Divine and the Corrupt

[17:27] Bloodlust fills the entire cave system as Neo causally floats speaking to the Shenlong accompanying him. He seems to have just missed his son, however he was faced with two very familiar beings in the forms of Salthiel and Meiyo. The Justiciar's head tilts at the sight.

Salthiel had done it, he achieved that legendary status baring the blessing of some sort of divine entity. "You've grown, the both of you." He spoke in a very calm tone, his voice was soothing offset by the malice that slowly crept out.

"Your growth stops here." He states as he reaches for that Scythe, pale hands slowly raise and with every second the pressure rises. His disgusting blessing adding to the setting, corruption filling the space around him. Neo had final risen above anger. He was simply doing what needed to be done at this point.

--He couldn't deny it, his body couldn't either. This was exciting, there was a sudden rush. His pink eyes were never so wide-- illuminating the cave as the three before him were nearly blinded by the sight.

From the corners of his mouth leaked a disgustingly powerful toxin, melting the space beneath him. "Yahahahaa, you disloyal creatures are funny. I cannot wait to hear your speech, about how I'm wrong, and about how I need to be purged."

"Humanity is a curse, and I will cleanse the three of you with death. So go ahead, speak, and I'll even give you the chance to run."
(Neo Invidia)
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[17:31] Whereas Vel managed to escape capture this time... there were bigger fish to fry. Sensing a dark power behind him, the Simora would draw forth Suffering's End, a blade created for the corrupt, wielded by the light.

"Neo... I wondered when I would see you next."

Inscrutable eyes would pierce through his mask, glaring at the cursed swordsman- spirit energy flaring around him, empowering his every move. He thrust his arm toward the sky- harnessing energy from Akio Simora.. but also the world around him.

This is it.

A voice spoke inside his head, unfamiliar.

Meiyo felt a strange power coursing through his body- but it was so soothing at the same time. Nothing to make a man mad with power, but instead.. it felt like a pat on the back from a divine being.

"Humanity is all we have, Neo Invidia.

Humanity is the difference between my people and yours.

Humanity keeps us sane.

Don't you dare condemn us for wanting to be human, when you rob the oblivious of their sanity."

"The light's crusade continues, Neo- and the blight you've aided in bringing upon this land will soon cease to exist!"

"I deem you.. corrupt!"

A light would rise down from the impossibly dark depths of the caverns- shrouding Meiyo and his people. It would be calming to his allies, and it would strike fear into the bodies of his enemies.

As it was decreed by the higher powers.
(Meiyo Simora)
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[17:33] The Merman had failed to catch up to the man, but upon returning to his companions, he soon found... other problems.

The stench of blood accompanied the arrival of another figure from the dark. Tenevan tightened the grip on his spear, grabbing it within both hands as Neo approached.

This Vampire was unfamiliar to him, but he seemed to know the other two. A chilly wind took to the Mermans form as Tenevan looked towards Salthiel and Meiyo.

"Careful. We need to stay close."

There were no elaborate speeches to come from the Siren, no damning threats, no insults. He didn't know who this one was, nor did they have history.

He stood ready all the same, holding his spear in a death-grip, waiting for the inevitable.
(Tenevan)
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[17:37] "You are right, that humanity is a curse. For like what I said, humanity are filled with sins," said Salthiel after Meiyo.

"However, that is what separates us from your being, Neo. We try to fight the darkness that binds us," he added, before glancing to Tenevan.

Soon, the tranquility about him brought upon an ephemeral change as potent mana surged from his being; golden wings protruding from his back as he donned his staff akin to a spear.

"Yes. We need to stay close," then muttered the Anauel under his breath, nodding to Tenevan as his eyes remained piercing upon the vampire.

Meiyo's change also brought upon a smile behind the veils of his mask as he pushed his palm forward, sending upon Neo's direction feathers of light.
(Salthiel Anauel)
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[17:42] Vulentive clawed at his back in their presence. Salthiel reeked of some ancient enemy even behind the mask. The aura cast from Meiyo no less caused the sword to send painful throbs through the floating man's shoulder, his back, his arms -

Tanahu's hand only hurt because he gripped the weapon so hard. The Shenlong extended the vicious, red greatsword high above his head. Antlers joined to point towards the distant cave ceiling. His mouth full of fangs drew into a pained grimace as the man brought the fallen angel's blade forward.

