| Burning Stars | ||
| Date Started: August, 26th, 2024 Date Finished: Ongoing Next Role-Play: Timeline: July 4th, 1620 Setting: Characters Involved:
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| Participants | ||
| User:Yourlocalwreck | User:JTXP | User:AbysmalShadows | User:HoloArc | | ||
Burning Stars[]
The Marine ship approached the island Sol Aurelia was said to have been holed up in according to their sources. The Den Den Mushi clicked off, having finished reminding the two marines of their mission. Heavy clouds hung over their heads, a slight sprinkle flecking across their skin. The air was chilled, the soft breeze filling the billowing sails. All that was left was for the marines to make their presence known and complete the mission.
Lysander stood at the front of the Marine ship. It had been a month since his arrival to the Marines, he'd lost a bet to his uncle Hector Hobbs earning him a new tattoo on his back of the Marine logo, forever branded as a reminder.
His outfit had made a complete turn in his pirate appearance, His hair was tied back into a ponytail with strands of hair falling past his face. Around his shoulders was a black jacket with the white marine logo on the back, underneath his jacket was his newly acquired chest plate Camelot Steel armor, much stronger than his last one. This one not only covered his chest but abdomen and engraved was a design of a dragon flying around a star with the Marine logo in the middle. Underneath was a black tank top wife beater.
His hands were gloved in brown gloves, and he wore black pants with dress shoes instead of his knee-high boots, coupled with his platinum silver and brown belt, holding his cutlass and straight sword. Although he was being watched like a dog for every bleeding minute of his recruitment Hobbs looked after his nephew being able to pull strings allowing him to be as comfortable and happy as he could.
The truth was Lysander admitted to not caring about piracy anymore, something about the Marines and the instructors he had sparked a new passion. Perhaps is was just his inner ragging warlord wanting to destroy the seas, or perhaps a new patriot was born. The past month Lysander locked in towards his goal to become the best Marine he could to get out of his so-called chains.
Days studying and training while taking instruction from Kelsi he was slowly starting to become a true soldier.
Looking out upon the sea Lysander smiled, pulling some black shades from his eyes, slipping it down the bridge of his nose. He grinned and placed his left hand upon Stella.
"You see that, that right there is my ticket to freedom again." He said as the wind blew through his hair.
"You're an idiot if you think one successful mission is going to make up for the mess you made." Graves gave the newly minted Marine a souring glare as he approached the man. His presence here was as much a test as it was for Lysander, given how he pushed for the pirate to become a Marine. As a result many of his fellow officers were now calling him the Mad Major for his radical and controversial proposal.
Of course in typical military fashion, if you're going to propose a daring new initiative, you're probably going to be responsible for it. So paperwork was filed, and Graves was transferred to SPEAR, nominally to watch over Lysander, although on paper Rear Admiral Aphrodite was supervising. Like it or not, Graves found his future and Lysanders bound together for the foreseeable future. Much to his indignation.
"Our priority is the target, well your priority. If I had to entrust you with search and rescue, you'd probably kill the survivors just so you wouldn't have to do your job." Graves said with a sarcastic drawl. He knew that he was as much to blame for his current predicament as the higher ups, well... probably more, but that didn't mean he had to like it.
Yet he vouched for the man anyway. He believed in the example set by his father. He'd seen it. Even if it didn't always work out to his benefit, his father saw pirates and marines as two sides of the same coin. Either could be turned to good, or evil, and people were always more complex than you initially thought they could be. Many might surprise you. So, that's how he chose to live his life, and his first gambit in changing the culture of the Marines was right here, right now. His eyes flickered to Lysander when suddenly a thought unbidden came to mind.
This was really stupid, we're both going to die. He thought shaking his head.
"Stop being such a buzz kill man, cramping the vibe," Lysander replied pushing his shades back into his face, "I know we are after a pirate and I'm not doing slouch work. We are finding the pirate and bringing her in alive or dead. I prefer dead," He then pounded his chest, "This new armor is way stronger than the last one...Asshole."
He gave a disgusted side eye.
Graves slowly turned his head as he quirked an eyebrow at Lysander. "Cramping the vibe? Who the hell even talks like that?" His tone was clearly mocking. "Nothing about that made any damn sense." Graves said with a huff, crossing his arms. "So you got new armor huh? I got a new sword. A new gun. New weaponry all around." He tilted his head down then back up. "You don't have shit."
"Oh yeah how about we go a round two tuff guy huh!" Lysander shouted butting heads with Graves, the two looked like mountain goats trying to establish dominance over one another.
The duo was sure a strange one.
"If you think your dumbass can pull off a victory then you're even more foolish than I thought!" After his outburst Graves glared at Lysander before taking a moment to let out a breath as he closed his eyes stepped back. When he opened his eyes again they were filled with steely resolve, and something... else. Lysander wasn't quite sure.
"Unfortunately that'll have to wait until we complete our objective. We have a pirate to hunt down, we can figure out whose stronger after we finish the mission. That, I promise." Graves abruptly turned and headed towards the bridge.
Lysander spit a loogie over deck, "Chump..." Lysander whispered, "...I can see the shore from here, I'm not waiting on some orders to advance, I'm a fighter I know when to advance."
He stepped forward looking out onto the sea below, to the near distance, "I think I've jumped further," he said attached to his back waist was a black pirate hat with a golden engraving and a large white feather. Placing it upon his head, the marine sank his hips and placed an arm onto the deck.
"I would step back..." Graves could feel the vibrations slowly flood the deck as Lysander drew this mysterious energy into his legs. At peak power he jumped from the edge of the ship, shattering the front of the entire Marine vessel. Lysander soared through the air as if he were flying on his own, gathering the remaining energy he thrust forward again with another burst clearing the island's shores.
Landing an epic triplet crater was formed in the sandy peach.
Graves blinked, mostly in shock as to what the hell just happened. He briefly examined the remains of what once was the bow of the ship, with the front area completely demolished. As what would quickly become habit while dealing with Lysander, Graves closed his eyes, drew in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. When he opened them again, he was surprised to find his hands tightly gripping his modified rifle with the front sight in view, and finger on the trigger, aimed squarely at the head of Lysander.
He was not the only one surprised as the various crewman also shared similar looks of shock across their faces before he sheepishly unsummoned his rifle, shrugged apologetically and walked towards the edge. Turning his head back he said, "Get this.... " he struggled to find the words as he saw the wreckage and he once again had to take a moment to steel his frustration.
"Begin repairs on the ship. Once you complete them, maintain a patrol route circling the island until we return. If things get dicey, you are to retreat a safe distance aways and immediately call for reinforcements. Other than myself and Lysander are allowed on this ship. You have your orders."
Without even waiting for confirmation, though he heard their collective shout, he leapt off the ship and activating the milky dials in his boots propelled himself across the sea until he touched down on the shore next to Lysander.
"You know, the cost to repair that ship is coming out of any loot you find right?" He said smoothly.
