Kazuki
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You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Jun 9, 2024 1:51:54 GMT 9
The flames subsided, Kazuki coughing, burping smoke. “Ha, shit— really? Never would have known.” His tongue swiped over his ash-stained teeth, watching Kintsugi prance about, still singing Silvermoon’s praise. It came as no surprise. Most pokemon were smitten with their trainers; they were built to be.
Most of them.
The elemental beams struck, a cascade of sensation, synapses firing to connect input with memory: his skin burning, bursting into boils that were slathered in subzero ice, sparks jammed into his bloodstream and seizing him.
His mouth pulled further upward, eyes open to it all.
This is what makes this game worth it: the fact he could feel this, and still be alive.
Waffle stopped purring, peeping open his pink irises at Silvermoon’s question. <Mmm, I dunno!> he chirped, ears brushing their sleeve as he tilted his head. <I’ve only had one trainer!>
His eyes returned to the battle. <But um, I think it’s good when trainers give us hugs. And treats!>
From his eyes reflected a scene: The barrage subsiding to the charred silhouette of Kazuki, rising from where his feet were planted, body torn and seared and battered— and smiling.
<I think it’s also good when they try.>
Kazuki leaped, leaving snow and smoke in his wake, his hands clasped together tight as prayer, high over his head—
<When they try very, very hard!>
The ash smeared over his skin hadn’t left a single grain behind— clinging to him— embracing where his injuries patched screaming sinew to indestructible bone— a living patchwork that spilled from his palms in shadow sparks as he hammered his fists into Kintsugi’s skull.
{Kazuki} - say a one-liner as you attack - engage in distracting banter - fight through the pain
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Kazuki
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You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on May 15, 2024 1:04:22 GMT 9
It had been a while.
Kazuki sat atop one of the crushed skyscrapers, watching the massive pillar of metal sticking out from the floodwaters. He didn’t see any familiar faces, and with his pokemon still tucked in their pokeballs, he opted to wander the perimeter.
Despite the open space, the thrumming ozone, his steps felt like they echoed in this place. It crawled over his skin like static, and his curiosity did not last.
He hopped away from the spire after a quick tune up, deciding to find something for his time.
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Kazuki
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You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Feb 22, 2024 13:39:56 GMT 9
The sun shone bright on the little field chosen for the day’s break. The Mudsdale twins grazed languidly (to other Pokémon) and competitively (to each other) by a river, while Floatzel and Gyarados waded in the lake connected to the end of it; the former whispering vigorously to keep the other’s eyes from wandering off to the side, where Steelix, Blaziken, Scorbunny, and Emboar lay waste upon a clearing in a two-versus-two sparring match.
By some miracle, Kazuki was not involved in any of the action. He was the farthest thing from it, sitting under the cool shade of a tree with a small group. He raised his hands, made two thumbs up that he pushed from his chest outward as if to jab someone’s eyes out, then pointed with an index. A smack landed on his arm, causing him to hiss. “What the hell!”
Pansear rolled his eyes, tapping a stick in his palm. He turned, tapping the end of the stick to a small chalkboard nailed into the old tree bark, where the sentences Clear, friendly movements. and Remember your facial expressions. were written on. Undeterred, the instructor turned back to the next student, motioning for the younger monkey to go next.
Chimchar appeared to hesitate, but after wringing his hands, he made the motion, taking care with his lip movements. A perfectly-signed ‘How are you’.
Pansear nodded his approval and Chimchar's eyes shined at his mentor.
Kazuki grumbled, wiping his face with his hand. “Why am I even doing this? I told you, I want you to teach the worm how to communicate, not me.”
Leech seemed to perk up where it had been sleeping over a pebble. <.-- --- .-. -- -.-.-->
Dragonite, who had been participating in the class as she watched over the fresh hatchling, tilted her head. <It would be quite… difficult… to sign with no hands… Is there no other method for them?>
Pansear pondered Leech for a moment, before turning to the chalkboard and wiping it clean with his tail. He picked up the little chalk piece from its perch on the board’s edge and began to write a series of letters, dots, and dashes.
Kazuki’s irritation slowly morphed into exasperation. “… You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Pansear ignored him, placing the chalk back down and picking up the stick. He tapped it on the dots beside ‘E’ ‘A’ and ‘T’, before proceeding to tap out the correct code slowly and clearly for the class. Chimchar was first to mimic it, tapping a stone.
Leech was practically bouncing on its rock like a slinky in its excitement, beeping quickly. <. .- - . .- - . .- - . .- - -.-.-->
Dragonite’s eyes ran between the board, Pansear, and Leech, before they grew with realization. She quickly jotted down a series of dots and dashes on the soil in front of her, practically stabbing it with her claw. Once certain, she tapped on the pebble until Leech turned to her, before painstakingly tapping out: <.- .-. . / -.-- --- ..- / .... ..- -. --. .-. -.-- ..--..>
Leech’s beeping reached crescendo. <-.-- . ... -.-.-->
“When I said ‘worm morse code’, I was fucking joking!” Kazuki threw his hands up. Here he was, hoping the first Pokémon he had ever hatched would be able to teach the baby worm, only for Pansear to turn around and tell him he's the one that needs to learn a new language. Dragonite swooped down to toss Leech in the air, delighting.
