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 Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 8:57 pm
(( Oi! Down, Gmod. Here I be. xB )) :: The sentience was a roar in Kaen's ears. Her mind was so choked with emotion, her own and that of the others, that her little body trembled on Sir Aaron's shoulder. Pain and terror and shreds of dying hope, flickering through the clouds of uncertainty. Was the red b*****d dead? Had her brother won at last?
She was barely able to hold back the tears brimming in her eyes. She wanted so badly to let go, to give in and believe that her brother had ended it, that this insanity was over. The memory of her vision and his broken body was so close to coming true with the way he looked now, and the images in her mind's eye haunted her. But even now, the sentience tingled in the back of her mind, whispering, warning. It isn't over.
She hoped she was wrong. She wanted to be wrong.
But the sentience kept whispering.
The child laced her small fingers over her mouth, watching the empty sky and struggling past a lump in her throat that felt as big as Christmas ham. Please, she prayed silently, please let me be wrong. Please just be dead. Just let there be nothing. ::
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 9:22 pm
Speculation was thickening the air just as much as was the stifling smoke and remaining ki lingering in the atmosphere. With Tybron safely grounded if not also wounded and the Emperor nowhere to be seen, could it be over? Was this the end of the battle? Indeed it was. But not for Taliman.
From the depths of that ominous mass of fire, one could see the Emperor emerge. But he wasn't flying. Freefalling, back-first. By the time he hit the ground he was moving faster than one hundred miles per hour. There was no attempt to recover or break the fall, he just slammed bluntly into the dirt with a dreadful bounce and rolled a short distance, unmoving. However there was a ki left. He was drastically weakened from before but shockingly he wasn't even near death. The apparent disappearance of his ki was only a side-effect of the explosion above.
Before long, Taliman sat himself up. His hair was frazzled, his eyepatch and tunic missing, the remainder of which draped over one side of his sash. The legs of his pants had ripped to shreds and his left boot was also missing. His upper body was just a huge bruise, and his right arm looked even worse now. His exposed left eyelid appeared sunken but mostly obscured by an ugly scar that stretched like a web across that entire side of his face. Uglier still was the twisted blend of wrath and disbelief on his face. It was quite possible that he had never taken such a horrendous beating in all his life. That's including the one during which he lost that eye. But here he was, still not dead. Perhaps he was a cat demon?
"D-damn him," he muttered quietly, blood dripping from his lip,"...that nearly killed me..."
He wasn't lying. Resilient or not had he noticed the Ringer any later he would be dead. Again he was caught off guard. Again it almost ended him. But once more the question arose: where did Tybron find all of that power so suddenly. Tens of meters away he could see his brother, back in his normal form. Helpless as a lost puppy. One more count against an appearance of the devil. But if not that what the hell had happened?
"...if he had so much, why didn't he use it before??"
One thing was clear, that Tybron had hidden reserves of strength that he was keeping to himself. If he was holding back the entire time, any victory would be just as cheap as those it followed. The Emperor would face Tybron at his strongest, and prevail. He gritted his fangs at the thought of a weakling pulling his punches. Against the king of the universe. He'd never been so insulted!
"Fine," he fumed,"if he wants to drag this out, let him deal with the consequences." There was only one way to force his brother to use the full extent of his powers. There could be no mistakes this time.
Floating from the ground littered with craters, Taliman hovered a few inches up. Though his power had shrunken so much he was only a short ways weaker than he was at the beginning of the brothers' duel. Leagues more powerful than Tybron still, but hey-- the boy had seemingly endless potential didn't he? 100 to 1 odds should be a cakewalk for him.
He shouted bluntly across the empty battlefield,"I've had it with you, brother!!!"
His voice was somewhat strained, hoarse. His aura flared up and in an instant he was gone, flying back up into the abysmal night. He was retreating...? No. Something far more sinister.
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The Fierce Deity Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 9:24 pm
Wh...what...?
