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Post by Lute on Jul 13, 2018 15:15:18 GMT -5
Sullen red clouds churned overhead, sending forth salvos of forked lightning. Lute hanged from the broken pillar of an ancient temple, his arms and feet bound by black chains etched with glowing magical ruins. His flesh clung to a bony frame, pallid and emaciated. He was more yellow than green at this point, withering slowly. The Namekian's eyes remained closed tight, but his will could not be broken. How long had he been dangling like this? Weeks, months, years?Time itself didn't have the same meaning here. It seemed to ebb and flow like the tides of New Namek. All around him were the shattered and decaying remains of demons. Thousands of them were strewn high and low. He had killed every single one of them for the secret their master held. They had been fodder. But, the Makaioshin had proven to be a bit clever in the end. Lute had overpowered and wounded him, but the spell he uttered at the last second trapped Lute. If only he knew the counter-spell to break himself free. Demons were secretive bastards, keeping the nuance of their magic to themselves. Even after studying their ways his whole life, he knew almost nothing. How could he ever hope of taking down a god with such pitiful strength? The curse of weakness plagued him. He remembered the Super Saiyan Sawba--how strong he had grown in such short time. It was a very sour memory, at that. Lute had followed the brute for awhile, hoping to learn something he failed to understand before. The only thing he learned was that Saiyans were built for power. They were the perfect vessels and had true unlimited potential. It was a tough ability to rival, but Lute wasn't against augmenting his own power with some acquired. Most Saiyans were too prideful for that, a downfall of theirs. Lute had a bigger picture in mind, a true endgame. The death of the gods and the restoration of the true order of nature. All of it would be wiped from existence. Only the strong would survive, not the favored. People would die and not live out a cushy after life. This would give life true meaning. There was something interesting about the Demon Realm the more he dwelled on the thought. Lute detected a sinister power seeping into his body shortly after being bound. Dark energy, as he had come to think of it. In the mortal world such ambient power was hard to come by. Down here, it flowed freely, as though it were air. If only he could break the chains, then he could take some of the power into him and use it as a weapon. Had he realized this prior to being shackled, he may have actually defeated the Makaioshin. Hm.He felt something--a presence close by. Someone approached, both of his sharp ears picking up on the subtle shifting of stone and rock. Foosteps. Perhaps a lesser demon? He hoped for a foolish demonic minion that he manipulate into getting him down. "I know you're out there," he shouted. "Come closer."
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Post by Queen Kuueru on Jul 13, 2018 15:40:46 GMT -5
 | Perfect! The peachy faced blonde checked her appearance within a puddle on the ground beneath her. She carried the features that would make a teenaged Earthling envious. Her normally cyan tinted skin was filled with what appeared to be the life and vigor of one of those fools in the other dimension. It had been ten minutes since she cast the spell of camouflage upon herself. A new record! Soon she would be able to sustain the guise for a full half-hour. Kuueru clenched her fists with excitement before wandering along the beaten path to what seemed to never come. Salvation.
“Hnn, man I better find an enclave soon, this walking is getting tiring.” If she was truly tired of walking, she could have just flown,—however the demonic magic and energy within her was still chaotic and unstable. She had only been able to cast the spells momentarilly, nothing compared to the great fighters before her. Kuueru’s family did not know what to do when she first showed the prodigy in her younger decades. Firebolts and flames burnt down home after home, if that’s what her family liked to call them. Nothing in the demon realm was cushy. All dirt, dust and depression. Once you lost something, you moved on to the next place, person, or thing.
"I know you're out there," he shouted. "Come closer."
The demoness stopped in her tracks, and the beaming blue eyes in her head locked onto the rather, flaccid looking Namekian. He didn’t seem to be in the best position, and exactly that worried the girl. She idled, a finger raising up to her lip in a childish tease. “Who? Me? I’m sorrrry, my ma always told me not to talk to rather incapacitated looking Namekians.”
She chortled at her attempt of a joke, although her newfound companion probably writhed from her immature words. She immediately stood upright and began to approach the man at a cautious pace. The area was littered with the remains of a temple, the beautiful architecture displaying a demon inflicted mess. She was careful to not step on anything unsteady or sharp
“What do you want huh?” Kuueru spat, her brows furrowing in discontent. The demon's arms folded over her ample chest as she awaited his reply.
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Post by Lute on Jul 14, 2018 10:10:29 GMT -5
The arrival revealed herself. Lute with both eyes still closed wasn't able to see her human-like appearance. Rather, he was far more focused on the sound of her movement and the pressure of her aura. The amount of power he felt radiating off of her worried him. He took a deep breath, trying to remain focused and calm. He suspected that it was the Makioshin or one of his lieutenants, returned to finish him off. Until she spoke. “Who? Me? I’m sorrrry, my ma always told me not to talk to rather incapacitated looking Namekians.” No, if it were his enemy, he would be dead. There wouldn't have been any discourse. He didn't know if this demon was here for a reason, but he did find it quite curious that it recognized that he was Namekian. Few demons knew anything about the mortal world. Plus, the vastness of the universe meant that there were countless galaxies, star systems, and creatures to learn about. The fact that she knew the name Namekian meant she could read into his memories or had some experience with his kind in the past. “What do you want huh?” "Demons like to make deals, right?" Lute said. His voice emerged coarse, raspy. His tongue was swollen and felt like sand in his mouth. "How about a favor for a favor. If you break the demonic seals on these chains, the spell will end. You have my word I will help you with something you want."Lute had killed, murdered, maimed and destroyed whatever necessary to reach his goals. They were actions he held no regrets about. For him, the end always justified the means. Lives were fleeting anyhow. Weakness was to be exposed and eliminated. Despite his ruthlessness ideals, he was not a liar. If the demon could read his mind, as he suspected, she wouldn't find a false notion there. He really intended on helping her in return. "I came here seeking power and fought Scathran. He's a powerful demon lord that resides in this part of the realms. Perhaps you've heard of him. I plan on taking his head. If he's your master, perhaps you can take his place as the ruler."
