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Post by Hoax on Sept 4, 2018 11:17:03 GMT -5
“This sucks!” It was a shout, it was a whine, and it came from a primarily red, seemingly robotic dinosaur. Its structure was bipedal, albeit short complete with a tail and a metallic mawl. It was seated with its foot missing, but currently being repaired, it seemed, by him via the scraps lying about within his immediate vicinity. Small patches of a synthetic hide were burned away.
“Can’t ever get what I want, can I?” His question was a self-made utterance, mumbled in a mocking manner. “Just wanted to kill the guy. Can’t have that, can I? His actions gonna result in lava all over the place. Just me to deal with him! Yeap! Nobody wants t’ help ever! Hey, wanna help me save you? No? Just gonna pretend you’re dumb and say you don’t know what I’m talkin’ about? You know what I’m talkin’ about!”
His foot was repaired, which he stomped. It was a test of fortitude - or rather, just a display of frustration. His ramblings were difficult to understand, but regardless, he soon found company thereafter. A pink koala-esque being said crossed-legged next to him, slumped forward and did not hesitate to lean towards him.
“You must be Ryoku, then?” There was only a momentary pause before the red android continued.
“Screw my bolts tight, did someone actually answer a call that I put out? Wow! It might be too late. The universe must be ending!”
“...If it is,” Hoax interjected, “then we must certainly make haste.” Ryoku paused again, slumped a bit at the ostensible lack of recognition of his sarcasm.
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Post by Cipher on Sept 4, 2018 18:15:02 GMT -5
Sometimes, even saiyan warriors needed to relax. Cipher laid on a polka dotted towel she rested on the sandy shore. She turned her face slightly to the side while allowing the seething sun rays to tan her back. Unlike most sane people, she enjoyed the heat. Instead of savouring the refreshing chill of winter, she enjoyed the feeling of her skin quite literally burning like most of the other scatterbrained denizens of tropical resorts! Her outfit consisted of a two-piece red swimsuit. In order to avoid notice, she kept her power suppressed to a very low and pitiful level. As much as she enjoyed battle, sometimes she just wanted to not, you know? Though, if presented with the opportunity to battle it wasn’t like she intended to turn it down. Even though she was missing an arm. Just when she thought she was going to have a free day, her earpiece buzzed. Triggering a button using her mind and listening in, she indulged a conversation with Hoax. Coincidentally he was in the area and he requested aid on a specific matter. The saiyan pushed herself up and took her summer beverage with her, sipping at it through a straw. Actually, I’m right over here. Before making her way over to the koalajin, Cipher communed telepathically. It seemed that she worked her mind muscles since the last time they met up. When she arrived at the scene, her crimson eyes widened. Seeing Ryoku surprised her; it felt like years since their last meeting. After her surprise dissolved, a smile crept upon her lips. “Long time no see, Ryoku.” The saiyan greeted, taking another sip of her drink. “What’s the situation here?”
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Post by Hoax on Sept 4, 2018 20:50:23 GMT -5
“Hey, so what are y’ doin’ now?” Ryoku asked with an expression of unimpressed suspicion. “Are you… are you on the phone?” Indeed, shortly after their initial exchange, Hoax had placed a communication device up to his ear and turned his attention away from the red, synthetic creature. In retrospect, it was a somewhat ill-advised action. It annoyed him somewhat. “Well… okay, I’ll just entertain’ myself. So, this is Hoax here.” Ryoku proceeded to speak to himself. “He’s on the phone chattin’ it up - ignorin’ the bolts outta me. Neat…”
“Hello!” Hoax put the communication device away as he directed his attention back to Ryoku. However, it appeared that was all the time he had to spare before a voice invaded his mind. Pause befell what he had prepared for Ryoku. He blinked, ears twitching as they searched for a sound they did not hear. He looked about and eventually noticed Cipher. Hoax looked inquisitive as if he were silently asking, ‘since when..?' In fact, she may have been able to telepathically hear just that.
Hoax shook his head. “Ryoku? This is--” It appeared Cipher had met their client already. Another pair of inquisitive blinks ensued. It was not impossible, but both convenient and uncanny.
“Cipher! It has been a long time - the situation. Right.” He turned to the black-suit-wearing koala-man. “That’s who you were on the phone with? Well, that’s just dandy. We’ll totally be able to do this, then. Actually, Cipher!” Ryoku threw his arms into the air with an unfounded degree “When we first met - that’s the situation! Some of my people from my planet are here and one is in the volcano over there!” Ryoku pointed out the large volcano in the distance. “Knowing how they work, it’s probably a mess of tech meshed with the environment in there and notice how it’s been growing more active as of recent? That’s one of ‘em , I know it!”