<I understand you! I speak your tongue, little one! And what a marvelous song you sing!> She laughed, throwing the baby zygarde in the air and catching them in her claws. It seemed bewildered at first, beeping frantically, only to realize the thrill of feeling wind on its body. Its fearbeeps became cheerbeeps.
Pansear raised his brows at Kazuki, whose eyes ripped away from the joyous dragons to glare daggers at the small monkey’s aura of smugness. Pansear tapped the board with the stick once more, as Kazuki hissed expletives and began scribbling furiously, as if he could stab the dots and dashes into his memory instead of through paper.
CHIMCHAR'S RARITY INCREASED BY +5 (VERY RARE)
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Kazuki
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Feb 19, 2024 3:27:16 GMT 9
Once upon a time, there was The Door. It lay deep within the mist, sitting in perpetual shadow under the timberland’s thick canopy. Gleaming lights danced to keep it company, yet its weathered frame slumped, its wood and iron creaked day and night, calling out to the overgrown path. Revered mystery or not, a door is meaningless without anyone to see what lay inside.
The little glowing spirits whispered quietly, before flitting away. A branch snapped in two. Crunching leaves, coming closer.
Let’s try that again.
Once upon a time, there was a Princess whose beauty was known far and wide. He possessed yards of white hair the likes of silk, and a face that would make even the most self-contained royal priests and nobles fall to their knees in tears.
The fair Princess was trapped in the Grand Tower, locked up by an evil Witch. When he rose from his long slumber, he found himself in a strange room. This room was made of solid white brick, furnished by a [tangent=This luxurious four-poster bed is fit for a princess! Despite an incredibly soft mattress, you didn't have a very nice sleep.]large bed[/tangent], a [tangent=A wardrobe fit for royalty! Only the best for our darling princess and aspiring thespian.]closet[/tangent], a [tangent=Your favorite place in the world. And it's mahogany!]writing desk[/tangent], a [tangent=It's a long fall down. The bricks are smooth.]window[/tangent], and a [tangent=Hand-carved with your family's crest: An albino Sawsbuck.]locked door[/tangent].
On the writing desk lay a single open book with its pages torn out. Despite the haphazard state of its contents, the binding was impeccable—it was a thick leather cover with gold filigree, the words ‘TOME OF INFINITE TALES’ embossed on the front. On the book were only the words, in sweeping script:
Beside the barren pages lay a quill pen with a feather of vibrant plumage and an inkwell.
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Kazuki
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Feb 19, 2024 2:55:11 GMT 9
It looked to be another autumn-blessed day in Birchwild Grove. Soft twitters from birds in the trees, skwovet scurrying between the branches, and joyous deerling prancing—
—Only to be sent scurrying away as chaos poured into the peaceful wood, crushing the wooden welcome sign at the border.
“Damn it,” a man hissed as he plodded deeper into the grove. He was running as fast as he could. Even then, the sounds of galloping, shouting, and whistling in the sky were closing in, the value of his loot too great to stop and properly cover his tracks.
Persistent bastards. He pushed on, bramble bushes snagging and ripping into his pants and skin as he forced his way into the denser paths of the route, but this wasn’t the Timberlands. There was no cloud cover. This was enemy territory, and working alone could lead to only one end.
But then his luck turned around.
And this unfortunate player’s was about to hit terminal velocity.
With a grin, a shuffle of heavy steps, and an imposing shadow looming above—
“Hey, kid!”
A heavy weight was thrown on Nero. More than five feet long, weighing nearly a hundred pounds, the bulging burlap sack was by no means easy cargo, and had, strangely enough, three thick leather belts with steel locks sealing it shut: one on its neck, another around its middle, and the last near the end. A body bag.
Kazuki laughed as the galloping herd came into view in the distance behind him. “Now you’re in it.”
An alert appeared on the screen:
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Kazuki
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Feb 18, 2024 5:43:56 GMT 9
He waited until the last minute to launch himself out of the way, using the fire and dust to create a smokescreen that enveloped the Buzzwole, momentarily blinding it. In the next second, all Kazuki could hear was a series of loud bangs and crashes, the side of the gas station caving in.
The dust parted to the Buzzwole lying half-buried in the rubble, still alive, albeit badly wounded. It was motionless for a moment, as if dazed.
“Still with us?” Kazuki hummed, stopping to stand over it. The rubble began to stir, and the twinkle in his eye returned. “Good!”
