned to his his tent. "Nothing, tell me when it is ready. he said before laying down to rest a bit. His head was killing him for some reason…

---

Waking up, instead of his tent he saw the sky. Smoke bellowed into the air around him as he felt the sting of the fire licking at his skin. Rolling out of the flames his eyes opened wide at the scene. His comrades, and other soldiers of his kingdom were scattered around the barracks.

”What is this! Were we attacked?! yelled Tyrn hoping that anyone would answer. Hearing the sounds of chains and steel he saw that he was surrounded by the kings royal guard.

”What is the meaning of this?!” yelled Tyrn.

”You are one to talk traitor. Was killing your own men not enough for you?!” yelled one of the guards. Tyrn looked to his hands seeing them slick with fresh blood. Now that he mentioned it the taste of blood in his mouth wasn't that of a human.

”What happened?” asked Tyrn fighting to accept what seemed to be true.

”Enough of this!” yelled a voice from above on the castle balcony. ”Kill that monster and be done with it!” The guards began to close in around him. Turning around he looked for a weapon. Then once again his head began to throb. †˜Not now!’ he thought. Tyrn went completely still grabbing his face. The guards halted for a moment, as they heard something strange.

Tyrn laughed softly as first as he began to rip at his own flesh. It healed over instantly but the blood dyed his white skin red. Glaring at the guards he began to hum a song as he swayed from left to right. The guards over being surprised charged in with chains and spears. Blood sprayed through the air as the guards collided with Tyrn. The king overlooking the battle smiled seeing his problem was dealt with. As he turned with a smile, suddenly he heard something that made him nearly jump out of his skin.

The humming came from right behind him. Tyrn stood like a gargoyle on the edge of the roof. Spears stuck into his flesh, and chains wrapped around him. Falling to the ground stunned the king began to crawl back. Tyrn leaped on him grabbing him by the head and laughing maniacally. Ripping the spear out of himself, Tyrn stabbed them into the king one by one. Then he began slamming him on the stone roof cracking the king’s skull a little more with each impact. Tyrn came to his senses part way through. His body still going through the repetitive motion of smashing the king onto the floor. The king’s head had separated from his body long ago, and his body was impaled with the same spears that used to be in Tyrn. Yet Tyrn still smashed the pasty substance on the floor, that used to be the man’s head. WIth one last satisfying hit Tyrn cracked the stone on the roof. Bursting out from the door to the balcony a row of the king’s men lined up with cross bows. Tyrn reacted quickly leaping off the roof as the volley of arrows rained on him. Crashing into the ground hard he dodged as many arrows as he could scrambling for the forest where he lost his pursuers.

---

Days began to all blend together, and he was starting to forget things that happened moments after he did them. The only thing he could remember is a name, Nithrya, and this feeling that pushed him forward. He knew that the kings men were right on his tail, but they were the least of his concerns. What ever happened during his blackouts was too dangerous to leave unchecked. His team didn’t deserve an end like that. Through the tree he spotted a town. Getting a closer look he found it be a human village.

This human town that was so close to demon territory was one of their better defended cities. He couldn’t take an army like that by himself unarmed. Moving back into the forest he decided that he would simply make his way around it. As he moved through the forest he spotted some patrols up ahead. Pinning to a tree he tried to wait for the patrol to pass him by, watching the them from the safety of cover. Suddenly as the patrol passed by a group of trees the outline of a woman dressed in light appeared walking behind them. Laying eyes on her began to make his head hurt like the other times. He closed his eyes and looked away from her, and simply waited for when he could hear no more footsteps.

Opening his eyes he was greeted by a flash of light. The woman was right in front of him, and on her face she wore a kind warm smile. As her lips parted she said something silently to Tyrn. Grabbing his head in pain he was forced to his knees. As the pain became too much he let out a cry of pain.

”What was that?!” yelled the patrol that was almost of of view. ”Spread out and check it out! Tyrn got up about to run, but the lady in light cut him off. Swinging at her his hand seemed to move right through her, but stopped halfway through caught on something. Suddenly the woman disappeared. As his eyes focused a guard took her place, cut in half while his nails were stuck in a tree. The guard crumbled to the ground dead. Tyrn’s breathing became ragged, and his mind was near the point of breaking.

”We have you surrounded! Surrender demon!” yelled a guard. Turning around he saw about six guards with various weapons.

”N-Nithrya!” yelled Tyrn. It was all he could manage to say for some reason. The guards steadied themselves and prepared to strike.

”Run him through men!” yelled the guard. Tyrn grabbed his head with his free hand and screamed. Then he grabbed the tree ripping it in two. Swinging it wildly like a club he knocked the guards around, scattering them. Then he walked over to the lead guard and slammed the tree on top of him crushing him to death. As the other men tried to get up Tyrn ran off towards the city screaming insanely. “Nithrya!!”

---

Tyrn woke up looking at a view of the night sky. The smell of ash and blood filling his senses as he tried to recall how he got there. ”Again…” he groaned as he began to sit up. Looking around at his surroundings he found the destroyed ruins of a town. A once busy marketplace was filled with bodies and dying fires. On his lips he tasted something metallic. The remnants of his last meal. These episodes of blackouts were starting to happen more and more often, but he was getting closer to the source.

Getting back on his feet he wiped the fresh blood from his mouth. Looking to the ground he saw the remnants of a human. A brunette woman who in life probably hadn’t have looked so bad was now a horrific half eaten carcass. Too bad she had tasted terrible, he didn’t even bothered finishing his meal. Walking away from the town as the last bits of it burned down he made his way to a another forest nearby. He was sure there were more than a handful of towns he left this way, but he needed to get rid of this problem somehow.

This entire time felt as if something was guiding him, and he swore that a few times he saw the outline of a woman. But was she really there? She was dressed in light and absolutely beautiful, but there was an ethereal presence to her. Also the name Nithrya kept echoing in his mind. He needed to put a stop to this game that this woman was playing on him. No matter how strong as he seemed to be during these blackouts, his body could only take so much.

Finding himself drawn deep into the forest. He cautiously wandered through the forest expecting this to be trap. The wildlife in the area knew to stay far from him, and scattered at the sight. Luckily for them he wasn’t there for a hunt.

Suddenly he heard a giggle he swore came behind a tree. With razor sharp claws he tore the arbor in half. The top of the tree fell over with a crunch of leaves, but nothing was there. Shrugging it off he turned to continue through the forest as a voice began to sing in his mind. At first it was quiet but soon his head began to throb as the voice became clearer:

“Let’s have a dream,
a simple one
That you are not the only one.
And there is someone close holding your hand.
So let us make a wish.
That we will be fine.
Nothing can let us down.
Someone is there holding you now.
Someone is next to you holding you…
Along the path you walk.”

Cracking his eyes open he found that he had blacked out yet again. Standing up he saw fireflies dancing around in the air around him. As he tried to secure his bearings he felt a pulse of energy behind him. Turning he saw he was in the shade of an enormous tree. The bark of the tree was white as snow, but a giant crack ruined its perfection. Darkness flowed out of the tree like a wound, and in its center a enormous blade stuck out. As his eyes adjusted on the sword he could see the figure of a woman sitting on the hilt.

Flaring out his claws he stabbed them into the tree and began to climb it quickly, but as he reached the blade the woman vanished. Hanging onto a branch he looked for where she could have escaped to. Then to the blade that stuck out of the tree. As soon as his eyes rested on it he couldn’t look away. As he became engrossed in the blade he felt himself about to lose consciousness again. As he lost strength he reached for the blade to catch himself and grabbed the hilt.

---

Opening his eyes again he found the forest around him was destroyed save for that one giant tree. The sword was stuck into the ground before the large tree. The scene almost looked like a grave. As he approached the blade he swore he could hear the thing speak. He was truly beginning to wonder if the woman existed at all or if it was this blade that was calling out to him.

“When the light fades,
there will be no more to say…
To love is the real pain.
A eternal revolution in one’s own mind.
And when the light fades.
You are so far away…
Speak thy your real name,
and in the darkness we shall meet again.”

