Lenier

It was not long until they arrived at the surface world, with its desolation and destruction that sprawled all around. The signs of the Tyrants could be seen even if they were not preset, with shattered buildings and crumbled structures. The land was bathed in a crimson light that seemed ever present. The clouds looked like they were on fire, a reminder of the time that they found themselves in.

Of course as they drew near he knew the danger increased, and there was no reason to keep from donning his Crown and Cowl like the rest of then. They wanted to see what he could do, very well. "Why life? Why live? Why stand in the mud struggling for survival when you can stride to heights unmatched, to create a tale for the ages no matter the ending. And in the end, the only thing that shall be left is fire." Not his most poetic verse, but did that really matter?

Bandages appeared from nowhere, wrapping around his torso and his arms in a manner that was tight without constricting his movement. Beneath it a blue glow sparked into existence, casting him in an unearthly glow. Perhaps not the most elegant of all those here, but it would be satisfactory. To Cerise he cast a glance before holding up his palm. In it a malevolent blue flame sparked into existence, rolling and twisting in his grip. "Careful, I might burn you," he replied smoothly as he stepped away.

"Alright, let's go," he agreed after a moment, heading in one of the directions that had been indicated by Yui before. Anyone who wanted to was free to join him, but otherwise he was fine going on his own. The sooner they found the scavengers, the better.

Those that chose to follow Yui’s directives soon began travelling through the dust-laden terrain, picking up the pace in lieu of any Tyrants lurking around. This particular set of ruins definitely looked to be untouched, unnoticed, and the possibility of the rescue mission being successful grew with every minute that passed. Not a shred of miasma could be seen, and all the rumbling sounded far off, indications that, for the time being, they were free to travel as quickly as they could without worry of an unnecessary encounter.

That is, of course, if their intention was to simply rescue the scavengers to begin with.

Upon reaching the ruined building, human-sized tracks could be made out with ease in surrounding wasteland. Though large chunks of rubble mounded to create a concrete hill, it wouldn’t be too difficult at all for a Daybreaker to smash their way through the rubble, reopening that entrance into the Catacombs. If a quick retreat was necessary, they had access to another escape route if nothing else. More importantly, however, were the tracks that were present, faint traces of heavy boots that came, stopped, and then turned. A narrative was forming now, that of scavengers who came back, only to see their one way out sealed. With no other option, they were forced to forge on underneath the crimson illumination, leading them towards the taller buildings within this abandoned city.

The tracks lead westwards, as the obsidian spikes that dotted the landscape began to increase in frequency, running through buildings. Some survived being punctured by these spikes, while others fell over, structural integrity giving way to destructive force and gravity. And soon, the Daybreakers came upon a sight that broke the monotony of travelling through the ruins.

Off in the distance, below a particularly large spike, laid the body of a heavily cloaked individual, a dark crimson staining his too-short legs. Curled into a fetal position, a heavy gas mask with opaque lenses covered his face, while the large pack strapped to his pack made it obvious what his profession was.

He was still, no longer moving, but perhaps he could be saved.

---

Ah~

Such a...crude lot, they were. None of them had a hint of elegance or class to their Cowls and Crowns. Unfortunate. Ah well, nothing she could do about it really, and she expected it. Many of them likely weren't going to be up to her standards. Not that it would matter if they were. She'd care about them just about as much as the rest...though they'd be more tolerable to keep around and she might actually decide not to use them as cannon fodder if the situation arose.

"Fire, hmm?"Cerise chuckled. Before she could make a rebuttal though, he was already leaving. It vaguely sounded like a threat...and she didn't take kindly to such things.

Such a shame fire could so easily be snuffed out...pitiable, really.

She cast a glance over to Yui and the others as they started leaving. Hm...she oh so did want to see those unsightly beasts killed by her own hand, yet...and something in the back of her head was screaming for blood...but why should she have to stain her hands so directly, when they were so eager? Besides, if something happened that would be less fools for her to deal with and chances were the tyrant would easily.

