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Post by Tora on Dec 2, 2018 13:20:33 GMT -5
Tora closed his eyes for a second, ashamed with himself. He was standing in the center of his ruined dojo, it in even worse condition than when he was a boy. Even then it was aged; But before it was like a fine wine. Now, everything was rotten. Literally. The floors peeled up from the wear and tear of the rainwater, the scrolls hanging from the wall were yellowed and decaying. The Tiger of Earth had let himself lose track of everything, giving into his natural feral tendencies. He had failed to slow down enough to properly pay attention to what was around him. The martial artist shook his head, dismayed. He had been on a losing streak- against aliens, and otherwise supernatural creatures. Things he had yet to fight before. Sure, he had bested another human martial artist but the beings he had met made him question if any Earthlings were even strong enough to stand up against these other lifeforms.
The youth growled, unleashing a few slashing strikes on the nearby beam. The rest of the roof caved in, and Tora laughed as it pierced through the rotten floorboards; How dismayed his old master would be in him. The very frustration of it made him want to leave this island, and never return. He recalled the way his parents had died here. At a young age the fragile nature of man had been revealed to him; He vowed to never again be fragile. Able to be broken. That was why he had sought out instruction from the old Tiger whose namesake he now shared. Tora had actively forgotten his old name. There was no point in remembering the small life he had before.
Now he lived for one thing- to live, fight, and die by his martial art style. His master had imparted him with skills, knowledge, and potential. These could be honed. If Tora could just push himself a few steps further, he may be able to delve into the intricacies of his fighting style. Against Kamui he had realized he was not the only fighter with a style that could manipulate the flow of another beings’ ki by striking certain points on a person’s body. Not only that, Kamui had revealed himself capable of discerning these points on varying species’, Tora included. The speed he was capable of was also incredibly alarming. It seemed as though he could step through time itself with to strike- perhaps there was merit to such a statement.
Tora didn’t care for such tricks. If he could push himself even further physically, if he could just attain a few more techniques the scale of the fight could change. However, the Tiger of Earth was worried about something else. It was gnawing at him, much like a tiger would its' prey. In great bites from formidable teeth. Kamui had said something that Tora couldn't quite shake. With a hint of mystery behind his voice when introducing himself, Kamui had said this:
“Kamui Solaris, Lieutenant from Crusher Corps, part of the Kabochan Confederacy, although I wouldn't expect you to know of that yet. But, you will soon.”
It was a vague enough implication made without one. Tora didn't understand it. But, he knew something was amiss. A faction called the 'Crusher Corps' didn't exactly translate to a peaceful organization. The concept of crushing something was very straight forward. Synonymous, Tora stepped on a small beetle as he quickly left the dojo, halting his training for a moment. The youth had tried looking into the Kabochan Confederacy- he learned of their Emperor, Carambolis. To some he was described a golden beacon of hope, descended from space in a flagship that could facilitate as a small planet. To others..?
He had the makings of a conqueror. The Confederacy represented a direct threat to the independence of Earth in the opinion of some of the Earthlings. Tora had done some reading in his research and trips to the city; The only thing he had come up with was inconclusive. Lately, too, he had been feeling something dark on the horizons. A malevolent energy emanating menacingly from a nearby island; It was called 'Bunbuku Island.' Tora knew of it- not well, but he had been told. His master had warned him of the island. Told him the volcano itself was dangerous; Beyond that, Tora had also been hearing of strange happenings from some of the fishermen who frequented his little island dojo. They would bring him loads of fish, Tora would trade in dinosaur steaks...
That was beyond the point. There were many things happening in this world. Tora had to check the ones that may threaten him more immediately; He had sensed a few battles happening nearby in recent days, and chose to take to the air, still a little nervous from the beetle he had stepped on earlier. Things like that tended to be a bad omen. The youthful martial artist prayed it wouldn't be a precursor for the Earth. Humans tended to be weaker than most species. Tora always felt at a disadvantage against the creatures he encountered, both alien and supernatural.
In this moment, however, he remembered a particular story a fisherman had told him. Of why they no longer fished near Bunbuku. One day, an old man by the name of Koyn had gone fishing off the shores of the island. All day he caught nothing; Until night. Then, he began pulling in an incredible haul. Strangely enough, however, these fish were massive! Oversized! Withdrawing a light from his bag, they would be revealed to be too good to be true. The fish were oversized and grotesque, twisted and massive. In fear the old man threw them overboard, fleeing from the island.
This was so close to his own home that Tora couldn't help but feel the need to see exactly what was happening. The story sounded surreal, but Koyn wasn't a liar. The old man had been on the sea for longer than any other man he had known, and had seen many strange things. But each time he had always been right. For once, Tora hoped he was wrong. As he made his way to the shores of the Volcanic island, he knew something was amiss.
A terrible, tremendous power emanated from the center of the island and Tora knew he would have to do the foolhardy thing. He made his way towards it, grinning wildly. “Why do I feel like this is gonna end with bruises for me again?” he asked himself, snickering. As he looked around he saw that even the wildlife had started to change and mutate from the strange energy of the island.
This was all too suspicious.
(1124 words)
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2018 15:20:06 GMT -5
Amatricina had come to enjoy her island paradise. Bunbuku Island, the Mark I machine had called it when they met. She did not know its name prior to her encounter with the towering titan of metal and circuitry. But the mechanical mind of the Mark I had retrieved much knowledge from the earth's electronic databases, filling in quite a few gaps in the demon's knowledge of the planet. Her island had once been the site of a great battle, where power warriors and even Super Saiyans had fought against an evil being from centuries ago. Whatever the outcome of their battle had been, it seemed good had triumphed. The evil had clearly failed in whatever its ambitions were, and the Destron Gas Machine it had erected on the island was destroyed. However, its corruption remained, slowly poisoning the land and soil. The planets of the isle grew wicked and spiteful, poisonous and covered in barbs and thorns. The animals that ate them in turn, grew to be larger and fiercer with each generation. And the predators that preyed on those animals and feasted on their tainted flesh in turn also grew more violent and powerful. It was a vicious and intoxicating cycle of life and death. One the demoness quite enjoyed. As the demoness' power grew, so did the malevolence that radiated from her very aura. It was almost impossible to fully contain these days. Her demonic ki could be suppressed, that much was easy. But Amatricina had absorbed centuries worth of Destron Gas with the assistance of the Mark I, who had rebuilt the ruined gas machine on her isle for one finish demonstration before it broke forever. The inky black haze was intoxicating to the demon, she'd greedily drawn it into her very being and made it her own. It was now her Destron Miasma, a corrupting black smoke that wafted out from under her cloak or seeped from her lips in a nightmarish miasma. Her very footsteps wilted plants, and the incredible heat her body radiated made standing in close proximity to the Fire Demon like walking into an oven. And this was merely her 'normal' state. She could suppress herself further, all to the way back down to resume her earthling guise the demoness had cast off since she had last met with the other ranking members of the Crusher Corps. But it was a mortal folly to master weakness, why suppress when you could empower? The demon's goals at present were focused solely on enhancing her newly realized strengths and further mastering her deadly black magic. And enhance them she did, regularly meditating deep within the molten depths of Poco Poco volcano beneath a roiling lake of bubbling magma. Just as her father had his children do on Monsigneus, from the day they learned to fly until the day the fires of life reclaimed him. Only through intense concentration, meditation, and exertion could true mastery of demonic powers come. It was not a power that was trained with brute force or mindless exercise. And train she had, almost every waking moment not spent eating or sleeping was spent further honing her body's might. Save for when the demon was needed in the presence of her Emperor. At present Amatricina sat in the center of a large clearing atop a rolling hill. The same site she had purged the Knight of Manus, Sir Gallius of the corruption that plagued his soul. She regretted that decision, spitefully thinking back on the ritual. These stone obelisks she'd erected till looming flawless and proud at the five corners, a pentagram drawn between them in now hardened lava. The demon sat on the raised stone dais in the center of the alter, crunching on the limb of a deer she had slain. The beast's large thigh and leg held in her hand by the creature's femur. Stripped of fur, seared to perfection by hellfire, the perfect midday meal for the Fire Demon. She crewed slowly, savoring the succulent meat of the deer. It was a bit gamey, but Amatricina could hardly complain. Fresh red meat was her primary food source, and she greatly preferred the native beasts of her isle to the earthling fishermen that wandered too close to her shores. Those tasted foul, their bodies polluted by a lifetime of bad decisions and copious drinking and smoking. She'd incinerate them and their vessels for their insolent taste even in death. Behind the Demon Lord, hungrily swallowing several slain deer and a wild boar in greedy ravenous bites, was her newest creation. Tyrant she had named him, the largest bull male of the giant species of predatory reptiles that lived among the island chains. He had been a fearsome beast, with the gall to challenge Amatricina for dominion of her isle. She had taken an affectionate stance with the behemoth, finding a little of herself in the prideful beast. Repairing his injured body with demonic ki, and infusing the Tyrannosaur with Dark Energy, she had mutated the creature into a more fearsome and corrupted version of his kind. Larger, stronger, and more intelligent than his kin, Tyrant could communicate with the demoness when she telepathically linked her thoughts with his own. His intellect was still simple, childlike, often replying in one or two word commands.  Tyrant lay on his belly, coiled around the dais with his spiked tail almost wrapping around back to his snout. He chewed at his meal like a dog chews at his favored bone. Bones easily snapping in pieces as huge dagger like teeth ripped great hunks of flesh from the preys' carcasses. Amatricina ate with more refinement and dignity, taking ladylike bites and actually enjoying her meal rather than swallow it greedily. As she sat cross legged she reflected on the nature of her isle. She had originally chosen it purely for its remoteness. But it seemed to be a popular place as any, entirely due to her presence and the strange nature of the isle. It was somewhat irksome, but it did keep things lively. She had almost grown fond of her last unwelcomed visitor. A young witch by the name of Lilith Nevermore. The two held a shared fascination with magic, and a similar darkness to their souls. Other guests had been... less welcome. Most notably the Mark I, whom Amatricina had been inches from pummeling into the ground on several occasions. Amatricina suddenly felt something, a flickering power level not too distant away. Tyrant raised his huge head, sniffing the air and looking about eagerly. The devilsaur didn't understand ki in the slightest, but its keen senses had been enhanced by its rebirth as a demonic chimera. It could sense things beyond its primal grasp before. The demoness turned her head, looking at the creature beside her. "I can sense it too, Tyrant." She said simply, knowing the beast didn't fully understand spoken words. Amatricina could only communicate directly with the corrupted tyrannosaur telepathically, though it had quickly learned tone and inflection in her words. "Intruder..." She stated simply, not lifting a finger as she did. It nodded its huge head slightly, then opened its cavernous maw to let out a deafening roar that shook the trees and sent birds fleeing to the skies by the flock. A defiant, challenging roar. One honed from decades of defending its territory at the base of the mountain from would be rivals. Amatricina simply grinned, her aura flaring as her Dark Miasma began to radiate around her like an inky cloud of hazy black smoke. "We wait, Tyrant." She commanded her pet mentally, before resuming her meal in relative silence. Amatricina the Avaricious had no reason to treat with her guests, not while she had not yet finished her morning meal.