“Tyrn,” answered the demonic warrior without pause. As if the sword were able to order him in that way, his own voice lost. He had never felt this before. He was at the mercy of whatever force was acting on him. May it be the sword or the woman, he was unable to resist the will of his captor. His hand raised as he fought to lower it to no avail. Feeling the cool metal surface of the blade a light began to envelop him as he once again slipped into a deep sleep.

In an unknown area sat a hooded man on a throne, he seemed to illuminate the entire structure with his omnipotence. He sat in a contemplating position all the while awaiting the preparations for his decadent game to be completed. Asahina ported in from the expected smoke and addressed the man. "Master," She said as she bowed. "Everything is complete and the players should be on their ways."

The man nodded in affirm. "Excellent." Soon after saying this, there was a light-- then many lights below the man's podium, something emerged from those lights, people it seemed to be. First one he took note of was a red haired woman who seemed to be cosplaying, then a green haired samurai, an orange haired Dragonic woman who seemed well endowed from the rest, one of the more interesting of the bunch was something of a mech it seemed, an angry looking demonic man, a rather sheepish looking man with short red hair and an innocently modest-looking angelic woman with revealing clothing; though, the man seemed to personally know this particular woman but he does not address her. Then came more lights and out came more people of a different nature and race. It wasn't just humans among this lot, there were beings of a different sky joining the bundle of people. More were porting in one by one until there was at least a sizable crowd of people before the man. He smirked and rose from his throne, looking over each and every person there. To gain their attention, he shined an immense light to the confused and dumbfounded crowd.

Marie and Joseph were taken to a strange area. It was ominous. It looked as though it was built entirely from bones and flesh. There was a large pit in the middle of it, filled with fire, and appeared to be bottomless. The sky was dark with some sort of pollution, and there was not a cloud in sight. The orb that was highly the suspect of their sudden displacement to this warped location landed at Joseph's palms.

"What is this place…?”

“Scanning. Scanning. Scanning.” Marie seem to have registered Joseph self talk as a enquiry but was unable to give an answer to him. Joseph realize the amount of people gathered around him along with the panic they carried. He tried to calm them down, albeit it was fruitless. They continued to ignore him and go about their business like normal.

"Marie, other than this location as a whole, is there anything unusual going on?” As strange as it seemed to Joseph, he had come to the conclusion that some higher power summoned all these people here. Was it a god or a demon, he wondered. Joseph was somewhat a religious man, but he’s never had any encounters like this. He prayed that this was the work of a holy entity, but he wasn’t optimistic.

As it turns out there wasn't a need for such complications as Marie pointed directly in front of the crowd, towards a particular individual that sat at a throne with his eyes gazed upon the masses, light spilled from his existence, blinding those who looked at him directly. "Species:[Joseph Hesperian]." Marie turned to Joseph as she spoke, "The lack of attention observed as been concluded in Marie's data banks as "being neglectful". Shall Model code: Marie register this as a distinctive species trait?"

"Please don’t… I’m having trouble focusing with all the noise people are making…” Joseph pinched the bridge of his nose and took a couple of deep breaths so he could clear his head. Afterward, he turned toward where Marie was pointing. There was a man sitting upon a throne, like she said. "Why isn’t he saying anything…? He could at least give an explanation as to why he sent all of us here,” Joseph murmured.

"Welcome, all." He spoke up, as though answering Joseph's question. His voice bellowed across the structure, most covered their ears and winced at the noise while others stood unmoved. "Allow me to introduce myself, I am your God; the Old God." He said as he bowed gracefully to the crowd. People in the crowd whispered and clamored in confusion as he did this. "You all may be wondering why you were all taken from your homes, your families or loved ones to be spontaneously placed in my presence. Quite honestly, it should be a privilege for you all to be here." The Old God cracked a smile In which could be seen from under his white hood, the sound of whirring lens could be heard from Marie as she focused on the speaker’s features. The halo above her head parted to two halves, connecting to her audio receptors as it amplified her hearing powers, recording the words he spoke, "I'll spare you any small talk or rhetoric and come right out-- I have chosen you all to participate in a little...game I have organized. In this game, you all shall fight your way to my throne in order to claim it. However, it is a treacherous journey and only the strong-willed may only make passage."After saying this, he had a welcoming smirk on his face at the flower-like angel, taking notice to her identity.

Ignacia had been smiling at the Old God for some time now. Smiling while imagining how she’d burn him to a crisp and wipe his sorry existence away. Have fun while you can; I’ll make sure to purge you for the mockery and humiliation I went through, and for how you’ve wrongfully played with humanity for your personal amusement, she thought. She couldn’t wait to reach this throne once again, claim it for herself, and create a much better world.

The nervous whispers and clamoring of the crowd continued, some within it grew angry at the forceful recruitment of this so-called "game". A person spoke up at this display of absurdity, screaming at the top of his lungs. It was Joseph.“So, you’re putting all these people’s lives at risk for this game of yours? Why would we participate!?” Joseph called out, angry at the Old God’s seemingly heartless attitude. This was the person he worshipped this whole time? He couldn’t stomach it. It again awakened his desire for the world to end.We have to fight to take his place as God…? Why should any of us have that right… It’ll only cause more chaos!

"An interesting question. This world, so very stagnant, it's people weak; the being stated. "I do this to test everyone's will to live, to see if they have the mettle to survive in this once great world. Some claim to be with goodness in their hearts, that they are the very definition of chivalry. Heh...that is the thing my children-- there are no truly good people in this sodom you call Earth, only the corrupt and depraved lurk this world, nothing more." The Old God explained, the being merely put his own cynical thoughts ahead of himself and took it out on the people of the very world he created.

Joseph wanted to refute that claim, but he couldn’t. He shared it. He, too, believed that this world was beyond repair, and the only solution Joseph could come up with was to end it, then shape it anew.“Isn’t it hypocritical to leave this world in the hands of such impure people, then?” Joseph, at this point, figured himself a savior.

The Old God let out a stifled chuckle, he figured there would be some who would refuse his proposal-- some who would have something to go back to. He stepped forward, continued where he left off, with a flick of his hand he revealed a window, showing a city he chose by random. "Consider, the unbending power of a god!" He said as he swung his arm sideways. Within a moments notice, the displayed city was engulfed by a blinding light, as the light subsided the city, apparently, was in ruins. The crowd stood transfixed at the sight, this...thing managed to quite literally wipe out an entire city single handedly. "And this isn't just one small, insignificant city, my children. You will find that your world has just been plunged into darkness, so to speak. Your loved ones, your homes, all gone." The Old God said, his smile completely wiped from his face. There was a long silence within the crowd, one would think they were all being taken for a ride, but looking at the display of power it was easy to conclude that this, was no joke. A serious looking boy with silver hair scoffed at this, apart from losing his servants and mansion there was nothing more he could grimace while Marie’s logic engines estimated the loss of at least 60% percent of the population with that single action. One of the girls within the crowd broke down in tears, she was no younger than eleven years old witnessing this. "Momma!" She screamed in deep despair.

While some despaired, others were enraged by this, they screamed and cursed at the Old God in extreme fury. Among them one green haired individual seemed to have gone into some epic and nonsensical monologue ultimately declaring his war against God. ”Heh, you are God? To think God would have the tenacity to come and tear down creation as if it were nothing. No, I will not accept you as God. If you think I’ll take this joke of yours lying down. you underestimate the will of humans!” Some found it hard to process their world becoming a proverbial wreck, they sat into fetal position to try and contemplate this. Why would he do something like this? What fun would he gain toying with the people of this world and using them as game pieces? The Old God flicked his hand once more, suddenly weapons appeared into the outraged player's hands.

"I assume some of you recall receiving these? These are the Thorns of Fate, powerful weapons capable of defeating me, these tools are intertwined within your souls and will be yours throughout your journey. The requirements for this game are simple: traverse this tower and defeat me before your world crumbles and be cleansed. I trust the exiled and unholy ones know how this goes? Until we all meet again, I wish you all good luck." He said before snapping his fingers, the crowd of people were then teleported from the structure, leaving it empty.

