"Not this place again...."

Once more, Kiyo found himself in a vast, barren wasteland, standing in front of a familiar, withered cherry tree that had chains wrapped around it. Only this time, what little was left of the tree's gnarled branches were reduced to charred stumps, and the chains that were previously molten were now on fire. And once more, Kiyo felt a debilitating fatigue that sapped his strength.
"Finally.....I've finally reached you...." a soft, feminine voice whispered from behind.
"Damnit! Stop messing with me!" Kiyo shook his head and squirmed about, struggling to break free of whatever was "holding" him down.
"Wait! Kiyo, I-"
"OOOUUUUAAAGH!" Kiyo's entire body detonated with a massive bang, coating the muscular warrior with his Suzaku flames. "That's much better. Now..." In an instant, Kiyo snuffed out the flames on his arm and lashed out behind him. His fingers found their mark around a thin, slender neck. And without hesitation, he brought his captured prey around and ended up staring into a pair of unbelievably reflective sapphire eyes, eyes that, for some reason, disturbed Kiyo to the core of his soul. "Alright, you bothersome maiden, just who the hell are you and why are you constantly hounding my every step."
The captured maiden didn't reply. Or rather, she couldn't. The girl's face suddenly contorted with unnatural fear as she desperately tugged at the unyielding iron-like grip around her throat. In between frenetic gasps for air, she struggled to speak. "P-p-please.....let...let go..." she finally managed.
"Fine then...." Kiyo finally released his grip, dropping the unfortunate maiden, who immediately began to hyperventilate.
The girl's reflective eyes revealed an old, harrowing fear as she continuously heaved in nervous breaths for air. After a few seconds, the source of the maiden's fear suddenly revealed itself. Gnarled, rope-like bruises immediately appeared around the girl's neck and wrists.
"I see. So you're a Rope Shrine Maiden. I've heard much about those unfortunate priestesses who were offered up as sacrifices to the demonic, but to think that I'd actually meet one...and one who's still alive at that."
"It wasn't my choice to be one. I....was kidnapped from my home by demonic cultists. They....they.... oh god...." tears quickly welled up in the maiden's eyes.
"Oh please. Just answer my damn question."
"*sniff* My name is Kizuna. Kizuna Hinasaki. I'm here to save you."
"Hmph. From what?"
"Yourself...Your pain...The pain that you never let go...The pain that is slowly killing you heart..."
"What the hell's that supposed to mea-" Before Kiyo could finish, the world around him suddenly washed away into darkness.

***************************BOOM*****************************

"AAAGH! WHAT THE F***!!!" reality quickly came back in a tidal of pain and confusion as Kiyo woke up to a splitting headache and a series of muffled explosions. Chairs and tables subtly blurred into focus as Kiyo tried in vain to blink away a severe hangover. On nearly every table and surface around him laid empty bottles of various liquors and spirits. Before he could even think, he jolted into upright position as a sudden burning pain from his ring erupted on his hand.
<Rise and shine, Kiyoshi! It's time to go to work.> Kintoki said with sarcastic enthusiasm.
"Yeah, just a moment...." Kiyo struggled to his feet and quickly stumbled over to a nearby door. Before he left, he looked back at all the empty bottles laying around. "Guess I beat my old record."
<You realize that it was pure foolishness to try and block out the maiden with alcohol, right?>
"At least I didn't have to hear your old, annoying voice for a night..."
<Actually, you did. And you talked to me for quite a while before passing out.>
"Right..." After limping through the hallway, Kiyo finally found the door to his personal quarters, an abnormally large, multi-room apartment. Upon entry, he checked the place to ensure that everything was where it should be. And to his mild relief, he found his armor on the table, his mantle on the coat hanger, his and Sieg's travel bags on the couch, and Sieg sleeping quietly on the bed. Kiyo quickly lurched over to his bag and, after rummaging about for a minute, retrieved a small vial full of a mysterious, clear liquid. The muscular Suzaku carefully removed the stopper, pinched his nose, and downed the vial's contents in one gulp. What immediately followed was an explosive bout of coughing and hacking. "Ugh...this stuff tastes like demonic sh*t, but at least I won't have to deal with a hangover anymore. Now...to deal with this stench of liquor..." Kiyo pulled a fresh change of clothes from his bag before stepping into the apartment's bathroom. After taking a quick shower and changing clothes, Kiyo stepped out of the apartment, wrapped his mantle around his shoulders, and made his way to the main hub, ready for action once again.
<No armor?>
"Storm Crow wields electrical powers. Metallic armor would mean death. And speaking of metal, I smell burnt hull."
<Well, while you were 'out of it,' we were nearly blown to pieces in a sneak attack.>
"Right. Any good news?"
<We received some reinforcements from the guild.>
"I thought as much. I sense an unfamiliar and very strange magical signature within this sub. So, are they really reinforcements or are they just cannon fodder?"
<Their names are Vladislaus Natashinka and Basilisk. Natashinka, or Natasha, has shown quite a few interesting powers so far. She has demonstrated a high level of magical awareness and even has the power to neutralize conventional explosives.>
"Is that her?" Kiyo arrived at the main hub just in time to see Gail berating Natasha.

