[IC] HCL: Rise of Daemon

[Wraithblade6]

Mithias gasped as he looked up at the flying Kami. This being was of unimaginable power compared to him, and apparently he was angry at emperor Nathan. Mithias looked around to see where Bug and Nate were. Nate was bellowing some angry retorts... quite ballsy of him. Truly, the vampire just wanted to escape.

[Wraithblade6]

(and... FIRST!)

[thewizardguy]

((Lol))
Kami looked over, as his attention was momentarily caught by a small vampire. Time had a way of rebalancing itself, removing those things that might unbalance it, a constant force to stabilize the flow of destiny. Kami's flash diverted from it's path, and lightning wrapped it's glowing fingers around Wraith. Flaming hot energy filled his body, rushing through his nervous system as his nerves were fried, the smell of bruning flesh becoming just a tiny bit stronger for the new victim of the flame. Within an instant, the lightning had reached Mithias's brain, which was reduced to ash.

Time was balanced once more. Mithias was dead. And yet.......

As Mithias opened his eyes after the painful flash of light, he would find himself in a most strange situation. He appeared to be standing in a brightly lit room, one of the walls covered in windows. Around him were small wooden desks, and across from him was a large board. Mithias was standing in a Japanese classroom, in the middle of a sunny day, although it appeared to be desserted. Through the windows, a large blackened forest can be seen, a red sky and an ocean of blood. And yet, somehow, it all seems relatively harmless, as shady figures play sports in-between the leafless trees. The entire room was suffused with an odd warmth, a happiness, a feeling of safety and comfort, a feeling of.... home.

Seated in one of the chairs next to a window was a youth, certainly no more than twenty years of age. He was wearing a completely green school uniform, built not particularly athletic, with jet black short hair. He was most likely Japanese, although his skin was surprisingly pale white. He turns towards you, smiling kindly. His eyes are blood red, and it's clear that this person is the center of the aura. Somehow, you are inside the stone in your pocket, which you can no longer feel, and this is what it looks like. The stranger smiles at you, as he stands up. "Hello. How did you get here?"

[Wraithblade6]

Mithias recovers from the pain fairly quickly. He was getting used to this kind of treatment. The fact that he was transported to yet another extremely weird land was also, not a surprise. Once he oriented himself, he took a seat. He hadn't noticed the young man until he spoke, although usually, that would be odd for his elite senses. He hung his head, noting the loss of weight in his pocket.

"I am Mithias Varomere, a vampire. I am sorry for invading your realm. I got here because, I died... again." The speach was getting wrote by now. "Please, just please don't cause me a lot of pain, whatever you do to me. I fear the repetition is beginning to shatter my sanity."

[thewizardguy]

The boy laughs lightly. "Ah, you met Bob. I can smell him on you." He holds out his hand, smiling brightly. "My name is Tsukune, I'm also a vampire. I wouldn't really call this my realm. I'm pretty sure I'm dead." His grip is strong, but not overly so.

[Wraithblade6]

Mithias shakes his hand. "I see. My pleasure, Tsukune. How long have you been here?"

[thewizardguy]

Tsukune chuckles. "Time doesn't really go in straight lines here. I thought it was the afterlife, but I don't think you'd end up in the same place as I did if it was." A flash of regret passes through his eyes, as he looks at the classroom behind him. In the chairs, you can see oddly defined shapes, barely visible, as if formed from translucent smoke. "Based on you, Stein kept me in that damned stone of his." Tsukune sits down opposite you, as he sighs. "I think we're in your mind, my friend. From what I can see, your brain died, and this is your soul's last flickering breaths. That's why you're here. The only reason your soul hasn't dissipated as we were talking is because of the way time works here." Tsukune speaks with a sadness in his voice, and yet there's a resolve in it, as if he were preparing for something.

[Wraithblade6]

"A stone? I did have a white stone on me, but it wasn't given to me by Stine, if its the same person I am thinking of." Mithias shivered slightly. "Regardless, what does this mean? Are we both still dead? Still trapped here forever?"

[thewizardguy]

"No. While your brain has been fried, your body is still alive. Your soul is still intact." Tsukune looks you over, and you get the feeling it isn't your appearance he's judging. His eyes have shifted to a blood red tint, and you get the definite feeling that they're staring straight into your soul. "Tell me. What is the most important thing in this world. The thing most worth fighting for." Tsukune looks into your eyes. "If you had the power to do one thing, even if it cost you everything, even if you died just trying..... what would you fight for?"

