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 26, 2023 8:41:42 GMT 9
Kazuki chuckles a bit as Sarah Lee voices her complaints. “I’d be more surprised if they didn’t,” he says, watching as the vile sewage eats away at the fabric of his pantlegs. “They’ve got a sense of humor out here.”
He stops slogging through the gloom, having yes, intended to walk into the abyssal death trap without a second thought, making it blindingly clear how new he is to the game. He turns as Sarah taps through her UI, the veteran trainer getting their priorities in order and sending out some kind of—flaming child.
This is such a weird goddamn game.
He does tense for a moment, expecting the entire tunnel to light up like a barbecue grill, but they don’t end up served. Instead, the entire place gets sprayed down, like Febreeze in a gas station bathroom. Not nearly enough, but at least it doesn’t feel like his eyebrows will singe off.
“It can do that?” He asks, raising a brow. He hadn’t read the descriptions while making his character, his caveman brain having locked onto ‘fire = good’ and left it at that. “Damn. You’ve been playing a longass time, haven’t you?” Good, really. They’re less likely to die to whatever hasn’t died first.
The wastewater subsides, though there’s still a distance to cross. Charcadet provides their group with a small radius of light as they wade through, and with Sarah’s new class, they can even keep tabs on what’s under the water. Something bobs towards them.
It appears to be a crate. It’s been crushed, un-lootable, and the side of what remains has ‘FOOD’ painted on in red. It’s one among many floating debris that can be seen in their light radius.
“The hell are people flushing in this town?” Kazuki growls, shoving away the remains of a desk. It floats and bumps against the tunnel wall, where the light reveals writing in fresh paint. Tally marks overrun the wall.
The water beyond their light begins to bubble, violently.
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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 Jun 26, 2023 7:03:56 GMT 9
Someone has been watching.
Invading another person’s colossal battle had not been the intention, though with the stage occupied, the observer had opted to wait around and see how long it would take for his turn.
The Probopass is relentless, raining lightning hell upon Wolf’s team. The water types put a valiant effort, quickly launching counter attacks, but it’s clear the dratini’s determined healing is what’s keeping the team afloat. The trainer flinches under the colossal pokemon’s gaze. The giant nose is clearly displeased with the impromptu shower, reeling back like a noble snooting down on the peasantry.
“Oi, wolf girl!” The voice comes from the top of a Moai statue. The player who perches on it sits hunched, body leaning forward to see her. It’s only because of this elevation that he wasn’t more obvious. The man is customized to look like an edgy Old Spice ad. “You said you could turn this around!”
He jumps down. The swathe of verdant grass under his feet instantly tarnishes. He doesn’t walk towards her, but even at this distance where his finer details are unclear, it’s easy to detect something deeply wrong. Moving closer in his direction only amplifies it.
The clear air is saturated with rot.
Three bursts of light signal the entrance of his team, and the pokemon are–well, certainly a sight.
The Probopass, alarmed by the new entrants and the shift in the field, reroutes its assault. Another dragon, albeit bigger, floating gently in the air. It releases a harsh burst of electricity to try and down it.
PROBOPASS USES ZAP CANNON ON DRAGONAIR NVh0KcIM2d50
Dragonair takes the brunt of the attack, her body disappearing in a flash of white. She’s blinded for a moment, but as the light subsides, she rolls her serpentine body and extends her wings. They fan out with a flesh-like membrane, more bat wing than feather.
Stones are lifted telekinetically before they are sent hurtling toward the shortest and most exposed member of Kazuki's team.
PROBOPASS USES POWER GEM ON PIGNITE 2d50
Pignite is sent back. He pivots in the air, landing hard on his feet. He snorts, plumes of dark smoke puffing out of his nostrils. His coat is rife with discolor, bearing permanent soot that smears the grass.
PROBOPASS USES FLASH CANNON ON MUDSDALE 2d50
The last target is saved for last for a reason. The Mudsdale watches the battle unfold with little reaction, and when it comes her turn, she settles her gaze on the Probopass and waits for its best shot.
She is bathed in a sea of light. The light subsides, and all it does is harden the thick tar that coats her hooves and body.
