The Nature of the Enemy (Open)

[Sentenza Hoshizuki]

"If you have no humanity, what gives you the right to judge it?" Sentenza asked, starting to slash at Chaos any chance he got, but Chaos kept moving out of the way of his hits, "You missed what I already said. I am a monster. I'm a wretched beast who humans abhor. My fate is of no concern of me." Sentenza took a step back, carefully watching Chaos' moves. "It's those that have a chance to live that concern me, those that can build the future with their own hands," Sentenza said, his energy seeming to rise again and some emotion, very little but some entering his voice, "humans are flawed, they'll never be perfect, that doesn't mean they don't deserve the chance to progress . . ." Sentenza made a crushing swing downward. " . . . and strive for what might be, rather than dwell forever on what has happened in the past. Surely to you it's a foolish wish, but I believe, I believe with all my heart that the truth strength of humans is to constantly evolve, and to let their future evolve." Sentenza said, "No, that power doesn't belong just to humans, it belongs to anyone who's willing to strive on, battered and beaten, crushed, broken, ripped to shreds, beaten to hell, and still look forward to what the future can be. I may be a monster, I may be someone who can cause nothing but pain and destruction, but that doesn't mean that I can't fight for what I believe in!" That was what Sentenza fought for. He fought to protect those that could mold the future for the better. "If you want to destroy this world, it may just be one, but if you wish to destroy it, you won't have to just kill my body, I'll fight still if I'm missing every limb, you'll have to kill my spirit, my will, my reason to protect, so come at 'Chaos', I've shown you my resolve, show me yours!"

[Chaos]

"Then you are more deluded then poor War was." Chaos said with false sadness. He laughed slightly. "You have some sort of delusion. You understand what you are and yet you deny it. How does that feel? Does your heart burn you with need, or do you feed in secret." Chaos asked. "While we are on the subject what do you need to feast upon?"

Chaos had only needed death. The totality of the event was enough for him. Others needed blood, or desperation. Some had been even more specific, needing brunets on the full moon, prostitutes in back alleys. He had always been able to change, to adapt. That had always been his strength, his sheer flexibility. He approached every situation with that mindset. The one before him was no different.

The child struck at him again, didn't he realize he was too slow by far. He would have to increase the speed of his attacks if he wanted to hit him. He danced around the strike, lashing out with the knife once again. It was cute how he thought he was trying. The strength of his blows were rather impressive, but strength and size always lose out to speed and precision.

"Your a sentimental fool." He said jumping back. "Do you think you change anything, do you think they will get better. Let me tell you about the past, I lived through it, for a century, and it never changed, always the same, always making the same mistakes." Chaos said slashing the blade down to clean the blood off of it.

"You want me to show you resolve. You want me to show you the will to kill." Chaos asked with a cocked eyebrow. "You who has barely harmed me, wants me to come right at you?" He laughed as if it were an absurd idea.

"You couldn't handle War, I can easily tell this now, she held back." Chaos said with a wicked grin. "Get the picture yet. You realize that by this fight I have already won. You can not hit me, and you will tire, I do not. I will never fatigue, I will not hunger, I need not sleep. I have none of your frailties."

"Do you understand yet, I haven't even begun to try." Chaos said. "This is me warming up. You want my resolve, you want to understand my resolve to kill you." Chaos began moving forward. "Let's see if you can keep up." Chaos moved fast, and he constantly moved, changing his position and his approach every few seconds. Whenever his strides brought hims close to Sentenza he struck out with the blade, each stroke masterful in it's precision. Chaos had killed with knives before, it was obvious.

"So come mortal, understand how you will die." Chaos said.

[Sentenza Hoshizuki]

"I don't know what you mean." Sentenza responded curtly to Chaos' question of what he feeded on. In truth he did, but the question disgusted him. Sentenza surprisingly had kept up both with attacking and blocking. The size of his blade definitely helped with that. "You never saw change because you never tried for it. All you did was watch idly, perhaps participating in what was making the world go straight to hell," Sentenza said, "It's a self fullfilling prophecy, if someone knows change is needed but never tries to make it happen, that's when they start seeing the world as ruined."