"It begins..." he said with a smirk as he sat back Into his throne.

Ignacia found herself waking up in the middle of a shop. She took notice of pictures and paintings of coffee on the walls as well as menus. It was clear that she was in a café, however it was in ruins and devoid of people.

“...An abandoned café,” Ignacia commented. “...Am I back to Pasadena?” She looked around to survey her surroundings; broken tables, littered floor, chairs fallen and misplaced, shattered windows; no people were visible whatsoever. Had the Old God done something this random in his previous games? She couldn’t tell. She was busy half the time he had his own fun, after all. More specifically, she’d busy herself to avert her gaze from the evil treachery he’d commit.

"Help...me," said a weak voice. It was heard from behind the counter of the shop. Ignacia could deduce that it was the voice of a young boy as it echoed through the shop. "Help me, please..." the voice said again.

“A survivor?” Ignacia rushed her eyes, examining the surroundings once more. “Where are you?” She said, the voice seemed to be coming from beyond the counter; to which she walked over to at a brisk pace; peering across the space before her. Ignacia's eyes were invaded with a sight that she wished she was able to void from her memory, the boy lied onto the cold floor, blood seeping out from his chest. The way his wound curved onto his torso, they made out to be a large scratch.

Blood oozed from the boy rapidly as he moaned in agony. He painstakingly put a hand out to Ignacia.

Ignacia moved behind the counter, crouched down to the boy. A melancholic face surfaced as she looked down at the fatal wound. She didn’t avert her eyes from the grotesque sight, not even for a moment. Taking his hand, she questioned, “Don’t talk, it’ll only make things worse.”

“W-What happened? Why is everyone dead? My chest, it hurts…” The boy grimaced as he looked up to Ignacia. Tears welled up in his eyes as he gripped the angel's hand. This boy, clouded in confusion and anguish tried his best to hold on for dear life. Have this god no mercy?

“Nevermind that! Please don’t speak, it’ll make your condition worse,” Ignacia said- no, insisted. Her grip tightening around the hand she held.

"I....I...I..." is what the boy kept repeating as his grip loosened from Ignacia's hand, his eyes went blank, and the rest of his blood painted the café floor.

“May your soul rest in peace,” Ignacia closed her eyes to the boy; giving a moment of silence for him. She prayed from the bottom of her heart for the wellbeing of his soul… but then, who’d she pray to? The cold-hearted Old God who knew not what is good for the world? Was there anyone above Old God’s position to grant miracles? Of course not. She had to seize his throne, assume the role of the omnipotent being, and become the rightful ruler – one who’d place proper laws down for the goodness and prosperity of mankind.

"Bummeeeer...." Said a voice from the entrance of the café, it was lazily spoken almost as if whomever said this was being sarcastic. "Kid didn't even stand a chance." Said the voice, from outside, the source of the voice revealed itself. It was a young girl with jet black hair who wore an autumn colored Kimono, long horns stuck out from the girl's head.

Ignacia straightened herself out as she stood up, beneath her feet was a pool of blood. While she was depressed at the tragic sight, she’d admit that she was glad that was dress wasn’t draped with crimson blood. Peering towards the young maiden clad in a Japanese-style attire, her expression turned monotone once again. Cool and taciturn. The aura exuding from her was supernatural, and Ignacia could tell that she was likely a person who came for her.

“And who may you be?” Ignacia asked. The quivering anger was much restrained and controlled, as she articulated every words as precisely as possible. “What do you want?”

"Relax, sweetie. I'm Asahina Enma, I'm sure you've heard of me." The girl said flipping her hair to the side, she, I'm smiled as she did so.

A smirk crept over Ignacia’s face. “Oh dear, I know not what you speak of,” she spoke, sarcastically. A girl helping Old God with such a devious game; Ignacia usually would avert her eyes from such people, too. Same as she did now. Except that Ignacia simply looked at whatever that lied behind this person. The face was considered unattractive, to her. Looking at what was evil – would bring a premonition of bad luck to her.

Asahina returned the smirk to the woman and looked her over."Well, the old coot wasn't lying; you are a looker." She smiled. Asahina could see why the Old God was obsessive over this particular woman, or rather angel, it's a wonder why she didn't choose to fall centuries earlier, the old man is a pig and Asahina grimaced working for such a forceful being.

“Looks are all he cares about, doesn’t he?” Ignacia said, menacingly. Perhaps that’s all he truly ever cared about, instead of trying to think of a person’s personality. Ignacia never cared, so despite spending countless years serving him, she didn’t ever try to get along. “And the looks of destruction, perhaps.”

"Ohohoho, feisty aren't we?" Said Asahina feigning sarcasm. However the angel piqued her interest compared to the other players. "Let's cut to the chase, shall we?" Said Asahina while she leaned lazily on her Thorn-- a naginata imbued with a piece of King Enma’s spirit.

“Already done so when I first asked,” Ignacia said, shrugging, dropping the smile as if it was all but a skit on her part. It didn’t seemed like this person was a †˜player’ of the †˜game’. She seemed more like a person hired to facilitate. What happened to getting everything done by snapping fingers? So much for omnipotence.

Asahina laughed at this, the woman was much more interesting than the Old God played her out to be."Anywho, the tower awaits." She pointed outside of the café door. An immense light shined from the very outskirts of the city, though it could be seen from the distance the two stood. At base of the light stood a large cylinder like structure stretching over the heavens-- so to speak. Asahina wore a nonchalant smile as she revealed the emanating tower.

“Apparently, it does,” Ignacia replied. The silence was disturbed by the noise of slow yet firm footsteps made with a sturdy and durable pair of dark-reddish boots – as Ignacia exited the café past Asahina, looking up to Tower of Gaia.

"Mnm, shall we?" Asahina said grabbing Ignacia by her skirt."Try not to spill your guts all over me like the others, the old man thinks this is the most practical way of travel." Asahina warned before engulfing the two in red smoke, vanishing from the area.

Naoki was warped into a random building within the city, he woke up dumbfounded from the sudden transport, one would think being warped twice within a few moments would churn their insides. The building was in ruins, half of it had fallen onto the street below. This made Naoki a little dizzy prior to his recent teleportation.

”Woah, that’s quite a drop.” Naoki fell to one knee as he drew back from the exposed side of the building, the teleportation had left him feeling weak in the knees. Frustrated, he clenched his teeth, ”Stand up, me.”, pushing himself to get back up, he used his sword to help prop himself.

Observing his surroundings, Naoki witnessed the ruin which Old God had wrought onto the city. ”Damn, that old bastard wasn’t joking.” He grit his teeth again in frustration and anger, ”Dammit, dammit, DAMMIT!” He shouted to the sky, pointing his blade up. ”You’ve taken from me those I love and the world I hold dear, you bastard. Prepare yourself and watch closely what happens when you force a man to change!” Swinging his blade down, he sheathed it in its scabbard.

Having calmed down after his outburst, Naoki gave a sigh ”For now I should find out where I am.” he searched around the room he was in. As far as he could tell, he was in an office complex of some sort with documents lying all over the place. Reading one of the pages, he knew he at least wasn’t in Japan. English. . . He wishes to challenge me with language? Heh, the Brave Blademaster Daimyo won’t be intimidated by such a barrier.” He declared confidently.

Naoki stared intensely at the page, trying to decipher the characters. ”O-old Republic In-ternational. Chi. Chikago?” He paused to try and translate the meaning of those words. ”. . . ah, so that’s where I am, Chikago. Of course.” Naoki laughed off the situation, in all honesty he had no idea where Chicago was. Dropping his head in defeat he gave a heavy sigh.

”Well, I guess I should see if I can find someone who knows where this. Chikago is.” Traversing to a flight of stairs, Naoki made his way to the ground floor.

Kulora awoke inside of a destroyed town home in front of a group of men, they seemed unsettled as they hid. Kulora sat upwards and shook her head, one of of the men took notice to this and went up towards Kulora.

"Hey, guys she's up." Said the boy, he seemed to be the youngest of the group.

