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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2011 0:33:05 GMT -5
Red was as equally confused about what Arnold's next move would be. Watching the nail strike Jean's hand was painful to watch. First of all it made Red's frustration rise. He could do nothing but stand at watch. To interfere would be a mistake on his part. Red was not as strong as Jean or Arnold. At least he didn't think he was.
Arnold's next movement surprised Red. He had expected the insane man to dodge or do something to halt Jean's movement. It made sense given the man's fighting style. To Red's surprise, Arnold charged head on. Red spotted a single golden nail in his hand. There was something different about this nail though.
As Arnold came within five feet of Jean, he increased his speed darting to the right out of the way of her charge. While doing this he seemed to throw the nail at Jean. When in reality a silver thread was connected to the nail. As it neared Jean Arnold whipped his hand in a circle changing the momentum of the nail by darting behind her. The nail went from coming straight at her, to heading towards her side.
It was almost as if Arnold was wielding a whip and the nail was the ball at the end. Red felt entirely hopeless. Jean's father though seemed to know what to do. "Now Jean! 4 Way Slash! Kill the bastard." What Jean's father knew that Red didn't was that the golden nail only came out when Arnold was on his last nail. It was his remaining weapon, when his nails had all been used up. Red could see the smile wash away from Arnold's face.
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Somewhere in the farthest district away from the church, Artemis prepared to leave. It was time to be done with this place. Artemis didn't have an exact plan to where he was going, but he understood that staying in one place too long was not a good idea. He didn't know how long he had until his hire realized that he was no longer after Red.
Not really having much, Artemis just needed to pay the innkeeper for the final day of the room. As he closed the blinds of his room, he froze. Artemis suddenly became aware of a change in the room. Something... or someone... had just entered. Quickly spinning about, he had dagger in hand and held in a defensive position.
Standing before him was a hooded figure. Artemis wasn't one who easily was afraid of people. Yet upon appearance of said hooded figure, Artemis's eyes widened in fight. Words flowed out of his mouth like water. "Look... You betrayed me. You were going to kill me anyway."
With a single wave of the hand, Artemis's lips froze. The voice that came out of the hood was female. "Betrayal is not something my master looks kindly upon. Be lucky it was I who was sent to deal with you, and not any of the others. I am particularly kinder then they. You have a choice? You can become hunted. I do enjoy a hunt... Or you can do as my master wishes."
Artemis crossed his arms. "I die either way." Watching the hooded figure, Artemis watched as she walked over to him. Gazing at the window next to him, Artemis could see nothing inside the hood of her cloak.
"Perhaps... Perhaps not. Take my advice, Artemis. You do not want us as an enemy. My master is preoccupied with things at the moment. You can take your time. Who knows? Things have a tendency of changing when prophecy is involved."
What choice did Artemis have? He nodded. That seemed to satisfy his hire because she walked away from him. From what she just said, Artemis had some time to let Red get further away. While eventually he would have to kill him, it seemed the hire was not too worried about time. "I like you Artemis. You would make an excellent pet. It would be a shame for me to have to kill you." With that Artemis watched her drop into the shadow of the wall.
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Post by Sprow on Mar 23, 2011 1:06:12 GMT -5
Jean knew she would be feeling all of this later. She wasn't particularly troubled about the burns. She had scars, even though she used Cura, on her body anyway. A burn scar would be no different than the other ones though they were inflicted from sword wounds. Trying to ignore her pain, as she had charged Arnold, she didn't expect him to change tactics. Instead of the usual nail he used, he took out a golden one.
At first, it looked like he was tossing it right for her. Bringing her sword up to meet it, she was surprised to see Arnold whip it away to the side instead. It were as if he threw it in the fashion of a whip at her side. Right now, she didn't care what pain it would inflict upon her. She had achieved the goal she had been hoping for. Even before her father told her what to do, Jean had already been planning to use this move on Arnold once she was in close enough. She just needed to make sure that when attacking Arnold, she didn't get hit anywhere vital by that nail on a string. The string itself didn't look pleasant to get entangled in either.
