Day Two

[Gildarts]

The splatter of crimson lined his cheek in a pattern much akin war-paint; it smeared with the grimy scent of iron. The eviscerated Negi's blood had landed on his skin, yet somehow the still-warm fluid seemed to still have life in it. The scariest part of all was that the veteran had neither flinched nor blinked as the whipping stream of blood splashed at him. He had entered the room full of rain last, snapped into his battle stance and in the corner of his eye he saw assigned the 'attack' without threat.

It was ever a tragedy when death could be averted, and yet events played their course and coincidence sometimes became a battle's ruthless misconception. The hammer-armed youth was more fearful than aggressive and had merely lashed out in the same chilling fever that had consumed him.

Death had always been simple, and he still found it was always the same.

...

With the events that had swiftly unfolded, the new member reviewed his quirky crew with a resounding joy. They were bubbly and reminded him of home, as well as cast him away from his currently very bleak state of mind. It had been unwavering to the dangers of the Abyss, yet there was more than just physical triumph to worry about. This same fact was written in the messy scribbles of incomplete expression all over Guu's face.

He had yet to create a fixed interpretation on the bunch Guu had managed to round-up but had assumed their presence had been a devised strategy. Power in numbers could mean survival, he just had been surprised to see that Guu was actually playing the game.

The leader had defended Desco with a murderous brute strength. The Ambrosian royalty had done a nice job taking care of those she cared about and as far as he could tell, she had chosen well

There was, however, a concern. His leader seemed to be mixing her expressions between a mixed pout and an empty sternness, the latter for the well-being of the rest of the group. Guild masters always had the challenge to keep their temper, maintain a strong face for their comrades, and always have another plan. The burden was a weight worth more than the smiles they could show her as reassurance.

Gildarts had already felt his own face settle into that stoic and intimidating stone. His battle expression was lined with experience but ever-present in the face of danger. This place made monsters from men and today's challenge would be engaging, this was an opportunity to grow as a fighter and as a strategist. Maybe he would even get a chance to show some of his skill, sans the magic he could no longer deploy, and still save the little girl from another traumatic experience. Not only did he want to face the best this game had to offer,

Gildarts didn't like to lose

Negi's death had proven to be a tragedy of the commons. While he had died playing the game, his resources to live would be shared amongst their group as a means do survive. The items had been stored in a duffle bag much like his own, now that he had noticed, everyone had a bag like him, while his own lay forgotten beneath his shoulder blade...

He had just mentioned the illusion of Omni's immortality, yet the silence only told him that the teens were unconvinced, at least by the distant and feeless fact of reason.

Guu's struggle needed closure and Gildarts knew how to provide. It came natural to the man so familiar with death, and perhaps it would bring his leader peace. His loyalty-bound action was meant to serve the guild master, at the same time, he hoped it would heal her damaged resolve as death was the only consequence strong enough to dampen such an emboldened thing in the first place.

"Guu, I'll tell you a secret." He spoke softly so that she would be inclined to listen and be stolen from her daze, "As long as you honor it, death with never be something so cheap as it is sold on this island."

Gildarts let his eyes descend on the mangled puddle of raw death and crouched low before wordlessly taking off the remains of his tattered cloak and placing it on the place where the heap of a corpse had last been seen. He and that garment had shared many adventures together, it was the only thing he carried on his back, or wore into battle. However, in this case, his priorities were in only the loyalty he displayed. Some would call it a sentimental commemoration, however the dead that rested below his blanketed garment remained as stranger. They would learn his name soon enough.

Moments later, Gildarts received a crash to his thick skull, which sounded as startling symbols in his ringing ears. "Ghrmph!" His voice muffled as his reflex caused him to squint just before the pain broke through. This hadn't stopped him from biting his tongue. The teeth-marked slice etched a strangely comical grimace in the old mage, who rigorously rubbed the back of his head to distract from the burning pain.

"Tsst, tsst." That smarts! Gildarts kept his eye closed in a wince before finding the power to overcome it. He would never admit to such accidental pain, he had his pride just as common as any warrior.

"Oi! Watch where you swing that thing! You're stronger than you look, kid." He complemented the flexible Luffy, who bent at stranger angles than even Guu was able, yet that didn't lessen the intense throbbing that had turned the room into a faded shadow.