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Post by Queen Kuueru on Jul 14, 2018 17:23:01 GMT -5
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She was a mere meter from the man now, his restless eyes shut before her. One step, then another and she could see the tattered shape that he was in. He maned the guise of a nomadic peasant—frail and worn. She knew it was not of his own creation once he dove into the explanation of his aim to defeat a nearby demon lord. She had heard the name. Scathran. But she had no ties to him other than his domineering taxation and rule-free lifestyle. When you were the most powerful in the land, you ruled. The demon realm was simple in its decree of leadership.
The demon felt a bit embarrassed that he assumed that she had some sort of ability to undo his predicament. She peered at the chains and restraints, they appeared ordinary but she was sure there was more to it. Maybe it was an incantation or curse. Perhaps he was tricked, or maybe caught off guard. She couldn’t sense much energy from her newfound companion, but what lingered was unnerving. What bothered her more was that something around here lurked that was powerful enough to subdue the Namekian
“Scathran eh? So, you fought him –then ended up like this?” He had mentioned that he had fought and then planned to kill him in the future, obviously his first attempt was a failure. So, what did she want for her side of the favor? This man was obviously from the mortal plane, it was very probably he had the connections to get her to her destination. But at what cost?
“Who’s to say I don’t cut you down and you simply end me? Looks can be deceiving, you could easily be masking your ability.” Kuueru was a pretty face but not ignorant to the deception that ran rampant in this seedy land. She sensed no dark intentions in the Namekian’s words, but couldn’t help but be fearful for her own fate.
An arm extended, one of her long nails pressing into the bicep of the wilted looking man. She dug it deeper, seeing if the man could even feel the pain. “Hypothetically, would you be able to get me to the mortal plane?”
She gave up her desire easily, she had no need to lie to the stranger.
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Post by Lute on Jul 14, 2018 21:18:47 GMT -5
“Scathran eh? So, you fought him –then ended up like this?” Lute snorted. He passed his tongue over a sharp canine. "He wasn't able to kill me. Just trap me. The bastard ran away and I plan on tracking him down and finishing the job. He has something I want in his possession. That's the reason I came down to this forsaken pit of depravity.""Who’s to say I don’t cut you down and you simply end me? Looks can be deceiving, you could easily be masking your ability." Lute winced as her nails pressed into the meat of his bicep. Pain--at least it was some sort of feeling. It beat back numbness in his limbs from hanging from the pillar for so long. Blood began to pump through his veins again, waking up from his dream-like daze. Just the notion of being able to get down and stretch his limbs out was enticing enough. But, he needed to be patient and see what she wanted. Only then could he get her to take action and free him. "Hypothetically, would you be able to get me to the mortal plane?" Should have figured.For the first time Lute's eyes opened, letting the dull red light of the Demon Realm fill his vision. For a moment she seemed a blurry mess, but his eyes adjusted and her visage came into clear view. The demon woman looked more like a young innocent youth of Earth. Pale skin and pink hair--not at all what he was expecting from a monster. The longer he stared at her, the more he began to suspect that it just a facade. Such hubris and vanity was not uncommon with demons. "Getting into the Demon Realm is much easier than escaping it. It's even harder to escape, if you're a demon. But, I may know a way. I can guide you there, but I can't extend my promise beyond that."
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Post by Queen Kuueru on Jul 15, 2018 7:32:53 GMT -5
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The man grimaced from her pain-imposing touch, with it was a spike in his vigor and life energy. Possibly the man had been here for years. Kuueru couldn’t fathom herself in the selfsame position, the desperation would surely be enough to end her will to live on. The demon withdrew her nails. Now she could connect to the Namekian via his hateful gaze. The woman could sense a great deal of chaos brewing beneath the skin of the stranger.
Kuueru had read a lot on the common races plastering the surface of Earth. She had chosen it based on the stories the great wizards and demons spoke about the rock. She had to know what to expect and the best way to blend in amongst the mortals. It seemed that the soft skinned and rather weak humans were her best bet. She had spent many a month conjuring the magic to even disguise herself for this long. It was reminiscent of someone exercising or training, the more she could sustain the easier it became second nature. In her conversation with the stranger she had barely noticed how long she maintained the pink-haired visage.
“So, you fell for a trap. Perhaps even a fate worse than him just killin’ ya don’t ya think?” The demoness chuckled her eyes following the long roads of chains to find a simple solution to getting him out. It was odd, no start or end—simply a magical entrapment. She had seen the spell used sometime before between tricksters of the sort. Perhaps this great demon lord was not as great as he assumed, and was forced to retreat and resort to grade 6 tactics.
"I can guide you there, but I can't extend my promise beyond that." He stated adamantly.
“I don’t want to be your friend. So that’s more than fine.” Kuueru hissed at the man, her brilliant white teeth flashing in the dull red light. The fact that he assumed she would need his help afterwards was laughable. But he did know more of the place than she—perhaps the mortal world was filled with greater dangers than her homeland after all.
A faint ghastly blue aura coated the females hand, and with it her guise faded. The warm and welcoming peaches and pinks desaturated into a cold looking woman with horns and scanty attire. She diverted her attention from her camouflage spell and began mustering a concentrated blade of sorts. She was struggling. It wasn’t often that she put her magic to work, and she had no formal guidance with this area of demonology. Kuueru steadily began severing her way through the chains that littered the frail man’s body.
