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 Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 1:48 pm
The only response Gale got to his mission promotion request was a simple text back.
"The Cove. 11:00 am."
It was easy to forget how to navigate to the area known as "The Cove", where all the sleepers in pods lay in a room, and where many candidates had fought and been buried. Caelius was standing outside of the 'sleeper' room. He closed his cell phone as soon as the trainee was in hearing range. "Follow me."
They walked for a bit, silently, in some of the less tamed hallways. The danker corridors of the Cove always had the old-school dungeon feel, a dark musky aura that seemed as otherworldly as Halloween itself. There were very few lights littering the walls, making it very easy to stumble on the uneven rocky surface: if Caelius was trying to establish a tense, stressful mood prior to the 'advancement mission' he was doing a good job. At last the Death Hunter faction leader stopped, next to an iron-bound door, pushing the knob hard as it finally creaked open.
Absolute, stifling darkness inside.
"I will explain to you the conditions of the exam." Caelius's unsummoned weapon perched on his shoulder, the light casting odd angles around his expression. "These are archaic training rooms. This is where we also place low-level Fear entities either for further experimentation or... practice. If you pass this mission, which is to defeat the simple Level One creature inside, you will pass the mission, and obtain your promotion. Use everything that you and your weapon have in your disposal."
Was it just Gale's imagination, or were a pair of slitted red eyes already awaiting him inside, the sound of metal rattling - not dissimilar to chains - echoing against the walls?
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 2:01 pm
"The Cove. 11:00 am."
Clearly Caelius was not one to mince words, though this was not surprising. Gale had already been awake for several hours, pacing around his room, so when it came to be 10:30, he left his room, too antsy to stay there for much longer.
That, and he figured he might get lost on the way there - which was exactly what happened.
At 10:57 and thirty-two seconds, Gale arrived at the Cove. Caelius was standing just outside, looking, as usual, as if he did not really give a flying fruit in space what happened.
Except Gale, despite everything was nervous.
This is it. A promotion mission. I've proven my worth, haven't I, Ginny? I survived that bloody awful first Sahara mission, and then the return one, after all.
<< You've certainly made it this far. And I chose you - make me know why I chose you. >>
...I'm not sure if that's supposed to be encouraging or not.
<< Just do your best. >>
Right.
Gale followed the Death Hunter mutely through the hallways, focusing only on the back of his division leader. It was very dim here; Gale stumbled over a some of the less straight sections of the floor, but managed to not fall, at the very least.
Needless to say it wasn't exactly the most promising feeling in the whole world.
They stopped outside of a door that was heavy and iron and looking very intimidating - especially with the fact that it was utter blackness inside. Caelius finally spoke, and Gale stood rigid and tense, listening carefully.
Clank.
<< ...that's not a very good sound. >>
Gale refrained from wincing at this - and at what might have been something glowing inside, instead turning to look back at Caelius, his expression determined.
"Right. I'm ready."
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 2:10 pm
The growling creature in the room was nothing compared to the look Caelius gave Gale as the trainee informed him that he was ready and simply stood there.
"Your trial is in the room." The Death Hunter leader already had one mental red 'x' in his pass-or-fail checklist.
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 2:18 pm
Gale resisted the urge to say No, duh, I was wondering if there were further instructions, especially since Caelius was giving him the mother of all withering stares.
Instead he just sighed, then stepped into the room, gripping the sniper rifle tightly in his hands.
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Zoobey rolled 2 10-sided dice:
9, 9
Total: 18 (2-20)
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 2:29 pm
There was an audible clank as the door closed behind Gale. If Caelius had intended to open the door afterwards, he made no sign or mention of it.
As the trainee's eyes adjusted to the light, the strange rattling sound persisted, growing louder, as if pulling against their restraints. A vague shape could be seen now, large, almost feline in appearance with the exception of something that trailed behind it: a large bulbous tail that clacked against the ground as it moved. It growled, and then hissed, red eyes betraying its location, circling its prey. The tail clacked one more time and then struck forward, aiming to impale.
HP: 40
Damage: 18-6 = 12
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kuropeco rolled 2 8-sided dice:
4, 3
Total: 7 (2-16)
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 2:36 pm
Clank.
