Zone C -- Megacity One

[Dust]

Dust climbed over the fences that were supposed to keep wild animals out of the city with no sense of irony at all. He found the ground of a city's floor comforting, despite his nature. He imagined if he climbed up one of the mountains instead staying grounded as well, he'd feel familiar with the territory, but since he hadn't that's not the case. He found himself on the edges of the more condensed buildings he'd passed through before, but nothing caught his eye as something he's seen before. He could feel the thick air, however, towards the center of the city. A glance at his map he'd recognize that being in the direction of the drop from earlier. He could guess there was a mighty fight going on in that direction.

Getting low to the ground like he was back in boot camp - as in they booted you in the ass if you didn't do the training not the traditional boot camp - and pressed his body to the cold concrete that makes up the buildings here. He suddenly sneezed, it shot through him before he could even notice to stop it. Rubbing his nose he wondered if the old rumor was true and that meant someone was thinking about him. He couldn't see it being Dawn, unfortunately, but he wondered if Takezo was the one that brought on this superstition. He had no idea where they were anymore, and he only hoped he could find them after all this madness was done. Even if he kind of enjoyed this madness.

Checking his tablet one more time, and this time in favored terrain, Dust moved from building side to building side. He didn't want to get dragged into a massive fight, and the hair standing on end along his neck told him going into that would be a bad time. The problem was, it didn't feel any better heading in the other direction. He wasn't sure why, maybe because that chaos could roll over into where he was going. He hoped not as he moved through his domain.

Dust moved from C4 to C5

[Dust]

Dust found himself always at arm's length from the fighting in the center. He knew that the safe house was there and that it would be a good place to grab some rest, but the item drop called to him. At the very least if he got something important enough it would keep him in the game.

The wolf in disguise maneuvered the city rather expertly. He ignored the taunting neon signs and the smell of blood that littered the area. But what he could not ignore was the massive aura of power that was starting to prick at his skin. At first, he thought it was just cold rain, but while he was no stranger to taking on large powerful armies, he was a stranger to fear. Even now, he wasn't sure it was fear he was feeling or excitement that shook his core. The wolf inside him wanted to flee and try for easier prey. His mind was burning with warnings that he was entering the territory of a bear, even a family of bears. His heart beat like the rain on the tin onnings of stores he passed up despite what they might have to offer in help or direction. But Dust knew the taste in the air, and while the contractor knew there was danger around the bend and he should flee instead, Gildart's threat enchanted him as something more glorious than fighting a squid-girl in the caverns miles and miles away.

He had never thought of himself as brave or courageous, it was neither an emotion he had been able to experience before nor an act he'd ever taken up. By definition, he was doing so at this moment. The danger he was picking up was very real; the threat was very real; but he in his heart he couldn't think of anyone else he'd rather fall, too. He found the words finally when he saw the red haired human and the dark elf creature in the middle of the streets waiting to snatch up the item when it came: Respect.

As intimidating as these two were, Dust couldn't bring himself to tuck his tail between his legs and run. He boldly and openly approached them. His bare chest wet with the rain, his stance perfect in posture, his pace casual, but his eyes eager to take on the Titans of Dante's Abyss. His eyes met the shorter man's first, then the elf's before he just took them both in. A grin slid across his mouth and he looked as friendly as he did ready, but held his ground while they judged them for themselves. Silence stood between them for a long time, before he finally offered some words of his own. Still with a confident smirk, "So this is why my Flight senses are screaming." There was no quiver of fear in his voice.

Gildarts was hard pressed to remember seeing the man before, the one bold enough to walk up to him and his friend so casually and even admit that he knew better. He turned to face the young pup that has approached them and finally acknowledged Dust with his eyes and words. "And yet, you came anyways." With a voice that had confidence, power, and a hint of nobility to it.

Dust bravely goes from C5 to C6, but does not openly challenge either Gildarts or Illidan as of yet.

[Gildarts]

Gillidan’s current view on the newcomer is NEUTRAL. Illidan a little “less” neutral about Dust.

 
Gildarts placed his hand across Illidan’s pale purple chest. The fel sorcerer was a swooping hand gesture away from shocking the kid’s brains out with his electrifying jade magic. The wizard stopped him. Illidan was getting sick of the bullshit, he was here to win. He would even so much have gone to the extent of calling him a coward, had ne not seen what Gildarts could do on the battlefield against his foes.
 
Gildarts sized the newcomer up.
 
Sparks of recognition shown in the youth’s eyes, while Gildarts had not notably met the man before. Gildarts’ reputation had preceded him. Destroyer of cities. Camelot bounty on his head. And the rumored “Strongest Prime” though, Gildarts knew of others how had considerable skill on top of his, and those who had raw, consummate power over him. He had a small amount of networking and lots of whispers spoke his name, embellishing stories of his travels all around the Omniverse. He hadn’t even walked through every verse yet. Still, here stood what the Prime could consider either a threat, or an admirer.
 
Or both.
 
After Gildarts greeted the stranger with a dopey sort of smile, the Malefactor hissed in his mind, What are you waiting for? STRIKE HIM DOWN!
 
It was only logical for anyone in his shoes to do to an enemy and threat. But the kid showed bravery, courage for facing where the trail of power had left him. Gildarts should’ve been containing his power so he couldn’t be tracked down as easily. Immediately, in response to this bright epiphany, he suppressed the strength that spewed off of him and shut the door of his emerging energy with the flip of a switch. Illidan growled. “May I talk to you in private, NOW!”
 
It wasn’t a question. But a demand. Gildarts was pulled immediately out of sight just above the wristband that reminded him just how close Karl's game had him to doom and death.
 
