[IC] HCL V: insert witty title here

[supertinyking]

@thewizardguy @Wraithblade6
As the two would begin to enter into the great hive, a familiar smell would waft its way into the nose of Kaine. Blood. Human blood, and lots of it. The cool breeze carries it from the forest near by, as screams of pain, and shrieks of men dying echoed forth from the forest....and from the tunnel before them, footsteps echoed. As no doubt they turn to see who was running to meet them, Issac would spring forth, soaring over both of them with a leap, as would a few other insectoid like men, ranging from beetlemen to women with six arms, and many eyes. Spider women, being the most correct assumption. These warriors rush forth towards the sounds of screams, and the scent of blood. A singular one remains behind, a roach that looks to you two.
"You two should go inside. Dispite you being armored, and armed..." He starts, referring to Kaine. "We're not able to secure your safety in the case of a fight....as for you little one, a battle is no place for you." He warns her, and soon vanishes into the forest with the others.

[kishin asura]

@supertinyking

Asura rushes to maka and holds her in his arms

[thewizardguy]

@Wraithblade6@supertinyking

The small one was odd. While speech was far from unknown among his species - indeed, Khaine oft took the time to learn the languages of the worlds he sought to conquer - rambling was foreign to him. Speech was a means to an end, and an end that would be reached with the swiftness of a blade to the throat. Yet the child talked about things both meaningful and meaningless, seeming to talk for no other reason than to talk, as if there was value in the act in and of itself. Such a thing was an oddity to Forge Demons, to whom value was measured in strength of both steel and muscle, and in valuable metals. But Khaine decided to endure it, carefully retaining the information that could be gleaned from the creature's monologue in case it might become useful at some later point.

Suddenly, Khaine heard a sound. Footsteps, fast moving, running. The slight hiss of steel leaving the sheath, the clatter of weapons as an armed party sped towards the pair. Khaine turned, reflexes primed for a fight, as a strange figure leaped up into the air. They'd gotten close, Khaine had been too relaxed. Internally he scolded himself, back in his day as warlord no opponent could have moved near him without his blade finding their throat. As it was, his fist flashed out to catch Isaac in the gut even as he attempted to leap the nearly 4m behemoth. The heavy Demonsteel gauntlet smashed into Isaac's abdomen, and the enhanced human was sent flying back into his insectoid retainers. A normal human would have been shredded by the blow, as Khaine's fists carried the force to tear through brick walls. And it was only through Isaac's superhuman endurance that he was able to take it as well as he did.

With a gesture, a portal opened at Khaine's feet, and from it came the Dread Blade 'Rending Eye.' The immense black sword was over 2m in length, larger than most men in and of itself, and had been custom made from the Blood of Baal when Khaine had first earned the title of Dread Lord. Fiery red lines formed intricate patterns and runes over the solid black blade, the edge blazing a bright orange. Where the guard gave way to the blade rested a closed eye, the organic component seemingly fused with the blade itself. A wave of heat washed through the room, tiny blue flames bursting from where the edge touched the air. Khaine gripped it in one hand, and faced the force that stood before him. The smell of blood was in the air, and like a shark, it excited him. He could taste the smoke in the air, the ashes of the mighty forges that still worked below. Memories of a thousand battles flooded through his mind, as his body automatically assumed a combat stance. On reflex, he raised the blade towards his opponents. Had this been but ten years prior, he would have waded through this foolish group of aliens blade flashing, and left nothing but burnt corpses.

"............" Khaine glared down at Isaac and the insectoids. He was unsure of what to do in this situation, besides attack. And yet some part of him knew that to give in to violence now would make all his earlier efforts void. And most bewilderingly of all, he noticed that in his moment of preparation, he had placed himself in between the tiny mortal and the attacking force. Filing away his concerns for later, Khaine questioned the force before him. "Tell me, who are you, mortals. You may not have proven yourselves to me, but perhaps if I know your name I shall have an easier time sparing your lives." While the statement might have sounded like a threat, coming from Khaine, it was completely legitimate.