Before he reached down to grab it by the antennae, other arm reeled back to slam his elbow into the soft spot on its throat.
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Kazuki
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Feb 18, 2024 5:23:30 GMT 9
“I’M BACK!” Kazuki hollered, like coming home to a beloved spouse.
The Buzzwole turned, its quiet distorted vocalizations ramping up at the sight of him. A very warm welcome.
Almost as warm as it cracking its massive knuckles, as if saying I’m going to crush you like a pillbug, and Kazuki found he preferred this greeting better. Talking smack was part of the gig in many cases, though it was satisfying to know the creature wasn’t doing it for a crowd or a contract. Its taunts and murderous intent were genuine.
“You want a piece of this?” Kazuki slapped his chest like a monkey. “Then quit fucking around and come get some!”
It roared, clenching its fists and taking on a familiar position. Kazuki grinned, curious to see if the same strategy he once used for taking down Duraludons would work for Duraludon-sized bugs as well. He would find out here, as the air was deafened by the screech of Buzzwole’s wings. It rose off the ground and lunged for him in a blur.
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Kazuki
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Feb 18, 2024 5:13:01 GMT 9
Kazuki rose from where he respawned face-first on asphalt, groaning loudly. He rolled his neck, hearing pops loud enough to concern mechanics, and it was the same for every sore muscle and joint as he stretched himself into something resembling a human being.
With one tackle, the bug had managed to throw him into a building so hard that he basically broke every single bone in his body.
“That… was awesome!” Kazuki laughed. Even fully healed, he could still feel phantom pains scraping all over him as he hopped down from the shrine, sprinting as fast as he can back towards the Forgotten Nexus to challenge the Buzzwole again, his mind reeling for strategies on how to take it down. It had been a good, long while since he’d managed to find one this brutal.
One that didn’t resemble an office building, at least.
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Kazuki
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Feb 18, 2024 5:04:12 GMT 9
Despite reeling from the impact, Kazuki had retained his lock, feeling the Buzzwole move to try and rise off the ground. He waited until it was far enough, before releasing his leg from its side and slamming the heel of his foot into its neck—
It’s soft, Kazuki realized. The damn thing had a drill for a stinger and much of its armor-encased body couldn’t be crushed, but spots like its neck were vulnerable. The bug screeched, reeling back and pulling out of Kazuki’s lock before he could readjust.
The Buzzwole shook its head, rearing back like a bull. Its muscles bulged, but it made no move to pose or be flashy in any way.
“Shit,” Kazuki breathed, hands alight to try and blast out of the way, but to no avail—
The Buzzwole rammed into him like a freight train, sending him crashing through a wall.
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Kazuki
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Feb 18, 2024 4:53:08 GMT 9
It’s a direct hit!
It rocked the Buzzwole, hard enough to knock it off balance and into the ground. Kazuki moved to lock it down, using his entire body as a clamp as the Buzzwole’s numerous legs scrambled for traction on the dust and debris.
Kazuki moved, reeling his arm back, only to curse as his body was dragged across. The Buzzwole had reversed them, slamming Kazuki on the ground and crushing his spine on the edge of a cement chunk. It pried a cry out of him, as well the rest of his oxygen, as the air around became stifled with dust from the brawl.
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Kazuki
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Feb 18, 2024 4:25:11 GMT 9
An Every Wich Way sign came whistling past his flimsy human body, demolishing an Arby’s, and it was as good as being serenaded at the window with Spanish guitar.
The Ultra Beast was one of the most insane creatures he’d seen in the game, which was saying something. He knew Pokémon could be bulky in this game, having witnessed the more disconcerting effects of the Fighter class early on, but this one was simply built different.
The Buzzwole emitted a strange, undulating cry, before flexing at him, of all things. Kazuki threw his head back and laughed. “Now you’re speaking my language!” He flexed back, before promptly slamming explosive fists on the roof, launching himself at the Buzzwole.
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Kazuki
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Feb 18, 2024 3:58:54 GMT 9
The resounding crash of shattering cement echoed across the zone. Kazuki paused where he clung to a ledge, only to hurry onto the top of the diagonal high rise in order to get an aerial view of the ruined city.
Even with this elevation, it still took a moment for him to pinpoint where the noise was coming from. The plume of dust was wedged between the buildings a solid block away, but it was enough for him to mentally pin it as a target. Grinning, Kazuki scrambled, sliding down the building and onto the metal girders bridging much of the area.
“Alright, let’s see what we’ve got here.” He landed, feet slamming onto the roof of a lower building that appeared to have once been a gas station. Whatever had caused that explosion was going to be on the street below.
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Kazuki
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Feb 18, 2024 3:28:03 GMT 9
Although he’s been running around Ostellia for a while, Kazuki did find there were still plenty of areas he hadn’t covered. He regretted not coming to the Forgotten Nexus earlier.
