POWER LEVEL
356,511
Tech Points
47/88
Forms
Enhanced Being [x39]
Zeni
92,117
Bio-Android
|
Jun 5, 2022 16:30:59 GMT -5
Post by Ayu on Jun 5, 2022 16:30:59 GMT -5
Forest felt... So uneasy this evening.
After days of being stuck at home, studying, practicing her abilities behind the house, learning more about what she lacks, and training again... It was time for a walk. How long could Ayu stay buried under textbooks and pictorial drawings of muscles or roots? She needed to keep her mind focused, and for that, a break was needed. Spending too much time on her own wasn't advisable, even if plants were keeping her company. Why does she even listen to what Zhang was saying? It's not like he could check if Ayu went to any town or city. But on the other hand, why would she go anywhere? No one was waiting for her either way and there was no one to meet. Ah, no, she still was eager to take part in the training that Callion suggested, but before that, she needed to do her part - filling the blanks in her mind with theory before she'd be able to do a full-fledged use of Chlorokinesis. Ayu so much felt this power within resonating through her flesh and bones to her core... But could she say she understood it fully? Knowing that a boring and old-school session of studying would be a key to gathering more details, well, it felt so anticlimactic... But so be it.
It was the second half of the day when she hid house keys in the tree hollow, tied a pouch with essentials to her waist, and ventured into the woods. All the known paths were there. So well-known forest... Enjoying the silence Ayu was taking a stroll through the uneven terrain. The tangled roots and stones lying around made it hard to navigate, but she was in no rush, slowly making her way forward. The air was scented with the smell of fresh resin and grass, the midday sun was shining through the thick branches, painting ribbons of light all around the forest. Where the crowns were overgrown little to no shine broke through, leaving dim and musty spots hidden between mighty trunks. Like two sides of the same coin... Nature was beautiful but scary at the same time. Ayu smiled a little while climbing up a gentle hill, passing by the ferns as tall as she was, and walking towards the plains. There was a field of wildflowers that she saw in the distance and animals didn't run away at the sight of her - as if Ayu was the part of this region. She took it as a good sign, going deeper into the forest where birds chirped and all was familiar.
She needed that moment to think. So much has happened... But nothing was made clear in the end. Thinking now back to the events of the last few weeks, the young woman couldn't pinpoint anything that would help her with the newest ordeals. Zhang was still gone and not answering her calls. As always, Ayu had no clue who or what she was, and the people going and leaving weren't making it easier. She found comfort in the thought that the small good deeds she made weren't pointless... Yet what else could she have done?
As she was walking through the woods in silence, an unknown feeling started creeping in, casting a long shadow over the area.
Now she was walking broodily for hours, going where her feet were guiding her... Stroking her temple Ayu finally realized, that she was far from home, farther than she'd like. Maybe the walking and thinking sessions should be done in the backyard garden from now on. Landmarks she has never seen before emerged from the greenery, and the whole place was a little eerie... No, the area around felt obviously uneasy. Tense. The woman's pace started slowing down, until she stopped, putting her arms around her and rubbing her shoulders. Forest was bustling with life, she felt dots of energies bigger and smaller so why it was unnaturally quiet? The wind wasn't getting colder or the sun hasn't suddenly set, simply the atmosphere transformed into a soundless sensation of alertness. The pressure was obvious, but the surroundings remained unchanged. Unless... Signatures of animals moved around quietly, yet the flora didn't dare to move under the soft breeze, expecting... Expecting?
Ayu kneeled to the ground, putting her hand on the warm grass. Her eyes closed. It was already evening and the place was restless, she could feel it. Plants didn't have many emotions or thoughts, they were mostly built of sensations. And this one was telling her that somewhere - near or far - lots of trees were fading away. The grass conveyed to her that a heavy being was roaming around those parts, causing vibrations in the soil and distress to plant life. She'd have to sharpen her senses, yet one thing was made clear - this place wasn't safe.
Just where on Earth was she now?
Super Weighted Clothing Equipped Power Level - 25,273 PL with SWC - 6,318 Word Count - 816
|
|
POWER LEVEL
19,786
Tech Points
3/9
Forms
N/A
Zeni
6,000
Archived
|
Jun 5, 2022 20:40:07 GMT -5
Post by Tabu on Jun 5, 2022 20:40:07 GMT -5
For the first time in a few months Tabu wasn’t….entirely unhappy.
Unlike the pollution-choked megacities or overly sanitized orbital habitats that had been his temporary homes as of late, the planet of Earth housed abundant wild and plantlife, despite the Earthling’s growing industrial base. Something deep within the Namekian seemed to sigh in contentment as he lay on his back, staring up at the flickering slivers of blue dancing between the leavy branches and pine needles. Soon, the Namekian would need to move on: would need to find new employers and new opportunities to gather the strength and influence he required to accomplish his ultimate goal of freeing his people. For now though, perhaps he could relax for an hour or two, spend some time in blissful meditation where nothing could interrupt his silent contemplation. Sitting in a lotus position, his hands clasped tight, Tabu slowly stretched out his awareness, feeling first the innumerable small ki signatures that filled the silent world around him. His mind lightly brushed over that of industrious ants tending to their aphid cattle, over newborn avians trying out their wings for the first time. The Namekian’s sphere of awareness grew and grew: a meter, ten meters, a mile. Tabu was no longer a single entity, but a million in one: a collective rather than an individual. He was the wolves on the hunt, he was the bees racing across wildflowers. He was-
He was in danger.
The Namekian’s eyes snapped open a millisecond before a massive snake tail whipped wickedly fast through the undergrowth, acting as a giant scythe as trees cracked and exploded from the sheer kinetic energy imparted to them. Tabu barely had time to jump up a few meters before the tip of the tail caught him full in the chest, sending him hurtling backwards, blood splattering out of his mouth. The mercenary’s unwilling flight soon ended however, as he crashed against a looming cliffside that jutted out of the forest like a breaking wave. Groaning in agony, Tabu ripped himself out of his rocky prison, sending a small avalanche tumbling to the forest floor. A quick once-over revealed no injuries that his natural regeneration couldn’t easily repair with a little bit of energy and time, but, from the massive ki signature approaching, he wouldn't have that time.