"Yeah yeah, we got that money though right? It's not like the government is broke!" Lysander laughed slapping the back of Graves.
"No no no, you misunderstand. The governments not broke. You are." Graves replied with some amusement.
It had been a few hours since the Marine's arrival on the island, and so far all they came across was bush country. The environment was very cool from the shading from the high trees above, but the bugs were very present.
"Jeez, you'd think that finding some pirate wouldn't be this boring," Lysander said swinging his cutlass and cutting some branches to make a path. "Can't you make a radar or something that your fruit? I read up on it, it seems like you can do a lot with it. That is if you're not a dumbass haha!"
Lysander was rude in the way he joked but his question was a rather useful one, having a radar could help them track whatever was on this island.
Graves followed behind with only a mildly annoyed expression on his face, and huffed in response to Lysander. "I'm surprised you even know what radar is." Opening up his duster, he appeared to rummage around for something before he retrieved it. It was a rectangular box with a display screen and antennae on top of it with various nodes, nodules and LED lights on it.
"I have it, but its not going to be useful here, there isn't a setting for, 'detect pirates only'." He said sarcastically, doing the finger quote with one of his hands. "-I'd be picking up every beast the size of a dog or larger in the area. So," he shrugged. "-pointless." He then fiddled around with some of the settings, and retrieved something like a metal spike that he pressed against the instrument. There was a... distortion or something, it happened so quickly Lysander might have missed it, but his keen eyes could tell, after having fought the man, to know the tell-tale sign of his Devil Fruit being used in real time. Graves then inserted the instrument on the ground with the spike penetrating into the earth.
"This however is a modification! If this pirate has been on the island she'll probably have setup some kind of base of operations. Which means lights, electricity, and the like. I'm hoping I can get a ping on any electrical fields her equipment might be emitting. That should narrow down where we need to look." After a moments the device gave out something like a series of bleeps or bloops, as the radar imagery on it came to life. It indicated a faint power source to the north-east of the island.
"And just like that, we have our heading! Lead on meat-shield!" Graves stowed the instrument back into his inventory, as he continued on, throwing a smirk at Lysander. Who in his mind was rather helpless in situations like this.
"Showoff, it was literally my idea," he said following behind Graves into the island.
"Perhaps even your last." came the soft spoken but unnatural tone of a creature lurking among the trees. By all measures, the radar should have registered it if something this large was so close, but it hadn't. Stepping out from the treeline and bushes, came a fourteen feet tall creature of sunken features, skin ever so barely clinging onto what might as well just have been a frame of bones. Despite its grim appearance and haunting lack of expressions on its twisted skeletal face, its voice was surprisingly kind.
"My name is Compassion, and at the behest of Her Majesty, I've been instructed to inform you that she wishes for you to depart from her island. I would quite appreciate if you obliged that request of hers. It could be complicated otherwise for more causes than one"
Aurelia's eye twitched a bit in instinctive reaction to the change of events. Looking to her first mate and their other traveling companion, she groaned. "Seems like Compassion has made contact. I would have preferred to enjoy this paradise a while longer before moving on... Zarak? I am not quite done with my fruitbasket yet. Would you be a darling and offer Compassion some support if the battle starts spreading this way?"
"Of course, Lady Sol. They won't interrupt you on my watch." He promised, bowing his head in reverence before moving to keep an eye on the battle unfolding.
Killing Compassion[]
The two marines stood face to face against a horrid creature. Lysander was more disgusted with the look of the thing, nearly vomiting at the sight of it.
"You got hit with the ugly stick, didn't yah big guy? You remind me of ex. We don't care whatever the hell a pirate says, were bringing her in. Now we can do this the easy way, or we can do this the hard way. My pal Graves he's an easy way kinda guy, me. I'm hard all the time. Wait that came out wrong."
Lysander's idiotic statements weren't something out of the normal, he placed his hands both both of his blades ready for a battle.
Graves gave his fellow.... Marine an incredulous look as he leaned over and peered at Lysander's front. "Please tell me that's your sword, and not what I think it is."
"I take offense to your accusations, marine." It spoke, still sweet and gentle but with a tone of hurt to it as well. "I am rather self-conscious about my appearance. And I would like to note that I identify as a woman, so if you could respect that, I would be grateful." Compassion clarified. "And I will reiterate: It is a foolish notion to try and fight me or Her Majesty. You won't win. You cannot win. It would be better on her patience and your reputation if you just departed. What do you say?" 'She' asked softly as everyone in the vicinity would begin to feel an urge to be less crass and more compliant with the creature. Everyone under this influence would begin to feel a warm and kind feeling in their chest. Warmth and mercy. Compassion.
"Shut up you old hag! You look like you got run over! I don't care about your feelings or what you go by! You are a criminal convict scum," Lysander shouted. He turned to Graves, "Can you believe this thing? It's not even human yet it wants rights? What kind of world are we living in?"
"The blues are full of strange and wondrous creations. Humans are by no means the only beings capable of sapience, and everything that has a will has the right to self determination. That being said." Graves stepped forward raising his head as he stared at the being calling herself "Compassion" in their eyes. He was unarmed, in comparison to his friend, carrying no visible weapons on his person.
"You speak of respect, yet your mistress," Graves spat the word with venom. "-treats the lives of others as mere playthings, while you stand there and demand it?" He chuckled. "How arrogantly human of you. How about this, you and your master simply surrender into the custody of the Marines, and stand trial for your crimes? Her patience and time is not wasted and we go on with our day?" He offered.
Graves knew that they would fight. It was inevitable. But as a Marine, and more importantly his fathers son, he had to give them the opportunity. And he would again after he beat them. If Lysander was any indication, it was possible to bring these disparate forces across the blues into the fold of the Marines. Whether this gambit would succeed or fail, was ultimately up to fate, but Graves would give it the best chance he could.
"'Playthings?'" Compassion questioned with a sigh of regret. "Alas how little you know of her majesty. If there is one thing one can give credit to, it is that she does not play with her food." she spoke, and Graves would be able to feel the warmth in his chest swelling as he stood before this entity and spoke to it.
"Her majesty has high demands of me. I may be weakest, but I have a place and a role to fulfill. And that is to ensure you don't go any further from this point. Pray forgive me... But I must ask you to either leave or at least stay until she has left. Please don't make this harder than that." Compassion pleaded, stretching an open hand out towards the marines. A sign of camaraderie and equal footing. "It is not in my nature to fight. I don't want to fight any of you. Please... let us just forget about this."
"Shut up hag!" Lysander had enough of standing around, this creature was a clear sign that they were in the right place to catch this pirate. Without a second thought, Lysander leaped toward the creature. During his training, his uncle had shown him the Rokushiki arts mastering three within a month. One of these mastered techniques was the Geppo, using it in tandem with his fruit Lysander amplified his speed through the air.
Closing in like a rocket Lysander looked like a blur, his right foot already within inches of the creature's midsection, "Tiger Lily Arrow!" Lysander had flown his energy toward his right foot, increasing his attack power.
