|
|
Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Sept 18, 2010 0:34:42 GMT -5
"Alright."
Hitoshura began gathering energy in his palm. Not because he was about to kill Seth, that all depended on how quickly Abel arrived, but because he wanted to be ready when Abel got there. Though from the looks of things, Cain would get there first...
|
|
|
|
Post by mugenginga on Sept 18, 2010 1:00:41 GMT -5
"I believe I stated that if you wanted to die, you were to throw yourself off the top of the hotel."
The voice came from around the corner that lead further into the alley. To Seth, the sound of his oldest brother was the most noticable aspect of his presence. It would only remain that way for Hitoshura for a brief second. Because a brief second later, his senses as a demon would be bombarded with four rather familiar presences. He wouldn't have to see them to know who they were, he'd handed each of them their fleshless heads once before.
Cain stepped out from his "hiding" place and the four demons whose auras Hitoshura would have already placed rode in a circle above his head. The first child of Man had a rather wide smirk on his face. He raised his arm almost like he was giving a tall wave and the four Fiends circling his head came to a stop. Regardless of their position, each one turned its head to face Hitoshura, that never changing grin upon their faces. The closest thing the quartet had to a leader was the furtherst from where Hitoshura stood. Its cowl was twisted around due to the fact that its head had done a complete 180 degree turn.
Cain's smile vanished. It was both arrogant and deadly serious.
"I doubt introductions are necessary, Fiend Naoki."
|
|
|
|
Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Sept 18, 2010 1:13:32 GMT -5
Hitoshura had sensed Cain's arrival, but he had not sensed the arrival of four very familiar presences. He had long ago lost the fear of death, but at the moment those four demons appeared, he came about as close to being afraid for his life that he had been in a very long time. He actually glared at Cain.
"No they are not, Kimura Naoya," Hitoshura snarled. The man was taunting him with these four Fiends. The way he had used his human name was proof enough. These demons were not the ones he had defeated so long ago, but they were close enough to incite a reaction of rage.
He held out one arm and grasped it with the other as he began to concentrate. The humans in the area would feel their hair stand up on end just from the sheer amount of energy concentrating in the area. The ground under his feet began to crack.
"Gaea... Rage!"
The cracks spread out further so that they encompassed the entire space under Hitoshura and the four Fiends. There was a rumbling sound before a bright energy burst from the ground, striking the four fiends.
|
|
|
|
Post by mugenginga on Sept 18, 2010 1:57:37 GMT -5
Cain's smirk returned at Naoki's snarl. He'd had to call in quite a few favors to lay the groundwork for this. Even the more amicable of the Fiends were not known for cooperating often with other demons, let alone a "mere" human. Contrary to what he was sure either of his brothers thought, he hadn't spent every life doing nothing more than leading Abel astray. He'd always had his eyes on the step past Abel's fall from grace, the war with YHVH. To fight in a war, one needed an army... there had always been a reason Cain could control so many demons despite the malfunctioning COMPs.
Seth's eyes had widened at the appearance. He'd seen his eldest brother command more than four demons before. Despite the only battles with YHVH's armies to this point being fairly small skirmishes, Cain was the General of Bel. And unlike him, Cain's rank within their king's court was well deserved. It was the show of raw emotion from Hitoshura that had snapped him out of his surprised stupor. With a strength to defy his earlier resignation, he managed to get to his feet.
Cain dropped his hand forward and made several quick gestures with his other hands. It was likely Naoki didn't realize this, but Cain only had the most basic of command of these demons. Even with the groundwork of countless incarnations, they'd merely deigned to cooperate in this situation. One of the last minute agreement was that Seth was of no concern of theirs. As the four Riders split into a sort of loose formation at Cain's command, he ran forward and positioned himself as a physical shield between the coming attack and Seth.
"If you don't turn your COMP back on I'll kill you myself!" Cain's words were almost a growl.