Word Count: 1,301 Tora |
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Player Character🔹
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Post by Tora on Dec 2, 2018 23:32:12 GMT -5
The land was corrupted. Vile. Malformed; Malevolent. Nourished with blighted soil, even the vegetation look disturbing. Tora continued through the foliage, not even bothering to hide his powerlevel. The one he sensed was ominous and foreboding. Formidable, even. However; Tora had no fear anymore. The close he got to the source of strength, the less scared he felt. He felt...
Excited. Tora's blood began pumping through his veins as he eyed the tarnished landscape. However, Tora paused when he smelled it. Carnage. Gore. Something had spilled blood and it was close; Tora was reminded of his parents' demise every time he smelled blood. He had been painted in it, covered from head to toe as a vicious tyrannosaurus tore his family limb from limb. Tora remembered the image of his old master, his namesake properly. Tora made his way up a rolling hill, coming across a strange clearing. What was in the center of it was even more strange; It jarred him from his focus.
A mutated, horrible looking Tyrannosaurus. Like the one from his nightmares as a boy. Nearby? A woman emanating a twisted miasma, perhaps the source of corruption for this island. She seemed to be eating an actual deer leg. Brutal. Tora approached her, ignoring the fear he should probably feel. This par was nightmarish to say in the least. Downright demonic.
Not to mention, this whole place felt evil. The flow of energy through the Earth itself was disrupted, similar to the way a body's flow of ki could be disrupted. Once again Tora thought of Kamui and the way the fighter had debilitated him- he couldn't help but feel an eerily similar trait shared between the land here and a body with detriments to its' ki. The strange woman's aura was similar to ink; He imagined it sprawled on a page into a sketch, stretching out from her relaxed form.
The corrupted dinosaur was not so calm. It gnashed it's teeth in frustation as Tora approached; The youthful martial artist did not shirk away. Tora no Seishin, the Tiger Spirit was raised battling creatures such as this. Mutated or not, it was nothing more than the same creature as the one that had killed his parents. Of the same species. He was reminded of the martial artist Rex Dactyl, and grinned from ear to ear, laughing as he introduced himself:
“I am Tora. Tora no Seishin- the Roaring Tiger Spirit of Earth. I live on an island not far from here; Tale of this place's corruption has spread to my ears. I am no guardian, nor am I a protector. I'm here out of interest. I can see your corrupted visage, and I can tell that the flow of energy through your body is... Erratic, to say the least. Would you, per chance, call your beast off?” he eyed the dinosaur, his muscles taut, prepared to react. Tora would not be caught off guard by such a vile creature. They had slaughtered his entire lineage; He would not be lost to them. Especially not one empowered with such malevolent energy.
“Nature itself is twisted here. Surely you're not the cause of this?” he asked, raising an inquisitive eyebrow. “Who am I speaking with? I have introduced myself respectfully, and would request the same from you.”
In the past, Tora may have been more abrupt. Confident. He may have misstepped and been boisterous, hot-headed, or otherwise overconfident. Right now he knew that this situation could become much worse. If the giant creature to the woman's side chose to attack, it'd be difficult. If the woman decided to...
She emitted a fog. A thick, smokey pungent and decrepit mist that reminded Tora of death. Tora had never pictured the grim reaper as a man, nor had he seen him as a skeleton. In fact, this bestial woman was more of a depiction of death than any other image he had conjured in his own head. Upon examination, he could tell that the grass near her seat had turned yellow- quite recently. It was still wet; Just dead. Not even dried. It was sickening to see; Her presence was parasitic. In fact, if Tora wasn't careful he was quite sure it could effect him at a moment's notice. This was not like his martial art, or Kamui's assassination techniques. This was something far more sinister.
It was magic. Tora knew of it; He had been told of it by his master. He had seen it firsthand when he had assimilated his master's own spirit into his own. In fact, in his battle against Kuueru he had noted some aspects of her strength to something different than his own. However, never before had he seen it up close. So powerful and intense, it reeked of pain. She seemed oddly relaxed, however. That was why Tora had felt confidence in approaching her. In his time, he had learned to never judge a book by its' cover.
Especially a woman. For Tora particularly women were hard to read. He had few experiences with them, and wasn't flirtatious by nature. He liked them, definitely. But all he could ever do was brag in front of them. The Tiger of Earth wasn't known for his disposition to easy conversation. Rants and tirades tended to follow dramatic expositions into his past. Tora hoped he could avoid his usual pitfalls. This creature seemed to be more than just a woman. However, to combine a supernatural spirit with the form of a woman?!
Clearly this being was formidable. Tora gulped, remembering again the severity of which Kuueru had defeated him. Something about this being seemed even more lethal. A flower to the right of his left foot had bloomed, despite the landscape. Tora picked it from the ground, its' beautiful petals tinged with a yellow hue. Approaching the demoness, Tora intended to give it to her in peace offering- it wilted in his hand as he stepped within her general radius.
There goes that idea. Damn.
“That, uh... Didn't go so well. They say get a girl flowers- I didn't expect... Nevermind.”
(1016 words)
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2018 1:31:57 GMT -5
When the mortal approached her, boldly she might add, Amatricina could only raise an eyebrow slowly as she watched him. Still chewing a bite slowly, she did not stir. Tyrant growled loudly, a low rumbling sound that came from deep in his throat. His malicious yellow eyes watched the intruder keenly, then glanced back at his master. She did not stir, and so the king tyrant lizard reluctantly did not rise to challenge this invader upon his territory. Amatricina had felt the earthling before her's energy as he arrived on the island. He was powerful, incredibly so by Earthling standards it would seem. His strength vastly exceeded the young witch Lilith Nevermore, Commander Joshua of Venus, or even the half-Saiyan Gurki who lived in the frozen north. Amatricina briefly wondered if this warrior was the strongest of his kind, sent to challenge her and drive her demonic presence from his world. She scoffed mentally at the notion, powerful as he may be, the demon knew she could easily best him even without even needing to ascend to her Darkness Demon form. That power was too resplendent for such a lowly warrior to behold, even if he was among the strongest of his race. As the mortal warrior approached her ritual site, he opened his mouth to speak. Bold, addressing a Demon Lord without first bowing your head or kneeling in a show of submission or respect. Amatricina had long given up on the hope these mortals knew common courtesy when addressing their betters, and she had no desire to beat that lesson into them one at a time. As the man spoke the demoness swallowed her latest bite of seared meat, she would not feast more in the presence of others. With the flick of a wrist she tossed the limb into the air behind her, to which her corrupted beast of a pet snapped out a long forked tongue. It wrapped around the limb, pulling it back into its hungry maw where it was swallowed in one large gulp. Amatricina's infusion of demonic ki into the living fossil had created some... noteworthy changes in Tyrant. Most notable was his ability to breath hellfire, as her clan could. "Ruinous." The Demon Lord corrected this, Tora no Seishin as he called himself. "My Dark Energy is ruinous power incarnate. My demonic ki is the antithesis of the divine." As she spoke Amatricina did not so much as move a muscle. She remained resolute where they had been before the stranger's arrival. The very air on the isle seemed to grow cold and still, the jungles growing deathly quiet as if the very creatures that called this land home were hiding or waiting in suspense. Amatricina slowly uncrossed her legs, rising in one fluid motion to her feet. Tyrant saw this as a hint the two were preparing an attack on this intruder, and also began to rise to his feet. As the behemoth began to stir, Amatricina placed an armored hand on his snout, coaxing him to remain lying on his belly. "Heel." She commanded her pet mentally, speaking to the tyrannosaur telepathically though her expression did not change as her fiery red eyes met the earthling's gaze. "But... Intruder?" Tyrant replied mentally, confused as its eyes darted questioningly from its master to its foe. "Kill?" It asked again, its preferred course of action. "No, Tyrant." Amatricina mentally replied, irritated at her pet's bullheadedness. Still, the reptile had never known anything but aggression for those not of its kind. Subservience brought with it many new experiences for the beast. It must be taught, and it must learn to obey without question. "You will wait." She added harshly. The tyrannosaur snapped its jaws one last time in a display of feigned aggression, before lowering itself again to rest on its belly. It continued to growl, though Amatricina's hand began to slowly dig into its snout until it drew blood. The massive creature then ceased, growing silent save for the heavy sound of its breathing. As the demon pulled her hand away, trusting her beast to remain in submission, the wounds her talons dug closed instantly. The heated blood that flowed from the wounds burning away like cinders as the puncture wounds sealed closed from the malevolent energies that now flowed in the creature's veins. "Intruder... friend?" The beast asked again through its roaring mental thoughts, confused by the situation. "No Tyrant." Came its master's cold reply. "Intruder... Enemy?" The only logical conclusion then for the simple minded beast. "Perhaps." Amatricina replied simply, leaving it at that and severing their mental link as she deigned to continue this discussion in the presence of the stranger. Amatricina's gaze narrowed, her brow furrowed in agitation as she looked upon the man that stood before her presence. "Bold of you to command a Demon Lord with a request. Be glad I am in a good mood, Mortal." The demoness said coldly, taking a single step forward and folding her arms crossed beneath her massive bust. "Tyrant is heeled, he will not harm you. Though he is the least of your concerns." With that the demon began to slowly reabsorb her Destron Miasma, as not to suffocate the mortal with its caustic, noxious presence. Though it smelled heavenly to her, and she loved emanating such a malicious miasma from her being, it was problematic when dealing with beings not acclimated to such a radiant display of demonic power. Amatricina inhaled sharply through her nose, breathing in a last lungful of the wondrous black substance before tensing her muscles. The miasma she had not inhaled flowed under her long great cloak, seemingly vanishing into a black void beneath it or becoming part of her demonic ki aura. With the Destron Miasma withdrawn, Amatricina could see the warrior breath easier, the air in his lungs less polluted by its corrupting effects. "Tora no Seishin- the Roaring Tiger Spirit of Earth." The demon said plainly, repeating the warrior's full name and titles. "You address Amatricina the Avaricious, Eldest Daughter of the late Lord Tartaros, Warlord of the Fire Demon Clan. Indeed, you are among the first of your kind to speak to me with a modicum of the respect I deserve. For that, consider yourself in my good graces." It was true, many mortals she'd met were outright hostile to the demon upon learning her true identity. Few of those beings yet counted themselves among the living. Others simply lacked proper manners, and it was clearly formalities and courtesies were not part of the mortal cultures' upbringing for their children. It made simple conversation loathsome to the demon. Her vast pride balked at the idea of speaking without the proper formalities of one of her