03-23-2015, 09:47 PM
Quote:Time flew by and Atelos broke the two’s conversation with his enormous presence. “Why had you decided to bring me along?”
Turning his head towards Atelos with a look of complete disdain on his face, a glare of complete malice and contempt. His body emanating a menacing aura as he would speak.
"That would be because of me. You see, as a man who has infiltrated the ranks of Dracula I, Dio, have built up my fair share of enemies within the faction of Dark Shire. However I want you to make no mistake, I do not serve Dracula willingly, nor do I, Dio, possess even the slightest shred of loyalty for that bastard who's mark I bear. It is simply a matter of necessity that I have allowed this blemish to stain my flesh. Because of this necessity however, we find ourselves with a lack of intelligence in regards to Dark shire's recent encounters with the beast known as The Tarrasque. From what I heard of the conversation that is the only possible excuse I could see for these two talking to you."
He'd again turn once he was finished, his fierce gaze focused on the chief offenders of today, the menacing aura redoubling itself as he'd take a step towards Aang and Kuzan the angry glower the very definition of a look that could kill if it was possible, but thankfully Dio didn't possess any such power. His tone however, dripped with disappointment so thick one could almost feel their father looking down at them from above with a silent disapproving look.
"You two. It seems as though Alain is the only one who decided to demonstrate any competence. You wasted a whole day talking with this man and wasting valuable time when every hour is another lost life and another blemish on my reputation. Did you forget that I, Dio, promised to have this beast killed? You are not just running your own names through the dirt here when you waste time on pleasantries while towns and homes burn, but you are also running the pristine reputation of none other than Dio Brando through the mud. Do with your own names what you will but never sully mine. Understand?"
Dio would say, taking a deep breath after that scolding. He had desired to do so much more, he had desired to see their blood run freely from their throats, their faces frozen in that delicious expression of final terror as the finality of their mistakes and the futility of opposition became clear to them. However, that was for another time, and right now he was in dire need of man power to claim the Tarrasque. That alone is what motivated Dio to continue speaking and in what he perceived as an act of kindness that they did not deserve, spare the lives of these two layabout louts.
"Now I've come here thinking you were done to relay what we've discovered so far. In our studies we discovered that the beast itself is an improvement on Diablo's famous Siege Breakers, the disappearance of which while unexplained till now is quite clear. This is a monster who is the result of the sacrifice of dozens of these beasts, and it's regeneration can be stifled not just by fire but by a mixture of holy weaponry and fire magic applied to it's wounds. This is why things like cannons had been unable to harm it. In addition to this it also has one other weakness that we'll need to exploit."
He said reaching down to his waist to retrieve a book from a satchel he currently wore, the hellish inscription on the front making it all too apparent that the tome was diabolic in origin. Flipping through the pages Dio would come to rest on an illustration of a tower with a massive heart beating at it's peak, burning blood flowing throughout it and demon's roaring with power at it's base.
"The sin heart. I have reason to believe based on the beast's raw power and size that Diablo designed it with the intent of creating a mobile Sin Heart Tower. The Sin Heart empowers demons and unholy magic preformed around it, such is it's strength that I believe that if it had been allowed to be deployed with the demonic host that Diablo would currently rule the omniverse. The only way to destroy these is with a blast that encompasses the entire heart at once, otherwise the sin heart will simply regenerate any damage done to it. I also have to report that upon learning this.. Homura has decided that this expedition is no longer worth the risk. Not only do we risk earning the ire of the owner of the manse once this knowledge comes to light, but likely that of the entire underverse."
Dio said, his expression grim. He didn't enjoy bearing this news anymore than he imagined the people hearing it desired doing so. This meant that the mission just got that much more dangerous, especially if Mephisto or any of the other underverse agents caught wind of the beast's true nature they would doubtlessly come to stop them, and even together he had doubts about their ability to take that damn devil under the effects of a Sin Heart tower, let alone if they also had to face The Tarrasque side by side with that beast.
"That's why we need the explosives. We'll need to find a way to open a hole large enough and then using everything we have in a combined assault destroy the sin heart before it can regenerate. Hopefully the blasts from the thermal detonators and fire crystals I had provisioned will let us compensate for any gaps in our attack pattern."
He knew at this point that this was as much a hell mary and a half as anything he had ever done, and while Dio loathed taking chances he didn't exactly have many tarrasque guinea pigs laying around or any way at all to set up some simulated fight between them and the beast so that they could have a more solid plan of action set up. However, providence showed itself, riding on a nightmare a skeletal man bearing a letter with a golden seal came crying towards the mansion, his voice shrill as he'd dismount the nightmare collapsing from exhaustion as he fell forward onto Dio's chest saying.
"The.. the drow are rampaging from town to town. Their numbers are huge, they easily double or triple the size of our militia, we had no choice but to evacuate everything in their path. What makes matters worse is that anything they miss in their rampage is soon ravaged by The Tarrasque. Please kind sir, grant me shelter in this manse. This letter here is an official writ of payment from the mayor of Writou. It's good for up to a hundred gold coins, this should more than cover any expense for keeping me here till this all blows over."
Dio pushed the man off towards the door, the skeletal man taking this as an invitation as he'd proceed towards the mansion, the man bowing and thanking him repeatedly for what was simply nothing more than a case of mistaken intent. He just didn't want to have his body soiled by that filthy thing's touch. However, the news he brought was more than enough to raise his spirits, the monster had been found, and even if the Drow had been sent fleeing by that monster they would surely jump at the chance to let a group of powerful primes take down the threat that was forcing them from their underground homes. Thus, he'd turn to the group and gesture with a flourish before clenching his fist to strike a pose.
"Alright you heard him, we have a location on the Tarrasque now and the Drow have already provided the bait to draw it into the trap. While it's not as favorable as the valley we initially had planned we now have an army to fall back on if we can injure it enough. Thus this is our best chance! Everyone grab the blessed whips from the stable and grab a nightmare. Once Alain returns with the explosives, we ride!"
Dio said as he'd feel the cool exterior he kept up threaten to crack, today was one instance of providence after another! How clearly the fates favored him, they had sent their very own messenger to his doorstep practically begging to be allowed to tell him this critical information. The winds of providence had brought him the secrets of victory, and now all this hinged upon their abilities and how well they could execute their plan.
Little did he know the danger he was charging into was far more insidious than he had ever imagined.