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Post by Lord S-Sha (CTG) on Mar 6, 2023 23:28:52 GMT -5
The portal had opened in the middle of an alleyway in San Fransokyo. At first it wouldn't look too different from the world they had just left; the skyline was mainly defined by tall buildings. But this world had a lot more variety in the different types of buildings it had. There were skyscrapers, office buildings, radio towers, apartment buildings, and very many more. It was still night time, so most of the lighting was coming from the street lights and the windows from the different buildings. That and the fires that was everywhere and the countless fire trucks working to put them out.
Things were a lot livelier in this world, and it wasn't just because this world had an actual population. The aftermath of the battle Xiyrel and Celeste had come from could still be seen. There were craters and fissures everywhere which made it difficult to walk without having to either walk around or try to jump over. There were scorch marks all around the area, and many walls had holes burned into them. There were also pools of magma scattered around the place, and some parts of the ground and walls were frozen in ice.
Once Xiyrel caught up to Nixir he looked around, checking the damage done by the fighting that happened once he left. From the looks of it he could tell Kai and his other self had an intense fight. "Now you see why I was left in such a state after leaving," he said feeling the spot where he was cut in half in his fight. He had intense feelings about being tricked like that, if only he had been paying more attention, if only he hadn't under estimated him... He shook his head. There was no use in getting caught up in it now. They had an ally to find, and a mission to complete. The power of Kingdom Hearts first, a third round later.
"Come on he should be around here..." Xiyrel said. "No one will be paying us any mind when they have all this clean up to worry about."
Xiyrel went out to look around right outside the alleyway, and the damage on the street was even worse. In addition to the damage that was done in the alleyway but on a grander scale, there was rubble everywhere. The fires seems to somehow burn even more intensely, and there was ash everywhere. There were even giant footprints that looked like they belonged to some type of dragon, there were even oversized snake tracks throughout the place. Some buildings were missing their top halves or one of their sides. Most noticeable of all were the giant scorch marks near the center of it all. Whatever caused it also cause the area around it to melt.
Xiyrel sensed around the area looking for Kai's aura. He stopped when he finally sensed a familiar aura. "Up there," He said pointing at one of the rooftops that was still intact.
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Post by hoodwink on Mar 7, 2023 15:59:53 GMT -5
Nixir emerged from the Dark Portal and immediately found themselves immersed in the visuals of the new world before them. Though in a mild state of ruin, San Fransokyo seemed to be a world of advanced technology, similar to The World That Never Was. Skyscrapers, office buildings and highways crowded the ground and stretched into the sky while floating advertisements, helicopters and odd devices mimicking aquatic life all milling about the night in place of stars. While some areas seemed more ruined than others (hell, there was even magma just pooled in some areas), overall the world seemed like a mesmerizing metropolis.
Ah, if only I could be moved once more… For a moment, the Nobody felt a familiar ache. It was the only emotion they could really feel anymore: the lack thereof. How they yearned for the artistic inspiration that a sight like this would have once spurned into them in their past life, as a Somebody. Instead, only the faintest itch seemed to emerge in their brush-hand, which was easy enough to ignore, as their magenta eyes scanned the scenery. ”Well, it certainly has a beauty to it…despite the wreckage.”
A coy smirk played on his lips as Xiyrel caught up to him. Nixir glanced at the other Nobody from over his shoulder, peering out from the shadows of the dark hood he wore, now understanding why his recently made ally had emerged in such a state back in The World That Never Was. Whatever kind of fight had happened here, it had clearly been massive. "Though such brutality is normally abhorrent, I must admit that it takes a certain...flourish to cause such devastation, even if it isn’t in my own tastes.” It seemed like a neutral take on an otherwise possibly ethical topic.
Nixir was an artist first, Nobody second, after all. Though his own powers allowed him to enact violence upon others, it wasn’t in his nature, even within his new hollow existence. Such things seemed barbaric and beneath him. That is why they needed to branch out and find allies willing to get their hands dirty…
Kingdom Hearts couldn’t be forged peacefully, after all.