station. Amatricina smiled, shaking her head slowly. "Much as I wish I could take credit for this glorious slab of rock, I cannot. I am merely a hand guiding the latest stages of this isle's ascension. The effects began some five hundred years ago, in a battle before you or your distant ancestors were born. That battle left a powerful, malevolent gas fueled by the Power of Hatred seeping into the soil of this island. Over the centuries it has made the native creatures ever more formidable, and for that I am appreciative of such beauty. My own tinkering..." The demon glanced back proudly towards her behemoth creation, a chimera born of destron gas mutated dinosaur and demonic energies. "Is much more refined, though I consider Tyrant alone to be worthy of my gifts. The rest of this isle's creatures, are merely enjoyable curiosities to me."As the demon spoke she felt out with her magics, probing and sensing the nature of the mortal man's very soul. Feeling the whatever darkness lurked in his heart. Sensing the very sin that plagued his soul. The greatest among them was pride, pride in what Amatricina could not tell without forcibly burrowing into his memories. That was a violent ugly psychic process, and she deigned to do it as she had with the Mark I. That had been a special case. Amatricina cared little why the warrior was proud. Perhaps it was his strength, or his station, or his purpose. Regardless, it was the fact he held such pride that mattered most. Pride was after all, the first sin, and the greatest among them. It deserved to be the foremost as it was within the Fire Demon. Again, this earthling had unknowingly found himself one step closer to landing in the demon's good graces. The demoness watched with mild curiosity as this Tora plucked a flower, one of the view strong enough to survive the island's polluted soil unscathed by Destron corruption. He walked ever closer, as if he intended to give it to the demon as a gift. The flower could withstand the trace amounts of the nightmarish black gas in the soil, the sheer concentration that the demon radiated was beyond its fragile capabilities. It wilted, as the weak do before the strong. Nonetheless, Amatricina appreciated the gesture, what with offering the Demon Lord a gift of beauty. Though she preferred gold, gems, and works of art to simple flowers. As the warrior stammered out his reply, the gentle tug of telepathy pulled at the wilted flower. It lifted it gently from his hand, bringing it close to the demon so she may inspect it. Amatricina smiled softly, inspecting the dying plant as she held it aloft above an armored gauntlet. "I appreciate the sentiment." She stated simply, eyes focused on the flower. "But you should have left it to thrive, or perish on its own accord. Just as the Kais should have left my kind alone, rather than locking us away down in the black prison that is our Demon Realm." Amatricina's hand crackled with arcane power, demonic black lightning surging around her gilded crimson gauntlet. The Demon's eyes shimmered brightly with a fiery light as she summoned her dark magics. The pedals of the flowers burned away in an instant, cinders drifting into the wind before catching in the air and turning a sinister black color. As if time reversed, they reversed directions, returning to the flower and reforging it anew. Amatricina smiled softly as she worked, gently moving one hand around the flower coaxing her magics into it in small portions as the other hand grasped it firmly by the step. The flower began to glow bright, as if made of flames before once more the hellfire within it diminished to nothing. When finished the flower was now a luscious black rose with a thorny crimson stem. Amatricina held the rose lovingly in her hand, eyes inspecting its flawless new form. "But..." The demoness said with a longing sigh. "There is beauty in even the darkest of places. Those with the strength and the will can shape the very universe into their image. Just as my distant ancestors shaped the black abyss at the bottom of the universe into our beloved Demon Realm." Amatricina let go of the flower, holding it aloft with her telepathy as it was slowly lowered into the ground besides her dais. It quickly took to the soul, blooming wide and looking positively rejuvenated by the soil beneath its fast growing roots. The Demon Lord turned her fiery gaze back upon Tora, the brief glimmer of warmth in her expression quickly fading. "Now. Roaring Tiger, Tora no Seishin. What is it that has brought you to my isle? Do you wish to challenge me? If so, I grant you this one chance to leave immediately of your own accord. Otherwise it will be your bones I feast on for the rest of my meal."
Word Count: 1,966 Total Word Count: 3,267 Tora |
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Post by Tora on Dec 4, 2018 2:06:01 GMT -5
Tora listened intently as Amatracine spoke, eyeing the behemoth who with predatory intent returned his inquisitive glance. The Tiger of Earth actually enjoyed her tone of voice. If she didn't emanate death itself, she would've been nice to talk to. Still, Tora knew one thing. He should not judge the creature; It seemed blasphemous to even share oxygen with her, yet some part of her seemed... Refined. All-knowing. Yet, his master's warnings of dark dealings echoed in his head. Tora knew that creatures such as this had ulterior motives.
He thought for a moment on what she had said. The tales she had told her were beyond mortal comprehension- yet, as he sat there and listened he understood. If she had appeared any different, he would've doubted her. But here mere presence and power alone spoke volumes of her capabilities. Tora felt fear for a moment as he realized the proximity his island held to her own; Her magic could reach out and corrupt the reptilian life that still dwelled on his small stretch of land. Even worse-
It could corrupt the tiger population. If her magic touched on the general populace of the rare tiger, the already massive tigers would gain more power. The island would go from a place of wonder to a place of horror. Creatures as majestic as the tiger have always garnered attention. Perhaps that was why Tora coveted attention so. He bowed to her, gracefully, apologizing for his intrusion. Then he began to speak:
“You have given me great insight into the history of your kind, and your species. I apologize. My species is far more fractured in ideals than your own, and I'm rather different than most. To start, I suppose I should give you some history. You told me to leave- threatened to eat me. I find that humorous.”
As Tora spoke, a toothy and rather feral grin sprawled across his visage as he brushed his oddly-colored blue hair out of his eyes. The martial artist then continued his tirade:
“In times of feudalism, human Lords would hunt the Tiger. Why, you ask? The flesh. Not for its' taste. Nor for it being commonplace. The only benefit of eating a Tiger, to them, was the strength. You live on this planet- surely you've seen a tiger hunt. You employ such a brutish creature...” he said, gesturing to the monstrosity. It served as a reminder of his parents brutal demise. He rarely thought of his life before his training, but this creature ripped him out of the state he found himself in. It was as if it existed like one of his nightmares. He couldn't escape the image of it even when he closed his eyes, as he saw his parents being eviscerated again and again.
“My island is close. Very, very close. In fact, any creature of substantial strength would find it effortless to commute between us. Any creature of less than substantial strength would find it downright easy. Do you understand? I'm not here to threaten you- nor am I here with intentions of a fight. I'm curious.”
As he said this, he sat cross-legged, his curiosity piqued. This 'Demon Lord' had taken up residence on Earth. She also had rather effortlessly found herself comfortable. It was as if she belonged here. If Tora didn't think twice, he may just drop his guard. Fortunately, he imagined his master there alongside him. Often he yearned for this. In his first few fights the comfort of the old tiger had made combat bearable. As of late, the weight of fighting seemed heavy. He knew it was out of his control, however. He had been raised for the purpose. Years ago he had died, brutally murdered alongside his parents.
Now, Tora really couldn't help but exist for the sake of it. “I imagine you've had quite a few battles over here...” he said, taking in the landscape yet again. It's blighted nature didn't do much to distract from it's battle weary state. “In truth, I came here in a moment of frustration. I've heard tales of this island, and I believed them to be true but I never anticipated the scope of what was truly going on here. To think, a woman of your stature existed in such a place- I couldn't imagine what it must feel like. Amatracina the avaricious, the daughter of a warlord. Bizarre, I must say. What you're doing here I must wonder- other than the obvious. Living is no crime. If you're really a demon as you say, than I imagine the heat from that volcano in the distance is rather homely. I apologize if I'm abrupt. It's in my nature. I was raised on that nearby island...”
The Tiger of Earth thought about the island he called home and looked at the foliage around him. It was either withered and dead, or corrupted like the flower he had given the demoness. Tora had been testing something when he had done that on top of trying to establish a physical connection- he now understood that not only did her miasma have an incredible range, she could manipulate it. This went beyond martial arts.
This was real, bonafide magic. Tora grinned. His master had told him of magic before. In fact, the old Tiger Spirit that was his namesake had a tendency to rant about it. It's potency. It's dangers. It's chaotic nature. Tora himself had always failed to understand it. His few interactions with magic users had left him questioning their talent. In this moment, however, he couldn't help but accept the real situation that was in front of him. This was a real Demon. Which meant her explanation of her race may be true. Which meant her kind may have been imprisoned by some sort of God-class race.
Which meant that humans just got put even lower on the grand scale. It felt like a blow to Tora's pride. Unlike most who suffered from his defect, however, Tora could question himself. The core tenet of the Tiger style was introspection. He was told this as a boy in response to his parent's death:
'Lick your wounds, child. A hunter has no time for tears. Spend your time immersed in the logic of ferocity.'
“All I hope is that you understand the value of the ecosystem of my small island. The tigers there have fought for years and grown strong off the hide of their reptilian foe. Now they've grown to match the size of your little pet there- but if it was changed? Mutated in such a way... I fear the worst. To think, I left home today frustrated about the dealings of an intergalactic Emperor of some 'Crusher Corps'. That accursed Kamui had left me reeling from my last fight... Now here I am, face to face with Demonic royalty. This has not been a simple week by any means.”
Tora said this, nodding his head in affirmation. It had been a rough week indeed. It was as if fate itself desired him to struggle against unbelievable odds. His mortality had been made apparent. A few losses is nothing for a warrior- but for a martial artist, who valued technique above all else? It made him question the very motivation he had for living. Just what was a human being worth? Anything? He had met so many weaklings. In the strength he had, he had felt divine.
Now here he was, supposedly speaking with the antithesis of divinity. God-like strength was not something he had acquired. Not even close. Despite surpassing many of the Turtle-style users of old, Tora had done nothing to prove his style superior. Nor had he surpassed the prodigious teachings of the Crane Style. Tales of him were not woven for his wisdom. Tora was truly nothing. That notion was humbling in itself. He continued his contemplation as he stared at Amatracina and her pet Tyrannosaurus.
“I simply wish for understanding. I have had some fishermen come to me in fear of their life from the corrupted ocean life they have harvested. Being men of the sea they are dependent on the ecosystem- and its' a fragile one at that. We don't need the Earth turning into some alien wasteland... Please, try to contain the corruption to the confines of your island.”