Kazuki crosses his arms, observing his team. The initial shock had subsided for him, but he’s still not used to seeing them like this.“Pig, on her back. Attack when you’re close enough.” He doesn’t need to give orders for Mudsdale; she’s always done what she wanted, more or less.
The duo stampede towards the Probopass, Mudsdale’s huge strides closing the distance before it can gravitate out of reach. Pignite vaults from his teammate’s back as soon as the Probopass is within reach, twisting his arms back before slamming it with his palms repeatedly.
PIGNITE USES ARM THRUST 1d150 + 10 Rare + 20 Super Effective = 98 HP
He lands back on Mudsdale, who gallops to drag her teammate out of harm’s way. Close combat with something that floats isn’t easy. The Probopass’s mini-noses aim another cannon her way, but the muscles in her body tense in preparation.
MUDSDALE USES COUNTER 1d150 + 5 Pokemon Refresh + 20 Super Effective = 68 HP
With both of her teammates wrenching the Probopass’ attention away, Dragonair accepts her orders from Kazuki. She floats across the open field, a graceful, if terrifying sight as she reaches the unfamiliar team.
<There, there, dears,> she croons, her voice tinkling like glass wind chimes. Her wings extend, the leathery membrane opening like an umbrella that stretches over the smaller pokemon. <Come to me. I shall tend to your wounds.>
DRAGONAIR HEALS FROAKIE (X3) AND DRATINI (X1) 4d12 + 15 Rarity = 65 HP TO FROAKIE + 24 HP TO DRATINI
DRAGONAIR BUFFS DRATINI (+10)
PROBOPASS has 674/1000 remaining {break down}DRAGONAIR | Support | (172/250) Active Damaged by Zap Cannon for 38 HP Heals for 65 + 24 HP each Heal Strain for 40 HP Uses Core Ability BUFF on Dratini (+10 to rolls)
PIGNITE (398/500) | Tank | Active Damaged by Power Gem for 92 HP Attacks for 98 HP Attack Strain for 10 HP
MUDSDALE (472/500) | Tank | Active Damaged by Flash Cannon for 18 HP Attacks for 68 HP Attack Strain for 10 HP
PROBOPASS (674/1000) 166 damage taken, 3/3 nose remaining! 2d50·2d50·2d50·1d150·1d150·4d12
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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 Jun 23, 2023 10:41:43 GMT 9
After a surprisingly successful second trial involving the powered wings, their team had managed to reach the green beams–only to find out it didn’t even matter, since Cygnus had apparently rigged it so there was never even any threat.
“Wait, what was that about infertility?” Kazuki asks, looking pointedly at Verai, but there’s no time to continue that conversation as the next phase of the lesson commences.
Jinx calls their attention, and the mention of the previous experiments pulls Kazuki’s mouth into a wide, ominous grin. It is made so much worse when she specifically requests the next one from him.
“Everything,” he breathes, like a child who’s been asked to choose from The Cheesecake Factory menu.
“To hell with innovation and planning. Science has brought us this far, science will take us out.” He spreads his hands out, one lit on fire and the other crackling with lightning. “We’ve got power and with the wings, control. All we gotta do is mash ‘em together and see where it takes us.”
Which could be the shrine, for all he knows. Some people may die, but that is a sacrifice Kazuki is willing to make.
And so it begins.
He first powers up the wings. The electricity surges through his teammates’ equipment, the lights on Jinx’s wings reaching a blinding intensity, and sparks dance between the feathers of Verai’s pair. Juiced until they’re almost pulp, and bright enough to rival Vegas.
Kazuk is laughing now, maniacally, as he raises his hands. He pauses for only a second to say, “Oh, I’m counting on you two to catch me, by the way,” before both his hands burst into flame and he lunges to the gr—
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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 Jun 22, 2023 17:08:50 GMT 9
Truth be told, Kazuki should be staying the fuck away from civilization at this point. And also areas with wild spawns. And other players. Everything.