“Come on, he should be around here…” Eyeing Xiyrel carefully as the two walked through the alleyway they had emerged in, crammed between two impossibly tall buildings, Nixir simply nodded and gave a small sigh in response as they began. It was soothing to hear that the local inhabitants of the world wouldn’t be paying them too much attention, given the state of everything…but he couldn’t help but feel like the chaotic events that had left the city in ruin was just a reason for them to be quick about finding Kai.
These Keys are important…but it won’t matter if we expose ourselves right out the gate, first thing. He grimaced, imagining the worst. Despite that, if there was anything that annoyed Nixir beyond anything, it was wasting the precious gift of time. With that in mind, the Nobody kept their pace brisk and didn’t delay in following Xiyrel, who seemed to have a pretty clear idea on where to find one of their first of three ‘Keys’.
Rubble and fire greeted them from where they emerged from the alleyway, causing Nixir to grimace and pinch their nose with a gloved hand. It was an unpleasant smell, though what was more unpleasant was the thought of having to exert so much effort and energy to simply shed blood. We’ll have the Heartless and lesser Nobodies for that. Seeing the state of San Fransokyo simply reaffirmed his own stance on their future plans as a new and improved Organization. He didn’t want their own ranks to be getting their hands dirty. That was what they had monsters and Keys for.
“Up there.” As the two had walked through the chaotic mess of streets, managing over massive footprints and snake tracks that created craters and trenches throughout the city, Xiyrel finally seemed to sense who they were searching for through all of the scorch marks and ruins. He was pointing to the rooftop of one of the few buildings still intact, just in front of them. For a moment, Nixir watched the top of the building. Up there was another ‘Key’, which would bring them one step closer to collecting hearts for Kingdom Hearts.
Of course, he had no idea who Kai was, as a person. How they were going to take the news of Xiyrel and Nixir’s new alliance, as well as their plan to reform the Organization and their other goals…well, he simply had to try and trust in his allies. First drafts are always the hardest. Pushing doubts from his mind, the cloaked artist held out his arm as grey, white and black energy all seemed to crackle and fold from nothing itself. A massive, translucent ink-brush appeared from thin air, an hombre greyscale in color and its brush tip dripping with a deep black paint that seemed to eat any light that hit it.
”Allow me.” Within moments, Nixir was painting around the two of them. At first, it simply looked like a large rectangle border…but soon, they were using the brush off of the ground and around them as well. It only too a few seconds for the Nobody’s powers to take affect, the Still Life ability creating a large lift-crane that the two suddenly stood on in place of the ground just moments ago. Between them was a tall pillar, housing a lever to control the machinery. "Easy does it…!” With a gloved hand, Nixir pulled the lever as a quiet creak! and thunk! shook the platform beneath them before the lift came alive!
Soon, the two were being lifted high into the air, the lift seemingly having no limit to its extension as below them the ground continued to grow smaller and smaller, the ruin of the city sprawling away. Heading towards the rooftop, Nixir watched the world around them with a new appreciation, dismissing the large brush they had summoned just as quick. "Less attention, this way. Locals will most likely assume it’s for construction or rebuilding.” Though still covered by the black cloak’s hood, the artist was wearing a faint smile as he addressed Xiyrel.
Sure, the lift was entirely pitch-black due to the ink color…but other than that, it now looked and felt entirely real. It even clunked and creaked like real machinery, despite the limitless amount of reach it had. Xiyrel and Nixir were hitting the rooftop within only moments now!
He was excited to meet this Kai, one of the few ‘Keys’ integral to their plan…
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Post by Lord S-Sha (CTG) on Mar 14, 2023 3:11:17 GMT -5
Xiyrel couldn't help but note how neutral Nixir was to all this damage. He guessed it came with not having a heart to be indifferent to most things. Having hearts for so long thanks to Celeste's experiments he had forgotten what that felt like. If he would feel more than way again due to the lost hearts would only be seen with time. "Battle is one of the few things I have memory of my time as being part of my other self," Xiyrel explained. "That much remains despite the hearts lost. Even if that somehow leaves I have my time with Celeste to guide me." He couldn't help but smile at the crane being made to help them blend in. His and Nixir's glowed as he summoned construction worker vests and hardhats onto them. "Being able to adapt quickly to whatever situation we fins ourselves in will be the key to seeing this project through to the end."
