|
Post by Genesis on Aug 15, 2021 17:41:46 GMT -8
*Forte had gone for what was his most formidable ability to say the least, as he could feel his very soul be rent in twain. It was a feeling he hadn't felt in such a long time, ever since he was in his infancy. When they sought to break him down and mold him into what they wanted him to be. Of the three siblings that endured such a fate, only he had managed to come out of it alright. Argo had lost his mind and had stayed that way until his demise, and Renegade had lost himself but managed to find his way after he did, adopting the name Twilight instead. Now he would have to prove his mettle without his most stalwart ally within himself... and he would aim to do exactly that. Not because it would be stolen, but because if he had to he would prove the mettle as many times as he needed to even after he was stolen from.*
"Then I will. But there'll be more to steal from where it came from."
*As Forte hovered back did Xion begin to do the same, darkness beginning to well up upon his right and left hands as he put them together. As the voids approached he used it to stave them off, focusing more and more power behind it before the ball of death had been brought down. The nightmare would engulf him, swallow him whole in the death that it represented. But he had stared death in the eye just before this. And if he would have to do so again then he would. It was silent for a time, but when the dust would clear he had managed to stay awake during the nightmare. But it certainly had been a strike all its own, as even surviving it could leave one unable to strike back. Dedicating everything you had to defense was the key factor to withstanding the chaotic nightmare that it was, but he was able to do that where others would have failed as his first moment of truth as Underking. The very presence of life served as the absence of his death.*
Defense Phase: Hunter of the Dark and Corrosion of the Dark skill uses drained for 17 total and required skill uses met.
Full turn natural avoidance used. Drops to 1 HP.
Xion: HP: 1/4,000
|
|
|
Post by Raven8 on Aug 17, 2021 17:22:29 GMT -8
#s://i~ibb~co/vwcd7mg/Forte-XX~png Forte hovers down from his position, looking to Xion with disdain and hatred burning in his eyes. His expression is one of mercilessness, his demeanor that of the executioner as a hand rises from his cloak before becoming entirely encased in a jagged, black field of void energy.
Forte XX: I doubt that.
And then Forte is on Xion in a flash. The bladed arm swiping out from behind the jagged, brown cloak of the original Navi and to Xion, granting Forte time to reposition himself and perform a similar attack afterwards. Slash by slash the Dark Arm Blade cuts towards Xion's vital data, as the Original Navi now makes it clear that his intent is to end this battle with his own hand.
Offense Phase:
Dark Arm Blade Dark Element Voids weaponized into swords. Destroys the body and corrupts the soul. 1,000 DMG, 3 hits block/dodge separately, executes if the target is at 1 HP or uses any form of saving effect such as Dark Soul or Undershirt. No two hits of this attack may be evaded via the same means. If any one hit of this attack lands, then 1 additional hit, block/dodge separately, is added. The total number of hits added via this effect has no limit.
Dark Arm Blade Dark Element Voids weaponized into swords. Destroys the body and corrupts the soul. 1,000 DMG, 3 hits block/dodge separately, executes if the target is at 1 HP or uses any form of saving effect such as Dark Soul or Undershirt. No two hits of this attack may be evaded via the same means. If any one hit of this attack lands, then 1 additional hit, block/dodge separately, is added. The total number of hits added via this effect has no limit.
Dark Arm Blade Dark Element Voids weaponized into swords. Destroys the body and corrupts the soul. 1,000 DMG, 3 hits block/dodge separately, executes if the target is at 1 HP or uses any form of saving effect such as Dark Soul or Undershirt. No two hits of this attack may be evaded via the same means. If any one hit of this attack lands, then 1 additional hit, block/dodge separately, is added. The total number of hits added via this effect has no limit.
Dark Arm Blade Dark Element Voids weaponized into swords. Destroys the body and corrupts the soul. 1,000 DMG, 3 hits block/dodge separately, executes if the target is at 1 HP or uses any form of saving effect such as Dark Soul or Undershirt. No two hits of this attack may be evaded via the same means. If any one hit of this attack lands, then 1 additional hit, block/dodge separately, is added. The total number of hits added via this effect has no limit.
