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The incinerary beam harmlessly dispersed to the sides as it was split by the energy, effectively being nullified by Ryudo's counter measures. The Tainted Dragon wouldn't be thwarted so easily, however. It came screaming in at full speed, ready to rip into the shadow dragon's warm entrails.

While his partner kept Ryudo preoccupied for the moment, Argon had the much needed opportunity to compose himself. Now that the shock of losing a chunk of his body had worn off, Argon was able to calm himself down completely. This certainly wasn't the first time he had lost a limb unexpectedly, and it certainly wouldn't be the last. It shouldn't be too hard for him to adjust; after all, his physiology has undergone many drastic changes over the years.

This also gave him the Death Knight time to think of an appropriate course of action. Positioning himself nearer to Ruination, he shot the weapon a longing glance. While he understandably wanted to drive it through many unpleasant places in Ryudo's body, he let it lie in the grass for the moment with his cold, severed arm.

He certainly couldn't effectively wield his Spear of Destiny in his current state.

"..."

Dark, vaporous blood and deadly miasma continued to pour out of the nearly-fatal wound. Ryudo was strong, but certainly he wasn't foolish enough to wander head-first into the poisonous gas... was he? Perhaps he would merely stay back and use his EPIC POWERS on the Death Knight.

For the time, though, Argon would merely focus on the chaotic energies in his arm, waiting for the chance to strike. If Ryudo decided to waste time walking to the Undead Shade like some sort of 'badass', all the better.

The Legion would be there to greet him soon... if it weren't already over.

While at a point in his life Maximos may have put Ryugi's hopeful, positive attitude aside, passing it off as youthful foolishness, today he had something of a new view of the dragon.

He saw someone, older. An wiser animal, perhaps more versed in these things that Maximos had previously realized. The Shadow hunted for knowledge, he lived for it. In order to gain any knowledge one must first accept how little one actually knows. In this field, Maximos saw a weakness, a hole in his know how.

It did not scare him. Nothing actually "scared" Maximos anymore. But it made him a bit defensive, uncomfortable, to see how little he actually knew. Still, now, he felt no need to be defensive or wrapped in what he did not know. No, the Shadow found he could lay down his arms and simply enjoy learning a new.

Good.

He said with a smile and a nod as he brought Ankokuko around in front of himself. He reached his left hand out pulling at a length of energy ribbon which led to a nearby shadow, he tugged it and began to wrap it around his blade. He wrapped it 'round and 'round before it covered the sword entirely and then pulled two long straps from either end of the wrap.

With a flick, he put that sword as his back its hilt over his right shoulder, and with a click he affixed the two ends of wrap to each other. He put away his arms, he made a sheath. And he nodded, firmly, as the two friends continued there walk.

Your a good teacher!

He said with a grin and a small laugh. This vacation really was a great idea, and the mountain air really was refreshing. It was after a few minutes Maximos would speak up a bit.

How far are we? No rush of course.

Hands were brought up to show how little of a rush there was, dusting the "rush" out of the air.

This place is wonderful! I just wondered if we'd need to make camp, perhaps hunt something for dinner or such. You know...

A rolling sort of gesture.

The usual sort of thing.

Maximos was impressed.

It wouldnt be too much to say he was maybe even a bit overwhelmed. Ryugi had presented Maximos with sights he had not expected, and that greatly impressed him, several times so far. So he likely had come to see the almost childish nature with which Maximos sometimes responded.

So, when he took in a deep breath and said.

Wooo~ow!

It would probably come as no surprise to the dragon. The artistry of there attacks, the skill. The aura of those meditating. On a physical and spiritual level this place was simply astonishing. Nothing short of breathtaking.

Oddly, he pulled out his pocketwatch and held it up. And in doing so he seemed even more impressed and more amazed as he moved along the view like a compass. And then clicked it shut and slipped it away.

Words failed him. But he did stare quite intently as they continued on. His face said everything his mouth didnt.

He waved, he smiled. All sorts of polite. Though not the kind, sort, or amount of polite that makes you obnoxious or disturbs meditation.

The shadow, his mismatched eyes taking in everything, followed Ryugi although loosely. He paused when something caught his eye, be it a beautifully executed attack, a very old monk, or just a beautiful design.

Maximos was however, very shocked to see they were just simply let in. No guards, no search, no questions. You dont see that sort of trust very often. He sort of lingered over a bed for a moment and waited for the catch.

Really?

He said almost doubtfully. There was no catch, and that caught him off guard. But in a good way, he smiled, simply and lay his bag down on a bed, and then sit beside it.

I've only ever read about places like this, truly guided by an honest intent to help with no ulterior motive. Granted...