Ryoku pointed straight up into the air.
“First met? You two fought what Ryoku describes?”
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Post by Cipher on Sept 5, 2018 1:04:07 GMT -5
“That’s right.”Cipher brought the pina colada closer to her face and wedged the straw between her lips. Liquid flooded the hollow utensil before venturing down her throat. Her crimson eyes stared at nothing in particular before she turned her focus towards the sky, furrowing her brow. “It’s been awhile, so I fear my memory is foggy. To make a point, my power level back then was no more than twenty-five hundred.” She stated, her lips curling into a frown. “But I recall us combining our power in order to fend off an alien hailing from your planet. We tracked it down and I pelted it with energy blasts; its composition – being of some kind of metallic substance – was no joke, either. I can’t remember if those blasts killed him or not.”A haggard sigh escaped her lungs while she closed her eyes, slouching her back. “Memories of being pathetic are such a painful recollection...” After a pause, she continued and darkened the look on her face. Cipher proceeded to straighten her posture and open her eyes. This time her attention shifted between both Hoax and Ryoku. “They were fun to fight, though, and I have a feeling in my gut that they’re stronger than the last encounter. If there’s something stuck in that volcano, that’s an excellent excuse to pick a fight with them.” She said, refraining from concealing the excitement cultivated in her voice.
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Post by Hoax on Sept 5, 2018 9:31:33 GMT -5
The notion of such growth of inner power was ridiculous, especially in such a timeframe. Ryoku nodded with closed eyes and a smile - a cocksure expression as he listened to the saiyan’s recount of their initial tale. He was actually unable to tell what her growth was. He had a number from the past and one currently that he suspected was not correct. He figured it was being fudged - but he could do the same. It was just that his method worked with his acute, mechanical body. Of course, he gave her the benefit of the doubt.
Hoax had an idea, having fought with her as of recent and open enough to the subtle energies to be able to gadge it with his own senses. “Astonishing growth… hm…” Hoax stroked the bottom of his chin, having seemingly begun a period of contemplation about something.
“Me too!” Ryoku stated boldly. “I’ve absorbed quite a few of these other reploids. If I give a diagnostics of my sweet, rockin’ body, it’d give you a readout of like… twenty-five THOUSAND! ...WOAH! Am I right?” Ryoku held up a hand, expecting somebody to fighfive it. Maybe Cipher would. Hoax was busy either thinking, not knowing what a fivefive was, or both.
“Wait - absorbed? What do you mean by that?” Hoax would have liked to confirm he was doing whatever absorbing entailed to his own kind, but after a tiny bit of thought, he realized he actually did not care about that part enough to risk offending him.
“You know, eat those parts they aren’t usin’ anyway. Lots of rare metals and things in their frames and data in their brains!” Hoax nodded in response, deciding to piece the rest together himself inwardly. He then took off all of his clothes save a pair of shorts out of nowhere.
“Better. A black suit, in retrospect, is a stupid thing to wear to a location like this.” He threw a capsule onto the pile and with a cloud of smoke, it all disappeared; excluding the capsule, of course. He placed that away in a pocket.
“Oh, good thinkin’. It’ll get hotter once we get in there, huh?” Ryoku paused. He looked around util his eyes settled on top of one of those large beach umbrellas. There were a few, but this one was unattended. He leaped over and started to consume it. After he did, the missing patches of skin closed up.
“...Ah. I guess that’s what he means by absorbing.”