Once they got to the rooftop there was nothing really noteworthy about it save for one thing; a large trail of blood that led behind an air condition unit. Xiyrel wasn't too concerned about it since he could still sense Kai's aura. It wasn't fading so it meant he wasn't slowly dying. He did still have to wonder about just how bad the damage was from his fight. It couldn't have been good if he wasn't coming out to meet him. Slowly making his way to the unit he finally made it to the other side to find Kai sitting against the unit.
Up against the air condition unit was a young man. One of the most striking things about him was his left arm, or lack thereof, which the trail of blood directly led to. There was a small pool of it right underneath where his left arm would be resting. Two inches past his left shoulder his arm ended, obviously cut off by some type of weapon. There were some burn marks where the cut was, an attempt to stop the bleeding. The second most striking thing about him was the fresh scars all over him. Another casualty of the battle he and Xiyrel were a part of. The seriousness of which was more apparent when he turned to face them. They were all over his body, the biggest of which started just over his left eye and seemed to go all the way down at an angle all the way past to his right hip, which was obvious from the tear in his clothes from the same attack. The other scars varied in length. The damage from them looked bad from just how deep they were, and the face that his left eye was a much more faded yellow than his right.
"What the hell happened," Xiyrel asked focusing on Kai's arm and eye.
"That damned scythe..." Kai responded with scorn in his voice. He gripped what was left of his left arm. "I can't heal from soul damage, but I was at least able to stop the bleeding with my fire. You left me by the way."
"I was cut in half,"
Kai sighed. "It can't be helped," he said letting go of his arm and looking back up at the sky. "I was brought back to life a second time.." His mind began going through all that had happened since Celeste revived and recruited him. Losing to Ren yet again... finally achieving a power level that was far beyond his wildest dreams...get shown up by that brat Alice, almost getting erased by that scythe. "And did nothing but lose again, reach a new power and obtain a Keyblade just to get shown up by a damn fifteen year old..." he formed a bright orange fire in his hand staring into it. "..and nearly have my existence erased by that damn scythe.. All I can seem to do these days is lose and lose again..." None of that was even getting to the loses he suffered the prior few weeks that led to his first death. He closed his fist as the fire faded away.
"It couldn't be helped," Xiyrel said. "No one could have stood up to that level of power without suffering heavy losses or dying. The fact that we're still around just speaks to what we have achieved. Beating ourselves up over this won't achieve anything by make us be stuck at this level. The best thing to do is to strive to get stronger as we move on from this."
Kai sighed again. He couldn't argue with that. He tried standing up, but fell back down as he still wasn't used to only having one arm. Xiyrel extended his hand to help him up. After a bit Kai reluctantly took his hand as he helped him up. "I will get stronger.. There are other people besides them I have to prove a point to.." He thought back to the woman who had killed him the first time. This new level did rival and in some ways surpass her at her best. If he could just get better at using it he could finally... he shook his head. One thing at a time. With brooding about this loss and future plans out of the way he finally turned to Nixir. From his lack of aura he could tell he was a Nobody. "Who is this?" he questioned Xiyrel.
"This is Nixir," Xiyrel explained. "We've reached an agreement to work together to collect hearts. He will be our leader while you, Evalyn and I will be the Keys that will collect the hearts we need. Celeste's orders. We are finally moving forward with project Kingdom Hearts."
Kai's eyes widen at his words. He finally remembered what Celeste had told him after she brought him back to life. She had some pretty big goals planned and to be fair so did he, just not on that grand of a scale. He had just obtained a Keyblade, so all that stuff about trying to get him one so he could uphold his end of the deal was already crossed off. This was it; his path to use this new power to get his revenge, to finally stop losing all these battles. He looked back at Nixir and at first extended the numb that left of his left arm to him. Seeing his mistake he extended his right hand to him. "Kai Shien," He introduced himself. "If Celeste trusts you than so do I. I may not need a heart but this project means everything to me. There are a certain few ex friends of mine I have a point to prove to."