Seth's body reacted without permission. He was even speaking to object but he saw the look in his eldest brother's eyes. He couldn't think of a time he'd seen his brother more serious. The COMP powered up just as the attack exploded up around the ground, leaving the battlefield in disarray and knockign a few bricks loose from the buildings around them. The attack wasn't useless on the Riders either. Even the strongest among them, the Pale Rider, showed a reaction more than simply staying upon his mount from the force.
Cain's balance went off, but he managed to throw his hand towards the wall and keep on his feet. He caught Seth's wrist with his other hand. His eyes were ice, and Seth could feel a chill down his spine even though they were turned towards Hitoshura.
"You've done well with the plague brought upon yourself, Hitoshura! It only saddens me you'd still show such fear!" White Rider stated. His bow was drawn and a bit of light seemed to be gathered on the tip. He didn't look ready to fire just yet.
"Do forgive us for our rudeness here, but you must understand our former alliegiance was to but one world. Even if it were not, it was you who freed us from such," said Red Rider. A frightening energy seemed to be swirling around his sword.
"Mine feelings have changed not from that abandoned world... Surely thoust understands..." Half of Black Rider's scale seemed to be filled with a negative energy, the other half with positive.
"It is within the nature of demons to kill, as you seem to have come to understand," Pale Rider glanced over at Cain as he leaned over and growled something to Seth. His continued words were low, as if meant only for Hitoshura. Almighty energy swirled around his scythe, "Rest assured, if you are unable we will handle your 'problem'."
"Seth, one of us is going to die here," Cain's low speaking continued, "Think outside of those reckless emotions of yours for a moment and think about that!"
|
|
|
|
Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Sept 18, 2010 2:11:57 GMT -5
"I can handle him myself!" Hitoshura snarled. His eyes had started glowing a bright yellow by this point, and the sheer amount of emotion he was showing was enough to indicate he was pissed. "Lucifer-sama sent me here to handle this, and I can handle it myself!"
The glow from his markings increased and he concentrated for a moment before shooting a rain of energy spears out at the four fiends. Perhaps they weren't all that loyal to Cain, but right now he did not care. What he did care about was clearing a path so he could reach the man and kill him. He'd kill Cain, and then Seth. Seth would at least accept his death. Cain was just the larger threat here.
|
|
|
|
Post by mugenginga on Sept 18, 2010 2:33:00 GMT -5
Seth tried to glance at Hitoshura as he gave his response to the taunts of the four Riders. Cain jerked his arm to the side to refocus his younger brother's attention. It worked rather well, throwing Seth sideways and managing to dislocate his shoulder in the process. The Harmonizer only worked in regards to demons and demonic powers, after all. The look Seth returned to Cain with was frightened, and his pulse refused to calm down this time. Cain was serious about killing him, Seth realized this more than ever before.
"How the hell can we both get through this alive!? Cain, you're the one being irrational!"
The Xeros Beat was a better focused attack then Gaea Rage had been. The only effects on Seth and Cain were the way their outfits blew from the sheer amount of energy flying around. As for his targets, all but the Pale Rider ended up skewered and dragged down to the ground, where they lay pinned there. Pale Rider let out an entertained laugh.
"This is quite the good show, Hitoshura! You must forgive my comrades and I for such a gross underestimation of your skills!"
Seth looked startled as Cain slapped a dagger into his right hand. The silver haired man closed the slick hand of his brother around it. Seth's fear at the situation still hadn't gone down. Cain glanced at the remaining Riders. They were entertained with the situation, but it seemed unlikely they'd survive another hit.
"Pest Crop!"
Pale Rider swung his scythe in a wide arc. Several little locust shaped orbs of almighty energy shot up. Given that there was only one target, they'd unite into their full force about halfway from Hitoshura. All this was happening at a higher speed then any normal human could track. The Almighty attack was likely to slam into Hitoshura, but it wouldn't be enough to take him down. In the time of that going on, Cain had continued his instructions to Seth.
"Seth, you know me well enough to know I don't share information unless I find it important for someone to know. Listen to me when I tell you this now. You have to be the one to take my life," Cain gave a rather dark smile. In conjunction with his eyes, Seth couldn't help but feel terrified. Cain continued on despite the clear indication that Seth thought his heart was going to jump out of its chest, "Those warning flags I know you've received about killing me? That's why you have to do it."
