Castle of the Frozen Moon
Sunday, May 8th 20XX
Late Evening
@Kafka Komedy@Ginnungagap@Amaterasu@I-Am-X@Lonewolf685@TheHangedManAs the battle came to a close Aresvius’ form changed back to that of the young pale boy he was originally. Was it over? The ritual seemed to continue as he clinged onto it, but a few small spells to disrupt it would be more than enough at this point, as it’s caster had no power left to protect it’s maintenance.
“So that’s it huh? Am I so cursed as to never… Know my own freedom?”, Aresvius began to sit up, being a half yokai half vampire, though he had no magical reserves left he was not exactly injured, but in his current state he was quite fragile.
“Just end it… As soon as you dispel the ritual, the night will return to how it was before I began this. I’ll have to find some other way”, he seemed defeated, his face hid a great deal of frustration as he looked away… Yet, as soon as he did his nose picked up a sweet scent.
In an instant he turned back to the group, eyes wide with shock and horror, he looked around in what appeared to be a panic until.
“How disappointing, I had such faith in you”, Aresvius’ vision would turn to the party as they looked at him in shock, only for his vision to follow theirs, looking down. A cane with a sharp tip had pierced his chest.
Standing behind the young vampire was a man in a black suit, sharp, cold eyes, with a hungry gaze, topped off by a wide-brimmed black hat. His gloved hand held the cane now jutting through Aresvius’ chest.
“But… I can’t exactly let it end here, here… Allow me to do you a favor young scion of Arsenios”, after some moments, Aresvius would begin to scream in pain as red wide-petalled flowers began to grow from his wound. The ice of this beautiful pristine blue castle began to dye a caste of red as the moon in the skylight began to become a deeper light of crimson, before turning black as the sky itself turned red.
All around the party they would begin to smell a rather thick sweet scent, red vines burst from the ground and pillars, snaking around, parts of them growing more of those red flowers. Those observant would recognize them as rafflesias, and those well-versed in poisons would realise this scent was deadly. As it began to pervade the area he began to speak,
“I had such high hopes for the descendant of my good friend Arsenios, the blood of Noah flows within you after all, and yet you fall short to a few students”, he leaned in closer to Aresvius.
“We are the Descendants of Noah, the highest order of monsters, the top of the food chain, but it appears you are not yet ready to be one of us. And what was that form before…? Why such an ugly image of your origins? Hm? Well, consider this a gift from your dear godfather”In moments, the poison should disrupt all bodily functions, as their breathing became coarse, they could even feel their magical power being sapped from them as the bright red, cold eyes looked upon them like trash. Who was this man…?
CRASH!
A giant nail fell from the sky, crashing and imbedding itself between the party and the newcomer. From the heavens they could hear a booming voice.
“He who weathers both heaven and hell, with righteous fists alight with justice, descending upon the scene comes....!”A man landed on top of the nail, with muscles like marble and a body like that of a body builder.
"K A I D A N B A K U S A T S U!"It was the PE teacher.
As he landed, a flash of blades filled the room before appearing like a breeze in the wind was Kuuto stepping in beside Kaidan, holding out a plain katana without a guard. Time appeared to stand still as he flourished the blade, sheathing it.
The room appeared to shatter as it turned back to the pristine palace it was before, and amidst all that, the newcomer’s cane was struck, freeing Aresvius.
“I’ll never understand your need to make chants. Your skills don’t even require those”, he sighed.
“It’s cool isn’t it? I need no other reason! Besides, your entrance was no less flashier than mine!”“Hmph. Well we’re not here to bicker… The principal's word was correct. To think he was right…”, Kuuto’s voice was now projected at the black suited newcomer.
“I suppose it was too much to ask that I simply got away with this… But, maybe I should be thankful he cares enough to give me a welcome party”, despite the show of strength earlier, he seemed not at all fazed, yet… Why would he be, if he could take over someone’s grand spell with such speed, even if it was weakened.
“And I suppose it’d be too much to ask that today is when I get to slay you, but I suppose I’ll have to settle for ruining your fun… Ruthven”, the man now identified as Ruthven smiled.
“Oh come now, don’t be such a downer. Have a little more faith in yourself”, he responded in jest, walking forward and then picking up the sword Shatterstar, which the Dullahan had been using. He opened up his arms as if to invite an attack, and as soon as he did, a gust of wind blew through him followed by an array of slashes was all over his body, for an instant it appeared as if he had been decapitated, quartered, and severed top to bottom, but all that followed was a gust of red petals and shining shards of the sword he was holding, following the wind of what appeared to be Kuuto’s attack.
“Never seen you just lose your cool like that, you know this guy Kuuto?”, he didn’t answer. He looked around, everyone was a bit weak, but everyone besides Aresvius should have it in them to run. Kaiden then turned around, it appeared Kuuto was a bit too focused to give orders.
“You kids should run. Don’t worry about Aresvius. We were here for him too anyways”, he gave a thumbs up before ushering them on their way.
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As everyone got a safe distance away… Or completely ran if they wanted to, they watched from afar. A familiar voice rang out through the halls.
“Aresvius my dear boy, I’ll show you what a true descendent’s form is”, he lectured. The petals that had scattered before began to reform in the center of the room in front of Kuuto. It was the man from before, except this time his hair was bright red, eyes glowing, his coat was larger, long, the tails forming bat-like wings. Other than these features he didn’t seem at all different front his previous form. He turned a little to address Aresvius,
“Have some more pride in yourself, monsters may we be, but we don’t have to be ugly monsters”, a moment was given to let the line sink in, before his image disappeared in a red flash. In an instant Kuuto drew his blade, creating a kaleidoscope of slashes, yet each one was shattered by lines of red running through them as Ruthven appeared in front of Kuuto, arm raised with a scarlet blade of energy surrounding him, poised to strike like fangs.