He meant to accentuate the word 'your'. In respect. It was, in fact, her island. She had shown that it was twisted to her likeness, and bent to her will. She had spoken of that dominance as if she could exert it over existance herself. Her confidence made Tora feel nervous- however, as with fear, he never displayed it. To the onlooker he seemed uncomfortably confident, always ready with a strong, bellowing response.
“I'm not the type to bark orders. I came here to talk. ...Okay, maybe down the line I came to fight. But not until I'm sure you won't eat my bones! And it's for constructive purposes.”
He said this with a laugh that finally exuded his nervousness. Perhaps he was human after all. It was challenging for him to mask his feelings when he spoke, the Earthling questioning why he had come to this island in the first place. The danger seemed obvious- lurking ominously around every corner. It exuded from the ruler of this place, and her domain had been crafted to her liking. The wildlife was turned into altered, darkened and hideous versions of themselves. The demonic corruption exuded and wafted from the shape of the dinosaur that nestled itself at her feet. It's tail was taut and swayed with a predatory rhythm. Tora recognized it as hunger-
His own stomach growled in response. He almost laughed. Apparently, he had eaten dinosaur steak a few times too many. Even this one, as twisted as it seemed looked... Appetizing. The youthful fighter smiled with genuine warmth at Amatracina, hoping his abrupt honesty would win her over. If not, he was not prepared to flee. His stance was incredibly vulnerable, an action which was hard for Tora to accept himself in front of such a powerful foe. It made him feel weak and uncomfortable.
Still, he beamed at her. In honesty, it wasn't an attempt to sway her. She was interesting, and Tora felt a familiarity in the tone of her energy. Although more chaotic, her energy signature held considerable similarities to Kuueru's own power level. Tora couldn't help but find his curiousity piqued even further. He had lost rather shamefully to Kuueru rather recently. His loss against her and Kamui had served as a sobering reminder of his weakness in comparison to the many diverse races of the universe.
Yes, but his races' standards he was incredible. Comparable to a god. But to these truly exceptional beings he was nothing. A pissant, capable of a graceful death and nothing else. Perhaps not even graceful. Tora imagined himself dying without a fight, suffocating from Amatracina's horrible miasma. He knew in his heart he had more fight inside of him than that. That wasn't the way he was going to go out.
No, Tora was intent on conversing with this daughter of a tyrant and her pet, Tyrant. This was what he had came here for, he realized. In his frustration with the ominous warning of Kamui, this has been a grounding realization. Someone was close by and capable of wiping out not only the human civilization, but the whole world in a blink of an eye. In fact, one breath. Yet she held back. The self control that that took was impressive. Not only that, but it suggested a thought process.
The Tiger of Earth could not judge a predator, nor could he judge a killer. He could only judge them on their grace- this woman held herself with a dignity as if she was royal. Her pet, although monstrous, was quite subservient. She was a person Tora could respect- and tolerate- so long as his precious island was kept safe. But he didn't want to put himself out there too much.
The whole time his demeanor was relatively relaxed, despite his singular slip up. Not bad for a man face to face with a devil!
(2038 words)
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2018 21:04:31 GMT -5
The Demon Lord smiled a malevolent, seductive smile as she sensed the briefest flicker of her most favored emotion within this Tora. Fear. Lustrous, glorious, decadent fear. It made her lips wet, and she ran her forked tongue over them as she savored the fleeting hint of fear as it emanated from the man. Tyrant smelled it too, lifting his head as his large pupils dilated heavily. Amatricina sensed his growing blood lust, and turned her head to catch the beast's eye with her gaze. The Tyrannosaur once more lowered its head to rest on the earthen ground, reluctantly accepting it would not act on its most primal of instincts. The demon's smile was positively Cheshire as the warrior bowed, she did so relish a mortal wise enough to know some proper courtesy. Tora's words however, elicited only a chortle from the demoness as she shook her head slowly. The bells, rings, and jewels that adorned her four grim black horns chimed at the movement. "Great insight into my kind? Truly are you that daft to believe that, or is this idle flattery? I will suffer neither." The demon's expression quickly shifted into an irritated scowl as she folded her arms beneath her massive bust. "I have told you but a cinder of information to the roaring inferno that is the Fire Demon Clan. The briefest, faintest glimmer of knowledge." Amatricina shook her head again, scoffing at the audacity of the earthling's words. "My kind is more fractured than yours by an order of magnitudes. All earthling worlds follow the same government, they all kneel before the throne of King Ches, do they not? Meanwhile, there are a thousand Demon Realm Clans all endlessly squabbling and warring with each other. There has not been a Demon King to unite my kind in over five hundred years, not since Dabura abdicated his throne to leave for the mortal realm with his damnable wizard Babidi." Amatricina spat at the wizard's name, her spittle was a caustic, highly acidic venom that seared the ground where it landed. Her scowl only deepened as she reminded herself of the past. Dabura had thrown away everything he had built, and for what? To die to some Super Saiyan as she had surmised from the Mark I's analysis. The story had never sat right with the demoness, and she had been there to witness much of it. The missing pieces lied with the wizard Babidi, his arrival in their realm had caused nothing but problems. But, the past was in the past. Our flames must ever burn forward, as her father and mother had told her a thousand times in her youth. Again the demon listened to Tora speak, and again he was woefully off in his predictions. The earthling was clearly just drawing conclusions from his very limited information. It was amusing, albeit pathetic. "Why I can appreciate the proud nature that is fearsome hunters hunting equally fearsome game, you are again mistaken." The demoness turned, raising a hand as her gauntlet began to glow with a searing crimson light, as if the metal was heated to a fiery glow. Black streaks of electricity crackled at her fingertips, and her demonic aura flared out violently as she summoned her ruinous powers. "I reside here, I do not live here. As you presume. I have never seen a tiger, nor do I have the faintest idea what animal you are referring to. I do not even know the name for whatever species Tyrant is, nor do I care." Amatricina reached out with her gauntlet, talons catching on the very air as they dug deep into the fabric between dimensions. The Demon Lord slowly carved a vertical gash in reality, a searing wound between realms. Her dread Dimensional Rift technique, a Demon's favored means of long distance, dimensional travel. Amatricina lamented she could not weaponize the technique for combat... yet. Currently her mastery only allowed for carefully constructed rifts such as this. As she worked like a butcher on a head of beef the demoness continued to speak. "My home world is far away, nestled deep in the Ashen Cluster of the Demon Realm. It is a molten world, of ash and cinder, flame and shadow. A nightmarish burning gem in the night's sky." With that Amatricina reached in with her other hand, grabbing the edges of the wound and drawing it open like the morning curtains. It howled a hellish noise, the fabric of time and space itself cleaving open from her might. Tendrils of Dark Energy seeped from the demon's aura, feeding the dimensional rift as it stabilized, maintaining it until it was no longer needed. The portal was pitch black at first, like a vertical puddle of oil before it began to ripple and shimmer. The edges were like fire, a burning ring of flame hanging suspended in the air. Slowly the realm beyond came into view. The ebony expanse of space, stars of every color twinkling in the distance. A grim planet dominated the view, its surface a molten sphere of red and black, crimson rings orbited its equator. Lastly, a black moon hung close to the world in orbit. Tenebris, the Dark Moon, composed of pure obsidian and seething as a natural wellspring of Dark Energy that radiated off it in an aura of malevolence. Amatricina smiled, a proud, wicked smile that radiated her passion towards her home. "Behold mortal, the glory of Monsigneus, ancestral home world of the Fire Demon Clan! It is the seat of my rule, the burning heart of my clan's territory. Our greatest treasure, one we would lay down billions of our lives to defend." The demon spoke with unbound pride, her every word a radiant display of her unbound love for her world and her clan. Amatricina reached out a hand, fingers rippling the surface of the portal as they touched it. She pressed her armored hand through the rift, just for a moment. Simply feeling the empty space around Monsigneus would have to do for now. She could not return until her tasks here were finished; she was bound to a pact she had made with an Emperor. This world, this earth, lied at the heart of it. So for now, this damnable island must remain her home. The Omnipotence could not be Amatricina's home, the Kabochan race loathed her kind, and her irritation with their ruler was mounting with every day. Amatricina withdrew her hand, the portal rippling like water before stabilizing again. She gaze down at the gauntlet, now icy cold from the void of space. How she yearned to feel it tighten around Carambolis' neck. To undo the humiliation she had suffered at his hands. That day was fast approaching. She clenched her fist, the fell heat of her wrath quickly suffocating the lingering chill of space. Amatricina turned slowly back to Tora, allowing him a minute to inspect her dimensional rift, and the molten gem that lied beyond. "Never presume to know anything about me, Tora no Seishin, Roaring Tiger Spirit of Earth. You haven't the faintest comprehension of whom you deal with." Amatricina's words were harsh, scolding, like a mother addressing a child for talking out turn. Without even looking back at her dimensional rift the demoness raised her right hand again. The large ruby inset into her gauntlet glowing bright with a crimson light as energy crackled at her fingertips. The demoness slammed her fist shut tight, creating a backlash that severed the flow of Dark Energy into her portal. Without its creator to sustain it the rift hissed in a sound similar to agony, in truth pressure relieving as the dimensional fabric forced itself sealed shut once more. No trace was left, the wound perfectly sealed and in a moment there was no indication the wound in reality had ever existed save for the memories forming in Tora's mind. Amatricina grinned, the earthling's words on his isle fell on deaf ears. "Tora." She stated matter-of-factly. "I care little for your isle, neither where it is nor what proximity it has. I do understand, you don't threaten me. And since you are no threat, and hold no foolish intentions to fight, I continue to allow you to live. You are a curiosity to me, just like you yourself are curious of so much in me. I am no master of the beasts of this isle, save for my beloved Tyrant." The massive corrupted dinosaur raised its head, ears metaphorically perked at the sound of his name. "I neither care, nor intend to stop nature from running its course. The Earth is a means to my demonic ends, and my gaze is cast far too wide to be concerned with something as petty and trivial as a neighboring isle... populated by these so called tigers." The demon chuckled as Tora continued his ramblings. What a strange mortal, he was so unlike the other Earthlings she'd met, in a good way. At minimum the warrior kept the demoness entertained with his ramblings. A part of her wanted to visit his isle of tigers, just to see how it varied from her own, besides the obvious destron corruption. But, Amatricina had little time for frivolities. At least at the moment. The demoness again shook her head slowly. "Again you are woefully incorrect. The closest thing I've had on this isle is an uppity android wearing my nerves thin. If I was truly, truly fighting a being worthy of my full might..." The demon extended a hand out sweeping it before her to illustrate her words. "All that you see would be leveled. Islands wiped from the map, trenches carved in the ocean floor, billions of gallons of water evaporated in seconds. If I had sufficient time to focus, I could destroy this planet in one fell swoop." The demon grinned, her fangs gleaming through her pearly white smile. She held out a hand and summoned an orb of demonic fiery ki in it, only to crush it with her mailed fist into a shower of embers that burned away. "Be ever thankful I am beholden to take the Earth... bloodlessly. That is what I am doing here. That, and sleeping, eating, meditating, and training. You would be amazed what I can do in secret deep beneath the earth's crust." Amatricina flashed another fanged grin, she did so love her kind's near total immunity to heat. It made acts such as sleeping in a lake of molten lava at the base of an active volcano as natural as breathing. The demon rolled her eyes at the warrior's plea. "I care little for your isle, as I have said, it is beneath me. But if it must appease, know that the Destron Gas Machine, the source of this isle's ancient corruption, has breathed its last. I had it repaired by an android to full working condition, but it succumbed after the task I needed of it." Amatricina tensed her muscles, her Destron Miasma surging out in all directions from beneath her cloak until it enveloped their surroundings in its noxious inky haze. "I absorbed the machine's gas to the last drop, melding it with my being. Enhancing it with my demonic energy and my dark magics. Its power is now my power." With that the demoness drew back in her malevolent black haze, as quickly as she had released it. "And I have far more important uses for my Destron Miasma than polluting some misbegotten island. The lingering corruption here will cease to worsen, at best it will stagnate so long as I remain present. But a century or two after my departure, I would predict it has largely returned to its previous state. Much to my chagrin."Amatricina's ears perked at the words 'Crusher Corps', and that of Kamui. She lowered a questioning gaze at the warrior. "You're telling me, you dealt with Emperor Carambolis, of the Kabochan Confederacy, Lord of the Crusher Corps? The very same Carambolis I am beholden to, and the same Crusher Corps I am a member of in-name-only? And you faced Kamui Solaris? I presume he won, and was merciful. Because I have seen his power, and it far beyond what I have seen in you. Tell me Tora, was this a recent encounter? His body, was it cybernetic, an amalgamation of flesh and circuitry? Or was it whole, black and malevolent, tinged by my demonic gifts? Speak mortal, for a Demon Lord listens." Amatricina completely ignored the rest of what the man had said. Her attention transfixed on his revelations. He would tell her what he knew, or she would simply torture it out of him. Amatricina took another step towards Tora, raising a hand and dragging him to his feet with her telekinesis so they may stand at eye level. Her gaze was fiery, eyes burning with hellfire and her brow furrowed as she came to stand uncomfortably close. The heat of her body radiating outwards like an oven.