Dark Arm Blade Dark Element Voids weaponized into swords. Destroys the body and corrupts the soul. 1,000 DMG, 3 hits block/dodge separately, executes if the target is at 1 HP or uses any form of saving effect such as Dark Soul or Undershirt. No two hits of this attack may be evaded via the same means. If any one hit of this attack lands, then 1 additional hit, block/dodge separately, is added. The total number of hits added via this effect has no limit.
Dark Arm Blade Dark Element Voids weaponized into swords. Destroys the body and corrupts the soul. 1,000 DMG, 3 hits block/dodge separately, executes if the target is at 1 HP or uses any form of saving effect such as Dark Soul or Undershirt. No two hits of this attack may be evaded via the same means. If any one hit of this attack lands, then 1 additional hit, block/dodge separately, is added. The total number of hits added via this effect has no limit.
Dark Arm Blade Dark Element Voids weaponized into swords. Destroys the body and corrupts the soul. 1,000 DMG, 3 hits block/dodge separately, executes if the target is at 1 HP or uses any form of saving effect such as Dark Soul or Undershirt. No two hits of this attack may be evaded via the same means. If any one hit of this attack lands, then 1 additional hit, block/dodge separately, is added. The total number of hits added via this effect has no limit.
Dark Arm Blade Dark Element Voids weaponized into swords. Destroys the body and corrupts the soul. 1,000 DMG, 3 hits block/dodge separately, executes if the target is at 1 HP or uses any form of saving effect such as Dark Soul or Undershirt. No two hits of this attack may be evaded via the same means. If any one hit of this attack lands, then 1 additional hit, block/dodge separately, is added. The total number of hits added via this effect has no limit.
|
|
|
Post by Genesis on Aug 17, 2021 18:33:13 GMT -8
*As Forte made his move did Xion plan to make his. He didn't doubt his planned approach or the move he would make after it, as it was a chance he had aimed for. But he hadn't been able to grasp that chance either as the weaponized voids managed to land their mark. And while he would seek to resist still, it was to no avail as eventually underneath the assault was Xion forced to buckle in defeat, dropping to his knee.*
"Guh..."
*So he would be forced to have to eat his words just the same as his vital data was damaged by the Original Navi. He was still cut from a different cloth from all the others that the Underking had faced to this day and bested or otherwise. That was never in doubt, but it was reinforced today just the same.*
Defense Phase:
Xion defeated.
|
|
|
Post by Raven8 on Aug 18, 2021 17:18:23 GMT -8
...a terrible victory, a fierce outcome. With one final blow, Forte thrusts his bladed arm downwards, skewering the kneeling Xion through the chest and out his lower back. With hate and malace, he stares into the eyes of Xion, slowly digging the blade deeper as his free hand reaches out from his cloak and rests on Xion's helmet.
Forte XX: You held back at the end. You could have taken this farther, but you chose to end it now and fall on my mercy. But in the end.... I have none.
Simultaneously, Forte's blade rips through the side of Xion's body, while the hand gripping the master darkloid's helmet tears in the other direction, razing Xion's Navi mark in one swift motion. Data fragments, corrupted by the damage, depart Xion's grievous woundlike smoke, leaving holes in Xion's torn form while Forte hovers over him, holding the darkloid's crest in his hand as the power of the Dark Arm Blade surges across his broken body.
Forte XX: Feel the pain, know the hopelessness. Today you were crowned king...
Forte suddenly clamps the hand that holds Xion's crest shut, effortlessly breaking the master darkloid's crest in one swift motion. Opening his hand, Forte drops the pieces of Xion's identity beside his mangled form, reverting to his normal form in the process.