::The boy, quite understandably, was shocked. He'd more than halfed his brother's strength now, but that only said so much when you considered how powerful the emperor was when unhindered. Here Deity was, pitiful and broken, with hardly any ki left at all. After using Level 5 he was in even worse shape. Accessing even his natural energy would be a painful endeavor now.::
...can't anything kill you...?
::This battle was getting worse and worse. Twice now the quiet Orinian had come within a hair's breadth of victory, but failed simply due to Tali's luck and staggering durability. Was that what it meant to be a demon? How much could one man endure? It was beyond belief that the redhead was even alive, much less still as powerful as he was. Deity was pulled quickly from these thoughts at the sound of his brother's voice in the distance - then he was up into the clouds again. First a look of confused innocence adorned the boy's face as he watched, unsure as to why Taliman would be moving so far u--
! ! !
The realization hit him like a knife edge.::
N...no!! ...wh-what are you doing?!
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 9:26 pm
"How much power are you keeping to yourself?!" he shouted with a near-maniacal laugh, stretching his clenched fists out to his sides as he soared higher and higher,"Enough to survive my technique??!"
In the demon's mind this was the last restort. He simply would not be defeated by some dirty, weakling, traitorous human scum that was holding back his true potential. Wesley didn't give a s**t why Tybron was holding back. Maybe he'd destroy the planet, maybe he didn't truly want to kill his brother, maybe he'd risk the emergence of his inner devil. None of it mattered. Keeping his full potential a secret until he saw fit was an insult to the Emperor and he would compensate for it or be dearly punished for his transgression. Or, in this case. Tybron would reveal his power and overcome this technique, or keep that power to himself and die with his beloved home. Only one man had to die here, but if this reluctance denied the Emperor his final confrontation, that number would go up. One life, or six billion lives. Tybron's choice.
The red-headed monarch splayed his hands, resonating a strained snarl as he fought to ignore his dangling, broken leg. With a loud spark he was surrounded by glistening white energy which crackled and zipped widely around him. The energy was surprisingly massive considering how weakened he was, which was a testament to the strength of...whatever it was he was about to subject the planet to. As he hovered the power of the attack inflated exponentially.
"Show me your true powers, and pray they can stop me!!"
The demon ruler laughed as his chest heaved, pushing as much power as he conceivably could into his ultimate maneuver. It was too fast to dodge. Too powerful to block. It took some time to charge, but that was why Cado was there. The big ape would be more than pleased to wreck anyone that interfered. Even if it was Tybron.
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The Fierce Deity Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 9:28 pm
::Deity's worst fears were realized. He had discussed the possibility briefly with his father, but he couldn't bring himself to accept that Taliman might actually try to destroy the planet if the battle didn't swing in his favor. He glared up from the ground, helpless and bleeding, and slowly made it up to his feet. I dunno how helpful it would be to just go up and stop him, the boy thought, taking a gander at Cado, who somehow had survived the events of the battle so far. He sighed a painful breath and looked back up, Tali looking a lot like a shining star from so far away.::
Deity's lost so much.....too strong...for anything he could throw...
::Labored breaths slowed his speech as he tried to piece together his options. As it was, the only available choice was to assume Level 5 state again. But it was pointless, and suicide at best. He'd used all of his stamina - the result wouldn't be anywhere near as potent as before, and he'd only be able to use it for a few seconds before he literally was sapped dry of his energy. Ascending to any state at all would render him a useless wreck after the fact. Worst of all, there was nothing he could use to contest an attack of such magnitude, no matter how strong he was. It was getting even bigger, too.
Crimson eyes down as he weighed his options, time mockingly ticking faster in his mind, Deity reached his final decision - what he hoped was the answer that would keep the planet and himself intact. He looked back to the sky and, with a subtle blink, his eyes changed from a pale red to a jade green. Back to Plan B.