But he’s in Birchwild Grove instead, during an hour when most players who suit the server’s timezone are actually awake. The spawns are thriving too, but he’s paying so little attention that the pink thing that had approached him could’ve been anything from a Jigglypuff to a football-sized gum. He thinks he hears it wander off somewhere, possibly to horrify an unfortunate, but he’s too busy. So busy that he doesn’t even notice the ping from Global Chat calling people to action.
He’s sitting on a log right now, pondering his orb.
The orb, which is actually some kind of strange black egg he had received from Mother Caterpie after his Buizel tried eating a raw Big Bird a few days back. The thing’s shell bears dim tessellations, taunting him, because he’s only ever hatched two eggs in the months he’s played UNOVR and this one demands the whole nine yards in terms of treatment. Even after skimming the guidebook, Kazuki is still not quite sure what the fuck he’s doing.
Hence, the mulch.
At least it looks comfortable. The log he’s sitting on has turned into a petrified park bench, but you can’t kill what’s already dead, so the mulch is fine, cradling the egg in its woodchippy grasp like a floor nest. “You better enjoy this,” he mumbles, staring at it. “Far as I know, pokemon don’t shit, so this is the best compost you can ask for.”
The egg does not respond, perhaps out of disappointment. A cow pie would be quite a treat for a worm.
There’s a shuffle of bushes nearby, and Kazuki clicks his tongue, setting his fist on fire to deter whatever intends to disturb the mulch spa day.
RSMqpycD1-100
What pops out is a football-sized wad of gum. Kazuki’s hand lowers, brows rising as it slowly rolls to his feet. He reaches down to grab it, only for the ball of pink to expand.
Its insides have no depth, or perhaps has infinite depth. It is pitch fucking black, and even under the bright sun, Kazuki sees nothing inside it save for the glint of a hundred small teeth lining its rim, like the mouth of a leech. His hand overshoots the rim for only a second before the entire thing clamps around his arm.
A resounding GET OFF causes birds in nearby trees to fly.
The egg continues to chill, baring no reaction as the giant moron in the background struggles to rip off the thing from his arm as if he’d stuck his hand in a carnivorous Pringles can. 1-100
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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 Jun 21, 2023 10:45:37 GMT 9
#s://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/847006452118978590/1118597088075321376/parasite2.png There’s a rumble in its throat, a gurgling contemplation. “Encore, little prophet. Your paschal lacks mystery. As with my chosen Host, you too seek blood—it simply slips from your fingers, without chalice, without tabernacle.”
Lacrimosa’s gnarled hand reaches to the void that hangs over him, as if seeking the stars in those ghastly little pupils. But this is not a heavenly body. He can close the distance.
The corruption’s texture is indescribable. Shattered bone, churning flesh, smooth eyes, all wrapped in a tar-like gruel that spills over his palm and the gaps of his fingers, curling gently down the length of his broken arm. Burning hot.
“Heed. A miracle is fleeting. I am born upon an iron throne, and there I must remain; there, I must die.”
Every single one of its eyes lock onto Lacrimosa below. “Faun, I am dying.”
The sound of shredding fills the air as it tears itself in two, perfectly bisected. It starts from the bottom of its ribs like a zipper, opening its chest with the elegance of a flower blooming, the frayed ends of its skin pattering on desecrated earth.
In its cradle lies Kazuki. From his neck to the top of his head, stuck inside the tar as if stuffed in a body bag. His eyes are shut, and as he’s held above Lacrimosa, it becomes apparent he’s breathing slowly, as if asleep.
“This form thrives on energy, on power. A thousand hands may build Babel, but they will never reach the heavens under the eyes of a selfish god.”
It lowers itself further, until it pins Lacrimosa’s legs under its bulk. Long strands of dark hair pool to the ground.
“Prove it. Your desideratum. When I die, pull me from the Styx, return me to my throne. Desecrate life’s rule.”
Again, a drowning man’s laughter, sharper now, spiteful.
“Or is that not your birthright, Doctor Caldwell?”
SPRIGATITO || 100/250
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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 Jun 19, 2023 13:27:02 GMT 9
He tenses at the immediate answer Verai offers, its first impressions bringing up ideas of unchecked debts and bloodhound men. The corrections after undo the tension in his shoulders, but his face remains screwed tight, becoming more dissatisfied as Verai continues.