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Post by Cipher on Sept 5, 2018 18:13:02 GMT -5
Cipher dropped the glass into the air. Instead of falling to the ground, the beverage levitated in place. After Ryoku extended his hand for a high-five, she accepted with a sharp clap. Meanwhile, the glass bobbed up and down like a bauble in water. Her lips curled into a smile while she pulled her hand back. “Yeah!”When Hoax questioned Ryoku’s ability to absorb other reploids, Cipher stopped talking and listened. During her search for Kretz, the woman conducted research on many Earthling races. She wanted to learn more about the people the man may enlist to his cause and the races he might be part of. In turn, the Saiyan learned about races capable of absorption. In the planet’s storied history, she learned about Majins and androids alike possessing the ability to consume other beings and gain their power. If her physiology allowed it, she might have considered the technique. “Interesting. I have studied several races who indulge in a similar practice. I may not be capable of it myself, but I have dabbled in drinking—” Before she could finish, one of her compatriots decided to strip down to their birthday suit. She did a double-take, but then remembered her own attire. Nobody could fault the koalajin for taking off that clean tuxedo in that heat. When she witnessed the clothes burst into fairy dust, it reminded her of the ability to perform the same feat. In fact, if she needed her armour she would replicate it through that technique. Things became weirder when she witnessed the alien start eating a beach umbrella. Then again, in her universe, weird was the norm. Cupping her chin in her hand, she took a few moments to nod repeatedly while muttering things varying from ‘okay’, ‘yep’, and ‘not surprised’. “Is the race capable of eating any earthen material? It makes me wonder if they lava would be an exception.”
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Post by Hoax on Sept 6, 2018 8:09:00 GMT -5
“What? No, you didn’t…” Hoax corrected with a humoured smile. He was always amused by Cipher’s antics. He knew that she was only joking. Such dark humour. He was often surprised at the kind of things that made him laugh. This was assuming, of course, that the unspoken word was what he assumed it to be. He paid no mind to the why behind the sudden conclusion of the sentence.
“Too hawt!” This was Ryoku’s response to the notion of consuming lava. “Although, maybe some with a good composition. You know, like maybe they were born with some wondrous metal that’s ultra heat resistant! And thinking about it… maybe the reploid stirring up trouble in that volcano is one of those! Let’s find out!” Ryoku started towards that direction.
“I know my shit was here...:” Those words came from a human male, young and muscular. He had just a pair of purple shorts and brown hair, wet and matted from having just finished flailing about in the salty water behind him. That was when Ryoku’s aura flared and he flew off towards the volcano. Hoax smirked at the sight - almost laughed, in fact. A strange energy came over him; one of humour and he spoke.
“That guy there took it.” Hoax replied as he pointed Ryoku out. His thought was, of course, what are you going to do about it? The man turned with a look of determination. White energy exploded around him, wiping the smirk away from Hoax and then he proceeded to fly after him. “W...wait, what? Was that not just a human now without any kind of presence about him?” Hoax was asking mostly himself, but Cipher may have still been around.
“Somebody… is approaching!” Ryoku cried as he looked behind him.
“My name is Chad. You owe me an umbra, dino-man!” With a burst of speed, the human caught up. He reached for the tail, took hold and jerked Ryoku back. The spiraling smear of red corrected himself midair and immediately was forced into a flurry of defensive blocks and evasive maneuvers.
“W..what is this!? How did this individual discover my identity!? And… such power! Are you not a human!?”
“I am… all human, all the time. I am CHAD!
“...Beach Enthusiast…”
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Post by Cipher on Sept 6, 2018 11:10:05 GMT -5
The concept of a metallic being capable of consuming molten rock sounded powerful. If such a thing existed, she would either bring it to the knee or destroy it. The chance of it being an asset to her existed, but only if it could acknowledge her supremacy. She knew that if it resisted extreme heat, then she would have to take caution and use the full extent of her power to demonstrate her dominance. At the same time, several thoughts entered her mind when she contemplated ways to deal with something made of metal. Thoughts of glorious conflict subsided when she heard a masculine voice. The owner of the consumed umbrella expressed confusion regarding its disappearance, but Ryoku already darted off in the direction of the volcano. Armed with a desire to see the man’s reaction, she stayed for a moment and watched the scene unravel. The Saiyan grabbed her airborne beverage once again and sipped it dry. It took her a moment to realize what she initially believed to be a weakling took flight in pursuit of the robust alien. Cipher stared blankly ahead and blinked several times. Her gaze detoured towards the two airborne figures in the distance. Smirking, she turned her attention towards Hoax. “I think we just found our fourth party member.”The Saiyan placed her index and middle finger on her forehead before disappearing. She appeared five meters away from Chad and Ryoku. Her pale expression conveyed amusement while she fixed her attention on the muscular, self-proclaimed beach enthusiast. “Chad, was it?” Cipher’s chess master tone seemed out of place, like oil in water. “I believe arrangements could be made to replace your umbrella, should you offer your strength to our cause. It is a gift, really. The opportunity to battle against a creature that threatens the integrity of this world for one, but more importantly, the ability to strengthen your power in the face of conflict.” She drew her arm to her side. “What do you say?”
