EVENT: From beneath the earth came Death himself

[soul_mods]

Characters: Everyone
Location: Death City
Rating: PG13
Time: September 28th
Description: Something bursts from down below.


The tremors have kept going on and off for a day now. By noon, the alarms sound, to warn for the Kishin Eggs coming closer to the city.

People had been warned in advance though, so this isn't a surprise.

The ground suddenly bulging has turned into a somewhat normal thing since yesterday too.

What no one expected was for the bulge to get larger and larger until two figures burst from the ground...and a wave of Madness, sudden and potent and nearly overwhelming struck the city. The Kishin Asura has entered the city from below and on top of that, the Kishin Eggs begin to invade the city.

Luckily, someone else had returned from the deep to help.

((OOC: There will be a separate thread for those who'd like to interact with Shinigami-sama going up. Remember, when Asura bursts from the ground, character powers will be temporarily unlocked but they will also suffer from Madness.

Please put character name | location | open/closed in your subject header!))

Comments

[vintage_magic]

...Wait, this Asura used to work with the folks at the school? [She didn't recall hearing of that before!] Why in the Sam Hill did he become a Kishin then?

And I would say that's jumping to conclusions! [With all that had happened lately, they hadn't even had a chance for a proper date yet. Not since she finally admitted she was in love with him.]

[She nodded.] Are you needed here now or would we be more useful out on the streets?

[lezard_valeth]

Before, actually- he was one of a group of powerful individuals who worked with the original Death. Shibusen was founded after Asura fell to madness and became the first Kishin, in hopes to prevent another from being made.

[He glanced back.]

I could leave for a short while. They can call me when my expertise is needed here, but after all the attacks we've taken on so many volunteers, extra hands...

What is your plan?

[vintage_magic]

So, you mean this whole mess with demon gods started when someone who should on have been on their side went crazy? [As if this world wasn't frustrating enough at times!] What caused him to go mad anyway?

I just thought we should help out with all those demons out there. You can't absorb any more souls, can you? [She was a bit fuzzy on whether additional souls had any effect on someone that was already a Deathscythe.] Still, we should try to get rid of them, collect them in a bag or something. And possibly try to find this Asura if he actually is here.

[lezard_valeth]

He embodied fear, and his paranoia led him to feed his partner human souls. In his growing madness he ate his comrade, and the resulting burst of power gave birth to a demon god.

[But he nodded.]

Then let's clean the city up a little. I've heard rumors that the original Death was seen in the city. We could use him right about now.

[vintage_magic]

Great balls of fire! He dragged his own partner into the mess and then killed him too? [She shook her head at the thought of killing one's partner. That seemed beyond simple paranoia.] How could he do such a thing? Why wasn't he stopped before?

Have you got a bag we can bring along? [She reached for his hand as she looked around for a tote bag or backpack or similar container they could borrow.] If it's really him, then I guess what I deduced from that mask was true. But I have to wonder where he's been all this time.

[lezard_valeth]

The details on the incident are impressively unclear. Such is the bloodier tales of history in all worlds.

[He nodded, and took her hand, beginning to shift.]

I have my bag in my office. Fully stocked. The usual spot.

[vintage_magic]

[Transformation complete and resonance established, she moved towards his office in search of the bag. Along the way, he might notice something odd through their link. Flickers of color around the people they passed in the hall.]

[Grabbing the bag, she headed back out again, stopping at the clinic's door.]

Are you ready? It wasn't exactly pleasant out in the streets earlier with all the Madness and I doubt it's better now.

[She hoped they didn't start collectively hallucinating once they stepped out there.]

[lezard_valeth]

[It was distracting all told, and he found it peculiar. Before he could ask, she'd asked him something and he nodded. The resonance strengthened immediately. He knew he was rather susceptible to Madness.]

As prepared as I'll ever be. Do we have a route?

[vintage_magic]

[The resonance was familiar, reassuring. She hoped it would be enough to keep both of them anchored and prevent either from losing their minds.]

I thought we'd just try to find any demons running loose. But it looked like there might have been some commotion near the school so I guess we could head in that general direction. Let me know if you sense trouble anywhere in particular.

[She steeled herself and stepped out the door. The resonance seemed to be helping. At least, she was no longer seeing trash cans as demons. But now the flickers that appeared before were stronger around the few still out in the streets and hurrying for cover.]

And stop me if I start attacking anything that isn't a demon.

[lezard_valeth]

Will do. I ask that you do me the same for me should I seem... off.

[But he expanded his senses and kept an eye out. Should she wish to head for the school, he was prepared.]

We'll clear a path!

[vintage_magic]

Of course.

[She recalled how he had become in some of their early missions and although it hadn't happened for some time, it paid to be cautious with the oppressive amounts of Madness in the air. She hurried down the street, glancing up towards Shibusen. Was that a figure on top? There seemed to be a large pale yellow aura around it too.]

Am I imagining things or do you see someone standing on top of the school too?