"Careful Thomas, she might still be a little dizzy from the jump." Said a man.

The boy who was said to be named Thomas grabbed Kulora by the sides to help her to her feet, blushing as he did so. Kulora stumbled a bit as she stood and got a good look at everyone within the destroyed house, four men, and one woman."What...happened?" questioned Kulora.

"We're as confused as you are, sweetie." Said the woman, the way she was able to approach Kulora easily was astounding to her. "I'm Nina, that's Andrew, Cole, Jimmy and the nervous kid over there is Thomas." The woman pointed to everyone in the house, she looked up towards the sky-- it made a hue of green and gleamed darkly. "...It's a wondrous sight, ain't it?" Said the woman, she had a smile of melancholy on her face as she said this.

"Are you kidding? This is terrible." Andrew cut in. "That bastard is gonna get what's comin' to him..." the man said clenching his fist.

Then the thought returned to Kulora, The Old God really did plunge the world into darkness, but why? At this point only a fool would think this was a dream or some kind of cruel prank, and then there's the katana in her hand, the golden incline overlay on the all white scabbard-- same as one she got back home, then there's Kulora's housekeeper, May-- she doesn't even know if the sweet woman was still alive or not. However, this was a thought for later as Nina tapped Kulora on the shoulder.

"So, you got a name sugar?" She asked. Kulora looked away from the woman and sheepishly introduced herself.

"K-Kulora...." She uttered. It has been quite a while since she's spoken to a person other than May, let alone be out of her house.

"Well, nice to meet you Kulora." Nina said as she smiled a sweet smile, this made Kulora blush a bit.

"Well, now that we're good and acquainted we have more pressing matters, like getting out of here." Said Cole, cutting in on the two. "We were chased in here by those...things, we were stuck in here ever since, only to find you knocked out In here. Nothing personal but we assumed you were dead."

Kulora furrowed her eyebrows at the man, but then she took note to the word, "things". They weren't alone in this wreck of a town? "What do you mean?" Said Kulora.

"Trolls..." spoke up Thomas unable to believe it himself. He pushed his glasses up to his face before explaining. "They sniffed us out from a mile away, unfortunately for us they got feral when they saw Nina..." he said darting his eyes over to the woman.

"They become much more aggressive when a human woman is in the area, meaning they become harder to kill and get...well, frisky." Said Jimmy.

"F-Frisky?" Shuddered Nina. Jimmy and Thomas sadly nodded their heads from this. Hearing this sent a chill through Kulora’s spine as well.

The group cautiously moved through the city streets in wait of any attacks. If anything Kulora and Nina were the most worried while while they ventured. Kulora held her sword closely while the others held their Thorns cautiously while walking in a circular position.

"So Kulora, what's up with the get-up? You a cosplayer?" Asked Andrew. Kulora darted her eyes away from the man nervously.

"Leave her alone, you just met the lass and you're giving her an interview. " interrupted Cole. "I'm sorry about my friend, he isn't the most considerate of people." He said. "Besides, she's Thomas' girlfriend anyhow." This made both Kulora and Thomas flush red.

"S-Shut up, Cole!" Thomas said embarrassed. Cole laughed heartily at the two's reactions. N-Not bad though, Thomas thought, giving Kulora’s figure a look, if she were to be a cosplayer, that would explain her well-kept body and crude attire. However these thoughts were Interrupted by an deafening screech coming from the side of a building. The group looked upwards to the source-- it was pack of Trolls above them.

"Everyone move!" Yelled Andrew. The group scattered around the streets, everyone managed to find an area to hide, though Nina wasn’t so lucky-- she was knocked down in the midst of running away. She didn’t have time to gather herself and keep running as the whole pack of Trolls piled onto her and without mercy, ripped her clothes to shreds. She screamed at the top of her lungs for assistance as the Trolls subsequently went to town on the poor woman. Cole, Andrew, and Jimmy left from their hiding spots to assist Nina, pulling out their Thorns to engage the creatures; they managed to register a few attacks but were soon overpowered and ambushed by a few more Trolls, they were torn apart as they took massive bites out of them; they hardly had time to react. Kulora and Jimmy lied in wait, transfixed for their assailants to disperse. Nina's screams had ceased. Thomas had took peek from the cranny only to find that their comrades were all dead, and Nina, poor Nina was a broken woman, she was lucky that the Trolls had put her out of her misery before doing anything more. Most of the pack left but some still lingered, was this the end? Were Kulora and Thomas destined to die in this wreck of a world? Kulora was not intending intending to die until she got answers, she planted her hands firmly onto her katana ready to draw it but was interrupted by a wandering man with green hair.

The remaining trolls’ attention shifted to one direction as the lone figure tread down the street. With his dark green hair and outlandish attire, he clearly wasn’t a local. ”Heh, so this God has called onto the Onis to do his bidding.” He said with a smirk, though Kulora and Thomas could not make out what he was saying. ”You demons have the gall to strike against us who succeeded you on the Mount of Hiei. Very well.” Drawing his sword, Naoki assumed a stance. ”The Brave Blademaster Daimyo shall face you!”

The Trolls turned to foolish green haired man and growled in anger but Naoki wasn’t intimidated, rather he began taking a brisk pace towards them. Enraged by this, one of the trolls charged ahead towards Naoki, jumping from the roofs of cars before lunging to strike at him. With a smirk Naoki swung his sword, a heavy gust following like last time, and the troll fell to the ground in pieces.

Angered at the loss of a kin, the remaining three all charged Naoki at once, flanking him from the sides and jumping to attack him from overhead. ”HOWL! Mastukaze!” Swinging his sword across, Naoki let out an torrential aura of wind that blew away the incoming trolls. Spotting the one in front of him, he gripped his sword with both hands and charged, letting out a mighty kiai. Petrified with fear, the troll did nothing to evade Naoki’s strike, his head falling clean off from his body as he passed. ”Only two more.” He remarked as he turned back to face the remaining trolls.

Kulora stepped out of her hiding place and wore a face of pure fury, Thomas tried to grab her back into hiding, but she gritted her teeth at him. Seeing this, he ceased. She walked sideways to the Trolls with a hand placed onto the hilt of her blade in wait for them to strike. The Trolls spotted her and grew feral, they prepared themselves to pounce onto the girl and possibly give her a fate same as Nina. Time seemed to slow down as Kulora ripped her blade from the scabbard and slashed each of the remaining Trolls in half, flames emerged from the singing blade as she did this, emanating an immense heat in the process. Kulora clicked her tongue in anger as she stared down the fresh corpses, returning her now white hot blade to the scabbard.

”Heh, there were survivors here as well?” Naoki remarked as he sheathed his blade. Observing the carnage that was around him, he offered prayers to the fallen and bowed, though after today’s revelation, most would question why he should bother anymore.

Thomas ran up to the two in surprise, he knew the Thorns were powerful but possessing the ability to manipulate such elements was something he did not count on. "What was that just now!? That was amazing, guys!" He yelled.

Kulora stared down her Thorn and held it tightly, as this was the very thing to help her get to the Old God, best to keep It handy. "I'm...not sure." She spoke up. She turned to the mysterious green haired man and bowed to him. "Th-Thank you..." She said sheepishly.

Realizing the girl was talking to him, Naoki turned his attention to her. ”Ah, there’s no need to thank me, really.” He responded humbly though she tilted her head in response. ”Oh right, English.” Naoki realized as he replied in Japanese by force of nature. Taking a big gulp, his brain went into overdrive.

”A-ah, I mean, it was no problem. I had not realized there were other people nearby.” Naoki chuckled nervously, somewhat conscious about his english speak. ”I am not from around here. Could you please tell me where this is?”

Kulora scanned her surroundings for any clue of their current location. She saw a stray sign, bent up and ruined and strained her eyes to read it."Chicago...? What are we doing in Chicago..." Kulora said quietly to herself.

”Again with Chikago.” Naoki thought to himself, holding in a sigh. ”And where would Chikago be exactly?” Naoki asked, trying to be as hospitable as he could.