The kick landed and bent the creature over, the impact of the blow sending a shockwave across the area and rattling the branches and leaves. In the same vein when struck, Compassion threw her hands down, aiming to deliver a chop strike to the knee of the man. "I don't want to do this. Don't force me to." She pleaded all while the long hand went for the hopes of crippling the man on the spot.
"Tch, your mistress chose her path as a pirate, and we have our duties as Marines. Lysander! Keep her occupied while I head further inward!" Graves leapt into the air, streams of clouds bursting from his soles as he was propelled higher into the air. He had of course considered jumping in and fighting this, "Compassion" together with Lysander, but given the former pirates prickly personality and quite frankly insane bloodlust, he'd have just as likely fought Graves himself. There's also the fact that he was also a former knight, and perhaps that knightly sense of an honorable combat still lingered, and Graves being who he was, was willing to grant Lysander that much respect and let the man handle his own battle. With that he was off as he sped through the air towards Sol Aurelia.
As the beast went to chop down upon Lysanders knee he reacted accordingly, "Shave!" Within an instant disappeared and reappeared above Compassion, with his cutlass already drawn Lysander, twisted his body to look like a spinning top. Using Geppo he kicked toward Compassion looking to land a devastating slash into its neck.
"Your majesty... Forgive me. You will need another bullwark." Compassion whispered softly into the gentle breeze as Lysander came down with the blade, seemingly giving in to its fate. The blade struck and attempted to dig its way through skin, sinew, muscle, and bone. Lysander's hands rattled with intense vibrations as the realization struck him of what had transpired. He had attempted to cut the creature down. Attempted.
A slight twitch of the nerves as the blade sat nestled between neck and shoulder, Compassion clutching the blade like that. Lysander's hit had been straight, true, and fierce. And yet she stood unharmed. "It is futile, marine. You cannot defeat me. Halt me, yes. Occupy my time, certainly. But you cannot kill me. You cannot restrain me. You are doomed to fail here if you keep on struggling. Please. Let us come to terms instead." She asked as she extended a hand of friendship towards him, and only that, the gesture stoking the feelings of compassion in Lysander, however overshadowed it may be by his other emotions.
"Shut up! I'll be the decider of that!" Lysander hung upon the body of the creature tightly gripping his blade. He tried to move it by conventional means but her strong muscles and skin held it tight. "Dammit, this freak..." Lysander decided to do something different this time. Gathering the strength and began to repeatedly smash upon his sword like a hammer to a nail.
Each swing of his fist caused energy to build up within his arm that would multiply his strength per swing. His blade was tightly snug within Compassion's grasp but Lysander was determined to set it free. As he pounded the blade he pulled at the same time before finally freeing himself from the grip and landing back onto the sandy beach ground.
"Get your own damn sword alright!" He sheathed his blade and pulled out a small remote handle device, "The stop at Mechanica was worth it..."
Clicking a button on the device a vibrant green light shot out of it revealing a construct of a lasso. At the end of the weapon was three mechanical fingers. The marine whipped the lasso toward the neck of Compassion looking to wrangle her.
The lasso managed to wrap around her neck, clinging onto her throat and constricting fiercely. Lysander would be able to tell how the weapon constricted tightly and appeared to be causing her throat to close, limiting air intake and exhalation. Grabbing the rope with her hand, one would expect her to start resisting and tugging on it.
"Please, soldier. Stop this before it is too late. I don't want to cause harm, but her majesty has made her instructions clear. If you won't stand down or leave, I will have to destroy you." She implored, voice no different despite having what appeared to be a crushed windpipe.
Lysander ignored her beckons for a stop, "Instead he clicked a button on the remote control that sent tazer-like shocks to anything touching it. At the same time he swung the lasso upward and then swung it downward with mighty force looking to smash her shocked body into the terrain.
Compassion was flung up and then smacked into the ground on the other end. The shocks could be seen as the sparks flew from the shambled skin of the creature. Landing on feet and knees, compassion did not miss a beat as she darted ahead, blitzing the scene with an open palm that reached for Lysandre's shoulder.
"Don't grab something you don't want close." She recommended. Was she trying to educate him in combat now?! Her hand came forward, and despite the intense speed in which she approached, the palm still seemed benevolent, only wanting to touch the man. Despite her horrid appearance and her seemingly crushed windpipe, her hand could almost be mistaken for that of a caring mother.
Lysander was successful in smashing Compassion into the floor, he disconnected the Lasso the moment she hit the earth, this was his chance. As she fell to her knees the beast was gone and reappeared before Lysander. Her palm looking like a mountain compared to his size, but nay. Lysander was more than prepared, being a knight, and a skilled swordsmen.
Pulling a blade from a sheath was as simple as breathing, something second nature. As her large palms came in closer, the Stella Marauder came from across Lysander's body. A diagonal fluid cut, his the House Northstar prized possession was capable of cleaving through not just flesh and bone, but iron and steel. Stone and wood, beast and man.
Lysander's swing was powerful, and precise, using his fruit powers he charged himself from the ground channeling it back into his sword and reinforcing it further. His intent was true he aimed to cleave her palm in two.
His blade came to slice open the hand like a hot knife through butter. But apparently someone thought it was a good idea to make the butter made of titanium. The blade clashed with the hand, stopping dead in its tracks as Compassion wrapped its bony fingers around the blade to keep it in place. "Please, don't do this to yourself. How much longer until you realize this cannot be won?" She pleaded before reaching out with its other hand, moving its palm to touch his cheek. "Stand down. Fighting me is not going to work. And doing battle with Her Majesty will only lead to more pain. I beg you, stop."
His blade was stuck again, this time he would try a different approach, clearing sharp force wasn't able to harm this thing without enough power.
His blade rang and hissed, his brown skin shifting to a light red tinge, he started to steam smiling from ear to ear. With his freehand he grabbed ahold of the beast finger, crushing it beneath his strength, this was only meant to hold the beast in place, "You're BBQ CHICKEN BITCH! KAMKAZIE!"
From his body erupted a massive burst of scorching flames from his swords, the pressure causing an explosion, the fire traveled up like a rushing river leaving a burning path in its wake.
The fire raged and scorched everything in its path. But one thing still stood unyielding. With the hand that had a finger clutched, it bent the finger and thrust forward with the palm before putting Lysanders body in the palm of her hand. Her grotesque features peeked out of the raging inferno as she closed in. "Even my benevolence has its limits. So I will end it now." She whispered, still sounding so full of love despite what was happening next. Letting go of his sword, she placed the other hand against his chest, and he began to feel an untold agony over what she was doing. It would feel like it was gripping and tugging at his heart.
"Your compassion has swelled in you, but your hatred has kept it so firmly at bay. It matters not. I'll take it all from you now." She spoke as with the sound of ripping and tearing, Lysander's pain would peak to new heights. In her palm, she holds a lavender-colored orb of energy. And as she held it, Lysander would experience a hatred swell within him burning hotter than the flames around him. His hatred and anger were now unchecked by the opposing emotion.