Cain turned around to look at Hitoshura as Pest Crop flew at him. He had his left hand around Seth's left wrist, the one Seth was holding the COMP with.
|
|
|
|
Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Sept 18, 2010 2:49:03 GMT -5
Hitoshura's eyes widened as Pale Rider swung his scythe, and he swiftly dodged out of the way. The locusts changed direction in midair and headed toward him, all of them slamming into him at once. Hitoshura was knocked back into the wall, but it was more an issue of his mass and the speed of the attack. The attack had easily done more damage than any other attacks, but it still hadn't been near enough to take Hitoshura down.
His markings glowed incredibly brightly once again, and Hitoshura held out his hands before sending more spears of light toward the Fiends. It was likely this hit would finish them off for good. He picked himself up off of the wall and glared at the Fiends.
"I do not appreciate being taunted, Riders of the Apocalypse," Hitoshura growled. He was not paying attention to Seth and Cain at the moment; the Riders had served their role as distractions well enough.
|
|
|
|
Post by mugenginga on Sept 18, 2010 3:08:29 GMT -5
"Cain, I can't do that!"
Seth at least had the head on his shoulders to give out his objection in a whisper. It was fierce, but it was still a whisper. For how much Cain had "deigned" to tell him, he still hadn't told him the most important thing. How the hell would killing Cain make it so only one of them died!?
The counterattack did as much as Hitoshura had expected. The pinned Riders were quickly engulfed in a black flame. It seemed to spread out from the many wounds the Almighty javelins had caused. Pale Rider managed to deflect most of them, but of the many spears, four managed to get through. The fourth hooked through Pale Rider's cloak and pulled him off his horse and to the ground. The horse vanished in a flash of black fire, and Pale Rider incinerated before it hit the ground. It had been wearing a rather wide smile as it vanished, the words it seemed to have been trying to form lost with it.
Cain released Seth's wrist as Hitoshura gave his parting words to his four victims. Seth's eyes widened in surprise. Had Cain understood his point? Seth knew that thought was foolish even before it formed. Even knowing that, he couldn't see the sense in Cain stepping in front of where Hitoshura had impacted with the wall. He let out a long sigh.
"My little brother seems eager to die despite my best advice," Cain said with a resigned shrug, "You wanted to kill me first, correct?"
"Cain, what are you doing!?" Seth shouted. For him to die wasn't a problem. But Cain...? Coming back or not, Cain was their best force!
|
|
|
|
Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Sept 18, 2010 3:12:55 GMT -5
Hitoshura's expression began to fall back to the flat, emotionless slate it had been before the appearance of the Fiends when Cain stepped in front of him. He regarded Cain's words silently, nodded, and then curled his hand into a fist. With the speed he moved, Seth would be lucky to get a blur. Hitoshura moved forward and punched Cain in the chest. Even with the Harmonizer, the impact would send him flying and pretty much crush his ribcage.
|
|
|
|
Post by mugenginga on Sept 18, 2010 3:30:28 GMT -5
Seth had been moving forward as a result of Cain's response to his shout. A single smirk, but there was a bit more to it than usual. In just that single expression Seth had heard what Cain was thinking, possibly clearer than he'd ever been inside his eldest brother's head. He was aware it had to be intentional, Cain wasn't someone you could read unless he wanted to be read.
When Hitoshura had moved forward with his attack, Seth's sudden stop hadn't been necessary. Even at full speed he would have fallen just short of getting in Hitoshura's way. All because of that man's completely inhuman speed. Cain winced out of honest pain as he was thrown backwards by the force of the strike, impacting the wall on the other side of the alley with enough force to break several bricks. Seth's hesitation was gone as quick as it had come, and he fell to his knees by Cain's side. It wasn't supposed to be Cain, damn it! He hadn't come out here to see Cain die!