Kulora raised a brow at the man from his feigned ignorance but realized his dribble from earlier was familiar to her, the man was obviously not of the same country, judging by his English."Well, Chicago is in America." Kulora replied softly. "Where would you be from?" Kulora struggled to say kindly as possible.

A dead silence fell upon the two as Kulora’s words echoed in Naoki’s head ”. . . Chikago is in America. Chikago, America. Something seemed to snap in Naoki, like he was reliving a traumatic moment in his life. Kulora looked at Naoki worryingly as he seemed to be mumbling something softly in Japanese like a broken record for at least a minute or two.

”Oh no, poor Kaori-chan, what have they done to you. You were such a sweet flower when I first met you and now they’ve ruined you, they’ve defiled you, you’re not the same anymore. Who is this person? This isn’t the Kaori-chan I knew. Ew, gross, disgusting. Keep away from me. Foreign piece of shit, you don’t even speak Japanese anymore. What? What are you doing now? No, please, keep away. No. No. Don’t do this. Dammit, you’ve ruined everything. You bastard, I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you. You bastard.”

Thomas stepped in between the two and looked the green haired fellow over. "Umm, you alright mate? You look a little ill there." He said backing up slightly.

”I’LL FUCKING KILL YOU!!!” Naoki snapped and shouted up at the sky at the top of his lungs before realizing where he was. Looking around confused, he saw Kulora and Thomas who seemed a bit startled by his sudden outburst before he realized something. ”Oh right, the world’s ended. That will never happen again. . .” he sighed in relief, switching back to English he reassured the two, ”Sorry, I have. . . Things on my mind

"I'll say," Kulora spoke up, she could admit that she understood bits and pieces of Naoki’s Japanese but it was still unclear to what the tantrum was about. "Is someone after you?" She asked.

”Uh, you could sort of say that I guess.” Naoki replied, scratching the back of his head. ”The world is over and I’m all the way in America. I most likely won’t have to worry about the Shogunate and his underlings.” He reassured himself in his head, sighing in relief. Suddenly, he perked up as if realizing something. ”Oh, I’m sorry. I have not introduced myself yet. My name is Naoki Takamura, from Japan.” He bowed slightly to the two, giving off a more professional air than before.

Kulora looked away from the man and spoke, part of her wanted to be acquainted with the man but couldn't quite bring herself to get close. "I'm...K-Kulora." She replied albeit petrified of the man. Raising his head up immediately, Naoki gave a hard stare at Kulora for a while.

”. . . Right, I will call you Kuu-chan.” Naoki declared. This caused Kulora to flush heavily, as she never got the experience of being called under an honorific, let alone be called anything by anyone in general.

"Thomas," said the boy next to Kulora. "Good to meet ya, Nao--." The boy was interrupted by an unfamiliar voice from behind the group.

"And I'm Asahina~!" The group turned to the source of this voice and saw a young girl with jet black hair, an autumn orange Kimono, and the thing, or things that stood out from the rest of her attire-- horns that stuck out from the sides of her head. The three looked surprised as they noticed the girl whose name was said to be Asahina. "Yo." She said winking and with a smile.

"Oni!"
Oni!"

Yelled out both Kulora and Naoki out of nowhere, hearing Kulora yell out of turn surprised the group a bit, causing her to return to her timid nature. ”Oh? So you know about the Onis as well, huh?” Naoki said smirking at Kulora. Turning back to Asahina, Naoki drew out his sword. ”Demon, what business have you here?” Naoki inquired Asahina in Japanese.

"Relax grass hair-sama, I'm only here to bring you all to the tower." She said nonchalantly, speaking in Japanese as well.

"C-Can we all speak in English please?!"[/color] Yelled Thomas unable to cope with not understanding what's going on.

"Oh, yeouch, forgot about that. " An orb of light formed in Asahina’s hand, with a flick she tossed it into the players’ chests. "There we go, we can all understand each other now~!" She said cheerfully. "Anywho, back to what I saying, I'm just here to bring you all back to the tower, see? Old man said so." Said Asahina pointing behind her, revealing a large cylinder like structure stretching over the heavens, the light it emanated was enough to blind the average person.

Naoki raised his brow at the sight of it, the oni wanted to send them in there. ”Which means.” Naoki began to smile, [b]”Hey, Oni. You want us to go in that tower.” He asked as he turned to face her, revealing his smile, ”Will we meet him there?”

"Oh, definitely. That's if you're strong willed, you can traverse the tower and take the Old God’s throne and blah, blah, blah..." Asahina said with a slight laziness in her voice, it was obvious she was bored dealing with this matter and rather explaining it to every player she comes across.

Kulora clenched her fist at the mention of this God. If she could manage to stay alive long enough to reach the top of that tower, she'd be able achieve her goal of banishing the cruel being from this world. She put up a hand directed at the very top of the tower and closed it as if she was crushing something, a cinders crackled in her hand as she did this. "Not so big from where I'm standing..." She said to herself.

Naoki broke out laughing. ”If?” He questioned with a mocking expression. ”DON'T UNDERESTIMATE ME! I am the Brave Blademaster Daimyo, Naoki Takamura. If God gets in my way, he will be cut down. If a Demon, he will fall just the same!” Naoki swung down his sword and sheathed it in his scabbard, his smile still plastered on his face. ”That bastard has forced my hand but has given me an opportunity of a lifetime. Very well, Oni, take us there.”

"Hmm...humans truly are...interesting. " Asahina said to herself with a large smile. "Alright then, grab on. Oh-- try not to blow chunks on me like the others, teleportation churns the guts." Asahina furrowed her brows as she grabbed onto the trio. Within a moments notice, they all were engulfed In red smoke, vanishing from the area.

381381, or rather her newly given name, Marie found herself powered down in the inside of a building, judging by the signs of prices and pictures of displayed food, it was simple to conclude that she was warped to a restaurant. Powering up, her joints turned as she struggled to her feet. “Scanning. Scanning. Scanning.” She droned to herself as internal systems did their work, analyzing her frame for the source of the problem, “ Scanning complete. Conclusion: Right servo joint damaged. Proceeding diagnosis.” A self repair mechanisms inside Marie swiftly replaced the error inside her joint as the damaged gear was ejected out with an audible hiss, bouncing three times from it’s abrupt dismissal before finally stopping at her feet, Marie observed that the teeth of the gear was chipped. Concluding the issue, she finally took taking note of her surrounding as her priority as beams of red light searched her vicinity. The specie - “Joseph Hesperian” was no where to be found.

"Ooooooh," said a voice from next to Marie. "He wasn't kidding, it seems this Thorn really is alive!"

Marie’s audio receptor picked up the voice a fraction of a second before the search beams did, her head did a 180 degree turn towards the source before the main body followed shortly. The search lights whose initial purpose of wide range search focused on the new individual. “Scanning. Scanning. Scanning. Species identified: Demon.” Marie’s robotic voice projected. Her databank went deeper as the folders of the species unfolded inside her, “ Region: Eastern - [Oni]”She concluded.

Asahina giggled with interest but upon realization covered her small body in embarrassment, as she knew she was being scanned. "H-Hey now, don't scan me! I'm a young and innocent girl." She smiled and blushed at the lewd thoughts. Marie ceased the scan, not under compliance by merely because she already concluded her search results. Her priorities still remained unchanged as she walked towards the exit, or what remained of it to continue getting her bearings.

"Oi, oi, oi; where're you goin'?!" Asahina ran towards the sentient being in urgency. She managed to overdo her pace when she ran into the back of Marie.

The impact of Asahina’s crash was of such that it contained enough force to tilt Marie’s auto balance towards dangerous levels. In short, Marie was falling. Warning signs appeared in Marie’s sight as she executed emergency balancing maneuvers, bring her right foot forward and very literally ramming a spike of metal towards the ground below to attain instant stability. The floor shaked from the impact as dust from the ceiling rain down on the two of them. Marie’s head turned towards the eastern demon when she assured her safety, “Species: Eastern region demon - [Oni], May model code: Marie assume the previous action to be conclude as an action of hostility?”She asked as her arms unfolded in theatrical slowness.