She had torn the compassion out of his body. Not simply the one she had cultivated in him, but all of it. Any kindness he might have felt towards anyone was now gone.
The flames didn't seem to hold an effect on the beast, "...huh?" another smashing hand crashed upon his chest, he fingers causing extreme pain.
"AHHHHHHHH!" He shouted causing the birds of the island to flock to the clouds echoing about the island.
His body underwent a numbness, then a tingle. It was sharp like 1000 knives stabbing him all at once. He couldn't even feel her hands upon his chest anymore, nor her other hand holding onto him. It shook his bones and embolized him for the time being, his sword fell into the dirt stabbing deep into the earth.
His vision could see something being extracted from his body a purple essence, his vision started to blur and fade in and out.
"What is she doing to me!"
Suddenly with a jolt, she finally tugged the essence from his body completely, and his body went limb. It was sudden that he felt a difference in his mind and the whispers from his sheathed blade Shadreen filled his mind.
His eyes closed as his vision faded to black, falling to the sandy beach floor.
Inside the mindscape of Lysander...
Lysander found himself sitting on top of a pool of black seas, everywhere was dark around him.
Pitch BLACK
His heart raced with fear and anger, "Where are you you peace of filth! I'm going to rip your heart out of your ass!" He shouted into the vast void of his mindscape.
Then another voice came to him, more menacing and demonic as if a court of demons spoke at once.
"Look at all this space now, the light is gone."
Lysander turned his body pivoting around trying to locate the voice but it came from every direction around him. "Compassion come out and face me!"
"HAHAHA, I am not Compassion... I am rage. I am anger. I am wrath..." Suddenly forming from the darkness a set of girl and yellow double-ringed eyes manifested in front of him.
The knight stumbled backward falling onto his behind, fear struck him like no other. "HAHAHA! Good the big bad Lysander is scared. HAHAHAHA!"
"Wh-who are y-you?" He said flipping back into a handspring, but it was no use the eyes appeared behind him in a blink.
"I am a great demon of the past, forged by hate and anger. The blacksmith gave me a body to live freely in others. I am you now and you are me..."
Those eyes then swirled into a physical form of Lysander being a replicated copy, he stuck his hand out towards the real Lysander, "Let's get our revenge, together brother..."
It was hypnotic the way Lysander fell under Lyreen's words. It was like he didn't even think about distrusting it, the isolated anger and hate within him from all the years of life fueled his decision rather than his own will to do so. He shook Lyreen's hand and a black surge of lightning kicked within a split second.
"YAHAHAHAHA!"
Lysander was still laying on his back, his body seemed numb still, although it was wearing off. The device located on Lysander's back however given to him by Tony, was already working on restoring his body to a maximum flux of power and strength. The dial device found a way to compound the bound energy within his body sustaining him at the fullest rate. A car that never ran out of gas.
It hummed, and Lysanders eyes shot open. His eyes were covered with those same ringed swirls, his right hand almost already grabbing for the Shadreen blade. It was like a jet he shot up onto his using his fruit powers to lift himself off the ground.
"You!" He shouted his eyes already locking onto compassion with an itch to kill and destroy, but this was something different than before.
It wasn't Lysander in the driver's seat.
He began to walk towards Compassion, grabbing his cutlass from out the sand, now duel-wielding blades, his body swirled with energy visible through his skin, highlighting his veins. The straight sword glowed red, a visible fiery deep red aura, unlike natural fire. The cutlass seemed to hum on its own.
"I'm going to kill you, your captain, your crew, the island, and everyone moving on this thing. Today I will show you true Compassion...By leading you to the grave."
He stopped, only pointing both swords in front of him, the dial on his back started to hum as a shard-like crystal popped out in the form of energy. The color was orange and green, it stood about 2 feet in length.
This energy began to build up in his body, bubbling over and over, he focused the energy into the blades of his swords, "DEMON STAR GUN".
A deafening rush of sound hit everyone on the island followed by a shockwave of wind, the ground beneath Lysander broken off and ruptured under the weight of the attack.
From the tips of his swords, a blinding rush of concussive bound energy was launched towards Compassion at speeds, untraceable by the naked eye. Like a laser it shot towards Compassion and aimed to hit her square in her large midsection, the blast would send her crashing through the islands and its trees.
Compassion found no time to react to the beam of power. The ray struck square in the gut, sending Compassion hurtling through the forest. As things settled down, the dust and dirth that had been kicked into the air, along with the heavy smog of smoke from the scorched trees rose to the skies, for but a moment Lysander might have thought of himself as the winner as the ensuing damage to the landscape continued into the distance.
But it was not over yet, and they could tell as much when they heard the tapping of feet dashing over the ground as something was getting closer. Compassion came dashing out of the cloud of smoke and dust, blitzing across the field with hand raised to protect its face. If Lysander's gaze trailed down just a bit, he would find that the point of impact for the Demon Star Gun had left its mark. For the first time there seemed to be some form of hint towards injury. As Compassion got even closer, going in for a sharp finger-tip thrust, it was clear that while it hadn't dealt any damage, that considering Compassion's current disposition and attitude, there was one thing that was quite evident: It had hurt.
Lysander stood supercharged, his body jittered with adrenaline, he couldn't tell if it was his new dial or the sword, but whatever it was made him feel invincible. "Come beast let me show you resolve," he said taunting the demonic being. He took multiple steps forward, the ground cracking beneath his power, "I am better without Compassion, and so is the world. Two sword style..."
Taking another step forward Lysander vanished kicking up sand and dirt into the air where he stood.
Pat Pat Pat, Lysanders footsteps already behind Compassion, both parties looking away from one another, "...Pisces Paradise". CLINK! Lysander sheathed both of his blades at the same time, seeming unbothered by the whole situation.
Yet then a violent humming flew towards the front of Compassion, a twin X slash heading towards her. The slashes seemed to manifest into the form of two fishes, of Gold and Red.
Formidable indeed. But he was not the only one to have grown stronger now. Such compassion to keep back such a ravening hate and power as this was not to be underestimated when poured into this spiritual embodiment of that very quality. But she needed to be quick. While it would truly increase her strength to a formidable capacity, the permanence of the boost would not be the full amount, resulting thus in a most temporary enhancement. She need to make it count. Her mistress would demand no less.
Sidestepping just a slight bit, she raised her hands to catch the two slices. Grabbing them both, the fish caused a blast in her palm as she crushed them, propelling her hands in an arc, in which she applied further of her strength. This swipe could tear the heads off of giants with ease as it was, but Lysander was clearly of greater caliber than before. Far faster if nothing else. She estimated an approximate five minutes that she would have this immense boost of prowess. Time was against her, but she needed to do her best. Weakest as she may be, she was of no interest to prove the matter to her mistress.
Lysander turned to look over his shoulder, "She caught them? I need to turn it up a notch..." He turned to face the beast again, pulling away his scabbard. In his right hand was Shadreen, his sword inflamed with red fire, as his hatred spurted out of his mouth, "You freak go to hell." With his dial humming on his back the flare of energy located on his back boosted to a greater size.