"You all go on ahead, hm? If not hunt...then trap them like scared rabbits, heh" She said to the ones remaining. "I'll stay here...as our ever so tactful friend suggested." Despite the complimenting words, the tone of her voice indicated nothing but sarcasm and disdain for Yui. "If you have trouble with something...bring them back over here - I'll make quick work of them, and no, I'm not just saying that to boost my own ego. Its the truth." With that, Cerise turned back to the entrance of the underground. Whether someone else decided to stay behind or not, or even if they decided to flee back here if they came across a tyrant they were having trouble with she would go through with her little plan.

A green vine grew from her left shoulder twisting and covering her arm, sharp thorns pierced the flesh and tightened around the appendage, blood seeping from the spaces in the vines and dripping onto the earth. It writhed and twisted, contorting as several large thorns completely impaled themselves on her arm and flaying the flesh as several important arteries in her arm were severed. The vines opened, a pool of her own blood forming at her feet.

"Now...lets see, I wonder what a lovely garden I can make." The redhead proceeded to walk around the immediate grounds, planting the sanguine seeds over the ground.

Yui stood silently as she watched the group scatter, her back facing the girl with the grandiose Cowl. It was absolutely stunning. Senselessly extravagant. The fabric, the way it flowed, the playful showing of skin…

All of that was so foreign to a girl that only knew gas masks and baggy clothes. Yui would have gone soft, shyly peeking from the corner of her eye, had they been in any other situation. In fact she wished she had time to admire all their Cowls.

Careful to not let her curiosity and appreciation for aesthetics turn into useless regrets, she continued to watch the backs of the other four as they broke off. It would seem they were checking the closer of the two location firsts. She thought back to what the old lady named Troma had said. She could only hope it was a successful rescue mission. Making a mental note to check out the other area after the mission, even if they found all the survivors in the first spot, Yui turned to face the girl she would eventually learn to be named Cerise. Ignoring the blood and gore, she gazed into the girl’s bright green eyes.

“I’ll keep watch, in case they signal for any help.”

Despite the bloody girl’s jagged and sarcastic tone, Yui kept hers polite. She wasn’t one to get riled up easily despite her title as a demon. Right before she started making her quick ascent on the building she was on just a few minutes ago, the Demon of Progress sent the Conceited Flower a genuinely playful look.

“Lookin' forward to see what you’re made of. I’d like to think you’re more than just some girl with a pretty dress.”

---

As the others left, Cerise made her way around the immediate area - leaving quite the blood trail as she walked, dousing a few specific areas in a rather copious amount of her own blood. With the vines on her left arm constantly injuring her own flesh, it was easy enough to lay a few traps in case a Tyrant decided to ambush them.

"Oh?" Cerise turned to face Yui, raising an eyebrow and staring at the other girl. "I wear this dress and not some clunky and unsightly armor," She replied with a smirk and a chuckle. "Because I don't need it. I'm not going to die from any Tyrant, not while their unsightly forms taint this earth of mine. If I don't look as good as I can while doing it, then I am no better than those blood-thirsty beasts." She spoke almost as if she had chosen her own Cowl and Crown, though that likely was just her ego and important sense of self talking. At least she had confidence, which was something anyone could use.

She turned away from Yui, the vines on her left arm receding back into nothing as her arm began to heal.

"And now we wait for a potential feast." She giggled, walking over to a nearby pile of rubble and taking a seat upon it. "I do hope they don't keep me waiting for long though. I might get a bit cranky..." She staked the white colored sword that served as her crown in the ground in front of her, and waited.

Lenier

The lack of Tyrants was unusual but not unwelcome, easing their passage and allowing them to move after the scavengers easier. Lenier was all for that, and not as inclined to idle conversation while they were on the move. Otherwise they might miss a sign that could lad them to their destination.

First they found a collapsed entrance, indicating that the scavengers had tried to come back, only to find themselves locked out by the fallen rubble. That explained a lot, at the very last why they were out here right now on a rescue mission. There was no particular danger, it was just difficult for the scavengers to get to another entrance route that was not cut off.

"Might as well get this," Lenier muttered to himself as he stepped up to the rubble, lashing out with solid blows that soon reopened the hole to the catacombs down below. Even if there was that nagging voice that said it would be more fun to leave it as it was, and go the long way around back to safety. He was able to ignore that though, at least for the moment.