[supertinyking]

@kishin asura @thewizardguy

Issac's leap, interrupted by a fist colliding with him. Kaine could feel the exoskeleton underneath bend slightly, Issac letting out a surprised yelp as he was launched back, into the dirt of the mountain, along with his companions. Quickly, they scrambled to their feet, some drawing their weapons, but Issac was the only one to stay his blade, sheathing it. He saw the towering figure, but he also saw the child before him, a scene involving two complete polar opposites. He had little time to explain, but he new better than to leap again. He knew, short, and blunt, was his best bet.
"My name is Issac, of the grass clan. We need past, we've detected a battle near by." He says, before one of the spiders pipes up. "One of our own had apperently taken an outsider to the forest for reasons unknown. We think that a fight may of broken out...we smell human blood near by. Given the dangers of the forest, it is very likely they've been ambushed by Tengu, or by a monster..." She adds, growing at her path being blocked. Issac attempt to move around Kaine. "I'd not start a fight here....you'll find it to be your last mistake, but we've no quarrel with you, unless you create one......." Issac says, attempting to move around Kaine.

Maka ends up in your arms, sniffling. "...A-Asura?" She asks, looking up at the demon god....Only for the back of her head to explode, from a firmly planted revolver shot. Tiny stands, holding the smoking gun, while the man in Green pounces forth, drawing a new hand of cards. Tiny spins around, pulling the hammer back on his revolver, and grins wickedly. He fires, his revolver going off like an explosion, fire spewing forth from the barrel, catching the mystery man, and sending him into the trees, before he too, explodes, red blood splattering all over the place. He turns to Asura, and bends his hand, doing the "Come at me." hand gesture, grinning. "Come on then Asura...I'm going to bring you down, and by the end of this...I'm going to see truly what your powers are...and then, you will either die, or you will kill me..." He says to the Demon god who is currently covered in the brains of his lover, and not in the best mood, if I were to guess.

[kishin asura]

@supertinyking

"...about time we started fighting." Asura growls. Slowly getting up "because right now, I need to express some rage."

[Wraithblade6]

Ilyndriel walked along ahead of Khaine. "...a few levels down. They have these forges and make swords among other things. This lady made me this necklace. Wanna see?" She turned around and lifted it up cheerfully, but just at that moment the scent of injury and sound of scrambling feet came rushing up the tunnel.

The angel girl turned around just as the insectoid beings would have slammed into her, possibly trampling her like roadkill. However, the presence of a armored behemoth redirected their momentum, causing several to attempt to leap over Khaine's head, but all in all they missed running directly into Ilyndriel.

She gasped and staggered back a step as the massive demonic friend of hers reached up to smash a fist into someone she suddenly recognized as... "Isaac!" She called out briefly, well aware now that things had changed. A sense of danger filled her and she stood vigilant behind the warlord, somehow seeking the protected space he provided while she figured out what was going on. She was horrified to see Isaac hit like that, and feared for his life. Of course, with him leaping like that, she couldn't blame Khaine's defensive reaction. She hoped it was just a misunderstanding.

Khaine demanded information, and it became clear, thankfully, that the insect-like army was not here to maul and sting her invited guest. That was a relief. Yet Isaac said that a battle was currently in progress, and Ilyndriel was shocked. How could she not have known? As she listened to Isaac, the realized the "outsider" was probably Asura, who had been led outside by one of the spider people. She began to panic. "Isaac, is it Asura? Is he in trouble? Please, lets go to him! I have to help him." Certainly she meant to heal him, or anyone else if there was blood being spilled.

[supertinyking]

@kishin asura @Wraithblade6 @thewizardguy

Tiny strikes a fighting pose, a pistol in one hand, threads drooping off the other, a sorta mix between Alucard, and Walter...however, he presses a finger on his right hand, his gun hand, to his ear, hearing something Asura can't. "...apperently, you're no longer the head of my to kill list Asura. That's good. Go take Maka home, I'm sure her brains regrow...right? I mean, you did turn her into a Kishin, if I remember right...anywho, Cya, got to go see if an angel's feathers make good pillows..." He says, before seeming to sink into the ground like a specter. However, Asura could see he is making a b-line towards a group of people, including a Demon, Issac, some of his friends and...oh no....
As Khaine and Issac began their barter, all of them could feel it. A disturbance, one in the very fabric of where they stood. A being, bending the rules of what held things together, rushing though the soil, like a shark though water.....and it was about to surface. Moving nearly to fast to keep track of, Tiny springs from the soil, no explosion of soil behind him...where does he spring forth from? Directly under Khaine's feet, his pistol aimed at Ilyndriel, his intent to have a singular bullet rip though her skull, and destroy her brain, and her, in a flash. It all seems to slow down, as the hammer begins to click downwards....

