The Hell's First (WAR and TRUTH 2.4)

[Sahir Masbrati]

"It's not hesitation, it's this scythe!" Sahir gave the weapon a forceful pull upwards, expecting as it had before to remain implanted in the ground. Yet her expectations betrayed her as the weapon flung free with far too much of her force behind it, sending both her and Umbravox keeling over to the ground in a display that was embarrassing to say the least. With her face flush she had nothing to say to the sharp dressed stranger till she picked herself up, doing it quickly as if he would not notice her blunder if she were swift enough.

"I'm, I'm not scared if that's what you're trying to get at okay? I've just, I've never done something like this before."

Her eyes shifted only briefly from him to see if the incantation had worked on Umbravox. Sure enough, the change was apparent if a little on the nose. Gone was the flashy and light wisp of a blade that suspended itself from the handle, and replaced was the weight and earthy tones of a true weapon. Pulling it up she could feel her arms strain, and quickly chocked up on it like an inexperienced batter at his first time up to the plate. Her one hand drew a light touch against it's edge, and sure enough felt the lethality of its sharpness immediately. She drew back, her eyes locked onto the brown blade. So, this is how a weapon that kills feels. The thought filled her with both fear and fascination. Turning to the battlefield she felt her heart quicken, from what emotion it was she knew not, but she could feel it stay her feet from moving.

"I, umm, hey who are you anyways? If you're asking me about not fighting then why aren't you out there? You're not a monster, but you aren't dressed like a soldier either." Sahir's eyes narrowed, the all too familiar sense of distrust tainting her impression of Dios.

[Dios Sarvo]

The shadow laughed, almost mockingly at the Others notion.

"Ah yes, so easily you could crush me beneath your feet, and yet here I stand. Perhaps if you actually exercised your might as opposed to that well toned jaw of yours, your words might carry some merit."

Stretching and twisting through the air, the Lord of Shadow's form hung imposingly over the size of even the lumbering hulk that was The Other, a feat that would be all but imposing to anyone save for the egomaniacal beast.

"I suppose the one bit of praise I can offer is that you by some miracle escaped, but know that if you think that imprisonment was long, then you've but tasted a small measure of the ploy I have in store for you this time," the shade spoke with an almost dripping sense of malice as it wrung it's hands in anticipation.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Dios let slide a small chuckle, all to amused at the child's almost comedic attempt at seeming capable.

"Never done what before? Killed a man?" Dios inquired rhetorically as he continued to gaze on at the ensuing carnage of the battle below. "But all those people down there make it look so easy. See how that one there just cleaved that one from bowel to jowl, or how that one just immolated the other. Why yes, they sure do make murder look easy, don't they?"

Realizing that perhaps he let his intrinsic nature get ahead of him a bit in this whole "making a good first impression thing," Dios quickly cleared his throat, as if the gesture would somehow soften the rather course nature of his words.

"But such things aren't really my style, nor yours, I believe," Dios back peddled, hoping that he might recover from his initial faux pa. Standing up and giving his pants a quick pat with his free hand, he drew his hat to his chest in a small bow towards the young girl before placing the charcoal piece of headwear back atop his mess of emerald hair. "My name is Dios Sarvo, I'm a Private Investigator from Crepusculum; a man of the law that plays by his own rules, to simplify. I'm only here because I want to make sure things go smoothly for our side. My forte however is more on the side of intelligence, as opposed to clanging metal together till one side falls down."

Plodding towards the precipice of the hills drop off, Dios placed his hand over the brim of his hat and leaned part way over the ledge, more so to convey some kind of interest in the ensuing battle as opposed to an act inspired by any actual interest.

"But I would say intelligence has long since departed from this situation, but I suppose I'll save such a statement until you decide to dive head long into the fray, unless you would care to inspire some hope in this simple man and prove me wrong," Dios posed, hoping that the implied mockery might cause the girl to reconsider participating in the bloodbath below.

No, seriously, Dios was actually trying to help Sahir not dive into the fight below because he was actually, kinda, kinda, sorta..invested about her wellbeing? He knew why he felt something worth saving in the girl; it was because she wasn't already down amongst all the others, diving in without thought. It was because she was here, stalled by whatever it was that gripped her. Be it fear, hesitation, planning, whatever, it didn't matter, as it was a sign that she held promise above swinging a weapon till all the "bad guys" were dead.

