Arachnis Versus Raric

 In the distance, the howl of the wind no longer sung constant, but died in the wake of something piercing it’s serenity. A shout, cracking, broken… Human?
Someone was in trouble from the sound of it, and ruckus was aroused somewhere northbound. It may not have been much of a concern for the group here, however, the cries began to grow in volume, grow in quantity. As of now, it must’ve been a large group of people, likely bandits camping relatively close by. The shouts grew tired, strained, as though the breath being squeezed from their miserable bodies. It was almost as though they were choking, some of which stopped abruptly…. And then… Silence- Some whimpering could be heard… But aside from that… Nothing.

To those whom would take their attention in this direction, a massive dome of lavender fog casting a slow moving shadow upon their position crept upon them. It’s height seemed to cave in on them, an intimidating ten feet high, it’s depth? Unknown as of now, but from what one could tell, traced back for over a mile. (6’711 ft) The visibility was actually worse than it was before, only 12 feet in distance.

The fog that pooled around the area held a distinct cold presence, one easily recognized as one of the occultistic nature. A long drawn hiss blew through it’s embrace, omnipresent as though a sweet whisper to the ears of all, with an eerie quality to it. It deteriorated into what felt like a long drawn out sigh- Bringing a moment of crippling silence to the Raric and Lyuria.

Such was interrupted by a single man, running aimlessly in the fog- Shouting at the top of his lungs with such horror. He passed by one or two of the entities, but paid them not the slightest attention, perhaps, he didn’t see them?

“GET AWAY FROM ME YOU CREEP! G-” He stumbled, and picked himself up to hardly disappear into the fog…

That’s when… It came….

Lashing out from the mist, came a single tendril, whip-like and extending several yards in length. Beyond the line of sight that was provided for sure, to allow such to twine around the bandit’s ankle with vicious force. The impact, disrupted his balance, tripping him to the grounds, chin-first. A mild bounce from the ground, and soon his frantic running transcended into scampering upon the ground. The whip receded, dragging the bandit with him, his fingers clawed into the dirt and a long pleadful scream escaped from his lungs….

He vanished into the fog, and his cry came to a crashing halt with a resounding

-CRACK-

….Then, the silence resumed… Something was here…. But what….
(Arachnis)
Raric felt the fog crawl over the area he was in, he did not seem fazed by it at all moving his mutated hand up to the fog, quickly the black fumes were being sucked from the air into the pupils off the mutated arms eyes, soon to just disappear from view and out of sight, the mana was absorbed inside the mutated arm as the purple exoskeleton was full of bugs and scurrying flies trying to dig into the arm, the pupils flared up a brighter orange then before, the fog soon cleared only to reveal the man who was floating in the air.

Raric grinned towards the man as the mutated arms eyes shined brighter than they ever did, glaring up to the man who was floating in the air using some sort of magi to aid his flight, tendrils of darkness were near and only the feeling off a deepened oculist power was felt. Raric curled his mutated arm up in front of his stomach, three long claw like fingers stretched out and began to twitch, Raric spoke calmly towards the man. ''Well, well.. well, it seems my search for you is now at a stop since you've come to me, but i'm curious as of why you've come to me instead of hiding away?''

Raric did not bother to take his sword from his back as he felt no threat from the man yet, keeping his mutated arm in front of him and the eyes staring up at the man from the arm, dark essence twirled around Raric body only depravity leaking from the arm itself.
(Raric Malpercius)
Crimson static tickled his form, jumping up from his legs to his head. A school of tentacles buoyantly waded from his back in the skies above, and upon one of them rested an impaled bandit, his arms limply wading to his sides, and head hunched back to reveal the adam’s apple of his neck. His lifeforce was being siphoned from his very body, shown by the withering of his flesh. It leathered, wrinkling to an excessive degree, it’s caucasian color greyed to leave a mere shell of what he once was.

The static intensified, concentrated upon his face.
“...Hiding?” His voice seemed flooded with static, white noise hissed in it’s background with a crackling radio effect to it. It felt almost like telepathy scratching through the minds of those nearby. “I hide…. From no one…” One of the tendrils turned downward to allow the dried corpse to fall to the grounds below, deprived of it’s life force.