Forte: ...but you will never compare to me, S.
|
|
|
Post by Genesis on Sept 6, 2021 9:14:44 GMT -8
*Xion's body lurched as the blade ran him through, his hand reaching to grasp the blade as it slowly dug into him. It wasn't a strong resistance, but it also wasn't one that would last very long as well given what would soon follow. The blade tore through him and his mark had been razed as he yelled out in agony, the scars of this defeat all too clear to be seen. He had feebly reached up for the mark still, that sign of his identity that he was attached to. It wasn't something that he was vexed by like Forte's own damaged mark, or his own brother's distaste for his. But that attachment would be gone as it was crushed so effortlessly in Forte's hand and cast aside, the cruel outcome of this battle all too clear now that the newly crowned king was so thoroughly defeated as that hand slowly clenched into a pained fist instead. The merciful thing would have been for things to end in complete defeat, especially with Xion's personality in mind. If there was something he despised, having to live with shame was always among the list of things he didn't agree with. Anyone who knew him understood that all too well about him given he could hold on to that for years just proven by the grudge he never let go until the person he held the grudge on ended up permanently deleted, but not by his own hands, leaving a sour feeling for him to this day. On top of that, he was forced to face another reality that was his list now, something that wasn't necessarily more important than the outcome of this battle, but something that he would be required for. And having to hold the shame of this defeat and live to see that done was something better than having to fall to Forte's wrath and leave them undone due to his pride as well.*
|
|
|
Post by Raven8 on Sept 6, 2021 11:03:04 GMT -8
Forte looks down to Xion's broken form, the mangled underking in all of his shattered glory. In disgust, all that he can do is glare as he drops the shattered pieces of Xion's crest next to him. This is followed by a swift turn to Serenade and intentions made clear by a hand now raised to the being of ordered darkness himself.
Forte: Your time is now, Serenade. You've nothing left to protect you, and I've surpassed you in every way.
Serenade, who now stands with his eyes closed in order to see no more of the carnage that Xion was going through, looks back to the mangled Xion with a knowing expression. Though his time to mentor the master Darkloid for this position had been exceedingly fleeting, he had one lesson to reiterate; one with importance that now should hold a new meaning to the new Underking.
Serenade: The Underking must make great and terrible sacrifices.
Forte's hand lights up as he reaches it towards Serenade. Ribbons of data rise around the being of luminous darkness as he slowly begins to decompile into a string of binary data. Bit by bit he fades away as the ribbons stream their way to Forte's palm, where they're absorbed entirely. With the final fragment of data absorbed, the Secret Network at last goes black and silent, darkened by the loss of its leader. The undernet itself strains and growls under the sheer weight of Forte's now incalculable power, as the network appears to bend around his very form.
Closing his hand, Forte returns his arm to his cloak and hovers in place for a moment, reveling in the deafening silence left in the void of Serenade's missing presence. And it's at this moment that a smile forms; the smile of a tyrant who had at last achieved his goals.
Forte: In ages passed, we fought for days. Now you're nothing more than another step in my ascension. How the mighty have fallen, Serenade.
Forte's dark smile remains as he turns his head, shooting a blood-red eye back to the heap that is Xion's broken body. Slowly he turns, and slowly he approaches, before at last reaching down and picking Xion up by the crown of his head and hoisting him to eye-level for one final word.
Forte: The Undernet is yours to command, S. But never forget what you've seen and felt this day. You rule at my pleasure, and you die at my whim.
Forte opens his hand and allows Xion to fall back to the ground, still hovering over him with a knowing smile.
Forte: And now it's time that you learn of the cataclysms that Serenade held at bay for so long. Congratulations on your new curse.
Final words spoken, Forte tosses his cape to the side and teleports out of the network. In his wake, Xion is left to contemplate the choices that he'd made. In this moment he'd achieved his goal, but discovered that it was little more than the foot of an even higher mountain. The coming days would try his will and power, but for now he lives; long live the Underking, may his rule be glorious.
|
|
|
Post by Raven8 on Sept 6, 2021 18:39:09 GMT -8
....but for every blanket of darkness....