Dios made a bit of a sour expression upon the realization that that damn shadow, once again, managed to one up him. If there was anything he hated, it was being one-uped, but he supposed he could soften the blow to his ego with the realization that he was but a mortal man, and the The Lord of Shadows was basically an extra planar God...yeah, that made him feel better...a little bit anyways.

[A.B.A.]

As she drew her blood-splattered blade fresh from the chest of her newest foe, her lungs sucking in air as Arnold's body struggled to keep up with her pace she saw that the enemies lines were thinning all to quickly. Both Kazan and Bang had made a spectacle of their victories over the Hunters, and with their falling corpses followed the morale of their troops, at least those that felt such a thing in the first place.

Yet as patches of enemy troops began to diminish she noticed a figure that stood out among the rest, in garb and in skill. Cementing her belief that he was an enemy was him slaying one of the Guardians before her eyes. So, the commander of these forces appears at last. Time to see how I stand against someone worth notice. Taking a moment to catch her breath amongst the fallen bodies of her adversaries she watched as Enizo rushed in headfirst, clearly angered from losing whomever Bart had slain. Bloody kid, reckless as always it seems. Still, I suppose I do owe him one...

Charging the field and leaping over the debris and bodies A.B.A. clanged to Bart's flank, taking the man's kick as an opportunity to sweep her blade for the back of his supporting leg's knee, following up with a spinning back-fist to his head with the face of her shield.

[The Other]

"And you are lucky that your body isn't one I can smash beneath my might, or I'd have done so long before, you foolish shade." The Other grinned, pausing only to wave the screeching Widow goodbye with a patronizing gesture of his hand.

"Of course, I kid. We both know things are far more fun for me if I keep you around Zazz. It's why I haven't turned your silly fedora-wearing human to mush yet, though I am looking forward to it." He looked up into space as he stroked his chin, remembering briefly his interactions with Dios. "He...vexes me. You know how much I enjoy a mortal who can keep my interest."

"Regardless, I do hope you'll have the good sense to wait a little longer before pestering me with your plans as you do so like to do. I have to meet a very impetuous mortal by the name of Duo. I haven't seen him yet, but the good little children I've been tagging along with have built him up so well. I can't decide whether he'd serve better as my sidekick, or as an example to these so called Heroes!" He capped his speech with a hearty cackle, as he so enjoyed to do.

[King Roxa Hiaten]

A second armoured figure appeared on Bart's other flank. One curved blade held in the left hand, a rapidly repairing gauntlet taking up the right. Whilst the disguised A.B.A attacked the left leg and aimed a shield for his face, Roxa brought his blade around towards the back of Bart's neck. His right fist was clenched, and thrust forwards, aiming to deliver a crushing blow to Bart's ribs as well.

Roxa felt surprisingly calm... He expected bloodlust, anger and a want for revenge... But he just felt calm... Don't mistake him, he was entirely focused upon Barrholomew, and wanted to grind him into dust, but the want to do so wasn't out of blinding anger or rage, it was out of pure necessity...

[Andy Jammer]

In that time Andy's mind felt like it was a million miles away...the glow in his palm turned to more like a beacon.

"Alright, alright, if you really want to know; Trisha Hart. There are you happy?"

The Fallen's movements slowed to Andy, everything had slowed down but his own brain.

"You have...a beautiful smile. I like that smile.”

Andy felt anger bubbling up in the pit of his stomach, burning to a boil in his belly as voices from his past brewed afresh in his head.

"I need you to know Andy...It was you Andy, you are my something...you always have been.”

Flashes run through Andy's mind as his whole life, a reel of his worst memories, rushed through...Hala Loque...Profeta...Trisha...

"You carry the spirit of Kain and Duo."

The mark on his palm ignited with gold fire and Andy's eyes snapped opened.

"Pull the Pin"

Andy roared with rage as the air began to tremble, his body levitated in the air as spikes of energy pierced Andy's body. The ground shook, Andy's pitch black cloak began blood red, his orange hair died to silver as red veins ran across his face. The woman, the Siren, her eyes widened with interest as Andy slowly touched back to the ground.