“I only feast on those prepared to be part of a… Greater cause… Soon enough, all non-magus unwilling to join me… Will become a part…. Of me….” His voice dragged out, a groveling hiss murmured through the gasses that remained. The effect of the static became clear with the plummet of few black chunks of charred flesh. It was being… Replaced? Beneath the charred scabbing of facial flesh once diagnosed irreversible in terms of damage. grew flesh anew, forcing the dead skin to break from his face. It gave the damaged marking upon his body a series of red cracks and signs of damage that intricately twisted upon his face, twisting upon the right side of his face- The damaged half.

Lines of flesh, veins, and white matter manifested with the illumination of blood-ruby light, melding into a solid white color for just a few moments. Eyelids enclosed around the mass, and a circular spot slide down from the innards of his skull… An eye?!
It winced for a moment, the presence of light left it dialated- but in time… It expanded to lock upon Raric…
Everything was blurry for a few moments, but it was obvious that it didn’t last long.

“....But now, what does it matter… I can see….” Now… He didn’t need his fog, for the world was no longer invisible to him. A breif look at this child, and something hit him… It felt as though, something familiar. The voice… The presence… The appearance… -THE ARM!-
A barrage of images flashed through his head, far too quickly to be comprehended. Rather than bring him to curiousity, it bothered him, irritated him, -infuriated- him.

“...What are you…. Who are you….” He thought to himself, he shook his head at the thoughts, brushing them aside for the moment. If he could, he’d rather resist distractions for the moment.
(Arachnis)
Raric turned a quick glance to the bandit he had killed and drained off life, the body dropping onto the ground and bouncing before coming to a stop and laying dead, turning a gaze up to the man who was flying in front of him an eye appeared into one of his sockets, Raric laughed only thinking to himself for a moment 'Hah! I've got more eyes then he has.' a quick chuckle to his own comical behaviour he turned back to the man in a more serious matter, bringing his mutated arm up to point towards him.

''I am Raric Malpercius, also known as Aguni.. i am the Kind of Kudlak Malpercius as his blood runs in my own, some even call me a demon.. but that's for you to decide.'' Raric brung his mutated arm back down to his front, letting the claw like fingers curl up and begin to twitch again. Raric scratched his head for a moment as he stared up to the man again and spoke in a colder tone than before. ''I've been searching for you.. there is someone who wishes to speak with you.. the reason is unknown to me i'm just the seeker it seems.'' A slight shrug before Raric turned a glimpse at Lyuria koed body.

Raric turned his gaze from Lyuria onto Drusilla and then back onto the man who was floating in the air, quickly a wave of Raric hand stretched out as the feel off depravity echoed out to reach the man, it was like Kudlak Malpercius was here himself as the feeling of darkness crawled into his mind. ''I'm sure you're seeking answers as we've met countless times before, if you return to Alteros and speak to Azeil you will find them..'' Raric brung the mutated arm back in front of him again, he kept a sharp eye on the man.. who would trust someone who tentacle like things made out of darkness anyway?
(Raric Malpercius)
The mention of the name ‘Kudlak’ sent a searing hard pain through his head, piercing through his mind with an intensity comparable to an axe cleaving the brain matter from his skull. His hands slowly cuffed for his head, face wincing, with a single eye to close shut.
“...N-...No… That can’t be…” He muttered to himself, the tendrils grew ecstatic flailing about, Something was getting them… ‘Excited’. Raric’s mana circuit was flooded with an abundance of mana, not even of it’s own origin, but multiple signatures. Even a strange green mix tainted his blue aura presented in Arachnis’ perception… Reika?

It matched the likes of the two Oscuri nearby, and thus must’ve had some relevancy to mana. It was most definitely the first time ever sensing Reika, leaving him to pause to take in the moment for a moment… But such was most definitely short lived. “Many have approached me, pretending to be of greater stature. Many have approached, claiming to be some sort of answer to my questions and pleas… But one thing has come to be certain… None… Of you Valmasians, have proven yourselves…” The tendrils froze, all of which making a slow-arch for Raric.

His target was set…
“Why should I trust you- ANY… Of you… You’re all thieves… Murderers… Hypocrites… And those of us of occultist’s nature, are manipulated by such peoples. If you abide to a higher power seeking me…” One of the tendrils arched back by just an inch.