"Next time, use your damn eyes!" the half-demon yelled.

"Nevermind, I got my answer." Kiyo mused.

Gail then turned to Akasuki. " before turning to Akasuki. "Go check on the others, I’m going up top! Send everyone to the city, and wait by the front gate!""
"I heard that." Victor replied before climbing out the hatch.

<Well, looks like we have our orders. If you were curious, then it won't be long before we get to see the newcomer's abilities.>
"Personally, I don't really care." Kiyo said as he followed the dhampir's path out the hatch and into the blazing hot desert. The Suzaku breathed in the warm, arid air with surprising energy, almost as if he was drawing strength from it. "Ah, heat. A Phoenix's best friend."
<Be careful, Kiyo. There might still be a few lingering hostiles.>
"I got it." Kiyo slowly rolled up his tunic sleeves and gathered his strength and magic. His eyes and ring glowed a bright, deadly crimson. The air around him swirled and distorted as sunlight refracted from his body's magical heat, causing a minor mirage. "Alright, Storm Crow. Let's hope you're not a coward like your brother was."  

 

---

Killrocks clattering came running past Natasha, looking down, a .00000000000567841 second scan showed she seemed to be alright, and with that, he went rushing off to check on the others.

Turning the corner , he found Midori, literly only a foot or two awaty from a smokeing chared location, and comensing the same scan, found there was minimal damage indured. "Midori, are you alright!, BLINK IF YOU CAN HERE ME DAMN IT!!!". his hand was slapping her cheek repeedively, wich wasent doing mutch for the wounds.

but wolf, was not in sight. there was a few pieces to his jeans smoldering on the walls, as well as the Tattered boots the wolf man wore. a minimal amount of blood spatter was also on the wall and floor. could the rest of him been Vaporised?.

Dropping Midori before she could smash some sence into the Hucast, he admeediatly began to anilise the remains of what would seem to be Wolf. "He must have been an assasin after Midori!". he whipped around scanning the area. "Maybe he was holding some bombs in that Silk shirt.

---

Theres a hole in the world like a Great black pit and ists filled with people who are filled with ***!.

^Thanks to Eva ^__^ <3

            Akasuki watched as Victor and Kiyo followed Gail outside. She took note of there smug attitude after the half demon yelled at Natasha. Although she didn’t quite agree with the young spell caster’s decisions, she didn’t deserve to be belittled for her actions.

 

This was a team, not a soap opera.

 

The Samurai dashed down the corridor to the end rooms where Midori and Killrock where. It would appear the detective driod was trying to figure out what happened to Wolf, as the outcome of the spider bomb didn’t look very promising for him. “you two go up top, I’ll keep an eye out for Wolf.”

---

Midori groaned wearily as she straightened herself up from her laying position.

 

“you two go up top, I’ll keep an eye out for Wolf.”
-"No chance. I won’t leave without knowing if he’s okay or not...”-

Suddenly, Afonos approached them through the wreckage of the corridor and helped the blonde huntress to her feet.

 

-“You should go, Miss Midori. Right now, Gail needs all the help he can get from capable warriors such as yourself.”-
-“But, Wolf’s...”-

-“I still owe you for having taken care of me back at Griffon’s Tail, so please, do not worry about your friend. Leave it up to Miss Akasuki and myself to deal with the situation.”-

 

Midori eyed the group of Silvermyths that surrounded her before sighing in resignation.

 

-“Fine, I’ll go...”-

-“Killrock, you too. Please, escort Miss Midori to Gail’s company and take care of yourself.”-

 

Afonos then shifted his gaze towards Akasuki and nodded at her, as if implying they should get a move on.

 

---

YA~HA!

"I doubt you'll find the Assasin any where!" he was already set that Wolf was an assasin, and admeediatly grabbed Midori by the wrist, and began walking off.

"Have no fear!, if the assasin still lives, we'll find him, and string him up by his!....er.....neck....yea.....thats it..."

It wasent long before Midori was able to moove at her own Pace, Kilrock was blabbering off ways to "inflict rightious justice" into the
"Fell beast". and before he knew it, was on top of the sand sub.

---

Theres a hole in the world like a Great black pit and ists filled with people who are filled with ***!.

^Thanks to Eva ^__^ <3

*CRASH*

 

Lunarina’s ears pinned back as she apologized to David for breaking the window in the office after having thrown her bass guitar into the air. “I’ll clean it up! I promise!” Lunarina began throwing out the broken glass that was scattered around the floor.