“My opponents are determined for me by my team. I’m not exactly jumping for joy for every fight I have,” he scoffs. “But I’ve never felt like I’ve been forced to fight.”
He stares him down. It feels like he’s seeing him with new eyes with how much he's learned as of late. “So quit talking about yourself like that.” This infuriating son of a bitch. Kazuki steps forwards until he’s directly in front of him, crowding him against the wall he’s resting on.
“Not an artist? Bitch, I was literally there when you ad-libbed a tanka. Your armor is your own design. I’ve danced with you. You’re an obnoxiously doting father with a killer right hook who crawled out of hell and made a life for yourself.” He turns up his nose, offended. “And you have the gall to say that isn’t much.”
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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 Jun 19, 2023 11:45:09 GMT 9
It’s getting worse. Kazuki squints as Verai snaps at him, unable to decipher what’s true and what’s being influenced by the parasite. It seems as if he’s misinterpreted.
(He curses, almost wishing Verai would crush his hand again. At least that shit was clear.)
He remains neutral as Verai pushes on, his arms crossed as if waiting for him to finish a tantrum. He doesn’t know what to do about the desperation that drips from the man’s voice. His nails are digging into his skin.
His concern and familiarity should touch him. It only makes him angrier. It makes his hands restless, his skin with that inexplicable itch.
“Where’s the cat?” He grabs the conversation and folds it 180 degrees. “That cat I gave you. The one that detects disasters. Why aren’t you– you’re supposed to be keeping her out of her ball. Why the fuck aren’t you using her?” He spits. "You say you want to help me, but you won't even use the tools I give you."
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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 Jun 18, 2023 21:41:29 GMT 9
“This is hell,” Kazuki hisses, hand slapped over his mouth. He had already gagged a couple of times walking in here, but it’s still not enough to abate the disgust. Having never owned his own cat before–Pokemon not included, as they were more like Tamagotchis than actual animals–he’s appalled to find out just how pungent cat shit is.
Maybe dog shit is about the same level of horrendous, though. Maybe his nose is just numb to it now, after owning generations of Dobermanns.
Regardless, he's here, and he's following Verai's trail as usual. His Combusken leads the way, the bird being agile and keen enough to avoid the worst clumps. The smooth pathing is interrupted as a Patrat leaps out from one of the sand mounds. Kazuki’s eyes widen, seeing Combusken twist.
“Chick, don’t you fucking d–”
Combusken goes into her signature roundhouse kick, sending the offending Patrat flying, along with a wave of sand and unmentionables–to her trainer.
The resulting scream of profanity can be heard from across the room.
COMBUSkEN USED DOUBLE KICK! NEXT PROMPT #74: [Tower]8HlloC3K1d50 1d50
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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 Jun 18, 2023 20:36:07 GMT 9
His reason for aiding Jinx is simple: It’s a team exercise, they’ll likely get penalized for not cooperating. Ensuring the kid doesn’t get blown into the stratosphere is simply playing the game right. (And also, maybe, just maybe, he’s sick of seeing small, overly-helpful green puffballs meet terrifying fates. MAYBE.)
And they do make it through the ring by a miracle that even Cygnus finds impressive. The old man’s speech resumes, for Kazuki in one ear and out the other again—at least until he starts speaking gibberish. Gibberish that has Kazuki leaning forwards, trying to listen closely because he swears that something about it is so familiar—
But as quickly as it came, it’s gone, and the next phase of their lesson is commenced by someone instantly eating shit on the pavement. Kazuki makes a choking noise of poorly-concealed laughter as he recognizes the victim as M'Foxy. No guilt here though, she seemed to be in good hands—or good bandanas.
He feels fingers squeeze his arm, which is surprising since he hasn’t attempted anything yet, and when he glances at Verai, the man only contemplates out loud. Kazuki does not say anything, nor does he shrug his hand off.
