ashes to ashes

The marching of horrific, occultic beasts intertwined with boots crashing into mud is met in equal part by the overgrowth of the world around them. Demonic predators, leading and following Magi and soldiers of Osrona and Theria, come face to face with the might of Aschea's chosen, bolstered by the royalists of Nysea.
Amidst the trees and foliage, in the forests and wilderness that makes up most of Esshar's bulk, the forces of the continent stand ready and waiting for the command to charge in.

[Leaders RP first, the rest after.]

The Serpent was here.

An apex predator of its kind, one to have grown beyond the strength of mortal men; a beast that could very well threaten the livelihood of so many people at once, here, slithering next to the forces of Theria and Osrona. It almost seems as if the alabaster scales blend into the snow around them..

Silent death that lurks closer.

And yet, the snake-eyes turn and search. They look for specific people among them all, for specific someone that could very well be the reason he showed up at all. Is it any wonder then, that the desire for bloodshed would be one unparalleled, unchained and unbound?

The poison drips from bared fangs.
The same poison that tormented many.

"Loathsome parasites.."

It was an acquired taste, to loathe humanity for what they often represent. After all, since the earliest days, they were very well the reason as to why the Serpent had to suffer so much..

Now, it was their turn.

"Rip their worthless heads from their bodies.."
"And grind their bones into dust."

Humanity creates their own monsters, their own killers.

And now, they're coming for them.
(Fidi)

Misha vs Alexander
Pachua vs Veikko
Carlisle vs Renly
Urist vs Alexios
Valero vs Bay
Willow vs Sethon
Revan vs Amy
Fidi vs Atlas
Muulimnir vs Skoll Beo
Seir vs Thryne
Hades vs Aeolus
Lykaios vs Jack
Xirgoth vs Yoshiko Taiyang
Izurza vs Cassius Gracia
Violet vs Eurydice
Dax vs Danica

Dangerous setting, cap 1 recommended. No intervenes.
[Narrate]

Searching and searching..

Bloodshed is quick to commence, but it is the Serpent's search that was of utmost importance to Fidi- it is in this manner that he would seek to find a particular man that tormented him for so long before, the man that harassed him while he was much weaker, and only now does he find himself able to potentially search for him..

For that drakanite.
He had to pay for everything.

The crystal, Lady Erie's Greed, pulses with the energy of stolen essences. It would be no doubt something that the Serpent would use to collect the boundless amounts of energy that are necessary for the completion of his desire.

For completion of his dream. And yet..

"..."

He finds somebody, but it's not a desirable target. The snake-eyes stare upon Atlas, utterly disappointed. Would he truly have to fight somebody who just happened to come across the Serpent? Yet another demon hunter, or a knight, no doubt..

"You're not him."

"Disappointing."

Yet, the shadows extend and deepen. This would be a matter of a different kind.. and he would need to find himself persevere, or not only fail, but potentially perish.

"No matter. I suppose you'll do fine for this."
(Fidi)

His eyes settled on a snake, a creature of demonic forces. Atlas' eyes glowed like two emeralds under the moonlight, locked onto his future opponent without fail. The man's glaive would be unsheathed, he'd raise it to the skies to call upon High Angel Matziel, he hadn't showed the greatest amount of faith within his lifetime but if there was ever a time this would be it. He had to call upon the forces of light without fail, to vanquish all that is dark.

But his eyes quickly motioned elsewhere, particularly at other individuals on the enemy side.

Misha. Willow. Walter.

He'd look back at Fidi and deliver a small frown. He had never seen this Demon before, he hadn't even battled a snake demon within his life. Those other three were constant enemies within Atlas' mind for the atrocities they committed. Walter had killed Del, Willow had stopped Atlas from saving the Stellus, and his history with Misha was longer than the snake before him.

But regardless of his opponent he'd have to fight.

Time bent around his form as he charged forward towards the snake.

For Victory.

"Tch. I'll go find them after, for now I'll have to deal with this."
(Atlas)

And so they fought.

The powers of time bent to the Radiant's will. His eyes glowed with hatred of more than just demons, he hated conflict in general. This war was exactly what he wanted to fight against. There were children, Avlainn, Aeliana, Yuri, and plenty more that would have to grow up in a war-torn Esshar. Atlas would never wish that on any developing soul. He himself had to live through the fall of the Shimmering City, and it'd never leave his mind.

Fidi was strong, especially for a demon that seemed younger than the rest. He knew his way around combat more than even some of the Kights Atlas knew, though that likely came with being a demon. The first batch Atlas had seen lived and grew in constant combat, these new demons couldn't be much different. Afterall, that was all they knew.