Seeing the smirk on Arnold's face disappear, Jean only had enough time to smirk in response before she seemed to disappear. Of course, Arnold would be able to see her dart speedily to his opposite side from the nail whip as she aimed a strike at it. When that was done, she appeared on the opposite side of that one and aimed another slash. Next, she darted directly behind him, slashing at him again. Then, she scurried to where she was in front of him, performing the last strike attempt before back flipping away from him. The Four Way Slash was complete. Now, all Jean had to do was wait and see what damage she had done, if any to Arnold.
"Had enough yet, Arnold?" she questioned him, void of mockery. Mocking someone like him would be foolish. Where he wasn't really fighting for something, Jean was. She was fighting to protect her father and even Red. Red didn't have anything to do with Arnold but she was certain if her father ended up being killed by Arnold, if she were to encounter this strange guy again then Red might've ended up as his next target to lure her. She was eager to have this done already. Jean's wounds weren't all that heavy but she had sustained damage.
It was very uncommon for her to get hurt in a fight. Arnold Wong was clearly in a class equal to her own. Wiping blood from her wounded face, which she had got from graze wounds from the nails, she waited for an answer. If he wanted to keep up with this charade of his, then fine. It was all up to him though.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2011 1:21:24 GMT -5
Red never thought he would be so happy to see someone die. Watching each slash was like watching an action movie. It seemed that Arnold Wong had nothing up his sleeve when it came to close combat. Each slash had hit its mark, cutting into Arnold's flesh. With each strike blood flowed and a large gash appeared.
When it was all over, Red's face beamed with joy. Taking a second to glance at Jean's father, it seemed they shared the same joy. Arnold Wong fell to his knees as his screams stopped. Blood flowed from the four places that Jean had cut him. It was a surprise his body was still alive. Those slashes had been packed with force and all that stopped the cutting of limbs were Arnold's own bones.
Red waited to hear those words. He waited to hear the words that Jean had one. He highly doubted there was something else that Arnold could do. Red was wrong of course. Suddenly the back of Arnold busted open as a creature slithered out of it. What came out of Arnold's body was something that Red had never seen before.
It was a serpent like creature with no arms and a tail. It's head was indeed snake like, and the back of it was covered in spikes. Even though a part of it was still in Arnold's body, Red noticed that the creature had the mouth of a human. It's eyes were yellow and snake shaped, but its head was human shaped. When it spoke, Red noticed that it had a forked tongue.
"Congradulationsssss Jean. I submit. I know you have tonssss of questionssss. But this issss sssuch an ugly look." Each s that the creature said was said like a snake. Red watched as the creature took to the air with sudden speed. It flew through the air like a snake travels the ground. Red could only watch in horror as the snake headed straight for Jean's father. Before he could even get a word out the snake had slithered behind his back and the sound of a loud crack could be heard as Jean's father let out a scream.
The scream was cut short as Jean's father's eyes turned yellow. The ties that held him to his chair suddenly fell loose, as he rose from the chair. Red had to keep his mouth from dropping to the floor as Jean's father flexed his hands, while he stared at them. "This is a much better body don't you think Jean?"
((OCC: Hope this is ok? It's a good twist I thought, but Jean's father is your character so I can always change it. Oh and he's not dead by the way either. It will be explained by Arnold in the next post. If your not ok with it just let me know.))
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Post by Sprow on Mar 23, 2011 17:36:53 GMT -5
Jean didn't expect every single strike to make its mark. It was a stroke of luck that she hadn't thought would take place. Arnold was swift of foot like her, so why was he being so easily overwhelmed? Was it really because of the wound she had inflicted on him earlier? If he hadn't been threatening to kill her father when this was all over, she probably would've almost felt sorry. Hearing his screams suddenly stop as he fell to the floor, Jean waited.
He was still alive although probably only just barely. Was he really just that arrogant sort that thought they could handle someone like her in a fight? It didn't make sense that he went down so easily. It was clear that she had won. It didn't look like now that he'd be much of a threat. Still, she kept her weapons out just in case. No telling what else he might have up his sleeve.