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Post by Hoax on Sept 6, 2018 14:10:26 GMT -5
“A beach what!?” Ryoku’s confusion abounded. He possessed no idea as to what the being before him was saying and it was difficult to figure out such. A flurry of angry fists were raining down upon him. He deflected some while pushing others to the side with a swift motion barely visible to the naked, mundane eye. One final exchange, one forearm bashing against another one in opposition and they pushed away from one another and opened up a gap between them.
“Listen! I consumed your device for the purposes of reconstruction. Now my skin has been repaired by assimilating the materials found within!”
Chad floated there stern and majestic. The appearance of a female figure drew a portion of his attention, but he was not about to shift it entirely off of Ryoku. Her words were like rain, interacting with him, but unable to break his unfaltering expression despite their existence.
“The integrity of this world…” He spoke, ceased his words and allowed the passing gales to caress his immaculate form. “That sounds too big for a beach enthusiast like me, but at the same time…
“It sounds rad as fuck.” Hoax drifted up with a folded pair of arms across his chest. He looked over everybody as a means of contemplated the situation a a whole.
“Well… good!” Ryoku drifted slowly away. He was not entirely convinced his aggressor was trustable, but felt there was not much harm in letting this individual tag along. “That’s where I was goin’. That volcano over there?”
“Hm. The one that’s been showing signs of becoming active again.”
“Yeah, that’s the one. I suspect something is living in there and it’s intentions aren’t good at all!” Ryoku flew off just as he finished his statement. “Fly! Fly! Flyyyyyyyy!”
Chad turned to both Hoax and Cipher. “This is one beach of a day.” He then followed Ryoku, leaving just Cipher and Hoax behind.
“Hm. A pun unworthy of having to start a new paragraph, I’d say,” Hoax commented as he turned to the direction everybody had flew off in. “I wonder what’s in there. If it isn’t something substantial, it appears as if it’s about to have the worst day of its life. Unless, of course, this is all one big misunderstanding.” Hoax then moved after them shrouded in a cloud of transparent white.
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Post by Cipher on Sept 6, 2018 18:56:07 GMT -5
Cipher waited for Chad to answer her proposition. His composure impressed her, never once letting the metal alien out of his focus while contemplating his course of action. She felt the wind billow her hair like smoke while she stared at the man intently. Even taking her warrior race into consideration, he possessed a body representative of his immense power. He boasted musculature like a Greek god, certainly not something she felt opposed in staring at. In that moment, Cipher realized the real reason behind the prolonged staring in many television shows she watched as a child. The Saiyan aimed her red eyes at Hoax while he joined the scene, before turning her attention back to Chad. The Earthling agreed to aid their cause. She learned that this man possessed no shortage of bravado, and she appreciated somebody who refrained from backing down in the face of adversity. By putting yourself through the flames of chaos, you could emerge several times stronger than before. In turn, she interpreted it as Chad accepting her gift of conflict. Even though he still desired his umbrella, she considered it part of the compensation. Mayhaps uneasy but not opposed, Ryoku drifted away from the beach body. As the conversation progressed, they confirmed Cipher’s suspicion. Due to external influence, the volcano became active once again. Should they not resolve the situation, it ran the risk of killing everyone around it and spewing enough gas and volcanic ash in the air to block out the sun. While she believed civilizations could grow from danger, she knew it mattered little if a force wiped it out completely. At least one individual needed to rise from the ashes. “If this is a super volcano, this just became much direr…” The Saiyan stated the obvious with her unchanging expression. She nodded in response to the koalajin’s observation before responding to them with keen words. “Who knows? Perhaps the entity is stuck and requires liberation. If not, you are correct; the odds are extremely not in its favour given the company we have rounded up.” With those words, Cipher’s predominantly red aura burned around her, before she flew like a bullet in pursuit of their friends.
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Post by Hoax on Sept 7, 2018 13:25:02 GMT -5
A party of power housed in fleshy prisons - that’s what idled just above, just adjacent to the volcano’s peak - except for Ryoku. His structure was more a simulation of a hide than not and he, having taken the lead, was nearest. He descended with a look of unwavering determination. The walls of the peak rose around him as he did. Eventually, he came to rest on a ledge that ran along the volcano wall, twisting with its natural curvature as it descended to a lower level. However, it was not barren. It looks like a flux of technology and natural rock formations all the way down.