 

“It’s alright Lunarina, I’ll have someone else clean it up, just please leave the office I have important work to finish…” exclaimed David.  Lunarina looked at the mess she caused then to the others in the room and back to the mess.

 

“…I’m sorry.” Lunarina whispered as she picked up her bass guitar. Her eyes reflected sadness, but she kept a smile on her face despite what she felt. “I’ll see you all later!” She exclaimed with a smile as she turned around to face them before exiting through the office door. Lunarina slipped passed the grand corridor towards her room with as few greetings as she could manage. Once in her room she placed the bass guitar in its case and buried it deep in her closet hoping to never make another mess with her clumsiness again. Once she finished putting away her guitar she headed outside.

 

“You can go now, Dave and I would like to speak in private.”  Billy nodded to Erica’s request and headed off while she slipped into the president’s office. There she saw David clutching at his heart as he breathed heavily beside a broken window. “Oh no… how did the window break?” “How do you think?” With a deep cleansing breath, David was back to his old self. A robotic maid unit had arrived to quickly sweep up the pieces and depart. “It’s ok, that Bass just came very close to my head…” Erica smiled at his response. “Here, sit down, you need to spend some time away from all this.” She quickly organized all of the documents and placed them off to the side in there respective folders.

 

Lunarina sat down in a quiet area where she could meditate in peace. I wonder… if ever the time comes for me to fight… will I be able to control myself? Or will I become a mindless killing machine? The thoughts had passed through Lunarina’s mind several times, yet she knew the only answer would be known when the time came. She chuckled at the next thought that came to mind. Or maybe I’ll become the clumsy super human! She struck a heroic pose until she noticed someone standing behind her and fell off the platform she was sitting on. “Heeeyy, you know you shouldn’t sneak up on people like that!” Lunarina exclaimed clutching at her heart. She looked up at the figure, who held out his hand in a gesture to help her up. Realizing that the figure was Billy, Lunarina jumped up and embraced her friend in a warm hug. “Haha, I’m sorry Lunarina! But what were you up to just now?” Billy grinned at her in amusement. Lunarina wasn’t one who held back any weird action or words she was doing or saying. “I was practicing my heroic stance for the day when the nation will need my help!” She exclaimed in her ever cheery voice. “Is that so?” Billy asked teasingly, “Well, as long as you don’t hurt yourself Lunie!” Billy said as he patted her head between her ears. “Awww Billy, why do you have to call me that?! People will think you’re calling me loonie!” Lunarina sighed but her eyes were filled with joy. She didn’t care much if people thought she was a loon. She was being herself and if being herself meant being weird according to others she wouldn’t change it for anything. Billy stopped patting her head. “Lunie, you seemed upset back at the office… are you alright?” He asked as his eyes fixed on her. “I’m just dandy!” she said while fixing her gaze on him. Billy was the only person who seemed to actually care for her. Everyone else only seemed to know her as the last super human created. “I actually was a little upset at the office, but I’m fine now thanks Billy.” A smile spread across her face. Billy cocked his head to one side as if to say are you sure? Lunarina nodded her head once as though reading his thoughts. A smile spread across Billy’s face.

 

After a quick nod, the robot left, and the door quietly shut behind them. As soon as the door shut, Erica propped up her head with her arms. “so, how did the first attack go?” The president chuckled and placed a katana on the table. It’s hilt was chained to it’s scabbard in such a way it wouldn’t allow more than a few inches of the blade to show if it was fully drawn. “Not so well, they discovered a sub and after that they all got wiped out. We got a large dosage of static so I’m pretty sure they’re using electronic weapons now. No matter, the newer models are stainless, and much more resistant to shock and weather, so I doubt the next attack will fail.” “Cool.” That was all Erica could really manage as a response.  “you sure about this? Can’t we just make piece with them somehow.” David grinned at Erica’s response. “listen, if someone snatched your purse and ran off with it, or in my case, several tons of oil and iron, would you run up to them and ask them nicely for it back, or do something so that they will regret, and indefinitely get back your purse?” Erica stared blankly at David. “I’d hope my boyfriend could come of nowhere, punch him out, and deliver my purse back with a kiss.” David smiled once more, but this time it was a real smile and not born from sarcasm. Erica returned his grin.

 

"So," he said putting his hands on his hips and looking around as if to make sure no one was watching. "Are you hungry? I'm going down to the cafeteria and I really hate eating alone. Normally I would eat with the president but he seemed busy with Erica."

 

“Really?! You wouldn’t mind if I joined you?!” Lunarina’s eyes filled with unimaginable joy at the offer. Lunarina had never been invited to have lunch with anyone. She would spend her lunch hours sitting alone under a tree. At this point Lunarina’s stomach grumbled. She looked up at Billy and shouted in a cheery voice. “LET’S GO GET LUNCH!” She grabbed Billy’s hand and raced towards the cafeteria. With a jerk Black stumbled after the cheery soldier. He quickly righted himself and managed to get himself beside her, running with her toward the cafeteria. He felt awkward with so many people seeing him holding hands with the super human girl. Black chuckled "I suppose I am lucky you didn't crush my hand?" he asked looking down at the smaller figure. Lunarina looked at Billy and grinned in reply. They almost bumped into the people waiting in the cafeteria. Lunarina looked at the menu in delight. “Oooh I don’t know what I want!” she exclaimed more to herself than to Billy, pointing at all the items on the menu. 