 

Gillidan + Dust is also expected to follow shortly after, not in pursuit of battle, however (neutral) are moving From C6 to B15

[The Future Warrior]

Back out into the rain and they resumed their quickened pace of travel. Graowr was quiet, in a rare turn of events, and constantly looking around nervously. Something about this city she couldn't explain. It just didn't feel right. Somewhere in the back of her mind she knew exactly why it bothered her so much, though. She'd been in cities before. Old cities, new cities, big cities, small cities, ruined cities, rebuilding cities, destroyed cities, abandoned cities... All of them had felt lived in. As if they'd been alive, and the reason for their destruction or emptiness if they were empty could be readily explained. But this one...this one just felt dead. Like everyone in it had just vanished, left without a trace. She knew, of course, that the constant fog shrouding it, and the rain didn't do her any favors in that general impression of things, but still...

It was a spooky place for her. As tired of it as she was, she'd have almost preferred to be back at the coast, struggling through the flooding and waves.

"So..." It was the little majin who finally spoke up to break the silence again after a while. "...my name's Graowr."

There was no immediate response, which put a damper on the blue girl's spirits. But after a moment, the hooded woman volunteered what might have been her own name. "Dawn." There was no more said on that subject, as the topic immediately changed. She had drawn her tablet out of its pocket in her backpack again, stopping at an intersection in the road to check the map. "...this way should be the quickest." She gestured down the road to their right, and headed off down it, leaving Graowr to hop forward and scurry forward to catch up.

Somehow, the 'company' was managing to make it more spooky in here...

Graowr and Dawn moving from C2 to C16

[Todd Ingram]

Bruce was enjoying a well deserved break, with his eyes closed he caught up on some well needed sleep. Deprive the body of rest and it won't perform at its best when one needs it. After finally getting a decent meal within his system, and a quick nap, Bruce could feel his strength return to him. Unfortunate for the vigilante he wasn't allowed to rest long. Enel stood over the resting prime, with an expression on his face that said, 'is this guy actually sleeping?' With his staff he poked the caped crusader against his armor. It didn't seem to have much effect. He tried again, this time a bit harder, shoving the blunt weapon against Batman's armor, hearing only a 'thud'.

"Well if my caped follower is this vast asleep, I might as well see what kind of freaky bat mutation he is hiding underneath the mask." Enel grinned as he parked his staff against the nearby wall. Both hands reached for the cowl, with his first finger's reaching underneath the suit's leather he triggered the trap. A small shock of electricity made the God flinch, "He used my own power against me? What kind of powers does this Bat have?!"
 
The triggered trap alarmed Bruce, opening his eyes and immediately sat up right. It took him nothing more than a few seconds to regain his thoughts and put the pieces of the puzzle together.

"Don't touch the mask." He calmly warned Enel, who was still in a slight shock.

"You truly are full of surprises aren't you -bat-man?" The god praised as he picked up his staff from up against the wall.

"What's going on?" The detective inquired, knowing very well he got woken for a reason. The god of thunder showed him the tablet, "It's show-time, bring those bat-senses along. We might need them again" On the screen a clear indicator showed of a new item drop nearby. It was obvious Enel was gunning for it. The bat nodded, "We can scope it out."
 
The unlikely duo headed towards the door, leaving to hopefully pick up the drop. From behind them they heard the Chef's voice imitating an Indian accent, "Thank you, come again!"

Batman and Enel Moving SHC to C21

[The Future Warrior]

"I think we should be getting fairly close," Dawn spoke up, after a while of silent traveling through the city streets. "Looks like...up ahead, where all those damn buildings are, is the downtown area."

"We're making pretty good time!" the little blue not-really-an-alien-but-also-not-quite-a-demon spoke up, voice chipper. "Moving pretty fast!"

"Yeah. We sure are. Looks like the safehouse is up ahead somewhere, too, if we need somewhere to hide out for a while." The dark-haired woman scowled, looking up from the tablet at the buildings in the near distance. "Assuming we can ever find it...everything looks the god damn same in this fucking city!" She huffed out an irritated breath, shifting the load of her backpack on her shoulders. "Damn Syntech architecture...what, Karl Jak couldn't spring for some buildings that would stand out and look different if the weather got a little shitty? Fucking hell..."

Graowr raised a gloved hand, drawing Dawn's attention back out of her angry, architecture-directed tirade. "Oh, I know where the safehouse is!" she said cheerfully, and earning herself a curious, raised eyebrow. "I've been here before, like I said! Besides, the safehouse is pretty easy to spot! It's in the lobby of a big office building. It's one of the taller ones around, so it's not too hard to find!" Her expression quickly faltered, as her eyes darted up. "...or, well...it wasn't too hard to find, before...when it was just the fog..."

"Yeah, well...whatever. Let's just keep moving. Find this item drop, and then we can get on our way. Maybe duck into the safehouse and wait out the next item drop, see if this rain passed." Taking another look at her tablet map to reorient herself, the disgruntled woman stored it away and adjusted her backpack's straps, starting off toward their destination again.

The azure demonette bounded along behind her. "It'd be nice if it did. This rain sucks!"

"...yeah, that's one word for it."

Graowr and Dawn moving from C16 to C17

[Todd Ingram]

From outside the safe house Batman could clearly hear the sound of battle, it was close, very close, and not something they wanted to get involved in. A new destination was laying ahead of them, this time, hopefully, without too much trouble. The god was intrigued with the nearby noises, almost as if it was getting to him like an unscratchable itch. "Let's go, we don't want to be late." Enel snapped out of it and actually agreed, "Best we let the rodents fight it out themselves, saves me the trouble."


