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 Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 5:40 pm
 The pale grey clouds of dawn filtered gently over the horizon, streaked with shades of faint gold as the morning sun began its slow ascent into the heavens. But with the birth of a new day came something that, by all means, shouldn't have ever existed. A monstrosity, warped by biological experiments and testing, all in the name of creating a perfect hunting machine. A sickly sweet smell, not unlike rotting fruit, slowly began to taint the fresh air of the mountain, wafting, polluting everything it touched. And the faint, but unmistakable sound of heavy footprints scraping against the cold, hard earth slowly grew closer, accompanied by the occasional squeak of leather, the flapping of torn fabric...and a heavy, ominous breathing that slowly rasped between a set of lipless fangs, forever bared to the world in what was meant to be a grin.
The Tyrant Nemesis. A horrific, fantastic experimentation on what had once been a normal Nightmare, transforming it into a perfect weapon, a tool, ready to take orders and fufill them without hesitation. Orders that often involved murder. The beast continued to plod forward, unhindered by its leather-cloaked body or the heavy boots adorned to its back feet. And if it was, then by all means, then that was good. For it was not for decoration that the Nemesis was so wrapped in its belted trench coat, but for restraint.
Its massive head was lowered slightly, the hair that had once fallen in front of its face long ago sheared away, the follicles burned out so it could not regrow. And that eye, that single, milky white eye that had been cut open...it roved silently, unseeing, though always searching for its prey. It knew its mission, to locate those who belonged to a group called S.T.A.R.S....or, Special Tactics and Rescue Squad. It would eliminate them one by one, as programmed, as well as removing any who got in its way. Blood-stained tails swished faintly at the creature's powerful gait, a mass of tentacles making up its right shoulder throbbing as the limb worked. Silent, the Nemesis continued its hunt, tireless and unwavering.
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Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 6:18 pm
 A wind whipped through the trees, pulling angrily at the leaves. They desperately clung, too young to be torn from their homes and scattered about to become a part of the rotting forest floor. But it was to no avail. The gusts allowed no room for willfulness as they tore the delicate leaves from the branches, swirling them through the air in mocking, not even letting them rest on the ground.
A steeled gaze watched the dance, processing the movement of each target with practiced certainty. This world was not so different from the one he remembered. Having four legs was certainly no disadvantage. Tensed muscles recalled the stiff movements that had avoided the weapon. The long, powerful strides that had taken him closer to his enemy without a second thought. That had been instinct. Hard training was what made it natural. It wouldn't be long before Kanda chained this new body to his will, as he had the old.
Blue eyes thoughtfully slid closed. This was just one of many sessions without the blindfold he was accustomed to. It was slowly becoming easier to keep his eyes shut. Curling his body into a ready position, he sprang from the tree he occupied, causing the branch to shake with the force. A steady paw reached out, claws poised. It was a simple task. Within seconds, six or seven leaves became twelve or fourteen pieces. Booted paws scraped against a nearby tree and pushed off once more, landing him safely and comfortably. It was only then that eyes re-opened, only to narrow. Being an exorcist demanded good senses. He was positive this was no falsehood of his imagination. The wind had changed. Picking up speed, he darted through the trees, finding a rather large clearing in minutes. All three tails angled, readying his body for whatever would come. It had been his mission in coming here to destroy more of the Earl's cursed Akuma. Would he finally have his chance this day?
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Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 6:57 pm
Bloodied claws dug into the earth as the creature continued his silent stalking, pushing his bulk through the narrow gaps spaced between the thick trunks of elderly trees. Gnarled branches scraped like fingers against his sides and back, only to be snapped into splinters by the enormous purple appendages that swayed silently from his shoulder blades, lashing out whenever things grew too close for comfort. Those jaws parted, barely enough for a forked tongue to slip out, tasting the air for the briefest of moments before it had disappeared back into the dark cavern whil large ears slowly swiveled forward. There was someone ahead.