Max undid the clasp holding Ankokuko's "sheath" and set it down beside him, opposite the bag.

...I'm sure some must exist, but intelligently they likely hide themselves from the general public. But this place...this...

Hands rose to pull back his hood, and then return again to fix his hair.

...this place is truly amazing. Do they accept truly anyone?

"What a load of crap~"

The seemingly sing-song voice carried through the air, even as a sudden sharpness in air would blow through where the Death Knight was-- as Ryudo's pshyic wind came and parted the miasma to either side. A lone hand would come hard down upon Argon's shoulder, even a black suited figure would now be visible standing above the fallen invader.

The bulk of the invasion forces were already pouring out over the continent, contingents separating and heading off in the directions they had been instructed to as per the Knight's orders.

Several sigils were aglow upon the Death Knight's body, as one of the glyphs that Victor had placed upon his servant activated. It functioned as an emergency 'calling' spell of sorts, which upon the wearer's near death, exhaustion or otherwise incapacitation would summon the designated creature via dimensional door (i.e. the Void).

And the creature in question so happened to be...Ezra, Argon's designated escort.

"Look at you-- all fallin' apart already! Lame-lame-lame!!" He shouted gleefully, even as he flashed that full set of razor sharp teeth, that glassgow smile of his matching the multiple stitches that adorned his visible face.

After the encounter with Meryl Tomorrow in Durem, he had lost his entire lower torso, being brought back by Malachi. Now it seemed as if his entire body was just stitched together with spare parts...

"You know-- you ain't exactly normal anymore." He reached out and draped Argon's missing arm around his body, hugging the fallen Death Knight against him as he canted his head and looked towards Ryudo. "You go no blood, no heart, no liver, no lungs; not like this schmuck here.

You ain't restricted.

You ain't limited.

You ain't even pretty anymore! Ahahaha!!"

Ezra laughed rambunctiously, even as he squeezed Argon's shoulder tightly. "So stop wastin' time!"

His silvered eyes narrowed now as he flashed another deadly grin, and as on cue, several more sigils on Argon's body would alight in a dark supernatural hue.

The parts of his body that the Death Knight had lost would become drawn back to their owner, a terrible gurgling sound was heard as a dismembered body was basically piecing itself back together, the shade element of his body reforming along the already dead corpse that was the former ghoul.

He was a hybrid of both species...with none of the weaknesses that were normally displayed.

Shades could be killed with flames.

Argon could not be.

Ghouls could be consecrated and exorcised with holy attributes.

Argon could not be.

He was able to regenerate his Shade armor and flesh over time, and he had no need to breath, eat, sleep; he was a true monster...he was a literal Knight of Death.

And while it was true that he had most likely exhausted a good store of his power in the fight, he also had a means of 'recharging' himself. "I swear--- watchin' over you will be the death of me!"

I'm afraid I don't meditate much. Its always been hard for me to do so. Too much running through the old mind, you know?

Ryugi would sit back up, chuckling, and look towards the monks as they continued to meditate. They really were a sight to see, and feel. Ryugi could feel their powerful presence without even opening his eyes. That kind of energy could only be created by ancient dragons. Ryugi was 2,000 years old, and he looked about twenty.

As dragons aged, their age overcame their appearance, and they would look younger than they really were. Many of these monks looked to be into their seventies, meaning that they could have been around before Eclipse himself was alive. Some may have even helped to settle Angara in the First Age. Then, Max mentioned someone he'd never heard of before.

Teira huh? I'll have to meet them sometime. I'd enjoy meeting more of your friends. They always seem so interesting.

He continued to watch the monks and listen to his friend as he spoke. But then Max spoke in a strange tone. It was if he'd been entranced by the soft energies of the meditating dragons. Of course, this wasn't really hard to do. It wasn't everyday one saw gentle flows of vibrant colors softly dancing through the unnaturally warmed air, shimmering as they interacted with one another.

I suppose I could join you for a while. This IS your vacation after all. Let's do something YOU want to do.

Ryugi would grin and make his way over to a nice quiet spot near a great tree, after leaving Sol Blade and Ragnarok behind for more comfort. The tree was near the back of the monks, and seemed like a nice place to try and meditate. He'd sit down, crossing his legs, and make himself comfortable. Then, he'd close his eyes, and try to meditate, focusing inwards.

Ryugi would have asked Max for pointers if he was still thinking about it. In his own little way, he was doing his best to calm himself, and relax. Things would be quiet for the most part, except for the soft sounds of the air, and the soft swirling of the energy Borealis above the monks.

As Maximos focussed inwards, he'd seem to hear something inside his head, like a whisper. It was so faint, it was almost like it hadn't been said at all...