And then...darkness.
Well - mostly.
It took a second or two for Gale to realize just what he was staring at - and then he wished he could really unsee it.
He didn't even have a second to think before the creature launched itself at him, claws sinking into his skin. Gale let out a shout of pain, staggering backwards under the weight of it, slamming up against one of the uneven walls of the cavern.
<< That's an unpleasant sight to see. >>
"You're telling me," grunted Gale, swinging the rifle up into his hands. There was a loud bang as the gun went off, but the bullet merely whistled across the creature's back - a glancing blow.
Dammit.
[ HP: 28/40
Target: CREATURE THING
Damage: 1
Charge: 1/3
Charged Attack: Diamond Dragon of Fucanglong: For a limited time, when Jin is shot, tiny ribbons of crystallized ice twist around with the bullets, giving them more force and causing more discomfort to the target. Gale uses "The Battle Cry." ]
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Zoobey rolled 2 10-sided dice:
3, 6
Total: 9 (2-20)
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 2:44 pm
While the attack was a little better than ineffectual, the noise of the bullet ricocheting scared the creature as it slinked backwards for a second, even the red eyes disappearing into black. The ceilings, the floor, the walls were all the same colour: other than the clink clink clink noise the opponent gave off, there was no telling how close or far away it really was. In fact, there was no way of knowing how large the room itself was.
Seconds seem to drag for an eternity as finally there was another hiss and then the snap of the creature's tail.
Damage: 9-6= 3
HP: 39/40
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kuropeco rolled 2 8-sided dice:
7, 5
Total: 12 (2-16)
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 2:54 pm
This was already not starting off well, but at least the sound of the rifle going off had startled the creature back into the shadows.
Except that meant he couldn't even see the stupid thing.
Well, that's just delightful.
<< Incoming >> said Jinhai sharply, and Gale darted sideways - except not fast enough to dodge the slap of the creature's tail across his arm.
He very nearly dropped the rifle, hissing in pain, but then he spun it back around and fired off another shot, aiming at the creature's head - or maybe where he thought it might be in the shadows.
[ HP: 25/40
Target: CREATURE THING
Damage: 6
Charge: 2/3
Charged Attack: Diamond Dragon of Fucanglong: For a limited time, when Jin is shot, tiny ribbons of crystallized ice twist around with the bullets, giving them more force and causing more discomfort to the target. Gale uses "The Battle Cry." ]
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Zoobey rolled 2 10-sided dice:
8, 2
Total: 10 (2-20)
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:04 pm
This time the thing visibly yelped as it withdrew backwards again, using the darkness to its advantage. There was another rattle and then the hollow taps of its tail beating against the stone rhythmically. The noise stopped.
'Flesh walker.' The sound came in a low wheeze, a hiss. The thing was speaking. 'You have a... hmm... smell. Did you kill your own kind, flesh walker? It reeks, yes, it reeks, the guilt, the Fear, it makes me hungry.'
The half-laugh half-growl was more than audible as the creature lashed out again with its tail.
HP: 33
Damage:10-6= 4
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kuropeco rolled 2 8-sided dice:
7, 4
Total: 11 (2-16)
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:08 pm
For a moment, Gale just crouched there, waiting for the creature to reappear again. Then -
"Did you kill your own kind, flesh walker?"
His eyes widened, Gale's mouth opening and closing. He clamped it shut abruptly, feeling his skin tingling unpleasantly, bile rising in his throat. He flinched hard as the tail whipped out again, lashing against his stomach and making him stagger back several steps.
I didn't kill him - I didn't kill any of them.
Jinhai's voice was fierce and loud in his head, sounding oddly energized. << Don't let it get to your head! >>
I know.
Angrily, Gale yanked the rifle up, pointing it into the shadows and letting off another shot.