“We need a boost. Green beam’s nearly twice as high as the ducks, but we can’t risk another explosion with the red beam so close to the ground.” He clicks his tongue, disappointed. “Maybe if your wings were faster…”
Wait. They’re artificial wings. His eyes trail over to the metal gadgets mounted on his teammates’ backs, squinting at the wires and the intricate construction. He’s not smart enough to know how this works, but it has to be powered by electricity, especially since Jinx’s wings have lights.
“I think I can juice those up. Ready for another experiment?” He lets go of both of his teammates, raising his hands as electricity dances and crackles over his palms. He reaches for the contraptions as Titanius pivots the cannon, the red beam quickly approaching behind them.
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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 Jun 15, 2023 4:34:06 GMT 9
#s://cdn~discordapp~com/attachments/847006452118978590/1118597088075321376/parasite2~png The beast reaches him, pivoting as Lacrimosa attempts to dodge, angling its jaws so the player ends up throwing himself straight into them.
The jaws clamp around the frail avatar, teeth pinching toothpick bones, before he’s tossed down like dog’s chew toy.
Thump! Thump! as walls of dripping tar cage Lacrimosa on either side, the beast curling over him like a barge teetering off the edge of the cliff, huge and imposing. Its massive snout drools only inches away from his face. The slobber that seeps between its teeth and down its jaw drips onto the player’s collar, thick and searing hot.
White hair. Horns. A sharp scent, like antiseptic.
Familiar.
“You return. The prodigal son.” A voice of its own, deep and guttural, echoing in the vast cavern of its own anatomy. It had hand-carved it out of its host’s larynx. It is gratifying in a way no human can grasp.
“Do you remember?” It observes him carefully, the void that acts as its skin popping with little eyes that blink and follow his movements.
“False Throat, you sang the overtures of a siren’s song and led a fool to drown. Your porcelain hand slipped through the Veil and grasped what was never meant to be Yours.“
It emits a sound like coughing and hacking, like lungs full of water struggling to breathe. Laughter.
“And it was shattered, as is right. Greedy little pissant. It is no wonder you fail. Your body is teeming with acid and unfit to house me. Your heresy has earned you nothing.“
Its head tilts down, the hunch of its back tightening, as if in a bow. “But it is also why I am here.”
SPRIGATITO || 150/250
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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 Jun 15, 2023 2:24:12 GMT 9
#s://cdn~discordapp~com/attachments/847006452118978590/1118597088075321376/parasite2~png Awake.
A lone figure drags its new feet past the border of the Precipice Shrine, undeterred by its severe wounds or the blinking reminder in the corner of its vision warning it to PURGE THE CORRUPTION.
Please.
As it strays, the ground under its feet sours to ash. Trees and flowers wither as it approaches, and any wild pokemon unfortunate enough to be stuck in its unyielding path are gone in the next second, reduced to sludge and pixel that gets absorbed into its squirming epidermis.
By the time it returns to Mistra’s borders, it is overflowing with stolen life. It breathes in its home territory and waves the human hand it has claimed, pulling up its host’s tray of data.
A burst of little red light. There comes the sound of a confirmed transaction.
And then the sound of a water bag bursting.
Inked flesh splits as dark coagulations come spilling out from its core, flowing down in a heavy mass over the mortal blueprint. The human frame is overwhelmed by this sentient sludge, forced to hunch from the sheer weight of it piling over its shoulders. A small ball of green fur is pressed to its chest—a momentary glimpse—before it, too, becomes obscured.
The tar churns as it forms itself, its massive arms pouring onto the ground like waterfalls, its fingers long and sharp and permeating the ground like roots. Its skin continues expelling the dark substance, the chunks writhing and inhabited by peeping eyes.
The mass that has overtaken the human neck and head has formed into one. The beastial head is almost reptilian, fitted with too many eyes. A wide maw rips open to reveal rows of sharp teeth.
It breathes from many mouths. The transformation alone has exhausted it. The pit in its belly grows insufferable.
An unholy, bubbling growl rumbles through its barrel chest as it starts to move, its puddles of corruption drying into nothingness as it peels its limbs away from their pools.
It follows the scent of flesh.
SPRIGATITO || 200/250
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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 Jun 14, 2023 20:34:29 GMT 9
He had realized how badly he fucked up by the time he opens his eyes and finds himself screaming against his will, flying Mach 5 in the air with nothing but punch power and the grace of videogame logic to keep him in one piece.