The Nightmare lurched from the cover of the trees like a bad horror movie, a deep, udulating sound pulsing within its throat to give its only warning. Get out of its way, or die. Tilting its head to the side, that blank, gleaming eye searched for a moment, hunting, before it locked on the Kitsusagi that had been scented before. An analysis rippled through the monster's eye--the only way it could technically 'see', and deemed that this one would be no threat. Not to it. But this was not the one it was searching for...
"S.T.A.R.S...." The Nightmare rumbled, the word a deep rasp in its thick throat as it lowered its gaze, focusing solely on the forest in front of it as he began to move once more. Its appendages twitched and swayed faintly, still on alert even though the beast's attention was elsewhere, completely ignoring the stranger. So long as he remained where he was, nestled within the safety of the tree's branches, so long as he did not attempt to stop it, or to attack it...he would live.
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Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 7:29 pm
The wind seemed daunted by something, gusting at a sick pace and starting to weight heavily on the surroundings. Even the very leaves looked as if they'd begun to wilt. Cracking and snapping echoed throughout the clearing, heralding the arrival of something unknown. With the sounds came smells; a horrible scent that pulled the exorcist's ears back against his skull. And yet, it certainly wasn't unfamiliar. The battle had begun its climax back in his own world. Finders and even fellow exorcist's had fallen in the wake of the Millennium Earl's onslaught. Death was familiar. A deep frown marred his features. Death was inevitable.
Tails curled, flicking around under his coat to steady his form. Eyes remained trained on the line of trees at his front. Claws dug at the branch as he felt expectation well within him. The shadow of the creature loomed unnaturally behind the vale of the forest. And then- Cold eyes widened, taking in the entirety of the bulky form. That was it? A Nightmare. Unfortunately, he'd mistaken this breed for an Akuma before. A confrontation that'd left him seething and bitter for days. Even so, he couldn't help thinking there was something wrong with this picture. Muscles remained tense, guard ever raised.
If he'd taken a different form in this world, there was always the chance the Akuma had shifted, as well. One failure was not enough to dull this prideful male. After all, Nobody hadn't smelled of death like the Akuma, like this one. He didn't have Moyashi's eye, but there was no way he would let a possible enemy escape. If he couldn't tell from the outside, he would take it apart and examine its insides! Jumping from the tree, his entire form stiffened, ready for the impact of ground or flesh or the steel of a Akuma skeleton--whichever came first. Lips slipped back, revealing sharp and ready fangs, complimented by outstretched claws.
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Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 8:34 pm
Alarms went blaring off in his head as soon as the other pounced--though there would hardly be enough time for him to react. If anything, the monster simply went rigid, lowering its head and bracing itself from the impact--grunting as the other's weight smacked into its back, claws sinking straight through the thick leather of the trench coat. Snapping itself back and forth in an attempt to dislodge its attacker, the Nightmare bellowed. The sound wasn't particularly loud, but carried a power that allowed it to rumble on and on and on, the trees themselves seeming to quiver as the beast shook itself furiously.
But now that this stranger was close enough, perhaps he could smell the fetid taint that emitted from the entire being of Nemesis, those dripping tentacles, the way there seemed to be thousands of tiny animals squirming underneath that trench coat, as though desperately trying to get out and fight...Yes, should this stranger sustain a wound that punctured flesh from this monster, the disease would take him too.
There was a sickening squelching sound as the Nemesis suddenly contorted, those two main tendrils rearing back to mercilessly smash into whatever part of the other's body they could reach, attempting to wind around paws or even the creature's body so they could better rip him off--and then rip him to shreds. "GrraaAAWWWRR!" He roared, jaws snapping with apparent rage as he continued to thrash, the pounding, squelching sensations underneath his coat increasing tenfold.