"Ehh?! No! No hostility!" Asahina yelled as she fumbled to her feet and held her hands up hastily. She would admit her first encounter with a living, sentient Thorn was a strange one, besides, she'd seen what Marie has done to humans who would prove hostile to her-- not that she'd die from her wrath but it would very much hurt like hell. Marie returned her weapons as she recovered her posture, returning back to her original aim. Asahina furrowed her eyebrows as she attempted to get Marie’s attention, best to call her by name.

"Marie! I assume you want to find out what you are-- what you truly are?" Asahina began. Indeed the Oni has struck a chord with Marie, rather, Asahina had struck true gold on her question, Listed on her priorities indeed contained the act of her own existence. The action was of such a vague one that data engines could not list it in any category nor how important an action it truly constituted. If the creature truly had answers to that, Marie should acquire the answer with utmost efficiency. Concluding the results took less than a heart’s beat as Marie turned around facing Asahina.

"Now we're gettin' somewhere. " Asahina smiled. With a snap of her fingers a weapon appeared through darkness into her hand, it was a naginata. The similar occurrence back at the woods repeated itself as If the lack of a better word, Marie was cone visioned towards the Naginata, data swarmed the data banks as different scans attempted to strip the weapon down to it’s naked core. However, just as Marie seems to have reached it, a major error sign blocked her path as Marie was forced back to reality, physically recoiling back from the rejection in the world of data.

"Ya see as explained before, this is a Thorn. I don't know how, but you seemed to be among the same as these-- a weapon, but you apparently you were given life." Asahina explained.

“Model code:Marie is a thorn…” Somehow, Marie’s vision receptors had her brightness levels reduced despite there being no excessive amounts of lights to compensate for. She has also taken note on the sudden decrease in core activity resulting in lesser processing power being generated. The data log was left hanging with the words “Thorn” on her identity section. Was it due to the lack of processing power despite the triviality of the task? Marie had no answer for that. Marie continued to her silence towards Asahina’s explanation.

"I'm as confused as you are, believe me." Asahina responded chuckling. "Maybe in your journey you can find some answers. Not like you have a choice anyways, hahahaha~!" She laughed from the cruel and unusual irony of the game but went to a full stop as as she noticed Marie’s lack of a response. "Anywho, to find your answers..." She paused and pointed outwards of the restaurant they were in, she pointed to an immense light to the outskirts of the city, revealing a cylinder like structure that illuminated brightly. "I give you the Tower of Gaia, my unsightly friend!"

Noticing that she was being addressed to, Marie minimized the data log holding it on standby as her attention returned back to Asahina. She played back the Asahina’s word in her head as she took note of the gargantuas structure, scanners immediately taking effect as did. “Scanning. Scanning. Scanning. Scanning complete. Structure: [Tower of Gaia], Height: 328,000ft recorded. Data filed under folder, [superstructures]”, however instead of remaining silence this time Marie turned to Asahina, “Model code: Marie enquires the location of possessors of object: Thorns.”

Asahina sighed in exasperation, "Right, the rest should be at the tower by now, some already got a head start" Asahina replied. "You can catch up if if you hurry." Asahina replied.

“Model code: Enquires once more. Is Species: [Joseph Hesperian] proceeding towards superstructure: Tower of Gaia too?”

"Can't tell ya, the way he works he's likely to be dead by now." Replied Asahina grimly, she looked away from Marie as she said this. "You'll have a better chance at finding him in the tower, I'd hurry if I were you."

Asahina’s unsuccessful attempts to answer Marie’s enquiries had a word for it - incompetent. Marie shelved the information into the data bank. Her list of priorities remained largely unchanged, only with her attaining a proper destination - The Tower of Gaia. Going through her logic engines, travelling to the destination was most logical. Agreeing to the logic, the priority list emerged to Marie’s vision. The action, “Travel to the Tower of Gaia” was marked green.Thrusters revealed themselves as Marie prepared to take flight. Her attention returned back to the minimized datalog, focusing her attention towards the identity portion with the words [Thorn] still hanging.

“No matter what you are, you should have a name. You’re just as human as me, or anyone else.”

“Human...”

As though guided by invisible hands, Marie deleted the word, “Thorn” and closed the program. She brought up priority list once more, inputting one more thing that she had to do.

“Rendezvous with species:[ Joseph Hesperian]”

She marked it green as she took off.

Asahina looked up with amazement. "Heh, no teleport then? Good, less body fluids on me." Asahina said with furrowed brows. "Things are starting to look up..." She said before engulfing herself in smoke, vanishing from the area.

Two other players were passed out in an abandoned apartment building, all was quiet but was without tranquility. All that could be heard through all of the painful silence was the creaking of stray wind blowing a wooden door-- halfway broken off from it's hinges. One of the players came to, a casually dressed silver-haired boy, no younger than at least fifteen. The first thing seen through the dark scenery was his red pupils, red and pure and as twisted as the blood of a corrupted priest. Copping a frown the boy revisited the passed memories of the little shock from earlier, and that Old God-- what was he playing at? Sending at least a portion of the world on a goose chase for his position, then wiping out the rest like they were nothing. Then again, it was an appealing offer. Yes, this boy had other plans for the world when he reaches the top of that tower, and he was taking the world down with that old coot when he got the chance.

"Bastard..." he said gritting his teeth, the boy pulled his newly acquired Thorn from the scabbard to view it's magnificence. The craftsmanship was indeed wondrous to say the least, this was obviously no ordinary weapon. He paid no mind to the passed out woman laid out behind him, as he concluded she was dead. However, he heard mumbling from the foreseen corpse. "Mnm, right there..." She mumbled, what could this woman be dreaming about that she'd become so vocal? The boy had half a mind to split and leave this woman to her stagnant fate but part of him told him that awaiting for her to come to would be the most chivalrous thing to do-- not that he believed in that sort of thing.

The boy took a seat on on the nearest piece of rubble he could find and examined the woman in anticipation. He could view many a part of her body as she’d tirelessly toss and turn, hell, part of her shirt was unbuttoned revealing a portion of her cleavage. Most men would have taken advantage of a lone, passed out woman though this boy was obviously not of that lot-- not that he'd know how to make advances onto a woman in the first place given his age. Assuming a more gentlemanly role, he averted his gaze for a while. Sooner or later, the woman finally arose from her slumber. "Hmm? Where am I...?" The woman lazily said in concern but slowly drifted back into slumber.

Impatiently, the boy shook the sleeping woman to completely break her from her subsequent tiredness. "Oi, rise and shine." The boy said sternly. Eventually the woman was wide awake.

"Ehhhh...? This doesn’t look like my flat in Spain, just some wreck in the middle of nowhere!" The woman complained as she gazed out to the destroyed city before her from a massive hole in the side of the building they stood in. Then the thought of the Old God plunging the world into darkness sunk in. "Ehhhhhhhh.... ? My houses, my money, all my nicely toned men oiled to perfection prepared to obey my every command! Oh, Guillermo..." the woman complained once more, she cried over theatrical tears as the thought of her losing everything hit her.

The boy clicked his tongue in exasperation at her constant complaining. Perhaps leaving this woman to die would have been an acceptable option, judging by her mannerisms, she seemed like she'd cling to someone in times of crisis. The boy thought it was time to leave before she spotted him.

"Hey young man," the woman called out, stopping the boy in his tracks, he cursed under his breath as he paused. "You got a name?" The boy sighed heavily and jammed his hands into the pockets of his pants.

"Ikki." The boy begrudgingly said. "Ikki Kuohana." The woman slowly made her way to Ikki, the click clacking sound of her boots onto the floor broke the silence while she did. As she came to a full stop she was right in front of the boy, bending her torso over so that her face may reach his level, Ikki got a moments view in the opening of her unbuttoned shirt, causing him to flush a bit. "You're a brave young man to wait for me to wake up, Ikki." She emphasized his name to ensure she had it locked in. "I'm Claire Hermione." She extended her hand to the boy in wait of him to shake it, but without saying a thing, Ikki scoffed and walked his established route from before, instead of feeling disrespected from the boy's disregard, Claire merely cooked up a fox like smirk and followed suit.