"You keep saying War held back, but you have yet to take into account one thing," Sentenza said, "I bare sympathy for War's madness." Sentenza, soon, didn't have time to attack, he was constantly dodging every blow that Chaos attacked with. Sentenza knew this could mean trouble, then something utterly bizarre happened. The massive blade of Kuroki Kemono seemed to split open as the knife hit it. A Blinding flash radiated from it, and Sentenza was now not holding one sword but two. Neither as large as the original, they were both about the size of a claymore. Sentenza realized what this rather sudden change meant. Sentenza started using one sword to block and one to attack. The blocks and attacks were nowhere near as strong, but they were much master. Sentenza felt Chaos' blade pierce his side, but kept up attacking and blocking, each attack aiming. Kuroki Kemono had unlocked it's third form in Sentenza's need of it.

[Chaos]

Most of Chaos' blows failed to impact. It was because of the largeness of Sentenza's weapon. Reach had always been important. Of course Chaos was a master of his weapon, always favoring the simple elegance of a bladed piece of metal in his hands.

He continued to dance around Sentenza, moving with a fluid grace. He laughed with every strike he scored. He wasn't like War. War enjoyed the fight, the exertion, the clash between two wills brought to the flesh. On the other, Chaos only liked to fight to cause pain. Every strike was vengeance for each and every insult he was given in his life. He would make all of the worlds bleed to make humanity understand the mistake they made.

Chaos watched as the weapon changed. What deviltry was this. Was this magic. It didn't matter much. So he would strike Chaos occasionally, the strikes were weaker now, especially his off hand. Every wound was healed quickly, and the rips in the material were repaired as well. Chaos had always wondered about the cloths they had worn since they were first made. Now e took it for granted, it was part of who he was.

He saw an opening created by the thinner swords. He moved forward and swept in close. He stabbed as he passed, to cripple rather then kill. He had decided how Sentenza will die, it will be on his knees. He will understand what has killed him, I will have beaten him so utterly. How he loved heroes, they made him enjoy who he was.

He danced out, tumbling as he went.Chaos had always been skilled in athletics.Being the Second son of one of the most powerful families in the land had been quite beneficial to him, he could study what ever he wanted. He spent his youth becoming the perfect killer, through dance, Combat training from the Guardsmen, and Gymnastics. He had always been seen as a model student, taking a varied array of classes, from poetry, to combat, to theology . He had even paid a cook's aid to teach him how to knife fight.

He moved out of Sentenza's immediate range."I should have helped them." He said with scorn. "They feed on their own ignorance, they flock to the nearest leader and prostrate themselves without restrain. How can I help that. They'll do anything their told." He said with a fond smile. How often had he destroyed these people who loved him, just to watch their heart crush. He kept that for future plans, he hadn't driven anyone insane in far too long.

He moved quickly away. He did not want to give the child any ideas. "No sympathy, good, I want you to understand what I am. Don't full yourself into any sympathy for us. We are monsters without redemption. We kill we touch. We have sacked kingdoms, killed to the man. Women, children, all in the middle of the street, the earth ran red with the blood. That s how I know you can't rescue War, but it's not like I have to worry. Your new weapon hasn't given you anymore skill with it."

He moved through another series of attacks. He continued to move with absolute grace and struck quickly before moving. He began to target joints and exposed flesh, seeking to cause pain and disable. He would do as asked. He would crush the will and spirit of the creature before him. It was a shame Chaos didn't have time for torture, but a response to the explosion was inevitable.

"Oh I know you thirst, I can read it in your motions." Chaos said. "I can understand needing things to survive. You look like you deny yours. Of course that fits in with your temperament, I have never seen more angst. Do yourself a favor, give in." He chuckled slightly. "Forgot, your going to die here, but it was a good thing that you didn't seek their approval, because you would never get it. If I can see the predator underneath, you know others will." He said playing on what he imagined Sentenza's secret hope was. No one could turn down companionship. No one could turn down belonging to something. Not unless you were a true monster, which Chaos knew Sentenza wasn't, no matter what the other had said.

Chaos rushed forward and sprang up over Sentenza, spinning in the air. He held the knife out in the end as he came down. He intended to slash Sentenza's back open with the many strikes, to cripple the child. If he defended from this Chaos might even be impressed.

He landed and curled into a ball propelling himself away from Sentenza. He picked himself up and stood with his back to Sentenza. He looked over his shoulder and sneered at Sentenza "You need to understand I am the end of everything. I will wipe away humanity. Well maybe I'll keep a few for entertainment, might try to improve them." He said with a cruel smile.