 

Black looked up at the menu board scanning more for the prices of the food than anything else. "Well, uhh, I think I am just going to grab a small sandwich,” he slowed his talking when he realized his companion wasn’t really listening to him. She seemed much more interested in what the menu had to offer. "Hey...Lunie" he asked, and gave a small wave of his hand. "What are you having?"

 

Lunarina turned to her lunch buddy and in her most cheerful voice said, “I WANT THE MEATLOAF!” At this point she was on her tippy-toes dancing to the word meatloaf. Billy stepped back and screwed up his face at Lunarina's impulsive dance. "Alright then," he said laughing as he regained his composure. "Meatloaf it i-" he stopped suddenly when he saw the price.....

 "Eheh" Black scratched the back of his head, "maybe I'll just get something to drink!"

 

After the food was purchased they made their way to a small booth in the corner to enjoy their meal. The super human looked at her friend in puzzlement. “Are you sure you don’t want anything to eat? You did say you were hungry after all.”  Billy simply smiled at his friend. Lunarina heard his stomach growling and looked at her plate of food. Billy watched in horror and awe as the super human femme fatale whipped out a massive sword and neatly divided the food in two even portions! Not even scratching the plate! “What are you doing Lunie?” Billy asked in wonder. “I’m never going to be able to finish this whole plate by myself! So I’m sharing it with you,” Lunarina replied with a big smile. Billy, once again, couldn’t help but smile back at her. The two friends ate happily away, not noticing the many stares they received from the on-lookers in the cafeteria. 

 

            “Are you hungry?” David asked pointing at Erica. “Yea, just a little bi-“ A maid quickly stormed into the room, dropped a platter of baked potatoes, sweet potatoes, minced carrots, stuffing, and a honey ham in the middle of the table. The android then set up a flour vase and candle stick, which it lit with a puff  of flame from it’s finger. The robot also pulled two wine glasses out of it’s  chest and filled each glass half way with a fine spirit. It then finally dispensed silverware and plates for the two. “SHALL –I –PREPAIR –DESERT?” The robot asked. “Yes, a banana boat please, be sure to include 2 spoons.” After a quick nod, the robot vanished from sight. David placed his eye patch aside, revealing his eye was actually fine, and started to cut the ham into slices and drop them onto his and Erica’s plate, but she was overwhelmed by everything. All the food was steaming hot, and looked so fresh it was probably butchered a few hours ago. The ham let off it’s honey fragrance with each cut of David’s knife, filling the room with an aroma that would drive any meat lover mad. “How do you eat all this?” She said with a slight chuckle. “You don’t. Just eat what you like. Everything you don’t eat becomes soup or a sandwich.” He chuckled as he said this, and started to eat the ham. “…ya know, I know the answer now, to that question. The one about the purse.” Erica scooped up some sweet potatoes and dropped them onto her plate. “And?” David put another piece of meat into his mouth and scooped some of the carrots. “The answer depends on my situation. I think if I needed it, I would get it the fast way and shoot him, but if I didn’t, I’d ask for it, or even let him get away, as it’s not really important to me.” David finished swallowing his food.“ In that case.” He said in his impassive tone. “You will quickly find yourself shooting everyone.”  “…” Erika smiled and tried to change the mood. “Anyway Erica, How’s life? We seldom get a chance to talk like this. I’m still not sure exactly what you’re role is yet.”

 

 

"So," Billy said after he was done chewing, "what’s your story anyway? I've known you for a short time but it seems like I still know nothing about you. I don't even know where you came from or what makes you super human!” Lunarina shrugged her shoulders implying she didn’t know much about her own story. “I wish I knew myself so I could tell you.” She replied after a short pause.  She thought for a minute and continued, “I don’t recall much about where I come from… I remember feeling pain, the smell of fear…” Black watched her as her entire body shuddered at the memories she was recalling. “As for the super human experiment, I have never gotten a chance to test it myself… but my ears are a result of DNA modification.” Lunarina continued a little reluctant. “I was taken at a young age, I know I was scared. But at that time I was an orphan… to scientists it didn’t matter if the experiment would’ve failed on me because I had no one to go back to.” She ended her sentence, tears played in her eyes but not one drop fell. Billy stayed silent, shocked to see that such an apparently happy girl had such a heartbreaking story. "Well, that story certainly contradicts with your carefree attitude" he said a little stunned. "You must have a strong heart." Lunarina looked at him and smiled, she replied to him in a soft voice, “Happiness is one of the only things that another individual cannot take from you, but you can take your own happiness away. Happiness is what I search for.”

