Dance of the Dreamers

[Kuzuru]

In what was little more than a few moments their dreamscape had devolved into little more than a blast furnace. Heat, unbearable and implacable, washed over the battered demon. Screams of the damned resonated together to form a hellish choir. Kuzuru watched in awe as his army was wiped away in the horrid winds of conflagration. Okor had become inferno manifest and his will was that of unquenchable hunger. All would be consumed for once the blaze was lit there would be no stanching its ravenous rampage. And it was in these flames, in this hell, that Kuzuru came to a startling realization. For once, for perhaps the first time in his wretched existence, he was insignificant. For all of his bloodshed and for all of his battlelust when set before the galvanized might of Okor Paleblood, he was diminutive.

“Whoa…” Kuzuru muttered, allowing his arms to fall limp.

As the smoke from Anderson’s assault cleared and Okor’s smoldering form still trundled forth Kuzuru smiled. His heart fluttered. His pupils dilated. Blood thrummed in his veins and adrenaline flooded his system. This was it. This was what he had been waiting for. A truly worthy adversary. To be measured and potentially found wanting? Well that was a proposition that Kuzuru had no choice but to accept. So it was with a maniacal fervor that he began to sprint towards his potential executioner with open arms. However, much to his chagrin, the priest stood before him and his calling. Anderson stepped forward to greet the demon’s charge with a pair of silver bayonets.

“No!” Kuzuru shouted as he rushed forth,”get the fuck out of my way!”

Alexander readied his weapons, and responded “ye shall learn your place, devil.”

The two locked eyes for a moment and in that brief moment of intimacy Father Anderson suffered the full brunt of every last malingering thought kept prison within the demon’s skull. Mid-prayer his words were snuffed in his throat, and he only managed to choke out a startled grunt. This sudden and inexplicable loss of resolve lasted only mere moments, but in battle moments were the difference between life and death. Kuzuru had slipped past him in the confusion and in the demon’s stead was Weiss, ready and willing to skewer the pernicious preacher.

Into the heart of the blaze Kuzuru charged, slamming against Okor with a cacophonous screech that only metal against metal could provide. The demon was swatted away as Okor swung a flame-wreathed backhand across his chest. As Kuzuru skidded backwards he plunged his blades into the earth to steady himself. Using these blades as a springboard he once again rushed the burning monstrosity. With a well-timed swing Okor’s sword whistled through the air and buried itself into Kuzuru’s shoulder, forcing the demon to take a knee. Kuzuru gasped and screamed as the sizzling weapon carved through his flesh and sunk into bone. He slashed at Okor’s ribcage and found no purchase against the hardened ceramite.

”You...” Okor said and launched a fist into the demon’s gut.

”Will…”

Another heavy blow to the demon’s ribs.

”Burn…

Okor tugged at the blade firmly buried in Kuzuru’s shoulder, freeing it with a fountain of gore. The burning paladin raised his blood-soaked sword high and aimed for the back of the demon’s neck. This was the end. Kuzuru’s mind scrambled to piece together any sensible rendition of what had just occurred. He had been bested and death was the prize for second place. Okor swung. Kuzuru’s eyes clenched shut. It can’t be over just yet, not when he was just starting to have real fun. His flesh shuddered as hundreds of blades erupted out from his core. Okor’s killing blow was cut short by the blooming of blades. Where flesh had knelt before him there was now only a sea of sharp edges. They chewed into his smoldering carapace as they expanded outwards. Paleblood stumbled back, snapping off several of the black iron petals as he did. In response Okor raised his bolt pistol and let loose several rounds into the writhing mass of edges.

Laughter reverberated throughout the lotus of blades. One by one the swords shattered scattering slivers of metal across the floor. As this metallic flower crumbled it filled the air with a sound not unlike that of ceramic plates being smashed. Underpinning this was that maniacal chuckling. As the final petals snapped and broke apart like glass the blood-soaked form of Kuzuru stepped forth. His one arm hung useless at his side, having been ravaged by Okor’s wicked hacking. His other arm ended in an accusatory finger, aimed at the burning man’s throat. The demon’s soul clung to life with a stubborn tenacity reserved only for starving dogs. And like a starving dog Kuzuru refused to let go of the meat he had been given.

“You really should lighten up,” Kuzuru choked out through a mouthful of blood, “I won’t give you  a second date if you keep rushing me like that.”

The demon howled with laughter and charged yet again.

Used “Menace” on Anderson and cannot use it again this fight.
Kuzuru popped his last SP to activate “Demon Lotus” so as to not have his head separated from his body.
0/5 SP remaining.