Word Count: 2,181 Total Word Count: 5,448 Tora |
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Post by Tora on Dec 6, 2018 10:00:00 GMT -5
Tora was not pleased with the tone she took with him. He found her general demeanor... Offputting. Again and again she showed her lack of compassion for him, and his kind. Beyond that, she completely overlooked him. He recalled the insect he had stepped on earlier and sighed in frustration, grimacing at the realization. She had showed him her homeworld- a strange, red planet brimming with violent energy. She spoke of times ancient, and unbeknownst to Tora no Seishin. To him, it sounded too fantastic to be true. But, he knew she spoke with at least a degree of honesty.
Still, her general tone bothered him. She didn't even seem to really look at him. She looked through him- past him. Like he wasn't there. She told him to 'never presume'- yet, here she was, foolishly doing the same. Unlike most people, he chose to bite his tongue. Yes he could insult her and turn this into a violent brawl. He could die here on this island, suffocating in poison mist. It would be a death worth dying against a creature as twisted as her- initially he thought of giving her a chance, not judging a book by its' cover. She made bold claims of conquering. And continued to iterate and reiterate just how meaningless his existence was.
Clearly she didn't understand people. They just exist. There's no rhyme, or reason. To find purpose in yourself and your own existence is your choice. If you choose to just live for the sake of living, you can have a full and meaningful life. She claimed wisdom, but Tora didn't see it. In fact, he saw an ancient creature, jaded by time and war. In fact, the more he thought into it the worse he felt for her. She had lived a tumultuous life that was by far too long for it to truly hold purpose. She must seek it out in the dark corners of the universe, the way she sought out the dark miasma she called her 'Destron Gas'. The Tiger of Earth frowned at her as she tore him from his position, forcing them to stand face to face as she interrogated, berated, and insulted him. She emanated an incredible heat and Tora couldn't help but find himself thrown off by her demeanor even more. This being acted with an unnatural level of confidence. She truly believed herself better than him.
It made Tora feel even more pity for her. With narrowed eyes, he spoke slowly to Amatracina. “I have dealt with no Emperors in my lifetime, nor do I desire to interact with one anytime soon. I am a simple man. I live for the sake of living. When I fought against Kamui, he spoke of the Confederacy's interest in Earth. Now, you've revealed that this 'Emperor Carambolis' has it in his sights; Perhaps in his clutches with an entity as powerful as yourself here.”
He still felt the heat from their proximity; Tora wondered for a moment what effect her miasma would have on him. He imagined the corrupted strength that flowed through the tyrannosaurus and shook his head in displeasure. That was not going to be his path to strength. In time, he'd stand on equal footing with these beings of supreme power. That day was not today.
But in his heart he knew one thing. This universe was filled with many who saw themselves as Gods, Emperors, and Kings. They didn't understand the true fruitfulness of a simple life- they believed power granted them control over the masses. Control over any who do not have such strength. Tora no Seishin coveted power, but not in the way they did. To him, it was a method of proving his perseverance. It was an ideology of love, despite the very nature of violence itself. He had a love for the art of fighting that he fully believed the human race had crafted, and perfected. He had found that other races may have had a greater capacity for violence through raw destructive power- although, Tora did think that humans were the most violent of all races- and with that realization he came to realize that his own skill set was rather...
Outdated. He could fight and sustain himself, sure, and he always had a trick or two up his sleeve. But that's all they were. Tricks. Face to face with this demonic creature with an incredible strength, he doubted his ability to withstand a battle against such a creature. The proximity they had now hadn't frightened the youthful martial artist, but the Tiger of Earth did find himself curious; She so easily took hold of his body with telekinesis. For what reason, though, did she agree to such peaceful terms of conquering? Tora wondered what she truly gained from allying herself with an Emperor.
Then he recalled the way she looked at her home planet. Beyond that, he thought into her speech about the beings who locked her species away- he imagined an entire race of beings like her. His blood began to boil, and not from proximity to the fire demon. Nor was it out of anger. Tora found himself excited. This meant that he had work to do. Not only that, but he had his work cut out for him. The prospect of so many beings with power existing only led Tora to believe that he had stumbled upon this meeting by fate, not by chance. Perhaps he believed that fate and chance shared the same purpose.
To guide a person. For Tora, he kept meeting beings of incredible power. He seemed so close to grasping that strength, yet felt miles and miles away. Almost frustrated with the level of control that Amatricina had exerted on him, Tora decided instead to use this opportunity to return her line of questioning with his own.
“Now, I wonder- what kind of a man is Carambolis? He intends to rule over this planet as if it was his own, and you seem beholden to him. Why? Perhaps I am out of place to ask this question, but you seem...” he searched for the words as he glanced her up and down. “Well, you seem more than capable of having your own 'Empire'. Why waste your time here on this little planet running errands for spoiled rich folk, who won't even come down here and conquer this planet by themselves? I bet you could take an entire solar system singlehandedly. Clearly your talents aren't being fully utilized.”
He grinned his feral smile at her, revealing that his canine teeth had in fact elongated to more than a normal humans'. Without realizing it, he had begun utilizing his more wild senses, an animalistic level of sensory details being presented to the Tiger. Now he began to understand the blight that effected the island even further; His nose picked up tinges of a miasma similar to the scent of the Demoness', however he noted that her odor was more pungent. As if it had been infused with something even more potent than the decay that already infested it. His ears twitched as he began to even hear the breathing of the tyrannosaurus that laid nearby. As if to relax himself while face to face with such a powerful being, he began to focus on the rhythmic heartbeat of the cold blooded predator, reminding himself as to why he lived. Strange that she chose a creature such as that to live her and rule beside her- another example of fate, or perhaps chance.
Tora believed that coincidences led you down a path. If you keep seeing a pattern in life repeat, you'd find something. Whether that something is good or bad, Tora was unsure. But he believed this fully. “Forgive me if I spoke out of line- I am a simple man, inexperienced in politics and conversing with Lords of any kind, nevermind Demon Lords. I prefer to be straightforward and honest over conniving and manipulative. That is why I am ill suited to be a ruler of any sort.”
