[ crimson pride ]

[sacredashes]

[Asch has been stuck here for some time. He's not happy about it, because it usually means bad things are coming. This isn't his first Plane rodeo. He's bracing for the moment where some of them are chosen to go kill each other on a jungle-infested island, or perhaps for them to randomly keel over and die. The angels are a nice touch. He's avoided them so far, but he's always got his sword on hand in case one of them tries him. All the while, he has to deal with the faltering that comes with falling apart at the molecular level, the pain and lightness.

It's accelerating. He's concerned, but he can't visit Spinoza with things the way they are.

He's on his way back from the kitchen when something blocks his path. It's... himself. At first he thinks it's Luke, and calls out to him.]

Is that you, replica?

[But when the being turns toward him, he realizes it's actually a mirror of himself-- bearing bright gold eyes instead of green ones. Asch steps back, hand on his sword.]

No. Luke is your reflection-- I'm just a shadow, compared to him.

What the hell is this? Another one!?

Look at you. You're falling to pieces, and for what? So you can prove that you're somehow better than the defect?

[The shadow steps forward. Asch holds his ground, but he draws his sword, this time.]

That's not what this is about.

Don't lie to me. I know. I know you're looking for a great way to die. You don't want to, but you have to-- is that it? Because you've lost everything.

[That hits a nerve.] Shut up! He took everything from me. Everything!

[The shadow only smiles. It looks really strange on Asch's face. Smiling is a Luke thing. Not an Asch thing.] Keep playing hero and maybe, just maybe, you'll feel like you're on his level. You're pathetic. I can't believe you're me.

[Asch has no patience for mind games. He surges forward, only to be met with resistance; the shadow has drawn his own sword. For a minute, they're evenly-matched.]

You don't know anything about me!

But I do. [The shadow's eyes flash.] The replica isn't you. I'm you.

[Asch jumps back, regaining some distance between himself and the lookalike. Even if this is some figment of himself, that doesn't make... all of this true. Right?] I'm done with the Plane's stupid games. Show me what you really are!

[The shadow makes a pained face. Asch can't help but wince.] Fine. Since you won't accept me... I'll have to make you see. [He hunches his shoulders, his outline twitching, blurring in places like a skipping video. A great mass of darkness surges outward with a deafening noise until it settles into a twisted shape.

Asch steps back. Before him is a scaly behemoth wreathed in horns and wings both. It carries a beaten crucifix with a shrouded figure impaled upon it. Hard to tell who that is, but maybe not, with the red hair leaking past the sheet and the crown nailed to its head.

He tightens his grip on his sword. Even if this looks like a losing battle... he has to try.]

[ooc: WHO WANTS TO JOIN IN A BOSS BATTLE?]

Comments

[fallbythesword]

[More doubles that turn into hideous creatures, hmm? Consider this round three for Jacqli. She may not have been able to help Sam, but she did reach Zack in time. Maybe she can turn this one into the start of a winning streak...

She misses the exchange between them, only arrives in time to watch the fake Asch shift into this unpleasant creature. And so, she arrives with absolutely no warning, and simply announces her presence with a song.

A song that calls forth a red laser blast that's aimed straight at the monster's head, as it were.]

[sacredashes]

[Someone's voice cuts across the battlefield. He thinks for a moment it might be Tear, but he turns and sees Jacqli instead. That's an interesting turn of events.]

A melodist, huh?

[The beast recoils from the blast, crimson blood pouring down its face, staining its wings. The girl seems to have song-spells just as strong as any arte. Good.

He adjusts his grip on his sword.]

Hey! If I distract this thing, can you keep that up?

[fallbythesword]

Reyvateil. [She smirks - a little bit smug, maybe, but mostly just plain amused.] But I like the sound of "melodist".

[She moves, places herself behind Asch - a reyvateil belongs behind her vanguard, after all. This will do, for the moment.]

Of course. You'll have to tell me if you need healing, if it comes to it. Otherwise, I plan to just destroy this thing.

[She assumes the conversation is through, and begins to sing - a long song, meant to charge the swirling ball of energy and electricity that has suddenly faded into existence before her.]

[sacredashes]

Whatever. [He'll tank in the meantime. He can ask about her magic later; he's not really too interested in it unless it's being used against him. It's something Jade might be into, but he's not Jade.]

I'll be fine. Destroy it!

[The shadow doesn't like the energy forming before Jacqli. It raises one massive paw. Asch rushes forward, red hair streaming behind him, and parries it with his sword. For someone as small as he is, he has a lot of strength.]

You're disgusting! Giving into those feelings-- makes you weak!

[He rages on, charging his own arte and slamming into the beast with an advanced form of Fang Blade. After a flurry of vertical slashes, he brings his heel down on the behemoth's nose.]

[fallbythesword]

[Jacqli and Jade are not allowed to meet. I don't know who it would end more poorly for: her, him or everyone else.

She doesn't even flinch as that paw comes toward her, trusting Asch to take care of it while she finishes her song. And finish, she does - the result of which is what looks like some sort of spherical electrical storm: condensed and concentrated, yet still wild as it charges straight into the beast's chest.

But she caught what Asch had called out to the thing, narrows her eyes - she doesn't expect him to listen, but...]

It's far from weak if its feelings are real. Be careful with your words, it's what these things thrive on.

[More proof she doesn't expect an idiotic human like him to listen: she's already singing again, surrounding herself in a faint red light...]

[sacredashes]

[He makes sure he's not in the line of fire when she releases her spell. Very impressive. And effective, though it still has some juice left.]

This isn't the first one you've fought? [His mouth twists into a scowl.] Hmph. If it's anything like me, then I have to beat it senseless to get it to listen.

[The shadow-beast laughs above them, tauntingly. It charges some kind of light-ball on the tip of its horns.]

Watch out!

[He wants to give Jacqli all the time she needs-- which means when the ball releases, he's there in the line of fire. He meets it head on, sword drawn, but it's not enough; he's only able to hold his ground for a moment before he's sent flying onto his back.

Though he's probably a little charred from that, he doesn't care. He just gets right back up.]

[fallbythesword]

[She cracks a bit of a smirk at that - well, at least he acknowledges that particular fact. And really, she's more than happy to assist with a swift kick in the ass~

She holds her ground while he defends her and takes the most of the blow, determined to get as much power out of it as she can, and she releases everything just before the rest of that light catches up to her as well. A torrent of red, jagged blades materialize, flow like a high-powered jet stream straight into the beast, piercing whatever opening they can get.

And then, she's sent tumbling as well - but not far. She's suffered worse. She has Asch to thank for keeping her whole. She stands, easily brushes herself off. She's still more than confident that they can do this.]

Hmp. You're good. [Nod!] Keep it up.

[He may insist he doesn't need healing, but she won't let him go without, and it's simple enough to begin a quick spell of constant regeneration so long as she sings. Next opening, she'll go back on the offensive.]