Dance with the Devil(closed)

Goranova rested at the masked swordsman's hip, bouncing lightly with every step he took. He walked from the temple he called home. He wandered from the place, ignoring the demons as they watched him. He walked past them, the Devil's Teardrop at the ready in the back of his mind. He was armed at all times, never vulnerable. Not after he'd lost that fight. It was strange to be in places like this without the thought of what the demons might do. But since he'd begun to fight ogres he wasn't worried about them at all.

Silently the swordsman made his way to the lake in the middle of the woods. Drawing the Devil's Teardrop from the dark mists as they formed, he drove the weapon into the ground at the water's edge. Kneeling his eyes closed as he bowed his head. He had many reasons for being here. It was where he'd first met the goddess he had sworn himself to. It was the same place he'd been transported to with Grunty and her gang after the botched attempt to take the night club. Perhaps he had to go back there and begin again?

It wouldn't be hard. Though to take that many people out alone would cost him a lot. But in time, he could take out buildings one at a time. He only needed time. He had to grow stronger, physically and magically. He knelt there his eyes closed as he waited patiently. He wasn't praying, but then again he wasn't just sitting there. He was waiting for something to happen, though there wasn't much he expected. He was hoping that Amaterasu, or his grandmother, or someone would show up. He needed guidance and nothing he did was helping anymore.

"I need strength. Please, someone show me."

(300/300)

"Cake? Really. No thanks. I think I'll stick with the side that has pie." he said, reaching up to take the mask off his face.

He rubbed his eyes as he set it around the hilt of the Devil's Teardrop. He shook his head as he looked around, trying to spot his goddess. He ran his hands through his hair lightly as he stood there. He had to be careful around his goddess for now. Until he grew strong enough to stand alone. That day was coming but until then he would do as she told him. But he wasn't about to play into her stupid little cake jokes. Though if he wasn't careful he'd end up doing just that, and end up completely insane.

Then again he didn't know nearly as much about his goddess as he liked to think. He would have to do research on the beautiful woman.

(151/451)

Adrian frowned when he saw the orb floating there pulse his arms falling to his sides as he leaned closer to investigate. His eyes widened as a chain shot out and wrapped around him, the blades digging into his flesh. Crying out in surprise he pulled back, falling on his ass before he was jerked, by the bladed chains, into the orb. His eyes squeezed shut as he took a deep breath. But it didn't help. The instant he felt wet he felt cold. He curled up, his flesh turning red from the cold, his body shaking as his clothing and hair frosted slowly.

Curling up he shivered, his eyes squeezing shut as he tried to warm up. He wasn't used to the cold, though most of the time it didn't bother him. Then again it was never THIS cold. He cried out in pain as he lay there on his side, his body trembling. He set his jaw, trying to keep his teeth from chattering.

(166/617)

Growling low in his throat, Adrian rolled onto his stomach. His body trembled as it slowly rose. Going from hot to cold really fast was never good, but the swordsman could take a lot more punishment than most high demons. He would die of his wounds long after anyone else he knew. Rising to his feet slowly, his eyes narrowed before he followed the dark haired woman. His breathing was slowly becoming steady. Slowly returning to normal as his body warmed up. He frowned as he followed her up the stairs, his eyes glancing around the world around him. Sulfer, heat, and other things assaulted his senses, but Adrian was no stranger to the workings of Hell, or anywhere else. He was Fu Leng, the Ninth Kami, the last to fall to Earth from the Celestial Heavens, the human embodiment of the master of Hell.

(145/762)

Adrian ignored the woman attacking the Yokai. He wasn't impressed, not in the slightest. The woman seemed strong, sure, but she wasn't on the same level as Domen'Yun. Then again they were two different fighting styles. Adrian was a powerful human and not really all that bothered by the walk. He moved to stand beside Hild, his arms at his sides. His hands were gone, hidden within his sleeves. Standing there he watched her, his eyebrow quirking as he waited for her to address him.