With a flick of his wrist, Tabu’s magical energy and ki flooded the local area, causing the few brave animals energy to flee and terror as the air itself came alive with the Namekian’s might. Several trees and small boulders arose from the earth, arranging themselves behind the Namekian even as strange words poured from the Namekian’s lips.
The words only increased in volume as the beast broke free of the undergrowth. It was a massive snake, several hundred meters long and as thick as one of those strange cylindrical skyscrapers the earthlings favored. With a shout, Tabu telekinetically hurtled his array of projectiles at the beast, engaging it head-to-head.
WC: 491 TWC: 491
PL: 3,085 Health: 6,170 Stamina: 4,627 Ki: 7,712
|
|
POWER LEVEL
356,511
Tech Points
47/88
Forms
Enhanced Being [x39]
Zeni
92,117
Bio-Android
|
Jun 6, 2022 15:05:02 GMT -5
Post by Ayu on Jun 6, 2022 15:05:02 GMT -5
In quiet anticipation underlaid with a sense of anxiety, Ayu opened her eyes slowly. The flow of things around seemed to slow down as the dust dancing in the strings of light stopped in midair. Yellow irises gazed in trance at the hand that still was touching warmed by the sun ground. Her mind was floating in the forest, concentration jumping from one life signature to another, sliding by the trees and blades of grass. This dread was expanding. What was the source? This blood-chilling impression started to take the form of ripples on the surface of the water. The echo of danger dispersed all around, soaking in the ground, piercing through the animals, and freezing them with primordial fear. Ayu was looking for a center, for a cause of all this and she found it - right when a massive presence, quite literally resurfaced from the underground. It broke through the patches of soil and roots, tearing undergrowth and trees like paper.
She sprung up like pricked with a needle. The rumbling sound of cascading rocks and the cry of the frightened birds resonated in the air. It all came from the direction of a nearby cliff, sticking out from the patchwork of woods... A cloud of dust carried the scent of dug-up soil and resin from bleeding trees. Without thinking, Ayu hastened her pace, running through the bushes. The energy she felt was enormous and angry. A drop of sweat appeared on her temple - what a pressure... The presence was one of the overwhelming kinds, sharp, observant, and not likely to let go of prey. What kind of creature was able to ooze that type of energy? There was someone else near, another signature with a hue she never had a chance to sense before. By the sparks of Ki discharging close by, she figured that the fight just started.
The timing was just right for Ayu to witness an unusual sight. She stopped by the oak tree, leaning onto the rough bark and catching her breath. A svelte, massive body was slithering on the grass effortlessly and with dangerous grace. Speed far exceeded the expectations of a serpent of this size and mass... Scales, despite rough shape and dirt on them, were glistening in the sun, and reflections twirled on the iridescent surface. On the opposite side was standing an unexpectedly tall figure with even more surprising... Skill? There was no doubt that the collection of rocks, tree trunks, and branches floating behind wasn't their doing. Ayu shivered when the improvised bullets were shot at the snake with the persistence of someone familiar with battling to the death. She knew she should stay away, getting involved like this would only lead to her getting in someone's way - that thought was always in the back of her mind, but it was already too late.
Wriggling away, the snake twisted and tried to do the best defense there was - to attack blindly. Projectiles aimed faultlessly, but that was only the beginning. Ayu could feel that the serpent was getting angrier with every second. The coiling body slithered back, bending the slender spine to jump out with open jaws.
"No..." Ayu uttered under her breath, raising both her hands up. First, one after another, then by pairs and finally in groups, dozens of arm-thick vines burst from the ground between the fighter and the monster. In a matter of two seconds, they twisted and twirled and joined together, intertwining to create not a simple wall but an elaborate net, alive and ligneous. The uncomplicated obstacle would be treated like all those trees around, but this should prove difficult to break through or omit. That should give more time to the person on the other side... For whatever they might need it.
Instantly the scaley muzzle turned towards Ayu. A reptile and piercing pair of eyes glared at her with predatory intent. This time fear wasn't enough to freeze her in a place like last time... But it didn't mean that the girl was full of zest and fighting spirit. No, she was pale and shaking like a leaf on the wind - but the roots and the trees around her started to move on their own.
She wasn't just going to let herself be attacked again.
Super Weighted Clothing Equipped Power Level - 25,273 PL with SWC - 6,318 Word Count - 714 Total Word Count - 1530
Health - 12,636 Stamina - 9,477 Ki - 22,113
|
|
POWER LEVEL
19,786
Tech Points
3/9
Forms
N/A
Zeni
6,000
Archived
|
Jun 6, 2022 18:35:38 GMT -5
Post by Tabu on Jun 6, 2022 18:35:38 GMT -5
Tabu’s hasty assault had bought him a little time, but not that much. While utilizing his telekinesis minimized collateral damage that would damage this beautiful place and draw attention, it also wasn’t terribly effective against the over-sized snake. It was certainly annoying it, and the constant rain of projectiles was inflicting a little damage, but it was a stalling tactic at best. If he wanted the beast to leave him alone, he would need to do something a little more forceful. With a flick of his wrist, the remaining projectiles launched themselves at the beasts’ eyes, with the Namekian close behind them.
However, before Tabu could reach the serpent, a wall of vines and leafy growth sprang up between them, forming a natural wall between predator and prey. Tabu frowned, punching at the wall and feeling an unnatural amount of resistance for what comprised it. Whatever power constructed this barrier, it was at least one equal to his own, if not substantially greater. The placement of the barrier suggested two things: either a desire to end the conflict, or one to protect Tabu himself. If it was the former, Tabu would be more than happy to leave the animal alone. If it was the latter, well, that just wasn’t his style.
