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Post by Nightshade on Oct 11, 2017 7:07:47 GMT -8
So...that was finally it. His entire life could change or end there. He was kinda scary of a thought. All his life, Nightshade didn't really excell at anything, and was kinda on the bottom line of acceptable both with the ONB and NSD. His time with the NIA felt different though. He had met very respectable people willing to stand by his side and fight for the same thing he believed in.
Still, the world was but a rotten place drowned in blood and corpses. Will alone had never meant success. Nightshade knew that if he wanted to stand in front of the likes of Genesis, Gate, Magnolia and many others he needed to grow much, much stronger. He was like a human fighting a god, a gargantuan task, but something he hoped to change. If he succeeded, not only he would safekeep peace, but also secure himself a power like no other. A power that could be used to save lives instead of destroying them.
Cybeast Gregar. A colossus spawned by a miriad of bugs. Gospel's bigger and more deadly brother. Thinking he was going to measure himself against him made him giddy. He was such a fool, throwing his life away like that. He couldn't help it. People could consider him crazy, but he was dead set on doing it. He would win and by the end of the day he would walk back to Headquarters a Greiga's new Juuka.
Sure, he would need time to train, but with the same power as a Cybeast he could finally stand his ground and put an end to the evil plans in netopia. People always protected him. This time he would be protecting them.
The cat navi stopped for a moment, surveying the destroyed area, giving Thorn time to catch up. The Poison Dragon stopped beside him. He had lost his usual smug demeanor and a very conserned look had taken place on his muzzle.
"Nightshade...are you sure you want to do this? Fighting a cybeast is no easy task. And it will be many times harder than the Shadow Devil himself."
Nightshade did not turn over to look at the dragon, keeping his focus on the scenery, trying to spot signs of the beast. "What would you do if you were treated like a joke all your life? You are an amazing fighter, Thorn. Everyone around me has something special about them. Everyone but me. All this time, I never really found my place in all this. But I know now. In all this time only one navi in existance was truly able to harness Beast Outs. I made it my life goal to be able to obtain and master the same powers he used. If I do that...no one will look at me as a nobody. This time I am not going to run away. My life depends on this. Either I succeed or I die. However, I do not plan on failing. I need those powers to protect my friends, you, Aeron, my big sister..."
He sighed.
"...and I am willing to bet my life on this."
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Post by Zane on Oct 11, 2017 10:04:58 GMT -8
It was as Nightshade finished that a thunderous crash rocked the network to its core and something came slamming down before them, knocking them both away from the impact. And when the dust settled, they would be able to see exactly what it was: the very Cybeast that they were after. Except that it was mangled, battered, and broken. Its limbs had been torn off and a massive purple light was protruding through its body. That was to say nothing of its rival, also not that far off. Its wings were gone, the same purple light running it through. The flying ogre was the first to dissipate, breaking down into data that fragmented up into the air. Something of it had lingered for but a moment, not even enough to call it a vestige that had gone over to something that left the area as quickly as they saw it, stepping into some sort of void that closed behind it.
And just like Falzer, Griega was beginning to do the same and break apart.
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Post by Nightshade on Oct 11, 2017 11:13:01 GMT -8
Now, the intelligent navi would shelter himself or run away. It wasn't the case for Nightshade. Once he recovered from the shockwave blast he would immediately rush in towards Greiga.
"Greiga! Dear lord what the hell happened here?!"
Placing a hand over to the side of the mighty beast he would lean over to see who or wat behind this. Catcing a glimpse of Flazar in the process.
"Falzar too?!"
He would immediately scramble to salvage any data that Greiga was leaking, dowloading it straight into his memory system. Good thing it was exactly one Exabyte. "Hey! Hey, Greiga! Can you hear me? Who did this to you? Now hold on alright!? It'll be fine!"
Typical Nightshade. He was tring to soothe even something like a Cybeast. Or assuming they could talk. Or even understand him. He would squat down to the beast's eye level. "Hey! Hey! Stay with me! Alright? If you die, you disappear!"
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Post by Raven8 on Oct 11, 2017 11:22:17 GMT -8
...to say that time was of the essence in this matter was no exaggeration. The damage done here was amazing to say the least given the power of these monsters, and whatever had done this damage was still at large and unknown...
...but that wasn't the worst of it. Amid the explosions of the network and its straining instability, something else was coming. An immense and terrifying pressure fills the area as the network itself begins to quake, almost as if buckling under the immense pressure.
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Post by Zane on Oct 11, 2017 11:32:21 GMT -8
As Nightshade tried to download the data, he noticed he wasn't able to. Like the Cybeast before it, it had soared up into the sky. It was continuing to do so, but Griega did manage to hear Nightshade's cries. And in response to those cries it lurched out... and bit his arm clean off. It tried to reach more when he had got to its eye level, but hadn't been able to lurch far enough before it finished breaking apart and fully going into the air in fragments. Feeling the quakes that were coming, whatever was up in the air turned and entered the same void as the one before it had. But not before one final bolt was tossed to the ground, striking down dead center where both beasts once were. As if a tombstone for both of them... and a sign for the one that was coming. They had obtained his attention. Now was when things would truly start to move forward. For better or for worse.
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Post by Nightshade on Oct 11, 2017 11:46:15 GMT -8
Nightshadde recoiled when Greiga bit him. I mean, he could kinda expect it. Still, everything else was way worse than he imagined. The beast gone before he could reach them and a gloomy presence making its entry on the field. Nightshade sighed.
"Well then. In the end it couldn't be helped..."