[ HP: 21/40
Target: CREATURE THING
Damage: 5
Charge: 3/3
Charged Attack: Diamond Dragon of Fucanglong: For a limited time, when Jin is shot, tiny ribbons of crystallized ice twist around with the bullets, giving them more force and causing more discomfort to the target. Gale uses "The Battle Cry." ]
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Zoobey rolled 2 10-sided dice:
7, 10
Total: 17 (2-20)
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:19 pm
It recoiled as the attack hit it again, feeling Fear hiss and leave its wound. Another wheezing laugh. 'Oh, the first time is always the hardest. It just gets so much easier afterwards mmm... there is nothing like the smell of Fear before they die.'
In the same pattern as usual the thing sought a moment of silence and moved.
This time, as its blow struck true, the creature snapped its fangs as it swerved around. It thought this was fun. 'You all give off the same scent but you still kill each other hmm....'
HP: 28
Damage: 17 - 6 = 11
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kuropeco rolled 7 4-sided dice:
1, 1, 3, 4, 2, 4, 1
Total: 16 (7-28)
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:27 pm
Clearly this was going to be a losing battle. Gale slumped down against the wall, breathing heavily, the rifle - which he had just MISSED shooting with - held loosely in his hands. His head had started to spin, anger and frustration welling in his veins.
<< How could you POSSIBLY miss? >>
Shut up.
[ HP: 10/40
Target: CREATURE THING
Damage: .........................I HAVE NO COMMENT TO THIS AT ALL. 8|
Charge: 0/3
Charged Attack: Diamond Dragon of Fucanglong: For a limited time, when Jin is shot, tiny ribbons of crystallized ice twist around with the bullets, giving them more force and causing more discomfort to the target. Gale uses "The Battle Cry." ]
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Zoobey rolled 2 10-sided dice:
7, 8
Total: 15 (2-20)
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:37 pm
Its tongue flicked out, saliva trailing down its canines onto the floor. His prey would fall soon, and in that moment of pure terror before their death, that was when the greatest concentration of their Fear would be released. The rush of power, the feeling of being full at last, it could not wait. It would not wait.
And it was all too easy now as the creature approached its weakened prey, anticipating the kill.
HP: 28/ 40
Damage: 15 - 6 = 9
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kuropeco rolled 2 8-sided dice:
7, 8
Total: 15 (2-16)
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:40 pm
Okay, that sort of hurt. A lot.
He was now sitting on the floor, head hanging over, attempting to get air back into his lungs. Every part of him hurt, from his head to his chest to his stomach to his arms and legs.
Jinhai made a small, soft noise that Gale couldn't quite understand.
He raised the rifle, took a shot and then shouted as loud as he could and with as much effort as he could muster:
"I'M NOT DEAD YET, b*****d."
<< You will be next time it huts you. >>
Yes, but right now I'm not.
<< You're hopeless. >>
[ HP: 1/40 HAHAHAHA oh Gale why
Target: CREATURE THING
Damage: 7
Charge: 1/3
Charged Attack: Diamond Dragon of Fucanglong: For a limited time, when Jin is shot, tiny ribbons of crystallized ice twist around with the bullets, giving them more force and causing more discomfort to the target. Gale uses "The Battle Cry." ]
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Zoobey rolled 2 10-sided dice:
1, 1
Total: 2 (2-20)
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:47 pm
It was so intent on getting that final kill, that it oversaw entirely the strength of Gale's attack as it sent the creature flying backwards with a bang. A snarl and a hiss was all that accompanied the attack.
'YOU ARE DEAD NOW.'
And despite the fact that Gale did not feel the attack at all, everything went black.
*
When Gale woke up, he would find himself in the medical facilities, in a room not dissimilar to where Caelius had been when Benjamin had gone to receive his last mission.
The Death Hunter leader was not there, but instead a Moon Hunter attendant, who looked at the trainee and made a disapproving noise at all the wounds - fresh and old. Before she could say something however, another figure walked into the room, a Death Hunter. Gale had never seen this person before either.
"See I told you he'd be awake soon." Said latter person strode over to the trainee, pulling out a small notepad to seat himself next to the bed. "No hard feelings, just standard protocol. Caelius asked me to question you regarding the last mission you were on. Not the trainee one, the one with -" he cleared his throat for a second - "the late Benjamin Summers. Did Ben say anything odd to you during your last encounter with him, anything that you might not have written down on the report?" They gave Gale an even stare. "It is important that you tell your division everything you know."
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