Through the resounding chaos, he first hears a tinny scream, one he recognizes to be Jinx’s, followed by his own name hissed by Verai who he’s still got a death grip on.
The youngest member of their team is sent careening into the air, which– shit, not what he’d intended! The point of this experiment had been to catch up to the kid, not cannon her to the finish line.
A grip seizes him, followed by the sound of wind crashing into resistance, but instead of a parachute it’s Verai’s wings extending, catching the gale. They tumble about in the air before the combined effort of both the wings and the antigravity belt finally pulls them to a standstill.
His pulse has definitely shot to the roof, and the sight of his feet so far from the ground is disorienting, but when Kazuki peels his head off the other’s shoulder, he’s laughing.
“Hahaha! Holy shit–” he’s out of breath, but he’s vibrating with excitement, his hair a tumbleweed of windswept locks spread haphazardly over his face. “That was awesome! Let’s go again!”
But he catches sight of Jinx returning to meet them, and as he peels his hair off his face, it becomes clear the kid’s not in the state for another go in the aerial blender. She looks frazzled. Carsick, almost. She asks them for an explanation, and Kazuki can only give her a flimsy excuse as to why he nearly got them killed.
“That was just, y’know– science. Haven’t you ever had those lessons in school? Explosive chemistry?” He’s actually not sure how old she is, or if they did explosions in school. At least they did back when he was a kid– being homeschooled.
“Anyway, we’re close to the ducks.“ They’re almost level with the ring. “Grab on, we’ll take it nice and easy for the rest of the way.” He reaches for the kid, figuring it’ll be safest in case she does give out somehow.
He smacks Verai’s arm around him. “Back it up, Ver. More to the left.” Like guiding a truck to a parking space. He snickers. “Unless you want me to try again.” He could probably dampen his explosions to propel them sideways, into the Ducklett hoop.
Or maybe they’ll just end up in Birchwild.
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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 Jun 14, 2023 9:56:36 GMT 9
“I offered,” Kazuki huffs, but stoops down to aid in securing the wings around Jinx . They were just as intricate as the pair Verai wore, except with an almost entirely different design– and it had lights. And spikes.
He raises a brow, but he’s not going to bar a child from an important learning experience. “Alright, mini-flying death trap is secured. You’re all set to go, kid.”
And before he even gets another word in, Verai accepts Jinx into their group which– great, now raid prep has turned into babysitting duty. Then again, this entire game has been mostly babysitting duty.
Cygnus goes onto the next phase of the demonstration, of which only half manages to enter the dubious sludge that is Kazuki’s brain– at least until his guild leader walks into the mix. Kazuki chuckles, before sticking his fingers in his mouth and wolf-whistling along with the cheers and hollers of the other Creeds, one of which is Tuesday who’s already putting the moves on her. When the guild leader comes to collect his spare pokemon, he hands her the ball containing his Dragonair, figuring it will benefit from the flight lesson, else learn how to hijack planes, knowing the cunning widow.
Now all that’s left is to jump through hoops.
He’s fiddling with his belt when Verai calls his attention. “What?” He looks up, puzzled and a little irritated because figuring out his machine is taking more than two brain cells. He squints at Verai’s instruction before it dawns on him.
“Oh, sure, we’ll go first, and leave the blind guy to fly alone in the back with new equipment.” Pressing a button on his belt causes it to light up, his body being surrounded by a soft glow. His feet begin floating an inch off the grass.
Jinx is already several steps ahead of them. After a brief little chicken dance and a brave jump, she’s airborne, having to fend off some strange angles before settling in a Superman pose towards the circle of ducks.
Kazuki grabs Verai’s hand. “Alright, now how to…“ He’s already flying, technically, even if it’s just levitating off the ground. Trying to wiggle his foot kind of drags him a few inches higher, but it’s still not enough for proper acceleration. Maybe he should’ve nabbed the boots too?
Hmm.
For science, he sets his fist on fire, and then throws a punch into the earth. Without any sort of limitation, the resulting force is matched to take down Duraludon.