With a yell, Tabu’s aura crackled forth, screeching against the humid summer air as he began to power up. A yellow aura began to grow stronger and stronger around the Namekian’s right first as the warrior began to liberally pour ki into his Hydra Fist technique. Hopefully, the ki signature he could sense on the other side of the obstruction would be able to hold back the snake long enough for him to gather his power…
On the other side of the barrier, the giant snake lashed its tail once at the barrier of vine and leaves, hissing as it buckled, yet held study. The trespasser on its territory would escape unmolested! All because of-
Its eye-slits turned on the other invader to its forest, a small green slip of a girl that radiated an unfathomable power. With a rattle and a his, the snake would lunge forward at full speed, almost seeming to blur as it lashed forward to take a bite out of Ayu! If she somehow dodged, the snake would continue to pursue her with fang and tail, seeking to purge the invader that had so cruelly denied it its desired meal.
WC: 406 TWC: 897
Action 1: Charging [OT1/Physical] Hydra Fist! Current Charge: 33%
PL: 3,085 Health: 6,170 Stamina: 4,627 Ki: 7,712
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|
POWER LEVEL
356,511
Tech Points
47/88
Forms
Enhanced Being [x39]
Zeni
92,117
Bio-Android
|
Jun 8, 2022 14:57:11 GMT -5
Post by Ayu on Jun 8, 2022 14:57:11 GMT -5
... For both sides, her timing was all wrong. The wall that came to life and separated both beast and the stranger appeared just in time to stop their attacks. The projectiles didn't reach the target and the snake throwing the massive body against the twisted branches was met only with a loud creak of wood. For Ayu, it was the optimal frame of time. She didn't know what was going on here, but she could have guessed as much - fighting one on one with a monster of this power and experience wouldn't be easy. Clearly, to grow this big it must have emerged victorious from many battles... The reptile was now combating her obstacles relentlessly - the sharp branches and twigs on the top of the wall curved dangerously down, discouraging the overgrown animal to try crawling over them. Doing her best to maintain the wall, Ayu enhanced every spot that the snake aimed for - but the massive body launching itself at the twisted vines was breaking roots and pushing against the hardened trunks and brunches. For each broken one, a new one emerged. Hopefully, it should last long enough.
At first, it might have looked like Ayu was protecting the snake, which wasn't her intention. Not exactly. If it would be possible, she'd like to avoid bloodshed as much as it was doable, but that desire was questionable. Nature wasn't found of mercy. First of all, if the snake was only territorial, leaving the area would solve the problem. If the animal felt threatened by their presence, as soon as they vanish from its senses, things would calm down... But if they were marked as prey - escape wasn't longer an option. And judging by the signature bubbling up with fury and hunger like scalding water, they both were on the beast's menu. Now Ayu found herself in a situation called eat or be eaten or rather kill or be killed... Which she wasn't a fan of. Feeling drops of sweat running down her temples, she kept her posture steady while the green vines danced around.
It wasn't time for overthinking. Unable to pierce the barrier the snake finally caught a whiff of the young woman standing on the side... Ayu blinked and it was just enough. The beast hurled itself at her with alarming speed.
A thick vine wrapped itself around her arm, pulling her quickly away - and where she was half a second ago was now an opened jaw. Immediately the whole tree bowed, smacking the serpent on the head with its crown. Ayu stepped on one of the boulders that fell between the trees, away from the enemy but close enough to see it. A small glance to the side revealed what she felt before - the energy was concentrating, like solidifying sparks of Ki. The cloaked stranger was preparing for counterattack and the beast was as unforgiving as it was hungry. Raising her arms, Ayu crossed them, sending a flow of her energy straight under the snake. The ground started to shake as the plants that previously answered her call and the new ones, just emerging from the undergrowth waved and sprung to assist. The crossed, twisted, created chains and ropes...
Another net appeared, this time wrapping around the neck of the gigantic serpent and pulling it to the ground. Lianas curled around the mouth to shut it close, the vines widened and hardened creating a green muzzle. Deep, rapid breaths raised Ayu's chest, and the pulse started ticking in her head. Never before was she forced to use this ability so intensely and lack of experience was at play, but it was all or nothing. With an immobilized head, the beast was now wriggling and using the tail to hit the ground time and time again. With a small, weary gasp, Ayu started to create more vines that would stop the snake from attacking or breaking away... It just wasn't so easy.
Super Weighted Clothing Equipped Power Level - 25,273 PL with SWC - 6,318 Word Count - 655 Total Word Count - 2185
[A1] - Used Chlorokinesis
Health - 12,636 Stamina - 9,477 Ki - 22,113
|
|
POWER LEVEL
19,786
Tech Points
3/9
Forms
N/A
Zeni
6,000
Archived
|
Jun 11, 2022 14:52:52 GMT -5
Post by Tabu on Jun 11, 2022 14:52:52 GMT -5
The serpent wasn’t normally one for fits of rage. Unlike most humans, the snake was not a creature of emotion: having spent the majority of its life deep in the woods sleeping and relying its lesser children to bring it meals in-between voyages to the world of dreams. After a life spent slithering its way to the top of the jungle’s hierarchy, the beast was content to allow its massive ki to burn itself slowly out in peace. However, the encroachment of humans and others and its domain had lead to many of its brethren being either killed and captured. Not only did this humiliate the mighty basilisk, but it also put its food supply in extreme danger. For the first time in centuries, the ancient basilisk was forced to hunt once more.
So when Ayu first humiliated the basilisk by dodging its’ strike at maximum speed, leading to getting smacked on the crown of its massive head with a lowly birch tree, and then drawing upon her connection to the forest to put it in what was essentially a magical muzzle, it was safe to say that some bad memories were brought up. The bubbling raw anger that that pair of warriors sensed in its ki beforehand exploded into an apocalyptic fury, the beast’s hisses rising to an earsplitting level. The beast thrashed desperately in its confines, its tail uprooting ancient pines and turning broad oaks into little more than kindling. Yet, no matter how hard the snake tried, it couldn’t seem to destroy the vines quickly enough to outpace Ayu’s output. The glare in its eyes turned murderous: the snake could see the girl’s ki-heat a few meters from where it lay trapped but it, the king of the forest, couldn’t do anything about it! It reared back once more for a mighty heave
And then Tabu’s ki-enhanced fist sent it crashing back down like a scaly meteor.