The second he did a massive burst of energy expelled from his body, stopping the Fallen's attack by sending him back - all the debris around Andy levitated in the air from his field as Duo's power coursed through him and pulsed through the air, which the bright sun and red glow of flames transformed into an infinite white with black wisps in the air.

((Obtained Duo Trigger: press R3 and L3 to engage.))

[Enizo]

Enizo barely noticed ABA and Roxa enter the fight, he was just so focused on killing Barts that even the kick he took to the chest barely budged him.

"You've taken everything from me!" Enizo roared, each blade growing with power as his rage continued to build, "My home, my family! I'll make you regret that you ever crossed me!"

Suddenly Enizo felt a power force similar to Duo's wash over the battlefield, he cringed, if this was the final confrontation than Bartholomew would not make it out of here alive.

[annabelle]

Lost in a trance as she glided along the battlefield, Annabelle only noticed the Widow when she felt an odd pulling sensation interrupting her murmured chanting. Even at an older age it picked and prodded away at the old woman's focus, which brought Annabelle to promptly stop in her tracks, her staff stabbed into the ground as the rocky ground healed itself from her spell.

"You dare to pull your wickedness on me, do you?" she muttered, noting the enchanting humming that through the clashing of steel, roars of wild beasts, and screams of murder around them still was heard easily, and hauntingly so. Annabelle's deep blue eyes narrowed, recognizing not the creature this type of enchantment came from but having enough knowledge to know it was exactly that, a way of hypnotizing the poor fool who couldn't resist blocking the sound of the deathly song.

"Amos, avaret thea higve," Annabelle muttered, an almost black, dull mist slowly forming around her from the bottom of her feet as she looked around, spying the Widow looming over her. As silly as it would sound, the dark mist enhanced Annabelle's power and gave her an extra hand in focusing on her own magic, helping block the Widow's song from her ears.

"Let's dance, hee hee hee..." Annabelle chuckled, green sparks of lightning crackling from the top of her staff as she directed her free hand towards the widow, wrinkled, boney fingers stretching towards her with a large blast of green electricity exploding from it straight at the woman before her.

[Bartholomew]

The Widow noticed that her song wasn't working when the green electricity heading straight towards her. She spun to the side, and avoided the attack. She then stuck out her hand and her nails extended at a fast rate heading towards Annabelle.

The Fallen was flown backwards and then he landed on his feet as he saw the new enraged Andy. "... Duo." It said as it ran towards Andy again, but when he was about 30 or so feet away, a disc opened up and the Fallen jumped into the hole vanishing in front of Andy.

Bart glanced and saw the upcoming attacks, and quickly raised his sword and a spear he manifested. He blocked the attacks coming from Roxa with his sword, and while the kick to the leg made him stumble, Bart stab the ground supporting him from falling. He ducked from the shield, barely missing it. Bart then let go of the spear and slammed his hand into the ground, and made a small explosion blasting the ground and the trio away from Bart.
Bart then pointed his finger at Roxa, and fired a sun beam at him, and then fired it again at A.B.A. He then flipped his sword and blocked it. "Not everything. Not yet." Bart said as shoved Enizo away, "I lost more than everything, and yet I'm here. Don't you dare make threats that you can't back up. I hate when weeds bark." Bart said, then he stuck his hand out, "You have yet to feel the burn of Hellious." Then his hand produce a massive stream of fire right at Enizo.

[Sahir Masbrati]

"What are you-that's not funny!" Sahir couldn't bring herself to follow Dios' gestures to the carnage below. She drew her eyes down and to the field beside her, allowing only the sounds below to remind her of what awaited her should she take part in the battle.

This man, the way he talked filled her with discomfort. She couldn't tell what it was he was trying to get at, as more than a few of his words went over her head. It seemed like he said he was a lawman, though he didn't look anything like a guard that she'd ever seen. What perplexed her more was that he seemed to...what did he hope she'd do to prove him wrong? To not fight? Her eyes drew back to his as she demanded he explain himself.