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Post by Lute on Jul 15, 2018 10:54:02 GMT -5
The demoness revealed her true form, a pale color with black horns. Far more monstrous, far more appropriate. Lute wore typically wore a mask covering his face, so he understood the value of concealing one's true appearance. If someone could see your real face, they could read the subtle nuance from it and understand your true intentions. If he had a zeni for every time someone he fought gave away their next move from simple eyebrow twitch or grimace, he would be far more wealthy than he already was. The magic in the conjured chains began to rattle as the demoness concentrated her energy into a blade. Lute had been hoping she knew the incantation was be able to simply dispel it. Mostly because he wanted to reverse engineer the spell for himself. That way if Scathran cast it upon him again, he could block it. Still, he wasn't about to be ungrateful for the fact that she was freeing him. The first chain that bound his wrist popped as she finally cut through it. Instead of clattering down, it dissolved into white motes of light. The metal had not been real, rather a construct. Arm free, he used it to take hold of the chain wrapped around his other arm. With a grunt of exertion, he ripped that one off himself, easily able to overpower the magic now that his ki wasn't being forcibly suppressed. His legs came free easier, with a jerking motion he tore himself off the pillar. He landed onto one knee beside the demonic woman and lingered there for a moment to recollect his strength. He was shriveled and emaciated, a shadow of his former self. Before he did anything he needed to recover some of his power. It would take weeks before he was back to full, but if he ate something would speed up the process ten fold. Standing to his full seven feet, he towered over the demoness as he rubbed the raw spots on his wrists. "A deal is a deal."He went around her, stepping over the rotting bodies of the slain. "There are two things that I need to do first, before I get you to the mortal realm. First off, I need to feed to regain my strength. After that, I need to take Scathran's head and get what I came here for. You're welcome to join me, or you can wait here--in this trash heap."He didn't say much else, instead marching off in search of prey. Namekians didn't need to eat anything really. Water was enough to sustain them. But, there was little water in the Demon Realm. And, he doubted any of it he found would be safe for a mortal to drink. Eating meat would help him build muscle and get stronger, as with most predators. It was frowned upon by the conventions of Namekian society. But, he didn't follow those conventions. They were for the weak and foolish. Great Worms that burrowed and hunted all over this part of the Demon Realm. Dangling from the pillar for so long, Lute had felt their vibrations and seen them break surface to take down wandering monsters. They were enormous, big enough to swallow Lute whole if he wasn't careful. Both of his dark eyes surveyed the rugged horizon and it only took a moment before he noticed a sizable crater. He crossed the wastes and stepped up to its edge. Studying the shadowy pit, he sought any aura or flicker of life down there with his sixth-sense
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Post by Queen Kuueru on Jul 15, 2018 11:54:50 GMT -5
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All it took was one helping hand and the man had regained enough strength to free himself. He tore the remaining chains off with ease and poise uncanny to that of an attractive athletic dude on television. Kuueru lingered there in awe; despite the shabby and withered body of the hunter, he continued to draw on some enigma-riddled force from within to persevere. He stood towering once free, his shadow completely blocked the girl from the dull hazy light that cast from the "heavens".
"A deal is a deal."
It was assuring to feel like she wouldn't die. Since he was fully free of his restraints he hadn’t laid a hand on her. Her brilliant eyes locked onto his every movement as he stepped past her. Judging by his frail appearance she couldn’t deny that he required a meal, but did they eat the same things? She couldn’t remember much on what Earthlings ate, let alone the trillions of other species on the mortal plane. As she began to follow she couldn't help but finally notice the ground littered with corpses. It was the demon realm after all, sometimes those things happened.
Her mischief-filled eyes locked onto the back of the Namekian’s bald head. She followed behind him casually, her hands planted firmly over her chest as she quietly thought up multitudes of theorems on escaping the demon realm and what she would do next. Now that there was a glimmer of hope of escaping she could rest easy and worry about the next steps.
As they continued however, she couldn’t help but notice the area they had entered. Her eyes widened and she jogged briefly to be by his side. “Hey, um---there’s some bad things this way.~”
Kuueru chuckled nervously, but when the man flew across the wastes towards the danger. She knew what he was plotting. She flew reluctantly after, hovering meters above the crater with anxiety wracking her brain.
“Wow, that’s----big…” She uttered before looking around for the monstrosity that created it. Nevertheless, it was surely down below the safety of the dirt. She leisurely hovered downward towards the man she had forgotten to catch the name of.
“Uhh, Namekian. You don’t intend to eat one of those do you?! Let alone, how would you cook it!?” The thought of raw worm guts strewn across the ground almost brought up Kuueru’s lunch. She choked back the nausea and let her feet touch the ground before the crater. Beneath the pair the disturbance began. Loud rumbles and growls exited the very entrance they stood next to. Within minutes a massive drool covered Great Worm bulleted through the opening, narrowly avoiding the pair.
“I’m not sure I will be helping you clear the plate of that one bud.” She assured the viridian man before inquiring. “What was your name again? I’m Kuueru.”
She spoke, seemingly ignoring the massive threat that loomed overhead. Something about the personality of the girl seemed erratic.