Deity's ki again increased drastically, accompanied by the telltale wind that blasted away the dirt around him as his midnight locks rose to stand on end. His green eyes glowed bright as his hand fell from his shoulder and he braced his posture. Indeed he was much weaker than he was when he first used Level 5, but this was all he could do. He made no move to attack or defend, he merely waited, watching his brother intently. One might notice, of course, that his aura had not reappeared.::
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 9:53 pm
::So, this was the path Taliman was choosing to tread. With Deity proving far more durable than expected, the arrogant ruler of Orion chose to destroy the planet - either the younger child would stop his brother, or in all likelihood the Earth would be destroyed. The major issue here of course was that Tali was greatly misunderstanding the situation - Level 5 was a multiplier by which his full potential would increase. Using it sapped him of strength he could otherwise use to emerge victorious.
However, seeing the proverbial gears turning in his son's head, the mighty Knight knew better than to provide an assist. Apart from interjecting further insult to one if not both of his boys - not to mention dishonoring the code of battle - something told him to stay his hand. Deity wasn't done, not yet. As he ascended once more to Level 5, that same something willed itself into tangibility. Into a ray of hope.::
...is that it?
::Angellus was at his feet, looking optimistically up toward his mentor's father. The four of them - Angel, Aaron, Jade and Kaen - had finally returned to the ground, the spherical bubble of protection disspelled. They were no longer forced to stand so close together, though the Knight would hope they'd still have the common sense not to run off. That said, the former demon slayer wasn't quite sure of what he was expected to do. Helplessness was throwing him into a bout of uneasy fidgeting.::
What are we supposed to do?? We can't just stand here!
::Sir Aaron dropped to one knee, both keeping Kaen steady on his wide shoulder and providing less resistance against the steady gusts that were soon to bombard the group. His green eyes, similar to the hue that Deity's now took on, were glued to the events in the distance, but he was quick to acknowledge the young man's hopeful query. He understood the feeling that Angel felt, that he had no real use and could do nothing to stop what was happening - to help save his mentor. He understood because he himself knew that feeling.
His shook his head then, bracing the boy's shoulder with his hand.::
I have faith in him...
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 9:55 pm
A disappointed sigh as he looked down. Taliman was expecting something amazing, dramatic. Instead all Tybron did was stand up and look somber before becoming...not nearly as strong as he had before. Was this a joke?
"I guess that was all you had; you've gotten even weaker," he scoffed. "Pity."
With a little shrug he shook his head. Didn't matter anymore. His attack was beginning to condense now. The dazzling white energy around him was shrinking and closing in on him. Drawing it into his hands, his arms shook, the colossal force of the attack getting harder and harder to keep ahold of. Like magnets his fingertips clinked together. Each digit held like iron to eachother at the tip and the white energy was instantly compact as a tiny bright sphere, cupped in his palms.
"My attack's too fargone to abort," he admitted. "You and this planet are history!"
The Omega Flash was greater than Taliman's full power two times over. Tybron had one last oppurtunity to decide what to do. Make your move...
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 9:58 pm
::His fiery eyes glowing an uncharacteristic green, Deity watched the spectacle above without a move. He had never seen this attack - whatever Taliman called it - but he could tell it was on a separate level from what anyone had seen thus far in the battle. Once again he had to take a huge gamble. This time, though, not only with his life. If this didn't work, the boy couldn't say he didn't try his damnedest. Here goes nothing, he reassured himself silently.
Bracing his right leg back, Deity shifted his left forward and anchored both torn boots securely into the scorched stone. He placed his wrists together, clenched his knuckles and aimed his collected palms in a clam shape up at his waiting brother. No, it wasn't a Kamehameha. There was ki focusing into his hands, but it wasn't a malignant energy. It was in defense, in an attempt to counteract the oncoming terror. He would try his hand in doing what - only earlier in the match - he claimed was an invitation for death.::
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The Fierce Deity Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 9:59 pm
"You're going to catch it??"