"Why are you insulting everyone down there fighting? A warrior is suppose to be brave, a warrior is suppose to fight for something that they feel is worth dying for. What's stupid about that?" It was something her husband had had to explain to her when the Boruto tribe had driven her people closer and closer to conflict. When war seemed like a possibility to their peaceful tribe she had begged him to reconsider, and when that had failed she had called him an idiot for thinking that fighting would save them. Just as she had ridiculed the idea when he had presented it to her those years ago so too was Dios now doing the same thing, and she couldn't help but think it came from the same naivety that she had held then. Though what came next differed slightly from Natis' own reply, she hoped it carried the same spirit that he had used to convince her.

"I'm the God Slayer, and it's my mission to see that Duo falls. What am I suppose to do if not fight? Run away, hide from people like him forever? Be a coward? I have so much more to lose than just my own life if I run, and so much more to gain than my own life if I succeed. How can you tell me that that's stupid?"

Yet before an answer could be given the field before them transmogrified before her very eyes into a field of dazzling whiteness. "What's going on? I can barely see what's happening." She shielded her eyes from the monochromatic field, seeing it stop just shy of her and Dios. Just when she had felt the nerve to take that first step forward the power before her destroyed that sensation and replaced it with the same doubt and unease she felt for Dios and everything happening around her.

[A.B.A.]

A.B.A. hit the ground from the explosive force expelled by Bart. Tumbling around erratically she quickly found her bearings and with a graceful tuck and roll maneuver came to her feet, all to glad that the plate armour she appeared to wear had no weight to impair her movement.

Her hands flew up on impulse as the golden light set its path for her. The Guardian shield shoved back into her centre as it clashed with the force of the sun ray. Thankfully the beam wasn't held, and with only a warmness in the core of the shield from it's impact A.B.A. was ready to resume her assault.

The strange alteration in reality caused by Andy's transformation meant nothing to her as her eyes were only trained on Bart, Enizo and Roxa, especially Roxa. Whatever had happened to him in Vuoto had altered him, and when this was all over the last thing she'd need was for him to catch her off guard. It was her only advantage, and she sure as hell wasn't going to let him have the same. Charging once more towards the supposed commander of the enemy A.B.A. slowed to a jog as she came within a mere few feet from Bart.

Approach is everything. If he's using one hand to attack the boy where's his blind spot? Deciding to use the sound and distracting light from his own flames for cover A.B.A. hopped over to the side of Bart's extended arm, following with a one-two strike of blocking his arm's path with her shield as she stabbed upwards towards his axillary artery.

Now where? Isolate the options until there's only one left. Use all tools at your disposal. Keep him guessing. Seigmand's old patterns were filling in the blanks of her military training, and with it A.B.A. was already working two steps ahead. Spotting Roxa opposite her she drew back her blade and focused on a hail of suppressing shield and sword blows. Each swipe and slash cut not at Bart directly, but at his options for movement, leaving him only the ability to counterattack or retreat towards the armoured king before her.

Let's see what you've got, Roxa.

[annabelle]

Annabelle's own outstretched hand suddenly retracted as she saw the nails coming towards her, shrinking itself into a ball and as she pulled it in towards her body tightly an eerie, echoing 'haaaaaaahhhhhhh~ was heard as the mist around her twisted into a half sphere in front of her, thickening into an opaque wall that had the nails clash with it on impact.

As her shield made itself up, Annabelle's left hand already tapped its fingers along the staff she held, the jewel on the top still light brightly in green electricity that flowed down the whole weapon. Before Annabelle's shield was entirely complete she already had her staff pointed again at the Widow, for should her shield fail her she already had an attack ready to go.

And if it worked? Then when it dispersed, another immense shock of green-hued electricity was next to go!

[glitters]

While Jasmine wanted to say she was a lot more use on the battlefield she found it hard to attack the soldiers involved in any fatal way. The problem she was facing however was that a lot of her darker magical spells involved causing death or torment in some way or another...

"Hmm..." she shook as she leaped over dead bodies everywhere and noted soldiers friend and foe alike around. She didn't want to kill anyone but there had to be a way to at least help out even if she was putting her healing duties as a secondary task.

"Avalt aeret mie!" her hands flicked outwards towards the enemy groups and Jasmine felt for a moment different, if not a little worried as her body felt...cold, and almost lacking in any kind of compassionate feeling. The spell she summoned created a cold, dark smog that billowed over the enemy, reducing visibility and causing breathing problems on top of that.