In that very moment an array of explosions rang out, obscuring Ruthven’s vision of Kuuto who quickly slipped away. Very soon the vampire would meet the fist of the burly ninja who used his free fist to make hand signs, causing several images of himself to appear, each one making a different handsign.
“Instant Hi-Ougi! Bite of the Winter Forest Technique!” at that moment several trees grew out from beneath the battlefield, constantly moving, but it looks like he wasn’t done as each image made the same sign he did earlier, creating even more images of each one, using different hand seals again.
“Instant Mass Hi-Ougi! Eternal Dragon’s Slumber, Sealing Technique!” there was nowhere to run for Ruthven as he stood there looking around, although he didn’t seem at all panicked, in fact he was rather amused. Several images of flaming dragons surrounded him before forming an egg around him.
“God Killing Technique, Heretical Susano’s Descent”A single flash came from the heavens as Kuuto reappeared, was he preparing this technique the whole time? Or was he waiting for the right time? Regardless, with Ruthven trapped, he had the perfect moment to dish out a significant blow. The thunderous noise of a blade rang out as not just the flaming egg, but the trees too were caught in the technique’s strike.
As the dust settled there was… Nothing in the egg.
“Blood Moon’s Sanctuary, Coup d’etat of the Witching Night”, Kaidan and Kuuto looked up towards the source of the voice to see Ruthven descending slowly before settling somewhere high in the air. The entire castle turned red like before, a quick Scan can tell anyone that all the magic generated by the Walpurgisnacht was now being directed towards him, as if he had taken ownership of the spell.
“Witching Night’s Forecast… Rain of Blood”, the vampire raised a hand, then slowly motioning forward as a rain of blood-red lances descended from the heavens. This move alone would not be able to do anything to Kuuto and Kaidan, both of whom were incredibly agile combatants, yet…
“Blood Moon’s Sanctuary, Suspension”, as those words were uttered, Kaidan and Kuuto froze in place as dozens of lances were poised to strike them. In that moment Kuuto began to do a chant, dispelling the effects just enough for Kaidan to get some hand signs done.
“Forbidden Technique…! Protective Seal of Amaterasu”, a flaming dome appeared around them protecting them from all attacks, and in time, they would be able to move again, now immune from the Walpurgisnacht, yet as the technique concluded, Kaidan fell to his knees panting as the technique took a lot out of him. Ruthven began to descend back down to the ground in front of them.
“Truly exhilarating! Such a wonderful combination of techniques, I’ve even had to take over this Walpurgisnacht to be able to avoid such an attack! Hmmm… But I am not here to drain the life of this young boy, this night has gone on long enough my dear friends”, he gave a courteous bow.
“I suppose you two are lucky for the time being. Farewell… Oh, and do keep this boy safe for me would you?”, he began to dissolve into petals.
“After all, it’s not every day we Descendants have children”, and with that… He was gone.
The city had returned to normal, Seidoujima was back to a peaceful night, except this time there was no moon in the sky. The group had ended up in the park at the conclusion of the events. When the castle disappeared from view, they felt as if they'd been pulled back by some otherworldy force before landing somewhere in Seidoujima Park. Appearing shortly after they had managed to get their bearings was Kuuto and Kaidan, the latter on his shoulder was carrying the young Aresvius, who some may suspect, is not as young as he initially appeared.
"Good work out there kids! Man I really didn't expect to be seeing some students in the castle itself... Must've been a stroke of bad luck to be there... Or good luck perhaps", Kaidan seemed undecided on that.
"I didn't expect it either, but I held that class out of curriculum order to keep the students safe tonight. Any normal undead this boy's Grand Spell would've summoned would've been put to rest with even a weak exorcism spell... I didn't expect anyone to be fighting the boy himself though", Kuuto added on. There was a bit of silence as they wondered what to do next, but Rodrick spoke up.
"I have heard of Vampires before, in Arcanis but... These ones, are nothing at all like what I've read", he inquired.
"That's because these ones aren't. The vampires you know of in Arcanis are still demons of a sort... The ones originating here in Earth and their root is known as the Descendants of Noah. Their roots are not demonic", he explained.
"As their title or name implies, they're descendants of Noah, the man from the biblical story... Though... That's what they claim. I suppose unless one of the ones who know their origins explains, we won't ever know the truth... The one we saw up at the castle is Ruthven, claiming to be the first descendant. I suppose if anyone knows it'd be him... But that's already a complication in of itself... Well, it doesn't change that they're prodigiously powerful beings with vast near limitless potential... Top of the food chain may be correct", Kuuto didn't seem to be fond of talking about Ruthven. It didn't seem like a grudge, more like... Annoyance?
"As for Aresvius here, he's also one of them, but... Partly. The principal-",
"The principal has allowed him to stay here at the academy until he fulfills a certain task... There's no more that needs to be known... For the time being, it's late... And... You all have class tomorrow", Kuuto cut Kaidan off who upon being cut off, realized what he was saying. There was more to this boy than this, but for now, it seemed this whole deal with the Descendants was all they were going to learn.
"See yourselves to your homes. Oh... Don't worry, I'm not the teacher for tomorrow's class",
"I am!... That being said I should also get some rest very soon".
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