"Kingdom Hearts first, revenge later."
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Post by hoodwink on Mar 14, 2023 11:33:52 GMT -5
Nixir couldn’t help but appreciate the additional touch Xiyrel’s summoned construction worker vests and hardhats added. Ironically, the Nobody was thankful for the hood he wore, as the hat would have messed with his hairstyle, something he detested. “Being able to adapt quickly to whatever situation we find ourselves in will be the key to seeing this project through to the end.” The more the artist spent time with Xiyrel, the more he realized they truly were kindred spirits. It’s truly a shame, that we had to meet under such circumstances… Said circumstances being him lacking a heart, of course. At least the Nobody couldn’t feel the sentiment fully.
Arriving at the top of the building, Nixir would pull on the lift lever, prompting it to stop with a soft thunk! as his hidden magenta eyes quickly noticed a trail of blood leading towards a large air conditioning unit. It seems he may be in a similar state…or worse. The artist immediately thought back to his introduction with Xiyrel. Following the other Nobody, the two made their way across the roof until they rounded the unit, finding the man they were searching for slumped up against it. Wait…weren’t they in the same battle?
Nixir looked at Xiyrel, who had appeared in a beat-up state when they’d met but healed rather quickly. The man on the roof was still actively bleeding, even missing a limb and covered in scars and burn marks—looking like they’d just lost a fight right before their arrival. Had they just missed the attacker? Was this Key just a slower healer? Nixir already had questions he doubted he’d find the answers to… “What the hell happened,” Well, maybe he would.
“That damned scythe…” The wounded man began to explain, though Nixir was beyond surprised to hear that all of the damage had been caused by a fifteen year old. Must be some powerful kid… If the artist had a heart, it would be going out to the wounded man. Surely that must just be added salt in the wound for his pride. “Who is this?” Finally noticing Nixir’s presence, the artist waved a gloved hand and allowed Xiyrel to follow up with the introductions.
“We are finally moving forward with project Kingdom Hearts.” The man seemed motivated by these words alone, leaning forward and eyes widening despite the countless wounds. Reaching up and removing the hard-hat on his head and the hood shrouding his features, Nixir exposed his face to the wounded man, showing a fixed smile. So…he truly does share the ambition. There was a playfulness in his magenta eyes—one that would be taken for glee if he’d been a Somebody.
“Kai Shien, if Celeste trusts you then so do I.” Extending the one hand the man had left, it seemed indeed this man was the ‘Key’ Xiyrel had spoken of. Nixir’s smile widened—this was perfect! Meeting Xiyrel and forming the new Organization with him had been everything he’d been hoping for!
”Kai, it’s a pleasure~” Taking Kai’s hand in his own, Nixir shook it enthusiastically. ”As Xiyrel mentioned, my name is Nixir. Welcome to Organization 'Heart'!” Yeah, it sounded good aloud. Resting both hands on his hips, the artist glanced between his two new allies, wishing he could feel the excitement he knew he should be. ”Hm…we were about to go searching among the worlds for a good place to ‘set up shop’, so to speak…but it looks like you might need some time to recover, first.” Kai was still actively bleeding and literally missing limbs, after all.
Turning to Xiyrel, the artist pulled back up the hood of the black cloak they wore and returned the hard-hat that made them look like construction workers. ”Perhaps we return to the castle, for now—or do you know of somewhere with some more restorative properties?” The sooner Kai could restore some health fast, the better.
There was no way they could go ‘house-hunting’ with a man free-bleeding!
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Post by Lord S-Sha (CTG) on Mar 18, 2023 19:24:48 GMT -5
Nixir seemed very enthusiastic to meet him. Which made sense once Kai remembered the details of the project and how heartless worked. Without a Keyblade they always just kept coming back, and their hearts weren't released unless killed by a Keyblade either. It seemed Celeste's group was more vital to this Organization Heart than one would expect. Nixir was clearly one of those Nobodies who desperately wanted a heart, so Kai understood now why he teamed up with them.