'Oooh, I did it!' she thought, so proud of herself to have been able to cripple enemies and appear to have no remorse?

Her attention was swiftly brought back from her great 'accomplishment' when she'd caught sight of Andy, doing...something batshit insane crazy. Again. W-was he dying or...?

"Andy...?" she blinked, complete shock overtaking her for a moment as she watched his form change and really weird shit started happening around him. This wasn't like that mask thing he had before when she first met him, was it...? because if it was, she'd have to have talk with him because that's just not right, didn't he learn the first time?!

[Andy Jammer]

Andy was breathing heavily, the world was spinning, out of control...he forced himself to calm down and the world returned to normal. His hair was orange, his cloak black, and his powers returned to normal. He staggered back a bit, looking around...it felt like he was in a rather surreal dream...or he wished he was in a surreal dream.

"So more happened that day in Ghiaccio than I thought."

Andy turned to the blue haired woman who stepped out, "It would explain why I keep sensing Duo around you..."

"What the hell are..." Andy paused and thought back to Ghiaccio, grabbing that orb as she reached for it...the mark on his hand, "That orb..."

"Did a lot more than it should have..." she said, "I can see why Duo took a small interest in you...you got some skills, Lion-boy."

Andy stopped, all thought and worry about the orb suddenly faded and he turned to her, "What did you call me...?"

Only one person called him that.

"...I know you...I know I do, I know you somehow!" he said, his hand still tight in grip around his sword. "Tell me! Tell me who you are!"

(Play: What The F''k is Wrong With You?! - Combichrist)

She smiled, reaching over to her back and pulling out a sword equal to Andy's in size.

"Come on lover boy, lets see if you're really as interesting as Duo seems to think you are."

Her body glowed with a blue aura and she pulled her sword back, when she swung it eight flying blue balls shot out and honed in on Andy. Time slowed for him briefly before Andy leaped aside, the energy balls colliding with the ground harmlessly - he rushed forward and swung his sword in a wide arc, hoping to clip her.

Intolerance, self-glorified ignorance
It sucks you down with your face pushed against the fence
Why don't you finish yourself? Since you don't really care.
Let the screams in your head be the last things you hear!

She dodged his wide arc and swung the massive sword at his side, he barely blocked it with his own and forced her blade aside, bashing her back with his shoulder he put some space between them. Trying to dash in while she was staggering and swing at her side, however she recovered quickly and knocked his blade aside and swung for his head. Andy jumped backwards, saving himself from a fatal slash, he skidded backwards a bit and the girl, the Siren, suddenly rushed forward with impressive speed and palm-struck his chest, sending Andy backwards and rolling on his back.

Just give it a go!

[King Roxa Hiaten]

Roxa held up his free arm, a deep purple disc materializing against the back of his fist, bouncing the ray of light away from him and up into the sky. Upon seeing the disguised A.B.A launching a myriad of assaults, Roxa took the opportunity to advance as well with frightening speed. He had noted the way that the allied soldier was attacking... Rather than aiming to actually damage Bartholomew, they were trying to stifle and suppress his movements, holding him in place to prevent him from launching an effective attack. The King of Roccia acknowledged the attack pattern and fitted himself in with the flow of it, his grip on his sword tightening as he tried to place himself in the most effective place to launch an assault.

The way that the Guardian was attacking would occasionally throw Bart somewhat off-balance, when his blocks placed him in the most awkward situation. That would be the best time for Roxa to strike, when his opponent was not only in a vulnerable state, but would also not be expecting an attack. Roxa pushed himself forward, trying to stay opposite the disguised A.B.A so as in order to keep Bart consistently fighting on two fronts. He lunged forwards with feints and lighter strikes, allowing his opponent to fall into a lull of security, and then, as soon as Roxa saw that slight flicker of complacency, along with his balance failing him slightly, he snapped forwards like a serpent.

He pulled his sword back into two hands, and ducked low, thrusting up towards the space just underneath Bartholomew's armpit, where an opponents armour was always at its weakest. A successful strike there was not only difficult to see, but also extremely deadly.