He flowed the energy from his fruit into his sword the blade carrying a clear glow of blue and yellow aura around it. Lysander twirled his sword between his fingers before drawing it close to his hip holding on with both hands. The effect of the waving sword disturbed the ground even though the blade was nowhere near it.
Combining soru, and his fruit powers Lysander shot off towards Compassion, his movements were to fast, this boosted speed, was something far beyond normal. He left a trail of broken earth behind each step, as his skin sizzled red, catching his entire body on fire. Leaping into the air, he hovered above Compassion.
The aura coming from his blade brought to life the image of a demon made of stardust. "Deadstar Conquest!" Kicking the air Lysander took off once again.
BOOM!
He reappeared at the center of Compassion's chest, a trail of fire behind him in his wake, his sword already thrusted in front of him. Before the blade even could touch Compassion she could feel the overwhelming surge of concussive force ready to impale her body. Lysander had learned enough times that a basic slash wouldn't always work on her.
Over the course of their battle, Lysander understood that a concussive force was needed to damage her, combining that philosophy with a stab attack, he was certain it would work.
Throwing her arms behind her, Compassion allowed the blow to strike her square and center in the chest. The sheer force of energy coming at her was of a quantity and quality she had ever faced here in Paradise or elsewhere. It surpassed the power of cannon fire, and above all, would hurt substantially more. But that's all it would be. Pain. The force made contact and was quickly followed by the sword, hoping against hope to pierce through her body. Staggering her back and then dragging her feet along the dirt as she resisted the push.
In the same motion as she withstood the force coming her way, she straightened her fingers before thrusting forward, the tips of her bony fingers becoming like spears as she aimed to utterly gut the man. Two fingers against his stomach and two more through his solar plexus and lungs. This was a dangerous adversary, and Compassion could not afford him to make it to her mistress. Regardless of how it made herself feel.
His vision drifted towards the left, two outstretched spear bone fingers looking to impale him. Using his strength and agility, Lysander flipped and rotated his body, using his sword as leverage. This maneuver saved him within the nick of time, his feet now upon the chest of Compassion two hands still on his blade, he proceeded to produced that concussive force from before into his feet and onto the chest of compassion. At the same time he ripped the blade from her chest, kicking himself off of her, creating distance.
The marine, licked his blade as it was covered in blood.
Compassion felt the pain from the impact, but could not comprehend how the blade had actually pierced her. It wasn't so much about damage, for in the long run, it didn't matter. The wound was stiched together faster than it had been made. Still... How did this happen? Compassion could feel the intensity of the absorbed emotions waning. Time was running short. She would not die, nor would she take lasting damage, but... If he got through...
"I knew I should have sent something better than my most base simplicity. Still, I had hoped you could have capitalized on their morality." Came the voice of a woman. Compassion flinched in terror, turning her head towards the direction. Mistress Aurelia stood there, with glaring disgust in her eyes. "You have shattered my record with your weakness, Compassion."
"M-Mistress, I-"
"An undefeated record of my spirits having never suffered injury. The unmired reputation of my unbreakable bulwark. My unquestionable resolve. You've failed me, Compassion." She growled as Compassion began to grovel before her. "No matter. I'll just kill this witness and we should be good. Now out of my sight." She hissed as Compassione burst into "nothingness".
"Hatred. Pride. Justice. Come forth." She spat as three new entities came forward. An angelic figure whose head was circled by eye encrusted halos, along with two demonic creatures of remarkable proportions. These creatures eminated immense power and potency. Next to any of these ones, Compassion might as well have been a gnat.
"Pride! Justice! Grow." She ordered as Pride and justice melded together to form a brand new entity, taller and radiating a strength that dwarfed even Hatred's. "You are up against my strongest Simplicity and my strongest Complication. Let's have fun." She growled as Hatred shattered the ground beneath his feet as he charged ahead, blitzing towards Lysander at speeds which the marine would recognize as equal to his prior haste. But beyond that, even now, so soon after their meeting, Lysander would feel something else. Strength. Power. Rejuvenating hate. This spirit was bolstering the very feeling which is currently giving him strength and only amplifying it.
"Supremacy. Stand guard." Was Aurelia's order to the blue titan as Hatred raised his fist to strike at Lysander, cackling his mad laughter all the while.
Tombstones and Tiger Claws[]
The sound of battle not far away made the cat ears of Liu Hu twitch. Taking in a deep breath she could smell the likes of Sol and Karim, the bitch remaining but the man was on the move toward the fighting. Two smells that were unfamiliar and another that carried the faint smell of Sol herself. It was no doubt one of her creations, devilish as could be.
It was none of her business, truly. She cared not for Sol nor the Golden boy, but there was an itch in her that only a fight could scratch. Looking down at the small pile of defeated foes around her she knew she would get no such fight from them. With a loud sigh she leapt atop the roof above her with ease and headed toward the sounds and smells of battle.
Arriving at the site she saw that it was indeed one of Sol's monsters battling against what looked like marines. "World Government types, huh? Fucking around with that weak little monster? Maybe you'd like a real fight?!" Hu jumped down, landing close to Graves as her landing cracked the ground. It was clear that the woman was stronger than her short stature and loud mouth might suggest.
"What do you say we have some fun? I'm Liu Hu. Tell me your name so that we can fight as warriors!"
Graves momentarily stopped his flight as he slowly turned his head towards the female Mink now standing across from him. And like most of the stereotypical battle junkie's he's come across, she was looking for a good fight. No doubt to feed that insatiable lust for combat. Not that he would ever speak negatively on that, he was of course apart of that same enigmatic group too. He was just self-aware enough to know it. The smart thing to do would be to avoid this battle. Afterall he had to find Sol Aurelia and bring her in. The tactical thing to do would be to feign interest, possibly feign weakness long enough to leave and proceed with his mission.
Hell's bells.... he could feel her intensity, the pressure exuding off of the woman, the thirst for a good battle, the excitement of challenging new foes. Because he felt it too. He would never admit this to anyone but it was definitely a weakness of his. One he had hoped wouldn't be inadvertently exploited by the Mink looking so expectantly at him. But that didn't mean he'd make it easy. You can't just dive right into every unexpected challenge that comes your way, right? He observed her in silence for a moments before he answered.
"My name is Van Orden Graves. I'm a Major in the Marines, I'm here to arrest and capture Sol Aurelia. And I would be delighted to fight you." He responded evenly. You damn sucker! You gave in that easily!? He thought, thoroughly embarrassed with himself.
Turning fully towards the Mink, he summoned forth his weapon Crimson Grudge, pointing it towards Liu Hu. It was a weapon that to Liu Hu's eyes might have looked rather strange. It was obviously a sword, a well crafted one at that, but its hilt was perhaps the most bizarre thing about it. Several exhaust pipes adorned the hilt which looked like a gun of some kind with the handle having something like a throttle and trigger.