With that done he turned, following the tracks onwards to wherever they might lead. Smooth steps moved past large buildings impaled by spires, the chaotic destruction of the Tyrants made manifest. It was an old sight, yet there was always a new stance, a new setup that kept it from getting too boring. And in all that the next clue was found, with a scavenger laying on the ground. It was hard to tell what had happened, but the way the man clung at his leg was a good sign that he'd been left behind for a reason.

Lenier watched for a few moments before shaking his head. "Guess they went this way," he said to himself before he move on, looking for a way to ascend the spire, and follow the tracks as long as they lasted

@Eleos@Rune_Alchemist
For all their preparations and their patience, however, nothing disturbed the two Daybreakers in their vigil over their escape route. Even the scent of blood did not lure any Tyrants that may have been out of sight, and the Scarlet Moon only continued to shine on, apathetic to their presence. Almost they were beneath the acknowledgement of the denizens of the Ashen Lands. Though the seeds were sown, no one wandered into the garden.

But, imperceptible to the human nose, the wind brought with it the scent of blood, one that only Versomme could pick up. And though Cerise knew not the direction, though the demon could not communicate complex thought, she could sense it once more.

That insatiable hunger, driving her into action.

@Patches@Flamelord@CyanideSweetie
Through his agony, the scavenger didn’t even notice his impending doom until the golden arrow pierced through his skull, scrambling his brains. Gray matter leaked from the perfect hole that was made, the weapon of murder scattering into the wind, heralding the mad laughter of one of the protectors of humanity. Within the mind of another, the hedonistic demon Nirema smiled.

Oh, I like this one.

Her affection bled into Lenier, but the Daybreakers were on the move once more. Though smooth, almost slippery, the massive obsidian spike proved to be easy to scale, leading to the interior of the seventh story of the building. Upon crossing the threshold, the three were instantly struck by the heavy concentration of miasma within, a black fog that prompted the ignition of their Crowns. Was this just ‘residue’, left behind by a Tyrant? Or was this indication that there was one close by? Regardless, the fire of their Divinity cleansed the lung-rotting darkness, as they ventured further into the building. Other scavengers must have already picked it clean, only concrete walls and bare floors left behind.

Thus, it wasn’t hard for the Daybreakers to notice the pile of bodies strewn in one corner, crumbling skeletons, gas masks hanging loosely on their bone-white faces, clothes reduced to rags. Six of these laid on a final body that still remained, thickly clothed, breathing thinly through a mask that covered his face. Packs laden with loot surrounded them, dog tags bearing names the only way to identify those that were lost.

“..h-hel…”

A thin, reedy voice, barely human, hissed from the respirators, opaque lenses hiding the agony and relief that surely must be beneath the mask.

But those black thoughts poisoned Lenier’s mind once more, encouraged by the example set by Kari.

You know what to do, right? Put him out of his misery, just like she did.

@ERode
Hefting her Crown over her shoulder, Io used her free hand to check the bodies, checking their dog tags, removing them. You'll be remembered... I'll be sure of it If she were to be a true leader, that's what she had to do. She mumbled to herself as she went through their dog tags, checking them. Normals like you, going out into the wastes... Takes bravery, much better than the ones hiding underground.

But, as she went through the bodies, she heard the voice from one of them. Dying... There was little in the means to save him now, all they could do was put him out of his misery.

@ERode@CyanideSweetie@Flamelord
Hmph, looks like we were too late. she said, glancing at the others. Next time, we should talk less and move more.

Lenier

Lenier did his best to keep from visibly reacting as Nirema voiced her approval of his companion. It was not a surprise to him at least, with her desire for someone unpredictable to keep her entertained. But he had a task to focus on, and that should serve to keep hr from causing him too many annoyances for the moment. The obsidian spire was easy to move along and they soon entered the building that waited for them.

He tensed as their crown met the miasma, banished by their Divinity and serving as a sign that they were probably in for a race at the very least. The silent question was answered as he spotted the pile of bodies. It seemed they had been too late to rescue them. Unfortunate, that was for sure.

Glancing over to Io, Lenier was a bit more dismissive. "Doesn't seem to be any Tyrants nearby. A few minutes wouldn't have made a difference." That was just the indication that he got, and he would admit that he could be wrong. Did it really matter in the end though? They were dead, and that was all there was to it.

