Post by strider on Jul 13, 2007 8:54:14 GMT -6
The strider stood over the body of his felled opponent, with fresh blood trickling down the blades of the two katanas he wielded. The victim was still alive, wide-eyed in shock.
Before him stood his leader, Racthoh Demini, clad in dark obsidian armor and wearing a white cape that flowed freely with a light breeze. Racthoh had the blade of his sword embedded deep within a man's chest. With a forceful thrust, he had driven it straight through armor and into flesh. The blade hissed menacingly as he drew it out slowly, as if he enjoyed every drop of blood. The lifeless body of the soldier fell limp onto the floor.
In front of them stood the enemy general they had chased after and his last remaining personal guard. The general was shocked at the sight, and his guard stood beside him with weapon drawn, visibly trembling in fear. They had good reason to fear, as Racthoh's presence emanated a dreadful aura. Their purpose here was vengeance.
Racthoh glanced over to Kaaru's opponent. Both arms had been severed cleanly from the upper torso at the shoulders. Whereas Racthoh's attack powered through armor as a testament of strength, Kaaru's consisted of clean slices through the joints, parts unprotected by armor. It was almost art. The man lay on the ground, his body overcome by shock. A large pool of blood welled beneath him as blood flowed from the large wounds where his arms once were. He neither spoke nor screamed, but he was very much still alive.
Racthoh looked up at Kaaru, as if to ask "Not finishing the job?"
No... I'm letting this one bleed to death...
Kaaru couldn't believe the thought that just flashed in his head. When did he become so cruel? There was an evil force at work, and he tried to figure out its source. His eyes caught the unnatural vapors from Racthoh's sword, as blood evaporated from the blade.
It's that damn sword of his...
There definitely was something strange about the sword his leader wielded. However, the more he stared at it, the more he realized that it wasn't the source. Perhaps the sword had hold of Racthoh's will, but Kaaru felt nothing from it.
No... That's not it...
It was then he realized, that the evil force stemmed from a darkness within his own heart. It was something he had felt only twice before. His master at the academy called it Satsui no Hadou. Murderous intent. In war, you must be willing to kill your opponent or you will be killed. But this was something far greater than that. It was something far more sinister. It had begun to well up within him due to recent occurences, but only now was it starting to emerge. Those who gave in to it were termed "dark striders" as they let the darkness consume their souls. It was this that was empowering him.
He felt strangely at peace with it...
Racthoh smirked as if satisfied, and turned to face the general. Then, there were shuffling noises around them.
"You won't get away with this...," said the general hesitatingly.
It seemed that reinforcements had arrived. Racthoh and Kaaru soon found themselves surrounded. There were approximately 20 soldiers. Racthoh and Kaaru looked around.
"10 to 1 odds...," Racthoh commented in a deep voice. "It's hardly fair..."
"Yeah...," Kaaru chimed in with a menacing smile. "They need at least 50 to slow us down..."
Before him stood his leader, Racthoh Demini, clad in dark obsidian armor and wearing a white cape that flowed freely with a light breeze. Racthoh had the blade of his sword embedded deep within a man's chest. With a forceful thrust, he had driven it straight through armor and into flesh. The blade hissed menacingly as he drew it out slowly, as if he enjoyed every drop of blood. The lifeless body of the soldier fell limp onto the floor.
In front of them stood the enemy general they had chased after and his last remaining personal guard. The general was shocked at the sight, and his guard stood beside him with weapon drawn, visibly trembling in fear. They had good reason to fear, as Racthoh's presence emanated a dreadful aura. Their purpose here was vengeance.
Racthoh glanced over to Kaaru's opponent. Both arms had been severed cleanly from the upper torso at the shoulders. Whereas Racthoh's attack powered through armor as a testament of strength, Kaaru's consisted of clean slices through the joints, parts unprotected by armor. It was almost art. The man lay on the ground, his body overcome by shock. A large pool of blood welled beneath him as blood flowed from the large wounds where his arms once were. He neither spoke nor screamed, but he was very much still alive.
Racthoh looked up at Kaaru, as if to ask "Not finishing the job?"
No... I'm letting this one bleed to death...
Kaaru couldn't believe the thought that just flashed in his head. When did he become so cruel? There was an evil force at work, and he tried to figure out its source. His eyes caught the unnatural vapors from Racthoh's sword, as blood evaporated from the blade.
It's that damn sword of his...
There definitely was something strange about the sword his leader wielded. However, the more he stared at it, the more he realized that it wasn't the source. Perhaps the sword had hold of Racthoh's will, but Kaaru felt nothing from it.
No... That's not it...
It was then he realized, that the evil force stemmed from a darkness within his own heart. It was something he had felt only twice before. His master at the academy called it Satsui no Hadou. Murderous intent. In war, you must be willing to kill your opponent or you will be killed. But this was something far greater than that. It was something far more sinister. It had begun to well up within him due to recent occurences, but only now was it starting to emerge. Those who gave in to it were termed "dark striders" as they let the darkness consume their souls. It was this that was empowering him.
He felt strangely at peace with it...
Racthoh smirked as if satisfied, and turned to face the general. Then, there were shuffling noises around them.
"You won't get away with this...," said the general hesitatingly.
It seemed that reinforcements had arrived. Racthoh and Kaaru soon found themselves surrounded. There were approximately 20 soldiers. Racthoh and Kaaru looked around.
"10 to 1 odds...," Racthoh commented in a deep voice. "It's hardly fair..."
"Yeah...," Kaaru chimed in with a menacing smile. "They need at least 50 to slow us down..."