 

 

“Basstards! I’d never authorize something like that. But you put the final touches on Lunarina eh? Never figured you for a scientist.” David sipped his wine as Erica finished sipping hers. “Yes, I was put at head of the project. I don’t know why I was chosen, I prefer working with chemicals and metallurgy over creature DNA. Unlike a robots, people are living, you can’t rebuild them after they die. Once they reach the beyond you won’t see them again…for a while…”

 

“Well, not to sound spiteful, but I think I know why the last guy passed of the project to someone else…” David looked at the window, it was being replaced by another maid android. Erica laughed, despite the fact that David wasn’t being comical.

 

She looked deep into Billy’s eyes, “but enough about me, what’s your story?” She grinned at Billy knowing his story would be an interesting one. Black crossed his arms across his chest and leaned back in the booth. "Well," he began "my life really started in the war we had with the Fenrir nation 4 years ago. Apparently I'm a pretty good shot", he chuckled at those last words and continued. "I was recruited into a sniper unit and sent on various missions. Never made many friends though, all of my spotters requested transfers after one or two missions.  When asked why they wanted a transfer, they all came to the same reply. Right before I killed my target, they said that I smiled." He looked around almost nervously. "I guess it freaked them out, that’s how I got the nickname "Bullet Grin." Anyway, from then on I went on various solo missions until I met David. I think he was the only other soldier I really bonded with. But those are stories for another time." Black seemed to have trouble meeting Lunarina's eyes, and looked at a watch strapped to his wrist. "Heh, sorry, didn't mean to get so wordy on you."

 

“And when exactly did you join the army?” Erica took the cherry off one of the boat’s “chimneys” and devoured it. “About 4 years ago during the draft, I won’t lie, I didn’t want too.” He scooped some ice-cream. “But after meeting Billy Black, I knew as long as he had my back, we’d live.”

 

“How?”

 

“He was always smiling.”

 

David laughed darkly As the scientist allowed the ice-cream on her spoon to melt all over the table, her face pale and shocked. “Hey look, I hate war. But if we have to have one, I’d rather have it now and not later when we can’t defend ourselves.” David stood up and put his eye patch back on. Erica poured the soupy ice-cream into her wine glass “I just don’t want anyone to die needlessly.”

 

Lunarina sensed distress in Billy. She smiled at him for a few seconds, stood up and said, “It would appear that you and I are two different coated foxes in the same den.” Black laughed at Lunarina’s pun and playfully put his hands next to his head, impersonating his friend’s fox ears. "Yeah," he agreed "but it’s okay ‘cause we have meatloaf chickens to hunt" Lunarina stuck out her tongue at Billy in a playful manner. “You know you’d make a mighty handsome fox!” Lunarina said aloud with no hint of embarrassment in her voice. A large smile spread across her face as a small group of people looked at her to see what was going on. Black immediately froze in place as the heat of the onlookers’ stares bore into the two of them. He made a comical figure, with his hands near his head and a puzzled look on his face. He quickly turned his face away in embarrassment. "Umm…" he stumbled, "maybe we should go back and see David and Erica?" Lunarina looked around trying to find the time completely forgetting the comical state they were in. She spotted on old clock on the other side of the room. “Uh no!” She began to panic. “David is going to chop my ears off!” She said as she moved her hands near her ears in a gesture to protect them. Lunarina quickly grabbed Billy’s hand and they both ran towards David’s office. They reached the office doors and knocked twice.

 

 

 

            Gail now had his entire party behind him, spare Natasha, Afonos, and Akasuki, who remained behind.  Killrock quickly ran up beside the half demon. “Say chap, you look a dite sweaty. That’s an awful crappy coolant system you got there.” Gail turned over to his annoying comrade. “Thanks.” Nothing ever annoyed Killrock, so why even bother trying for a snappy comeback he’ll probably ignore your snappy comeback anyway. But this heat was making Gail especially irritable. He pulled a canteen from his waist and splashed it on his face. But after the water ran out of his eyes, the hearty warrior saw something that made him drop his container.

 

            “What the Hell?”

           

            “What from hell.” Killrock corrected.

 

            Right in front of the pearly white gates to Valhalla was a demon, but it was no ordinary demon, this thing was bigger than life. It’s rear end and back two legs looked like that of an enlarged elephant,  it’s front two legs and chest looked like that of a praying mantis, it used it’s front claws to support it’s weight, as it walked on all fours. The head was like that of a massive cobra, fitted with a pharaoh’s hat. It also had  rows of sharp teeth rather than fangs. Well, all the teeth looked like fangs actually. It also had two heads on it’s sides that looked like that of sea turtles, and even the top of the creature had a brown and yellow spotted shell.