Then she asked him if he had been well. The word well didn't come to mind as Adrian thought back on the events in his life since their first meeting. He'd been hounded by demons, outcast from humanity, and had constantly found himself in new places, never knowing how he got there. Losing more and more time.

"Well isn't the word that comes to mind, my lady." he said as he sat as ordered.

(159/921)

Adrian took the tea from the cat yokai, before staring at the silver haired woman. He smirked at the aging comment. He just sat there, before he laughed lightly, finally letting it out. He set the glass of tea down before he looked into his Goddess' beautiful eyes.

"If there was anyone in this world more capable of cheating death, then I would enjoy meeting them. My lady you're a fool if you believe that I have done nothing with my time. I have begun my training as a spirit blacksmith. And I have advanced my knowledge of the Spiritual Arts, and soon enough I will know how to even stop the aging process. Then again if you were to ask for my opinion, I would say you already know how to do it. How could one as old and powerful as you not know how to keep humans from dying?" he asked. "No offense, my lady. You're more beautiful than any woman I've seen among humans. But you told me yourself that Goranova is nearly as old as you when we first met. But you are correct, there is someone I would enjoy spending the rest of my life with. And please don't use that name when referring to me."

(211/1,132)

"You are free to call me by Fu Leng. Though you are also free to call me Ashram. It's something only my grandmother ever called me. As for the name of the person, no it's not Yu Fan. We aren't lovers. We haven't gone nearly that far yet my lady. She's far more beautiful than anyone else I've ever laid eyes on. But no matter how much my heart longs for her, I know it will never come to be. So please don't bring it up anymore my lady." he said, as he sipped at the tea he'd been served. "So why am I here? Did you have something you wanted to discuss with me? Or would you prefer that I sit here like a child being asked questions about his girlfriend by his mother?"
(135/1,267)

"Within the world there were many different types of spirits. But they were not demons, angels, or humans. They were instead all the same. Until the nine kami, that is. The ten children of Onnotangu and Amaterasu, they were destined to be the rulers of the world. But Onnotangu suspected that one day they might oppose him and decided to eat them. But Amaterasu couldn't just stand by. Nor could she stop her husband. So being wise she instead decided to manipulate him. She agreed to it and, after each child was devoured, she gave him a cup of sake. At the end, he was so drunk that he didn't notice that instead of the last child he ate a large stone. This child was Hantei.

"When Hantei was strong enough and ready to face his father. Hantei cut his father down and his belly open, rescuing the other Kami, except for his brother Ryoshun, for whom it was too late. At the end, Onnotangu cast a spell, separating the world into a realm of mortals and immortals. As the worlds separated the eight kami fell from their home. There they began creating, with the last of their powers, the world they desired.

"Akodo, Bayushi, Doji, Hantei, Hida, Shiba, Shinjo, and Togashi banded together. They created the Earth realm. They used the last of their powers to create the animals, the plants, and all forms of life, including humans. They cast themselves into the four winds of fortune created by lady Doji, and wound up with a large and beautiful world that is now Earth.

"But their last remaining sibling, Fu Leng the ninth kami, the only one to turn his back on them, demanded he be made ruler over the Celestian Heavens because he was the only one not cast out. But Amaterasu denied him. So he left to come to Earth. To become ruler. But his plans failed. As he fell from Heaven he passed through Earth, and created a world below it of his own. He created Jigoku and became it's ruler. Since then he has desired to come to Earth and rule it. But those that fight on behalf of the eight Kami have held his forces back. That is until I was born."

(378/1,645)

He followed her, his thoughts swirling as he came to a stop in the doorway. He looked around the room before he slid the Sword of Light, still in it's sheath, from the sash around his waist. Setting it on the ground he knelt, his head bowing as he listened to his goddess speak. He had noticed quite a few things in the world of the living. But they all seemed connected to one thing or another. Adrian had his own ideas but it wasn't his place to speak yet. Not until she was finished.