Click. Bang.

Gunpowder expands, a round being forced down the iron barrel at immense speeds....But, another factor was at play. A voice spoke, a wavelength crashed, as a wave of anger, and adrenaline would find its way into Asura, Issac, and Khaine. The fury, of someone seeking vengeance, for a crime most foul. This burst, this rush, is what allows Issac to swing his blade, sending the bullet skittering away from his friend, and into one of the insect warriors behind him, the shot exploding with an exceptional amount of force, ripping apart the insects, save for Issac. The flames pass over him, singeing his clothing, but little more, him shielding her. Khaine is free to do with this momentary rush as he pleases, but a voice deep down tell him....stab the man coming out of the ground. Rip him apart...piece by bloody piece. To destroy him. To make it so no amount of regeneration would save him.

Asura's anger subsides rapidly, as if it'd not been meant for him, he being caught in a relative explosion. Looking around for the cause....Maka's body is violently convulsing, as the man from before is squatting down beside her, seemingly repairing her brain with a pair of tweezers, a strange potion, and, weirdly, his own blood. "Man, even with complete "Brain" death, her body is still stitching itself back together...and her spirit is radiating such pure...Hate....I'm honestly jealous...." He...or, she, says, her voice betraying her true gender. Asura notes, this person feels partially familiar. As if he'd known them, or someone close to them.....but he does learn one thing, should he use his soul sight on her....

She's a witch.

[kishin asura]

@supertinyking

"Heh. I take it things have been going well for you, arachne." Asura chimes in with a chuckle "I have to ask though. Why are you so interested in helping maka?"

[supertinyking]

@kishin asura
The woman looks up at you, tilting her head. "Huh...ohhh, wait. Close Asura..but not quite..." She says, tilting her hat up, revealing the youngest of the Gorgon sisters, Shaula. So, Asura was pretty close, but didn't quite get the cigar. She is wearing green glasses, the lenses tinted green, explaining the green glow. Her hair is hidden in her hat, and her green trench coat hides her form exceptionally well. A disgusie meant to stick out, but hide the most important aspects. Bold, yet deceitful. She looks at Asura, a smirk formed across her face. "Well...The reason I'm seeking to fix Maka, generally, and to be honest...I want you two to kill Tiny. There's a bounty on me, and I'm not letting him get wiff of it so he can hunt me like DWMA did..." She says, pouring more of the potion into the back of Maka's skull, it rapidly increasing her regeneration, brain matter, skull, and scalp all reforming within moments. Maka remains out cold, until Shaula gives her a rather hard kick to the ribs. Shaula turns around to leave, however she looks back at Asura. "Also....well....a good friend of mine decided that maybe it's time to help bury the hatchet between you two...." She says, smiling.

[kishin asura]

@supertinyking

"I appreciate your help." Asura says "but there is no way I'm letting maka get involved. Not after what just happened."

[thewizardguy]

Sorry, rewriting. Didn't take account of Tiny's post.

[supertinyking]

@thewizardguy @kishin asura @Wraithblade6
((gonna just move things along here...))

Tiny, noting his attack failed, quickly vanishes underground, fleeing from the area. Slowly, Maka wakes up, and begins to radiate her wavelength of Rage, berserking everyone there save for Asura, Angel Girl, and Shaula. She seems to sink into the ground, turning to shadow, as she gives chase after Tiny though the earth itself. In the meanwhile, Issac and his fellows begin to battle among each other, Issac cutting into people he once called friends while under the effect of the insanity wavelength produced. He shows his strength, cleaving apart the other's weapons with ease when enraged, betraying a hidden strength.

[kishin asura]

@supertinyking

Asura looks around and decides to go after maka and tiny. But not before releasing a short burst of his madness wavelength in hopes that it would stop the fight

[supertinyking]

@kishin asura
((gonna just continue.))

The madness makes them collapse, screaming in terror, except Issac, who falls to one knee, his soul reacting...strangely, to Asura's wavelength. Maka soon rises, sighing.

"...He got away..." She says.