"What you call blight," he snarled, "Isss my home!" Slitted eyes flit between Meiyo and Salthiel - they washed out yellow and flashed in the reflected light of the foes' powerful auras. Tanahu turned his eyes on Vel... fighting at his side of all things.

"Whatever you have sssaid about humanity, I hold againssst you - jussst asss I hold the death of Ella Taylor againssst your kind - myssself, for failing to have sssaved her."

"But it isss only human - it isss nothing corrupt," he spat the final word, "To defend one'sss own people - one'sss own family!" The Shenlong drew the weapon back for the first swing of what seemed to be their sure combat.

"You will NOT dessstroy Dawn."
(Tanahu)
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[17:48] The blue glow, what Neo believes to be false justice, what Neo believes to a glow of one that should no longer exist. A glow that embodies power, and should be avoided by the weak, a glow that Neo used to hate. That hate has vanished, he's above it.

"Corrupt." He states in a flat tone, "It was almost as if I knew you would say that Simora." His gaze flickers to the other two, and then to the Shenlong. He'd place a hand out in front of the warrior, "Don't make any hasty moves, if anyone's fighting here it'll be me. Those two can easily defeat you-- your best shot is the siren and even then you may get hurt."

An ally, someone that Neo cherishes due to their loyalty. He couldn't allow them to get hurt so easily.

"What you don't understand Salthiel is that I was born with this darkness, I was born with the world against me. As a child I hated it, but with time I came to accept it. It isn't like your kind reached out to me regardless."

"Parents taken by wars, left a dirty child with nothing, he took and they pushed away. He lost his sultan, the only light on his path. It blinded him and he wandered, however he met her and she illuminated his path. A bloodsucking witch made a boy feel real love, and so this boy will do whatever he has to, just to make sure the world safe from the smiling devils that glow just like you."

His scythe was drawn as he takes a battle stance, Tanahu can listen to him though Neo wouldn't like the idea of him fighting. "I will hack and slash until this world is clean of your stain, so that my people can rise my mother can smile. Prepare yourselves for battle, I will take you in any order or amount."

"No matter result I will have the last laugh."
(Neo Invidia)
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[17:56] "You.. condemn what you cannot comprehend, Neo."

"In your pursuit of understanding your past.. you became the very monster you accuse us of being. You joined the kind that feasts upon the innocent, that steals the most valuable thing from a man and woman and child- humanity."

"You seem to have a shred of humanity, Neo... just the smallest amounts- but that care is only directed to your people, because you blame the rest of the world for what you've become."

"You blame us.. because we could not save you. And for that? I am sorry, Neo."

"I'm sorry. I know you needed to hear that from someone."

He stands there, matching Neo's tone- shrouded in a comforting blue luminescence while his spirit energy flares around him.

"But you don't want apologies, do you?"

"I can't relate to your sorrow- I've lived a good life. But you, Neo... You may have been salvaged in the past... However, now?

Your curse blinds you- and no longer will I let the world humour your disease. We will fight, man to man, as you let me in your lands before my capture."
(Meiyo Simora)
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[17:57] "And you've failed in that aspect, for now, you're but an empty husk of your former self," said Salthiel to Neo.

"Like yourself, I was born with darkness, I was born with the world against me, as the corrupt took everything from me. It blinded him, and he wandered in carnage and blood. He walked the path of the wretched and donned the mask of wrath. However, he met them," he said, briefly glancing to Meiyo, then to Tenevan.

"And they illuminated his path. People who would become his family made the boy feel real love, and so this boy will do whatever he has to, just to make sure the world safe from the smiling devils that spit of venom like you," he responded, before glancing to Tanahu.

"Tanahu. So, you've chosen this path, as you've chosen to blame Ella's death on me; yourself, for failing to save her," added the Anauel before taking off his mask, pursing his lips, golden eyes upon the Shenlong.

"You've experienced the same pain as I did upon her death. Watching Aiel, her child, fills me with guilt and self-loathing as she continues to grow up without a mother.

But if this is the path you have chosen, then I will not blame you.

Mourn in pain, and I will sit with you. I will mourn with you," said Salthiel as he allowed a tear fall off his cheek.

"To see you like this- Ella would be disappointed. No, she would be devastated," and with that, he prepared to fight.
(Salthiel Anauel)
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[17:59] Tanahu was addressing the part about Ella's death to Neo, actually.
(Tanahu)
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[17:59] Tanahu probably should have made that clearer.
(Tanahu)
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[18:07] Neo elevates, far. He's rising high, higher than everyone in this cave. For the sole purpose to look down upon them all. Much like his youth that much still retained. It was a rush; being above all else. This time he had the power, this time he could make his thoughts a reality. This time is different, he is worthy to control a scene.