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Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 12:37 pm
Raven hair whipped mercilessly against its owner's face. It was like tiny needles, a strange sensation that couldn't be described to anyone who hadn't felt it. Still, that was the least of his worries. A horrible burning shot through his paws. Clinging to such a wildly flailing creature ripped painfully at his claws, threatening to even tear them away if he continued. It didn't help that booted back paws scraped uselessly against the leather-clad form, providing no extra leverage.
An angered hiss rose in his throat, quickly eclipsed by the sickening sound of his opponent's movements. Eyes widened in great surprise as a strong, blunt discomfort spread the length of his spine. And again as the unusual weapons found their mark. There was no choice now. The random flailing seemed to become more aimed now, barely missing his pale-furred face as he strained his neck to dodge. There was no choice. Dislodging his claws, he curled his form, recoiling and sending himself flying from the other's back. The tendrils ripped the tie from his hair in his unguided retreat, a simple display of what could've just as easily been done to flesh.
The now unkempt hair swung around him as he landed heavily, draping over his shoulders and neck in a tired manner. Kanda's body felt the strain, too, as he sucked in a deep breath to fill his aching lungs. The attacks had done well to knock the wind out of him, but he was far from out of the fight. Glaring angrily and still at the ready, he began to wonder if attacking with no information on the opponent had been wise. Ah well, no time to regret actions now. Tails flicked to stead his form for the next assault.
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Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 4:01 pm
The pinpricks against his sides released without warning, a dull jolt of impact rocking through his broad body as his opponent fled, tentacles lashing furiously after him. A satisfiying tearing sound split the air as the beast abruptly fell silent, the shredded hair tie fluttering in mournful pieces to the ground, only so bloodied claws could smash them into the ground. The Nightmare had pivoted quickly, massive head cocked to keep that milky eye fixed on the other's movements, a rasp stirring in the contours of its throat with what might have been otherwise silent satisfiaction.
Recalculating. Threat level higher than first perceived. Recalculating. The organic and technological matter that had been programmed inside of his head immediately began to reasses this issue at hand, finally announcing that, while having misjudged the other's initiative to instigate an attack, the difference between them was still the same. The risks that the other would face against this nemesis were far greater than the ones that the Tyrant had encountered thus far.
The Nemesis tensed for half a second, then lunged, lashing out with its right arm so those sickle-like claws could swipe at the other's face--a blow meant to stun, to cleave...or even to snatch. Both slimy stalks snapped down as well, meaning to thwack the other in the ribs if he tried to leap sideways--of course, he could always scoot backwards, but then the beast would mean to try and drive him into the center of the clearing, herding him away from the safety and cover that the trees could offer to him.
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Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 6:26 am
The time between attacks was generous. Yet, while Kanda was unwilling to remove his gaze from the monsterous opponent, this battle wouldn't last much longer without strategy. Shoulders rolled somewhat reflexively as he looked around, taking in their surroundings with a judgemental eye. The field stretched out in his vision, time seeming to slow as he calculated. The shield of trees that surrounded the clearing would provide cover if necessary. The Exorcist, however, surely wouldn't flee unless it was absolutely positive he would die. And it had been proven in the past that his body could take quite a beating before completely giving up.
Ears slid back, noting something that his consciousness was currently too busy to catch. It wasn't until his thoughts caught up that his muscles tensed tightly, snapping his gaze back to the fight. Only a second later, a huge paw swung over his head as he bent, taking full advantage of his smaller and more flexable Kitsu-stature. An opening. His mind worked overtime, deciding on his movement while still keeping a guard up. But before he could move, the unexpected assult of the wild tendrils through off his plan.
Eyeing the opening beneath the much larger creature with a forelorn sort of expression, he pushed himself back. Clothing flew around him as he escaped, taking two or three backward strides to avoid the flailing. New plan. He had to get turned around. His opponent would have the advantage if he were to stay like this, easily pushed back at whim or whip. He had to get under or around. Something. The cloaked form stiffened as he swung a swift forepaw at the nightmare's back-mounted weapons, hoping to push them far enough off course to provde a distraction.
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