lucetilogs | The bond is severed

Entry tags:

The bond is severed

Who: The Not-So Six Heroes - Jubei, Sanji (

concasse), Raven (

crisisrain), Asbel (

drawnbythesword), Adell (

vulcanblazer). With Special Guest Star Noel Vermillion (

failazure)
What: Lets Go Kill Ragna 2 - Luceti Boogaloo
When: Saturday June 16th, Around Noon
Where: Some place in the Forest below the Mountains.
Summary: Ragna is why we can't have nice things.
Rating: PG-13 for violence, gore, character death and animal injury (its funny because jubei is part cat)
[After speaking with the volunteers and making plans for the battle, it was time to go and face off. Jubei already made his decision and he won't back down now. The Black Beast won't destroy the village. Even if it means destroying whatever was left of Ragna. He can't twiddle his paws and wait for the Malnosso to possibly do something about it either. While he wasn't young, he still had moves. He would fight and he would end it before it began.

So he leads everyone in the direction of the path of Seithr, casting ars to clear the black musk of poison as they advanced. It wasn't going to be easy and he didn't even know any of these people, but this is the least he can do right now.]

OOC: Ok here is how it will work. We'll have three threads - one is for Noel, who will encounter Ragna first and needs to be taken out of there by Sanji. From there we have two threads that I'll put up for the fighting. One will be Group One (Adell and Raven) and the second will be Group Two (Asbel and Jubei). The second thread will have the end hit done by Jubei, effectively killing Ragna. If anyone wants one I'll likely put up an Aftermath thread as well for when everything is over, but I don't imagine it'll be necessary right now. Any questions just PM me.

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[It was dangerous to be out here. Noel knew that. She also knew that she wasn't supposed to be in the forest and instead cooped up at the Straw Hats' house, away from Ragna and the inevitable fight that was surely going to take place. Mr. Jubei had warned her to stay away.

But she ignored the order. She ignored her friend's wishes to stay with them, away from the impending danger.

Away from the horror she was sure to encounter in this maze of a forest.

Noel ignored it, because she still remembered.

Her heart would not stop racing, losing breath the faster she ran and nearly tripping over every little thing. The memory of Ragna was still raw in her mind. The feral look in his eyes as he looked on in sheer agony, as though something deep within him was threatening to take over his very being. The veins beneath his skin that pulsated and grew and made him seem monstrous. It's not Ragna, they said. Stay away, they said. They would do everything they could, but it still wasn't enough.

When Nami returned sick, enough was enough. And she fled in the middle of the night in search of the man.

It wasn't that she only wanted to save him.

She... wanted to see him again.

She wanted to talk to him.

It's silly, she knows. Knowing that this meant she was walking towards death itself. What has gotten into her? If Ragna was still Ragna, he would call her an idiot, or... or something.

When it came to him, she really was hopeless... wasn't she?

Noel stops short, eyes staring into the abyss of the forest. Wherever she was, it was nowhere near the forest. Seemingly alone, but...]

Rag... na?

[...deep down, it felt like he was near. No. She knew he was near.]

Edited 2012-06-17 03:03 (UTC)

[Noel shouldn't have come alone. She shouldn't have come searching for him. She shouldn't have sought him out after all he's done, because he knew that someone was in the vicinity -- looking for him. Searching just for him, and in the back of his distraught and chaotic mind, he knew who it was.

And that meant that she was easy prey. Even in her state and even with the power she held, the beast that had taken Ragna's place in this world so suddenly showed absolutely no fear. As far as it was concerned, she was just easy pickings for the beginning of a rampage that was a long time coming. A rampage that Ragna wished he could do in the deep, dark recesses of his mind.

Luceti deserved it.

The beast revealed itself in the foliage nearby, responding to the name that was called so hesitantly. Not because it was his name, but merely in response to the sound. His eyes were no longer remotely human -- not even shaped like a human's -- and they were locked on Noel's form and held no intention of looking elsewhere. She was the only living thing nearby.

And he must destroy it. He must kill it.

He must erase it.]

[Was she happy now? All the trouble she went to just see him. Was she happy? Even from this distance, the power that resonates him, that corrupted, raw power, is a feeling akin to something slipping through her very being and chilling her to the bone. Ragna's power... his true power, in contrast to what she possesses--

Azure, both false and true.

...that's the last thing on her mind, though. The glowing red eyes that look murderously in her direction, resembling anything but a human's, pierce through her and causes her to whimper under her breath. The beast that lurched through the shrubbery couldn't be him. It couldn't be. Ragna couldn't have been reduced to... reduced to...]