There were no words to be shared. He had no history with Fidi and simply saw this battle as a chore before the Radiant could continue onward. His mind still flashed with images of those he came here for. Walter, Misha, and Willow.

But after a small bout between the two, Atlas knew he'd have to focus on the task at hand. There were no room to mess up.

Light and Darkness.

Who would prevail?
(Atlas)

Is it the first time that he spills his own blood like this?

No matter how far he came, there was still such a long way to go.. and each obstacle became almost an overwhelming factor that he could not easily overcome- it caused distress and brewing abhorrence unlike any other, one he could do very little about.

Or at least..
Not enough.

The shadows extend and pull, but while they wound the Radiant, they do not serve the protective means necessary to ensure his own safety. With each slash and stab, he grows weaker- and if it hadn't been for the sudden shadowy hand that pushes Atlas backward..

Perhaps, he might've fallen right here.

"Annoying.."

Instead, the Serpent seeks to gather his composure again and engage. Even if he's so far from his greater form..

It doesn't mean he can just give up.
(Fidi)

{RP BATTLE} FINAL ROUND! Everyone must type /ready within 30 seconds of eachother to begin the next round.

Can't you see?

How adaptable the Demonkind is. How much they could persevere, and even their youngest, how quickly they could learn, if only given time to do so.. is it any wonder, then, that Fidi learns exactly how to fight against Atlas as the time goes by, adjusting the shadows to do something entirely else?

Wondrous creatures.
An apex predator.

Even this young. But any other Demon could be shouting obscenities, taunting their enemy- no, this isn't the case. Fidi knows better; only the weak are to be taunted, to be mocked for their lack of skill and ridiculed.

This one? He cannot afford such luxury.
He most focus, or die.

"Quick.."

The Serpent mumbles something else. Adjusting strategy, no doubt, and yet..

The crystal in his possession hums, hungering.
(Fidi)

Impressive.

The Demon adapted to his fighting style rather quickly, long jabs with his polearm were being avoided by a slippery body. Fidi faded in and out of the shadows at will, something Atlas had seen before. So he drew on memories, ripping from the timestream to empower himself. The energy around him seemed to flare with power as the Radiant aimed to make one final charge.

With every generation they grew stronger. Atlas had tossed around most of the Demons in his youth, but even his current state proved to be an equal, or something similar to Fidi.

He had to ascend. Push past his current limits to break new ones.

He couldn't be defeated so quickly, so easily by his opponent.

If he couldn't win here how would be claim victory against Misha and the rest of those he had some sort of a grudge against.

So he'd grip his blade, blasting through the air to attack once more.

"For Esshar."
(Atlas)

{RP BATTLE} You have LOST the battle!

This want, to shape reality as if it were canvas..

It's a driving factor behind the thoughts of this Demon. It's a driving factor in entirety of his life, really.. and so, despite facing a stronger opponent, he does not falter easily - the Serpent exercises best of toxins he could manage with every venomous bite, intending to weaken him as much as he could.

Shadows thrash at him.
The coiling body bruises him.

The best of the efforts are given to bring down Atlas, and yet, it's just not enough; it would only be a matter of time until the Serpent gets stronger- it would only be a matter of time until he can break this loathsome shell that holds him back. Can't he see, that this could be the very same demon that could take him back later?

And yet, even as Atlas stands victorious..

"A fine specimen.. but you are mistaken to think.."
"That I will never come back."

His dream was evolution, wasn't it? To seek out the worthwhile specimen that could be evolved into something else- made into the image of new god, and forged to strip them from imperfections of humanity.

Only leaving the best.

"You have become yet another annotation.."

"I will return for you, in due time."

Is it a promise of death? No... no, of course not. Fidi isn't as dull as this; it is a promise of return, to take Atlas away for the new life- new purpose, which he could eventually discover one day.

But for now, the Serpent sinks away in the shadows.

Gone.
(Fidi)

[END OF WAR BATTLE]

Is it strange to see this brutality?

To witness bloodshed and gore become undoing of so many lives upon the battlefield. To think that his own could be joined with them not so long ago- to think that he could be yet another body scattered somewhere upon the ashes of battlefield, this..

Makes him smile.

What is life without such challenges, without such violence? Even as the blood drips thick from the wounds of the Serpent, he finds himself exhilarated at the mere thought of what will follow next. He can feel it..

So close. So terribly close..
As the crystal in his possession hungrily drinks the essence of war.

The essence of victorious and defeated; the essence of tears, sweat and blood, and elevated war cries that echo through. Is it any wonder, then, that he seems so satisfied?

"Oh, we'll see a lot more of this.."

A lot more of deaths, of struggle that could only end as tragedy to either side. He knows one thing..

This dangers gets him high.
(Fidi)