Seth's eyes widened as Cain coughed up a bit of blood. He didn't care that it coughed right onto his bare chest. He let out a gasp as Cain grabbed the chain that kept his cape on and yanked him forward. Cain pointed at his throat, giving a glance towards Hitoshura. The man was deliberate, and given the situation when he'd arrived, he intended to kill Seth in front of Abel. He wouldn't be afforded such "grace". He spoke in a low whisper not because he wanted to, but the injuries wouldn't allow anything but.
"Seth, it's your choice. Either you kill me or that bastard does," Cain grabbed the wrist Seth still had the dagger in, "You want to prove yourself useful? Now's your chance. My head is yours."
Seth felt the sting in his eyes. Cain was right, of course. They were both going to die here. The strength of Cain's grip meant the man probably didn't even have a full minute left. As it stood, Hitoshura could just stand there and get what he wanted. Seth couldn't be sure Cain had a plan, he could never be sure with the man... he didn't know how killing his brother could prove him useful, but... Seth afforded a quick and frightened look at Hitoshura. If Cain had to die, the least he could do was kill him in the way he wanted. He tightened his grip around the dagger and lifted it up. He channeled the strength that he wanted to use to not do this into the plunge, and the spray from Cain's neck covered his face.
Except that wasn't it. That was far from it. As Cain's hand fell from Seth's wrist, the last vestiges of life gone by the time Cain's hand hit the ground, something else happened. Enough visions, enough memories that Seth was quite sure he was dying a hundred deaths at once, with the memories of one hundred lives preceeding. The alley wasn't even there to his mind, he wasn't aware he'd dropped the dagger, he wasn't aware he'd fallen to the side and grabbed his head. His pupils were fully dialated and more distant then they had ever been before. They even lacked a proper light. And as all this was going on, he screamed. It was the scream of a tortured soul, and it showed no sign of stopping...
|
|
|
|
Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Sept 18, 2010 12:06:09 GMT -5
Abel froze, eyes wide, as he heard that scream. He knew that scream. There was no way he couldn't know it, with that voice so similar to his own. He sped up, forcing past the pain and going at full speed. He had begun running that way when the demonic presence flared up, but by that point he had been too far to do anything. Seth and Cain were over there. Keiji and Naoya were being attacked by the demon that had killed Kaido, and with the distance he had been from them and the maze the alleys made up, there was no way he'd been able to make it to them before something happened. With that scream, it was very clear something had happened.
Hitoshura had taken a step back from Seth as he fell and began to scream. This whole situation just felt wrong to Hitoshura. It was obvious this was a result of Cain's death, and yet it all confused him. To Hitoshura, it looked like some sort of death curse, and yet Cain had been insistent on Seth killing him. Had Cain transferred his own curse to Seth?!
Hitoshura bent down and picked Seth up with his collar before pushing him up against the alley wall. It was at this moment Abel rushed into the alleyway. His pupils were slitted, but that didn't change the fact there was a look of pure panic in his eyes. The first thing he saw was Seth, covered in blood and screaming. The second thing he saw was Cain, dead on the ground, his throat slashed. It was only then that his gaze moved to the demon holding Seth against the wall, and it was at that moment that Hitoshura formed the energy blade in his hand and very swiftly brought it up to Seth's throat before slashing it through. He had at least been able to honor Seth's final, selfish request. He'd done it quickly.
Hitoshura dropped Seth's body at that and looked toward Abel. The expression on Abel's face was nothing short of broken. It was a few moments before he even appeared to breathe. When he finally did speak, his scream was nothing short of anguished.
"KEIJI!"
|
|
|
|
Post by mugenginga on Sept 18, 2010 12:15:58 GMT -5
Seth wasn't even aware he was being moved. Wherever he was, it wasn't here. He wasn't aware that Abel had come into the alley. The only reason he was upright was the pressure Hitoshura was holding him against the wall with. His feet, his knees, the whole of his legs, none of it was up to supporting his weight. Tears were rare for the Prince of Bel, but they were rolling down his face out of his hollow and lifeless eyes. It seemed clear he was seeing something, but it was equally as clear whatever it was wasn't here.
