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Post by Raven8 on Jan 3, 2020 19:31:04 GMT -8
....this was the last position that Genesis could be tracked to, and obviously the site of his final confrontation.
Not long after Rosso and Nero had managed to outright decimate the forces that were brought against them, the sound of harsh, strong footsteps crunching in the remaining snow quietly echoes around the face of the forgotten and scorched tundra, accompanied by the figure of a Navi who enters into the Blazing Aftermath of the fight in silence. He was too late, but he already knew that he would be. He looks around in silence, the scowl on his face obvious as he closes his eyes in disgust. He knew what happened here, and he knew what his presence would likely bring, but he didn't care at this point.
It's here that the Armored Destroyer takes his stand, planting his feet in the wreckage of the destruction and looking on into the snowy sky. Someone would come; it was just a matter of time.
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Post by Zane on Jan 3, 2020 19:41:02 GMT -8
"...Why did you come here?"
As if the aftermath was his own, the flames rose to give rise to the very same adversary he engaged at Netopia's Rammount, Rosso himself. After their last encounter one would expect the highlight of the opening to be a flaming blast of destruction considering when they first engaged, that was the pilotlight to that encounter. But instead he had opened with a question instead in the wake of the carnage that had unfolded here.
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Post by Raven8 on Jan 3, 2020 19:47:25 GMT -8
The destroyer instantly looks to Rosso's menacing figure... but then turns and looks around the area for a moment, his own scowl and anger easily matching Rosso's despite the disparity in power.
?: To see for myself.
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Post by Zane on Jan 3, 2020 20:01:02 GMT -8
"...Fair enough."
He took his eyes off the Destroyer for a time and instead to the landscape. Much of it had been iced over if one was looking for a term to use for it, though also one that would be in poor taste given Sharo's icy nature. But then this one place hadn't been changed, left as the blazing massacre that it was. Almost like it was meant to be used as a waymarker or a sign of what happened. Who was to say.
"With how often this scenery has been repeated, it still serves as a rather pitiful sight, doesn't it?"
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Post by Raven8 on Jan 3, 2020 20:12:30 GMT -8
The destroyer keeps his eyes on the scenery, his look of anger still obvious and powerful.... and then he sighs.
?: I'm done with the bravado and the meaningless shows.
His expression is still firm, yet somehow less hard as he looks out over the destruction. He raises a hand, still burned from his previous fight with Rosso, and places it on one of the golden horns protruding from the front of his helmet, and then takes it off in one clean motion, letting the arm that holds it rest at his side. Under the helmet, messy brown hair blows in the Sharo wind, occasionally blowing out of the way to reveal a purple "W" on his forehead, normally hidden by the overhang of his helmet.
?: I have no reason for them now. You've made yourself an enemy, but you're not my enemy.
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Post by Zane on Jan 3, 2020 20:20:28 GMT -8
"I rest now as the world's enemy far and wide. Others can cower and others can fight, but ultimately all they do is stand alone and die. It's not even laughable anymore."
The time for bravado and meaningless shows certainly was over. A small spark readied itself from Rosso as well, but nothing more came of it. Simply the sign that if the fighting was going to start, he would be prepared for that challenge as well. What he said to him before was how he felt about their engagement in this very moment. As far as he could tell, nothing had changed between then and now. And yet...
"In all of your importance, what exactly is the enemy that's so important that makes you different than the rest? What allows you to behave as you have all these years?"
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Post by Raven8 on Jan 3, 2020 20:37:24 GMT -8
....the destroyer gives a half smile and looks over to Rosso for a moment, laughing slightly under his breath all the while.
?: Importance? What world have you been living in? I'm a criminal and a terrorist. My only importance for anyone is in my dying and I know it.
He turns back to the wilderness, his smile still on his face. However, his tone would betray the fact that this smile is nothing short of ironic.
?: My hand against everyone, everyone's hand against me... that was the life that I accepted. I had a purpose, and no matter how much I've hated it, I've always done it.
The nameless Navi looks down at his helmet as he trails off, obviously squeezing the horn a bit harder as he does so.