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Post by Lute on Jul 16, 2018 15:19:05 GMT -5
“Uhh, Namekian. You don’t intend to eat one of those do you?! Let alone, how would you cook it!?” The Great Worm erupted from the crater and reared up, spewing loose rock and pellets of dirt. Lute took a step back from its chitinous body. It was at least as thick around as a train. Its armored whipped head around to face its prey, rows upon rows of metallic teeth chattering from a dozen or so interlocking mandibles. Acidic saliva splattered all over the ground behind Lute and Kuueru, melting through the crust with an audible hiss. "I’m not sure I will be helping you clear the plate of that one bud," the demoness said. "What was your name again? I’m Kuueru.”" "I'm Lute. And, I hope you can make yourself plenty hungry."He kept his eyes forward on the prize, all the while tilting to shove her with whatever dwindled strength he had left in his arms. The push would no doubt sent her flying out of harms way. Good thing too, because the worm struck with the speed of a cobra at him. The Namekian hurled both his arms forward, stopping the front of its jaws before it crushed him like a green bean. His feet skidded into the ground as the monstrosity drove forward with all its mass, carving a massive trench in the earth. He was pushed back hundreds of feet before it ran out of momentum and stopped. Lute rolled to the side, avoiding a follow up chomp that would have sheared him in twain. He collapsed a half second later, gasping for breath. Everything hurt and this encounter had only just begun. Tired. So tired.He needed power. In that moment, he remembered the dark energy that swirled all around him and permeated the entire Realm. Taking a deep breath, he drew that raw energy into his own. It trickled through his pores, swarming and swelling inside of his core with icy chill of winter. There was something intoxicating about it, raw and visceral. Both of his irises flickered a dark amethyst and he roared, his withered form swelling up with his new found power. An aura like black smoke rolled out of his pores, escaping into the air in long tendrils. Opening his fist, he concentrated the foreign ki into a single point and extended it out, forming a makeshift blade of pure midnight. It seemed to eat the light around it, forming a white aurora along the finite edge. With a wide swing, he chopped the Great Worm, opening up a massive gash from belly to back. Bright orange blood sprayed him from head to toe and filled the air with a fine mist. The Great Worn bucked hard in recoil, smacking Lute away like a tiny gnat. He skipped across the landscape before crashing to a stop, shattering a large rock formation. No doubt it would turn its attention to Kuueru next.
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Post by Queen Kuueru on Jul 16, 2018 16:09:33 GMT -5
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Kuueru gasped out resonantly, even imagining aiding the man out of this shit was unfathomable. Her knuckles dug their way into her fat-softened hips, she had some objections but not a minute to process before Lute shoved her smaller frame off to the side. A few meters passed before her body tumbled to a stop. She quickly jumped to her feet, her chaotic gaze wavering prior to fixating on her companion’s head on collision with the worm. Immediately she blitzed towards the scene, a wimpy looking Lute was soon polished and poised, his body was dressed in black energy. His skin miraculously regained saturation and his overall presence was absolutely terrifying.
“What kind of power?!” Kuueru whispered to herself while covering the appalled expression on her face.
There was no time to worry about her companion’s new-found potential because the worm was back up and ready to rumble. The nimble Namekian dodged and danced between the Worm’s attempts to crush him. His movements were more fluid and precise than before in his debilitated state. Quickly the beast faltered with a morbid wound to the midsection, all from the man himself. Kuueru dry-heaved, her eyes then rolling back into her head; her essence breathed annoyance.
“What is this? Vomit city…” She snapped back to the reality as the green blur of a man skipped like a rock over the land. He didn’t return immediately, which meant she may need to get ready to eat. Like she thought, the looming acid-spitting Twinkie eerily focused on her.
“Maybe I am a little hungry eh Lute!” Kuueru shouted in his direction, but if he could hear her was another question. The blue-toned demoness amplified the special effects as brilliant azure blazes took over her body. She moved like a human mixed with some sort of nimble feline. Hastily she attempted to manifest the energy within herself into her fingertips. She stared at her hands almost pleading for the magic within to obey. Surely Lute did not see her falter in the midst of trouble.
“Alright mister DickWorm.”
The demoness revealed her hands to the enemy, long blades of dark energy erecting from where her fingers would have been. In a blue mirage she bolted full sprint towards the glob of goo. She dodged its mouth, her blades running down the sides of the thick-skinned creature. The blood was coated in the orange puddles of his essence, it surely was a wild sight for anyone to see. It almost resembled carving a living jack-o-lantern with paperclips.
She soon landed behind the worm before turning around to survey the damage. She had hurt it, but there was still more fight in the thing.