SUDDENLY, it launched forth with incredible speed. It was almost a blur, sharpened at it’s end with the intention to impale.
“You’re to prove yourself worthy of my attention!”
(Arachnis)
Raric swung his sword out in front of him as the tentacles came down to meet him, the mutated arm aided his power and speed as he easily slashed them back from his body, a quick leap around to the side of the man as wind rushed past Raric due to the pace he was moving at, Raric grinned and turned a sharp eye up to the man again before he spoke. ''Fighting, it never gets old.. new people new, new challenges.. maybe you can show more exciting than the stupid Oscuri to my side.''

Raric suddenly charged up his energy, a flow off Reika and Mana and Depravity rushing through the air, his body was soon crushed into the dark purple flames only to be seen again as the flames were darker and more violent than before, a quick gust off power blew across the grass the it burnt away only leaving the earth scarred beneath his feet. ''Thus we shall fight then since you insist, i love a good fight.'' Raric brung his sword in front of him and began to spin it around in his hand.

Suddenly a build up of power was felt again as Raric leaped off the ground, the earth cracked under his feet before he was launched into the air, dust and wind pushed out from the spot he once stood. Flying towards the man Raric brung his sword forward as he was engaging him in battle.
(Raric Malpercius)
Raric parried the tendrils, now receding as the shadowflame magus ascended for his form, the battle coming to a buildup of sorts. The blade he held, sustained an intimidating appearance. Large, easily capable of cleaving even trees and shrubbery in two… Something, he wasn’t intending on allowing to catch his flesh.

He extended his right arm out for Raric, fingers spread apart to point his open palm for Raric’s face. “The skies are no place for Valmasians such as yourself…” With such, from thin air manifested a shrinking encirclement of transparent mana. A black orb took shape with a thunderous torrent of black static; “Get Doooown…” His voice descended with the boom of bass, the sphere expanded dramatically, releasing gravitonic energy upon the warrior, an attempt to force him back to the grounds below with a single thrust.

With the assumption that both were prepared to fight, Arachnis’ arms crossed one another, tendrils arched for their prey, and his body descended slowly for the grounds below; Not once did he touch ground though. “...Fight as though your life depended on it, Valmasian… For it just might…”
(Arachnis)
Raric quickly extended his mutated arm out to the tentacles that came his way yet again as he landed on the ground, grabbing ahold off the tip of the tentacle Raric pulled the man who was flying in the air towards him, as his body came at a quick pace Raric sent his Mutated fist into the mans face, suddenly he curved the punch so i sent the mans face into the ground, a suddenly shake like an earthquake as dust pushed up around the two of them, wind pushed out probably sending tree's back slightly as the impact was terrifying and a normal person could even die from a single blow.

Quickly leaping back Raric span his sword around in his hand and got back into a stance, a smirk edged across his face as he knew the fight was not over yet and it was far from it, a build up off power was felt from Raric again as his cold presence leached out towards the people in the area. Raric eyes flared up excited and the eyes on the mutated arm stared at the man, Raric had been edging for a fight like this for a long time.

''Were not finished yet, I know you are not at your limit.'' Raric grinned as he waited for the man to get up and begin the next battle, the sword span around in Raric palm as he used it as a shield for now until the fight continued.
(Raric Malpercius)
He laid there motionless for a moment, close to a state of unconsciousness, or so it seemed… His right eye came back to life, popping open to scan the scene from where he lain. Rather than using his arms, his body simply pivoted for his feet using the utilization of gravity mastery. His face looked indented, badly bruised from the impact with strands of blood seeping down his face. His jaw was locked, forced at an awkward gap on the opposing end. With a flicker of such crimson static, it cracked back into place, and the indenting bruise popped back out- Repairing himself right before Raric’s eyes. Even if it was to a minor degree, he managed to… Regenerate.

“It seems I’ve underestimated you, child… An occultist’s power is always strong. This time however, I shall not hold back…. This time, even Kraus nor Azreal…. Can save you from my darkness… If you thought you understood it now, prepare to understand Atmos at it’s coldest degree, Valmasian.”

His hands clasped into one another, the build up of mana easily sensible, even to those without the knowledge of sensing remotely. It was less of a direction-ary presence that warned others, but the cold churning of the stomach, and the weak breeze that swayed towards it.
(Arachnis)
Raric body trembled as his muscles pulsed out off his body, a quick leap down to the man with his sword slashing down into the body, slashing to the tentacles Raric was crushing the ground with each step he took, the floor was being scarred by the fight and it had not even fully began yet. Raric extended his arm out to the side, switching the sword so it was held by his human hand rather than his mutated one, quickly leaping over the mans head Raric span the sword in a twirl to block the tentacles that came his way, suddenly a build up off power felt as a void was ripped open and trees and rocks began being sucked into it.