[Wraithblade6]

Mithias didn't mind being looked over. Not that he could do anything about it, really, but he was what he was, and he had long ago made peace with himself. He tilted his head, knowing exactly how he would answer that question, but curious as to Tsukune's response. "I'd fight for love." He stated, idly playing with a pencil that mysteriously appeared in his right hand. "I don't mean that I would fight for a woman or for family. I mean a broader love, all of love, its existence and preservation. It is 'the reason,' and it is... everything." Mithias seemed content. He added with a casual shrug, "It is what my life is for."

[thewizardguy]

Tsukune smiles, as he nods. "That's good. The world needs a hero." He holds out his arm, and with a simple flick of the finger, creates a cut across his wrist. Bright red blood flows from the wound in excess, dripping to the floor. "I might be dead, but I'm not gone. It might not have been Stein's intention, but I can still do a bit to help you. Drink of my blood. With my vampiric cells in your body, you should be able to regenerate any damage to your brain." Power emanates from Tsukune as he says this, and you can practically feel the energy in the blood. While Tsukune might be young in appearance, he made Gabriel look like a handicapped puppy by comparison. "This blood contains the power I leeched by absorbing Alucard himself, and through him every monster on the face of my homeworld, gaining their powers. I'm not sure what will happen if you drink of it, but it's all I can do." Flames move in a collumn around Tsukune, his eyes bright red, as he offers you the blood.

[Wraithblade6]

Mithias stood up abruptly and pushed his chair back. He was shocked, and his brow had a furrowed, perplexed look. At first he blinked at Tsukune. "You freely offer me your blood?" The red liquid radiated a power that resonated with Mithias. He could feel it in the air before him as he watched it start to spill. Each drop that Mithias allowed to fall to the floor was a sin. He couldn't ask questions. There was no time, and he didn't have the place. he had no idea why Tsukune would offer his own blood instead of taking Mithias', nor how that would get them out of this stone together. yet Instinct rang in his ears, telling him to drink at such a sight. Although overwhelmed with gratitude, and temerity, Mithias couldn't deny that a large part of him wanted power. Too long had he been tossed around by demons and deities and unstoppable immortals, but yet he hated himself for such weakness of character. He didn't want that to be the reason he accepted. ...not that Tsukune couldn't have forced it on him.

Completely at a loss for words, Mithias' expression and action had to speak for him. Eager for the blood, yet horrified at his loss of manors, he swiftly dropped to his knees before Tsukune and took his arm. His head bowed, he hesitated only briefly, almost trembling. "I will take you with me, forever, Tsukune." He placed his mouth over the wound and drank. The vampire's blood flowed into him, but not passively. It's power had found a new host and it entered with command, changing him, becoming part of him. Mithias had willingly become a child of Tsukune.

[supertinyking]

Suddenly bug, in his 40 foot tall titan form attempts to stomp on Kami, his body lighting up.

[thewizardguy]

Tsukune was not, in fact, a vampire. Once, he had been a human, and then he had been turned. He had learned from masters of the art of fighting, and through determination and talent, had soon become one of his world's most powerful vampires, fighting for equality between humans and monsters. However, after he had absorbed the power of the great demon Alucard, and through him every creature on his homeworld, he had become more than that. Taking the vampiric regeneration to the extreme, each of his cells almost instantly adapted to anything, allowing him to mimic almost any genetic power, instantly regenerating from wounds, and changing the material of his body. Every one of his cells was a mutation center, capable of growing into an entire new body within minutes. While normal vampire blood had the power to change a human, the blood of the one known as the Ghoul God was a billion times more powerful. A single cell would corrupt the host body, break it down to it's most base components while preserving the DNA, and then return it to Tsukune for absorption.

Through the symbolic offering of his blood, however, no true change had been made. Tsukune had been reduced to nothing but a soul when every cell in his body had been simultaneously destroyed by the power of the Ka-Gash. Instead, the offer of blood was but a metaphor for a spiritual link, as Tsukune's soul bonded with that of Mithias, granting him access to the vast knowledge of the Demon Arts that Tsukune had proccured. Techniques to harness the inner power of all monsters to an extreme degree, and the Yokai Energy to back it up. It was not complete, of course, as the souls did not merge, but Mithias was granted at least some of the Ghoul God's abilities, including the ability to regenerate wounds that would be instantly lethal to any other being. Tsukune's power, Infinite Regeneration, made him effectively immortal to any attack that didn't directly target the soul.