With tablet in hand they were walking the streets of the city. Enel was casually walking beside the dark knight, with his bo staff on his shoulders and leaning both hands on top of it. "I'm telling you Bats, I am feeling very lucky today. This drop is going to be a good one." He spoke filled with confidence whilst staring up at the sky, daydreaming.


"Hm." Confirmed Batman. He was barely listening. He was too focused getting the group where they were suppose to end up. All these streets look alike and he couldn't get lost, time was precious and couldn't be wasted by daydreaming.


'The last few drop sights have been disappointing to say the least. This time we won't back down. No matter what, we will get that drop.'


Bruce was determined that this was his shot. His latest partner didn't seem to worry too much. He was either incredibly strong or just an idiot. Bruce was praying it was the first, going by the simple logic it wouldn't make sense for an idiot to survive this long, but he had been wrong in the past. Time would tell.


Between the buildings Bruce noticed they weren't alone, up ahead he noticed more people. He had to proceed with Caution.
 
 

Batman and Enel Moving C21 to C17

[Harlan Higgs]

The wind blew eerily through the plaza as MadBull drew his sidearm at the ready, his footsteps making echoing sounds as he walked a search pattern around the perimeter. Nothing out of the ordinary...but that sound had spooked him. There was definitely someone here.

"Lights!"

The lawman turned around as the lights above the stage lit up, swirling around in erratic patterns and throwing blue, green, and purple spots all around. The main spotlight turned downwards and blasted him with it's multiwatt gaze, forcing him to squint and shield his eyes.

"Music!"


A loud throbbing beat from a bass drum erupted into life, Mad Bull staring slack jawed at the stage. A full jazz band had appeared from nowhere, playing their hearts out to an audience of one. Saxophones, guitars, trumpets, trombones rang out, as an enthusiastic voice wholly different from the one that summoned the band enunciated clearly. 

"Coming to you live from Coruscant, the golden boy from Tier 5, the bane of crime, the modern day avenger, the scourge of every bakery on twelfth street, Officer...Officer...."

"That's Sergeant John Estes!" Mad Bull offered, utterly nonplussed at the theatric display from the stage, the band still playing and singing about a "smooth talker" and an "alley cat with a big bad voodoo hat". 

"What he said!" A flickering neon sign burst into being above the cop's head, fanciful script marking him as "Sgt. Estes". Sleepy was still alert, his gun pointed at the band as the light show and jazz performance continued. The way the music was going, he could sense a crescendo.

"And now coming to the stage... Boss of the Gentleman Jacks, Pillar of the Community, Smooth Talker, Street Walker;" The voice stopped as the band picked up his sentence with a jauntily sung lyric. "Mister Pinstripe Suit! Mister Hi Dee Hi Dee Ho! He's got all the answers we really wanna know!"

Vic Hendy appeared on the stage in front of the band, grinning right at Mad Bull, the cop aiming his gun at the disheveled handyman. "Hey! Hands up, dirtbag!" 

Vic complied, snapping his right hand out to the side, the same floating neon script spelling out "HARLAN". He did the same with his left, spelling "HIGGS". Finally, he clapped his hands together and the stage exploded in a flash of light, Sgt. Estes shielding his face with his free hand.

The lights, band, sound and music were gone. In Vic Hendy's place was a man that looked almost facially identical to him. Except this man couldn't have been more different than the jovial, casual handyman.

He wore a grey pinstripe suit, a visibly stab wound on his stomach and a few cuts and rips in the cloth. On his feet were black and white italian wingtips, and on the crown of his short, buzzed scalp was a jaunty grey derby, a black leather band around the dome. His skin was greyish and sunken, his eyes swirling with a non-euclidean geometric pattern of purple vistas. In his mouth was a fat cigar, lit and smoldering.

He extended a hand, thumb and index outstretched in a mockery of Mad Bull's hostile stance. "Right back at ya, Officer." He inhaled deeply and blew a cloud of smoke from his elevated position on the stage.

"So I understand that you have been looking for me, is that not correct?"

[The Future Warrior]

As they went along, their pace slowed and grew more attentive, paying careful looks to their surroundings. They were starting to get close, and they both knew it. Eyes were peeled for wherever the item drop was going to land, as missing it when they were so close would be not only a waste of time for traveling all this way in such a hurry, but just downright embarrassing. Graowr was eager and excited to get to the drop site. Dawn had started looking around warily, slowing her pace even further, and trailing several paces behind her blue ally. It took the majin several minutes to notice this.

"Uh...Dawn? What's up?"

"...I think we've got company," was the answer, the dark-haired woman slowly scanning their surroundings with a careful eye. "Trying not to be seen, but..." She snapped her eyes down a sidestreet, glaring into the swirling fog and sheets of rain. It was hard to see much beyond a few dozen feet, but the hooded woman's eyes narrowed. "Stop lurking around and come out, already!" For a moment there was no immediate response. Only the constant, harsh pattering of the rain and wind howling through the spaces between buildings.

Then something rose above it. The distinctive, bold pitter-patter of footsteps across the wet ground. A bright glow flashed through the gloom, cutting through it with an electric blue glow. "Yahahahaha!" a loud, boisterous voice split the monotony of wind and rain, as a humanoid figure came striding into view. Abnormally tall, with ears of an unnatural length and...drums? attached to his back. "Looking for something, are we?" he asks, twirling a long, golden staff and hefting it to balance easily on his shoulder. Eyes, half lidded as if in exhaustion but with an unsettling glimmer of awareness and confidence, stare over a lazy, easy grin plastered on his features.

Behind him, another figure comes stalking out of the gloom. Much quieter, less boisterous, clad all in black. He said nothing, merely stood back, a pace behind and to the side of his own companion. His features (what were visible, with that absurd cowl) were locked in a hard, cold snarl. Eyes were narrowed in a steely, blue glare, slowly flicking from Dawn to Graowr.