The Emperor was in utter disbelief. Deflecting something like the Eraser was a suicide maneuver. A useless one at that. Certain attacks were simply too great to block, much less redirect. Taliman's success at diverting the energy of the Eraser after setting it off was nigh a miracle in itself. The Omega Flash was a completely different beast. Trying to deflect this destructor was a waste of Tybron's final moments. He laughed at his brother's idiocy.
"Haha! Brave, but foolish; nothing can stop my technique!! Not even you, and not this planet!"
Without a second thought Wesley thrusted his hands down and opened his palms. Firing the attack hit his own body like an explosion. The bright energy enveloped his little frame and shook it to it's core as the Flash pierced the sky faster than one's eyes could follow. Bright as day and barely a few inches wide, the Omega Flash was aimed straight for Tybron's readied hands. Mocking his effort to stop it. It would tear right through him, collide with the Earth and reduce it to fragments.
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 10:03 pm
::If what Tali wanted had transpired, the attack would have pierced right through the boy's body without even noticing him. Instead, another blinding flash of light washed over the area, accompanied by a lightning-like crack that shook all who heard. The light faded only slightly but it stalled just over the ground, shards of energy darting out and tearing into the planet like red hot laserbeams. If anyone was able to see, there under the starburst of ki they would find Deity. His spine was arced back and his arms were straight up, but he was still on his feet and his hands were containing the monster that was Taliman's finishing technique. His lanky frame shook and quaked but he didn't falter - shakily though he was, he was the only thing separating Earth from oblivion.::
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The Fierce Deity Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 10:05 pm
Awestricken, Tali held the attack. Whatever Tybron had done, it was working. He was holding the attack in place without it detonating, with his bare hands. Impressive. He smirked, sweat dripping from his forehead as he held his own ground. Such a feat was awe-inspiring at the very least as this particular attack had proven capable of disabling one of his Imperial warships, splitting the hull into pieces. Here it was stopped by a solitary man. Some boy who thought himself the hero and protector of the world.
You're only a boy, Tybron...who are you to defeat me? The beam between Taliman and his defiant little brother served as a long, narrow rope that joined their monumental struggle. The traitorous weakling down below was separated from death only by a single mistake. The Emperor thus refused to let up, waiting anxiously for that fatal slip.
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 10:07 pm
::If one were to try to carry the weight of the world, Deity imagined it couldn't be a lot heavier than this burden. The monstrous thing bore down on him like nothing he'd ever blocked, and suddenly he had so much more sympathy for Atlas. The boy was beginning to weaken. His bones shook, ready to snap. His muscles were pushed to the brink, about to tear. He strained against the force with a desperate, whimpering groan, fighting the pain in his arms with nothing but his will to hold them up. He was using all of his strength until he had none left, yet he wasn't able to let go for a breather. He had to keep pushing, and push harder still. And he wasn't letting go.::
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The Fierce Deity Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 10:09 pm
(( ALKSJDLKSDJLKASJDLSKDJASFITSNOTOVERHOLYSHIT! ))
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 10:10 pm
((You said a mouthful, Ichi. xD))
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 10:12 pm
So the boy was more resilient than any would have expected. No matter...a waste of your final valiant struggle. You should know me better than that. He had more in store for his baby brother. For as powerful as his ultimate maneuver was, it allowed quite a bit of room for powering up. It would be much more draining to Wesley, but it would get the job done whereas the Flash currently wasn't.
Taliman lunged forward, rather down. His muscles pulsed, his body tensed, his ki intensified. Like a bolt of lighting racing down the length of an electric wire he surged more power into the attack. The white energy glowed even brighter and brought out the eerie redness of the cloud above him. Trailed by violet sparks the beam grew wider and stronger. The new weight of the Omega Flash hurried down the length of the miles-long narrow path like a dragon diving in on it's prey. Tybron was the head of the nail, and this improved force of the attack was the hammer. When it hit, it was over.
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