He projects his voice so that all can hear, "I care naught for your apologies. I care naught for what you think, because you are wrong. I do not blame you for anything, in fact I pity you for being so clueless, so blind. Fighting for devils that hurt progression."

More laughter as he sets his sights on his target, "Yaha- haha- Hahahah!" They were funny, for once the Justiciar would be seen smiling in the presence of foes. That child-like rage and tantrums are far gone. Neo has truly become a man now.

"You're so funny, I am not husk. I am more alive than anyone in this room, your ignorance baffles me-- ah let's cut the chatter, and start cutting flesh."

Snap!

His sights were set, and no matter who jumped in front he was going for the shot. Like a banshee he swoops down aiming to attack Meiyo, not caring at all. He does this foolish action because he believes it to be right. He'd left his emotions behind, it was time to do the dance. Hopefully no one dies.

'Mother, I've grown now. I can properly complete your tasks. I shall not fail any longer, this is for you.'
(Neo Invidia)
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[18:21] "If she had not traveled, had not met Alyka - she would be another one of the onesss you try to dessstroy in Dawn!" Anger and miscomprehension swirled on Tanahu's face as Salthiel addressed him.

He turned towards the divine-touched man with his own piece of divinity in hands. Vulentive hummed in his ears and filled the air with unsettling malice. More than it wanted its wielder to kill himself, the blade wanted to continue its eternal war.

It wanted a wielder strong enough to carry that war to victory. The Shenlong hissed as he approached, and soon they stood a separate distance from Meiyo and Neo within the caves.

"Blame you? How could I - you protected her!" A forked tongue let slip the final words before they'd meet.

"But fight you - for Dawn, I ssswore to defend!"
(Tanahu)
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[18:28] The magi furrowed his eyebrows as Tanahu revealed his blade.

What burrowed in his mind upon its sight was the same blade that Satsuki held, in order to destroy Malentine.

"And I have failed," he said and pursed his lips, misunderstanding Tanahu's message from earlier.

"However, I respect your decision for fighting for your home. If only we're not on the opposite ends of the spectrum, I know we would have been good friends," said Salthiel as he remained afloat.

"Look at you, Tanahu. O' how far you've fallen.

Emperor. Jiuweihu.

Help me not to destroy my foe before me.

But give me strength to redeem him back to light."
(Salthiel Anauel)
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[18:49] The due clashed, a battle of light and darkness.

Of the divine and the corrupt.

His heart shook as Tanahu fought with all his might, capable of overpowering him a few times. Truly, his strength added by the blade's corruption was frightening.

It was a close battle, but the Anauel seemed to gather his bearings, calming himself down as he turned less aggressive.

"Tanahu, is this what you really want?" muttered Salthiel as he blocked the Shenlong's blade, swiping it down upon the ground.

"Is Dawn truly your home, or is it only sympathy that drew you to them?" he continued as he felt Tanahu's blade connect with his cheek. Thankfully, he was able to dissipate into a thin mist, only to reappear behind the Shenlong, engaging him in magical melee.

"Whatever is it, are you truly blinded off your humanity? How can you not see? They harbor the ill and the corrupt. You are a good person, you are reasonable. But, this--- is this truly what you want?" and with that, he disarmed Tanahu by hitting his blade, pushing it down upon the ground.

"Tell me," he said and pushed his palm forward, casting upon a wave of wind that would shake his opponent, sending him crashing against wall to make him unconscious

With his feet, he kicked Tanahu's blade to hold it with his other hand as he approached.

"Your blade. I will purge it. And you will come back with us, to where you truly belong."
(Salthiel Anauel)
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[18:50] You stole Tanahu's Vulentive.
[18:54] And so, they clashed.

The Merman's charge was interrupted by a pulse of fire and brimstone - he backed off rapidly to dodge, but the damage was done. Occult fires licked at his form, searing at his clothing and flesh.

He learned to keep his distance, and did so admirably. He darted around the woman, focusing bolts of ice and water, wind and snow. The rifles and firearms she wielded through the rifts would have trouble hitting their mark - the Merman was shrouded in ice and snow.

Perhaps the most annoying constant in this fight was the humming. Tenevan played his tune, singing a song that'd permeate through the air, drilling into the woman's skull. The incessant droning would elevate to a maddening noise, leaving her deaf to the sounds of battle about.