[kishin asura]

@supertinyking

"Well it's not like we would've achieved much rushing in blindly." Asura sighs. Relaxing his madness wavelength

[supertinyking]

@kishin asura
"I would of got him..." She says, pouting a bit. "If I could get my hands on him, it'd all be over..." She then snickers, before a cut appears on her cheek, that quickly closes. Issac, holding his blade that has a few drops of red blood coming off of it, stares at Maka, and Asura, with a odd sort of anger. His blade, while dripping with Maka's blood, also drips with the blood of his kin, him having killed two of his allies in his momentary madness induced by Maka, and he looks royally pissed about it.

[kishin asura]

@supertinyking

"....oh yeah..." Asura says " listen, I'm sorry about what happened man."

[thewizardguy]

@supertinyking@kishin asura

It seemed the world had gone to hell. Khaine dropped to his knees, slamming his fist into the ground as he felt a wave of fury and malice wash over his being. It burned inside of him, a will to kill that was not his own. Resonated with him, and his own murderous ways. But if ever there was a thing stronger than his rage it was his pride, and he would not be the puppet of some mortal mage. Slowly he forced himself to stand, measuring every inch of movement, every breath, every thought. He saw the blood splatter and blades swing, and he could feel his mind calculating the best angle of attack. But he forced such thoughts to the back of his mind, as he stood there, calmly among the bloodshed, as a single insectoid failed to pierce his armour with a hasty blow.

Luckily for Khaine, it was not long before the effects of the wavelength or rage were dispersed by a wave of madness. The madness hit like a storm, but having consciously calmed his mind, Khaine was mostly unaffected. Braced against the impact, he merely shook slightly, before resuming his previous pose. Now, as he could feel the alien anger leaving his body, finally he allowed his own anger to break free, filling up the void left by the rage's departure. It seemed he had been dragged into a fight he had not wished to partake in, and anyone who thought they could use him as a tool to their own ends would soon be informed of the folly of their ways.

Glancing over, Khaine spotted the insectoid warrior facing off against two odd individuals. A short mortal and a tall one. The insectoid was most definitely not responsible, so the other two must be. Marching over towards the couple, Khaine once more summoned forth the Rending Eye, the sword he kept locked in the Forge Realm. It's blade snicked across the cavern floor, as he raised it to mirror Isaac's own blade. "Tell me which of you is responsible for that, and I will make your death a swift and honourable one." Khaine glared down at the two mortals, completely ignoring the warrior by his side. Of course, in his anger, he had also forgotten of the tiny mortal who had sought to shelter behind him.

[kishin asura]

@thewizardguy

Upon hearing this, asura begins to turn around "Listen pal, can't you see we're in the middle of-" he immediately pauses when he sees khaine "....oh you're a big fella."

[supertinyking]

@thewizardguy @kishin asura

Issac looks to the warrior who had taken up a similar stance beside him, the two pointing their weapons forwards in unison. He then looked back to Asura, and Maka, his gaze locked onto the blond girl, as he growls, before turning to Khaine, moving between the Warrior, and the Kishins. "They are mine. I won't be denied this vengeance for what they made me do....the blood of my kin stains my hands today...something I will pay for dearly...but not before I make them pay, first." He says, standing firm.
Watching from the forests, Shaula groaned as no doubt, Asura had gotten into trouble, again, and her leader would be most displeased if he went to far into insanity from the loss of Maka...so, she began to plot, and scheme, knowing full well what would easily solve the problem...eliminating the two threatening the kishins. But how? Would she use poisons? Potions? Maybe just tear apart one, and lead the other away on a chase? Maybe...just maybe, that might work...
Springing forth from the forest, leaping up from a tree, Shaula drew another hand of cards, before throwing them, a shower of razor sharp death towards Issac, and Khaine. The hail of cards pummel into Issac, cutting him apart, his right arm falling to his side, along with his blade, as the rest lodge themselves in his chest. He lets out a gasp, one of his lungs collapsed, as he attempted to breath, squirming, dying on the ground. Shaula prepares another hand, standing where Khaine could clearly see her.

"You want to kill little old me? Well then, go ahead...try it." She taunts, before throwing more cards, these simply bouncing off Khaine's armor, leaving thin scratches that do little more than give the appearance of wear and tear. A bait, one of the sake of Asura, and Maka. Shaula begins her retreat into the forest, leaping into the trees, hoping Khaine, enraged, would follow her.

Thoughout this, Maka simply grabs Asura, and pulls him to the ground, making sure he isn't struck by the flying playing cards, concerned for his safety above everyone else's.