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 Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 5:58 pm
(( WARNING! This is a violent RP. Soquili deaths could occur! ... But they're not going to. But still, lots of violence!)) 
It was a long journey back to their home base, made even longer by the feeling of defeat that hung over the group of mazoku. Almost all of them had some sort of injury, even Xelloss was going to get a new scar from the hoof that clocked him in the head. Phibrizzo was the only one unharmed, Phibrizzo who had stayed out of the fight and not even lifted a hoof to stop the humiliation. Xelloss burned all the way back, burned with loathing for his position and his superiors who so cavalierly threw his life to the wolves.
He eventually came to realize he had two options. The first option would be to leave the mazoku behind and live as a free agent of chaos, much as he had before Lord Beastmaster and the others awoke. If he did that he'd have to leave his family and other associates behind, because he could assume that he would be killed for desertion if he was ever caught for it.
The second option was even more dangerous than that. The second option would absolutely get him killed if he didn't carry it out perfectly and would carry with it a high chance of him getting murdered if he slipped up at any point in the future. It was foolhardy and probably suicidal.
Xelloss was going with option number two.
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Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 6:09 pm
Rezo kept himself occupied with other matters while Phibrizzo and the others were away. He had Xellra and a few others doing a wide patrol. There were a few local soquili who were starting to creep closer to mazoku territory due to lax enforcement. That wouldn't be a problem any longer. They needed absolute control within their territory, or else their enemies might slip through unnoticed.
He heard the crunching of hoof steps and turned to see who might be approaching. He was surprised to see it was Xelloss, and not looking nearly as pleased as he ought to be if the mission had been successful. "Really," he chided patronizingly. "You didn't let the angeni escape, did you?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 6:15 pm
"No, well, you see..." Xelloss responded in an almost sing-song tone as he walked unhesitatingly towards Rezo. "There were no angeni there, and I'm afraid..." His eyes suddenly became glittering purple slits of malice, the fake cheer gone. "And I'm afraid that I'm tired of the way things work around here, Lord Ruby Eye."
Xelloss didn't give Rezo the time to respond. He sprung at the unicorn and struck with hooves and tail, using his greater size and weight to try to bear Rezo to the ground. This was it. This was the moment that would change or end his life.
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Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 6:21 pm
The air whooshed out of Rezo as he hit the ground, mind reeling. What... just happened? In the years since his reawakening he had never imagined a hint of rebellion in his mazoku subjects. It was so sudden that he forgot to struggle for a moment, lying limp and dazed on the ground before lashing out at his attacker.
Rezo snarled wordlessly and snapped at whatever parts of Xelloss he could reach. His tail swung around like an enraged snake, slashing at Xelloss with the sharpened chime at the end of it.
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Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 6:26 pm
Rezo was scoring hits against Xelloss, leaving red gouges where his chime struck flesh. His teeth were painful but less damaging, mostly snapping at Xelloss' lower legs. It hurt, but this was one enemy that Xelloss couldn't retreat from. He had to fight Rezo and defeat him decisively now, or else be slaughtered possibly by Beastmaster herself.
Xelloss fought even through the damage he received. He slammed Rezo with his tail repeatedly and kicked him in the belly, legs, anywhere he could reach. He even took a few bites of his own, coming away with a mouth full of long purple hair. He fought like he was possessed by a demon, or maybe he was possessed with unyielding purpose instead.
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Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 6:36 pm
There was a truth that Rezo had never dared breathe to the other mazoku, one that he knew would lessen their respect for him and possibly cause them to revolt entirely.
He was growing old.
Rezo had been in the world for many years as a scholar, a priest, and now a demon lord. He had enough knowledge to fill a library of human books, but his body was growing weaker. He didn't look nearly as old as he was due to a lifetime of rejuvenating herbs, but on the inside his body was little stronger than any other stallion his age. No matter how he thrashed and fought, Xelloss could kill him... and it was starting to look like Xelloss was going to do just that.
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Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 6:42 pm
Blood flowed from his belly down his legs but still Xelloss did not draw back. He kept beating Rezo even as the blows against him grew weaker and slower. Rezo had stopped biting now, trying to protect his head and keep it away from Xelloss' sharp hooves. Xelloss gave a final vicious kick to Rezo's flank... and then Rezo's tail fell limply to the ground. Panting, bloody, and feeling half-mad, Xelloss stared down at the fallen Dark Lord.
"Call for help and I'll kill you," he rasped. He didn't think that anyone was within screaming distance, but there could always be someone lurking around.