“We’re here…” The obvious was stated by Ryoku, who’s landing was followed by Chad. He touched down elegantly and looked around with a quiet curiosity, but never so potent as to twist his face into one of surprise. He noted the heat, wiped his forehead clear of what sweat glistened its skin.
“With no breeze from the ocean, heat is stifling; especially this heat.” Finally, those balled fists of his loosened. He brought his hands up just slightly, so they remained by their respective sides. “I just need things to chill out around here.” Just then, a cold air overtook the surroundings. Hoax descended into a temperature he was not expecting, but as subtle as it was, an energy was coming from Chad that appeared to be the reason behind it.
He closed his eyes and breathed in. “My, what a convenient ability for such a… chill individual.” Hoax smiled. He was convinced at the mastery behind his jest. It was, by no means, a normal level of humour. The laughter he expected to hear was actually not laughter at all. In fact, the soundings of Ryoku crying out about something “incoming!” filled the air. There were impact sounds and grunts. Hoax opened his eyes and bore witness to black and red salamander-like creatures all completely mechanical. A half-dozen were engaging everyone who had landed while two headed straight for him.
“What the dropbear is this now?” he asked as they grappled him to the ground. A burst of psychokinetic force threw them into the air. They entered into a rotation so being acquainted with the ground would be a smooth transition. Hoax rested one hand on the ground, partially back up, but locked in a battle-ready squat as he quickly accessed the situation. “Not yet definite, but evidence suggests our intervention was likely a necessary endeavour!”
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Post by Cipher on Sept 7, 2018 17:48:54 GMT -5
When Cipher landed on the volcanic ledge, heat immediately greeted her. At that moment, she decided to stop suppressing her power level to bear with the intense climate she submerged herself in. In moments, a power within the range of “farmer with a shotgun” suddenly expanded and enveloped the area in an oppressive blanket. The level of heat bothered her, but Cipher noticed the lack of humidity at the very least. Despite the fierce heat emanating from the volcano, she held steadfast and showed little signs of discomfort aside from a small bead of sweat traveling down her countenance in a translucent rivulet. Thankfully, the chilliest man in the band provided them with respite from the harsh elements. Chad enveloped the group in cold air and staved off most of the discomfort she felt upon her initial arrival. Cipher released a sigh of relief while quickly establishing their most valuable player, even over herself. She tanned earlier and exposing her beautiful skin to more harsh levels of heat threatened the integrity of her complexion. On top of that, she possessed all the power in the world but heatstroke still exhibited its vicious talons. Disallowed from breaking the awkward silence that ensued after Hoax’s joke, Ryoku’s outburst reduced the need. The sound of meteor impacts sobered her colourless expression, drawing her attention to the source. A myriad of mechanical lizard men formed from the collision points and immediately engaged her comrades. Narrowing her eyes, she heeded anything coming in her direction, murderous into wafting off her like smokestack plumes. She witnessed one of them attempt to tackle Hoax to the ground, only to bombard it with a wave of telekinetic force. Instead of letting the creature plummet back to the ground, Cipher flicked her forefinger and middle finger forward. The gesture seized the mechanical creature in the air by way of telekinetic influence. She pushed it off the ledge, before attempting to direct it down into the lava pit below. If they boasted resilience to the extreme heat, her action acted as the temporary educator. However, should it rise back up from the igneous pit, she attempted to fire a bolt of crackling energy through its eyes and out the back of its head.
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Post by Hoax on Sept 8, 2018 11:44:58 GMT -5
“Woah.” It seemed as if something, at least slightly, had broken - no, chipped away at his composure. It was a large swelling of power, the likes of which Chad had yet to encounter until that day. He turned his attention towards her - until, of course, he heard the soundings of skittering. It was metal against a blend of metal and stone. It possessed no problem seizing his eye.
Chad brought himself back into the moment with a scuffing sliding of his two feet further apart. His hips twisted, torso following suit as he aimed a fist towards one airborne mechanical monstrosity. His blow landed true. The metallic, yet flexible, animalistic body curled around his fist as he forcefully pushed it in the opposite direction that it intended to travel. A layer of frost rinsed overtop and throughout it like an infection. With the punch complete, the robot lizard actually broke apart and what pieces collided with the ground shattered. All he had to do was step forward and punch with his left to dismantle another. “Somethin’ ain’t right up here…”
Ryoku was shooting little yellow, lemon-shaped pellets out of the palm of his hand at some left over lizards scampering around. “Just routine at this point. Always with the defenses. Gotta keep whatever scheme they’re hatching safe, after all. Probably meant for the average inhabitant of the planet.” It was not the first time, clearly, that Ryoku had felled one of these beings. It showed in his casual way of discussing the situation as he fought strange, mechanical creatures.