Raric leaped back and stabbed his sword into the ground, holding his body up with this he kept away from the void that could off ripped him into shreds if being sucked into it, this power was immense and it only made Raric more excited as he ripped his sword back out the ground. Suddenly Raric leaps back down to the back but this time he did not defend against the tentacles, bringing his body forwards they stabbed into his arm as he swung his sword into the mans chest ripping into the flesh and muscle.

Raric ripped them out before leaping back from the man, the fog he absorbed from Arachnis earlier ascended his mutated arm into some sort of power horde, suddenly the wounds on his arm closing but not haling fully leaving scars and blood still trickling down from his arm. Raric grinned as he spiraled the sword around in his hand and bring it down to his side, he pushed his feet back once again and his body began to tense up, the floor under both of them was damaged and the area they were in was nearly just an open battlefield.

Raric spoke out in his cold tone but he sounded more cheery than anything. ''This is quite the fight we are having here, it's been a long time since i've enjoyed myself to this extent, this was quite the task i've been set and i'm glad to be fighting someone worthy of my strength.'' Raric pushed his sword forwards again and grabbed onto it with his mutated arm, the eyes on the arm still open and staring out at Arachnis, bugs scurrying into the purple exoskeleton as Raric remained standing and smiling ready to go again.
(Raric Malpercius)
The Harukean snarled, for this wasn’t going in a favor he admired it to…
“Reduce to ashes, vermin.” He unleashed his arms from beneath his cape, to reveal an elaborately designed work of art. What looked to be sculpted of twisted bone material intricately shown a work of master blacksmith-manship. Such design, only mildly ages by abrasion and smoothed out points where it had been polished. Upon the knuckles were pointed metallic prongs. He took up a loose boxer’s stance, tendrils curled up behind him- Only to stretch out in a beckoning stance… He was ready for Raric to approach, challenging him to… Hand to hand combat?

The appearance of the tendrils shimmering around his body told another story and arched to prepared for an attack.

(Arachnis)
A dome of energy engulfed the land, growing in diameter as it protruded into the air. An explosion of occultistic energy, empowered by cosmic energy to intensify not only it’s effects, but it’s overall proximity. This, left Arachnis to watch in exhaustion, panting with his right arm extended out for the fiery dome of energy- Slowly fading away to reveal a decently sized crater. The explosion was far from lethal, infact, as potent as the rain of stars that fallen upon the position in such a short period of time, the magi had more than enough power to survive Arachnis’s attack.

“...Are you dead yet?” He spoke to himself, in a human-like tone. Was he finally getting used to people? Or maybe the ‘Yokai’ half was dying from his form. The tendrils arched over his shoulders, and expensive gauntlets crossed his chest, and finally a single eye gazed into the fading dust as he awaiting a proper judge for the sole survivor.

“It’d be a shame… All of that talk, just to be vanquished without a word but a whisper? If you’re alive, you’d rise to fight me again now, wouldn’t you, Occultist?”
(Arachnis)
The land was engulfed by some sort of energy and before Raric could react he was sent back, flying into the dirt and pushing through the ground cuts and bruises etched across his body from the attack, extending his mutated arm out he dug his claws into the ground to bring his body to a stop, slowly pushing up to his feet and ripping the claws out the floor he turned to face Arachnis, spurting out blood to one side onto the grass Raric lifted up his hand and wiped his mouth, the frown turned into a smirk as he was amused by the man having actually done some real damage.

''THIS IS EXCELLENT'' Raric was so excited it was hard to contain it inside, it was like he was about to explode and his guts were going to splatter onto the oculist, suddenly a build up off power again was felt as dark purple flames engulfed Raric body and the floor began to wither away again from the effects, suddenly Raric pushed off the floor and began to run towards the other oculist.