Her voice whispered in his head again, earning a slight grimace as he went checking the survivor to see how badly he was injured. Best to at least determine that much before they decided if he couldn't make it after all.

---

As Cerise sat and waited, time seemed to slow to a crawl as the thorny vines of Versomme gnawed at the back of her consciousness. Perhaps only for her - she doubted the simpleton known as Yui would feel any such annoyances. Still, she was in control here. She wouldn't give in so easily to those urges from the demon. Instead, she stood and stretched. As long as she could keep moving and have something else to focus on for a bit, she could silence the demon.

"Ha," She smirked, walking over the now blood-soaked ground. "I wonder if they'll come back dead, hmm?" She chuckled. "I have to admit, I'm getting a little impatient. I have half a mind to go Tyrant hunting regardless of some distress signal..." Besides, the longer she went without indulging the demon, the more sheer satisfaction she and it both felt...at least, that's what she told herself to try and placate the beast at times. It would be quite difficult for Yui to tell that she was being a little antsy because of Versomme, though it wouldn't be impossible to pick up that something was bothering the redhead.

But again, all daybreakers were victims of such annoyances at times. Either way, if things took much longer to get started Cerise was going to do something regardless.

@Flamelord@Patches@CyanideSweetie
Approaching the still-breathing man, the first thing Lenier noticed was just how deathly pale the scavenger was. Though thickly clothed and apparently benefiting from his comrades all using their bodies to shield him from the effects of the miasma, there must have been little time left. It was almost like looking at the scavenger that Kari had slain, just a few minutes past. An individual on the very brink of death, suspended there by sheer force of will, or, perhaps, just a miracle.

But a life was still a life, and weakly, the man reached out, gloved fingers grasping onto the bandages that wrapped around the Daybreaker’s slender leg. A rasping breath sounded, a faint plea sounding through the filters of the gas mask.

_{“P-please…help…”}

The grip tightened, shaking. Desperation and fear. No, something else.

“…me.”

Blue lights burned within the opaque lenses, bursting out in jets of unholy light. A torturous scream sounded, before a sickly tearing sound could be heard. None of the Daybreakers had managed to react in time at the sudden violence that had passed.

White bones. Red blood. Yellow fat. Pink flesh.

Lenier’s right leg was torn off by the monstrous grasp of the ‘scavenger’, leaving only a bloodied stump that poured out black blood. In another moment, that same dismembered limb was used as a club, smashing into his side and sending him through two concrete walls. Shambling upgrades after that devastating ambush, the scavenger’s body twisted, malformed with malicious intent as a pale blue light pulsated from him, the mask falling apart to reveal a pure-white skull, veiled in black miasma.

Another scream sounded, the voice that the man may once have had, as a variety of sharp bones extended from his fleshy form, branches to a new tree.

@Eleos@Rune_Alchemist
A scream sounded from the great distance away, followed by another one.

But that wasn’t what had caught the attention of the Daybreakers.

No, instead, what they saw was two-story house, hurtling through the skies, towards the same direction as the scream. Where had it come from? What just happened? Where were the Tyrants?

…

Was this even the work of Tyrants to begin with?

Lenier

Getting a closer look, it seemed like Lenier was going to have to entertain Nirema after all. The scavenger was pale and trembling, on his last legs as far as the state of being alive went. He hadn't brought any medical gear, so Lenier wasn't sure the guy would survive being carried back to the underground. Was it worth it to make the effort?

He glanced down as the Scavenger asked for his help, the fact that he was able to talk at all a small miracle. The Daybreaker held back a sigh, mulling over what to do. They'd spent enough time that a few more seconds wouldn't make that much of a difference.

As it turned out, he didn't get a choice.

Blue lights and a monstrous scream, then sudden pain from parting flesh, muscle, bone. There was barely time to notice that something was missing before he was suddenly flying through the air. Impact, once. Again. Before his flight was broken by a third and he was left to slide to the ground in a haze of pain.

