towerofanimus | [CLOSED] Crescendo of Corruption

Entry tags:

[CLOSED] Crescendo of Corruption

Characters:

rememberscarlet,

rewindingly,

seekinganswers,

crouching_sin and Allen Walker (er, well...)
Setting: Floor 13--the Cathedral
Format: Action spamey. "Allen" is certainly not in a talkative mood, to say the least.
Summary: After mentally wrestling with an unknown being that has sought full control of his body since he was a little boy, Allen has finally given away too much ground for it and must be put down....but it certainly won't be without a fight. Stronger magics are also, for some reason, unusable (for now).
Warnings: Blood. Most likely light swearing. Descriptions of gore. Much sadness as well. Did I mention it was bloody?

--Floor 13, The Cathedral--

[The message was sent. If anyone were on their way, this would be it. This was it.]

[In his heart of hearts, it was like finally letting go after falling into the Arctic Ocean. It was dark. And it was cold. Nothing was everywhere but for the first time in his life, he learned to just let go...]

[As former visitors have seen, the interior of the cathedral made it very hard to hear. Perhaps it was the dry air, the wide openness of the place, or even the dark magics that perspirate from every corner of the tower. There was a teensy thing that could be heard, however--the playing of a large pipe organ. A sad, yet powerful and epic melody that could only be heard softly, as if it were being lightly whispered into one's ear. Yet even a casual glance would reveal nobody is playing the instrument at all, as the keys descended and ascended seemingly of their own accord.]

[A few more steps in reveal a gorey scene unlike nothing ever before--no bodies, no parts, only enough blood to fill several gallon buckets. There's been streaks before, to be sure, but this topped them all. Still fresh pools sat on the pews and on the floor, barely touching the carpet (although perhaps it is utterly soaked as it is red in color itself).

[Finally, the blood smearing the statue of the deity seemed to form a message. Not just a message, but a very creepy, dark parody of a smiley face was also drawn in blood on it...

One could not help but feel the dread creeping up their spine and into their skull.]

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Come out come out wherever you are, little mouse.

[He's taking a risk, yes. But there's no way to gather this thing's intentions without violence it seems. Ah, well. Naoya walks through the dust towards the rubble around the statue. At least the dust cloud should provide him with some cover.]

If you'd deign to speak, perhaps we could see if we can resolve whatever it is that's troubling you. If you stay silent, however... well. I'll have to assume the worst and kill you.

...

[She couldn't, in good conscience, leave Naoya to face this thing alone, even if he did seem capable. And she couldn't help but wonder what was going on here, and how it had managed to get so powerful...

Sheba followed a step behind Naoya, calling upon her Psynergy again and casting it out in all directions. This time it wasn't an attack - she was scanning the minds of anyone within range. Naoya might feel a bit of a twinge at his consciousness, but it wasn't his mind she was focusing on reading. If she could just hear a few of the thoughts of the person that had attacked them, maybe she could figure out where he was now that he'd vanished...]

[As he (casually, yet superhumanly) through the dust cloud, the faintest images of the message Allen had left just before he sequestered the true young man deep within his heart:

"Stay away" was the basic message. And yet he--that is, the 14th--knew some would come, anyway. They tended to do that.]

[Much like what they were doing now, going in pairs. Smart thing, really. But it was rather silly to think that he was using the dust and gravel of the statue to escape.]

[Very instant he was right behind young Sheba, hand merely a second and a half from grasping at her neck, that's when it came flooding in--a simple phrase, actually:]

"Good Morning."

Edited 2013-01-21 03:44 (UTC)

..!

[It came too late - a second and a half wasn't quite enough time for Sheba to put enough distance between herself and the strange young man, and the next thing she knew she found herself with his hand around her neck.]

Look out - he's fast!

[She didn't think he'd be able to get Naoya by the neck too, but with what he'd managed to do already, it was better to be safe than sorry. Heart pounding, she tried to shift her head a little so she could look at Allen - or whoever was currently in charge of his body - out of the corner of her eye.]

Who are you..?!

[Naoya just stared at the creature calmly - because whatever this was... well. He clearly wasn't human. He didn't look concerned at Sheba's predicament in the slightest.]

If you want to kill her, fine. I don't care. If your only goal is to cause mayhem, however... mm. You may wish to rethink that. There's too many here who would put you down for it.

No, that can't be your aim. So why don't you speak?

[The smile seemed almost genuine, like seeing a long lost friend for the first time in a decade. The vice of his hands says otherwise, however.]

.....urgk!

[Small trickle of blood began to pour from the sides of his mouth like someone turned on a faucet. And for a moment, his eyes dilated as he stared more towards the ground, yet the vice of his hands never lost their grip (if anything, they tightened a little). What could be heard from his mind said:]

...why?....

[In a quick motion, he threw Sheba onto the man Naoya and then straight kicked her in the stomach, forcing them both back two dozen feet, almost breaking the pew they landed in.]

[The force of it seemed to hurt Allen's body more than anything as he doubled over in pain, holding its stomach.]