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Post by Lute on Jul 17, 2018 9:49:45 GMT -5
Lute peeled himself from the rocks with a grunt of pain. Bright purple blood trickled down the length of his arm and splattered all over the ground. The entire limb had been shattered, the bone crumple at the moment of impact. He had managed to pull enough dark energy into his body to shield himself from the brunt of the blow. It let him live, but not without the cost. He left the limb to hang at his side like a limp noodle. Eyes blurry with pain and weariness he studied the distance, only to see his new demoness friend fighting the Worm. She had no obligation to help, but there was no doubt at this point it was out of self defense. Still, Lute needed to end its life fast so he could move onto consuming it and regaining his strength. Using his remaining arm, he began to pull in dark energy into his body. It was so plentiful even in its ambient nature in the Demon Realm. No wonder demons and the creatures that called this place home were strong beyond reason. If such power existed in the mortal realm, Lute would be unstoppable. It was a shame that he would have to leave this veritable fountain of raw might behind when he returned. The smoky black aura appeared again, pouring off his body. To take down the worm, he needed a concentrated blow. Kuueru was amidst dicing it up, softening the creature's defenses. It distracted by her, a perfect opportunity. He wouldn't squander it. "Hrahhh!"Lute formed another dark blade out of the energy, this time doubled in length compared to the first use. It crackled and sputtered with crimson lighting, a bit unstable due to the length and the amount of power he was putting into it so fast. He sprinted across the landscape, leaping and jumping over loose boulders and burrows. Arriving, he swept the blade through the Great Worm's abdomen and out the other side in the blink of an eye. It jerked to the left as it realized what had happen and jostled so hard it split itself in half. Steaming guts poured out in an avalanche. The soil was flooded with blood, up to Lute's ankles. He turned and reveled in the massacre and stumbled up to it. The dark blade extending from his hands fizzled and disappeared. He took a long deep breath, drawing in power and air until his chest swelled with volume. He released it all in a gout of flame that rippled forth and engulfed the Great Worm with a blinding flash. The flames burned with immense heat as he spit them like some sort of dragon. Black smoke billowed into the shrouded sky. The smell of charred meat wafted outward, no doubt drawing in any noses nearby to investigate. Once satisfied with the cooking Lute shut his jaw--cutting off the flame jet. He gave Kuueru a fanged smirk. "Dinner is served."Like a predator on a fresh kill, the battered Namekian approached and started to tear into the red-hot smoldering beast with his good hand. He shoveled its baked flesh into his mouth, ripping and tearing at the stringy strands. It wasn't long until his face was coated in grease and blood. Feast. I must feast.It didn't taste particularly good, not in the least bit. But, it was sustenance.
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Post by Queen Kuueru on Jul 18, 2018 15:49:35 GMT -5
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Kuueru had darted clear past the worm, her eyes dead-set on being a distraction and not a feast to the beast. She promptly turned on her heel, her body twisting around just as Lute divided the worm in two, like a professional magician. Sadly, the worm wasn’t in on the trick and his blood spurted like confetti through the air. Warm orange fluids coated the pale skin of the demon; her lips then contorted into the most disgusted frown.
“Really?” Kuueru questioned, crimson eyes locking onto the Namekian. However, she was not prepared for the immolation of the worm at such a short distance. Bathes of intensely hot air pelted the demon’s cold flesh. Flinching reluctantly, she raised a forearm to shield her face.
It was a good minute or so before the barbeque was done, her gaze set on the burnt creature. It appeared to deflate once all the liquids and lipids were scorched out of existence. She was hungry, but could she really bring herself to indulge in that? Kuueru took a few steps, wading through the liquified remnants of a once ferocious beast. It was the right thing to do, honoring it by consuming it’s flesh mere minutes after it’s death.
“Eh… Dinner, right. That’s what this is.” Kuueru eyeballed the corpse, spotting and extra crispy corner of skin. Perhaps this piece contained less grossness than the rest of the creature. Warily she raised the fragrant meat to her face. The fumes wafted up her nose, the very hairs standing on end. Her face contorted; forming what could have been the most concerned look ever conceived. Quickly she shoved the meat down her throat. If she was going to eat it, she would rather it not taste it for a while. She inhaled instead of swallowing; chunks of worm guts filling up her larynx and causing her to choke. A firm fist slammed against her chest as she tried to undo her grave mistake. One powerful punch later she spewed out the perpetrator.
“G-Guh. Delicious…” She tossed the remaining meat back into the copious pile before turning her back to the man. She couldn’t help but notice the winged demons flying overhead. They were far, but their flight patterns were coordination. No doubt someone had eyes on the pair. She turned her attention to Lute, concern panged her voice, “You should hurry.”
A bit of advice was all that she could offer him now.
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Post by Lute on Jul 19, 2018 10:49:12 GMT -5
"You should hurry," Kuueru warned. Winged demons began to circle overhead. Lute gorged himself with worm meat to the point that it would have put the greatest of gluttons to shame. Eventually, he just stopped tearing at the corpse and stepped back, wiping grease and blood of of his mouth with his good arm. He stumbled away, shoulder gently brushing against Kuueru's. He fell to his knees in the blood soaked soil and grunted from the pain that wracked him. "Scathran's minions," Lute whispered, almost absently. "They won't mess with me without him. They're just here to keep an eye out for what I do next. If you want to get to the mortal realm faster, go bring me one--alive."Lute closed his eyes and clenched his fist. The technique he intended on using was taught by the Dragon Clan of Namek. He despised them for their weakness and hypocrisy, but they did teach useful powers. A few seconds later he levitated off from the ground, curling his legs underneath. It seemed as though he was sitting upon a cushion of air. The accelerated healing trance was not a battle technique. Rather, it was a way for the user to cleanse their body, mind, and spirit. The food in his stomach was the mass of organic material he needed to reinvigorate his muscle fibers and rebuild his form. It required a precision mastery of one's metabolism, and years of training to master. He would stimulate his cell's natural regeneration in controlled bursts all over his body. It wasn't much different than augmenting a voluntary part of the body with ki, such as increasing strength or speed. Few warriors realized that their ki could be used for so much more. Pallid yellow flesh peeled away, bit by bit. It looked as though Lute were a snake shedding its old dead skin. Fresh vibrant green skin took its place. His skeletal form began to swell as his muscles inflated. They remembered their old size and vigor well enough. His broken arm snapped back into rigid place as the bones reset and stitched back together. Steam rose from his skin in long tendrils and his body heated up to the point that the air around him quivered from it. He wasn't ware of his surroundings during this, rather relying on his new found comrade to watch his back. It was mutual, anyhow. He hoped she had run off and grabbed him one of the winged demons. But, he had no way to know until the trance ended. His mind required perfect focus to make the technique work. Perhaps an hour later, Lute ended the trance. He extended his legs out and stood to full, turning around. With the flick of the wrist and a bright flash of magic, he materialized new clothing for himself. His form was veiled by new deep burgundy martial arts gi. He wore flat bottomed cushioned shoes, calves wrapped by thick cloth. A crimson cowl adorned his upper body and a half-mask covered the lower portion of his face. "There, much better. Now we can get to work."