It seemed the next course of action was to find a place to make their base of operations but Nixir was more concerned about the state Kai was in. Kai then looked over himself. He was too busy being upset about yet another loss, both in terms of losing a battle and losing an arm, to think about the rest of his body. He was so used to the healing being done by his friends, well exfriends now, that he wasn't used to having to having to heal himself unless they were in a major conflict. With those ties now burned away he would have to unlearn that habit. Especially if he was to prove himself to his new master. "Sorry I'm used to my now exfriends doing the healing," His body was covered in a green aura as he used Curaga on himself. As the aura faded most of the damage to him was gone as well as the bleeding, but the scars and missing arm remained. He looked to Nixir. "Attacks that attack the soul play for keeps," he explained. " I've seen it firsthand erase some very powerful people out of existence, no Heartless no Nobody just gone from existence never to return again. Even entire worlds cease to exist if hit by a strong enough one. The same scythe also permanently took the arm of another powerful warrior not too long again. Safe to say I'm stuck like this but at least I still exist." He thought about the extent of the damage done to him in the long term. "Unfortunately I am, or was, left handed. So it will take some time for me to get used to only having my nondominant arm left. But once I do I will not fail this project."
Xiyrel watched Kai. The newest member of their group seemed to want to prove himself no matter what. Hopefully he wouldn't push himself too far too soon. "You will learn in due time," he told him. "But for now don't push yourself so far. There's no point in you dying a third time." He thought about what Celeste told him. They would still have to keep the secrets of Kai's revival hidden for now. It was too important for their other goals in the near future for it to be revealed now. He turned to Nixir. "It's better to remain in this world. Celeste and Evalyn will be expecting us to be here. Besides there's one important thing we still have to do here."
He walked a bit remembering the direction it was in from this location. He turned back to them. "We've been using this place as a sort of base for a few months. However a world this populated isn't suitable to house a forming Kingdom Hearts, so it's go good to use as a permeant base. However it was useful to blend in during our research for this project. A world this advanced pays no attention to people moving boxes of important documents. The documents contains research about the heartless, Keyblades, and other sorts of useful things for this project. We'll have to bring them with us anyone if it is to be of any use for us, so we might as well get to the place we've been using to pack up things so to speak. It's just a short walk from here." He then looked to Kai and summoned another vest and hardhat onto him. "We'll be less likely to draw attention if we don't look like two of the people who were part of that big fight."
Kai begrudgingly nodded in agreement and adjusted his hat. The last thing he wanted to do was end up in another fight so soon if it wasn't going towards completing this project.
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Post by hoodwink on Mar 18, 2023 23:19:43 GMT -5
Nixir watched with mimicked curiosity ask Kai used healing magic to restore themselves but still seemed marred by the battle. "Attacks that attack the soul play for keeps," The Nobody hadn't heard of such deadly weaponry before, but took care to make a mental note of the information. The fact such power could even erase worlds meant it could pose a threat to forming Kingdom Hearts, too...
Thankfully, Kai seemed determined to rebound from the defeat they'd experienced. It was unfortunate about them being down a dominant hand, though. "It's better to remain in this world. Celeste and Evalyn will be expecting us to be here." Xiyrel began to inform the artist about the other reason they were in San Fransokyo. Hearing about valuable documents that needed collecting, Nixir smiled from beneath the hood of the black cloak they wore.
"You and your friends are full of surprises~ It certainly won't hurt to gather what we can, while we're here." Once Kai put on their own hard-hat and vest, the group made their way to the edge of the roof back to the drawn lift. After everyone was on the raised platform, Nixir would crank the lever that would cause the machine to come alive and lower back to the ground.
Stepping off the machine, the Still Life would melt into a splashing puddle of ink. Following Xiyrel's lead, the artist would remove the hard-hat and vest and head to where the documents were, curious as to what else this world had to offer...
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