Something unexpected took place. Instead of Arnold Wong lifting his head up to speak, his body burst open at the back! "What the-?!" she exclaimed, taking a step back in her surprise. Some kind of creature was looking right back at her, one that she had never seen before. It looked like a snake body wise but its head was shaped like a human's save for the eyes. So, this was the thing that had been in the real Arnold Wong. Why it went by his name though was a mystery. Whatever was on Goblin Island, she could now clearly see it right before her.
It spoke to her then, revealing even its tongue was forked like that of a snake's. The 's' it elongated and hissed like that of a snake. It was admitting defeat to her for winning the challenge. Now, time came for questions but in its current state, it believed it wasn't appropriate to speak in. Well, 'he' but she kept thinking of him as an 'it' because she wasn't even sure what that thing was. It definitely wasn't human but it clearly had intelligence. Probably intelligence beyond that of a human's.
Without warning, it zipped off into the air and went right for her father! Before she could even react, it had reached her father and with a sickening crack caused her father to let out a painful cry. Not even checking to see if the other body had been left alive, Jean leapt over him and ran up to her father. His cry was abruptly cut short and his eyes suddenly changed color. Skidding to a halt, five feet away, she looked back at the yellow eyes with dismay. Her father was now possessed by that thing!
Her eyes narrowed dangerously as the ropes suddenly loosened and the creature had her father stand up and flex his hands. Hearing it speak to her, she could only glare. "What the hell are you? Get out of my father!" she snarled. The only thing that kept her from trying to kill him was the fact that he was inside her dad. Was her father even still alive? It frightened her to think that maybe he was dead. Did that thing just kill her dad?!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2011 19:52:14 GMT -5
Red was transfixed on the scene. Arnold Wong... If that was even his real name, responded to Jean's proclamation. "You know I don't think I will." The voice that spoke was the same tone as her father's but Red could tell that it wasn't her father talking. "Besides even if I did your father's body would simply wither away."
Seeing as the fight was over, Red felt no need to stay back anymore. He ran over to Jean's side his hand on the weapon on his back. "You lied!" Red exclaimed. "You said her father wouldn't die. You just killed him."
Jean's father was shaking his head and responded to Red. "Settle down child. The time for fighting is over. Congratulations Jean you won! It was such a thrilling battle as well. Too bad for Arnold's body. He really liked his body." Arnold's words trailed off. Red was left without anything to say. He was angry still, but Arnold was going to play things by his game, and Red could do nothing but wait.
"Now as I was trying to say before the child interrupted I did not break any rules. Your father is here." Jean's father pointed to his brain. "Of course I don't mean his head, I mean my head. He's here with all the other voices. Just like Arnold is as well. Their talking right now actually. It gets crowded in here sometimes. That's why I got to drown them out."
To see the same grin that Arnold Wong wore appear on Jean's father's face was sickening. Arnold seemed to read Red's face because he let out a sickening chuckle. "Who are you?" He asked.
"So the boy asks an interesting question for once. Good boy. I really don't have a name. Usually I just use the name of the body I wear, but I don't like your father's name Jean. No offense. Hmm... I like Silver. Yes a wonderful name! You can call me Silver. Now I believe your wondering when you will get your father back? Well see that is a problem. The only way your father could come back is if I were to die. But then if you kill your father's body where's his soul going to go?"
The sickening laughter made Red want to puke. This wasn't right. "I'll make you a deal. I really like this body and I don't plan on letting it loose anytime soon. A year. I will find you in a year Jean. You will have your chance to fight me outside of your father's body. You'll have your chance to kill me then."
Red watched as Silver bowed. "Well then. One year Jean. Until then you'll just have to trust that I wont destroy your father's body." He said with a laugh. After that, Silver simply walked right past him and out the door behind them.