Because where else could he go hogwild in a city and not get arrested?
He crashed through glass windows, swung across the ruined roads and high falls using power lines, and in general, made way more of a mess than he needed to. Though it was chaotic, his eyes were flitting about, trying to find something.
Plenty of people had begun discussing about the Nexus, and even though he didn’t frequent UNOVR’s discussion boards, word had already reached him that a worthy opponent was prowling through the claustrophobic wreckage. All he had to do was follow its trail of destruction—or cause enough of one himself that it would be forced to make an appearance.
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Kazuki
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Feb 18, 2024 3:06:59 GMT 9
“And this is Thunderfall Shrine,” Kazuki explained. “It’s the shrine for the giant fuckoff bird called Zapdos. The one I made for you is smaller, but you can still grow up to kick his ass one day. Are you listening?”
The baby zygarde paused from where it was crawling over a big juicy apple, peeling itself off to beep at him incoherently. <.- ... ...!>
“Is this how you’re going to talk?” Kazuki asked, frustrated. “Or is this just the worm version of baby speech?” He shook his head. “Why am I even asking… just eat your lunch.”
<. .- - . .- - . .- - . .- -> It lay back down on the apple, resuming its crawl. Kazuki watched, arms crossed and sitting in lotus position, as if observing a koi pond as Leech finally arrived at its destination: the hole. Or rather, the leafy stem of the apple, if that leafy stem was actually two blinking eyes.
The beady eyes glared, and Leech glared back. A small mouth opened from the beak-like end of its face, and it very slowly tried to eat its opponent.
The applin closed its eyes and smacked it. Leech cried out, shriveling back.
“Oh, no you don’t,” Kazuki growled, nudging Leech with a finger. It had the same effect as trying to peel off adhesive, Leech immediately clinging to his skin and refusing to let go, like a child with a warm blanket. “Leech, get off! If you can’t even take an apple, nature is going to select you for compost in the sky!”
The applin rolled its eyes, spending the rest of the afternoon watching Giant Idiot try to unpeel his crying leech from his hands.
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Kazuki
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Feb 16, 2024 3:18:00 GMT 9
“This is it.” Kazuki took a step back, beholding his handiwork—which wasn’t really his handiwork at all. He stared at his shrine, and his shrine quite literally stared back.
“You happy now? You happy with this, egg?” He grumbled, despite already knowing the answer. The egg’s markings had not stopped glowing since he began, and only seemed to glow brighter as he finished. He held it in his hands now, and knew it was ready.
All he had to do was put. The egg. Down.
The Stakataka had already opened up, bricks pulling back to create a doorway to welcome Kazuki and the egg into its interior. The black sand acted as its floor, and with only the eyes on its walls as lighting, it felt like entering a rift in space.
“Turn this egg into an omelet and I turn you into an Ostellian gift shop, understand?” he said to the walls, before placing the egg on the sandy floor. He stepped outside. The walls shut closed.
The gaps between Stakataka’s bricks began to glow. It grew brighter and brighter, to the point Kazuki stepped back, thinking it would explode.
Only for it to instantly shut, making a noise like a microwave ding.
The door opened and Kazuki peeked inside, only to find—nothing.
“What the fuck?!” he sifted through the sand and found only eggshells. He stood up, about to demand answers from the eyes all around, only to feel something smack against his face.
The man went stumbling and yelling out the shrine. He yanked whatever was on his face off, feeling it peel off his skin.
It was a worm. A worm. Unlike the Zygarde he met at the Tree, this one was puny, fitting perfectly in his hand. It had a soft, gelatinous green body, with some kind of gem stuck inside. He squeezed it, and its eyes popped open, comically huge with googly-eye pupils.
“You can’t be the worm. You look nothing like it.”
The little worm blinked at him, and then it emitted a series of noises: <.--. .- .--. .-?>
“What?” Kazuki’s face only scrunched further. The worm only continued its strange little beeps, until he gave up and just pulled open his UI.
The egg was no longer in his inventory. The Zygarde he’d been promised sat in his PC box, so the hatching had been a success. After a little more digging, it became clear: this worm was indeed the legendary, albeit its first stage. Its baby stage.
“Well, shit.” Kazuki looked around, not knowing what to do. He could shove it in a ball, and then what? Have it be a ball-warmer?
Come to think of it, the worm didn’t really resemble any worm he knew. With its fat cone-like body, it more resembled a...
He put it on his chest. The Zygarde stuck with ease. It seemed to take a moment to gather the transfer from handheld stress ball to sticker, but eventually flattened. Apparently it liked body heat.
“Guess we’re off, Leech,” Kazuki snorted. He paused as he began to move away, wary eyes glancing at The Living Shrine.
But the Stakataka stayed put. It sat quietly, legs tucked into the sand, as it watched the man and the baby zygarde return to civilization.
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