Urk--!

[It had been hard enough to breathe with his hands around her neck; being thrown and then being kicked knocked the wind out of her entirely. Once she could, she shifted away from Naoya and rolled onto the ground in front of the pew.

She stayed still for a moment or two, fighting to catch her breath, but then struggled to her feet. She'd had worse. At least it had been a kick and not something much worse, she told herself.

As she stood, her eyes locked on Allen's body as it doubled over. Good, said a small voice in the back of her head. A spark at her fingertips betrayed that she was preparing another Spark Plasma spell to unleash if he got back up and seemed to be threatening.

Naoya could take care of himself, she was sure.]

[Naoya grunted as he was hit, and hissed as the pew broke under them. He was no great warrior, no bastion of physical vitality, but he scrambled to his feet and dusted himself off a bit.]

[He eyed the doubled-over form, charging another Megidolaon. Better to have it in reserve than be caught off guard.]

Temper, temper. Were you never taught better manners? I suppose I'll have to beat them into you.

[The voice coming from inside his head became far more lucid, and...quite a bit different, actually. No words could be made out amongst its mad ravings as a battle was certainly happening in the confines of his mind.]

No.......it hurts....I have to....stop....y...

[Was the only thing that could be made out before the form of Allen Walker stood up again, skin still as dark and inhuman as always. The blood from his mouth ceased to pour as it instead smeared the skin beneath his mouth as he smiled.]

[He craned his head at Naoya, still retaining the smile and the whimsical look of his eyes. The pipe organ changes its tune to something far more dreary, slogging along on legato like a funeral durge.]

[The effects of their magic on him seemed to deter him very little from his otherwise murderous intents.]

[Sheba narrowed her eyes as the boy stood up and looked to Naoya. The bits and pieces she was gleaning from his mind weren't pleasant, and she wasn't sure how she could use them. Clearly something bigger than she knew was at work here... and clearly it was dangerous.

She followed the boy's gaze, and in an instant she made up her mind. She let the Spark Plasma spell die away and instead cast High Impact on herself and Naoya - he looked like he'd pack a punch normally, and she figured an extra boost in power couldn't hurt, especially since he seemed to be the thing's new target. She followed it up with Resist, just in case the thing had any tricks up its sleeve that didn't involve grabbing them by the neck or hurling things at them.

Then sparks flew from her fingertips again as she prepared Spark Plasma once more. Whether or not she'd release it remained to be seen, but it was much better to be safe than sorry. The way the organ had changed its music again was a little ominous, and she tried to tune it out as she addressed the thing in Allen Walker's body.]

What is your purpose in doing this? Why are you here?

[Naoya approached the boy, power crackling at his fingertips. He couldn't spare too many more of these blasts, but he would if he had to - or really, if it seemed interesting. Physical attacks weren't his forte, but he did know how to handle himself if the thing grabbed for him.]

Speak, you dumb boy. If you don't, then I'll just kill you. You wanted someone's attention. Now you have it. So state your purpose or I'll take your silence as a challenge for this game.

[14th calmly walks backwards and takes off his outer coat (as it was torn beyond belief at this point). The outfit would look strange even to someone who was a century ahead of his time.]

[The 14th then mouths something...impossible to hear in the Cathedral, but a mind reader will find--]

"Final verse....and..."

[He was up the walls before it could be seen by normal eyes. There was a second floor, but it was certainly not his aim to go there. At random intervals, he struck a different section of the building. Mostly wooden, but even the stone bits were felled just as easily.]

...! What do you mean by final verse?!

[But she wasn't able to do much else before the 14th was already gone. Frustrated, and unable to get much more out of his mind, Sheba grit her teeth and darted away from the pews to get a clearer view of what he was up to - it was when a chuck of wood came crashing down, and she had to jerk to the side to avoid being crushed by it, that she began to realize.]

He's trying to bring the cathedral down...?!

[She let the prepared Spark Plasma spell fall away. At this rate, casting it would only make the place crumble even faster. What could she do? Her spell to put people to sleep didn't always work--]

Oh come now!

[Naoya's tone was sharp, as if scolding a child. He stepped to the side to avoid some debris.]

Now you're simply being unreasonable! Get back down here, brat!

[Watching the place begin to crumble amidst the whisper of the nonexistent organ player and no sound otherwise was almost like it was happening in slow motion. As was seeing the 14th in all his gray skin suddenly fall to the ground without a word (as always) before suddenly bounding towards his enemies.]

.................................................................................................................................................and....

[It's almost animalistic at the way he is moving towards them, even though he still remained on two legs. Only three steps took him within ten feet as two dark arms raised up above and behind him, both hands (which were of different colors, actually) looked ready to reach out and grab something--best not think about what, exactly.]

[10 feet.....5 feet...3 feet...]

[Well, Naoya had told the 14th to get down, but somehow Sheba wasn't sure this was quite what he'd had in mind. She tried really hard not to flinch as the arms rose out above and behind him, and she kept a wary eye on them. When he approached, she backed up so she could get a little bit of momentum...]