(1347 words)
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Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2018 23:22:45 GMT -5
The demon was taken aback when the earthling revealed he had not in fact dealt with Carambolis. This was a surprise to be sure, but in more ways than the obvious. The Emperor had descended his fleet upon the earth, he had landed his planetoid sized flagship in close proximity. It had altered the global tides. His message had been broadcast to all earthling news stations, his trade vessels scattering across the globe for a week. And this Tora had remained ignorant, to all of that? What manner of hermit was this man exactly. Amatricina released her telekinetic grip, disgusted to even psychically touch the man who held such profound ignorance of even his own planet. "Bah..." She said in simple disgust. "You live only for the sake of living? How droll, how pointless; you are little better than a wild beast if that is the case." The demoness gestured back to her brutal pet, his hungry yellow eyes ever trained on the man he knew only as 'Intruder.' "Even Tyrant lives with purpose. He lives to hunt, to kill, to sire new generations of his kind. He lives to defend his territory and best his rivals in combat. Admirable goals for such a simple minded creature." Amatricina's gaze narrowed as she addressed the man before her anew. "You take me for a fool don't you Tora? You live for some purpose, you simply refuse to say it lest you incur my wrath." The Demon Lord took a step back, folding her arms and turning up her nose. "Be thankful I have no interest in whatever your true purpose for living is. Otherwise I'd need sear your mind in search of it or beat the information out of you myself."The demoness' eyes twinkled with a glimmer of hellfire at the rest of the mortal's reply though. She did so love having her enormous, turgid ego stroked. Pride was after all, the first sin, and stronger within Amatricina than the others by a half. Only Wrath and Avarice came remotely close. "Indeed. Carambolis has long held Earth in his sights. Before even my recent arrival in this realm, if my assumptions are correct. He believes pulling the Earth under his banner with draw in other, like-minded worlds that utilize Earthling technology, share your culture or ideals, or otherwise see the Kingdom of Earth as a guiding beacon to follow." She paused briefly, a look of enjoyment quickly shifting back to displeasure. "I think he is a sentimental, and prolongs what he could take much faster by other means. Especially with, as you said, 'an entity as powerful as I in his employ.'" Amatricina did not like being beholden to the will of another. Especially one who's very culture despised demons; however her own views on honor and vows forced her to comply. Such things were deeply embedded in her own culture, and to act against them was to injure her very Pride. Such a course of action was more detestable than following through with Carambolis' plans. For everything that Tora was, Amatricina was not, or so she thought. Her very clan was created to serve as instruments of war, living engines of molten destruction that tore their way across the stars. The First Flame's living will, his progeny of children. Each birthed from a cinder of his own fire millions of years ago when the Demon Realm was young. They had served their deity-king, their beloved Makaioshin until he drew his final breath. Even with the First Flame's passing, the Fire Demons he had created remained resolute in their purpose. To conquer was their birthright, it was the ultimate expression of their very being. But sadly, his children had been lost for generations. The numerous Fire Demon Clans squabbled and feuded and warred no different than the Demon Realm Clans did as a whole. They needed unity, they needed direction. Amatricina's own dread father Tartaros had gotten closer to uniting them than any one warlord in the last million years. His efforts had been cut short when Dabura claimed the throne and title of Demon King. Tartaros' conquests cut short as lesser Fire Demon Clans swore allegiance directly to the Demon King, before they could face the Warlord's flame. This setback had never been rectified, and Amatricina and her siblings had been forced to merely maintain, not expand her father's holdings upon his death. To this day though, their clan controlled the majority of their homeworld, and with it the greatest portion of their kinds' strength. Fire Demons are ruthless, malicious, malevolent beings. Like the flame they are shaped by, they destroy far more than they create. For every sword smithed by the heat of a forge, every meal cooked by a shove, and every room illuminated by torch light there will always be thousands of lives lost to a forest fire or entire cities leveled by a volcano's wrath. They would always be a force of destruction, though that blazing fury was tempered greatly by their culture. Far from bestial savage demons, or deceitful conniving cretins, the Fire Demons held their heads high with their notions of honor. Honor is for those with strength, who do not fear reprisal, they told themselves proudly. Their strength made them feel above such petty deceptions, though their nature as demons did not make completely opposed to it. As Warlord of her clan, Amatricina was especially bound to such edicts. She was a beacon to her clan, meant to inspire strength and purpose. If a Warlord's pacts could not be kept, their word could not be trusted, and the faith their clan placed in them would soon become lacking. There could be no greater insult than losing the clan you were born to rule. And that was why she held her honor highly, not that Tora need ever know even the faintest sliver of the tale. Amatricina raised an eyebrow as Tora commented on Emperor Carambolis. She scoffed, tapping her heel impatiently as the man's words agitated her visibly. "You are out of place asking so many questions. But, I am in a talkative mood; Tyrant is an excellent familiar, but a terrible source of conversation. That said, Carambolis is... a mortal, through and through." The demoness said with a sigh, before elaborating further. "He claims to have no intention of 'ruling' the Earth, not directly. He merely wishes to oust the King of this world as a liar, and a charlatan. I am of the same agreement, though were it my decision I'd drive my claws through his chest and hand his crown to a worthy replacement. My Emperor would rather see the coward Ches peacefully disposed." Amatricina spat her venomous spittle again at her words, detesting even having to speak them in the first place. "I am beholden to his whims, for now, for now reason than my clan's mantra... and my own honor. There is a saying among my kind, an edict the First Flame spoke to his beloved children in his undying wisdom. 'The Weak must serve the Strong, or be crushed beneath them.' It has remained unchanged to this day." The demoness grew very somber, inwardly reflecting on the very nature of those words. They had shaped much of her actions since she first set foot in this accursed realm, to politic and scheme with the damnable mortal ilk. "When we first met, I foolishly agreed to challenge Carambolis to a duel, without knowing it was possible for mortals to attain such power as he wields. I was beaten, utterly and humiliatingly. Without so much as landing a scratch on the man, whereas I was left only moments from death. It is a feeling I swear never to experience again. In a brief moment of weakness I wished he'd have slain me just to end the heartbreak and sorrow I felt." Amatricina clenched her fist, it crackled with demonic power. Black storm clouds began to form overhead, a storm forming around her isle from the sheer energy of her heated emotions drawing forth her latent power. "I was weak then." She said spitefully. "Still unaccustomed to the Mortal Realm, in withdrawal from my separation from the Dark Energy that permeates my realm. I could not bring my full strength to bare, whereas Carambolis had his damnable transformation to flaunt before me."The storm began to intensify, ominous bolts of lightning crashing to the ground as thunder bellowed overhead. Rain sizzled and hissed as it came within proximity of the Fire Demon, and the seas were whipped into a violent squall. "On my knees, like an Imp to be beaten by the slave driver's whip. I begged, I offered my service, my life, before a mortal. I did what I must to survive, so I could atone for my failures later. So I could continue my plans, to strengthen my clan and myself. Carambolis agreed to my terms, and restored my wounds. Since that day I have served him, faithfully but begrudgingly in his Crusher Corps, his private mercenary armada. I carry out his Will, until the terms of my pact are complete." A lightning bolt struck Amatricina directly, drawn to her horns like a lightning rod. Then another, and another, until the ground around her smelled of ozone. Her complexion remained unphased. She tensed her muscles, sending a violent wave of hurricane force winds out from her aura. A pressure that exerted pure, vengeful malice and unbound cruelty. "But I am weakened no longer. I have trained, Mortal, tirelessly for months on end. I have weened myself off the allure of my Dark Energy. It now augments my being, rather than simply maintain it. Carambolis' day in the sun is setting, I will challenge him and reclaim my lost honor. I will have my vengeance, and his worlds will weep before my wrath." When Amatricina spoke there was a hellish light visible in the back of her throat. Her inner flame burning bright, a kind of molten fury that resided deep inside her kind. As she looked at Tora ominous hellfire shined like twin beacons from her eyes. Her full, terrible power came to be displayed. It flowed forth like a volcanic eruption of ki, lifting rocks from the ground as her chaotic energy flowed forth. Amatricina gritted her teeth, clenching her fists tight as her muscles tensed. Gashes and tears in reality began to appear around her haphazardly, ripping apart to form new Dimensional Rifts. She began to channel immense amounts of Dark Energy into herself, it flowed forth in tendrils of pure ebon power from the depths of her portals. Her body was enveloped in solid darkness, wrapped lovingly in the tender embrace of her realm's ruinous black energy. Her silhouette began to change slightly as she absorbed the darkness into her own form. Amatricina's horns sharpened to boast grimmer points at their already sharp tips. The demon's already long crimson mane lengthened until it extended down to the small of her back, and her already buxom and curvaceous figure was further accentuated. Her curves swelling to even more grandiose proportions as her musculature gained new, more toned definition from assimilating so much Dark Energy into her form. It was a relatively simple transformation compared to the drastic changes some beings experienced, but the effects were no less potent. In a flash of obsidian light the darkness was dispelled as it was fully assimilated in the demon's body, leaving Amatricina visible to the naked eye once more. Her attire had changed noticeably, her armored gauntlets now sporting long shoulderless black sleeves and the metal belt at her waist having grown outwards to form an armored mail skirt that reached half way down her thighs. Most notably, the Fire Demon's hallmark ruby and golden color scheme had darkened considerably. Where once her armor was a vibrant crimson shade, it was now obsidian black, and the once gilded trimmings and ornamentation to her attire had become a richer, deeper shade of crimson. Amatricina's power level had tripled in mere moments, making her far and away the strongest living being on the Earth. Stronger even than the planet's guardian, Xell, who was too far away playing politician to sense the unbridled might of a Demon Lord setting foot upon the planet he was sworn to protect. Amatricina breathed out, exhaling a gout of thick black smoke as she relaxed her form slightly. Around her more Dimensional Rifts continued to tear open from her unleashed power. though Dark Energy no longer flowed through them. They ranged in size from no bigger than an eyeball, to the size of dinner plates, to as large around as a tire. Each and every rift displayed a different view of the Demon Realm. The smaller ones showed only a planet or two, the middling ones displayed whole star systems, and the largest flaunted whole galaxies. It was a microcosm of her entire realm displayed openly for the Mortal to bare witness too. "You are forgiven, Mortal." Amatricina said through clenched teeth, still straining from the exertion of involuntarily ripping open so many dimensional rifts so rapidly. Her aura was now an onyx shade, tinged in a flaming crimson edge. It seeped out in hundreds of tendrils to fuel and sustain the myriad of portals around the pair. Such a tremendous draw of demonic ki kept Amatricina's full power from causing irreversible damage to the surrounding landscape. The ascended demon steadied herself, growing calmer as she regained her composure. Her brow furrowed in heavy concentration as she focused on the mental strain needed to maintain her gallery of rifts. "I am more than capable of having my own Empire, Mortal." She stated matter of factly, blazing eyes icy cold as they cast their gaze once more upon Tora. "This entire star system would burn before me should I will it." With that she proudly gestured with her arms wide at her side, showing off the collection of images displayed in her demonic portals to a nightmarish realm. "Consider it my great gift to your kind, that I hold no desire for your petty worlds. I have an entire dimension of my kind to conquer. The only Empire I seek is our own, the Dark Empire. The only throne I covet is the throne of the Demon Queen. These dalliances in your realm are but a means to my malevolent ends. I have ascended, I am a Darkness Demon! The first of my clan to do so in countless millennia. And with this awesome power I will bend every last clan of demons to my will!" The silence as the demon finished speaking was deafening, she could be felt like a force of nature. A living volcano, a dark flame of shadows and cinders that would forge unity among her kind or die trying. Amatricina the Avaricious, Warlord of the Fire Demon Clan.
Word Count: 2,498 Total Word Count: 7,946 Tora |
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Post by Tora on Dec 10, 2018 15:12:27 GMT -5
The weak must serve the strong, or be crushed beneath them. Such words reverberated through the core of Tora no Seishin, the Tiger of Earth. He closed his eyes, almost wincing in pain from how obviously misguided this creature was. She was raised to believe she had no choice- she had to upkeep her strength, live in servitude, or die. Those were her three options. Tora didn't see any of them as viable.
He was born free. A beast. An animal. An aspect of nature. Even the tamest of Tiger's may maim their captor if they so please. He had been raised to be free and bold, a personification of the creature his martial art was based off of. A King among beasts- but not a ruler. No, Tora saw his role more as a protector and predator. He would keep the balance on his island; No more, no less. Still, when he heard her explain her upbringing he couldn't help but question her entirely. Once again, he felt pity for the demon.