Following the boy, Claire talked up a storm while Ikki remained quiet, he was contemplating something. Judging by his stature he would not be able to reach the top of the tower on his own, he would need help-- as much as it pained him so, the only live person in arm's reach so far is this bumbling woman. It did not matter to him, however, he would just kill her the moment the throne comes into view. Ikki sighed once more, knowing that he would likely endure this for the rest of his journey. "Hey," he said to stop Claire's incessant dribble. "Claire right? Let's go, I see the tower and I'm sure some players have gotten ahead of us."

Claire straightened her shades and tightened her gloves with a smile at the boy's sudden change of heart-- though she was going to follow him either way. "Gotcha, boss." She said before following the boy.

This a joint post starring Ezlare and Katsucha.

Henrietta found herself dazed and confused in an alley somewhere within the city, she scanned the area in search of anyone who would be be to give her answers-- or whom she could toy with for her own personal gain, she saw nothing however, nothing but corpses and ruined buildings filled the eyes.

“Oh my, it feels like I been sent back in time.” Henrietta said as she examined more of the terrain. “Would have thought I was in back in hell if these buildings didn’t look completely different. But that Old God sure does know how to throw a party. Wonder how much fun I’ll have.” Henrietta smiled.

Something was lurking from a distance, whatever it was, it stalked Henrietta. It's orange eyes gleamed with lust as it watched the succubus closely. It's horns peeked out from the corner it was hiding from and revealed a rather mischievous and at the same time, taken aback face to boot. It was Asahina, scanning Henrietta over in interest. "Uwaa~ the old man wasn't over exaggerating at all, this chick has perks!" The demonic girl whispered to herself, her face glowed red as she laid eyes on Henrietta's breasts."I-I just need to get close enough for one touch, that's it..." She said before easing her way to Henrietta's position, her hands held open and outwards for a quick grope, regardless of the consequences.

How cute I have a stalker already. But they sure are doing a horrible job at stalking. Henrietta thought as she continue walking. I suppose I’ll see if I can have some fun with them. Henrietta said as she then turned on the first corner she saw. Asahina giddily followed suit, and prepared herself to pounce as soon as she saw her chance.

"This is it...!" The demon said with high anticipation as she turned the corner-- however her hopes were dashed as she lost sign of the woman-- she was gone, vanished in thin air. Asahina raised a brow at this.

Once Henrietta got a better looked at her stalker she smiled. She quickly fell behind the girl. “You’re mine~” Henrietta whispered into the girl’s ear as she then placed her hands on the girls breast. “Tehe, my did I just get my hands on a growing girl? I haven’t played with an A since I was about hundred years old.”

Asahina’s face flushed completely red as she felt the woman’s hands invade her body. "Eyaaah~!" Asahina screamed in embarrassment. "S-Shut up, I'm rather old according to humans!" She squirmed around to be released from Henrietta’s grasp.

Really now? Henrietta said as she licked her lips. “Do think my first little toy outside hell would be a cute little demon.” Henrietta said as she began to fondle the girls breast with her hands.

"Hah~!" Asahina let out more lewd sounds, as she got more than what she bargained for when she decided to approach this woman, she thought was about time to back out. She dematerialized into smoke and moved herself from Henrietta’s grasp. Brushing herself off, the demon girl got to business. "Ahem, anyway let's cut to the chase shall we?" Asahina said.

“Tch, that’s no fun running away like that.” Henrietta pouted. “If you want us to go that far already then lets go inside one of this buildings I’m pretty sure there might be a nice bed in one of them” Henrietta smiled while giggling.

Asahina flushed up even more at the comment, this woman was a hoot! The way she could dismiss any serious matter and replace it with something of her own personal gain, Asahina saw herself in the woman. She took a deep breath to gather herself and got a good look at Henrietta's breasts once more. "Soon, they will be mine..." She schemed. "Anywho, my ample breasted friend, I give you the Tower of Gaia." Asahina pointed outward to an immense light, inside It revealed a cylinder like structure just off the distance of town.

“I’ll take it thats where the party is gonna be taking place correct? My cute little A.”

"R-Right..." Asahina said in an attempt to keep her mind off the woman. "I believe we've been over this before, you gotta be strong-willed to beat god and take his throne, blah, blah, blah.." Asahina said, it was as If she was speeding through her explanation to get away from this woman; she proved to be too much the demon girl could possibly handle. She looked to Henrietta and smiled to see that she was paying heed to her words. "You comin'? We'll have more fun there~." She said in a both defeated and singsong tone.

“Very well. We can have our fun another time. By the way little A what’s your name?” Henrietta said as she looked at began walking behind the girl.

"Asahina Enma, " said the girl with a smile as she turned to Henrietta. "Now, shall we?" Asahina grabbed Henrietta by the arm then transferred the two away from the area.

This is a joint post starring Nooby2 and BlinkXPoke.

The sounds of car alarms faintly filled the air, as well as the putrid smell of decaying flesh. Inside a large crater in the more rural parts of the city, a neatly dressed gentleman was laid out inside. Due to his reddish brown hair, he could be told apart from others easily, as it is usually not the norm hair color. Joseph Hesperian, his name was. To his surprise upon his awakening, the smell of decay seemed to have come from the crater he was in-- he also noted that the crater had more words to describe it than "lone". A pile of bodies filled this large hole, and Joseph just happened to be in the middle of it.

He almost vomited by the mere sight of all of the corpses that surrounded him. Joseph quickly helped himself out from the crater to free himself from the gruesome sight, but the sickly-sweet stench lingered. It was too much for him to handle, causing him to vomit. He proceeded onward, trying desperately to bring himself away from this area before he became sick yet again.

“How could he do this… he calls himself †˜God’!?” Joseph groaned in anger as he walked through the wasteland. “He killed so many people… And it’s only going to continue unless I claim the throne for myself… Humanity cannot live on like this…” He told himself. This was Joseph’s chance to correct humanity as a whole. He was not going to let it go to waste.

Despite this motivation, however, he had no idea where to go. He sure where to go, where the throne was, or even where he was currently. He couldn’t be sure, since everything was in ruin, but he looked for landmarks he may recognize from his travels. As he glanced around, there was a loud ripping sound behind him. A weird tear hung in the air, air visibly being sucked into the portal. It wavered, flickering and suddenly a hand reached out from within.

It flailed around for a moment, before grasping the side of the portal. A partner reached out and grasped the other side and with an audible ”Hnnnnng!”, a girl pulled herself out from it, dropping onto the ground with a plop.

“What the…” Joseph was visibly surprised. This was a stranger occurrence than even all that had previously happened. It was so odd. Regardless, he went over to the girl’s side to help her up, and asked, “Are you alright?”

She stood up quickly, dusting her dress off and dug around in the portal for a bit. Sticking out her tongue in concentration, she reached in and pulled out her ribbon, affixing it to her hair before replying. ”Yup!” She said energetically, pausing slightly to remember what she was here for. ”Ah yes! Hello chosen one, I’m Solaria, your guide to the tower. I’ll be bringing you there with the help of these.” She indicated the portal, continuing. ”If there’s any questions, you’d better ask me now! You won’t have time later up there.” She finished with a giggle, looking at the mountain of corpses with a pout.

“I… see…” Joseph could not understand this girl. She was extremely out of place with the current situation. Could she not see what’s going on around her? “So, what is this tower you are referring to? Is that where God resides?”

Poking one of the corpses, she looked back at the man. ”Silly boy, it’s over there.” She said, pointing at the huge structure towering over the landscape. ”He doesn’t stay there, no. That’s just his front row seats. Who would want to stay there anyway? There’s no cake and the company is dreary.” She moved the jaw of a corpse in tune with her words, a sick caricature of what it was in life.

Joseph glanced over in the direction she pointed. The sheer size of it impressed him. “His front row seats, huh… What a twisted God…” He needed to turn his head away when he noticed the girl toying with the corpse. “So that’s where we have to go to play this insane game…” Joseph mumbled, more as a statement rather than a question.