The explosion sends them rocketing into the heavens, straight toward Jinx.
Kazuki USED SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION!
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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 Jun 14, 2023 6:58:21 GMT 9
TW: Body Horror, StrangulationKazuki grinds his teeth. He hates the thought of striking a deal with this fucking parasite, but will it stop if he lets it kill him? He seriously doubts it. He takes in as much air as he can and rasps: “Yes. Anything.”
For a long time, the parasite only hums. It’s an underwater burble, the sound of a creature about to break the water’s surface.
‘There’s no need for that.‘ He hears a creak and a crack, the snap of a twig, and the soft taps of wood being arranged. ‘We are not enemies.‘
Kazuki chokes. The roots keep him from breathing. His wounds have drained him of the energy to struggle. He doesn’t understand how the game hasn’t intervened yet, only to realize his body has gone totally numb. He doesn’t know if he’s still holding Sprigatito. He doesn’t know where he begins and where the little one ends.
He looks at the sky and sees only a painful array of colors stretching infinitely. The corners of his vision are populated by the writhing silhouettes of the roots and the thick dark splatters. They pile onto him, covering him head-to-toe and slowly blotting out his sight.
The pile of roots and rot that had once been Kazuki stills. It creaks and cracks. It sucks itself in, tighter and tighter until its insides give out with a sickening CRUNCH.
The entity breathes a sigh of relief as the air is filled with a symphony of snapping bone and splitting flesh. The game’s mechanic will kick in and its host will respawn, but it will make the most of every lagging millisecond to make the appropriate changes.
But oh, how good does it feel to be home.
SPRIGATITO|| 0/250
9u5ELf|a1-20 1-20
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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 Jun 13, 2023 9:35:50 GMT 9
TW: Body Horror, StrangulationHis heart is thumping in his ears, the permeating feeling of wrongness reaching crescendo as he watches his inked flesh churn and twitch, as if coming alive.
The grass under his feet wilts into the soil. Sprigatito in his arms groans, the first sound he’s uttered since they breached the threshold. He turns to bury his face against Kazuki’s chest, looking worse by the second.
The kitten’s fur has discolored fully from the shade of mint into an ashen, crumbling umber. The ends of each strand twists into fraying tips resembling baby hair, and as he moves, the strands scrape against the skin of Kazuki’s arms, clinging as if his flesh is water.
The strands curl, growing thicker until they wrap over Kazuki’s arms like thin ropes.
“What did you do to him?!” Kazuki goes into panic, trying to rouse Sprigatito in his arms, but the kitten is completely unresponsive. Attempting to rip off the things growing out of him only makes them wind tighter around Kazuki’s arms. They grow until they’re the size of an ancient oak’s roots.
'Relax. Handling it. Helping you. Got you.'
“The fuck you are!” He grasps one of the roots tight, gritting his teeth as he yanks it as hard as he can.
The rough bark digs into his skin and rips it apart.
The root hangs limp in his hand, a sound of pain wrenched out of him. His forearm bears the scar, but when he looks at the tear, all he sees is black.
The black begins to spill.
It’s a dribble at first, tracing the lines of his tattoos. The scar opens wider, the substance seeping out of him taking on a high viscosity and temperature until what comes out is less like blood and more like bubbling tar. The thick coagulation splats disgustingly on the ground by his feet.
He tries to plug the wound with his hand, but the substance only rebounds off his palm, comes spilling over more of his skin, blanking out the vibrant red of inked flowers, and dyes the fur of Sprigatito. He can feel the roots winding over his arms and legs. They crawl around his ribs, tight enough that it feels as if they’re grinding bone, and cradle his small, beating heart as if it were a robin’s egg.
The entity chuckles in his voice. No matter how many roots he destroys, no matter how much he tries to stop the spill of his wounds, there appears to be no end to the total emptying of his person.
"Please," he wheezes as a root grabs hold of his neck, winding tight around his trachea until the end brushes his jaw. “Just– tell me what you want– whatever it is— anything—”
At this, the laughter grows silent, and the root halts.
‘Anything?’
SPRIGATITO || 50/250
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