Tabu could sense both of the ki signatures on the other side of the wooden wall, spiking higher and higher as they clashed again and again. Thankfully, the new signature wasn’t hostile, and seemed to be distracting the big snake while he gathered his powers. Nevertheless, the fact that he had encountered not one, but two beings with a ki that far surpassed his own on such a backwater didn’t exactly make Tabu especially comfortable with his safety. He had assumed that he wouldn’t be in danger here if he just kept a low profile, but it seemed like that just wasn’t the case. Tabu swore to himself that, if he got out of this mess, he would stop slacking off on those Hydra clan exercises that he had learned by proxy in his youth.
For now though, Tabu needed to keep his mind on the present moment, and not allow his attention wander like it was apt to do in new surroundings. With a burst of ki, Tabu would charge over the barrier, a ki-construct with almost a dragon-like appearance surrounding his out-stretched right hand. With a loud battle cry, Tabu’s devasting hook would form a visible indentation on the snake’s head, stunning it for a second with the sheer force of the attack.
“Quick! Before it recovers! Chwini, O Lach!”
The words were in a foreign tongue, guttural and harsh, but the effects were almost immediate. A wave of ki-enhanced flame would erupt from Tabu’s hands, slamming into the beast and setting it alight. While painful, it was clear that the ferocity of this attack wasn’t even close to that of his previous one. If Ayu wanted to help finish off the beast, she would need something with a little more firepower….
WC: 614 TWC: 1511
|
|
POWER LEVEL
356,511
Tech Points
47/88
Forms
Enhanced Being [x39]
Zeni
92,117
Bio-Android
|
Jun 12, 2022 10:28:29 GMT -5
Post by Ayu on Jun 12, 2022 10:28:29 GMT -5
The cycle in this battle of survival appeared to have no end. Ayu's legs were rooted in place, while her mind and Ki stretched covering the area around, focusing on every bit of flora nearby. The vines, lianas, even brunches, roots, and tree trunks intertwined in a creation that shouldn't be possible by botany standards. But here she was. Plants soaked in her energy burst through the ground, the ones growing already in this forest moved like soldiers ordered to fight. Ki enhanced their thickness and strength, and she made sure to play it strategically - plants with extensive roots were pulling snake to the ground, while the strongest branches and vines wrapped around the spine. Right... Is there anything else that could be done? If the beast would only stay still and leave... The inner panic, respect for the creature, and pure fear created by the overwhelming presence now were completely irrelevant because everything else was covered by boiling wrath. The sparks of primal rage weren't something that could have been soothed so easily... Wait.
Ayu felt every presence entangling scaley body in the living prison, they were holding the jaws close shut, and with every moment vines were making progress. Net started growing from the head towards the tail, immobilizing the serpent and pulling it to the ground, just - the viper wasn't liking the idea of being defeated. The struggle and wriggling and the powerful hits that the tail created - mighty trees broke like matches. For every branch that was uprooted with this raw force, Ayu made three more to wrap their slithering body around... But the fight continued. Using an edge of her mind, the young woman was searching for something, browsing through the modest and humble plants hiding in the undergrowth.
The glint of energy on the side moved rapidly, and Ayu raised her head to see a stranger emerging from behind the barrier. She bought enough time, luckily... Ki flickered around their fist while the power was only increasing - the energy now mimicking dangerously crackling flame and swirling currents of heat. It was a breath-taking sight, Ki formed the head of a beast... Serpent versus serpent. But it wasn't time for admiration. Opening her palms Ayu increased the pressure of her plants, making sure that the monster wouldn't slip away at the last second. Little did she know, that the force of this attack was so great that the body was pushed, breaking away from the net on the opposite side of the impact. Almost immediately more trees and vines emerged, but this time it was Ayu who struggled with keeping her energy in check. Throbbing in her head started to grow and for a slipt second, her vision darkened. That was bad...
The ki-based flame wasn't similar to regular fire - it bite down the scaley surface, eating on the skin and making its way deeper into the body. It was burning down the lianas too, even if she was able to wrap viper in her net again... A muffled and pained hiss hurt her heart, but the only thing that changed in her posture was Ayu's eyes. Sadness and compassion grew. If possible, she'd like to give it a painless death - this encounter was a nightmare and if she didn't want to throw her life away, she had to kill the beast. That was something that had to be done... With a heavy sigh, one of her hands created a gentle motion, and - new vines slipped into the serpent's mouth. They weren't there to keep the monster in place, no... Tendrils not thicker than her fingers, grew between the fangs, crawling deeper inside the throat. Leaves flat and hand-shaped covered the left side of the serpent's mouth, but what was most important, was a thing happening in their mouth. A very concentrated bush of greenery grew there, irritating the inside of the jaws and throat. There was only one thing the snake had to do to avoid suffocating... And the beast swallowed the herbs that Ayu stuffed in the mighty jaws.
"I'm sorry," the woman whispered delicately in an apologetic tone. A moment passed, and another... And finally, the burning anger in the serpent eye's started to blur and wither, replaced by confusion and, maybe, even panic? For this enormous body, a great amount of very ripe herbs was needed for the sedative to take effect. And luckily for Ayu, hop plants were growing nearby, and the seed cones were mature enough to be used. Snake just swallowed a very strong painkiller and a sleeping pill in one, so although still struggling for their life and in pain, their moves were growing sluggish. The shivers rushed through the body and muscles twitched... Yet, the fight was far from over.
One thing was clear - the giant snake's eyes weren't closing. It wasn't enough to put the beast to sleep, but it could give them another chance to make it out alive of this mess.
Super Weighted Clothing Equipped Power Level - 25,273 PL with SWC - 6,318 Word Count - 828 Total Word Count - 3013
|
|
POWER LEVEL
19,786
Tech Points
3/9
Forms
N/A
Zeni
6,000
Archived
|
Jun 13, 2022 15:55:25 GMT -5
Post by Tabu on Jun 13, 2022 15:55:25 GMT -5
This fight wasn’t going particularly well for Tabu and the green stranger.
Despite unleashing two of his strongest attacks back to back, experience told Tabu that his enemy wasn’t even close to finished yet. The Namekian could feel that the big snake’s ki was still flaring strongly despite its injuries as the beast let out a pained hiss that shook the very trees around them.