Xion, broken though he may be, would hear footsteps coming up behind him. Quiet at first, but slowly louder and louder in their approach. Finally, they arrive next to him and grow silent. From their direction, a young voice rings out to greet Xion; friendly and kind, but also somewhat reserved at the same time.
?: Wow, it looks like you've got a real mess here.
The footsteps resound again, this time circling around Xion and in front of him. Here, the Master Darkloid would see.... a normal Navi. Green and common as he can be, he kneels down and looks at Xion with his painted smile.
?: Hi! My name is Local, but folks around here call me the Navi Doc. I was coming to visit Serenade for a talk, but it looks like I was just a bit too late.
Local reaches down and places a had on Xion's head. He then pulls out a Recover chip and accesses it, instantly and completely restoring Xion's health in one swift motion. On doing this, he reaches down and picks up the shredded pieces of Xion's Navi mark to hold them in his hand.
Local: You know, not all of us are lucky enough to get these things. How about you take better care of it next time?
Local holds out his hand, and in his palm is Xion's Navi crest. Fully restored, and without a single scratch on it.
|
|
|
Post by Genesis on Sept 6, 2021 19:05:32 GMT -8
*The words were a lesson he would learn not simply for himself, but for the choice that Serenade would make here and now. To offer Forte the power in the event that they themselves couldn't muster the power necessary to defeat the new threat. It was the best means in order to have more than one method of attack in the event one wasn't successful. But that didn't mean that he agreed with the decision at all. If Serenade had to pass his power on to another, he would rather it have gone to him and then he dealt with what was to come himself and Forte just the same. But he surely had no say in that now as Forte finished his job and returned to him to speak. The one ranked S was held aloft to meet the smiling tyrant, meeting those blood-red eyes with a glare that could be told even within his shadowed form. "You rule at my pleasure, and you die at my whim." The foot of this mountain was large and arduous, but there would be no mistakes to be made on this front. He was far from defeated and would climb this mountain to remind Forte of the error of his words this day. He would rule not by his pleasure, he would not die at his whim, and he wasn't someone who would never compare to him. He would be reminded of the reason why he was held back by the rank of S for as long as he had been as the tyrant made his departure.*
"Congratulations are in order indeed. Thank you for reminding me why my goals are fine remaining out of reach until the day I have them in my grasp."
*This black and silent Secret Network would be the start. He wasn't the kind of light that Serenade was. He was always someone who dwelt in darkness, prevailed in darkness, and moved others with that darkness. And he could feel his access to the latest layer of "curses" that Serenade kept at bay now with the Black Earth. Their greatest weapon against the newest threat in order to remake their world. And one that he would need to have in his hands for when that time would come, for it would come to pass to say the least with how things had gone now. Hearing the footsteps get closer from behind him, he did his best to look to it to no avail until he circled around to see a... normal Navi? Unlike most, he was well aware that those looks could be deceiving. He knew about Cache after all.*
"...You could say I got...off to a rough start. Wouldn't have it any other way, though."
*What would have been a labored encounter was remedied by the Recovery chip, one that was quite unlike the one he knew of. And going even further, the mark he thought that he had lost for good was restored just as well, holding out his hand and taking it. Gazing deeply into it, he recalled the day the old man made it for him. That day he spoke of all the aspirations he hoped he would be able to reach one day. And how of them, he would have to be the one to enable them to even have the chance at such dreams. To be more than those expendable replacements and discardable failures.*
"Thanks, Local. I'll make sure to keep your words in mind. I couldn't stop what happened with Serenade."
*Not all of them were lucky enough to obtain a Navi crest, and his name was the Navi Doc as most would refer to him as, was it? He didn't want to make assumptions on this one, so he would talk instead of doing that.*
"Serenade might not be around for a bit for that talk, but I'm more than willing to hear you out with some questions of my own. Like for starters, why are you referred to as the Navi Doc?"
|
|
|
Post by Raven8 on Sept 6, 2021 19:22:22 GMT -8
The normal Navi just shakes his head as he helps Xion back to his feet and takes a step back. So that's the story, is it? too bad....