[Sentenza Hoshizuki]

"War's different from you." Sentenza said, as flesh was torn away from his body by the edge of his knife. Sentenza was tiring, Chaos was truly wearing him down, but Sentenza fought on. Sentenza's willpower to fight and protect, that was his true strength. "People have a choice in life, from the moment they are born to the moment they die," Sentenza said, "they can fight to protect, or they can fight to destroy. They can even do both. I fight because I have something to protect. I fight because I believe that even War, no, even you have something left with in you."

Sentenza at some point, Sentenza simply stopped blocking, and put all his strength into a full frontal assault. Sentenza's strength propelled the claymore's in broad slashes, cleaving through what lay in their path like butter. "I've said it enough times that you should finally get it! If you want to destroy this world, kill me first!" Sentenza watched Chaos' in coming plunge. He caught the blade of the knife, holding the two swords like scissors, then cleaved them together like sheers, aiming to sever Chaos' hand. Sentenza then charged at Chaos as he was getting up again, intending to plunged both swords into Chaos, towards the center of his body, then tear them outward. "I've heard enough of you." Sentenza said. He was covered in knife wounds, bleeding extensively, and there was blood dribbling from the corner of his mouth due to internal damage. "I refuse to die because your call yourself a destroyer." Sentenza said, rather calmly.

[Chaos]

Chaos watched the child lose his defense and Chaos prospered. He struck in hard and fast, but the child's hits were also coming in more frequently and slightly harder. Chaos did not care for the damage, it was inconsequential and would heal.

He saw an opening in Sentenza's stance and lunged for it. It seemed that had been Sentenza's plans. It seemed the child was more cunning the Chaos had given him credit for. The block was total, and then the child brought the swords under the knife. The pain was sharp and odd. He had had a limb severed before, he hadn't even felt it, just the understanding it was no longer there. This time there was blood, not much. His blood was ruby and seemed to glow slightly before dieing out and crystallizing into a dull red gem.

Chaos danced around the attack, despite his shocked and whipped around the charging child. He lashed out with his left hand, chopping at the back of Sentenza's neck. His dance brought him away from Sentenza where he sneered. A red crystal had come to coat the stump where his right hand had been.

"Oh Sentenza, I thought that was what were doing." Chaos said with a smile, masking the lingering pain he felt. It was an odd sensation to have to contend with once again. It was certain Chaos did not enjoy reliving the sensation. Yet despite it being the loss of his hand it didn't hurt to baddy. Likely a function of his endurance. "But I am th destroyer and I am going to kill you. Look at you, covered in blood, all your own. I am sure the swords are getting harder to hold, how long until blood loss weakens you. You may have disarmed me." He said holding up his stump. "But it doesn't stop the wounds that have already been made. You and I know your death is certain."

"I mean congratulation on standing up to me, you deserve honors for getting this far, but you've had no chance since the beginning. You can't stop me, you can't reason with me, and I don't know what mercy is, I only hope to see every world burn before me." He said with a large smile. "So nothing personal. Your just in my way."

With that he launched forward. He continued to move around, favoring his left side, and struck blows. Due to their nature they were slower and weren't as strung, but each blow still carried the force of a sledgehammer.

[Sentenza Hoshizuki]

Sentenza was only momentarily stunned by the blow to the back of his neck. "Has it really not gotten through to you that you are not psyching me out?" Sentenza asked. In truth, Chaos was right, but Sentenza didn't show an ounce of it on his face. It helped that he was already fairly pale to begin with. Sentenza had managed to score one lingering blow, but that appeared to be all. That still seemed to be remarkable, considering Chaos' agility and strength. Sentenza shifted his weapon back into a single massive sword, using it as a shield for the on coming blows. Sentenza realized he probably had another shot for an attack.

Sentenza waited for the perfect moment. He shifted the grip of his sword to his left hand and assumed a looser stance. A blow from Chaos hit Sentenza in the shoulder, dislocating it, but also using his body as an axis and using the same force of Chaos blow to jam the hilt of Sentenza's sword to jab Chaos in the gut. "If I'm so hurt, then how can I still fight? Tell me that." Sentenza said, looking Chaos dead in the eye, "If you think you can kill me, then you're as deluded as your words let on." In truth, Sentenza needed a miracle for him to survive this. He was horribly wounded, he was not able to use his right arm, and the only thing he had left with which to fight was basically a weapon and willpower.