“I see how it grew that large. Those scales are pretty damn tough!”
A small part of Tabu admired the snake, admired the sheer ferocity and power of the environment that had produced something that could match two-powerful ki-users and treat their attacks like mere bug bites. If it was possible, he would prefer to spare the beast, but there was simply no way to do so. If they showed mercy, there was no telling what kind of damage the beast would wreck on the helpless earthlings, much less what it would do to them if their efforts at subduing it failed. Tabu sighed, resigning himself to the bloody task.
As the snake hissed and thrashed as his conjured flames burned away at its body, Tabu would land next to his newfound ally, gathering his ki for the final burst of flame that would hopefully but an end to the predator. It might take him more than a few castings of the spell, but Tabu was confident it would eventually do the job, even if the process was a bit….unpleasant for those that loved nature and its creatures. Gathering his power, Tabu opened his mouth to recite the spell once again, only to throw himself to the ground as the snake nearly got free, its muzzled head missing him and the green girl by inches. Instead of either of them, it slammed into a large oak a short distance behind them, prompting another hiss of agony as the oak snapped back into its face.
Cursing, Tabu turned his attention to the green girl’s ki, only to feel it rapidly decline as more vines encircled the beast. It was odd, someone with her strength simply shouldn’t be burning that much ki to restrain something like the snake. Was she untrained on ki-regulation perhaps? Tabu wasn’t sure, but it was quite worrying.
His worry only intensified when he felt the green girl’s ki sharply decline once more, heralding the start of a sickly sweet smell that made Tabu feel vaguely faint if he inhaled it too deeply. As he watched, the snake’s struggles began to slowly grow weaker and weaker, eyelids drooping but not quite closing. Was this girl attempting to….drug the snake? Tabu thought it a little inefficient considering the size of the serpent, and prepared to say so. He opened his mouth………then shut it. Curse my damn conscience and Porunga for giving it to me
Tabu would appear next to the green girl, placing a hand on her shoulder. The Namekian’s own ki reserves would pour into her without reservation, rejuvenating her failing energy and hopefully giving her the power required to finish her initial plan.
“Put the thing to sleep. If we can’t spare its life, we might as well give it as painless a death as possible. I hope others of its species still exist.”
His tone was gruff, but it was clear from his eyes that the pitiful scene before him was affecting him more than a little.
WC: 559 TWC: 2070
|
|
POWER LEVEL
356,511
Tech Points
47/88
Forms
Enhanced Being [x39]
Zeni
92,117
Bio-Android
|
Jun 14, 2022 13:27:52 GMT -5
Post by Ayu on Jun 14, 2022 13:27:52 GMT -5
Struggling to survive - a normal, almost daily occurrence in the forest... So why now does it feel so intense? Because her own life was a line? Ayu could feel cold sweat on the back of her neck and her vision became blurry for a split second. Her energy, albeit great enough to do something here, wasn't being controlled by her in a way that would be helpful in a fight. Callion suggested training so she'd get a hang of her powers, but now it was clear she should polish them to have a way of protecting herself in her time of need. Narrowing her eyes and feeling that her arms are shaking, Ayu was adding layer after layer of vines to lower the chances of the snake slipping away. Tiny needles stabbed her lungs while she was breathing, the exhaustion wasn't going to let her forget about this strain.
So how could they defeat a beast this monstrous? Hop plants worked, but the serpent wasn't falling asleep. It was only growing drowsy and at the same time more irritated, like knowing who put it in that state and struggling to stay awake with everything it got. The fire was burning on its scales, in some places tree trunks dented them causing more aches. The serpent was in extreme pain, every survival instinct kicking in to fight back or flee... At this point, she wasn't sure what to do. The enemy was weakened, but not enough and she wasn't going to last long herself - and neither were the trees around. The arms were getting tired and the throbbing in her temples was only getting louder.
Ayu jumped in place, startled by the sudden but warm touch of a large hand on her shoulder. The young woman's first reaction was to raise her gaze at the stranger. From up close his height seemed overwhelming and Ayu felt even shorter than usual, but the most striking part was that she finally saw his vivid green skin and felt the tepid air that was accompanying the Namekian. Because that was Namekian, right? Her knowledge wasn't that great, but it would be hard to mistake the stranger for any other race. His expression and presence weren't benignant, but he wasn't unfriendly or hostile. They were occasional partners in this fight for survival, and through their clumsy attempts of cooperation, they have reached this point - two versus one - and they were going to make it out alive. Namekian's energy was clear and calm, yet with gloominess underlying his presence... Ayu's eyes gleamed anxiously, awaiting any response but instead of any words, the warmth on her shoulder started to grow, soaking into her body. This Ki was welcomed and strangely so easily assimilated by her energy, it amazed her. The sensation wasn't foreign, from the first moment it felt... It felt... Almost familiar?
In a state of silent stupefaction, Ayu gazed at her hands. Her fingertips glowed with a soft inner light. The gleam shone through powder green skin when the amount of energy in Ayu's body have risen. Despite not knowing what was happening, intuition in the back of her mind told her that it was making perfect sense - and who was she to disagree? The same marking gleamed very faintly on her forehead and gently lit up her irises but she wasn't able to see it. Instead, to not waste any time, Ayu nodded and stretched out her arms. The grass around her feet grew lusher and the greenery in front of them seemed to bath in the additional power, expanding and wrapping around the snake just like tendrils of young foliage would coil around supporting sticks. The young woman took a slow breath.
"Right," she agreed with a calm voice. It's like the plants were waiting for this moment. Trees that were broken started to sprout young trunks from the crocked stumps. Vines grew thicker, budding new leaves that turned into twisting stalks. Bushes branched on the ground creating a green layer of fluffy leaves. Several steps away from Ayu young trees grew, turning quickly into mighty oaks. And the snake? It was almost gone under the mosaic of leaves, stalks, lianas, and branches. Even without sleeping herbs, the beast would have a hard time getting away, but that wasn't the plan. The hop plant started to bloom around scaley jaws. The vines slipped in, entangling the tongue, and teeth and growing inside once again... But this time the plant caught on fire. A very thin, fiery stalk turned into an ember and slid inside the snake's mouth. The smoke increased the efficiency of the plant and Ayu saw the beast's eyes blurring. With another dose of sleep medicine, the shaking head stopped moving, and the glare softened into an absent gaze. The pain was repressed by herbs and the energy calmed down, drifting into a forced sleep.