The scream tried to continue after Hitoshura slit his throat. The demon's face was sprayed with blood as a result, and if drowning had a sound, Seth was making it. It sounded like a choking gargling, and it seemed at least half the blood spilling out of his body was coughing up from his mouth rather than bleeding from his throat. The teenager seemed dead despite the body not knowing it was time to stop, and it was at that point Hitoshura dropped his still body. The way it crumpled wasn't that of a conscious person, and his injuries seemed to leave only the option of death...
|
|
|
|
Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Sept 18, 2010 13:55:23 GMT -5
In that instant, Abel had seen his whole world fall down around him. His whole court, everyone was dead. This demon that thought itself the same as him had killed them all. And right now, the absolute rage he was feeling was overwhelming every other emotion in his body. Abel's headphones, already loose from the speed he had been running, flew off of his head as he rushed at Hitoshura.
Hitoshura brought up his arms to block Abel's aimed attack. It didn't do him much good, and Hitoshura ended up being knocked back a fair bit by just that one punch. He gave a grunt and pushed Abel away from him. Abel's appearance was very wild looking, and Hitoshura had to wonder if there was really any reason left in him right now. To him, it appeared more like the rage that had driven all of the Bels was in control. There was an entirely inhuman rage in Abel's eyes. There was something else, something that made Hitoshura almost trip when he realized it. Abel was beginning to develop markings on his face. It wasn't until this moment Hitoshura realized that Abel wasn't fully developed yet. He'd seen hints of it, but he hadn't realized until now that Abel still had a human shell. It had to be from the strength of Abel's human will.
Whatever human will had held Abel back before was gone now, though. Hitoshura allowed himself a smirk as Abel rushed at him again. He held out his hands in much the same way he had when finishing off the four Horsemen before. His markings glowed and several glowing spears flew Abel's way...
"Abattoir of Eden!"
...and were deflected right back at Hitoshura. He threw his arms up to block the spears that had flown his way. The fast flying spears made several cuts in Hitoshura's skin, despite his attempt to block them. Floating around Abel were seven blades composed of Almighty energy. And rather noticably, there were tears rolling down his cheeks.
"I'm not running anymore... I'm not going to run anymore... I'm going to kill you! My brothers' souls will lay to rest with your blood!" Abel yelled.
|
|
|
|
Post by mugenginga on Sept 18, 2010 14:09:53 GMT -5
The shadows cast by the waxing half moon shifted in an unnatural manner atop one of the buildings whose sides made up the network of alleys. It was the shortest in the immediate area, sitting at the deeper end of the straight path that Hitoshura and Abel were battling in. The shadows seemed to carry blood red on it similar to oil on sea water before what looked to be a teenager stepped out of those shadows and they returned to their normal presence.
The one known to most on the Island as the teenager Lucius Starr deftly swung his legs over the side of the building. No fear of falling to serious injury or death existed as he set his palms down to either side of him and leaned forward. The look of interest on his face was the sort one might expect a Roman Emperor to have at a particularly interesting gladatorial combat. He made sure his energy was up enough that both combatants would know he was present. He didn't say anything, however. His rule, as it were, came down to survival of the fittest. While he didn't suspect his general's aim was to kill Abel, if the demon he'd created didn't come out of this the victor, Abel would has his head.
|
|
|
|
Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Sept 18, 2010 14:26:51 GMT -5
Both demons momentarily hesitated as they sensed the arrival of Lucifer. Hitoshura recovered first, and sped forward, aiming a punch at Abel's head in an attempt to knock him off balance. Abel realized Hitoshura was coming a bit too late, and ended up being grazed across his right temple. A fresh wave of pain moved through Abel's head, and he took a couple steps away from Hitoshura, grasping his head with one hand.
Hitoshura narrowed his eyes. The resistance had been wrong. He looked back toward Abel before running forward, charging a bit of Almighty energy around his hand to bypass Abel's inherent defenses. If he targeted Abel's temples, he could stun him long enough to get an attack in.
Abel clenched his teeth and focused on the fight again. He rushed toward Hitoshura again, the energy blades moving independently of Abel to slash into Hitoshura's flesh as Abel moved to punch him.
|
|