?: ...remember not long after I started my "crusade", and your group took me to your base when I was unconscious? When I woke up, I was actually shocked that anyone helped me... but I had to let you know that I couldn't be bargained with, and couldn't be counted on. I had to keep you away from me, no matter how much I hated it.
...and then he smiles, closing his eyes as he does so.
?: ...truth be told, I don't even hate Genesis. I respect the guy, and wish him well. I can't blame him for wanting to kill me, though I've never really understood just why he's targeted me so hard...
...his smile grows a bit more, this time a bit more mischievous.
?: ...though I will admit that I've had fun stoking that fire over the years.
And this leads to a long breath and a sigh, one accompanied by a glance over to Rosso.
?: ...and now it looks like you've got it as bad as me, maybe even worse. I could feel it when we fought, I could feel more purpose, and I could sense the truth...
His expression grows harsh again as he raises his helmet and looks it over.
?: You're more-or-less wearing that same mask, aren't you?
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Post by Zane on Jan 3, 2020 21:13:19 GMT -8
It certainly was a harsh truth, but one that was right on the head. The world didn't care what happened to the Armored Destroyer so long as he was removed from it. When your purpose puts you in that situation often times there was nothing you could do about it. He did understand that all too well. But he did remember that day when they had helped him out and as a result Genesis had it in for the Destroyer ever since. That irrational side of the Overlord was something that was about to surface once again he imagined thanks to their own actions today, because what stoked the fire was something he knew about. Not exactly from Genesis telling it himself... but he had a little sister that had tipped him in on what ruined him. He couldn't help a laugh himself at just picturing the Destroyer leading him on all these years over that mishap.
"If you found out why he was, trust me, you'd probably have an even better laugh about it."
To say that it was a bit petty would be a bit too much. He couldn't help but have a bit of relief in that moment as well. But he still nodded to the Destroyer, looking back to him. His purpose still wasn't laid out in the open, but it was clear that he knew his place and reminded others time and again about it. In that regard they certainly were no different than one another.
"We aren't individuals to be bargained with. What I am and always have been has been a problem for all of you. I denied it by performing the exact opposite of my purpose for years now, told myself that it might be worth it this time despite failures in the past. But it became all too clear that the mask that I need to wear is the one the world sees now. When this is over with, either I will be recalled as the one who terrorized the world at large... or there will be nothing left to recall me at all."
The one others looked to as a hero who fought against the tyranny... that wasn't the legacy that Zane would have left behind. It was the one that was built up all of these years merely to be torn down at his very own hands. And what would be left of that legacy, if there was one left after he was done, would be the fact that for years he festered in their world, clawed through it, and tore it apart. There was no hero left in his tale, just...
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Post by Raven8 on Jan 3, 2020 21:37:51 GMT -8
The nameless Navi just shakes his head, his face returning to hardness as if a ghost of anger had alighted on him in this moment.
?: Dr.Regal was the man who corrupted Soul Net and almost destroyed humanity. Dr. Wily was the man who tried on countless occasion to destroy the very foundations of the net. This is what they're most well known for...
The destroyer's eyes shift over to Rosso as he holds his head forward.
?: ....Regal was given a new chance at life, and revolutionized the net, setting the stage for what we have today. Wily saw the error of his ways and made the systems that have held the net together for generations. Stop looking to what you will or won't be known for; you're better than to fall for such petty things.
The nameless Navi closes his eyes and returns his gaze to the wilderness again.
?: Forget your purpose, forget your destiny, forget why you were made. The only legacy that matters is the legacy that you see with your dying breath, and what that dying breath means for all that you value... and all that values you
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Post by Zane on Jan 3, 2020 22:01:06 GMT -8
"...And that is precisely why I am the Trigger."
It was an ominous enough answer to give for what was said. But for the man who had spoke the words and the one who had replied, it no doubt reached him. It was abrupt, but a flame surged up in his hand, pointing it toward the Destroyer. But a geyser of flame didn't erupt from it, no. A small candlelight whisked over to him, displaying something he would likely need to know for later. It vanished after that, the nature of what many would view as a dangerous meeting still up in the air, but drawing some parallels of its own with this moment now.
"If you want to make it to take out your enemy, you're going to want to get some things in order. It's too late to prevent things, so the best you can do is prepare for what comes after it starts. Your work isn't cut out for you."