It started working, but Ayu felt tears building up in the corner of her eyes. She was far from being joyful... But some things have to be done, whether they like it or not.
Super Weighted Clothing Equipped Power Level - 25,273 PL with SWC - 6,318 Word Count - 848 Total Word Count - 3861
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POWER LEVEL
19,786
Tech Points
3/9
Forms
N/A
Zeni
6,000
Archived
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Jun 16, 2022 10:15:29 GMT -5
Post by Tabu on Jun 16, 2022 10:15:29 GMT -5
The more ki Tabu poured into the quiet girl, the more the confusion grew in his mind. The green girl, who he had at first assumed was at best a random bystander with some alien ancestry, was……odd in some way. It was something he couldn’t quite put his finger on, her ki signature felt muddled in a way he had never experienced before. While it was impossible to tell apart specific individuals by their ki signatures, each species had their own “fingerprint” if you examined them closely enough. The steady war-drum of Sayians, the ice-cold pulsars of power the Changelings possessed, all of these Tabu was at least vaguely familiar with. However, when he reached out to this girl, it was like a broken Changeling symphony, thousands of instruments playing at the same time with no clear direction or motive. It wasn’t a hostile feeling per say, but it made the Namekian feel vaguely uncomfortable.
While Tabu was brooding over this however, the green girl was already moving to secure this victory. Through their connection, Tabu could feel how his ki was consumed in nearly its entirety, a veritable forest of plants stretching over the drowsy serpent-like a cage hewn of the forest itself. The snake hissed and thrashed, but it was futile: the green girl’s magic was simply too powerful for it once she had the energy supply. With one final effort, the snake slumped to the Earth, utterly defeated. Tabu closed his eyes, bowing his head You were a fine opponent mighty serpent. I apologize for what I must do next, but the laws of nature allow me no quarter. If any like you remain in this forest, I will see to it that they are protected to the best of my abilities. So I swear upon the name of Porunga.
“Stay here kid. And…..turn around if you want to. This isn’t going to be particularly pretty, no reason for you to watch if you don’t wish to.”
Tabu’s tone was kind (if a little blunt), and he gave the girl’s shoulder a quick reassuring squeeze. With that, Tabu removed his hand from her shoulder, trudging over to a nearby oak and chopping it down with a quick kick. Grasping the trunk like a huge spear, Tabu would then drive the tree directly into the snake’s eye, questing for its brain. Blood spurted out like a great wave, coating Tabu head to toe in red, but in the end, he was successful.
Bowing his head, Tabu whispered a prayer to Porunga, before a quick kiai blasted all of the blood off of him. He turned back to his newfound ally.
“Crying shame that, wish there was another way.” Tabu said, his brusque tone returning.“Name’s Tabu of Namek, may I know yours girl? Only proper I know the name of the person who saved my life after all.”
WC: 480 TWC: 2550
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POWER LEVEL
356,511
Tech Points
47/88
Forms
Enhanced Being [x39]
Zeni
92,117
Bio-Android
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Jun 20, 2022 16:54:53 GMT -5
Post by Ayu on Jun 20, 2022 16:54:53 GMT -5
It was a very conflicting feeling to see the snake drugged, drunk on the sleeping herbal medication, and falling to the ground unconscious. All done by her hands. Was it terrifying? Yes. It appeared that she could do a lot of things if she would simply utilize her ability properly... Was it alleviating? Of course. The beast fell asleep without any pain and grudges, she could feel the anger, the primal rage fading away in an instant, replaced with a calm state of now blank mind. Let it be this way... It wasn't only mercy, nor was a pity, but felt more like a sign of honest compassion. There wasn't more Ayu could have done for their opponent. The fact that the snake fell asleep also soothed her uneasiness and the sense of guilt. She could at least help the beast depart in peace without dealing with more suffering and prolonging the inevitable... Because leaving it like this wasn't an option - they didn't know what the monster was capable of. It could very well track them down or show a technique or skill that they didn't witness simply out of luck. And if they let the snake be, if one of them be attacked again... Without the help of the other one, anyone, things could get ugly pretty quickly.
Kill or be killed. It sounded so reasonable by the law of nature, yet people loved to twist its meaning and use it for their private agendas. Calming down her Ki, she noticed the lights from her fingers disappearing and her energy getting back to normal. Flora around stopped growing, awaiting what would happen next. Ayu watched in silence, only narrowing her eyes so much that everything blurred to grey for that split second when the deed was done. Stubbed through the eye with a tree... It was a quick, painless death. Blood splattered on the emerald leaves, ruby drops were standing out with their color on the green canvas of the undergrowth. For a moment, the forest was really quiet, holding their breath as if confirming that the beast is no more... The distant chirping of the birds grew closer and the heavy pressure lifted as a weight pulled away from her shoulders. The hunt was over.
Ayu was looking at the corpse quietly. She wasn't disgusted by that scenery nor she would ever try to stop the Namekian - only... She was genuinely saddened and upset. Not by the fact that the beast was killed or at anyone in particular. With tears running down her cheeks she was mourning the death that could have been avoided if the scenario was different. The sensation of life slipping away was familiar now, fading like smoke from the tip of the blown candle. It was sickening in a way, tying a knot on her stomach... Ayu felt it before, so close too, and the impression and memory of it weren't the fondest. Wiping her eyes she slowly walked towards the body of the serpent, placing her hand on the rough skin with brows raised and eyes filled with genuine regret. A soundless sight raised her chest and with a heavy heart, Ayu closed her eyes, resting her forehead on the rough scales. Only for a moment, this was her way of honoring the might being.
