[center][img]https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.xJCBhXsNm50_Z93sVnzhswHaE8?pid=ImgDet&rs=1[/img][/center] [center][h2][color=Silver]Primitive: A Dance in Hell[/color][/h2][/center][hr]In collaboration with: [@jasbraq] as Fiske [hr] [center]"Where are we?" [color=gold][i]I don't know[/i][/color] "What is that?" [color=gold][i]I don't know[/i][/color] "Why is this happening?" [color=gold][i]I don't know[/i][/color] [color=gold][i]How did something so simple become like this? I can't tell you, but I can at least go through it once more.[/i][/color][/center] Upon exiting the portal created by Jocasta we were told of a strange metal tube that was found with a note. This note was made with a blocky and clean lined text that reminded me of Sirrahi typography. The note was addressed to multiple individuals within the group and spoke of finding some 'Silent Ranger'. It was simple, that was where I think we made our first true mistake. I at least asked Jocasta to retrieve some things for me from my shop, this was much different than what he expected, so it needed a few more things. Firstly, the blue hourglass that we found in that god forsaken tomb. Then, the strange vial that was found with the hourglass, god knows what it is, but being there and both being connected to the Sirrahi, anything might be important. Like that helped with what we are facing. Once I got the items I needed, we began to head off, eventually finding some strange city within the desert. As like all other things before, we stepped into the unknown. Coming upon the world of the undead, and we never knew it. Once we entered, the sky darkened and we began to feel magic beginning to well, yet when we attempted to fight it, nothing happened, not even temporal magic, so we had to move forward, there was no way else. As they came upon a simple challenge, colors and matchings of 5 different spots. Me and Fiske had chosen to take one spot, and that was a mistake on my part. As now I was stuck with the one coward who would try to trick and fool even the Gods to get away from a little trouble. In that moment when we all found our place, magic began to surround us, and then we were gone. We had arrived in some strange corridor, it was dark, damp, and had scrawlings upon the wall. Through the use of magic we were able to begin looking upon the walls, and all we saw was horror. Grotesque images of creatures, beings, and shapes, all of which seemed to almost morph and move as we looked, and then, that was when we realized hell was upon us. One of the images moved in such a way to almost seem real, it seemed to shift as it took the form of some strange bat, and then became so real, it looked like it was really in front of us, and then it was. It lept out right for me, flying at such speeds that it could have been mistaken for a bullet, thankfully my senses and reactions were sharp enough to sway back, buying myself just enough space from having those claws tear into my face. Yet, before we could even turn, it was gone, and then, we felt it, [i]hundreds[/i] of these creatures. Hell had opened up, and apparently we were right at the gate. Fiske did exactly as I expected, truth be told, I would have done the same, he ran while using his magic, yet it seemed that no matter how much he tried the damn bats had his beat. For me? I was in probably the worst place imaginable, yet I realized something much worse, my power was waning, and fast. I had used the power Yalen gave me, now the connection was split, I could feel my manas disappearing, yet that meant nothing to what came next, the hunger. God it was terrible. It was painful, it isn't something that is easy to describe, you need to know what it felt like, you need to know what it feels to be starved to near death. What it feels like to have to work without having eaten anything in weeks. It makes one weak beyond belief, yet also ravenous, and I was nearly consumed by it, losing all semblance of my situation. It was not until I heard the sounds of metal claws grinding upon my armor and it felt as if I was nearly thrown from my feet that I was pulled back. My hands shot to my pistols in their holsters and all I could see was red. My body moved on its own, my armored suit told me where things were coming, it came to my instincts to then how to move. Multiple angles of attack, as the bats came flying at me, one from below, one from my side, one from above, and one from directly in front. I shifted back as I flipped back, setting one hand to the ground and continued it, and even I landed more continued their onslaught. I continued through that flipped then performed another, and then another, I shifted and dodged. Constant attacks, constant flurry of attacks, hundreds of bats constantly barraging me, and all I could do was dodge, But I needed to attack, I couldn’t dodge all day, I will never be able to survive like that, I would never escape or win like that. So I need to get better. I could not rely on my sight, their illusions were powerful, nearly strong enough to make me believe when they made contact with me that they were real. I couldn’t even fully rely on my magical senses, nor even my suit as the presence their illusions made seemed to even trick these fine tuned senses. No matter the case, I had to get better. I would have died if not. Every dodge I made, every movement, was incredibly wasteful. These large movements I used were sloppy and made it where I had more openings that were then filled by more bats closing in trying to attack. A constant barrage of illusions and attacks made it where attacks constantly rained down upon me, and the sheer reason why I lived was the armor and gear I had made. Their claws could not find purchase on my body, my mask had covered much of my face, the only place I would have any meaningful injuries were on the top of my head. Meaning I still had a weakness, yet I could defend it, and even then I was still struggling. This struggle led to the need of my very existance needing to be refined, everything mattered, I couldn’t even get a moment to breathe a full breath. These large dodges and dives needed to be refined, they wasted so much energy and gave me nothing more than problems, so I need to use less energy. I began to slowly shift from full dives to doing large jumps and lunges. Turning these lunges into steps, these steps into half steps. From what came to one dodge to half dodges, then that to light shifting, beginning to do 2 actions at once. Taking hits that meant nothing, slashes that found no real purchase, and attacks that slid across me. These small