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Post by Queen Kuueru on Jul 20, 2018 9:24:17 GMT -5
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Kuueru couldn’t help but feel unnerved by the looming threat; however, Lute’s words soothed that concern. She shifted towards him, listening as he explained that he was likely followed. The Namekian warrior had to be a certain threat to the demon lord if he has his minions watching their every steps. His strength made her feel a bit safe considering she had a personal bodyguard for her escape to the mortal realm.
“Bring you one? What--? What are you doing?” The demoness hissed before allowing her eyes to shift between him and the winged beasts above. It appeared that the man was attempting to take a nap in the midst of trouble. He seemed sure they would not lash out in his concentrated meditation though. What worried her more is that Lute asked her to retried one of the wild creatures. Kuueru chewed on her lip for a moment as she plotted her ascent and next moves.
“Damn you.” She mumbled towards the distracted man, his bright green visage was slowly revealing itself. She had no time to sit and watch the slug molt; The woman darted through the air, approaching the demons in a blur of speed. She was unsure if the bats would congregate and attack her together, but they seemed weak enough to bend to the knee.
“Alright!” The demon flanked one of the massive creatures, they would easily make a horse from Earth look small beneath their massive wingspan. Her fist pounded into the small head of her enemy, the entire being jerking backwards before falling from the sky limply. It succeeded, but the bats two other companions loomed towards the girl.
“Hnn, are you upset?” Kuueru huffed, her mind passing over the thought of putting forth more effort. Both hands raised towards the enemy, brilliant purple auras radiating from her soft palms. He did only say to bring one, so these two weren’t necessary to the girl. In a quick mercy-filled attack she incinerated the bats and flew down to barely catch the bat that hurled towards the ground. She needed to ensure it was alive, for her companion did not specify.
She properly secured her hunt, tying the creature’s wings and mouth for safety. Kuueru then hulked the massive beast over her shoulder and shuffled towards Lute. He was still mid trance. The woman took a seat with a careful eye on her fresh hunt. Eventually the man would ripple back to life, looking completely dissimilar than before.
“You are a hell of a lot easier to look at now, that’s for sure.” Kuueru mumbled to the man before pointing a finger towards what he requested.
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Post by Lute on Jul 21, 2018 11:00:51 GMT -5
"You are a hell of a lot easier to look at now, that’s for sure." Lute smirked, turning his dark eyes to the bat-like demon that laid in a heap near his feet. The creature was incapacitated, no doubt Kuueru taken care of that. Reaching down, he gripped one wing and turned the creature over so it was on its back. It had a gaunt body, little meat or muscle on clinging to its bones. That meant the demon stood lower in the pecking order. It didn't earn its meals, and was left to nibble at the scraps of its superiors. Such was the way of demons--of true nature. He often mused about how demons lived far more natural lives than a majority of mortals. They understood strength and kept natural order without thinking about it. Demons who proved to have most cunning and power ruled over the lesser ones. They were always scrabbling and climbing to surpass each other. The demon lords needed to keep on their toes and the ones groveling at the bottom were motivated by survival. Mortals believed in foolish notions of peace and prosperity. They took care of the weak degenerates int their societies. From that, it made them weaker as a whole. The gods rewarded those that died with eternal bliss in the heavens. They allowed people to reincarnate and live again--all meaningless lives. Stagnation was the problem with the world as he saw it. Lute didn't hate weakness itself, more so he hated the lack of ambition towards strength. Children were often weak, but they also had unlimited potential. He scorned complacency and accepting of one's position in the world. Reaching down, he slapped the demon's hairy face a few times. It woke with a startled screech and started to slide back with its legs away from Lute. The Namekian raised one boot and brought it down on the demon's neck with just enough force to asphyxiate him. After a second of watching the winged demons's eyes bulge and clawing at Lute's shoe, he let off a bit. "Were is Scathran?""Gak--gah. N-no way I'd tell you." Lute grabbed one wing and pulled. So hard that it began to separate from the demon's shoulder. The demon roared in agony. "I will tear you apart, limb by limb. Or you tell me and I let you go."The demon only grunted so Lute finished the job, tearing the wing off with a sickening rip. He discarded it. The demon's eyes welled with pain and terror. It hissed, growled, and squirmed. Lute pressed his foot down, choking it until nearly the point of passing out again. Then he let up. "F-Fine--ack! He went to Glastgleim, the old place--the dark place." Lute released the demon. It crawled back, blood pumping out of the amputated wing. It got to its feet and ran off as fast as it coud. Lute let it go and faced Kuueru. "Do you know the location he's talking about--this "old place?" If so we can go take his head and get this over with."
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Post by Queen Kuueru on Jul 21, 2018 11:48:28 GMT -5
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Kuueru couldn’t help but notice the smirk on the man’s lips in response to her back-handed compliment. It was most amusing for the demon to interact with another person, it was a scarce interaction for her as of late. Most were scared off by the random fits of energy that she had been manifesting. Waves and waves of clashing forces churned deep within the woman; she was indeed going through an almost puberty like transition. Her moods were all over the place, causing any companions she did have to avoid her like the plague.