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Post by Raven8 on Jan 3, 2020 22:23:14 GMT -8
...The destroyer turns to Rosso and closes his eyes. He knew that he stood no chance, but also knew that his accepting this fate would have more meaning than a last stand. But then a gesture, a sign that hope remained. A sign not lost on the nameless Navi.
?: I'll save what I can... in my own way.
With one last look at his helmet, the nameless Navi puts it back on his head with a sigh; the fight goes on.
?: ...I'll try my best to save your old comrades, for what it's worth. They have some issues, but your patience with them for so long speaks volumes. Especially the girl.
....another one that had tried to reach out the olive branch; a gesture that could not be accepted. Saving Navis while making them hate him had been his life for so long, why stop it now? It was basically his calling now...
...saving Navis...
The destroyer closes his eyes again, and then looks back to Rosso, his expression downright stern at this point.
?: ...there's something that I've wanted to say for a very long time, and I feel like you're the one Navi that needs to hear it the most.
He pauses for a second again, glancing to the side as he does so.
?: ...or maybe I just can't take the weight of it anymore.
His eyes return to Rosso, a stern yet somehow sad expression in his eyes.
?: Years ago, during the Stardroids incident, one of their officers was attempting to help save a group of young Navis from attack. While he was saving them, he was mercilessly attacked without warning. He was killed in cold blood, and it had to have looked like I did it.
Another pause, this time looking Rosso over as if he's trying to decide if he wants to finish this exposition or not.
?: The truth is this; I'd been supporting them secretly from the beginning, because they were following the same route that I was. The one who killed this officer was Gate, and I was there to try to stop it from happening.
The destroyer looks away at this, closing his eyes.
?: ...that is the one bit of blame that I would rather not wear for the rest of my life.
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Post by Zane on Jan 4, 2020 10:16:48 GMT -8
He couldn't help but give a small scoff at it. Saving them in his own way... that was just like him, wasn't it? Well, it had certainly worked all this time, had it not? When in doubt, it was certainly one's way out. It was rather kind of him to consider his old comrades as well. They wouldn't be able to stand with him, not this time. Standing by his side would just ruin everything they stood up for all these years.
"Salvation takes many shapes and forms. Please look after them, her especially."
She would be the one that mattered to him more than the others. He was playing a bit of favortism in that case, but she was the one who spoke to him, learned about him, and grew from him. If possible he would like for her to be able to continue on. For better or for worse, he wanted her to make it through the oncoming catastrophe. If she didn't it was just another sign of how this unfair world worked. And on that very subject was something that gnawed at him just as it gnawed at the Destroyer, the words that he said giving voice to the doubts he held about it back then. The flames that he held didn't boil to the surface, but the glare in his eyes then made it all too clear his feelings on the subject. The very same person that slipped away time and time again thanks to their failings.
"...I see. I'm sorry for the animosity I directed toward you over that instead of who rightly deserved my ire."
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Post by Raven8 on Jan 4, 2020 11:17:40 GMT -8
The nameless Navi just glances back and nods, not saying anything else on the matter. At least one individual knew the truth now.
?: You have your reasons for doing what you're doing. I respect that and won't ask what they are.
The nameless Navi raises a hand as he keeps his back turned to Rosso. A surge of energy crackling out as a familiar black and red lightning across his form. It focuses into his palm and gathers before he clenches his fist around it. When he looks back, Rosso would see the renewed visage of the Armored Destroyer that he'd long known; his hard, cold, violent expression on full display as he puts on his proverbial mask. But despite this, it was now obvious that something more lies beneath this mask.
?: Just make sure that your "trigger" isn't pulled before I've had my fair chance.
The destroyer opens his fist and the red lightning surged out again, engulfing his body and transforming him into a bolt of energy that teleports out, leaving Rosso alone with his thoughts.
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Post by Zane on Jan 4, 2020 21:42:48 GMT -8
"Heh. Fair enough."
He deserved a shot at it just as the others had. It was time to get back to work then. It was already simple enough to see how the castle of cards was going to break from here. The rest was simple a matter of place and time for each person moving forward, vanishing in the flames. This was still but the calm before the raging storm that would be following it in kind.
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