"Figured you were here for the bitch. What a pain, I don't know what's so special about her." Hu made her qualms known to the man with a heavy sigh before she dropped down onto all fours. Her long claws scrapped against the stoney ground creating light sparks as they did so. Her eyes studied his weapon, a weird looking thing, she wasn't one for traditional weapons but she'd never seen anything like it. She'd have to watch out for it, but she was quick on her hands and feet, and when it came to battle, even quick in the head.
Electricity crackled across her body, blue sparks striking outward. It was clearly something different than mere electro. "It's an honor to meet you, Graves. Now that our names are known to one another we can fight as equals. If you prove a strong opponent I will honor your passing."
And with a twitch of a muscle she was gone with only the cracking of thunder to announce her movement, in flash she was directly below Graves with electrified claws held up as she threw them upward aiming to strike with an X-shaped slash across his chest.
Graves quirked an eyebrow at her response. "Interesting choice of words." She may be wanted herself. I'll check after I beat her. He thought. He readied himself as she got on all fours. On seeing her proficiency with electro though, well, that's why he had the tools he did. He instantly equipped then hybridized a Thunder and Jet Dial on his duster. The resulting combination would allow him to absorb electricity and release it with the Jet Dial so he could improve his speed.
When Liu Hu vanished from sight only to reappear below him he reacted instantly, his eyes tracking her every movement by quickly interposing Crimson Grudge with a downward block.
The precise moment her claws were lined up he intercepted the attack! His defensive maneuver met hers with a great clash as a shockwave reverberated out. Graves grunted as he felt a lot of power behind her attack. Graves smiled. In his other hand he summoned forth a firearm, a heavily modified four-barreled shotgun, capable of firing his own modified shells and then leveled it at her while at the same time pressing downward with his sword to keep her occupied. Without any other preamble he pulled the trigger which released a near deafening crack, as the four barrels glowed bright before releasing their payload; an explosive fiery burst filled with superheated shrapnel at point-blank range.
Hu was sent sliding back from the force of the explosive blow, her feet kicking up dust as they remained planted, slowing her down against the stone ground. His firearm had hit home, and where it had against her side her shirt was filled with holes but it wouldn't take a keen eye to see that no blood flowed from the wounds.
Hu grabbed hold of her shirt, she tore it from her body leaving her upper body covered only by the sarashi she wore over her chest. Where the attack had hit the several metallic shrapnel pieces stuck out of her skin but it was clear they had gone no deeper. A large, toothy grin on her face as the pieces of shrapnel began to fall from their wounds clinking as they hit the ground. Still no blood flowed from the wounds, one would not be remise to think the woman was anything but human.
"I used Seimei Kikan to harden the blood under my skin to create a sub-epidermal armor. It was a nice try though, half a second later I'd be full of bullets. Merrrow!" Hu snickered mischeviously, she was by no means as intelligent as a doctor or scientist but when it came to battle IQ there were few that could match the fight hungry Palm Top Tiger of Kano Country. She knew her abilities and she knew them well.
The holes in her side began to close up, and with that she held out both of her hands together toward Graves. Her hands were held out, flat palm to palm with all of her fingers pointed directly at him. "I wonder if you'll be able to hold up the same way. I'll be disappointed if you break easily!" Her eyes carried an unhinged look of joy before a bolt of lightning shot out of her fingers toward Graves in a flash.
Life Return? Wasn't that a fabled technique known only to the strongest Marines and Cipher Pol? He was surprised to see someone else knew of that rather elusive technique. What connection did she have with the Marines? Now he was interested.
But as quickly as that thought arrived, an even more worrisome one accompanied it. Life Return granted extraordinary, perhaps even supernatural control over the body. They could bend, twist and stretch themselves to unimaginable degrees. It also meant that she'd be able to disguise and surprise him more easily with her attacks.
Fighting her would be… troublesome. After a thought, he realized it was trouble he welcomed. He supposed he was just like her in that regard, a fellow combat junkie. He was almost surprised by her fast lightning attack.
Almost.
While opponents tended to be faster than him, an annoying occurrence to be sure, his eyesight as a gunslinger and sniper were rarely caught off guard. He reacted instantly, equipping a thunder dial to Crimson Grudge, along with a breath dial and flame dial. He put his great sword between them, causing the lightning bolt to crash against its surface.
But to her eyes instead of spreading out and frying the human, the sword seemed to... drink the lightning. Her attack spat and sputtered, thrashing wildly before it was seemingly sucked into and absorbed by the blade.
“Sorry but your lightning won’t be of much help.” He quipped. With a flourish he hefted his blade so it was parallel with the ground before thrusting the sword forward.
This particular combination of dials worked by having the thunder dial absorb lightning and store it up and then feed the fire dial as fuel. With the breath dial activating a faint blue breeze began to flow outward from the sword before it was engulfed in fire at the apex of the thrust.
A massive azure-white stream of fire exploded before quickly evolving into a fiery tsunami incinerating and burning everything in its path as it rushed towards Liu Hu.
Hu made not a move, in fact, she seemed to embrace the flames. Burning hot and searing her body absorbed them much like Grave's sword did. It would see, at least at the moment, the two were at an impass at least as far as flame and lightning went. His sword absorbed her lightning and her body could absorb any energy source and produce lightning in return.
As she absorbed his attack lightning crackled of her body, shooting off in every direction. She felt empowered and she would show it. Hu channeled her electricity throughout her body, increasing the speed in which her brain could signals throughout her body and with that she kicked off towards Graves again, however, when she appeared this time she looked different, more animal like seen in the silhouette of the pulsing electricity that surrounded her. She held up both of her hands in front of her towards Grave's chest. "Piercing Tiger Claw!" She shouted, her claws sounded like a gun going off as through the use of Seimei Kikan they extended outward as though intending to impale the marine.
Graves was surprised when Hu didnt even bother to dodge his attack, instead she seemed to relish in it. As the flames washed over her his instincts warned him that something was amiss. His keen eyes noted the changes that rippled across her form.
Did she... absorb that attack and get stronger? He thought with alarm. The next moment his instincts screamed a warning to him as she flickered from sight.
So fast!
He barely had time to maneuver as he hastily swapped out all the elemental dials to a jet and impact dial to Crimson Grudge and activated the jet dial. A crack of air sounded off as the blade shot up from its downward position to block the Minks attack.
The nails that were thrust forward clashed against his sword, causing sparks to fly as he barely managed to deflect the blow that would have surely put a hole in his chest. Instead her attack merely grazed his arm cutting through the material and drawing blood.
He grinned. "Neat trick." His other arm holding his quad-barreled shotgun was once again pointed directly at her torso. This time he equipped freezing ammunition and right before he pulled the trigger he uttered one word.
"Checkmate!"
In the same motion he equipped an eisen dial to Crimson Grudge transforming the blade into a lethal whip and had it bend upward shooting towards Hu's face while a blast of freezing cold rounds were blasted towards her body.