Brilliant red hues locked onto the Namekian who appeared to be doing better than an hour prior. He was busy at work attempting to extract information from the enemy she had so graciously furnished. Kuueru couldn’t help but shutter at the sound of ripping flesh as Lute tore the appendage of the demon. He was resilient, but with a simple motion the demon would never fly again. A long talon dug into the woman’s ear as she tried to clear the ringing following the grotesque sounds that were created. Lute had gotten his intel, and the demon was left to scamper off and lick its wounds.
Bored half-lidded eyes focused back on Lute’s face, he could be intimidating when he needed; but he didn’t seem ruthless. He offered mercy to the winged creature instead of just easily slaughtering him like Kuueru did his brethren. Perhaps she was innately fouler due to the demonic blood coursing through her veins. She shrugged the thought, her mind began trying to paint a mental map as soon as Lute asked her if she knew of the ‘old place’.
She had heard of it, Glastgleim. It was a remote ritual ground, hovels of dark energy lingered in the expanse. It manifested the most deranged of demons and underlings from never-ending pits of dark magic. It was a place people only went to die, or look for the worst of trouble. But those who did dare to venture to the lands acquired the immense power of their environment. A normal demon would become thrice as strong merely by breathing the air. She could only think that the lord went there as a refuge, hoping that any power he could muster would keep him alive against Lute. However, the longer you remained in the old place, the more deranged and detached from reality you became. Depending on the time Scrathran had remained there, the more volatile of a demon he could have become.
“I know the place, and if I know it right, we don’t have much time before he moves.” Kuueru warned, most who stayed in the area were forced to leave before their soul was sacrificed to the evil spirits that called Glastgleim home. She bit her lip before raising an arm to the east. Even with their distance the very atmosphere of the looming sky was darker. Normally crimson clouds were mixed with deep charcoals and thunderous clouds. Bouts of lightning danced through the skies. It seemed to be the only storm brewing in the entirety of the realm. Unfortunately, it happened to be their destination.
“About a 10-minute flight from here. If he is still there—we may still have a chance to overpower him.” Her teeth churned against one another before she lifted into the air. Kuueru would lead the way, the environment becoming more chaotic as they drew closer to their target.
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Post by Lute on Jul 21, 2018 14:15:23 GMT -5
"I know the place, and if I know it right, we don't have much time before he moves." Kuueru pointed to the east and Lute gazed upon the brooding clouds that loomed there. Lightning flash and crackled through the roiling formations. Had Lute any hair, it would have stood on end. Instead a cold chill rolled over him as he sensed what lurked there. He felt himself being drawn by a strange magnetism, an allure of power. Sound faded into nothing more than ethereal distortion. His vision of the wastelands of the Demon Realm seemed to peel away in his mind's eye. In its place he saw an the abyss of dark energy, unrestrained and raw. It was a force of nature, a wellspring of pure darkness. It sucked the breath from his lungs and both of his eyes flickered from ebony to crimson for the briefest moment. He took one step and then another, his body pulling itself towards the source before he had any thought to deny it. "--still there—we may still have a chance to overpower him." Not yet. I'm not ready yet, for that.The words she spoke shattered his focus like glass, pulling him back to reality. For a moment he just stared at her with an empty expression on his face. Not that the mask helped much. Scathran was a desperate fool for going the old place. But, Lute had put him in the desperate situation. So, he had to deal with it now. "If he went there for more power, he truly is mad. I think we'll be in for a bigger fight than I first imagined. I'm fine with that. But, I think if we're going to do this together, we need to get to know each other better."Warriors often spoke through action, through movement. You could understand a person and their strengths much better if you crossed proverbial swords with them. Lute could feel Kuueru's strength and wasn't sad about having such a powerful ally at his side. The only thing he didn't know is whether or not she could really fight. He clenched one fist, ki sparking and sputtering around his knuckles. "Let's have a little spar. What do you say?"Lute didn't bother with any more pretense. He doubted a demon needed any reason to fight. The temptation would be enough.
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Post by Queen Kuueru on Jul 22, 2018 8:06:44 GMT -5
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Kuueru wiped the sweat from her brow; Lute had put her through the ringer after their brief intermission and spar. They had exchanged many blows and waves of magic in the ‘friendly’ spar. This was more effort than the woman had put into anything in a long while. She huffed and tried to catch her breath before turning her attention back to the task at hand. If they were to waste anymore time the demon lord could escape scott-free. Kuueru chewed on her lip before motioning towards Lute.
“All right, that was enough fun to hold me over until this other death battle. But man, I need a drink now.” Kuueru complained, though she really appreciated the quick spar and how it helped her understand the foundations of battle. The young demon was brash, her thoughts scattered during a time when they shouldn’t be. Her body lifted off of the ground and she began to pave the way towards the danger that loomed in the distance.
Thick waves of demonic smells and horrors filled the nares of any who dared enter the realm of demons. It wasn’t a 5-star place to live that was for sure. Most spent their time doing horrible things or not having a care in the world. No one was proactively or innately good, unless it benefitted themselves.
“We should be there shortly, I hope you’re ready for some internal dialogue.” She joked, but was entirely serious in her advise. The very spirits in this place would speak to you, drawing you in with the ideals of ultimate power only to take the life from your bones. She did not know Lute well enough to judge how long he could endure in the old place.
Loud rumbles of thunder and brilliant red lightning bolts seemed mere feet over their head. The woman had to adjust her altitude to avoid becoming barbeque. Eventually multitudes of tombs and graveyards came into view. It looked as if millions of demons had been killed and re-summoned in this very spot. And towards the middle a mega-mausoleum crowned the old place’s center. That was their best bet of finding the enemy.