 

            “It’s a Kajata!” Gail pulled out a small, yet very thick book and turned to the appropriate page while the Demon continued to roar and rage out of control. It’s movements appeared to be slow and majestic, but nobody denied the power of the creature ahead. “Ok, let’s see, no outstanding weaknesses, bones are unbreakable in most cases, has regenerative properties, 88 rows of teeth, defecates minions?”

 

The Kajata pooped, and the fecalmatter quickly hardened into small human sized soldiers with clubs. It seemed to do this every few seconds. With a look of disgust, Gail continued to read.

 

“Minions are as soft as humans, have stone clubs, have no emotion or fear…” Gail skipped to the end. “Snake head has a sticky and long tong that it can use to snag stray team members.”

 

“Hey, uh, Gail buddy, Looks like it’s trying to eat Epsilon.”

 

The half demon looked over and saw Epsilon being held high in the sky by the snakes long whip-like tong. The snake demon was slowly retracting it, and was getting ready for a meal.

 

“Crap! Killrock, GET HIM!” With a mighty heave, Gail hurled Killrock onto the Kajata’s head. “The rest of you, attack!” Gail was yelling at the top of his lungs now. “ We have to slay all the demons, Vega, Kajata, Storm crow, hell…”

 

“EVEN DIVAGRO MUST DIE!”

---

Epsilon thought he heard the name Fajita and wandered what the heck resemblance the monster before him had with one of his favorite foods. He caught the sight of Gail , out of the corner of his eye, viscously thumbing through a book and had to smile. The conglomeration of parts and the haphazard way they were put together led Epsilon think that perhaps the demon inside was portraying a different image to each one of his enemies.

 

"I hope not" He thought to himself as he saw an awful waste product plop to the ground and emerge a (somewhat perplexed and odorous) solder.

"Nast….ee" Was all he could say.

Slowly Epsilon backed away from the creature , managed to trip over his own foot, and land solidly on his back. Before he could rise, he felt a raspy grip take him by the leg and draw him upward.

"No, NO, NO, NO NO!!!!"He cried as the snake drew him closer. Fear had now wrapped a cold hand around Epsilon’s heart tighter than the demon before him.

"Think think think thinkthinkthink!" Epsilon watched as Kilrock went flying through the air, an impossible heroic grin on his metallic face. One of the turtleheads simply battered him off to the side.

Kajata reared up on hind legs carrying Epsilon even higher. The rest of the silversmiths drew back despite Gail’s order to attack. Epsilon thought he heard the order to regroup and not for the first time questioned. "Who ARE these guys?"

Slowly, and then faster the Kajata reeled Epsilon in. As fangs drew closer the demon turned on it’s heel and proceeded to retreat away from the group. This act alone brought Epsilon to despair. He reached into his vest for the stiletto though he had no idea where a pin *** from this weapon would do any good. A viscous snap of Kajata’s head and Epsilon watched in horror as the tiny weapon flew out of his hand.

In a last desperate attempt Epsilon grabbed hold of a fang with each hand and held on with all of his strength. He felt the tongue adjust it’s hold, preparing for one last final tug. He looked up into the eyes of the beast and realized "I am already dead."

 

 

 

He stood tall, body erect, feet planted firmly in the stand. Gunslinger’s hands were fast, fast as lightening. A sudden slight crouch, a blur and two army colts appeared aimed directly at the serpent’s head. One of the Kajata’s legions was closing on him. Faster then the eye could follow both colts jerked and the soldier was blown back into a dung heap from which he came.

Both Epsilon and the serpent paused for a moment and gazed down at the lone gunman.

Gunslinger pointed both colts back at the serpent’s head and then slowly, quite inexplicably lowered his guns and holstered them. The serpent seemed to arch his reptilian brows and give Epsilon a quick glance. Epsilon felt saliva dripping off the serpent’s tongue and fill his boot.

Gunslinger pulled his duster back over his weapons and reached his hand into his vest pocket. Serpent began pulling Epsilon into his maw.

Epsilon screamed to Gunslinger. "He’ll kill you too!"

Gunslinger pulled the pink flute from his pocket and put it to his lips. Slowly a melody emerged from the end of the instrument. It was rich, quite beautiful really, and ran up and down the musical scale in a manner no one had heard before.

Epsilon pulled his attention from the gunslinger and shot a quick glance at the serpent’s head. There, with eyes half rolled back in it’s head, and a rapturous look on his face, serpent began to gently sway with the melody. Before he knew what was happening the Kajata gently settled it’s serpent head on the ground, yawning and rolling off to one side, allowing Epsilon to jump clear of the now flaccid tongue. The turtle heads looked at each other with a questioning glare.

Epsilon took of at a dead run and joined the gunslinger.

Gunslinger smiled and nodded his head. He held out his hand with the flute. "Here, looks like you may need this more than me."

Epsilon looked at the flute and shook his head. "That flute belonged to a warrior. I think now it has found it’s true home."