Hu had no gun but that didn't mean she wasn't quick on the draw, grabbing hold of the gun she pointed it toward the ground as the rounds shot off, icy bullet shattering agains the cobblestone street and as the whip sword came at her face she made no move to dodge it, no move to protect herself. Instead her mouth opened, gaping and sharp toothed, biting down on the whip as it moved to strike her.
Like a cat with a toy hanging from it's mouth, that's what it would look like to Graves. But rather than tug and pull on it as though playing a game she simply raised a leg, quick, well aimmed, she went to kick him directly between the legs, where she knew it would hurt most.
He honestly thought he had her with that move. Which quickly turned to surprise when she latched onto his gun throwing off his aim, and then in the most absolutely absurd display of craziness and strength caught Crimson Grudge's blade with her teeth. Her TEETH. Even if he wanted to escape, he barely had a moment to think before stowing away his gun, to shift his arm throwing his hand to block her kick.
He didn't even have time to equip an impact dial into his glove, so he bore the brunt of her attack with his bare hand. He winced in pain as his hasty defense may have saved future generations of the Van Orden bloodline, it did little to against the pain in his arm from an improper block, causing it to briefly go numb. Gritting his teeth managed to use the force of her attack to leap up in a rising arc until he was directly above her.
Hoping to take advantage of his position he instantly stowed Crimson Grudge, causing it to disappear, freeing it from her mouth as he reared his arm back. Equipping the weapon again, it reappeared in in his outstretched hand before he brought it down with a mighty heave. He spun with the force of his movement as he carved an path through the air into a downward slash intent on cleaving her face in twine.
Hu was partly disappointed that her attack on the family jewels was unsuccessful, however, by jumping into the air Graves had put himself into a precarious position. Watching the man jump into the air and in turn force her leg down to the ground which cracked under the force of her heal slamming into it something she'd done against Sol during their first battle popped into her head. Quickly, she transformed into her full zoan state, her growing larger but that wasn't what Graves should worry about. Rather, he should notice that with her change in size came the increased size of her mouth.
Her white tiger form, the smallest of the four auspicious beasts, Byakko was still much large than any regular tiger could be. Her mouth was wide open, teeth large and ready to chomp down on Graves as his blade came down and split one of the large white top teeth of the tiger.
Shock was visible on Graves face as he bore witness to Hu's transformation. The rippling expansion of musculature as her size grew to incredible proportions! Is that... a white tiger? He thought frantically. Now the pieces were starting to fall into place.
Was that part of her power? To absorb heat and lightning and convert it into strength? A Mythical Zoan!? You've got to be kidding me! How come I've never heard of her!? Dammit! Lysanders too busy dealing with that other one, and we still have the actual objective to get to! Alright, think what are my op-!!!
Graves didn't even have time to ponder, for after her transformation Hu opened her massive jaw seeking to devour him whole as he fell. His position wasn't exactly favorable either, he was falling headfirst and his feet were directly above him, which didn't leave him many options. Which meant it was time go wild! Throwing his arms back he equipped several explosive grenades in his hands, and then triggered their detonation sequence. Throwing them down below he braced himself as he equipped an impact dial to his arms as he crossed them over his head.
A half dozen series of detonations exploded between Hu and Graves causing the immediate area around them to shudder as shockwaves rocked the surroundings. Graves was however saved from the damage as his impact dial absorbed the kinetic force and then promptly expelled its stored energy releasing yet another devastating shockwave towards Hu.
Using the recoil, Graves let himself be carried up and away as he twisted mid-air to re-orient himself properly. Milky clouds shot out from his feet granting him flight as he flew backwards. Raising his arms a large shoulder-mounted bazooka materialized in his hands as he locked on target and loaded a round into the chamber. The munition he loaded was a modified mechanis shell that would with the help of a eisen dial would fire combined with a milky dial create a rapidly expanding and highly malleable iron cloud net!
Turning he began strafing Hu as he fired the net at her, banking the explosions disorienting her enough to give him a shot at entangling her in the net.
The explosions blinded her momentarily even as her body consumed the heat and flames of the fire ball the shrapnel of the grenades did little to her durable Tiger body. However, as Graves had planned, she had been distracted by both the blindness as well as the nigh high of absorbing more heat to power her abilities. The net draped over her body like a blanket causing her to began to trash about and shoot lightning off in every direction as she tried to fling the net from her body.
Graves gave a whoop of laughter at his momentary victory before it turned into a yelp as he hastily darted to the side to avoid a discharge of lightning. The wild thrashing of Hu in her beast form was certainly a terrifying sight to behold, a massive towering white tiger glowing with the raw power of the heavens, throwing bolts of lightning around like it was nothing, the only consolation being that she was at least in this moment trapped.
Pressing his advantage, Graves swapped equipped his quad-barreled shotgun, equipping slugs into the chambers. With a burst of speed he dove through the chaotic lightning storm Hu was inadvertently making, weaving through the arcs that scored superheated streaks through his space just moments before he evaded another. The stench of ozone was thick, and he wisely equipped a thunder dial to his clothing to ensure that any graze instead became fuel for what he was about to do next.
After blitzing through the storm he appeared within close range and once more began strafing her as he fired salvo after salvo of lead slugs, as he unloaded suppressive fire on Hu. He figured her hide would grant her some protection but once more was using his firing storm as a cover for his next attack. In his other hand he equipped Crimson Grudge, causing the sword to instantly materialize in his hand. Within the meito he equipped a milky dial to grant it a more malleable form, a perpetual dial, and an axe dial to turn the attack into a tornado of deadly slashes. Rearing back with his sword arm he swung diagonally causing the sword to transform into a whirlwind of expanding slashes as it curved and lashed at Li Hu's new form.
Supreme Demons[]
Lysander stood crouched as he watched Compassion and this new adversary converse, he quickly recognized her to be Aurelia, the pirate they were after.
"It's here, the real target," he whispered to himself, the dial on his back humming his body began to steam before letting off a burst of wind expelling from his skin, cooling his body down. He watched as Compassion was erased into the fabric of the air. He was more alert than anything, a tiger lying in the grass waiting to strike.
Emerging from thin air became three new entities, an angel and two demons, "Three more monsters to cut down..." he thought. But when she called out their names, hatred, pride, and justice, his mind lingered for a moment thinking back to the beast prior. "She kept mentioning compassion, this has to be a fruit power of some kind. That purple aura, what was it though? I felt something inside leave, was it emotions..."
As he was in a thought he didn't notice the angel and a demon merge into one blue monster. His eyes shifted towards the towering giant then to the smaller demon known as Hatred ran towards him. His speed was spectacular which caught Lysander off guard.
"..." A direct punch landed across the jaw of Lysander, the demon could feel the strange warping of bone and muscles as it's hand implanted into his face. A powerful shockwave broke the sound barrier from its might, yet the demon didn't manage to strike Lysander to the ground. In fact Hatred felt a resistance to his strike.
