[center][color=c0c0c0][b][u]Slayer[/u][/b][/color]
Level 5 || Day 3 || King Boo's Castle
[@Zarkun] [@Majoras End] [@Tenma Tendo] [@ONL]
[b]Experience: [color=orange]||||||||||||||||||||||[/color][color=black]||||||||||||||||||||||||||||[/color] (20/50)[/b]
Word count: 520[/center]

A warm smile overcame Slayer as Heavy expressed his gratitude, prompting him to repay the large man in kind.  [color=c0c0c0]”I am delighted to hear it!”[/color]  Akira, meanwhile, managed without his help.  In fact, the young man ended up putting on a display of both alacrity and altruism as he helped ferry little Six across the gap.  Though so far things seemed to be going well, the task at hand was hardly over.  One at a time the team of heroes made its way across the platform-profuse void, and while progress came slowly, no difficulties presented themselves until -upon reaching the yawning pit's far side- a new menace arose.  Turning up his nose, Slayer took note of the specters' more nebulous coloration, and of the fierce glint in their eyes.  He did not expect one to start talking, but took it in stride when it did, first badmouthing its more reticent forebears and then promising a tougher obstacle.  Even before the Dark Boo finished his challenge, the group could guess that their first real foes lay before them.  Slayer did not miss that the Dark Boo's words seemed to imply that King Boo would not be far away.

Violet flames flared to life, illuminating the eerie paintings that lined either wall, their subjects' pallid faces contorted by the unnatural light into twisted, wicked leers.  Unlit candle sconces stood against the walls, and cobwebs clung to every corner.  Behind the heroes remained the abyss they just crossed, a lingering threat preventing retreat.  Slayer did not think, however, that they intended to.  The otherworldly flames flooded forward, but the vampire did not flinch.  Though no pyromancer, he knew well certain sepulchral flames of purple and fuchsia, for they radiated from his stronger attacks as a mere side-effect.  He stood tall and, when the time came lashed out with a great revolving kick whose own burst of displaced air and ghostly fire carved an arc through the onrushing wall.  While simply teleporting at the right time did occur to him, he figured that his allies might be less prepared to deal with such an assault than he, and thus resolved to protect them as best he could.

Whether or not he volley of flames washed over him, Slayer took a brief moment to consider his enemies.  Though not very threatening, and more like mischievous entities than vengeful spirits of the departed, these Boos did seem to be ghosts and function as such.  While his flames might ward them off, they were after all nothing more than accentuating byproducts of his physical attacks, so neither they nor said attacks really be used offensively.  Fearsome as Heavy's minigun was, the gentleman did not anticipate his comrade being able to do much, either.  Six, who he assumed to still be holding on to Akira's back, looked to be at a disadvantage as well—how could one drain the life of one who harbored none to begin with?  Akira might, he reflected, end up being the star of this little episode.  Nevertheless, he raised his hands in boxing stance, preparing to retaliate against the boos as best he could.