With that both men turned . Gail was giving orders…..again.

Killrock tumbled over and over until he landed on his feet, but when he looked up, he saw an entirely difrent eneamy... his programing had been jogged in the attack, and rather than seeing current events, he was seeing everything in the Past.

Gunslinger was replaced by a verry large blonde haired masked man, While Epsilon, was rweplaced by a miedum build man , whith blue hair covering his ears. but was moast Disturbing, is that Kajata had the apearence of a old nemises. The turtle heads kinda looked like Dragon heads now, his arms giant swords, and the serpent body looked like a tall piller.

"D-d-d-dark Faltz?" he rapped on the side of his head, "Sune? Tank?" he looked to his old friends that told him going to the Silvemyth guild was a good Idea. "there just standing there!, dont they see the beast?!".

If killrocks memory chip wasent Jogged, he might have turned from Kajata and fled, but Killrock's programing led huim to believe, that his past was present, and he had to save his friends.

"hhhHHHHYYYEEEEAAAA!!!!" the Hucast darted falwards, the hydrolics working harder than they ever had before!, and he lept up to one of the Turtle heads (wich for killrock looked like the leg of his old nemises) Pulling Agito from his back, he inbedid it into the beast. "Keep drawing the Photon energy from his wounds Mag!". humming in aknoedgement. the android then lept off of Kajata and landed infront of him.

"My photon blast's almoast charged!, I need more Dead photon cells". the lights in his eyes dimmed as if to narrow his eyes.  It was then , his self repair system , fixed the error, and his vision was back.

"oh...thats right...." he looked up, and Kajata's spike like arm was raised over its head, and drove down on the android. "What an abortion you turned out to be". he rubbed his chin with his arm. wich in a flash Killrock soon discovered his arm was now severed off, and Kajata's arm inbeded in the ground beside him.

 "Well, im glad I wasent built to feel pain" he shruged off the damage now useing the Photon daggers would be useless, his pole arm would serve more of a burden, so all he had left was his Photon Sabre... wich at this moment, he wished he hadent carelessly left Agito in the Turtle head.

"Too late to ru now!, you filth!, thout...hath...taken...thine arm off?" he then felt many clubs pound into his back. "ow! OW! what is that stench? OFFF! oh gawd you guys are terrible!" he ignighted the Photon sabre to life and with a few slashes, the "poo soldiers" as he labled them, dropped into heaping piles.

His mag's spun in exsitement emitting a yellow light. "oh, splended, we ready boy's?" and once again he was on the charge. "I know this wont kill you, but maybe I can knock off one of your heads!" aiming for the one with Agito still in it, and when in strikeing range Killrock skided to a halt.

"Activate Photon blast!" the mag's Spread open like wings again to create a almoast blinding light. wich then was sucked into the mag's and into the Photon blade, causeing the flames on it to glow and burn like a blast furnace. setting himself into a stance, Killrock readyed the blade, he would only have one shot, if he missed, his Photon blast would be waisted!.

"Limit break!" again, quoting some bizar thing, the Hucast mooved the blazeing blade into a stab, and slid it off horizantally. "Glorious..." the slash he made seemed to burn as bright as his blade, and another Horizantal slash ran the oposit way. "Glorious!" and then, the final blow!, a Vertical cut, running down the Center of the Horizantal line, and not "Close" to the center, this cut was Absolutely in the center of that line, not even a centimeeter difrence.." Ga-loooooooooorious T!" the photon blast was complete, and the blazeing wound sank into itself, and exsploded away from Killrock, sohis attack wouldent damage the Hucast in return, waiting to see what kind of Damage he caused the beast.  

---

Theres a hole in the world like a Great black pit and ists filled with people who are filled with ***!.

^Thanks to Eva ^__^ <3

    The turtle head thrashed around with the "T" mark embedded in it's head. the entire creature rose up from the sand and turned towards the android, shaking the yellow dust from it's body. the blood from the snapper also flew into the air, but the quanity of blood quickly dwindled as the wound healed back up. whatever it was, it wasn't going down easy. There had to be a way to keep the wounds open...

 

    "Come on people! CHARGE!" Gail readied his weapon, and pounced onto the creatures back.
 

---

"No thanks, I'd rather flank." In all the chaos of the battle, Kiyo calmly, but quietly, paced around the Kajata, observing the beast's movements and strength. The sunlight around Kiyo's body increasingly refracted and distorted in reaction to his rising magical heat, effectively "hiding" his burly frame with a mirage and allowing him to move around undetected. After observing the extent of the Kajata's regeneration, Kiyo positioned himself to the right of the massive beast at a safe distance from its heads' range.

"Alright, I guess I don't have to hold back too much against this demon. Let's see how it handles one of my stronger techniques." With a strong stomp backwards, Kiyo firmly planted his feet into the sandy desert floor and raised his right arm out from under his cloak, revealing a length of crimson scrolls that covered his arm like bandages. "Sensei..."