Hoax watched one of the threats plummet . It was cast from the ridge and into the much hotter, open air that streamed maliciously from the pooling lava below. The remaining of the pair was brought to the ground ahead of Hoax with a kick that was led by a descending heel. Its head was crushed as it met the ground, its durability failing against his heel’s thirst for the stone floor below it.
“Noted,” Hoax replied. “There will be more encounters like this before we’re able to get to the thick of things.” He moved further down the spiraling ridge. As he did, he turned a glance towards Chad. “Thank you for your help. Your umbrella will be replaced with only the best.” Chad nodded coolly as a silent response as he strode along, fists forever clenched; alert and ever-suspecting attack from any angle.
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Post by Cipher on Sept 9, 2018 0:02:48 GMT -5
Cipher watched Chad’s impressive display of strength, splattering the robotic alien against the opposing wall. Icy metallic gore littered the environment, causing Cipher to raise her brow in surprise. She knew the man exhibited power, but he continued to show promise with every passing moment. The beach enthusiast displayed a level of power crucial to their current campaign, the small fry keeping them at bay alluding to a much more powerful adversary in the future. The Saiyan felt her blood burn with excitement, likening it to the volcanic rock seething in the caustic formation they traversed. Ryoku explained the significance behind their populous foes, resulting in a vague nod from Cipher. While she listened to the commentary, she seized three of the remaining lizards by their throats using her telekinetic grip. Elevating them into the air, she elicited cries of pain by crumpling the triad into violent balls of scrap metal. After crushing their bodies until not even their brethren recognized them, she flung them deep into the pit of lava below. Cipher concluded her brutal display by watching their remaining forms sizzle and melt. The Saiyan turned and progressed down the spiralling ridge without looking back thereafter. However, their enemies continued their attempts at pressuring the band. Suddenly, a flock of metallic birds flew in overhead. They swooped into the confines of the volcano above the group of powerhouses and employed a new tactic. Instead of engaging them with brute force, they tried their hand at interrupting the group through screwing with their heads. The creatures resembled vultures – except metal parts comprised their bodies. Opening their wide beaks, they released screeching soundwaves to deafen and weaken the group’s constitution. Sounds resembling a cacophony of nails against sheet metal reverberated throughout the igneous pit. The swimsuit wearing Saiyan winced, pointing her hand, and releasing a wave of purple energy towards the flock of synthetic birds. She disintegrated five at once, but the metallic screech persisted.
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Post by Hoax on Sept 9, 2018 14:47:44 GMT -5
“Whoever’s down here’s been busy!” Ryoku shouted. It was difficult to assert one’s voice over the perpetual screeching of the flying creatures. He held onto each side of his head in a vain effort to protect himself from their emissions. In fact, it was what Hoax, Ryoku, and Chad were doing after their shrill, shearing baptism in an ostensible furious ocean of sound. “So many little mobile defenses! They must’ve been around a while to engineer all of this!”
“Admiration of the enemy’s defenses can come later - but for now…” An orange beam, thin and fleet, swept through the centers of a multitude of the flying robots. The resulting explosions damaged ones nearby who were fortunate enough to evade the beam Hoax’s index finger produced. Coupled with the energetic projection Cipher released, it prove enough to rid the area of that threat. Ryoku broke into a sprint.
“Hm! Quickly!” He ran until flame shot out from the wall beside him. He stopped in time to not be overtaken by it. “Woah! In that case… cautiously… quickly!”
Chad did not hear a thing. He was about to ask what Ryoku had said, but decided that as he was in the back of the group, it was best to follow along. It was not as if he did not bare witness to the stream of flame shooting out ahead of the group. His ears were still ringing from all of that as were Hoax’s, who slapped his hand against the left side of his head a few times.
“So, time it right!” Ryoku yelled as he turned to see Hoax just walking ahead as if nothing were the matter with the hostile wall beside him. However, the flames curled around what looked like an invisible barrier as they came out. “Or… sure.”