Whichever plants could, they blossomed. The serpent was now covered in a blanket of green leaves and multicolored flowers, making it look like a tribute. After all, Ayu never willingly killed anything or anyone. It all left a heavy, bloody aftertaste in her mouth, but it couldn't be helped. And although it wasn't her who spilled the blood, she took a great part in making it possible... They come out of this encounter alive. That mattered too, but the life once lost couldn't be brought back.
"It's alright," she stated with a soft, but clear voice, looking up at the dead serpent's eye - the surface now acted as a mirror without the spark of life within. Was she comforting herself or the stranger? ... Or the snake? Her mind was now wandering between what was necessary and what would never be. "Our lives were on the line and there wasn't anything else to be done," her hands fidgeted. Ayu accepted it, her pensive expression softened, but it didn't make her any less melancholic. "The death wasn't in vain... This one will return to the soil. The plants will take roots and the other creatures will be able to feed and grow." She stroked the rough, scratched scale once more, before taking a step back. It was sad, but she found something soothing within the well-known cycle of life. At least it was one thing she was able to understand, unlike people's intentions and goals. "Nothing in nature goes to waste," that's how it all worked from the very beginning.
A brief while for reflection was interrupted with the stranger introducing himself and adding his thanks for saving his life. Ayu gazed at the Namekian and blinked while processing his words, gradually feeling more and more like she was pulled back into reality. She snapped out of that melancholic state and even out of the adrenaline from the fight, which was pretty visible - the young woman's face heated up with a blush and she raised her hands defensively, waving them slowly in abashment. It's like she forgot she was shy and it all got back to her after the question was asked and the after-fight gloom disappeared.
"N-No, I-I-I didn't do that m-much..." Ayu stuttered shyly standing in one spot, feeling her cheeks burning. Her first instinct was to hide behind something, anything, but she was drained of the energy to create even a single tree... And perhaps because of that exhaustion, despite her bashful nature, her reaction was somewhat dulled. Her gaze slipped to the side while she put a hand over her arm. "Ayu. M-My name is Ayu," she introduced herself after a short pause. It wasn't Tabu's fault in the slightest - it was the first time someone thanked her for something so important. She would lie if she'd tell it was nothing - there was a warm sense of gratitude flowing through her soul. She nodded lightly, with some hesitation accepting his words. Although not entirely convinced, it would be rude to say anything, right? And besides, she wanted to explain herself too.
"I am s-sorry I jumped in like that..." Ayu started speaking softly, hesitating if she should bring it up. Her first reaction to separate Namekian from the snake might not have been the wisest choice. She glanced at the body covered in blossoms, joining her hands together. "I'm glad I was able to help, but without your aid, I most likely wouldn't be able to do that..." Even though her Ki was all fuzzy, Ayu was aware she was quite strong, just couldn't properly grasp how much. And the lack of experience and training was shown through her unpolished skills... Without the stabilizing dose of Tabu's energy, the whole occurrence could have ended differently, to their disadvantage. "Thank you," she placed her hand above her heart and lightly bowed her head.
This day surely would be remembered for a long time.
Super Weighted Clothing Equipped Power Level - 25,273 PL with SWC - 6,318 Word Count - 1,206 Total Word Count - 5,067
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POWER LEVEL
19,786
Tech Points
3/9
Forms
N/A
Zeni
6,000
Archived
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Jun 27, 2022 13:23:58 GMT -5
Post by Tabu on Jun 27, 2022 13:23:58 GMT -5
Tabu watched silently as leave and stem blossomed over the body of the dead beast, turning what was once a grisly thing into a curious kind of beauty. In his mind, he heard the voice of his father, explaining in a tone that brooked no arguement that there were consequences in all actions, no matter how great or small. No matter if it was trimming a hedge or blasting mountains to slag with the raw force of one's ki, eventually, there would be repercussions. It was a law of the universe, as intrinsic to life itself as gravity or electromagnetism. Eventually, the balance of Karma would have its due.
Perhaps the thought of consequences was what made Tabu uncomfortable as the giant snake's body writhed in death, its muscles not quite realizing that the body itself had already been killed. Unlike when the Namekian had first left Namek, Tabu had no particular issues about killing anymore. Sometimes...it was just necessary, no matter how brutal and bloody it got. Tabu couldn't just leave old enemies to grow and fester until they were like weeds under his feet. Indeed, he would never have survived so long in the armpit of the universe if he didn't allow cold logic to guide his fists and ensure that the law of the jungle was on his side.
Why then, did this meaningless inconsqeuential death effect him so much?
As the last embers of the snake's life force burned out like flickering embers, Tabu closed his eyes for a moment, before opening them to the sound of the green girl's voice. "That's right. If we left it alive it would have gotten free of the trap before too much longer. And then, well, you saw what my attacks did to its scales." Tabu agreed, the picture of logic when one ignored the green fist held near his leg. "After all, it couldn't have been the only one of its kind, not one that big. It would have had a brood, and its very body will return to the forest and sustain them."
Tabu raised an eyebrow as the girl switched from a strangely melancholic confidence to a stuttering mess almost in the span of a sentence. It seemed that with the threat over, the girl felt comfortable enough to lower her guard a portion, something that confused Tabu. Were the Namekians the only people in the universe that knew how to hold their emotions close to their chest? The Namekian shook his head slightly, as if to rid himself of such thoughts. That was no way to think about his savior. With a flicker of ki, the Namekian jump-started his regeneration, cuts and bruises beginning to fade away now that he was out of danger
"You saw how I was dealing with out friend before you showed up, I wasn't doing much more than annoying it. Even if I did manage to get away, It would have probably injured me pretty badly. That wall of yours saved me." Tabu said in a rare display of honest gratitude. Tabu bowed his head, "It is good to meet you Ayu."
Despite his words, however, Ayu continued to minimize her part in the conflict, something that Tabu immediately moved to head off. As one of the few beings that he had met on Earth that was tolerable, Tabu didn't wish to see his new...(friend?) die meaninglessly. And confidence, even more on the battlefield than on the hunt, was one of the most important factors in keeping you alive. "To be honest Ayu, I didn't do anything more than act as a glorified battery. All of this was your work." Tabu explained, waving at the giant snake covered in leaf and bramble. "Take credit for it, I promise my ego won't be too bruised." Tabu finished, scratching the back of his neck. To be honest, Tabu wasn't sure where this run of kindness and honesty was coming from, he had thought the world had beaten such things out of him a long time ago. Maybe it was the girl's oddly familiar energy that was putting him in this mood, it felt oddly...Namek-like in its energy. The thought snapped him out of his embarrassment at his words, reminding him of his next question.