<I'm on it>

With a bright flash, Kiyo's entire body ignited with pent up magic that took the form of roaring red flames. The Crimson Soul ring radiated with equal ferocity as Kiyo and his mentor's spirit focussed the raw power of the magical blaze. White runes began to light up one by one in a circular pattern along the scroll that covered Kiyo's arm. "Looks like I'll deal with its mobility first..." When the last rune lit up, Kiyo formed an open palm with his right hand and aimed straight at the Kajata's rear legs, just low enough to avoid hitting Gail, but high enough to deal a direct impact.  "Messatsu (Destructive)..."  the flames around Kiyo's body suddenly swirled around him and receded into his outstretched arm. "Go Sen Hyaku-do no Honō (5100°C Flame)!!!!" At his call, a massive stream of super-heated fire shot out of Kiyo's palm and slammed into the Kajata's legs. In response, the behemoth's dung soldiers lumbered about its master and tried to block the attack, only to melt away in a fiery maelstrom. "Burn, demon, burn!!!!" Kiyo yelled as he continued to pour a steady stream of incinerating Phoenix flames into the monster.

---

Midori examined the Kajata from toe to head as she gazed at it through the small opening of the charred cape wrapped around her face. Upon reaching the top, her eyes struggled a bit to overcome the desert sun's radiance. She then shifted her attention to the Silvermyth troupe and their futile attempts to bring down the demon.

-"Hmmm..."-

She noticed how the Kajata's injuries healed right back up just as soon as they were inflicted upon it. Suddenly, Kiyo's fiery attack gave her an idea.

-"Hope this goes as well as it went for Hercules..."- [Reference to the Second Labour of Heracles]

With that, Midori withdrew her sword from the scabbard at the time she recited her power word. Once the Midori phantoms were in place, the blonde huntress yelled out at Kiyo from the distance.

-"Kiyo! Direct your flames to as many cuts as you can!"-

The swarms of Midoris lunged themselves at the demon and began to hack and slash at its body mercilessly, hoping that if they managed to scorch the open wounds, they wouldn't be able to regenerate as quickly or as much, if at all.

 

---

YA~HA!

Gail pulled out his other scythe.

 

“Ok, now I’m going to need…”

 

The half demon discovered his team wasn’t with him. “…Kiyo?”

 

Suddenly, the side of the shell was bashed with the searing heat from Kiyo’s attack. Gail watched as the heat turned the sand into glass, and smelled the stench of fried insects and elephant meat, a little too well done. But he knew the creature would just heal up again…

 

Then from the beasts front, the half demon spotted Midori’s clones trying to score a hit on Kajata, most failing miserably as his scythe like arm wiped them out a dozen at a time. All the while the real Midori yelled at Kiyo from afar to redirect his attack to where she was attacking. Needless to say, there combined effort was a bit poor in execution, as Kiyo didn’t appear to have heard her.

 

Turning again, Gail spotted Killrock and Victor, staring on, thinking of what to do next. The half demon didn’t even start to waist time looking for Epsilon, as his fortay was not fighting, and he made that quite apparent on a number of occasions. This was quickly looking as bad as the Griffons Tail incident.

 

“AW COME ON GUYS! A LITTLE TEAM WORK PLEASE?”

 

Kajata let out a roar that could stop a man’s heart, as if to say “I’m not going to take this crap from you any more.” As it did this, it reared up it’s front legs, high into the air. The half demon must have been 30 stories in the air now. All Gail could think was…

 

“…we’re boned…”

 

*Slam*

 

The creatures weight crashing against the ground was enough to knock everyone onto there back. with a quick shake, all the chard skin lifted off the creatures body like ash. It was angry now, and it had eyes for Kiyo…

 

        “Uh… what a…SHOCK! Oh my god that was awesome!” Gail quickly sprinted to his feet and punched the air a few times. “Now…Uh…Guess I’d better get to work.”

---

"That would be a good Idea instead of telling us what were doing wrong" Killrock now picked up his arm and pushed it into Gails stomach. "Atleast hold this while I find the beasts weakness!.".

Killrock quickly sprinted to Midori..well,... one of them, it was really hard to find the real one. "Hey Midori, keep its front Ocupied!, I have a really good Idea to stop this thing, and im the only one Qualified to try it!. he then began to Circle around the beast.

"Il simply insert myself into the beast, threw the largest hole I know of!" he was...again... stupidly blatting his plan out loud. "Once inside!, il cut and burn every Vital organ I see fit!". he stopped at the rear end of the beast as it deficated another minoin.

and because this hole is so damn nasty, Ive decided to take it apon myself to make the sacrifice!

---

Theres a hole in the world like a Great black pit and ists filled with people who are filled with ***!.

^Thanks to Eva ^__^ <3