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Post by Cipher on Sept 9, 2018 22:36:16 GMT -5
With the horde of malicious songbirds vanquished, Cipher sprinted further down the spiralling ridge. The situation cleaned off any emotion clinging to her face until a roaring inferno obscured their path. Thankfully, her comrade stopped before the flames consumed his body. The Saiyan took a tentative step back, holding her ground with her hand waist level as if in preparation to counter any incoming attacks. Ryoku expressed the need for the group to proceed cautiously, but at the same time deftly. Instead of heeding the warning, Hoax continued while warding away the threatening conflagration with a technique the Saiyan boasted mastery over as well. Remembering her status as a nigh infinitely powerful alien, Cipher replicated the technique while she walked by the infernal trap. Except, while she walked by it, she slammed her fist into the trap and shattered every internal mechanism within, along with obliterating the internal layout of the wall. After a loud crack, the stone started to crumble into rubble. What a buzzkill. However, she noticed after she walked by the first trap something moved her along the ground. One looked towards her feet revealed the existence of a conveyor belt. The ledge tapered off, the next ledge a fifteen-foot jump away. The conveyor belt transported anyone standing on it too long into the fiery depths below. Their enemies made the volcano into a death trap but failed to make it a death trap for the supernatural. After it launched Cipher off, she started to levitate in the air all the way over to the next ledge. Once landing on the ledge again, she felt the familiar warmth seep into her bare feet while she directed her attention towards the rest of her allies.
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Post by Hoax on Sept 10, 2018 14:18:08 GMT -5
“What’s this?!”
A conveyor belt! After the evasion of the flame trap and its destruction, they found themselves on a moving piece of mechanical ground. Ryoku seemed completely taken aback by this. Hoax quirked a brow along with Chad, who did the same, but to a lesser degree. Chad stood firm, as solid and unwavering as the volcano walls around him. Hoax’s back foot steadied him after it had slid backwards slightly. Ryoku flailed about almost toppling over. He swayed and eventually steadied himself, looking forward at the approaching ledge.
“Slag it, what a mean reploid this is!” He called. He turned around and ran in place for it did not allow him to make any progress backwards. “Everyone! Run! Pump those legs!” By this time, the saiyan was floating over to the other side. Chad followed suit and Hoax did the same, looking back at Ryoku curiously. Seeing this, he turned around and ran with the belt’s movement. He moved so fast and leapt so far that he managed to grab onto the next one; but it was going in the other direction! Ryoku leapt onto the platform above everyone else, but slipped for the belt’s movement was in a direction that would not allow such. He plummeted until he was able to grab for the actual ledge on the level everybody else was waiting at.
“Woah!” He climbed up. “This place is a death trap!” When a low grumble started to overtake their surroundings, Ryoku stood is ground. “Prepare yourselves!” If one were to cast their attention to the pit of lava, they would see a large, metallic floor stretch over it from the cylindrical sides of the volcano. Something walked, lumbered onto it. It was large, obese in design. It was metallic like Ryoku. From its face sprouted an elephant-like trunk, but it was a bipedal being - a robot that’s purpose was to seemingly make its way to the floor’s center. A device sat in the middle, round, stout - its complexities were difficult to discern from their distance, but once Ryoku, Chad, and Hoax witnessed the sight, they began to run down towards it.
“That has to be him!” Ryoku cried as he pointed accusatively at it.
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Post by Cipher on Sept 11, 2018 14:33:35 GMT -5
Eventually, Cipher turned around and witnessed Ryoku nearly falling to his death courtesy of the conveyor belts. A bead of sweat rolled down the side of her face, this time generated from factors other than the volcano’s fierce heat. Joining the others in their patient vigil, she awaited the reploid’s arrival. As much as they all trivialized it with their exceptional brawn, psychic powers, and Nathan Petreli levels of flight, she knew that the volcano would have murdered regular inhabitants of the planet several times over. As they advanced down the volcano, her eyes caught sight of a metallic floor. Something lumbered towards a device in the middle, providing proof of its existence through the tremors it rattled the ground with thanks to its imposing size. The moment she saw its form, her crimson eyes widened. It reminded the Saiyan of the time she felled a creature resembling a humanoid elephant, and that in turn reminded her of her atrocious fighting style back then. It seemed like she gained the opportunity to poach another unsuspecting elephant on that day. When the others ran towards the device, Cipher joined them. Meanwhile, a young woman with short brown hair and heterochromatic eyes stood on the metallic platform. She drew laboured breaths while directing her attention towards the heaps of scrap metal around her. Bodies of reploids were strewn about, suggesting her power was great enough to fell the same manner of creature the group vanquished before. While witnessing the large, elephant-esque creature move towards the device in the center, she eyed it with a sense of knowing. The woman reached out with both hands, expelling a deep breath from her lungs while closing her eyes. A second later, she opened them once with renewed glimmers of determination. A flash of light ensued before a teal, box-shaped barrier encompassed the device, preventing anybody from accessing it without first shattering the defense she presumably erected around it.