She had lived a life blinded by a dark and twisted idealism. Failed by an ideology of slavery and violence. Perhaps she looked at it as the ultimate rule of the universe, that the weak are trampled on. Tora felt different. The weak define the strong. Its how a being of power reacts to a creature less than it that defines its' strength. A Tiger's only interest in other beats is the interest of a predator. It's a defined role, clear cut.
Her role was confusing. It invited struggle. Tora imagined her clawing her way to the upper echelon of power, ascending through the ranks of demonic powers. She had expressed Carambolis' desires for Earth- not to rule it directly, merely to out the King of Earth as a liar. Tora didn't believe that. Beings with power coveted more power. Beings with strength found solace in their strength. That, to Tora, was the philosophical difference between himself and self proclaimed conquerors.
She had challenged Carambolis and lost. The result of her loss had made her swear subservience to Carambolis. He couldn't imagine the damage it had done to such a creature, whose very pride dictated its existence. As bizarre as it was, sadness was all he could muster up for this woman. She seemed misguided and lost, despite her claims.
Then she showed Tora something that made him reconsider. She began gathering in energy, a strange dark and mystical energy. It came from strange rifts in the fabric of space and time that tore open, encapsulating her figure. A horrible and immense power made itself known as she began to change slightly, a blinding flash of light finishing the transformation. There she stood, changed, the very earth quaking from her immense power. Tora knew how outclassed he was in this moment.
The tears in the fabric of reality did not dissipate. Instead they served to paint a picture for the Earthling- one of her realm. For a moment he found himself lost and enthralled by the eccentricity of this experience. She agreed that she was more than capable of ruling her own Empire, or even ending this solar system. Tora believed her.
She then expressed her lack of interest in this realm. She sought to rule over her home- apparently this realm was nothing to her. Tora questioned the validity of such limitations. She had introduced herself as 'Amatricina the Avaricious'. He doubted she would be content with just that much conquering in her presumably infinite lifespan. Tora thought, for a moment, she would definitely return to this realm if she managed to take over her dimension. Such a dimension of darkness is finite in what it has to offer- this realm was one of variety. There was darkness, light, and everything in between. Tora had seen it himself.
He recalled once more the death of his parents. The meaningless, animalistic slaughter. He foresaw his own death at Amatricina's hands as he recalled them. Then he shook his head, suppressing the fear. Underneath it all he still felt bad for her. He couldn't quite shake how unfair her upbringing had probably been.
I mean, but how fair had his been? Raised by wild animals? Taught martial arts by some sort of age old tiger? He was far from a normal human. Still, he appreciated his history. Felt pride in his home. Perhaps they were more similar than Tora would like to admit. She was an evil, dark creature, forged of violence and reeking of blood. A 'Darkness Demon', and a miasmic force of corruption. She emitted a poisonous vapor that strangled life from its' surroundings.
Tora felt people did the same thing, albeit less literally. He had seen normal men mad with power. He had seen tragedies. These demons reflected their own twisted mortality. In that way, Tora had realized he shared a kindred spirit with this demoness, fueled by their pride.
Their pride as predators.
Tora smiled at her. Gently. Warmly. All concern melted away from his face as he eyed the living volcano with understanding. "I appreciate your patience with me. I now understand you a little more- I was taught to always understand a beast more fearsome than oneself. I hope one day we can fight as equals, or at least as equal as you'd allow me to seen as in comparison to your incredible strength. You may not know of the creatures, but you remind me of a fierce Tigress. Your loyalty to your pack, your kind... your strength. Grace. It's almost beautiful, in fact."
He made these proclamations with honesty. Tora tried to see the good in people. She seemed like a misguided being- and yes, an evil one. But he felt that even the most maligned creature can offer wisdom. Both on an introspective and universal level. Simply from meeting the interdimensionally travelling demoness he felt as though he understood the universe more. She had made him privy to information that most were completely unaware of.
Not only that she had told him of Carambolis. This whole experience had been enlightening. That is why Tora felt it necessary to thank the Demoness. So, he did.
"Really, I can't thank you enough. You could've simply ended me. Instead you've chosen to educate me on dark secrets that transcend this plane of existence. Not only that but you've given me insight into the kind of Emperor that Carambolis truly is." he said, bowing his head in respect.
"If you have any questions for me, I'm an open book. Ask away." he said, hoping to seem fair. He didn't want to be demanding to such a creature. Tora values his life and believed that he should be playing the long game here. Patience was valuable in a moment like this. If he rushed anything he could come across as a hostile.
Then he would die. Horribly, at the hands of either this Darkness Demon or her mutated pet dinosaur. Either death didn't seem pleasurable in his imagination. Besides, he'd much rather die on his own island; and it was far too early for him to die. He hadn't even re-established the Tiger School.
Tora no Seishin had reasons to live.
(1206 words)
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2018 1:05:28 GMT -5
A smile was the last thing Amatricina expected in response to her bold speech, her declaration of dominion over the Demon Realm. Most mortals balked in terror whenever she gave long-winded rants. This one smiled, warmly no less. Was he daft or did he simply desire to remain in her good graces and therefore live? It did not matter, the effect was the same. It gave Amatricina pause, she stared questioningly at Tora, even as he spoke. She raised an eyebrow questioningly, folding her arms crossed beneath her massive bust as the dimensional rifts behind her began to close one by one. She deigned to spend the energy needed to maintain them. Amatricina remained in her transformed state, albeit diminishing her power level to the point it was nowhere near as overbearing as full strength. "I am patient with you, because you among the first mortal to actively seek knowledge from me of my kind. Most paint a wide brush over the world Demon, and dismiss me as an unthinking, feral, horror of the abyss. Seeking knowledge of those more fearsome than yourself is wise, a greater wisdom than I have yet seen in an Earthling. There may be hope for your kind yet." Amatricina scoffed, what was she saying. She shook her head, as if trying to shake loose her thoughts on this Tora. Was she actually starting to like him? "We will be equals, you are mortal, I am demonic. Just as you will always be above the beasts of your home, these tigers. I will always be above you. And until I tear them from the heavens above, the Kais will be above me." Amatricina spat, venomous spit that burned the ground. She aimed away from Tora, her disgust was not aimed at him. For once a mortal was not the object of her ire. "Though you seem an honorable sort, a proud warrior like myself. If you truly wish to fight, to test your feeble strength against a Demon Lord, I will oblige. If only to prove to you my point. Seek me out on my isle, name your time, battlefield, and rules, and I will oblige. I do not kill without reason, each and every one of my enemies has earned my great Wrath. You, have not. So no matter how close I beat you to the brink of death, I promise I will use my dark magics to keep you alive. Deal?" Amatricina extended a hand to shake, it was a universal gesture of an agreement forged through goodwill. It seemed every mortal species she met with limbs knew of the handshake, from Kabochans to Saiyans, to Ferrousans. "Almost beautiful?" Amatricina added, in response to the latter part of the Tiger Warrior's remarks comparing her to his beasts. "I will take that as a compliment, I have no doubt you meant it as one." She watched with increased curiosity as Tora continued to speak, expressing his gratitude and even going so far as to bow his head in respect. Amatricina relaxed her stand, placing a hand on her wide, armored hip as she transitioned into something fast approaching a good mood. "I could have ended you, but what would that accomplish?" She said, a rhetorical question aimed at the man. "I can kill whenever I desire. I can only educate if others are willing to listen. You chose the wiser path, thus sparring yourself from my flame. As for Carambolis, you Earthlings may actually enjoy him. He preaches diplomacy, unity, and tries to see the best in all his allies. I detest his way of thinking, even as I am bound to his will by my pact. When I defeat him and reclaim my honor, I will show him the folly of such thinking."Amatricina sighed, and focused her molten gaze on the mortal warrior. He offered himself before her, to answer her questions. Again, something mortal had ever done before. "Very well, where do I even begin?" The Demon Lord said, tapping her chin as she mused. "Earthlings, I have met a few who know magic. One called herself a witch. How common are these witches, and magical users in general? My next question. Do you know what the Dragonballs are? More importantly, do you know how to unlock their magics? Final question. What is it your heart truly seeks, Tora no Seishin, the Tiger of Earth? I sense pride and ambition with you. Do you hunger for power? Is it fame, wealth, women you covet? What drives such a self proclaim simple man? What makes you aspire to be so much stronger than any of your kind I have met? Answer these questions, and I shall carve a trench on the ocean's floor, so that the currents that pass my isle will not drift so close to yours." Amatricina crossed her legs, hovering in the air at eye level as she eagerly awaited the warrior's reply. Her curiosity must be sated, and this was the first time a noteworthy human had offered up his knowledge to her.
Word Count: 854 Total Word Count: 8,800 Tora |
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Post by Tora on Dec 15, 2018 13:04:42 GMT -5
Tora nodded in understanding- not necessarily agreement on all fronts, but understanding. When she spoke of Earthling's 'liking' Carambolis, he couldn't care. In honesty, it didn't matter to him if the people would like him. No matter his positive traits. He was still an Emperor- a ruler. She offered him a deal in exchange for answers. She would alter the stone of the Earth itself and carve a trench, shielding his home from the mutations abundant on her island. It was not an ideal situation, but this was not an ideal world. The universe itself was changing. Tora couldn't let himself dwell in the past for too long.
“Magic. You want to know of magic? ...I guess I'm not really informed, if you must know the truth. I've met many fortunetellers, fake and real. I don't know anything beyond that magic exists- and perhaps some portions of my martial arts style could be called 'magical'. Yes, I have heard of the Dragonballs. I've never had much interest in them. I never cared to look into them too much. All I know is you gather them all, you get a wish of some sort. To be honest, I don't even know how many you need to recover.” he began, in answering her less personal questions. The other questions she asked he was... hesitant to answer. Unsure. His eyes dulled over as he reminisced again to his youth.
“...When I was a boy, my family was killed. They were helpless against creatures much like your... Pet. We had crashed on the island that I now call my home. My father fancied himself an airship pilot. There was a storm-... Well, that's not important. We crashed, and dinosaurs ate my parents in front of me. I would've been next, but an old white tiger- massive, at that- killed the beasts. It approached me, and to my surprise the beast spoke to me. Called himself 'Tora no Seishin'. Claimed that I was his namesake, and his prodigy. That he would raise me to be a proper Tiger.” he said, almost laughing. It was painful, but he remembered it almost fondly. Like a rebirth.
That day he had lost a normal life. But Tora couldn't even remember what his childhood home had looked like. “I want... what most men want, in truth.” he said this, shaking his head. “I just want to live, fight, and breathe in fresh air. I want to hear crowds cheer for me when I fight- more than that, I want my Tiger Style to be recognized. I want to be free, never tied down. I think people deserve that. Freedom.”