Ragna...! [This couldn't be happening. Not to him. Noel takes a steady step forward.] Ragna, it's you, isn't it!? Please-- Please listen to me!

[...but she already knew, deep down. That deep down, Ragna was already far gone, and this may have been a terrible mistake.]

It's... me.

[But that's okay.

She already knew.]

[As soon as he began to speak, the creature began to visibly acknowledge her by slowly beginning its approach. With every word that left her mouth, it inched closer and closer to fully getting within distance of being able to touch her. Within moments of its motion, it was going to reach that distance where it could do such an act, but from where she couldn't touch it back. A dangerous position. At that point, a rattling from his throat indicated that he recognized her, even if it was barely.]

Y...u... [The guttural noise that escaped what could only be his mouth resembled a noise as if Arakune had taken over Ragna's being. That "voice" reemerged again a few moments later in form of a bestial roar, the beast taking one more step closer to her. A jagged step, as if the Azure itself was no longer accustomed to the joints of Ragna's body.]

Edited 2012-06-17 03:34 (UTC)

[Eyes widening, Noel tries to speak... but in the end, she can only choke out a small sob as she sees the full extent of what he has turned into.

The heart that was racing, the heart that was yearning to see him again... it was now breaking right in front of her. All she is able to do is take a shaky step back and away as tears quickly begin to stream down her face.]

No... no, no, no!

[The man who she had grown so close to. Who took care of her even at her worst.]

Noel! It's Noel!

[...who made her feel so warm and fuzzy deep down even if he was a total jerk sometimes and didn't deserve-- who she was beginning to love!]

Snap out of it! Ragna!

[As soon as she called his name, the beast lurched forward and leaped at her. Her luck in regards to the beast not having Blood-scythe was immense, and all it did in an effort to destroy her was toss Azure from itself within the air. Gauntlet Hades, but far more cynical, dangerous.

A twisted version of something that belonged to Ragna, and belonged to him no more. Almost as if the beast was taunting Noel with the knowledge that she sought Ragna, and not the beast. And the beast refused her such a simple want.]

Edited 2012-06-17 03:47 (UTC)

[She lets out a short scream as soon as he attacks, instinct quickly taking over. In place of what would have been flesh and blood was The Bolverk, acting as a temporary protector for the girl as it stands as the only defense between her and the beast.

Any second sooner, and she would have been on the ground.

Noel jumps far back, arms extended and the barrels of her weapon facing him. Uncertainty and fear are laced on her features as she continues to plead with him--] Stop it! I don't want to fight! Stop!

[You don't get a choice.

The actions of the beast, jumping back to make distance as it tried to gather what just happened, paints those words in the air. Damn that Nox Nyctores. The Azure recognizes it, and holds it in contempt. Fuck the Nox Nyctores.

Without much more warning, it roars a second time as it goes in for another attack. Goes in for the kill. It wants her dead more than anything else in the world. And it attacks with another of Ragna's staple techniques, finely crafted in his days with Jubei and the training they undertook. Hell's Fang.]

[It's a nightmare, maybe. That has to be it.

Because no matter how much she pleads and begs, nothing is happening. Everything within her wants to run as far as she can, but she can't so much as move. If she leaves now, what would happen? What...?

Noel takes a hesitant step back, but as soon as the inhumane noise nearly breaks her eardrums, she nearly considers curling up in a little ball and hoping she'll be able to wake up soon.

But that doesn't happen.]

No! [Hands feeling trigger happy, it pulls it without warning, Ars blasting in the air and threatening to hit the beast.]

[The beast made no effort to defend itself against the ars, recognizing it for what it was and what it does. Without much fear, it dove through her attack, letting the ars wash away a portion of the Azure from the body it inhabited. Because of that, Noel would be more than able to see what was truly happening to Ragna's body.

It was covered entirely in the black, vein-like sustenance, almost like his skin was beginning to evaporate from his very being. What little skin that was left visible was very clearly being ripped apart, the energy from the Azure doing its work in destroying the parts of his body that wasn't necessary in sustaining itself for the work of the Destroyer. Even his face appeared like it was experiencing absolute pain, cheeks stained with what looked like tears of blood, but where actually just remnants of what little Azure wasn't blown away in that moment.

His body was dying on him, and the only thing keeping it alive was the Azure. And only for its own needs and wants. And it wanted to continue its approach at Noel, the Azure beginning to cover his body and face again as it sprinted at her.]