[lezard_valeth]

[He looked up.]

My senses don't reach that far, but that is someone standing atop. I couldn't tell you who, however...

[vintage_magic]

[It was actually Shinigami but she had no way of knowing that at the moment. And with how far the school towered above the town, not surprising it was beyond his range.]

I guess we'll find out when we get there.

[She turned onto another street, coming to an abrupt stop at the sight of a reddish aura surrounding a person at the other end. They looked normal but the red glow had a disturbing resemblance to that of kishin egg souls and seemed malevolent somehow. Was the Madness making her think a kishin egg looked like a normal person?]

Is that...?

[lezard_valeth]

[His gaze hardened.]

That would be our lord of demons. As a Deathscythe, I can engage him.

[He rubbed his chin.]

Hmhm~ Eliminating him would cease the city's conflict and remove the malevolent aura...

[vintage_magic]

Lord of demons? That's Asura?

[Somehow, she had expected something more monstrous. But then, she saw that strange eye in the middle of his forehead. And was hit by the Madness he emanated. Power burst from her, knocking over all the trashcans along the street. She tried to get it under control again.]

You think we can beat him?

[But if this was indeed the Kishin, they had to try...]

[lezard_valeth]

We've the power to stand toe to toe with a Kishin. So long as our powers remain focused, he should be no issue.

[Except that his more logical thought process was telling him to turn and bail, TURN AND BAIL, this was no ordinary kishin but all others were practically -made in his image-...]

[vintage_magic]

[Uh, oh. They'd been noticed with the clattering of the trash cans. The Kishin was looking their way now and the red aura around him intensified. It made Lily want to run too. They weren't ready for this! Not without some preparation!]

Let's hide and come up with a plan first! Or at least not give him a clear target.

[And with that, she focused on their connection, willing herself to blend into the surroundings. But it wasn't an easy task with the Madness working against them, the camouflage flickering.]

[lezard_valeth]

[Oh... oh, he saw them. That changed everything.]

Agreed.

[The connection was pushed and he grasped it as solidly as he could. It would flicker, but it would soon cover the both of them entirely. But Asura wasn't convinced they'd just disappeared. He was coming over.]

I can't cast without dropping the camouflage. Let's find higher ground to conceal us before we begin our attack.

[vintage_magic]

[It was clearly time to move before Asura ran into them. She turned back the way they came, finding a fire escape to climb. Making sure to keep one hand tightly around him, she started up.]

Good idea. How quickly do you think we can go into hiding again if this doesn't work out the first time?

[She recalled being chased by the Reaper back in Japan. It'd be more difficult to run if they were on a rooftop.]

[lezard_valeth]

That depends upon the soul energy and how clean we can keep the connection. The better the connection, the quicker I can conjure another camouflage. So let's keep our wits about us, shall we?

[But he frowned.]

Of course, with madness thicker than water in the air, that may prove difficult. Let's make this first one count.

[vintage_magic]

That might be a tall order. Knowing you're here helps but I almost feel like that afternoon back in Jarod, as if my magic might go out of control.

[Making it up to the roof, she moved towards the edge and looked down into the streets. Asura seemed to be searching around the area where they had been first spotted.]

Should we use a Fire Storm or a Calamity Blast? Maybe, I can distract him first...

[And with that, she concentrated on one of the overturned garbage cans below, sending it rolling over the cobblestones towards the Kishin.]

[lezard_valeth]

Holding back isn't an option. Calamity Blast!

[But she had a good idea. The rolling trash can will at least drive away Asura's attention for a moment, allowing them to charge up the spell. Throwing down the walls against his soul was risky- he could hear voices in his head, but it would allow him to exert more soul energy for the spell. He just hoped they could execute it in time.]

[vintage_magic]

[Good. Asura had turned his attention to the trash can for the moment, trying to find who had set it in motion.]

[Meanwhile, she allowed the camouflage to fade as they gathered the energy to conjure the flames. Voices whispered in her mind that the spell would be much stronger if she put her anger into it. But she couldn't allow herself to lose control. The ball of fire complete, she hurled it down at the Kishin.]

[lezard_valeth]

[He couldn't help the laugh as the fireball slammed into the kishin, even if it didn't so much as make him stumble more than two steps.]

A solid first strike! Let's not let up. Another!

[Because he was never a man to pull his punches. His soul energy welled, offering another Calamity Blast. Collateral damage was going to be a certainty at this point, but what was a bit of a fire compared to the damage this kishin would cause!?]

Ah, but do pull away from the edge. Can't say I like that third eye.

[vintage_magic]

[Great balls of fire! The thing was barely knocked back by that attack. Seeing the flames scorch the pavement, Lily was glad that the locals seemed to have taken the advice to stay indoors. Another fireball formed, it quickly followed the first.]

Have you heard anything about what he's capable of? Other things to watch out for?

[She backed away from the edge of the roof, not wanting to find out first hand if that eye had some hidden power.]