Dawn was unimpressed, and just scoffed. "And who are you two supposed to be?"

The tall, shirtless man lifted his free hand, fingers splayed wide and palm out. "Who am I? You may call me—"

He was cut off before his introduction could be made by the smallest, bluest, least human member of the eclectic gathering springing forward. "God Enel!" she said quickly. Both of her hands were clenched into fists, her lips spread wide in an excited grin. "Wow, I didn't think I'd manage to run into you!"

That seemed to take the wind out of his sails, but only for all of a split second. His cocky, arrogant grin grew more pronounced. "Well! At least someone around here knows who I am!"

"Yeah! I ran across your tweets and stuff!" the blue creature said. "I've been checking in and watching footage of stuff you've done. Like when you fought that guy with the spear! That was so cool!" She gave an energetic fistpump, nodding her head excitedly. "And...and you're really the one, true god? Like, the god that's above all other gods?"

Enel didn't miss a beat. "Of course!"

"Awesome!" The majin doesn't even question it. "Hey, hey, God Enel! You came here to look for the item that's gonna drop soon, right? Let us help you search for it! We can find it a lot quicker that way!"

This actually caused the so-called god a moment of thought, letting his staff fall from his shoulder down to the ground with a solid, metallic clang as his free hand to stroke at his chin. His eyes observed the blue girl-creature and her...ally carefully, scrutinizing them intently. Finally, his grin returned. "Very well! God is always willing to accept assistance!" he proclaimed. Behind him, his dark-clad could almost visibly be seen grinding his teeth and restraining his eyes from rolling out of their sockets. "This is my other loyal servant Bats Man. Say hello, Bats!"

The caped figure, apparently called Bats Man, just gives a noncommittal grunt. "We don't have time for this. We should get a move on, and be waiting for the item when it drops."

"Yeah! We wanna get there early, so we can grab it as soon as it drops!" Graowr agreed, before jabbing at her chest with a thumb. "My name's Graowr!" She gestured at Dawn with her other hand. "That's Dawn." And then both arms came down firmly at her sides, palms flat against her legs, and she bowed at the waist, in Enel's direction, in a surprisingly proper and formal gesture. "It is a pleasure to meet you, and to be able to work with you, God Enel!" She hadn't learned much from her time training with Lord Beerus and Whis, but...she had learned to show proper respect for a deity, if nothing else. Standing back up, she turned about. "Let me lead the way, in case there's anything dangerous or anyone else already there!" And she was off, with the rest of the group following along in her far too energetic wake.

Only one of them looked anywhere near pleased.

Graowr and Dawn: team up with Enel and Batman
God and Pals: Moving from C17 to C6, and awaiting item drop.

[Gamzee Makara]

Gamzee blinks. That was kind of a personal question.

"That shit is purple, motherfucker," Gamzee answers, "What about yours?"

The swordsman barks out a laugh, "Why don't you come find out, circus freak?"

The clown pouts, tossing aside his cane - that was just plain old hurtful. Strands of virulent lightning dance across his form and a javelin of pure electric energy materializes in his palm. Just as he's about to chuck it at his aggressor's ugly motherfuckin' mug, a hand presses against his chest and Strazio steps in front of his apprentice.

"Stay back, Gamzee, I can handle this dumbass. Won't take more than a few seconds," the mage declares, stepping forward. His arms snap, crackle, and pop with magick as he begins to charge a bolt of energy, but a flash of steel precipitates a fountain of blood erupting from his chest. The swordsman cackles a tad maniacally, brandishing his newly bloodied blade in one fluid motion.

"Don't you dare let your guard down around me!"

He then does a fancy, somewhat silly looking hop-step maneuver, putting some distance between himself and the mage. The ronin once more readies his katana, adopting an aggressive fighting stance.

"My name is Takezo Shinmen and your blood will sate the thirst of my blade!"

Wow, that was just boring, to put it bluntly. What a lame introduction. Gamzee can do 'em one better, actually! In a superior display of one legged acrobatics, the troll springs into a front flip, landing on a one-foot motherfucking pirouette, middle finger extended in a flourish.

"My name is Gamzee Motherfucking Makara, and I'm here to kick your motherfucking ass!" Yeah. That'll do it. Gamzee's mentor, who had fallen to his knees, now pushes himself off the ground and spits in Shinmen's direction.

"And I'm Strazio Rockwell. Now that that's out of the way, stand still so I can wipe that fucking smirk off your face," he growls. A bolt of searing magick is sent flying at the samurai, who rolls out of harm's way.

Gamzee lopes after him, deuce clubs poofing into existence in a shower of prismatic smoke. Takezo roars, slashing a wild flurry of strikes, looking for all the world like an angry deranged painter trying to use the clown as a canvas. the High-Blood bats them out of the way as best he can, but still catches a nicking strike in the shoulder. A smattering of violet blood decorates his opponent's sword, egging on Shinmen's onslaught. His blood lust induced laughter mixes with the clatter and clang of their weapons, producing a ghastly sound to echo off of the concrete jungle.

The troll is holding his own for the most part, until Takezo manages to strike with such force that the juggling pins are forced from his hands, falling to the ground. His opponent then slams the hilt of his sword into the side of Gamzee's skull, putting him squarely on his ass. The samurai lords over him, holding his blade vertical to Gamzee's prone figure.

"Ha! You shall never defeat a samurai with such paltry weapons! I, Takezo-"

does not get to finish that sentence. Gamzee swings his good leg upwards as hard and fast as he can, slamming his shin bone right between Takezo's legs, right into the poor guy's rice balls.