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Post by Raven8 on Oct 11, 2017 11:57:25 GMT -8
He comes
The network quakes, almost seeming to scream under the terrible weight of the unholy pressure. Happiness and joy are but distant memories, never to be known again. Now all that remains is terror and darkness beneath the truly powerful one. The original Navi, the ultimate power.
Before Nightshade now stands the greatest being on the net; Forte. His cloak waves in the violent wind as he looks on with the eyes of death itself, staring through the feline Navi for but a moment before hovering forward slowly and looking to the sky where the data of the beasts had gone. He looks on for a short time, glaring into the distance in silence before he at last addresses Nightshade, his every word seeming to cause the network to warp in fear.
Forte: Weak one, you will tell me what you know.
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Post by Nightshade on Oct 11, 2017 12:13:31 GMT -8
Nightshade sat down on the ground. "Never in my life would I thought I would meet you. Name's Nightshade, by the way, pleasure to make your acquaintance. As per what happened here...Greiga just bit my arm off...and then disappeared. Same with Falzar. They were all broken up and purple data was flying off of them. That's it. Nothing more, nothing less."
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Post by Raven8 on Oct 11, 2017 12:24:02 GMT -8
Forte continues to look to the sky, analyzing the situation with meticulous care. He listens to Nightshade, but offers no reply until he finishes.
Forte: I do not care who you are, nor do I care for what you've endured. The one who stole the beasts has taken that which is mine...
...a power rises in Forte, one beyond anything that Nightshade had ever felt. A force of pure malevolence and evil incarnate. Rage and malice beyond what could even be fathomed. From this power alone, it becomes obvious that Forte could easily destroy this network with but a thought, perhaps even delete all of Netopia.
Forte: ...and now this world will suffer the bitterness of my wrath.
Forte turns back to Nightshade, his hand now free from his flowing cloak and glowing with a deep purple energy. Debris and rubble are cleared from his path as if by some unseen force, or perhaps in honor of the net's true ruler. He draws near in silence... and passes the feline Navi, moving on without incident.
Forte: Grow stronger, weak one. The weak will soon die by my hand.
With a flick of his cloak, Forte leaves the network undamaged, taking with him the profound and enormous pressure that his very presence exerts.
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Post by Nightshade on Oct 11, 2017 12:46:31 GMT -8
Nightshade chuckled. "You make it sound like it's easy..."
Well then, what to do now? The cybeasts had disappeared, and so did his hopes and dreams. He had been left alone in the destruction, unable to do a thing. How was he supposed to grow stronger? He hadn't been created special like Forte or Blues. And his only hope to be at least slightly more special had vanished as well.
Nightshade shook his head. "...eh. Even risking my life is not enough to change things. I doubt I'll be able to fulfill your expectations, Forte."
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Post by "Bill" on Oct 11, 2017 13:51:21 GMT -8
*After the essence of Forte finally left the area, a rather large clunking noise could be heard clanking along the cobbled path. Fully clad in hulking ebon armor, the quiet visage of a seemingly regal knight approached the sulking feline navi. Seeing such a large creature look so small made the knight pity the poor thing. In a kind and respectful gesture of nudging his back with her foot, the actually female voice kindly inquired to the nature of his somber mood.*
Embera: Hey. Why you look like your dog just died? Did your dog just die? Were you too weak to save your dog? Hey.
*Truly a master of tact and verbal prowess, Embera continued to nudge at the navi until he replied*
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Post by Nightshade on Oct 11, 2017 14:02:08 GMT -8
Nightshade turned around and looked at the new arrival. "...yes. yes I was." Was the only thing he managed to say.
In the distance, the sound of claws scraping on rocks could be heard. Someone was rushing there.
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Post by "Bill" on Oct 11, 2017 16:21:52 GMT -8
*Embera's armor gnashed and creaked as she lowered herself to Nightshade's eyes. Her grate closed, the black void stared back at him, exuding heat as if one were blowing steam right into someone's face. Through the holes, she said words of comfort.*
Embera: You could probably protect your next dog if you got stronger. You just gotta work at it. Why, you could probably kill someone else's dog if you get strong enough, too!
*Embera patted the feline on the shoulder, a heavy tenderness, of a child petting a stranger's animal a little too hard. She knew what this feeling was, and certainly hoped he would feel better.
Embera: Do you have any ideas on how you can get stronger? A lot of people learn through combat, others through self-training and absorption. Gotta find what fits you, y'know?
*Tired of this position, Embera corrected her posture, standing a few inches higher than the cat-navi she had hoped to cheer up.*
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Post by Nightshade on Oct 11, 2017 16:35:02 GMT -8
The little feline navi stared at the ground, moping. This new arrival was nice and made him slightly curious. "I have tried everything. I broke my back with training. Studies meditation. Outright software updates. Hell I even tried legendary powers. But no matter what I do or try, the end result has always been the same. I am nothing but a joke in everyone's eyes. You can call me Nightshade, by the way."
The tip tapping grew louder before mysteriously disappearing outright.
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Post by Zane on Oct 11, 2017 17:13:14 GMT -8
It was around this point that Nightshade's arm began to throb with pain. It had been infested in an instant from the bite that Griega had done to it, so it had stopped the other arm that would have come from it. But he felt a change, something small that was lingering. While the bite had been the only way Griega could have gone, it had a secondary effect much like the previous one had as well. It was a festering strength, one that lingered within. A feral one that just needed him to reach out for it and grasp it. All he had to do was do the plunge, to pull it out...
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