"Hmhmhmh," an eerie laugh came from Lysander as his body swelled with the concussive force of the impact. During this exchange Lysander had sheathed both of his swords into his waistband, becoming bare-handed, with this his appearance changed as his eyes returned to normal.
"Was that supposed to hurt?" Lysander's entire right arm was flowing with bound energy, while he balled his fist, his knuckles cracking. "I will test my theory on you, I hope that's ok..." His entire arm then combusted into a burning flame, with his left arm he clutched onto the demon's arm swelling bound energy into his hand increasing his grip onto the beast.
It could feel the pressure against its flesh, seeping into its bones and rattling them, "...Phoenix Star Barkley!" The marine sank his hips and twisted his fist. Launching upwards towards the neck of the demon Hate he aimed to punch the head clean off the beast, his fist packed with the power of the demon's first initial strike ontop of his own power.
Hatred seemed pleased with this exchange or, well, as much as can be expected from a creature built and sustained from the most vile emotion. "No." He hissed as he allowed the blow to land, reaching up with his hands to grab hold of his forearm. "But this is." He growled with a wicked grin as the long prehensile tail darted forward as quickly as he had been running with the intent of having the sharp tip pierce through his guts.
"I saw you back there. I witnessed that exquisite hate within. Feel it! Let it fuel you! That malice will be your key. USE IT TO BE STRONGER THAN THIS!" He roared as he moved his free arm to deliver a fist to Lysanders face square on.
Lysander didn't hesitate to make his next move the moment his first attack landed, using soru Lysander avoided the Hatred's reach for his arm to reposition himself behind the creature. As the beast brought his tail around to strike Lysander's initial he'd already grabbed the end of it sinking his fingers into it's scaled hide as his fruit power's bypassed it's armor defensives.
He spun on his heels, using his own strength to hurl the beast around and around, turning into a spinning top. The marine at the perfect moment stomped his right foot into the ground planting it firm, and aimed to heave the large beast into the air towards the sea.
"IMPRESSIVE!" Hatred cackled as the tail became grappled and spun like a carousel. However, there was no injury taken. He simply had his grip in place. As he let go to throw Hatred away, the demon wrapped the lenght of its tail around Lysander's arm and digging its tip into his shoulder, all to yank him with him into the seas. "LET'S HAVE A BATH TOGETHER!"
Hatred's tail twisted and coiled around the left arm of Lysander, the tip of his spear tail jabbing into the skin of Lysander. The pirate let out a devastating cry of pain, "AGHHHH!" The marine gritted his jaw and clenched his teeth, as the momentum from his attack took off as Lysander was taken to the air with Hatred, "He's cunning, but let's play chicken then." He thought as he smiled hurling toward the sky. His dial hummed swirling with energy empowering his body, enveloped in a clear transparent aura Lysander.
Lysander kicked off the air as he jetted himself past Hatred and flew further up into the sky, Lysander reached his free arm around pulling out the sharp claw from his shoulder and tearing it from his flesh. He threw the tip away falling out of the sky.
"Much better!" His body flexed sending a visible flux of energy that repelled the grip of his tail and pulling his arm to free himself. He floated in the air as his jacket fluttered. Hatred fell from the sky as Lysander no longer propelled them further into the air.
"Today we test the limits of science," Lysander announced ripping off his jacket and throwing his hat into the sea below. His eyebrows narrowed as his body surged with energy, he shot towards Hatred from above, his arm outstretched and balled-up fists, aiming to shot into the stomach of Hatred bringing them closer to the sea floor.
Quickly recuperating his composure when falling, Hatred glowered at the marine, his hate swelling, as it too would in Lysander. Lysander got stronger and stronger by the second, and Hatred was still keeping pace in all capacities. "Despicable Thrust!" Shouted Hatred as he shot up into the skies from seemingly nothing, flying through the skies, crackling the air as he broke the sound barrier. Meeting Lysander part of the way, they both delivered their blows, Lysander's fist colliding with his cheek, causing him to flinch from the impact but little else.
Meanwhile, Hatred did a fingertip strike against Lysander's throat, not aiming to kill or break anything, but rather to put him in a state of infuriated shock. Meanwhile the tip of Hatred's tail came from the opposite side, aiming to stab into his kidney. All the while Hatred cackled. "Bring me your best, Lysander! Know that your fervor won't be forgotten once you lie dead! Your rage and hate shall forever live on through me in carnage after carnage to come!"
"Thing thing can fly too? Interesting..." He thought before barreling toward the creature, both in an epic frame, just before the clash Lysander's eyes were drawn to the surrounding limbs that aimed to harm him in that same moment. Last minute he switched his stance only using his right hand instead of both and delivered a devastating clash and catching the finger in his left hand.
He kicked off the air, "Soru..." Avoiding the tail, the marine hovered above the beast once again, seeming only to use his fruit powers to keep him afloat. "My theory seems to be right after that statement. Her power is emotions, they must come out in physical manifestations. Hatred must be this ones strength. I wonder..."
Lysander gazed upon the ravage beast, "Who did this to you?"
Hatred seemed to let his words pass through one ear and out the other as the emotion of revulsion and hate swelled in them both, but only Lysander benefiting from it. Spinning in the air, Hatred moved to grab Lysander's ankle before his spoke up. "Who did this to 'me'?" He inquired but didn't give him enough time to respond. "No one! I am that I am! My hatred is sourced from such an abyss that you wouldn't dare to imagine it!" He howled. "My hatred is ours, and ours alone. Now do us the favor of dying!" he shouted as he attempted to hurl him towards the sea.
Lysander was hurled towards the sea surface yet he held his composure, placing his hand upon his chin he gave a slight stroke, "Hai, I understand now...Alright let's begin."
Just before he was about to crash into the water, his dial swirled on his back, the outside of Lysander's figure was glowing with a white aura. A swooping presence would agitate the seas, as the marine flew above the waters. Lysander flipped forward using a combination of soru, geppo and his fruit to make his speeds invisible to the eye, even for the demon.
Reappearing before the beast within striking distance, infusing his right fist with his power. "Sandanho!" Releasing a strike so fast, it looked like he hadn't moved, Lysander combined the raw power of his fruit with the shigan technique, creating his own amplified version of the six art. With this technique, Lysander can pack a more destructive attack.
"YES! FUEL YOURSELF! INSTILL YOUR HEART WITH VIOLENCE!" The fiend shouted with furious glee. When Lysander appeared, Hatred moved to intercept the fist, intent on grabbing a hold of it, infusing the man with more hate and more influence of his own. Bracing his strike with his palm, the fist made collision, sending a rippling wave of energy by and through Hatred. The strike was too fast and strong to make a grab, but Hatred angled himself to utilize the attack to his benefit.
Spinning as a result of the lopsided hit and with no footing to stabilize, Hatred swung wide, his spiked tail and clawed left arm swinging to pierce Lysander's side with the tail and grab his throat with his hand. Should the grab be successful, Hatred would rip the emotion and power out of the man to be forever fueled to greater heights.