"fuck," Lenier coughed weakly as his head shifted slightly to see movement through his blurry vision. He also didn't see his leg, which was generally the biggest problem a top a bunch of other problems like broken bones and damaged organs. Blood poured out of the stump he now had for a leg, and he bled from the several wounds that had been created. His vision was limited to one eye, because of the red blood that had gotten into the other one and made it difficult for him to see. That went well, he dully noted as he focused on regenerating the damage that had been done by the sudden assault.

Needless to say, Hikari was on her own for a bit.

Yui smiled wryly towards the girl pacing down below.

"If the only thing stoppin' you from bein' a wild rampagin' beast with no regard for human life is your dress, I'm not sure how human you were to begin with." her face slightly darkened as she rolled her neck, before looking off into the direction of the rest of the breakers.

"I doubt they'll come back if they're dead, unless there's some Tyrant that could bring back the dead...I'm gettin' an un-"

Before she could finish her sentence, a sinister duet pierced the bubble of their little exchange. Catching a shadow casting over her, the small girl looked upwards to find a small building hurtling through the sky. In a heartbeat, the Demon of Progress descended from her watch point dashing slowly by Cerise. A concerned and grim look in her eyes.

"Can your plants, or whatever the hell these things are, protect the entrance if we head over? I think that qualified as a loud noise."

Cerise clicked her tongue in a clearly derisive manner as Yui spoke. That was fine, she wasn't going to justify her behavior or beliefs. There was no need for that. Instead, she simply came to a halt in what was the closest that could be considered the middle of the area, swiveling her head around and observing the plant sanguine liquid that covered the ground.

She could feel Versomme waiting to bloom...good, good. Everything was in range from here. Now if only something would come into her trap...though, perhaps she should make a little Honey to attract a few curious flies to the flytrap?

Before she could ponder it though, a cacophonous chorus broke the silence of the crimson moon. In the distance, a building could be seen hurtling through the towards the direction the others had gone. Well, if they were a daybreaker worth their name they wouldn't let such a thing even touch them. As Yui descended and asked her questions, Cerise could only smile. A contrast to the other girls gloomy and grim expression.

"A gardener can only cover so much ground by herself, heh." Cerise replied to Yui, following after Yui. Whatever had happened seemed to be not of the ordinary sort...well whatever was usually classified as normal for them, at least. "The plants do get quite a bit...cranky if I'm not near." Cerise wasn't too keen on exactly giving out the specifics of what she could do with Versomme - not yet anyways. She still wasn't sure how much she really trusted or approved of these other daybreakers...especially Yui.

"You head over. Try to drive them over here, I think I'm going to see if I can investigate whatever tossed that building." If they were strong enough to toss another one, then they could very well have buildings dropping on them like cave-ins. That was something she wasn't exactly keen on allowing. Out here, in this beautiful red sky that was not something that should be happening.

"Don't worry, I'll be back to spring the little trap...probably, heh." Before Yui could stop or say anything to the redhead, Cerise bolted in the direction the building had come from. She would try not and stray far, but Versomme's agitation and hunger was starting to get to her, even if she didn't want to admit it.

First, she'd keep her eyes towards the skies, to make sure she didn't miss whatever was tossing the building. If it didn't happen again within a few minutes, she'd head back if she couldn't find anything.

@Flamelord@ERode
Dammit! An ambush?! She said, keeping her guard up. I let my guard down for too long.

@ERode
The Tyrant now showing itself though, Io acted quick, cocking her arm back, she stabbed in its direction. From her lance, several thick, needles were launched off, with the intent to skewer the tyrant.

@Patches@Flamelord@CyanideSweetie
It was merely a shallow scrape, but merely dodging once meant nothing in the face of the ever-growing bone-tree. Kari’s Cowl was put to the test against the sheer growth speed of the organic weapon, more branches growing out of the spike that she had just dodged. They pushed into her flesh, easily puncturing and tearing down the wall she attempted to use as cover, as Ier and Qua both raged in her mind, vying for control amidst the chaos and agony.

Io found herself in a similarly dire situation. Though the combined onslaught of Kari’s golden arrows and Io’s Crown temporarily halted the advance of the white branches, neither were powerful enough to break through the mesh of bone and strike into the scepter that exuded such malignant intent. The branches simply outpaced her speed, the floor itself rupturing behind her as she was forced back. A shard of bone, shattered by a blow from her lance, sliced open her cheek, and instantly, stone feathers grew out of it, tearing open the injury wider as a sweet wetness warmed one side of her face.