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Post by Sprow on Mar 23, 2011 22:28:50 GMT -5
Jean didn't know how to react as Arnold simply told her that he wasn't going to. If her father were still alive, he would certainly feel the punch more so than Arnold would. Just what the heck was he? Clearly, he wasn't Arnold. Arnold Wong died years ago from whatever he was. No wonder people thought Goblin Island cursed. Almost always, you found stranger creatures there. It was a place no one wanted to go to and for good reason.
Whatever Arnold was, he was a parasite in her eyes. One that took over the host whom was unwilling to let him in. What was she to do? What could she do? She was helpless in this situation. He probably knew it too, hence why he refused to come out of her father's body. That and how he said if he did, her father's body would only wither away was unsettling. Exactly what did he do to her father?
Red was already at her side, weapon at the ready as he accused Arnold of being a liar. Jean was wondering the same thing. She wished to do something but she couldn't right now. Seeing Arnold shake his er...her father's head, she watched as he spoke to Red. He claimed the time to fight right now was over, that Jean had won. Where did she win when her father was now possessed by whatever Arnold was? He even claimed it was a pity for Arnold's body. Anger welled up inside of her but she had to keep it under control.
Watching as he made her father point at his own head, she heard what he said. Her father was still inside his head. According to him, he was speaking to Arnold within. Seeing that smile on her father's face disgusted her. When Red asked who he was, the creature they knew as Arnold spoke. The mystery of why he went by that name was solved. He tended to go by their names but since he disliked her father's name, he was going to go by 'Silver'. Silver then brought the subject up about her father's predicament.
According to Silver, the only way she could get her father back is if he were to die. The problem with that was she'd end up killing her father's body and thus his soul wouldn't be ale to go anywhere. "You-!" she didn't finish her sentence, she was so enraged. If Silver were outside her father's body right now, she would've surely attempted to kill him right then and there.
The creature known as Silver finally proposed a deal to Jean. Once a year was over, he would give her the chance to kill him outside of her father's body. Only when the year was through would he allow the challenge. Until then, she was to trust that Silver wouldn't damage her father's body. "You fiend!" she retorted as he merely left them behind. For a full year, her father would be in that monster's grasp! No matter how hard she wanted to just rip Silver out of her father, she couldn't. Any risk of doing her father harm was something she couldn't do.
When Silver had finally left their company, Jean dropped to her knees, staring hard at the church floor. Grime and debris littered it but she didn't care. Right now, she was wondering how she would even manage to keep from freaking out the whole year. Memories filled her head as she thought about her father. He had been the one to continue raising her when her mother had died from illness. It was because of her father that she had become the warrior that she was.
Jean had been very close to her father. Now that her dad was in the hands of the enemy, one that was attached to him no less, she couldn't do a thing about it. Her father, for now, was gone. Jean was the only one of their family left if she never managed to get his soul and body back. Still being only twenty six, the thought of marrying never crossed her mind. So, on her end, she didn't start a family of her own. "...I'm so sorry, father...." she said aloud as if she were speaking to her dad. Tears welled up in her eyes then.
The tough exterior she usually presented was gone. Instead of the usual warrior girl everyone saw seemed to have been replaced with a normal and emotional girl. Silver had broken that unbreakable wall that Jean always seemed to hold when faced with rough situations. When it came down to it, someone close to her like that was enough to make her drop to her knees in defeat. 'If only I had been faster! I could've stopped him!' she thought.
It didn't take long for her to remember Red had been there. He, too, had a heavy load on his shoulders. Someone or something was out to get him and take his life. His situation was far worse than her own. Sheathing her sword, Jean breathed slowly as she wiped the tears from her face. Pushing herself back up onto her feet, she went to where her second sword lay and picked it up. Sheathing it too, Jean fought to control her emotions and self composure.
She had to remind herself that her father wasn't dead, just possessed. If she could defeat Silver when a year was over, she could potentially save his life and she needn't worry anymore. As for her father's body's sake, she just hoped Silver wouldn't damage it. He did say he seemed to like it so maybe he wouldn't let it get hurt much.