Shinmen doubles up, wheezing and about to crumple. Then, Strazio tackles the motherfucker, slamming right into his midsection. The Rage Mage ends up on top, his fists slamming into the dude's face over and over again.

"Fuck you fuck you fuck you!"

Ah, such eloquence. Classic Strazio. Gamzee scrambles to his foot, the other being, you know, fucking useless. Like him in this fight, as a matter of fact. God, he feels like such a drag, bringin' his bro down like this. He couldn't really do a lot of shit in his current condition, and that's pretty motherfuckin' frustrating. He lets loose a string of swears consisting mostly of 'motherfuck', amethyst lightning sparking to life around him. He wields another electric spear, hoisting it up for a throw.

"Heads up!" the troll shouts.

Strazio looks up from the thing he was most currently preoccupied beating the shit out of.

"Ah fuck, I mean get out of the motherfuckin' way!"

The mage barrel rolls out of the way, and Gamzee slings his spear at Takezo as soon as he starts to sit up. The lightning bolt plants itself firmly in Shinmen's chest before exploding in a brilliant display of discharging electricity. A shower of violet sparks rain down on the samurai, singeing his clothes and skin.

"Get up, motherfucker. I ain't done lighting your ass up," the clown murmurs. The beginning of an eerie smile alights his lips as the High-Blood starts to crave the carnage.

796 on Wordcounter.net

Shinmen uses Iado: First Strike on a Cocky Strazio
Gamzee and Shinmen exchange blows
Strazio tackles Shinmen, Then punches him in the face. A lot.
Gamzee chucks a lightning spear at Shinmen before he has a chance to get up.

[Dawnika Snow]

So she wanted an item and now she has been volunteered as an honorary meat shield for a so-called Omniverse God. She didn't understand how people could proclaim themselves gods in this world. All primes were strong, that's for sure, but many primes can definitely over power even the most renowned god in existence. Hell, she literally just killed a child who sincerely believed he was a god, and all she is a 5' 3 girl with a gun.

The assassin scoffed as her cyan colored ally introduced her. It was obvious she didn't care much for Enel proclaiming himself to be a god but that didn't mean she viewed him as weak. Everyone on this island was prime and she knew that. She under-estimated Ghidorah before and she wouldn't make that mistake twice. Graowr took the lead to be the fake-god's bodygaurd, as if she was noble soldier to his cause ready to die for his success. Dawn on the other hand followed up behind Enel, sticking more close to the man dressed as a bat. Of the three other people here, he seemed like the most sane one, or perhaps just the least insane of them. She could tell he's been through the shitter more than a couple times. I mean, you don't end up wearing a suit that mocks the appearance of a bat just because you wanna prance around on an island with a seemingly-god.

Either way, the assassin remained quiet. Her plans to sneak attack the blue demon-monster were definitely out of the window now. She was sure that after that scene, Enel would strike her on Graowr's behalf and help her, and if he did that, the bat dude would surely back him up. She didn't even want to fight Graowr one on one, now she risked a one on three. Fucking hate this world sometimes, or at least this island.

"Fuck you Karl Jak..." She murmured under her breath to herself.

No movement, just commenting on Dawn's horrid mood.

[Oleander]

The ronin stood. Not only did he stand, he rolled to his feet with gusto. The spear had pierced his chest at the hollow near his shoulder - the same damn shoulder that Dark Jak and Deadpool had struck. Except this time the attack cauterized itself. "No blood. That's no fun."

As he tried to take his sword in both hands, he found that his left, previously weak, was no immobile. His entire arm actually felt numb. "HA! Looks like I'll have to take you both on, single handed!" Literally. Holding his sword in his right, letting his left rest by his side. Useless. Or so he'd let them believe.

Strazio was the first to dash in, bold as ever and ready to bloody his knuckles on Takezo's face. The swordsman lead away with the blade, and with a twist of his shoulders catches the unsuspecting mage off guard by bitchslapping him with the numb hand. Full twist, the ronin lowers his center to bring the sword back around and slash at the man's legs. He looked damn near graceful if not for the flailing manner of his left appendage.

The 'Rage Mage,' bleeding from two wounds now, stumbles back. Gamzee, having success crippling the swordsman's left arm, was emboldened to try again with the lightning spear. This time Takezo, up and mobile, slashes at the plasma projectile. The spear splits, right down the center. The way the ronin had angled his body, one half flew behind his back, while the other grazed along his chest.

It would have been a grand show, if the spear was wood. However, the defensive maneuver went awry as both halves deteriorated into a shower of sparks, further singing his flesh and clothing. His shirt and pants were smoldering, and his face looked half as bad as Deadpool's. Still, his eyes burned brighter than the lightning that scorched him and his grin was twice what he had begun with.

Takezo did not have the time to properly respond before Strazio was on him again. The bitchslapping numb hand would not catch the mage off guard again. He almost bursts into Takezo's field of view, palm extended. The swordsman was about to respond when Strazio unleashes a burst of some sort of energy, directly against Takezo's face. "FUCK YOU!" He heard the two words before the world devolved into a sensation of pain and ringing.

The swordsman tumbled backwards onto his back once again. His eyes searched the skies, but all he saw was white. All he could hear was ringing. Would this be his final moments? The thought of it all brought him to a fit of laughter. He laughed at the clown, he laughed at the thin-skinned man, he laughed at himself. "I love this game!"

Strazio was leaping on top of the man again, ready to pummel him while he was down. So far the ronin had shown no signs of ranged attacks, or even magic abilities. He was just a man with a sword. The way he laughed at his own suffering, and the possibility of his own death, he was closer to a demon with a sword. Only a demon would laugh when faced with hell. It just meant he was going home.