"Let us see what you will fight for, Mithias Vladomere, vampire hunter. Let us see whether you can stand before the hordes of evil in this world, and wipe out that which corrupts and destroys all. The storm will come, and it will break you. But if you are truly just to your ideals, you will continue even broken, even when shattered, when the Lord of Insanity himself tears at your mind and rips open your body." Tsukune's voice is that of a man true to his convictions, and yet filled with regret and sorrow. "Let us see whether you can succeed where I failed." Heat flows through your body, as your pyrokinesis is boosted to unheard of levels, gaining the strength of the Kitsune. Fox Fire, capable of burning through steel and stone.

---

Stein grinned. Two scalpels were held in his bloody hands, as his eyes widened. He had been busy, of course, but even in a different timeline, he had felt it resonating in his very soul. He had sensed the sheer change in the future, the power that had arisen from death. Could it be? Tsukune, who had once stood against Stein, had died, and yet this was clearly his soul he could sense. And the other vampire. It seemed he had been right, when he first met the vampire in Hell's Coffee Lounge. Another player had been added to the game, and they were already meeting the greats.

Stein would find Mithias, and break him. He would shatter his ideals, and watch his mind bleed. He would rip everything he loved to pieces before his eyes, and force feed him the remains. He would rip throug his soul not with any power of magic or wonder, but with the sheer realisation that all his ideals were but dirt before the harsh reality and cruelty of death and pain.

Mithias would fall.

[Wraithblade6]

Mithias rose, and he was different. "...to succeed where you have failed... even broken." He opened his right hand and a tiny flame sprung up, seemingly burning on nothing in his palm. He opened his left and a similar flame erupted. Then, without any effort at all, he arched the two flames across to each of his hands, creating a beam of flame that steadily grew brighter, hotter, and fiercer! Until he closed his hands and it vanished in an instant. He looked at Tsukune and shook his head in disbelief. "And that, was nothing to me! ...Tsukune, I think, with what you have given me, or shown me, I can regenerate my body. I can get out of this stone." He looked at him sadly, knowing Tsukune still couldn't get out. "What did Stine do to you?"

[Gummi Bunnies]

"I'm sorry...I was too reckless..." I tried not to break down in tears, but I only let out a short cry. I did not have enough strength to even cry my heart out, especially with the fact that I was dying...so close to death now. "But...I want you...to live on," I continue with what would become my last words on the Living World, it pained me inside to see how devastating this is for Sota, even if we just had a short and brief reunion after I finally saved his soul from the demonic god Yasu. I saw this coming ever since I encountered the possessed Sota, that I had to use the last bits of my Lifestream to free Sota, but with the cost of my life being wasted away in the process. I could feel my soul drifting away from my body, my basic senses being drastically weakened. "No...no...you can't be serious, what about the others?" Sota responded towards my words with complete and utter shock, I couldn't blame him, this may be the first time that he had to deal with losing someone dear to him. I got used to it, after losing so many people I was holding dear. The list could go on for awhile, and I wouldn't want to think about it as a memory lane for me. Wanting to at least savour what time I had left, I force myself to lean up and plant a short-lived kiss that Sota would share with me, and then....and then....everything went black. At least before I died....I let a piece of my soul go out free, to make a reincarnation for the anticipation that Yasu would come back after my death...

As if all of that was a bad dream, Kaika sprung awake with unsteady breathing, sweat trickling down her face. That, whatever happened from what she last remembered, could not be a dream, actually scratch that, that should had ended all with her death. If she was really dead, then what was she doing here? She couldn't recognize this place at all, and from what she knew, she should be at the "Witness World" Miki talked about some time ago. That world was where all souls of Pact Bearers would go to be judged in a special manner, see which soul would be fit to continue as a normal Spirit or become an Elder Spirit to continue the Pact Bearer process, or even just become immortal without all of that fate mess.

Then, if that's the case, if she went with the belief that she's really dead...then what was she doing here exactly? Was she just some lost soul wandering around or still a human being with messed up spiritual powers? Kaika looked at herself, first off she was wearing a different set of clothing that seemed like it came from the Spiritual World. It did make her wonder what was up with most of her clothing having hoods of some kind, but of course her hair wouldn't stay hidden under the hood, considering her hair was long enough to reach down to her knees. Secondly, she noticed that there was a strange symbol marked above her chest, maybe it was symbol that signified how Kaika's soul is now "incomplete" due to how she had created a reincarnation using a piece of her soul before dying, thus Kaika assumed that her soul-like powers would be corrupted by the darkness that would fill up the missing piece of her soul. The only thing that felt familiar was the fact that her spiritual abilities were still in tact, but it wasn't limited in different transformations before. It was just it's raw power without all of the limitations now, so that seemed helpful if this unfamiliar place wasn't a safe place.