[Chaos]

Chaos saw the looser stance. It was an invitation. Chaos knew it was a trap, but it would do something more important. Chaos would end him. He struck fiercely, knowing the arm would be rendered useless, but he had misjudged Sentenza's attack. He managed to dodge out of the direct hit, but he could feel the bite in his side where the blade cut in.

The pain actually showed on Chaos' face, it had surprised him. The blade was buried a good three inches in his side, what would have been a fatal wound if he was mortal. Having the diaphragm slashed was a painful and very slow death. Of course he had no worry for such things, and even with the blade still in he was able to maintain focus. He had never had a chance to test his powers like this.

It wasn't to say he wasn't injured, blood leaked from the wound and crystallized where it spilt.The other crystals from earlier cracked and crumbled to dust, as the hand began to slowly crumble turning into a find pink sand around the knife.

Chaos brought his hand up to Sentenza's face and dragged his fingers down his cheek. "Because dear sweet Sentenza, you told me I would have to break your will, and your spirit, before I killed you. I've just been doing as you requested. But that takes time, time for you to understand you can't win. I've done this before." He said with a cruel smile.

He struck out suddenly with his left hand pushing Sentenza's blade arm. Once he pushed the blade out he struck up suddenly with a slap meant to send him flying. Chaos then jumped back as crystal grew along the wound, before being covered by the regenerating cloth.

"I am not trying to psych you out. I am merely reminding you what you already know. It's a lot harder to ignore it when someone points it out to you. Now we test your resolve. I am going take your choice away. I will take everything you have and watch you tremble before me. My wounds do not stop me, but yours drain you, hinder you. I will make you accept the inevitable, that how I will win. When you understand you have no choice. When you have been made utterly powerless, with the only of the thought of the inevitable." He reached down and picked up the knife from the dust that had been his hand.

"I want you to understand that even if you survive, it wasn't because of your will." He said as he flicked the cooling blood off of the blade. "Now then, defend yourself." He said lunging forward. His attacks were not as fast, but not because of injury, he wasn't as skilled with his left hand. It was such a nuiscance to lose a hand.

[Sentenza Hoshizuki]

"You'll have to try harder if you want to break my will." Sentenza said. Sentenza practically invited the attack. He made sure the knife was buried deeply in his skin, then painfully swung his right arm so that his hand grabbed Chaos wrist. Sentenza gripped tightly. "Nothing is inevitable." Sentenza said, using what remaining motion he had in his arm to bury the knife straight through him into the wall behind him. Sentenza looked Chaos dead in the eye, with the tenacious spirit he had had throughout the fight. "Go to hell. And take your purpose with you." Sentenza said.

Sentenza shifted his sword to its gun form and pressed the barrel against Chaos' chest. "We're not so different, Chaos," Sentenza said, his left finger pressing against the trigger, "if I'm right, we both want what we feel is a better tomorrow. You wish to slaughter everyone because you've lost hope, but I wish to use my hope to forge a new tomorrow." Sentenza could feel his strength starting to fade from him. "Two monsters who wish to judge this world, one to save, one to destroy. This won't be the last time we clash, Chaos." Sentenza said. He then squeezed the trigger of his gun.

[Chaos]

Chaos was surprised at the feel of the bullet. Guns weren't this advanced before he had been sealed away. They didn't even have the force to penetrate his skin before. This was different, in fact this was different then earlier. This time the bullet tore it's way through his flesh and bone until it shot out of his back. It was a queer sensation.

He jumped back, leaving the knife in Sentenza. Sentenza's move had surprised him, was he willing to sacrifice that much to win? It impressed him slightly. "It's not that I lost hope. I knew how bad humanity was from the beginning." He smiled as he stretched slightly. "Our difference is we are both monsters, but you choose to deny what you are. Humanity is a teeming mass, and there will always be more. I could never hope to finish my task, every world will bring new humans. We are wolves meant to ensure the flock doesn't get too big"

"It's what we have always been meant for." Chaos said with a smile. "You were just meant for a smaller scale then me. You should never have wasted your time fighting me." He held up his stump. "This will heal in time, flawlessly. But each of your wounds, should you survive, they will always be there, reminders of who I am."

"Never get the idea we are equals Sentenza. You will never get close to that, I barely tapped into my ability for this fight. I arrogantly believed I wouldn't need to. The fact that I was right makes it so much harder to stop doing that. As I said, you never learn when your right for the wrong reasons." He looked over and waved his hand, opening a dark portal before him.