The Mage never made it atop the swordsman. The man's cursing as he approached was predictable and it was easy to simply lift his sword, planting the hilt upon the ground, and allow Strazio to land upon the tip. Vision was slowly returning, with the vague image of Strazio shish kabobed upon the bloodied katana. Blood poured out of the glass cannon's wounds.

"Fuck..."

"You." The ronin finished the sentence, before twisting his sword. He grunted before throwing the mage to the side, yanking his sword free with another furious twist of the wound. Wounded, ears still ringing and vision blurry, he rolls back to his feet. "If you are going to try and kill me... I will kill you first." With that, the demon swordsman unleashed a heavy downward strike against Strazio, since Gamzee was keeping his distance.

693 words.
Gamzee's Lightning Spear fully disabled Takezo's bum left arm.
Strazio got bitchslapped. Severe damage to pride, not so much to the body.
Strazio has multiple bleeding wounds.
Failed to deflect a second Lightning Spear.
Strazio used Shatter on Takezo's face. Sight is still slightly blurry and ears are ringing.
Takezo speared Strazio like a shish kabob. Not-so-yum.
Takezo went in for a devestating strike while Strazio was down as payback.

[MADBULL34]

The sounds of blaring jazz music and the glare of neon lights echoed in the ears of Sergeant John Estes as the grey pinstripe suited crime boss ended his performance. The show was full of as much razzle dazzle as a New York City nightclub in the roaring Twenties, and the maestro of mischief himself could have even put Ricky Ricardo to shame.

"So I understand that you have been looking for me, is that not correct?” The roguish gentleman inquired. He stood dapper and clean from tips to collar, yet his ghoulish face shadowed a hidden truth that few learned to tell.

Mad Bull's jaw was locked tight in a grimace and his mustache bristled fiercely. He had been ambushed and embarrassed by the very target he had been sent into the contest to kill. His chest heaved as he huffed and puffed, squeezing his sizeable pectorals against the straining buttons of his blue police uniform. The memory of the glittering neon marquee mocked him,

“HARLAN!”
“HIGGS!”

“So it was you… this whole time it's been you,” Mad Bull muttered venomously. He paced like a caged lion at the base of the stage. Tension arched like electricity between the two mortal enemies, prompting the burly officer to tightened his grip around the oak handle of his revolver. The wood squelched quietly as his sweaty palm squeezed in malice.

“Oh come now, Sergeant, didn't you enjoy the festivities?” Harlan asked with the pizzaz of a master vaudevillian.

Mad Bull's revolver wielding fist quivered with unbridled rage, fueled by the embarrassment of the ambush and the audacity of the crime boss. “You listen to me, ya two-bit poff pimp! I know your name real good. It's on the tongues of every dope pushin’ dealer from here ta the tops of tha 5th Tier. It's layin’ in the bellies of every plugged kid shot in some drive-by turf war. It's marked with a palm print on the face of every battered dame, smacked around by some crumb high on your filthy stinkin’ junk you peddle to afford those cheap suits!”

Harlan gave the cop a murderous leer through his ghoulish eye-sockets, then an amused bow as if accepting a compliment.

Mad Bull spat in reply, “That's you, but as for me, I spent 27 years of my life as a cop trying to put big shots like you away. 27 years in the filth and dirt of the streets and there ain't no music down there. You watch the people on the streets, killing, raping each other, pumping dope through their veins, while big men like you sit in the fancy penthouses. And yet the poor slobs rot in hell. I know about you. As long as it puts money in your pocket, whadda you care?”

He paused, clicking back the hammer of his gun, “Today the nobodies who made you rich are gonna win. Die you son of a bitch.”

Mad Bull challenges Harlan!

[The Future Warrior]

The trip to the projected drop zone was not a long one. They got there with plenty of time to spare, and set to keeping alert for both the drop itself as well as anyone coming by to crash the party and try to claim it. The latter never happened, and the former came along after a wait that felt far longer than it was. Heralded by a fountaining stream of glittering purple sparks, it came crashing down, parachute slowing it enough to not shatter on impact. And they all converged on it in short order. Without much grace or fanfare, the blue girl smashed the container open with a hopping snap kick, sending the lid spinning off into the rainy, gloomy distance, fishing around and retrieving the contents and spinning about to present it to Enel. "Here you go, God Enel!" she said brightly.

The lightning-man took the offered gift with a broad grin, holding it up to inspect it. At the words of "Oh, there's a note in here too!" from the blue creature, he snatched the note as well. Silently reading it, his grin grew wider still and the prize was stowed away, the note that (presumably) identified what it was burning to cinders in a crackle of electricity in his hand. "Very good! Now, let's get moving!"

For differing reasons, and to differing extents, the rest of the group agreed with the so-called god's decree, and the left the scene of the item drop, heading back into the maze-like streets of downtown in the city. It was spooky, but with a group like this it somehow seemed less so. And it was a good place to get lost, and lose anyone who might happen by late to the party and want to come after them for the item that had been here. End Enel knew they couldn't have that happening!

Enel and pals: moving from C6 to C17

[Dawnika Snow]

Thrice she had come through C Zone now and thrice she hated it. The city was devoid of life and most of all extremely difficult and annoying to maneuver through the fog. Dawn stayed behind the group of people- Er, bat, seemingly-god, and blue alien creature. She rather enjoyed being the support who watched the group's six. She kept her assault rifle in hand and walked backwards most of the time, only turning around to check where the party was moving and to keep up with them. The god and alien took the lead of the group. She wasn't sure why Graowr was so ready to fight for this stupid god person. It was prevelant that he contained some power that she didn't want to deal with, but that didn't make him a god. The bat was quiet for the most part, only speaking when he needed to. She liked that about him.