"But what am I kidding?...what am I fighting for now if I'm dead?...this is probably some weird kind of limbo, as Miki would come up to me first of all and tell me the test within the Witness World...but that hasn't happened yet," Kaika sighed to herself, not sure on what to do. Now that she thought about Miki for a bit, Kaika felt like her memories were also screwed up as much as her soul's condition was. With the fact that a piece of her soul was fractured away, but the fact that a part of memories were fractured away made things a bit hard for Kaika to think of what she'll do here. It would be a pain for her to figure out what exactly she has no memory on. Despite that, she stood up with a wobbly stance, as if she were asleep for an eternity and almost forgot how to stand. If she was here, then certainly there was a reason and purpose for her being here, to make some kind of difference. She didn't know what that could be, Kaika was confident to find out, it would only take time to decide if that's what she'll do or not.

[thewizardguy]

Kaika, through whatever process had led her there, found herself on one of the many deserted worlds of the universe. These worlds weren't capable of sustaining much life, although to magical beings such as herself this was hardly ever a problem, and they vastly outnumbered those few worlds in which life can exist. However, while Kaika could have appeared at any place in the vast emptiness of space, she was a certain kind of person. The kind of person who, no matter what they did, would always end up in the middle of great events, those people drawn to the moments that define history. Takers of the center stage, the great forces of evil and good that determined the future of the entire universe, on occasion, beings drawn to action. Bob called the Players, Lon called them Destined, Stein called them Prey. Of course, nobody knew quite why the universe worked this way, besides the unfathomable minds of the Primals, but it seemed to be a rule ingrained into the very workings of reality that these certain people would be chosen to become involved in the matters that decided the fate of all of creation.

Guided by the mysterious Destiny attached to those who bear this curse, Kaika had, seemingly by coincidence, appeared on a planet with a great view. For, even as she were to look up at the night sky, she would be greeted by a sight of both beauty and horror. Thousands of lights could be seen, brighter than stars and in many colors, moving across the night sky, exploding, moving, shooting. An armada of space ships, seen from the surface of this barren world. However, these measly ships were dwarfed by a glow that dominated the sky, a mass one could only describe as a glowing planet, lighting up the entire sky. Even from thousands upon thousands of miles away, anyone with the slightest magical potential could feel the waves of ancient magical power emanating from whatever was on that planet, a dark power that would have driven those less skilled at the arcane arts to insanity.

[thewizardguy]

Tsukune's face darkens, and even the room itself, conjured from Tsukune's own mind, loses it's calming aspect. As he looks up, his smile is a sad one. "Let's just say that we all have our demons." As the world of the stone begins to fade, Tsukune's face begins to crack. Flames cover the room, as screams echo through the building. Horrifying shapes move across the walls, as the vague impresisons of humans flee in terror. Suddenly, people shift into focus as they're ripped apart, still living as impossibly shaped demons devour their livers. And over it all can be heard the sound of Stein's laughter, as the school building, and everything in it, is ripped apart before your very eyes. And in the midst, Tsukune stands, his skin turned to obsidian, his eyes to red. Two black wings unfold from his back, and when he looks at you, you see nothing but the mad hatred of a demon, driven by the desperation of a broken man. The darkness within.

And as you blink, you find yourself once more using your eyes, instead of a spiritual metaphor for eyes. Before you, you see Kami, and Bug striking Kami, and you can feel Tsukune having become, in some ways, a part of you. You have been granted the power to be equal to the Gods and Demons that inhabited this realm, and to fight next to the likes of Bug and Drac without fear. And before you stood the first who would attempt to strike you down.

[thewizardguy]

As Bug struck at Kami, Kami simply exploded with power, every insect that came near his divine form burned to a crisp. The stomp turned into a fall, as the titan's foot is removed with ease. There weren't many creatures capable of killing a being such as Bug, but Kami, with his power to immolate entire planets, was most definitely one of them, capable of outclassing even genuine Gods.

[Wraithblade6]

Mithias breathed again, the image of Tsukune's demonic dark side etched in his mind, as an ally. Kami hadn't noticed him yet, and Bug was falling. He couldn't really say he knew Bug well, or why Kami was such an a-hole, but he felt like he should help. "Always siding with the underdog" seemed to be his future epitaph. It seemed that Kami was going to be able to take advantage of Bug's fall, so Mithias would have to intervene fast. Still doubting himself against the radiating god, even with Tsukune's gifts, Mithias chose to speak first.

"... Stop!" He shouted.