As she was disoriented, he made his move. A pulse of sound drilled into her form, sending her flying in towards the direction of her own city.

"I told you - I warned you. Begone, leech!"

He'd have pursued, but he did not have time to continue. He turned, making a hasty dash to his companions, leaving the woman to stumble down and recover on her own.

Perhaps they'd meet again, perhaps that time would be different. Who knows?
(Tenevan)
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[18:56] Tanahu slammed into the wall with a ringing that could only have been mythril. The man's antlers clattered against the cave floor as he dropped into the dust.

He'd fought too hard to respond during the fighting. Surely Salthiel could see the bitter resolve to fight in his eyes undiminished after each piercing magical blow. Something else lingered behind that yellowed, reptilian glare though -

Hopefulness? If he hoped for anything with how he fought, it was not a happy ending. When Salthiel finally knocked his eyes closed and Vulentive slipped from his hands, Tanahu lay motionless, but alive.

If this was what he truly wanted, an answer would have to wait.

(Tanahu)
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[19:05] The sound...The sound of the humming was Maddening.

The battle raged with an inferno ripping across the battle field, but to contrast her flames was ice. Ice. Oh how she LOATHED ice...!! Evening up odds, pushing a battle to be more favorable, this is the result every time was it not?

The humming continued, the deafening sound distracting her, making her miss shots and loose attacks at things that were not there. But still she persisted...Still the woman pushed forwards and fought. But it became all consuming, the noise made her want to scream, to claw it OUT of her head!

Unable to take it anymore, hands lift to cover her ears and protect her hearing-- But it was no use. Shoved back, she stumbles across the floor with a hiss of pain. He said something, she saw his lips move, but Josephine could not hear it. No, just that awful humming. IT felt like blood dripped from her ears, like the unending torment of that sound was ripping her mind apart.

She couldn't think.

Making no move to follow him, she remains on the floor, cape sprawled over their form. The young woman was more interested in screaming right back at that maddening sound.
(Josephine)
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[19:09] Through an odd set of circumstances that couldn't have been predicted by anyone.. Vedran emerged from the darkness, having been unforunately separated from Vel and Josephine-- All he found was the Anauel standing over the fallen Shenlong.

Motionless, with his fate within Salthiel's grasp-- His mind flashed to their previous encounter nearly two years ago, both of them had evolved from that point. Anauel with his angel granted wings and a far more experienced Ivanovich-- "Saliel! My dear old friend! Funny to meet you here.. I imagine you didn't expect to see me again after nearly killing me--" The venom was clear in his voice.

Their last encounter nearly ended with the Cainite being torn apart by a flurry of tornadoes, yet he survived.

His bright gaze falls to Tanahu for a moment, sneering at the mere prospect at having to save anyone.. "I'd hate tocut in like this, but I figure that I can't have my allies getting killed by a few of Huangzhou's most self-righteous!" That, and Vedran desperately wanted to attempt to even the score.

And correct Salvas's blunder by allowing them to live...

His crimson blade was pointed at the Anauel- "Guessing I can't just ask you to release him either."
(Vedran Ivanovich)
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[19:20] The magi remained motionless, only standing before the fallen Shenlong.

"Vedran," echoed a whispery voice within the caves, as it seemingly shook upon the vampire's presence alone.

He felt an intangible pain on his back, as if the Ivanovich's blade already stabbed through him.

"Tanahu will go back to Huangzhou. To bring him back to his own people," said Salthiel and stood up.

"And perhaps you would tell me that Huangzhou will only kill him, just like they did to Galal and the others. I do not blame them for their actions, nor do I blame you all for your rage.

But I'll keep him safe," he said, turning around to face the Ivanovich.

"And you will not take him away," ever so calmly, the magi responded as he shrouded Tanahu's blade with ice, putting it on his back.

He closed his eyes, as he muttered a silent prayer.

Indeed, Vedran has changed. And he dared not underestimate him.

"Jiuwehu, let me fall to slumber as your light blankets my soul, Jiuweihu. And give me strength to rise above this, my Emperor. Grant me the strength to save a soul!"

And with that, he flashed his eyes open as his pupils burned with golden light, tears of blood running down his cheeks as he allowed his mana overwhelm his circuits.
(Salthiel Anauel)
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[19:36] "His people? The people that he left? I'm not one for being sentimental but his people? Are in DAWN and while I barely know that man..." Having never even said a single word to him, The Cainite was atleast certain.. that saving a citizen of Dawn would've made him look better.