The group mazed through the gloomy, dark streets shroud by the thick layer of fog. Their only ability to tell their direction was their Syntech maps, which Dawn kept out most of the time. She glanced at it every so often, leading the group through the buildings and streets.

"I hesitated to ask, but what do we do now? Where exactly are we going?" Dawn asked merely glancing back to the party momentarily. She kept a finger on the trigger of Oscurita, ready to fire at anything that might pose a threat to the group.

"Easy!" The blue bubblegum monster said gleefully. "We wait for the next item drop."

"Yes, well, let's try to not get ambushed while we walk around aimlessly here." She retorted, putting the tablet back in her pack and taking her free hand on her rifle's hold. Progress was slow so far, but she was glad to be getting some items in this game. She might think about actually trying to win.

Black and Blue + BoatGod are moving between C17 to C16

[Strazio Rockwell]

There’s nothing quite like a sword through the gut to really clarify your own mortality.

Strazio crumpled over onto himself, curling into the fetal position. He clutched his stomach and shivered. Sparks poured into his wounds, searing blood vessels and flesh alike. A pool of growing viscera formed around the dying man. His head buzzed. His body trembled. His vision frayed at the edges. And despite it all, he stood. Blood seeped from the ragged cuts along his body turning the street into a splatter-paint portrait of violence.

“Come on” Strazio muttered and smacked his bare chest.

Bits of his skin started to flake away revealing a roiling sea of white fire. Strazio screamed. He dug his blood-caked nails into his shoulder, clawing beneath the skin. The boy peeled away a strip of skin which then vaporized into nothing more than a bit of ash. His skin was nothing more than a cast that was now shattered and crumbling. The flesh-colored coccoon was now removed and all that remained was a fiery endoskeleton. The Avatar of Rage roared, its voice shaking the heavens.

“Come on then!” It shouted, “come on then and I’ll show you the path to hell!”

Overhead a lightning bolt cracked and the gathering clouds released their payload of rain.

Gamzee stood with his back turned between the Avatar and his target. Strazio shoulder-checked past the troll and sent him sprawling facefirst onto the street. Shinmen saw the attack coming and moved to defend himself, but was unprepared for the raw speed of Strazio’s assault. One hand went for Shinmen’s throat while the other grabbed his wrist and siezed control of the swordsman’s blade. The force of impact sent the two tumbling through the glass window of a storefront. Using his momentum against him Shinmen was able to buck Strazio off of him and into a set of glass display cases.

“Just die already!” Strazio shouted and stood back up.

The swordsman crouched into a defensive stance and replied, “you’ll have to use more than just words if you want to kill me.”

With little regard for self-preservation the Avatar charged once again. Shinmen, sensing an opening, stepped forward and stabbed towards the bundle of rage’s heart, or rather where he assumed a being of pure energy’s heart would be. Strazio offered his palm to block the thrust and the blade skewered his hand. He screamed, but still pressed forward, sliding his hand down the length of the blade and grabbing hold of the hilt guard.

“Back off you psycho!” Shinmen shouted and tried to backpedal.

Strazio screamed in response and pulled the swordsman closer, almost wrapping him in a hug. In a moment of brutal improvisation Strazio leaned forward and took a bite out of his adversary’s shoulder. It sounded very similiar to the first bite into a fresh apple, if said apple was full of blood. Shinmen screamed as a fist-sized chunk of meat was torn from his body. In a display of inhuman strength Strazio then threw the swordsman back through the window.

A blast of energy blew the front door into the street and the Avatar of Rage stepped through the threshold. He grinned and revealed a mangled hunk of meat held between his teeth. He spit the bloody blob into the gutter and trudged forth. He removed the skewer from his other hand and tossed the blood-covered sword at the fallen warrior.

“Stand up you fuck,” Strazio growled, “I’ve no interest in battering your fucking carcass around, so stay alive for a little longer.”

Expending 2 sp to activate Tier 1 transformation Avatar of Anger for 1 round. Strazio also used Overcharge and is unable to do so again unless he opts to take 2 points of damage. I’ve now used 3 sp total on the island.

[The Future Warrior]

They went on, and on, traipsing through the city streets. Only two of their number were really keeping a keen eye out for any signs of danger or unexpected surprises, the bat and the assassin. The lightning-man and the bubblebum-girl were far more distracted by other things. Like the latter incessantly questioning and praising the accomplishments and proclamations of the god. It was as if everything he had to say she just accepted at face value. He was a god, there'd been nothing to prove otherwise yet. Everyone was weakened by coming to the Omniverse, and so him not having done something like just...annihilated everyone else in this competition and leisurely went about to claim all the items for himself was completely natural. It was just the way of things, unfortunately. But the way that Enel carried himself, the way he acted, that self-assured confidence (some might have said arrogance but they were silly people) was the hallmark of a god. He was proud, sure of his (usual) strength, and not afraid to proclaim his status and identity, as well as use his power if it came to it. That was most definitely the behavior of a god, if someone like Lord Beerus was anything to go by.

And he was the God of Destruction, so he was probably a pretty good comparison!

But eventually, all of that was put to a stop when the man in the bizarre bat suit stalked up to catch them. "We need to split up," he said, his voice somehow managing to come out in a low growl, and yet be clearly audible. "In a group like this, we're a walking target. We have more firepower, but we're easier to track and set an ambush for."

Enel had lifted a hand to his head, digging in his ear with one finger. "Eh? Ambush?" He seemed entirely unconcerned, if his expression was anything to go by.

"Oh, if we split up, we could also cover more ground and stuff!" Graowr added in. "And we could keep an eye on more things, too!"