"I think I've changed my mind." Chaos said turning to Sentenza. "I'll make it a little game. I'm going to leave you to die, which with your condition shouldn't be too long. In that time, there is an ever so small chance you will be rescued, oh and I assure you, you will not be able to do it alone. Someone should be responding to the explosion soon.If you survive," He said as he waved his hand as if announcing a prize. "You can be the one to tell the rest of the worlds about us,do tell them I won't let another survive. Tell them the Apocalypse is upon them."

He walked towards the portal, stopping suddenly and turning to face Sentenza. "Oh if you live, remember that it's because I gave you this chance. I am certain I could get to you and eventually snap your neck. In your state I think you might get one or two defenses in before your body begins to fail you." He paused slightly and smirked. "It was fun to meet you Sentenza, if it's any consolation, I'm rooting for you." He said with a cruel smile.

He began walking towards the portal again. He stopped just before entering and looked over his shoulder. "Any last minute declarations hero?"

[Sentenza Hoshizuki]

Sentenza peeled himself off of the wall, and staggered towards Chaos. "I told you already, you cannot kill me." Sentenza said. At Chaos' question, Sentenza leaned in close. "What is with you horsemen and asking for last words when you could just be on your merry way?" Sentenza asked, "However, I do have a few things more to say. Me? Remember your wounds? Please. Blades pierce the flesh, and flesh heals. However, I think it would be wise to remember the person that caused you pain, evidently the first in a long time. I hurt War too." Sentenza leaned in closer, then whispered into Chaos' ear, "And one more thing, get the f*ck out of my sight." Sentenza practically pushed Chaos through the portal before collapsing onto the ground. The one thing Chaos likely hadn't accounted for was just how much Sentenza could take. While he was at his limit, Sentenza could stay at his limit for a long time before his wounds pushed him over the edge. Sentenza felt the blood under him pooling, staining his black clothes. Sentenza would gladly fight more, even in his current state if it meant Chaos realizing that Sentenza wouldn't stand down, even if Chaos' broke his body beyond repair.

[Chaos]

Chaos enjoyed the child's stamina. Maybe if Sentenza made it Chaos would take it slower, show him the resolve to break his will. He did so much love making heroes fall. Sentenza would be one of the most fun to push to the edge.

Chaos was moderately surprised to see that Sentenza could move. Even with above-human stamina that was impressive. The pain must unbearable. Yet this boy could still move through it. That took enormous mental discipline. Sentenza was a rare part of humanity that actually showed promise.

That was Sentenza's true weakness. The simple thing that fueled everything he did, what Sentenza would think is his greatest strength. He was human, his humanity would be the weapon Chaos would use. Seeing the child move filled him with an almost faith that he would see Sentenza again. Whatever it was that called the shots, whatever had put him in this position would see that Sentenza lived to see Chaos again.

"It's I know heroes, they always have something more to say. Usually damning me." Chaos said with a smile. "Of course I will, he said holding the stump up. "I will you remember you fondly Sentenza."

The shove had been unnecessary, but Sentenza was a brute. Chaos shifted his center and balance so to spin and face Sentenza as he faded into the portal. "Just remember I left." He said, his body gone as the final words drifted out of the portal. "I didn't have to, you live for me now."

[Micheal Coen]

The portal of Darkness opened out of sight. Micheal stepped out of the portal and began to move forward in a crouch. He ducked behind some boxes that showed damage from the first explosion. He tilted his head as he watched the conversation.

He looked to the predator. That creature in black had harmed him, nearly killing him. He would have to visit some form of wrath upon him in the future. He seemed to be leaving, good. Fighting the predator now would not be advisable.

The other one was also there, and it was injured. It would be easy prey at this point. Now that the predator was gone the prey just collapsed. Micheal melted into a shadow and crept forward as a blot on the ground.

He reformed next to Sentenza and summoned the Soul Stealer into his hand. His shirt was stained in blood, but the wound had seemed to scab over. He looked Sentenza over dispassionately as it wondered what powers it would get from this one.

NOOOOO!!!!!!!

His eyes suddenly focused and the Soul Stealer dropped from his hand. He shook his head and took a step back. He then looked Sentenza up and down. "We need to get you to a hospital, you look terrible."