"Forgive me for speaking out of turn my lady. But what exacly is our plan? Why me? You could have hundreds of mortals flocking to you because of your beauty alone. So why choose a simple college student?"

(133/1,778)

Adrian's eyes closed before he shook his head. So many thoughts flooded his head as he knelt there, his head bowed. He hadn't permission to look upon her so he wouldn't. She was his Goddess, and he was her knight. He wanted many things. Strength, the ability to take out his opponents. To take revenge on his friends for turning against him. The power to save humanity, or to know what happened to his sister. Was she dead and gone? Was she reborn? Too many questions flooded him to decide.

"My lady.. I took an oath of my own volition. I serve you, and you alone. A knight's oath is his life, and he will serve no other master... A knight is sworn to valor. His heart knows only virtue. His blade defends the helpless. His might upholds the weak. His word speaks only truth. His wrath undoes the wicked" he said, shaking. "Someone once said, that those who hunt monsters should take great care that they don't become monsters themselves."

He trembled as he slid the Yakuta open, revealing his upper body to her, keeping his head bowed. His eyes closed as he breathed slowly, trying to convince himself to continue. He had to convince himself to do exactly as she had told him. To ask her to grant him her mark. He would bare her mark. whatever it may be, and proudly so.

"My lady, I ask only for your mark. For you to accept me as your Knight, and let me bare your mark everywhere I go. I desire great power. But only that I may protect you at all times. That I might be your true Knight, and guardian. A woman of such beauty deserves to my blade. Nobody else. My strength is yours, and yours alone." he said, his head still bowed. "My sword is yours. If you desire, I will gladly take my own life on your word."

(324/2,102)

His eyes narrowed as she lifted his chin. His eyes widened as she kissed him, tears welling in his eyes as she began to do what she did. Pain exploded behind his eyes, his body going rigid as his hands balled into fists. His knuckles turned white as he fought to endure the pain that was burning in his chest. He felt her pull away and managed to fight back a cry of pain as he fell to his side, curling into a ball. He panted lightly before slowly pushing himself from the ground. He lifted his upper body up, his arms shaking before he rose. He slid the Sword of Light into his sash and followed after his goddess and Sloth. He wasn't sure he'd enjoy where this was going, but he wasn't very happy about the pain he was still recovering from.

"My lady? Where are we going, if I may ask." he questioned.

(156/2,258)

Adrian didn't hesitate, walking past them as he willed the Devil's Teardrop to his hand. His other hand drew the Sword of Light from the ivory hilt from it's spot at his hip. His upper body was exposed to the group of demons, as well as the mark on his chest. As he walked toward the crystal, his eyes narrowed. He stopped beside it and brought his swords up, passing the flat of each blade over the crystal. He stopped and lowered his weapons, turning back to Hild, his eyes narrowing.

"My lady, is this the seal you spoke of? Or is this something else you desire me to do?" he asked, waiting. "I'm not stupid my lady. I will always abide by my oath to you. But I wont follow orders blindly. If you wish me to do as you have asked, then please just tell me what it's for. After all, there's nothing that has only one solution. You said you were sealed in Heaven, Hell, and earth. You can't expect me to believe you haven't found the seal here. And if you haven't broken it yet what stops you? You're able to travel to Earth, so why do you need me to do it? How do you plan to destroy the one in Heaven?"

(217/2,475)

He frowned as Sloth stepped forward. He slid the Devil's Teardrop into the sheath at his side before he turned Goranova around. He took a breath before driving the blessed blade into his own gut. He winced, his body tensing before it fell to one knee. The crystal blue blade could be seen sticking out of his back, dripping with his blood. Pulling it free of himself he rose once more. He put a hand over the wound in his abs, walking toward Sloth herself. Stopping just short of her he shifted his grip on the Sword of Light and thrust his arm out, offering the bloody weapon to the dark haired woman.

"If you feel you can do it better than I, then by all means, take my sword and blood and free our mistress from her bonds here in Hell. Otherwise shut the fuck up and trust the judgement she's shown in naming myself Pride." he said, glaring at her as he stood there.