Selfish purposes aside, Ice started to creep across the ground beneath him-- "Look at you! So noble now! Even if you seemed far less cordial during our last encounter-- I'm sad to see that your eye cleared up. I thought it was a good look for you.." Vedran remembered the hatred that rested in Salthiel's tone, Afflicted by Lucien but irritating, none the less. "I've heard so much.. how we're all impure-- and that you'll all save us."

Ivanovich scoffed, lazily waving his blade at the ice magi. "You'll solve nothing.. we're not the plague that rots this continent from the inside - It was already a festering pit before we arrived here."

Was Agartha's sorry state the fault of his kin? Or were they just the latest target of Huangzhou's zealotry.

"Every time you all prowl the land, looking for someone to attack - to blame for the corruption of the world." After all, It didn't seem like their forces would ever pause. "Perhaps. By purging the lands of your people and settlement.. that I'll find a miniscule amount of peace."

"Atleast with us? We didn't kill you outright, we attempted to provide some mercy.." Eternal enslavement being the vampire's twisted definition of mercy -
(Vedran Ivanovich)
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[19:48] "Vampires. Perfect beings they claim to be; such melancholy in exchange for their immortality.

And if it is mercy to fill the void of someone's heart, then I'd have no part of it.

And if it is mercy to turn into your kind, then I'd rather have died. No, Salthiel Anauel has already died. That one you've seen, seething with rage as he hunted you all down, bellowing with wrath. You've killed him.

And if it mercy for me to suffer a destiny I so loathe, of turning against my friends and family, then I'd rather have perished," said the magi before pausing.

"Indeed, you're also right, that perhaps I'd solve nothing, that Agartha was already but a festering pit before you arrived. But, you turned it into something worse, vampire.

And I will never forget it.

Ceridor Draskovic.

To you. We're all but cattle that you intend to feed on. Your dinner.

And perhaps those with potent strength has the chance to become one of you," added the Anauel.

"Because that is your nature, that is your destiny. And I do not aim to save you all. My aim is to purge your kind. To drive away the children of Cain."
(Salthiel Anauel)
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[20:22] Withstanding Salthiel's self-righteous speech that he'd come to expect and loathe from Huangzhou's people, yet he couldn't prepare for Salthiel's next words.. the uttering of Ceridor's name was enough to shatter the man's reserved façade.

"You.. you- DARE MOCK THE NAME OF MY STUDENT?! MY KIN?!" He practically screamed, Vedran was seething with rage at that point.. Swiftly and without any regards for caution; the Vampire charged brazenly across the field with fangs bared.

Abandoning any notion of sanity; this time? The Cainite's boiling anger and desire for blood took hold of his soul- Violently lashing out the Anauel, his motions were more bestial then human. Practically snarling while darting across the field, shrugging off whatever attacks he could-- resulting in him usually getting blasted across the field.

A novice's mistake.

The ebony tinted armor could've only sustained so much damage, before Vedran's eyes widened-- realizing that more tact was necessary, The vampire's body spontaneously was rendered into blood-tinged mist.

Letting Salthiel's attacks past through his form, before suddenly reappearing next to the Anauel-- Followed by a flurry of quick strikes before vanishing just as quickly. Vedran's armor was coated by a thick layer of frost as the battle went on-- any normal human would've frozen to death..

But Cain's chosen just kept advancing, until the crimson red blade connected with his staff-- knocking it out of the way, long enough for a quick strike with his gauntleted fist..

Sending the Anauel flying across the field, while Vedran still remained there - enraged.
(Vedran Ivanovich)
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[20:29] His expression remained stoic and cold as he fought, with calculation and finesse.

However, soon he was overpowered with the Ivanovich's never ending pursuit; shattering his defenses and whatever towering pillars of ice that he summoned to halt his offensive.

It was all for naught, for truly, Vedran grew in strength. And Salthiel yet again failed the divines to whom watches from above.

As he was pushed back, so was the strength leaving his body, resulting to the corrupted blade on his back, previously encased with ice magic, drop to the ground.

He grabbed it once more but felt no strength to summon further magic so he would be immune to the corruption’s effects. As a result, he felt power rush through his veins. But, the hateful feeling of malice would overwhelm the already exhausted mind of the magi; therefore, not giving him enough willpower to resist.

"You cannot pretend forever, Vedran," echoed the magi's voice within the caves as his presence could be felt no longer.
(Salthiel Anauel)