With that, he smiled at her. “Sorry. Nothing too complex over here!” he said, finally laughing as his face brightened. It was clear he didn't want to delve into further detail. This was not something he often discussed- in fact, this demoness was the first being he had ever spoken of these events to. It was odd. To reveal so much about himself to someone he didn't know was one thing. To a presumably evil being was a whole other ballpark. Tora didn't think his goals made him easily manipulated. Beyond that, he had no ties beyond his island and his broken down dojo.
“I wish I could've told you more about, well, anything. I hope that the measly amount of information I've provided is enough. I have to admit, I only really know of martial arts and the history of martial arts. As compensation, why don't I tell you a different tale? Years and years ago, long before my time, there were many schools of martial arts on the Earth. The power of Earthlings back then was insignificant. Nothing, really. But it wasn't there that the martial arts excelled. The techniques were... Ingenious. At the time, the most prominent and prodigious school was my Tiger School. The master, the original Tora no Seishin- he was a bestial man. Year after year he won the tournament, the Tenkaichi Budokai, becoming the 'Strongest Under the Heavens'. That was until the prominence of a greater master in terms of technique became known- Master Mutaito, the forefather of both the Crane and Turtle styles. My master was defeated by this man and the Tiger School was shamed. But, he was not bested by a superior martial arts style. It was the genesis of the first human to reach superhuman levels. Not the last. But, after Mutaito's death and the first defeat of Demon King Piccolo, the Crane and Turtle schools rose up. Their master's used ki in a way that none had ever seen before- the Turtle Destruction Wave, or the Kamehameha and it's opposite, the Dodon-pa. At the time these techniques were seen as innovative. Their destructive potential was incredible- more fine techniques like the many varied moves that I utilize in my tiger style were lost. Even more impressive techniques, I imagine. Now, I am the first man in hundreds of years to ever have access to the skills that were lost when my clan died out. The final thing that old master Tora did was imbue his very spirit and essence into his favorite albino tiger, a young pup of a thing. I suppose that is the closest experience I have had with magic- this same Tiger infused me with his spirit. It dwells within me, even now- all the history of the Tiger Style, every intricate technique. I refuse to use more traditional ki manipulation- in fact, they work in the opposite way of my personal style.”
Tora's longwinded explanation had come to an end. He hoped that he had sated her curiosity. Tora wanted to protect his island, and the legacy that it held. Without such protection, he was unsure if the Tiger Style would exist beyond his own finite lifespan. That was not an option to the youthful martial artist. He desired- no, he required the strength that he had now. It was the only bastion that protected the freedom and autonomous nature of his island.
(1009 words)
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2018 17:33:18 GMT -5
Amatricina listened intently to the Tiger Warrior's long-winded speech. He spoke briefly on the nature of magic on Earth, and of the magic available to the Earthlings. But he did speak at length of the history of this world. Ancient martial arts styles, and a Demon King the Demon Lord was not familiar with. Amatricina would research that information further, in time. She wondered just how strong these ancient humans were to best a Demon King... or if this was another false moniker born of an impostor. It was of little concern though, as it was far away in the past and the demon's eyes were fixed solely on the future ahead. Still, the mortal warrior had provided the needed information, albeit in a rather roundabout way. Amatricina intended to her honor her end of the bargain, she may be a demon, but the woman was no liar. She scoffed, a wry smile on her face as she slowly rose to her feet from her levitating pose. As the demon's heels touched the ground once more, she clapped her hands slowly, sending the rattling sound of gold on gold contact cutting through the silence. "Quite the story Tora no Seishin, you have managed to entertain me for a few minutes. And... answer my questions sufficiently." She flashed a fanged smile at the man, stepped past him as her gaze moved on to the sea beyond. "So magic is uncommon as I thought on this planet, and even the strongest earthling I have met does not hold more than a glimmer of knowledge on the Dragonballs' usage." Amatricina paused, musing to herself for a moment. "A wish, but not for anything. It has its limits, though even I have no idea what they are." She truly did not know, Carambolis was her premiere authority on the Dragonballs. The rest she'd learned in bits and pieces in her travels. Not that Tora needed to know anyways, Amatricina liked to keep her cards close to the chest. That was an easy task when she had so much chest to keep them close to. The Demon Lord glanced back towards Tora briefly, before returning her gaze to the sea. "For you though Tora, you have won me over. I admire the sin of Pride more than any. You are a proud warrior, who values strength, and yearns to see his order restored to full glory. Your order, much like your kind, are insignificant to my designs and my gaze. But, it warms my black heart all the same to see such Pride. And for that, you have earned the goodwill of Amatricina the Avaricious. Breath easy knowing the first of your race to do so. And that if I ever need to destroy this strange blue planet, your deaths will be quick and merciful. For now though, witness the rarity that is a Demon Lord's benevolence." With that, Amatricina began to go to work on her task. Still in her Darkness Demon form, Amatricina had more than enough power to honor her end of the bargain. She would keep her isle from further destabilizing the region with its corrupting magics. In the way most befitting of a being of fire. With magma. The Demoness turned to face the isle's great volcano. It was the forge from which she would shape her creation. Amatricina raised a hand, nostrils flaring slightly as her aura pulsed with demonic power. Ruby lightning crackled at her fingertips, and the gems that adorned her armor glowered with brilliant demonic light. At first it seemed nothing was happening, though soon the ground beneath them began to rumble. It was not Amatricina's doing, though her full power level was enough to effect local weather, she was not using it. Her strength was still mostly suppressed, even in her ascended state. The plume of smoke from the mountain of fire grew thicker, fuller, until something amazing happened. A huge cylindrical pillar of lava burst forth from the top of the volcano's summit. It was not an eruption, the sheer mass of molten rock was being pulled thousands of feet vertically by the Demon Lord's incredible telekinetic might. It pulled through the air like an infernal serpent, tracking its way miles out to sea like some kind of collosal flaming rope. The lava began to shape as it reached its destination, becoming rectangular with smoothed surfaces as it was molded by the demon's whims. Amatricina's fingers flexed and twitched slightly as she exerted her vast strength. Thousands upon thousands of feet of magma was formed into an immense wall hundreds of feet high. It rippled and shimmered as it floated above the sea writhing with molten heat. "This should be sufficient to divert the ocean's currents away from your isle of tigers, out into deeper waters. Your kind can deal with the resulting leviathans of the deep that spawn as a result in your own time." With that said, Amatricina furrowed her brow as she began to lower her monolithic creation into the sea. It was bowed slightly, like a massive crescent to parallel the rounded shape of her island. As it sank the ocean's hissed and screamed in agony, millions of gallons of salt water instantly turning to steam and vapor as they cooled the gargantuan molten structure. The wall of lava began to cool, into a wall of obsidian as it was pulled to the ocean's floor. As it neared the bottom Amatricina steadied her gaze, raising her arm before slamming it down as if swatting a ball from the air. A great wave of water rippled across the ocean's surface, flooding the beaches of her isle before pressing some ways inland. A moment later a massive earthquake shook the ground for several seconds until all fell eerily quiet. There was a strange stillness to it, and the seas still bubbled and boiled as they worked tireless to cool the molten rock below. Amatricina had slammed her wall of magma into the ocean floor, embedding it into the sea bed a ways so that no earthquake or tsunami could ever hope to topple it. She wanted her monument as permanent as could be without wasting magical energy on it to give it unnatural qualities. She clenched her hand, withdrawing it to her side as her power was again suppressed. With her task completed the demoness let out a long sigh, before turning again to face the tiger warrior. "There. It is done." She spoke proudly, gesturing with her arm. "I have created a barrier which will redirect the sea, more than I originally agreed to do. I have left a solid hundred feet or so from the top of the wall to the ocean's surface. So your earthling maritime vessels can sail the waters unimpeded. It will take weeks for the lava to fully cool and cure. In the meantime, the seabirds can gorge themselves on the fish unfortunate enough to enter the boiling waters." Amatricina smiled, moving slowly back towards her pet Tyrant, and seating her ample rear on the beast's snout like a throne. It did not mind, merely shifting its head a bit to balance its beloved master better. "My bargain is complete." Amatricina stated simply. "You have my blessing to leave freely, Tora no Seishin. Or explore my isle at your leisure, I truly care little which. If you have no further questions, you are by all means free to go. Know that I may visit your isle in time, if only out of sheer boredom. Beyond that do not bother me again which such petty concerns of yours. I will likely not be in such a generous mood next time." As she spoke the demoness telepathically reached out to her chimeric tyrannosaur beneath her. "Intruder, Friend." She instructed the creature, and immediately its entire body language relaxed. In a world of every shifting alliances, endless pacts and bargains, there were few things as reliable as the word of a Fire Demon. And this particular Fire Demon, had earned an ember of respect and understand for the mortal who stood before her. And that brought a soft smile to her face.
Word Count: 1,373 Total Word Count: 10,173 Tora |
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Player Character🔹
I have nothing to say.
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Post by Tora on Dec 18, 2018 16:48:08 GMT -5
Tora nodded to the powerful demoness in thanks. She had singlehandedly chosen to shield his island from the life growing on her own. And with her promise, she had displayed an unsettling level of control over the forces of nature. Tora almost couldn't believe the scope of what he was watching. It was a type of terraforming he had never witnessed in his life, a display of power and intelligence and a severe will. In Tora's mind this was not a demon of darkness, or fire. The only fire he saw before him was the fire of sheer willpower: one that would exert itself upon the land. With that, his island was safe. For now. Although he imagined the invisible hand of Carambolis wrapping around his small, humble abode.
Tora smiled again at Amatricina. "Thank you. It would only be courteous of me to extend an invitation to my island to you, if you ever wish to see what exactly a tiger is. And on the grounds of us fighting- perhaps I may surprise you with my strength. It would be my pleasure to face off against you in the future. You're an honorable sort. I hope we can meet as acquaintances and not as foes when we see each other next- genuinely."
With that, Tora began to levitate in the air via the manipulation of his ki. He would wave at Amatricina, before lazily taking off, breathing in the salted air as he took in the unnatural change the demoness had made to the environment. He was surprised at how honorable she was, in reality. They had different tenets and cultural beliefs, and of course their values differed.
But at their core they were both prideful warriors. Reaching out psychically he touched Amatracina's mind, projecting a final thought and observation:
"I think you value something more than pride. Or, moreso I think you have put the root of your pride in a facet of yourself you've hidden, even perhaps from yourself. I wouldn't claim to understand you, but I understand being beholden to a Clan- or a School. I understand living in a world- or jungle- of darkness. I hope you find something beyond the darkness of your realm that you truly desire and covet. You are honorable, and deserve to find happiness."
(384 words)
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