[center][color=c0c0c0][b][u]Slayer[/u][/b][/color]
Day 1
Location: Abandoned Castle
[@Hylozoist] [@Holy Soldier] [@Gentlemanvaultboy] [@Lmpkio] [@Zarkun] [@ToadRopes] [@Bright_Ops]
[b]Word Count: 683
Experience: [color=orange]||||||||||[/color]
LEVEL UP[/b]
Physical Strength += 5
New Ability: Dead on Time
Level 2[/center]

The winds of fortune did not, regrettably, conspire to give Slayer the amicable, conversational solution that for a moment he had held high hopes.  In a tremendous splash of energy, the grenade of one of the soldiers engulfed the form of General Brigan, but a moment later the giant shouldered his way out of the dark maelstrom toward the green-clad plumber who'd dared to attack him.  A flash of flame, almost too quick for even Slayer's eyes, carried Luigi to safety in the nick of time.  No sooner had Oswald, who Slayer judged by his actions to be on the heroes' side, whisked him away than a ball of power cannoned into Brigan.  Instead of burning through, however, it fizzled out.  This sight caused Slayer to raise his eyebrows.  [i]No sell?[/i]  Blocking could mitigate much of a blow, and evasion could render it harmless, but this appeared to be neither.  Not even a smidgen of 'chip' damage appeared to bleed through whatever protection surrounded the great lout.  Slayer observed as the heavy, rock-hard hooves of Mudsdale failed to bother him as well.  [i]No mere projectile immunity, then.  This is some sort of advanced state.  What could be causing it...?[/i]

As he wondered, the voice of Oswald interrupted his thoughts, and Slayer glanced at him to discover with some alarm that the shadow knight had not saved Luigi as a token of some newfound alliance against the greater evil.  For the first time, Slayer's grip tightened around his tie.  For some reason -one now deemed insipid and reprehensible by the gentleman who made it only moments ago- he'd expected that opposing one side of this fight meant allying with the other, but just as in his world, things were not so simple.  Then again, Oswald's demand wasn't unreasonable—merely solidifying a supposed truce by calling off the pursuit of those he held dear, though Slayer couldn't say with any honesty that the pursuit ever truly began.  This train of thought, too, was dashed when Brigan took a monstrous swig from his horn and breathed a colossal plume of fire across the room.  In moments every remotely flammable thing in the room was alight, so much tinder for the roaring flame.  It licked at Slayer's pant legs and coattails, threatening to consume him too, but the gentleman hurried to beat them out.  When his gaze returned to Brigan, something in his eyes had changed.  Their rich, mahogany brown had become harder than hardwood, and if they gleamed, it was not his characteristic gregarious twinkle but instead a shimmer of intent.

Around him, the situation had turned catastrophic, especially with the inferno draining the air of its oxygen, but it was with the same measured pace as always that he began to move forward.  No rage clouded his face, but it held the tired look of a parent done entertaining the tomfoolery of his child as he slipped his pipe into his pocket.  [color=c0c0c0]”He was untouchable before he took his drink, so it is not some potion protecting him, but instead those shields upon his chest.  Something so ludicrously impractical could only be useful by some magic property.  Loathe as I am to render this buffoon more nude, I suggest we strip him of those shields.”[/color]  The vampire polished and replaced his monocle as he drew close to melee range.  The picture of dignity and cultured sophistication, he opposed General Brigan.  Though the barbarian before him outmatched him in terms of height, Slayer stood far taller where it mattered.   [color=c0c0c0]”As for you...my mind is clear.  It is time I perform my first act...”[/color]

He stretched out his arms to either side of his waist, flexing the fingers into fists and chambering his right hand.  Rather than call his attack, he began immediately; his fist shot forward like a rocket, surrounded by purple fire, and its pull combined with his own leap sent him flying forward.  He aimed for Brigan's upper-right shield, hoping to destroy it with the full force of his special Overdrive technique, Dead on Time.  Slayer drove the bunker-busting punch home and exclaimed, [color=c0c0c0]”As a hero!”[/color]