“That is probably our mark Lute. Let’s carry caution from here on out. Expect anything.” Kuueru spoke with concern. She did not care much what happened to Lute, but it would be unfortunate if her way out of this hell was murdered before she had the opportunity to escape. She would do what she could to keep the pair alive, even if that meant standing against one of her own people. She held no sympathies towards the others in this realm however, they never cared for her existence; why should she theirs?
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Post by Lute on Jul 22, 2018 11:17:30 GMT -5
"All right, that was enough fun to hold me over until this other death battle. But man, I need a drink now." Lute wasn't disappointed at all with the results of their little bout. Kuueru was a wild fighter with little refinement, but she had massive power and great potential. He couldn't complain about that. He knew her strengths and how to best direct her to act if need be. "Wait--"She started to fly off, but he rested a hand on her shoulder. It took a few brief seconds. They had been sparring so their wounds were superficial. Still, an injury was a weakness waiting to be exposed. Warmth flooded over her and with it came with the kinetic tingle rejuvenating energy. Her cuts, scrapes, and burns would all be sealed up within an instant. They both took off into the sky and as Lute followed Kuueru, he healed himself as well. "We should be there shortly, I hope you’re ready for some internal dialogue." As they entered the swirling maelstrom that churned overhead of Glastgleim, Lute could feel a tug at the back of his mind. The darkness called out to him, it wanted to offer and deal. But, he silenced the distraction in an instant. It was a skill since he spent most of his early life meditating. It let him be in full control of his mind, even if temptation was there. Glorious temptation.Glastgleim was definitely the Old Place, a wicked broken ruin. It reminded him of a macabre graveyard, with broken pillars and headstones rising up across the plain. Did demons once bury their dead here? Were such sentimental feelings even a real thing for them? Or was this the fragment of some world, broken and transported here by whimsical magic? Truly, its origins were a mystery. There were great keeps and fortresses of demon lords scatted all across the Demon Realm. But, nothing like this. "That is probably our mark Lute. Let's carry caution from here on out. Expect anything." "I can feel him. He's desperate for power. I doubt he can handle what's here, what's being offered. This darkness would take a strong soul to contain. No doubt he'll be out of his mind, so we need to proceed with caution."The core of the Old Place was a palace like building, or perhaps a mausoleum. Scathran's presence poured forth from it like an insidious stench. Not that Lute could smell him, but the way his aura felt was similar to inhaling the rot garbage. It was gross and malignant. Lute stopped his flight over to the top of the massive structure. After a second of contemplation, he let himself drop down like missile. He broke straight through the roof, shattering stone and scattering roofing tiles. He landed inside of the main hall, where he felt Scathran's aura and landed onto one knee, his cape pooling behind him. Three large naked ogres with various skin engravings and brands stood shirtless, arms raised into air. Black lighting flickered across the ceiling and walls. Scathran stood in the center of a churning cocoon, veiled in darkness. This was some sort of ritual. No doubt he had bid for power and was now receiving it. Lute wondered the price. "I knew you would be coming mortal," Scathran roared out. His voice reverberated as though there were dozens of lesser voices within it, a veritable chorus. "Looks like you brought a friend. This thing--this abomination. I heard about her." Lute glanced back to Kuueru. He didn't know she had such a reputation among demon lords. His attention was brought back to the ritual when he felt a spike of power. A spiderweb of cracks burrowed across the floor, which moments prior had held an intricate mural. Now marred, Lute couldn't appreciate its beauty. "Take out those ogres. I'll handle Scathran for now."
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Post by Queen Kuueru on Jul 23, 2018 16:40:35 GMT -5
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Kuueru was eager to get the task finished, but it seemed that Lute had other plans. With a steady hand he tugged her frame back towards the earth like gravity. Soon a warmth radiated from her inner being, it contrasted the coldness in her skin greatly. She shivered and looked as the cuts upon her knuckles healed over miraculously. She wasn’t aware such a power existed, but the Namekian’s were strange ones--who knew what else she could learn from him. Her eyes lit up with excitement, and minutes later they were hurling through the air towards their demis----destination.
As they drew closer the demon could sense a shift within Lute, were the dark souls were tempting him already? She had personally never been to this ‘Old Place’--however, it would be interesting to see how it impacted herself as well. Lute spoke of their enemy and the power that lurked within this odd dwelling. The words used to describe the energies were similar to someone admiring an idol. Lute appeared as if the very temptation was affecting him now.
The viridian man moved on, hovering precariously over the main building that smelled of decay. She followed cautiously while watching his next moves. Insanely the man became a bullet tearing through the precious glasses that panned the structure. Kuueru quickly slipped down the newly formed entrance and met her partner in the most unfortunate of situations. Not only did they find their demon lord, but his ogre orgy club too.
"Looks like you brought a friend. This thing--this abomination. I heard about her."
Kuueru’s eyes damn near rolled out of her gray head. She shot the cocooned creature a snarl before composing her usual and wild fighting stance. Analytical eyes shifted between all of the targets before Lute’s voice rang clear with direction. He had unfinished business, at least he was kind enough to leave her some entertainment.
“All right big boys, let’s play ball.” The demoness shouted while a spare ogre dug around in his naval. That only caused a struggled sound to escape Kuueru’s lips as she avoided gagging. Like earlier an ice-riddled whip formed within her grasp. She whipped around the sub-zero chain hooking it around the forearm of one of the ogres before forcing it to the ground. The rotund giant fought, but after a moment his movements slowed to a sudden stop. She moved quickly with nimble footwork; any gaps she could transverse quickly with ease. From her free hand claws of blue energy radiated, she impaled the ogre she had tamed, his very skin turning blue and cold.
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