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Post by Hoax on Sept 11, 2018 20:31:20 GMT -5
 Ryoku caught sight of a being far more organic that one should be at such a location. He slid to a halt, managed to remain within a dramatic, battle-ready pose as he quickly accessed the situation. “That human girl there…” he muttered to himself as he glanced backwards at the rest of his party momentarily .”Did you see that? Whoever that is put some kinda barrier around that thing in the middle of the floor!” He noticed the metallic cadavers peppering her vicinity, both lying within it and upon its borders.
“She’s been fighting against this place’s defenses,” Hoax stated with his usual calm demeanor. His hands somehow found their way into the pockets of his shorts. It did not give him his usual suave appearance with the absence of his suit, but did not stop him from casually analyzing the situation. “The floor will become very hot soon. It’s probably best if we-”
But then Chad casually strode by. He had yet to say a word since their sprint to the metal floor, somehow professionally makeshift. “Your actions seem to be putting good folk in jeopardy. That… just isn’t cool.” Before the reploid could say something cliche and obvious like ‘intruders,’ it felt a gale of crisp, chilling air as a burst of frigid wind washed outwards from Chad, ever-still crafting one cool stride after the other.
The heat became most certainly bearable. Hoax was pleased at how things were unfolding.The smile showed that. From the large, imposing robot-like being, it just grumbled. It did not feel compelled to rattle on about its plans or shout in frustration at the lot. It would do no good. They were there to stop him from whatever it was he was trying to accomplish. So, it aimed its trunk at the brown-haired girl and released a torrent of fire.
“Try not to do anything that’ll set this place off!” Hoax hollered as he flew towards the large figure.
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Post by Cipher on Sept 11, 2018 22:55:19 GMT -5
After seeing the Earthling woman raise a barrier around the contraption, Cipher raised a brow. As her friends pointed out, she seemed to be on their side due to the bodies of robotic alien strewn about the heated metallic canvas. Despite her small form and softer demeanour, she exhibited a generous amount of power that disqualified her from being classified as a joke. That barrier would take a generous amount of attacks, even from herself, before caving. Should the remaining hostile show intention in destroying the barrier to activate the device in the middle, then the woman bought them some time. “Chad, is that you?” The mysterious brunette’s eyes widened while she stared at the cold-as-ice beach enthusiast reducing the extreme heat of their temporary residence. She squinted for a moment before a look of relief washed over her. An originally tense expression loosened, her lips spreading into a smile before she made a sudden declaration. “It’s me, Vesper!” Even though her voice would have caused an epiphany, she verified her identity anyway. The woman was none other than Chad’s sister, Vesper, and had been fighting off the mechanicals beings in advance for reasons currently unspoken. A sudden expulsion of heat turned her attention back towards the literal elephant in the room. Before the wave of flame got too close, she erected a blue cube of energy around herself. The force field proved lucrative, splitting the beam of fire in two as it washed the barricade over. Clenching her teeth together, she felt the inside of the shield heat up to uncomfortable levels, but the frigidity produced by her sibling helped stave off the effects the monster induced. Even though she wanted to ask who the others were, she needed a moment of respite unheard of in such a situation. And then a hail of bullets. Unlike the others, Cipher refrained from leaving the ridge. She stayed on it and maintained the higher ground, summoning a literal fucking M134D gattling machine gun on a pedestal and starting to fire on the mechanical elephant. The sound the instrument of destruction produced mirrored a cross between a chainsaw and an airplane rotary engine. It fired irregular bullets infused with her energy, causing each bullet to be powerful enough to shoot through every planet in the solar system if she willed it. In turn, as she held on the turret and squeezed the trigger with a vice-like grip, the entire gun boasted a red and black sheen – a demonic aesthetic. Metal jackets ejected from the firearm and plummeted into the lava below. She aimed for its body at first, but her aim climbed upward while attempting to mow through its head and chew through its plating. Some people said he who shoots the most, the fastest, wins. They were right.
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