"Speaking of, would you perhaps be interested in a little bit of sparring? It would be a shame to watch all that power you have go to waste because you don't know how to use it." Tabu questioned. Perhaps he could have phrased the question in a slightly less insulting way, but the Namek was eager to find a training partner, and especially one filled with such mystery. Perhaps it was here that his luck would change for the better?
WC: 792 TWC: 3342
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POWER LEVEL
356,511
Tech Points
47/88
Forms
Enhanced Being [x39]
Zeni
92,117
Bio-Android
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Jun 27, 2022 16:38:47 GMT -5
Post by Ayu on Jun 27, 2022 16:38:47 GMT -5
The monument of flowers embraces the serpent's body, making it an alive memorial, green and breathing. It wasn't the only life lost today in the forest. The two of them weren't the only survivors in the battles to the death, which the living creatures fought every waking hour. That was the law of nature in this universe. That's how things were... Ayu bore no grudge or hate towards the beast, only some grief that the things must have ended this way. She took no pleasure in fighting it and ending its life, but she was glad that they could give the monster a painless, peaceful end. Any other outcome would involve more spilled blood or consequences too difficult to handle... Luckily, she wasn't the only person thinking this way. Ayu glanced towards the Namekian, surprised by his words that have very well matched her own. A small, warm smile curled on her lips when she nodded thoughtfully. It was a little bittersweet, to have someone understand what she was thinking and understand the cycle. Taking a step back, she left the snake in its eternal respite, turning her head towards the stranger.
A very subtle change in energy piqued her attention. Ki sparkled when it started circulating inside the body alongside the blood, and from the corner of her eye, Ayu saw the scratch on Namekian's arm fade away. It happened only in few seconds, but she blinked in confusion, her eyes observing the phenomenon with something more than simple curiosity. The dark bruises were getting uniform in color, blending with the vivid green hue of Tabu's skin, leaving no traces from this encounter, aside from some smears of soil and fragments of moss on his clothing. Like nothing ever happened, like no damage took place. That was... An anxiously familiar sight. When Ayu lowered her pensive gaze, she spotted something she couldn't have noticed in the fever of the battle. There were dark red conjoined rings around Namekian's wrists, making it look like there was a fabric bandaged around them. Upon closer gaze, it was clear that it was a part of his body, just like the lines on the shoulders. This also looked similar to something. Maybe even too similar.
Ayu's hand fidgeted and unconsciously she covered her wrists with her fingers, both securely wrapped with straps of weighted clothing.
It felt... Nice to be praised. Even if it was only an attempt to build up her confidence, she felt gratitude. Ayu was aware she might have diminished her part in the play here, but she didn't want to brag nor did she feel good about pointing it out. Tabu addressed it right away, listing what she has done that helped them both get out of this situation in one piece... Immobilizing the enemy, slowing it down, and putting it to sleep. And now she felt that even the tips of her ears turned pink already. Long story short, Ayu wasn't used to positive feedback and grew flustered after hearing his straightforwardness, but she was also thankful to hear that. Even if her gaze was fixed on some mossy rock laying on the side in the grass and her cheeks heated up, it felt nice. And it would be rude to brush him off and it felt bad to refuse the genuine appreciation... Ayu didn't realize it when she started playing with the tip of her braid to keep her hands occupied.
"I-I mean..." she said in a low voice, before inhaling more air in a trial to keep her composure in a better state than it was. "Thank you for saying that," that was the only response abashed Ayu could mutter at that moment. Somehow, more trusting now, she tilted her head to look at the Namekian. Under the rough, gruff exterior Tabu was surprisingly kind with his words, even showing a sense of humor and taking his time to reassure her about her doubts. And he didn't do it forcefully, nonchalantly mentioning what he wanted to say... She chuckled softly when he named himself a glorified battery and mentioned his ego. As her initial worry started to mellow down, blush was fading from her face leaving only a smile. For the time being - at the mention of the possibility of sparring, Ayu frowned a bit, joining her hands together and thinking about an answer. That wasn't something she expected to hear... "Mr. Tabu I have never fought before, so I'm not good at i-it," Ayu subconsciously used the honorifics when referring to Namekian's name. He was clearly much older, and he did call her a kid earlier, didn't he? "Or rather, I never tried that before..."
Her gaze slipped again to the side. That was an awkward truth. Despite knowing that her power was standing out among regular Earthlings, Ayu had no experience with using it. Whatever she knew already, she learned from books or trained on her own, but her last one-person exercise session ended with her being stuck on the tree... So it wasn't going that well. Hopefully, the next time she meets Callion things would look better after promised training, but until then?
"I think we should both take our rest now," Ayu suggested slowly raising her hand. Maybe, in a way, both of them were able to regenerate any damage done to their bodies, the fatigue wasn't something so easy to get rid of. And they just fought a giant serpent - gods know she had enough of emotions and thrills today. A break was needed. Ayu pointed towards the direction of the corner of the East City's outskirts where her home was. "I live nearby. Please take your time and visit me when you'll have a spare moment."
She bowed her head. Before turning to the wall of trees, Ayu took a moment to look at the serpent's body, before leaving the fight scene.
Thread Finished
Super Weighted Clothing Equipped Power Level - 25,273 PL with SWC - 6,318 Word Count - 982 Total Word Count - 6,049
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"Only A Failure Abandons His Principles And Pride."
Administrator
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Jun 29, 2022 17:41:34 GMT -5
Post by Admin on Jun 29, 2022 17:41:34 GMT -5
Tabu: You're getting 5,648 power level and 4,779 Zeni! With 1 TP! You've also rolled a 12, Unfortunately no extra item for you!
Ayu: You're looking at.. 8,060 power level and 4,325 Zeni! and 2 more TP! You rolled a 2, no additional item for you!
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