Isn’t this hard? I can help you! C’mon, let me help!

Whatever else her demon said was drowned out by a hammerblow from the heavens.

Against an attack none had expected, the entire top side of the building was knocked off, rubble, corpses, Daybreakers, bone-branches, and the scepter tossed into the air. For a transient moment, the debris formed an aerial battlefield, a chance to engage as the banshee’s white cage was shattered completely by whatever had struck.

And then, everything fell apart, smashing into adjacent buildings, falling into the ground, leaving nothing but a horrid mess.

@Eleos
Running through the same path she had seen her fellow Daybreakers take, there was nothing Yui could do to stop the house from striking the building, nothing she could do except anticipate the fall-out of such a titanic attack as the building crumbled from the force of the attack. A wall of dust rushed to meet her, temporarily blinding the Demon of Progress as she continued her path through the streets. The spire that pierced the building now was fully unobscured, the obsidian glowing underneath the light of the Scarlet Moon.

But that was not what caught her attention.

What did was the cold flesh that her foot had stepped upon whilst she was blinded by the dust.

Beneath her feet, giving her slight pause, was the scavenger with broken legs, a small hole in his head.

@Rune_Alchemist
It was hunger that drove her onwards, better than a dozen bloodhounds, as the instincts and urges of the demon residing within her pulled Cerise along through the abandoned ruins of the Ashen Lands. Though no more houses flew through the air, Versomme had caught the scent of its quarry and it had no intention of letting it simply leave.

It didn’t take long at all for the Daybreaker to catch the nostalgic, revolting whiff of the miasma that all Tyrants expelled from their pores. Didn’t take long to arrive at large plaza, filling with buildings that had been uprooted from their foundations. Didn’t take long to notice the presence of a monster that may have made for a rather handsome human if it wasn’t for the two gargantuan arms that sprout from his back, twenty foot long and five foot wide constructions that looked to be bones twisted together into a disturbing imitation of muscle fiber.

Black smoke rose from his eye sockets, while his brilliantly silky blonde hair was at odds with the rest of his appearance. With one slow gaze, he turned to Cerise, tilted his head to the side, and casually grabbed a building with one hand, sliding it over towards her with the same casual motion as a child playing with a ball.

The redhead moved along swiftly, the scent of their quarry pulling her towards it. As much as she liked to think she was in control...it was honestly difficult to tell at times. She brushed the thought off though. It didn't matter...as long as she stayed focused on what she wanted, she could deal with the incessant hunger and annoyance of this demon. Besides, the smell of that revolting miasma was enough to bring her back to whatever senses she normally had. Cerise slowed only for a moment as she came to the plaza and laid eyes on the Tyrant in front of her.

Humanoid. Looked fairly strong, but slow. She should assume anything, but for now she'd work under the assumption she could outspeed it. As long as she could avoid getting smashed by the building that was now heading her way, this would be simple enough. Before she could think much else though, it grabbed a building with its inhuman arms and slid it across the ground. Cerise didn't even make an attempt to dodge it.

Just as the building slammed into her, a wall of thorny vines grew from her back, wrapping her in a thick, protective cocoon of vines as sharp thorns pierced her flesh. The building slammed against another building, the cocoon of vines protecting her from most of the damage she didn't mean to directly inflict upon herself. Maybe broke a bone or two from the impact, but unfortunately for the tyrant...it was going to have to try a little harder than that. Pain wasn't something that was easily going to deter her.

The cocoon writhed and twisted, the vines growing and snaking their way through various cracks and breaks in the walls of the building that had smashed into her. Not seconds later, with inhuman strength they pried apart the wall that had slammed into her. A pool of blood had collected where she had been standing.

"Heh, you're a strong little beastie, aren't you?" She smirked, as she stepped away from the building, a small trail of blood trailing behind her. The cocoon of vines writhed and twisted, settling on her left arm as she hefted her sword in her right in a similar fashion as earlier. "Sorry, but I don't have time to play with you." She bolted away from the building, towards the Tyrant in front of her. If it didn't make a move, which was unlikely, once she was in range she'd let her plants have a little fun with them...