That seemed more to the lightning-man's liking, and he nodded slowly. "Yes...yes, I think so! Very well!" He held up a hand, indicating himself and the Bats Man. "We will continue to travel together. And you..." He indicated the blue not-alien and Dawn. "...will stick together!"

That was that. With the gruff bat-imitator's insistence and the lightning god's decree, they split up.

"Let's go...this way!" Graowr said, pointing off in a random direction. "Anywhere but back down to where all that water is. I keep ending up there, and it's awful!" Without waiting for a response, she bounded on ahead.

Dawn just let out a low, irritated sigh as she tromped off to follow. "God damn this island..."

God and pals splitting up.
Black and Blue moving from C16 to C3

[Karl Jak]

End Day 3 - Afternoon

Start Day 3 - Evening (6pm to midnight)

[Karl Jak]

Face to Face

Harlan Higgs vs Mad Bull

Word Limit: 800
Posts Per Player: 2
Time Limit: 20 hours
Random Elements: On

Mad Bull issued the challenge and goes first -- let me know if that changes.

[Simon]

"Yoo hoo... edgypants~..."

Tony Redgrave snapped awake, registering the foul nickname. How long had he been out? Last thing the redcoat recalled, he merely flopped down on the lobby couch for a power nap.

"Oh, good, that got you up-" The smarmy mercenary straightened up from where he had been whispering into Tony's ear. "I was going to try the old hand-in-warm-water trick if you didn't."

Tony's eyes narrowed at Deadpool, and decided that he didn't want to know what else had been attempted during his rest. Then he realized the anti-hero also was wearing his signature crimson longcoat and a mop head over his full-body costume. At that point, Tony suddenly really wanted to know. "What time is it?" The devil hunter asked aloud, "And why are you wearing my coat?"

"After six PM. You missed some bat-guy and a lightning god drop in," Jak announced, sitting on the opposite couch. The forgotten prince was fiddling with his weapon and very desperately trying not to have a fit of frustration. "Oh, and he's been taking pictures of himself with your coat for the past hour."

"Excuse you, they're called 'selfies'," Deadpool retorted, his tone phasing into that of a rebellious teenager. "You just don't understand- this isn't a phase, it's who I am-!"

"That's enough," Redgrave sat up, putting a stop to the mockery by yanking off the the mop wig. He was concerned with the other thing Jak mentioned, however- That Batman and the god had teamed up. Such an alliance could be troubling to deal with, considering their apparent strength. If the devil hunter ever met the two outside of a safe house, he couldn't be sure they might not turn on him to eliminate potential competition.

"Now, I know what you're thinking, Dante-"

"Where the hell did you learn that name?" The Son of Sparda shot a furious glare towards Deadpool, curious as to just what other 'facts' the mouthy merc drudged up. "And give me back my coat, seriously."

The mock Avenger huffed, slipping off half of the garment before Dante tore it away by the other half. "Don't worry about that," Deadpool waved off the upset redcoat, flapping his free hand like a sassy lady. "The point is, you want to go after Enel, right? The funky lightning god?"

"I wouldn't use 'funky' to describe him," Redrgave replied as he shoved his arms into the sleeves. "But maybe. Why bring it up?"

"Well, he called you an edgelord too, and all. I just thought you'd take offense to that, you know?" The mercenary shrugged. Jak turned away, scoffing at the hypocracy. Tony flopped back onto the cushions and remained similarly stunned for a moment, before mustering the gall to speak again.

"...Which is why you woke we up by calling me a-"

"I'm just trying to tell you-" The cancerous warrior interjected, "-that Enel over there's got an Artifact. Which might make your decision into either the best one or the worst." he shrugged again, hands out disarmingly. "I mean, the last thunder god I met was completely different, so who knows?"

There stood an awkward moment of silence. The devil hunter stared into the features on Deadpool's mask where eyes would be. He turned and looked over to Jak, and then they locked gazes for a moment. One could practically hear the mental gears turning in the abnormal quiet of the re-purposed office lobby.

At last, Dante stood up, pushing himself off the couch with a groan. He began to stretch out his limbs, pushing activity back into them after several hours of sleep. "Well, standing around here won't do us anything. I say we all get out there and do something," the half-blood declared, then popped his neck.

"All of us?" Jak piped up, clearly doubtful of his ally's intentions, "I don't think I want to hang out with that guy." He pointed to Deadpool, as if the merc were not in this conversation and were also being regarded as a thing instead of a person.

In response, said merc stepped over and threw a chummy arm around the Eco warrior. "Aw, come on, Jak- you met Dante in a fight, didn't you? Just because we've been fighting a lot doesn't mean we can't be friends!"

Jak gave Deadpool the most displeased glare he could manage without exploding outright. "You punched me in the dick."

"Yes I did, but if it makes you feel better, you have a pretty big dick-"

The crude conversation was interrupted by a shrill whistle, the two looking over to see Dante removing two fingers from his clenched lips. With a gloved hand, the hunter pushed open the front door into the pattering evening rain. "Come on, you two. Let's put a lid on the gayness for now and start moving."

"It's not gay if you say 'no homo'!" Deadpool called back, dragging Jak to his feet with the arm around his shoulders. The Eco warrior threw off the mercenary's polity, preferring to stand on his own two feet- and to also avoid contact with the swath of cancer hidden underneath that layer of fabric. Deadpool humored him for a moment, before leaning back in and whispering, "By the way, no homo."

"Shut up," came Mar's only reply as they followed Tony Redgrave out the door.

Dante, Jak, and Deadpool are all teamed up and moving from Safehouse C to C21. Not getting involved with the fight in progress.