Leaping from the ground Raric did a spin slash towards the man, suddenly a strike off thought echoed in his mind. 'You'd best not kill him because Azeil wants him for some reason, why do you aim to cut off his head.. do you really wish to end the battle here? my my.. don't act so rash.' Raric stopped the attack and landed on the ground, turning around and taking the hilt into his mutated hand he aimed the tip of the blade to Arachnis. ''You know this is not going to end here, i've got more than enough energy to go again!.''
(Raric Malpercius)
Raric made his way back to Arachnius with his sword in his mutated hand, bringing a leap into the air Raric grabbed onto the men's cape and dragged him to the ground, suddenly switching hands Raric held Arachnis with his mutated arm and his sword with his normal arm. ''Got you..'' Was all that was heard before Raric swung Arachnius into the air and into the ground, doing this action over and over again bones crushing into the ground and wounds opening up Raric was laughing in the process. The ground was cracked and dust was flying into the air and Raric even stabbed his sword into the ground surely thinking this was the last beating this man could take.

Suddenly grabbing onto the cape with both off his arms Raric span around, swinging Arachnius through tree's and smashing him into the ground in the process, suddenly pulling Arachnius in for a attack up close, Raric extended his normal hand to grab onto the mans neck lifting him up. Raric grinned before clenching the mutated hand that was inhumanly strong and began pounding into the man's stomach, broken ribs and lungs being crushed as his fist constantly whacked into the stomach, laughing and smiling as Raric watched the man suffer and get destroyed at this point.

Raric was not even finished there, one finished pounding into the man's stomach Raric grabbed onto the mans face with his mutated hand and pushed his head in to the floor, forcing his head in to the ground Raric began to run around sliding the mans head in the dirt through rocks, cutting and denting the mans head Raric was going all out. Suddenly Raric lifted up the mans body and chucked it to one side. ''Please tell me you did not die..'' Raric turned a quick glance.
(Raric Malpercius)
His final remaining pupil shrunk slightly, surprised that such a child had the speed to catch hold of him in mid-flight. His entire form plummeted with his cape, hitting the ground with an abrupt crackle that sounded off the scene. He snarled at the pain, a bit too breath taken to find words to speak for the moment. However, it was far from over- HIs body toiled back up, smashing from a different angle into the earth below. His gums were likely bleeding now, teeth slightly crooked, yet still not near the conclusion of this beating, for his body was carting back up in the air for a final smash into the ground. Something was broken at this point…

Both arms grabbed ahold of his cape, to forcefully spin him with more torque. His face was now the battering ram for the many obstacles in his way. The regeneration that once attempted to save his life was omitted, overwhelmed by the tree that destroyed his facial features entirely. A spray of crimson juices scattered the air, aroused by the spray of splinters that scattered about as well. The flesh upon his cheeks was peeled off, broken shards of wood pierced into some chunks that remained. The right eye that recently regenerated, was crushed, leaving only a blended slime of the remains to gush from his socket, a stream of blood poured down his face.

The only blessing he received from this… Was the ground, which sealed the fate of his recently regenerated eye. It popped right out of the socket, leaving void there once more. A long croaking sigh of agony escaped his gaping lips, too quiet to catch much ears. It was obvious that he wasn’t expecting such from anyone, until coming across this child today. Now, the scene cloaked in darkness once more. He lost his vision, and was cursed to rely back on his sensory methods.

“Y-... You...V-” He found himself cut on breath, choking- A mutant hand grasped ahold of his neck, asphyxiating him. As a defensive procedure, tendrils arose from his back, seemingly tearing through clothing without physical damage. They sharpened as they arched over for the attacker, launching only to miss, impaling only to earth below, and mildly scratching metal upon his form.
Fist after fist landed into his torso, the ugly sound of bone cracking upon contact disturbed the forest air. With every hit, breath left his body.. His form grew weak, and lumbersome… The tendrils stroke with less tenacity….. The spider, was losing it’s vigor.

Without air… Under so much strain… Without the energy to fight on… This had finally come to a close. What remained of his last eye, split from his face after hanging on by a thread of flesh. It fell almost as though in slow motion, plopping upon the ground with a squishy sound to it. His face was practically skinned and tethered with splinters. Holes shown in parts of his face, no eyes upon his visage, and severe damage to his armor.

Finally, his head met the floor once more, mushed into it with the mutant arm Raric brandished, leaving Arachnis motionless. To Raric’s dismay, he was in no capability to respond… Only silence answered him now. The calm brush of the wind upon his body sounded the end of this conflict….

And thus, Raric’s mission was a success… The only thing he had to worry of now, was explaining Arachnis’ current physical condition.

(Arachnis)