He tried to think of more questions, things he didn’t quite understand yet about this game he was forced to play. ”Oh, what are †˜Thorns’? God mentioned that these were our weapons?” Joseph recalled the mysterious orb that had transported him and Marie to the God’s throne. He managed to find it in his pocket, and looked intently at it, curious of it’s capabilities.

Pulling off the jaw with a sickening crunch, Solaria held it up in the air with a smile. ”You’re quick! That is correct, the thorns are your weapons in this battle royale. Each person has their own unique thorn that the old man has gifted them.” Shaking her head, she tossed the jaw away before looking amongst the heap for another one. When she did, Solaria pulled out the entire corpse and set it upright. ”Ah yes, you.” She pointed at Joseph with her newfound toys hand, ”I haven’t got your name yet! There can be no formal invitations to tea parties without a name!”

“Please stop messing around with these dead bodies… That’s disrespectful to them…” Joseph told Solaria with a cringe. “My name is Joseph Hesperian…” He answered reluctantly. What is with this girl…? Does she not realize how horrible all this is!?

”It’s nice to meet you Joseph!” Solaria said, taking note of his discomfort but not really caring otherwise. She did let go of the body though, dropping it onto the ground. With a casual wave of her arm, a tiny portal opened up beside her and she reached in, pulling out two muffins. Solaria pushed one into Joseph’s hands as she began to munch on her own, murmuring happily as she ate. ”I gotta bring you up there after this, ok? Consider this a good luck snack.”

Joseph simply stared at the muffin he was given. Honestly, he wasn’t sure it was safe to eat. After glancing at Solaria and noticing how happily she seemed to be eating it, he took a bite himself. “Not bad…” he mumbled. It wasn’t particularly tasty, but not terrible, either. It still seemed much too out of place to have a muffin at this time. He couldn’t stand it anymore, and needed to know: “Why are you doing this?” he asked Solaria.

Solaria laughed, a bit of muffin on her lips. "Why, you looked hungry so of course I'd give you something to eat. It's common sense that you can't fight on an empty stomach." She said in her best teacher voice, after which she went back to her snack.

That’s not what I meant… was what Joseph wanted to say. However, it seemed like it would just fly over this strange girl’s head like his previous question. Instead, he sighed and responded, “Yeah, I guess you’re right…” halfheartedly. He continued to eat his muffin a bit at a time, finishing it in several bites. After he cleaned off some crumbs around his lip, he told Solaria, ”Okay, I guess I’m ready to go, then.”

”Ok then, just make sure you stick close to me, ok?” Solaria grabbed a broom from within her portal, stepping just inside and sweeping some dismembered body parts out onto the ground while she hummed. ”This is what happens when people don’t, don’t say I didn’t warn you!” She added with a wag of her finger.

Joesph’s eyes widened seeing disembodied limbs exit from the portal. He had the urge to vomit yet again, but managed to hold it in. Immediately, he grabbed and held Solaria tightly in his arms, hoping and praying that this was close enough for him to be safe. “Just get it over with, already…” He told the strange girl, bracing himself for immense pain in case the portal travel does not fare well.

"Just leave it to me and relax, I'll take real good care of you." Solaria said with cheer, waving her arms again. With a loud tearing sound, another portal came into existence above them and the pile of corpses and started to suck the bodies up. It was quite a sight to see, bloody mannequins being pulled upwards by a twisted doll master.

"Ok Joseph, it’s ready!" She announced with a smile, even as Joseph himself was being sucked in, his arms around her the only thing stopping him from joining the corpses ranks as his body was lifted. Strangely enough, Solaria was still firmly planted on the ground.

Seeing Joseph's wide eyes as he clung to her for his life, she stroked his hair tenderly. "Don't be scared. This will be over soon." With that, she levitated off the ground with him and they went into the portal, it closing behind them and dropping some of the bodies with meaty squelches when the suction ended abruptly.

This Is a joint post starring Ezlare and TheLoneGentleman.

Street lights flickered, birds crowded as they flew over the city streets, police sirens blared weakly while their lights dimmed, but they were already a measly shadow under the darkened sky. The bloodthirsty demon, Tyrn, lied in the middle of the wreckage that is currently the earth-- right next to a few bodies of stray citizens-- completely torn apart, their flesh ripped through lied putrid, though this was not Tyrn's doing for once, The Old God was the cause for this madness. As Tyrn came to, he found his Thorn, lodged through the torso of a human, he could not imagine the sheer agony of enduring the pain from a weapon such as that.

Rising to his feet Tyrn groaned as he walked over to his blade. Taking a disgusted look at the citizen who the blade was currently residing in he grabbed the hilt. Ripping the blade out of the corpse he felt the still that came with connecting with such a cursed thing. The police siren’s echoing in his head he wanted them to stop. When he found the source he was going to stop that dreadful sound.

As the cop car rode up to the scene it’s lights shone in Tyrn’s eyes. Angrily he stomped over to it. Two officers climbed out and aims guns at the towering demon. Whatever they were yelling was lost on Tyrn. All he could hear was that siren. As he walked closer the cops let off a few rounds into his torso and shoulder. Unaffected the bullets were pushed out by resilient flesh moments later. Tyrn raised his sword high into the air and brought the flat of his blade down hard on the cop car as the policemen dodged to the sides. The first hit crumpled the vehicle. Making the siren screech in a more high pitched tone. Angrily Tyrn began to smash the car over and over with the flat of his blade until finally the sound stopped. The car was a pancake at this point.

Looking to the left and right at the cops Tyrn laughed deep and licked his lips. ”Nithrya...” he said as he began to drool a little. Walking over to the officer Tyrn smiled showing his sharp teeth. The Officer began to fire his gun at Tyrn as he back himself up to the wall of a close building. Tyrn shrugged off the bullets as he closed in on him. With one quick movement Tyrn lunged forward sinking his teeth into the man’s shoulder blade. Biting off a satisfying chunk of flesh Tyrn swallowed hard before going back for more, as he held the man up with his free hand. The man spastically fired the gun off into the concrete sidewalk below.

Tyrn joyfully watched the blood ooze from the man and make a delightful pool of red across the floor, he thought that the two police officers were the only ones out here, though he sensed another presence from the distance he was standing, though it wasn't human, Tyrn eased up as he sensed his kin was near. A small demon girl came from out of a dark alley wearing a rather planning smirk across her face. She eyed the corpses and wrecked car with interest and cooed happily at the dreadful display.

"Wow, you don't pull your punches don't you, Tyrn?" The girl said as she blushed lightly at the demon. Tyrn dropped the remains of his meal, and turned to the girl curiously. The other cop had fled the scene so she was the only living thing left in the area. Breathing heavily the moisture was visible as stumbled over to her. ”Too...small...” said Tyrn as he looked down at her. She wasn’t human so he didn’t have any reason to despise her. Lucky enough for her, he was still in some minute control.

"T-Too...small?" Asahina said furrowing her brows. She looked sheepishly at her own chest with the thought that he was talking about something other than what he truly mean. "You prefer bigger portions eh?" Asahina said with a hint of disappointment in her voice. As a demon, she was able to change her form as she pleased, however she preferred her current stature at the moment.

”Not...Nithrya” replied Tyrn as he turned and started walking away dragging his blade behind him.

"Not again, oi, oi! I know where to find this girl you're looking for!" Asahina called after Tyrn as he walked aimlessly.

Tryn turned and looked at the girl once again. ”Nithrya?” he asked as he approached her once again.

"Yup!" The girl said happily, she pointed at a large tower off the distance from the two. "Right at the Tower of Gaia, cutie."

Without another word Tyrn looked up at the tower to the distance and groaned. Then with a heavy step he cracked the concrete and began walking towards the large spire in the horizon. According to the small demon that was where he would be able to relieve himself of this curse. He would waste no time getting there.

"Oh, you're walking? That's cool...I'll see you there then! I guess..." Asahina yelled at Tyrn's direction once more, slightly disappointed that she didn't go with him. She then engulfed herself in a cloud of smoke, vanishing from the area.