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Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 6:47 pm
Rezo lay exhausted and pained atop his cloak. His armor was twisted on his back, his golden cuffs dented. His vision was blurred and his thoughts were shattered and confused. Xelloss wasn't killing him immediately, but why? What could be the purpose of beating him so viciously and then leaving him here like this? Xelloss knew very well that Rezo had great healing skills... this was nothing that he couldn't bring himself back from. So why?
Rezo glared at Xelloss, loathing and uncomprehending, but silent.
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Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 6:56 pm
Rezo didn't make a move and Xelloss felt like his heart might beat out of his chest. He wasn't dead yet. He was battered but very much alive, and it almost looked like it might stay that way. Dizzy with triumph and adrenaline, Xelloss went on.
"I'm going to tell you what you're going to do for me." He forced his breathing to slow, forced himself to take on a less frenzied tone. "If you don't obey my orders-" His orders. A chill went down Xelloss' back at that concept. "Then I'll kill you. If you even look like you're thinking about disobeying my orders I'll kill you. Do you understand, Ruby Eyes Rezo?" He spat out the name as a challenge, as a mockery. The real Ruby Eyes had been a purewalker elder and the world had never seen the likes of him since. This stallion was not any part of him and never had been.
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Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 7:00 pm
Rezo could see the truth in Xelloss' eyes. His soul would immediately be set adrift in the underworld if he didn't do whatever the mad kalona wanted. The vengeful demon part of him wanted to try to tear Xelloss' throat out if it was the last thing he did. The brilliant priest side longed for survival, and it was that side that won out.
"I understand," he hissed through a bloody mouth. "What do you want?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 9:09 am
Suddenly, Xelloss realized that he hadn't thought his plan through to this part. Dethroning Rezo was so dangerous and risky in itself that he had been unable to focus beyond that goal. Now he had Rezo apparently in surrender and he wasn't even sure what sort of commands to give him.
Best to start with the obvious.
"I want you to keep this a secret," he said. "There are mazoku that know what's happening here today and ones that do not." He put a hoof on Rezo's neck, holding it there with pressure and a threat. "It would be hazardous to your health to go snooping around and asking questions, and I don't even mean entirely from me." Some of what he said was bluffing and some was the dark truth. He had told no other mazoku, not even his own children, of his plan here and he didn't intend to either. Secrets were best kept by few.
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Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 9:14 am
Rezo was clever enough to know what Xelloss was implying. It would be very difficult to find out which mazoku were loyal to him without implying that his control was slipping. In this den of monsters he couldn't afford to be doubted, or else risk have them all turn on him and throw him down as a false idol.
"It's our secret, then." Darkness roiled within Rezo. Part of him longed to throw himself back into combat and force Xelloss to kill him, but only part. He wanted to survive with the hope of overcoming. Even if he was forced to cooperate now, some day Xelloss would slip up and Rezo could have his revenge.
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Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 9:20 am
"Good," replied Xelloss, slowly regaining his usual cavalier tone. "I'm glad we're in agreement." He smiled with that, a smile full of arrogance and teeth.
"I don't have any direct orders for you now... but that will change. You can still wear the big hat, but I'm going to be the one calling the shots behind the scenes." Ruby Eyes Rezo would be taking orders from Beast Priest Xelloss. Now there was an upset of the natural order.
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Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 9:23 am
"Very well." There was little to be said more than that. Rezo could guess what a few of Xelloss' future edicts might be. There were a few things that Xelloss had always seemed sore about and now would be his big chance to get back at Rezo and everyone else that had ever aggravated him. Xelloss slid in and out of focus briefly. He really was very injured and in a lot of pain...
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Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 9:32 am
This was more success than Xelloss could have imagined. He had achieved complete victory over Rezo at only the cost of a little flesh and blood from himself. Rezo would obviously try to destroy Xelloss someday, it was the mazoku way, but that wasn't going to be soon and it wasn't going to be easy. Xelloss wasn't going to tell anyone else about his little coup just yet for simplicity's sake, but he had the suspicion that his kin would support him over the other mazoku lords if it came down to it.
Xelloss was finally calm enough to notice his own pain and the weakness in his battered limbs. Even Rezo looked like he was about to pass out. Carefully, Xelloss removed his hoof from Rezo's neck and stepped away from the broken Dark Lord.
"I think we can leave it at this for now," he said, starting to turn away and speaking over his shoulder. "We both need to rest up, but be expecting my first orders soon, Lord Ruby Eye."
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