Either talk to us or stay back!

[...and then she rushed at it, her staff raised and pulled back so she could meet it head-on to strike at it.]

[Naoya hung back, charging another spell. He wasn't willing to get in close right now, not with how he was moving.]

[He watched as Sheba ran in, ready to provide support if needed, though.]

[Closer proximity to the monster (as that would be the more proper term for what he now was) brings with it the sudden realization that one was merely facing a monster--a calming thought, all things considered. For despite its humanoid form, its human facial expressions and even its apparent ability to speak, it was nothing like a human being.]

[And then after the first strike, a total match of both their strengths, which was a draw as weapon hit weapon-like arm, everything seemed to slow down.

[Sad it was, because it "used" to be a human, on the other hand. Even if its hands now cracked themselves and contorted like it was breaking against concrete (although they still weren't broken).

...organ...melody....I live....Then I'll...heal...

[Staff met arm, and Sheba jumped back at the end of the strike, aiming to keep herself out of the monster's range if she could manage it. That could have been worse. It could have been better, but it could have been worse, too.

The hands' contortions made her wince, just a bit, but she didn't have the time to get distracted.

What was that--]

Something about the ... organ? [Sheba wasn't sure whether what she was hearing was from his mind or from his mouth - an occupational hazard of being a mind-reader. Her gaze slipped away from the monster and to the organ, but then quickly snapped back to the monster, and she shifted herself into a defensive stance. Just in case.]

Destroy it or not?

[If this thing could be stopped, at least for a bit, it would probably be beneficial. On the other hand if destroying the organ would only make it worse... well. That could be interesting, too.]

[He's not even going to question how she's getting the information. Questions can wait until later.]

[The organ speeds up in pitch, the notes becoming louder and even more staccato for every note played. It is different from all of the melodies from before.]

[For the first time since meeting him, the 14th changes the expression on his face as his pupils dilate and the smile goes away entirely. Shortly a second afterwards, however, it just changes back.]

...melody...keeps you...h.re...do it...I'll..eal. [Manages to slip through the moment of weakness.]

[Another pew is quickly taken in hand and instead used as a weapon itself towards Sheba.]

[She was focusing very hard on picking information out of the monster's mind - so hard, in fact, that she almost didn't notice when the pew was hurled at her. She gasped and made to dodge, but wasn't quite quick enough to dodge it entirely - it clipped her on the shoulder and the force of it knocked her to the ground. The pew itself did pretty well at pinning her there, as well. This was ... unfortunate.]

Ow..! [She hissed. That had hurt - and moving her shoulder now made pain shoot through her arm. She'd have to get someone to help her with this later, but for now -]

Destroy it! [She and Naoya would have to work together on this one. Somehow, she didn't think the thing would just leave them alone if they tried. She could cast spells in the direction of the organ, but she'd need to get out from under this pew first - she didn't like the idea of being stuck in one place with the thing being right there.] I can get out of this myself - get started on that and I'll cover you!

[If she had to, she'd blast the pew. Her resistance to Wind-based Psynergy was pretty high so if she got caught in her own attack, it wouldn't hurt her that much.]

Fine.

[He fired off another Megidolaon - probably the last he'd manage for a bit - and sent it flying towards the organ. The ball of sheer energy exploded against the instrument, equivalent to a few bombs going off.]

[He turned and glared at the creature, stalking towards it.]

You've made this very, very irritating to deal with. You could have simply used your words, but no. Instead you chose to lash out like a child.

[While he couldn't throw an entire pew, Naoya picked up a chunk of concrete and threw it towards the thing, attempting to thwack it in the head.]

[Like razor wind, the concrete is blown apart with a strike from his left hand. Undistorted was he even though it was unnoticeable that a previously-unseen barrier at the entrance and exit suddenly appeared and then vanished before one's very eyes.]

Oh Allen... [It thinks. With more clarity than usual.]

[The 14th's eyes take a moment to stare at Sheba, indifferent as always. But now if it didn't know there was a mind reader in the house, the 14th certainly knows now. But otherwise, he just lets her stay pinned there. The place was going to collapse any second as increasingly larger sections of the place were falling, near silently, to the ground.]

[Its left hand opened wide as it began to bound its way towards its next target, the male Naoya.]

[Sheba met the 14th's eyes unflinchingly, tilting her chin up and shooting it a look that was a little haughty. She'd have to look into who this "Allen" person was, later - if she got out of this - but that bit of information was filed away for now.

She didn't quite notice the appearance and disappearance of the barrier at the entrance to the cathedral - there were other things to take care of. For example, she'd said she would cover Naoya, so for the moment she ceased her struggles to get out from under the pew and pointed at the space between Naoya and the 14th. A spark flew from her fingertips, and then a much larger bolt of purplish-white lightning struck the ground between them, followed by another and another that moved out towards the 14th.]

No you don't! [She was beginning to feel a little drained - she could manage maybe one more Spark Plasma, or a handful of weaker spells. One way or another, they'd have to end this...]

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