He wasn't as bothered by the stabing as most humans would have been. He'd driven it right into himself without hesitation, unless you counted that breath, and even pulled it out. The crystal blue blade glowed softly as it dripped with it's master's blood, a grin on Adrian's face. If Sloth were going to challenge him, he would do the same to her. And he wasn't about to back down from a challenge.

"My body can take more punishment than most high demons... I would die of my wounds long after most of you here, including Lady Hild. Such is the power of the human spirit. Can you say the same? If I stabbed you with this blade, would you scream? Would you cry out in pain and beg for mercy? Or would you pull it out and continue your work?"

(307/2,782)

Adrian turned his back on Hild, walking to the sword of light. Raising it he brought it down, casting his blood from it before he turned back to them. He moved back to his goddes and brought Goranova up, under Gluttony's chin. His eyes don't turn from Hild before he shifts his stance, drawing the Devil's Teardrop from the ivory sheath at his side. He threw the black metal blade aside, back to where the crystal was. He pressed the tip of the crystal blade against the demon's throat, his eyes shifting to look at Gluttony.

"Who said names have any form of strength? I simply said she chose to name me Pride. Piss me off, demon, and I might take that pretty little tongue out of your mouth and eat it myself. Maybe I'll feed it to the local ogres in the Deep. Whatever I choose to do with it, you'll never taste another thing ever again. And if you think I can't do it, then just try. As for my mission, my lady, I will guard her with my life if you order. But I must admit I'm curious as to why her. What makes her special?" he asked. "Aguaiem maha maveil."

He summoned the sebunhoshi shield into place, as he stood there, his eyes shifting back to Hild as he waited. He was sure they wouldn't do anything serious, but then again he didn't know what buttons he had to be careful about pushing. Budda only waited three times. Hild might not spare him again if he went much farther.

(263/3,045)

Adrian didn't blink as the ravens began spitting at him. Creatures didn't bother him very much. And his shield was holding up well enough against them. He frowned as he turned, facing Wrath as she brought her sword down on him. He smirked as it smashed against the spiritual shield as well. Shaking his head he brought the Sword of Light around in a wide slash. The slash moved quickly in it's master's hand, aiming for the demon's midsection.

He grinned darkly as he willed the Devil's Teardrop into his free hand in the middle of his attack on Wrath. As Goranova came out to his side, the swordsman brought the black bladed bastard sword up, and then down with everything he could muster. He was going to cross cleave this demon, just to prove his point. He wasn't some weakling human that was afraid of them or what they could do to him.

Death was something he had faced time and again in the Deep. It was something he embraced and knew about. As he'd been taught by demons before, death was no true punishment. No threat. Nothing could be done to him here that he couldn't come back from. And even death's grip on others was weak when it came to the world these days.

"I'm not afraid of any of you. I'm not afraid to die. And if she wants my head she can take it. Until then you're going to have to try harder to take me down. And I'll make you all suffer for every advance you make. My alliegence is to Hild, not to you. So I wont be bowing down to you people unless she orders me to do so." he said, grinning darkly as he stood there.

(295/3,340)

Adrian panted hard as he fell to one knee, his hand extended out in front of him. The Devil's Teardrop was stuck in the ground, his right arm shaking as he gripped the handle. His clothing was torn his left eye closed. He trembled as he knelt there, his body shaking. It had taken a lot of damage, and he was losing a lot of blood. Goranova was at his feet in a small pool of his own blood. His extended arm slowly reached down taking the Sword of Light from the ground. Shaking he slowly got to his feet. He grunted, coughing up blood, before he rose to his full height.

He panted hard as he stood there, his eye focused on Gluttony. He stood there, raising the crystal blade, pointing it at the blob of a male. He struggled, slowly stepping forward toward the demon. As he stepped forward he fell forward, landing face down, the bastard swords clattering to the ground lightly.

(165/3,505)