"Cura." A green light swirled about her and all her wounds were gone, save for the nasty burn. Her hand, where it healed the hole, kept a scar. Turning back to Red, she nodded at him. "...Let's....get out of here. Did you...manage to figure out where you...wanted to go next?" It was hard for her to speak. The lump in her throat was awful.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2011 22:51:20 GMT -5
The sorrow that held Jean, was seen clearly by Red. He understood her predicament. Watching the person you love seemingly killed right in front of your very eyes. It was a memory that Red knew all to well. Even though Silver proclaimed that Jean's father was alive, there was still the fact that at the moment he was locked. He was trapped inside the skull of whatever creature Silver was.
Red wished he could do something. If he had the power, he would have taken the sorrow away from Jean and placed it on himself. Despite the fact that they hadn't known each other for more then a week, Red felt attacked to Jean. He hated what Silver was doing to her. Silver was a demon, the scum of the earth. Red vowed that he would make sure that Silver payed one day.
When Jean finally stood, Red couldn't hold back. He wrapped his arms around her in a tight embrace. "I'm sorry." It was all he could say. A single tear fell from his eyes as he broke the embrace and whipped the tear away. Jean had the right idea. It would be good to get out of this place. There was nothing they could do here.
"Have you ever heard of the Enchanted Domain." Red paused for a moment as he took a deep breath in. "It's where I grew up... I thought it would be best if we started there. After all all of this started there." Red's words trailed off as an image flashed through his mind.
The image was that of a burning building. Shaking the image from his mind with the shake of his head, Red placed his focus back on Jean. This wasn't the time for him to be selfish. His attention should be on Jean, not horrors from his past. "It's a different world. I can get us there pretty fast actually. If your ready anyway...." As he finished the sentence, Red swiped his left hand. Once he did a black portal, similar to the one nobodies use, appeared before them.
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Post by Sprow on Mar 23, 2011 23:11:52 GMT -5
It was going to be hard to know her father wouldn't be home for a time. It was even more difficult to think that he might not ever return home alive. In the end, the one who really won had been Silver. She might've won the challenge but in the long run, he one upped her in the event itself in taking over her father's mind and body. In winning, she had also lost. There was no telling what Silver would have her father do or what he would do with her father's body. Even if he promised that he'd seek her out in a year, Jean had a funny feeling that they wouldn't be just seeing him in a year. He knew that she wouldn't dare harm him while he was inside her father's body, so he was sure to return again even before the year was over. Hopefully not, she didn't know what other challenges he'd present to her.
When she had stood up and sheathed her last sword, she was surprised when Red suddenly hugged her. Hearing his words, she returned the embrace. "It's not your fault." It made her feel a bit better. She still had Red around. He wasn't family but he was a good friend. "Thank you, Red." She gave him a slight smile as they released the embrace. It was forced because she was still feeling crappy but it was apparent that she was grateful for the consolation.
All they could do right now is move onward. She had to stop thinking about the 'what ifs' and focus on the here and now. Jean would prepare herself for Silver during the year but only when she had free time. Right now, their top priority was what was going on with Red's situation. It was time to continue his story while she supported him.
It wasn't long before Red questioned her about the Enchanted Domain. Honestly, through all her travels, she didn't once set foot in the world. It wasn't the first time that she had heard about it though. "I have heard about it, not much though." She listened as Red explained that it had been the world he had grown up in. That whatever took place in his past had happened there even with the sword situation.
"Alright then...Red?" she inquired then for he seemed to have gone into a sort of trance. It were as if his eyes were seeing something else as they were fixed on one area and seemed distant. As if her voice broke the trance, Red had shook his head. Maybe he was having a sort of memory from back then? Jean didn't question him about it as he stated it was a different world and that he could take them there pretty quickly. Looking around the church, seeing as the body left behind was dead and she hadn't any other reason for staying here, Jean nodded.
"I'm ready...let's go!" she said, finally getting a grip on herself as she waited for Red to head through the portal. Whether or not he needed to hold her hand upon traveling, she didn't know thus why she didn't immediately go through it until Red did first.
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