Local: I had a feeling that this day might be coming soon. Bass has been building up power for so many years, and with the other threat out of the picture, it was only a matter of time. Our old friend has been trying to amass power to take over Black Earth for himself for years, but he still can't quite win, and I doubt that even this will be enough to tip that scale...
Local drifts off for a moment, looking to the side in silence before he regains his composure.
Local: As for your question; doesn't the fact that you're standing right now sort of answer that question? I've been around the undernet for a very long time now; you might call me its caretaker at this point. I'm sorry if it seems like a brag, but I probably know more about this network than Serenade at this point. And knowing Serenade....
Navi doc leans in and looks Xion over for a moment before he suddenly leans back in obvious surprise.
Local: ...he's named you his successor! Makes sense; I told him that I didn't want the title. But he probably knew that I'd be here to clean up the mess that Bass left behind, so of course he played it all to his advantage. He always was a sly Navi.
|
|
|
Post by Genesis on Sept 6, 2021 20:27:21 GMT -8
*It made sense that he wanted to amass enough power to obtain even the Black Earth that was just out of his reach. To know where it was but be unable to take hold of it would bother him no doubt, as it would bother him too if it was something that he wanted to take hold of as his own. The other threat... he could only gander at what that one was, but it was the most logical conclusion of them all too. This Local looked like he was quite knowledgeable about the subject indeed with how he trailed off there.*
"The other threat out of the picture? ...Someone took care of Duo, huh?"
*He wanted to see to that himself, but he wouldn't be upset that someone else did the deed. Duo was a deterrent, but not one that they should have to maintain given the implications of using that deterrent. Not like he could talk from his current position with what he had at his disposal now, obviously speaking. He didn't have anything against it outside of it arbitrarily deciding something was evil and then wiping a planet out for it. He wouldn't be upset that he wasn't the first pick for the role of successor, because it made sense there were others out there who could do the same if they put in the labors for it. He just didn't mind that he was the one who did it in the end.*
"Serenade certainly had a way of having his way in a sly fashion. I'm not quite finished with 'Bass' yet, but I'll have to accept that one's for another time right now. Letting him have his way even with all the power he amassed isn't going to happen. But it's nice to know there's a caretaker around here."
*And there was a lot that he didn't know about this network in detail. Things that this one knew, and even more than Serenade at that. He may have been S, but it was time for him to begin to start learning. If he was ignorant then there was nothing he could do when the time came. So he needed to know as much as he could so he could have less chances of making the incorrect decisions. He would make as many blind choices as he had to, but he much preferred if he could be making informed ones instead.*
"You don't mind if I trouble you with more than the previous ruler, right? My first job in this tenure is quite the heavy task with all these big names around and there's a lot to figure out here."
|
|
|
Post by Raven8 on Sept 8, 2021 15:20:53 GMT -8
The Navi give a nod and waves, obviously amicable towards Xion's request.
Local: Sure, that would be fine. I never mind sharing and helping where I can, as I was never really one to play the cloak-and-dagger game; that was never my style. That was always Serenade's way of doing things, and why I never wanted to walk around with that crown, really.
The Navi nods again, this time walking past Xion and back down the open hallways that lead to the innermost sanctum of the Secret Network.
Local: Well, I had better go; have to be up early in the morning. Feel free to call if you need anything!
Local waves and carries on his way.
|
|
|
Post by Genesis on Sept 8, 2021 16:24:54 GMT -8
*He returned the nod in kind, offering a wave back as Local was his way. One could say he had the Locals on his side here. He would love to ask him about a few things now, but that was another time. Right now he had a date with a different kind of emperor. He paused for a moment, looking as though he were reading something. The orbs that were his eyes narrowed in thought, but ultimately he made his decision. This at least would increase the odds of success in their aftermath, so he would keep that in mind. For now he would walk to leave the sanctum of the Secret Network and return back to the others. He would have to have a talk with a few other dwellers among their ranks too. Those two would have to get adjusted to the changes here, of that he had no doubts.*
|
|