cuts on my armor and gear began to disappear. Finally, I was able to act out this dance I had played in, I was following another’s rhythm, another’s tune. However when I dance, I am the one to lead. A slight half step back, a slight arm shift forward, these slight movements setting up for attacks. With the step back my arm slightly shifts and comes up to fire my pistol, when my arm is up it continues to move to not allow myself to be winged and I follow the movement to keep myself tight and flowing.. My other arm slightly moves and fires as well in another direction, it did not matter where I fired, nor when, as long as I fired an attack, I was doing something. These attacks may not have hit anything, yet it gave a slight opening in this constant dance of death. Inches and moments away from death, I could feel it, yet I couldn’t care, as long as I was moving, I was living. In this macabre dance between life and death, I am the lead dancer. They began to attack more, and this dance sped up in pace, blood began to fall, from both me and the bats. Slight cuts began to form once more on my armor and myself. The healing and repairing constantly done by the armor made sure I wouldn’t die, but how long would [i]that[/i] even last, I wouldn’t know. Yet I could now feel it, Fiske was near me once more, I could feel myself being overwhelmed and all he did was run, trying to probably hide and failing, Scared and inches away from death, all I could say in this all was, [color=gold]”You fucking coward! All you are doing is running!”[/color] In the moments where I did not speak, gun fire resounded throughout these damned halls, it left little true time for a response without trying to talk over me. Allowing no defense on Fiske’s side, wasn’t exactly planned yet it helped greatly. [color=gold]”You chose to come! You knew the risks! And you’re running?! Where to?! There is nowhere to go!”[/color] Another slash came across my back as it was one of the few areas defended by a Royal Sand Wyrm scale. Yet it let off a horrific screech as it had such a high metal content. [color=gold]”You wanna know that ending?! You’ll die tired! You’ll die as nothing! For nothing! Are [i]you[/i] going to die in some hole?”[/color] I continued to fire as more bats came, I swung my guns, using the blades upon them to slice through the air, it hit nothing and could have left me open, and the bats seemed to know that. Yet I continued through to a pirouette using my legs and body to kick and swing around me. Creating a near tornado of attacks that forced any bats near back or to die from a powerful hit. [color=gold]”What will you do!? Will you die for nothing? With nothing?! Looking like some kind of coward? Dying in some corner because you decided to run!? As nothing more than a shitless corpse! YOU will be nothing! Have nothing! You will never be remembered if you die here!”[/color] Were these cries of fear? Probably. Were these me yelling at myself? Maybe. This might also have been my only chance to see the sun. Maybe it was not to spur Fiske on. Maybe it was a bit of myself. It may have been the one chance I had. Maybe. Maybe… Weakness, weakness and cowardice are the only things ever acknowledged from my actions. It is never my accomplishments. Never my compassion towards others. The thoughts of fighting against these things makes my legs shake and shiver. [color=#FF00FF]Never be remembered? As if I will be remembered by my so-called friends if I were to bite the dust here.[/color] Soon enough after the Enigma of Ahn-Shune released an array of light beams comes from the figure in the corner, hitting the dirty pests before that heat was used to ignite the bats, making them appear more akin to little flying fires. I appear from the corner looking annoyed beyond belief. [color=#FF00FF]”Shut up, shut up, shut up! You know nothing! YOU will die as nothing while I become everything!”[/color] Tears trailing my cheek as fear appears to still take an effect. [i][color=gold]Well. ain't that a show?[/color][/i] Thankfully it opened a moment for me to breathe as I can fight back more, but that too is quickly taken and slowly pushed back into a near maelstrom of death. [color=gold]"You wanna be something?! Don't make me laugh! With a show like that? Your half assed work? You'll be forgotten!"[/color] Come on Fiske, I need you to do more. I know you can do more, if we are to live, you need to do this. Come on, let it out, get angry, get mad. You're strong enough, use that power hiding inside you. [color=#FF00FF]”My half assed work? You filth! You would never understand my art! It is nothing half assed, if anything it’s double assed!”[/color] During these words my surroundings began to heat up, fire building up before a massive pillar of fire began to spurt from the middle of the room, spurting fire towards its surroundings. [color=#FF00FF]”There! Is that half assed?!”[/color] The heat was intense, so intense I could feel my skin boiling on my face. With this level of heat, honestly my suit might have been the only reason why I was able to stay alive as it healed me by constantly drawing from the heat and radiating it back to cool me and using any leftover energy to heal me. The flame pillar began to swallow the hallway more and more as it became harder and harder to handle, however I had to endure it long enough. I began using more magic to protect myself, even the small area I need to protect was difficult, the amount of energy was just so intense, however moments later, the fires were quelled and left a radiating heat. In this room it was dark and hard to see, however it felt like the heat was akin to being directly under the sun itself. Once I made a light I saw the carnage left over, bats charred and boiled beyond recognition, the sickening sound and smell of boiling fat. Then I saw Fiske’s face, he seemed almost about to break down. [color=gold]”That’s a little better. You did good.”[/color] I set my hand on Fiske’s shoulder, [color=gold]”Let’s get out of here. No one will know about how good that was if we don’t leave”[/color]. As if in a daze, my response was somewhat delayed. [color=#FF00FF]”Yeah… Let’s..”[/color] I caught Fiske and began carrying Fiske as we slowly followed strange illuminated arrows that I remember seeing on the tube Jocasta had. Is this a trap? Probably, but what else can we do?, This was a strange place, with strange images on the tunnel that seemed to make no sense, yet because of Fiske, it was calm. After a little longer we finally reached a door, and it was time to figure out what was on the other side. I hope it’s a warm meal. I’m starving.