[...

Rag... na?

With the Azure that masked him away gone, she could see him. It was a minuscule part of his being, but it was still there and Noel could see every detail the closer he approached.

Time felt slow.

And when she witnessed for herself the true effects of the grimoire, the will to protect herself was gone. The dual guns slip from her hands and clatter on the ground, dispersing into nothingness. To Noel, the Azure was not necessarily keeping him alive.

It was killing him in one of the worst ways possible.]

Ah...

[There was no time to react.]

[As far as the beast was concerned, the only threat emitting from the girl was now gone. With Bolverk clattering against the ground, it was almost like a signal flare was shot into the sky, letting the beast have its way with her as much as it pleased.

With another roar, it lunged into the air and descended upon Noel. It extended its left arm, reaching forward with such motion that it almost seemed like it was mimicking the incident at the Gates of Sheol on purpose. The difference here was who was in the position of losing who they truly were, and what was going to happen because of it.

Instead of aiming for her forehead for something so noble as reverse-tempering, the hand was aiming specifically for her throat, and aiming to toss her back into the trunk of a nearby tree. That hand, soaked in Azure, would be sure to sting. Almost as if the false Azure would burn at her just because of what she possessed in defiance.

That was all Ragna was good for, right? Defiance.]

[She felt no need to resummon Bolverk after that, despite its warning blaring through her mind. Screaming and screaming.

As though she had already given up.

Strung up and now completely defenseless against the monster's rampage, she claws at the arm desperately, mouth open in a silent scream as she can feel her skin burn in contact with the fake Azure. It hurts more than it should. It hurts. Everything hurts.]

N...o! No, no! Please--! [An audible gasp for air, but all in vain. With no one around, with simply her and the beast, she knew then and there--

She would die.]

[The pulsating energy within his grasp just begins to flow into his hand, bringing the searing pain to an all-time high. The creature seems to be enjoying it, the cake of black clouding his appearance seeming to depart little by little as it's concentrated into one point. This would allow Noel to get a good look at his face again.

And the smirk planted on it.

As the Azure began to condense around his hand, taking form as a familiar avatar of a claw around her throat, the expression on that face was unmistakably Ragna. It was that cocky little smirk that he had when things always went his way. Kind of like how this was going his way. Was it truly his way, or was this just irony playing up to screw him over in the end?

He couldn't control himself, and he knew it. His conscious was pushed far into the back of the control room in his body, and he knew he was powerless. It's almost poetic, how both of them felt the same way. There was no hope for this.

"Damn it... Damn it all..."

Finally. The beast could taste its victory appearing on the horizon, this fact merely pushing Ragna into the pits of nothingness once and for all. It would use the girl as the first stepping stone in Luceti's mighty descent into destruction. Nothing could get in it way now. It was only a matter of time until the claw reached it completion, and then one simple movement would snap her neck.

Only moments away from devouring her in darkness.]

Edited 2012-06-17 04:37 (UTC)

[For those final moments, all she can think of is pain. The energy that flows through his hand reaches around her neck and with it begin to burn through her flesh. Finally, she screams. The searing, hot pain burning through her neck makes her seem so alien; how despite how hard he tries to snap her little neck, Noel can still manage scream and scream and scream until her throat felt raw. Hands clutching at his arms, legs kicking at his feet, she is reduced to short, little gasps. A fish out of water.

But when her eyes begin to return to focus and she is finally able to see him. See Ragna. See Ragna just one last time because she knows she'll die, the girl goes oddly quiet despite the utter pain she feels both physically and emotionally. The tears that trickle down even manage to reach the inhuman hands that were once his.

But slowly and slowly, her hands begin to slip away from him. Face turning blue from the lack of oxygen she receives, the world around her begins to go dark.

This was it, wasn't it? Dying again. What would Nami think...?]

No... m... more...

[And the last thing she would see would be the face of Ragna, grinning cruelly at her.

Her eyes begin to roll back. If he didn't snap her neck then, the lack of air would kill her.]

[Yeah, no.

Very suddenly, the Black Beast and Noel aren't alone anymore - because a very desperate and angry chef decided to follow a very desperate and stupid girl into a very desperate and shitty situation. Jubei will probably be far from pleased, knowing Sanji only waited long enough to leave a hasty message before he took off through the forest in search of his friend, but that's the furthest thing from his mind.

Right now, all Sanji can see is that... that thing with a grip so tight on Noel's throat, he'll shatter it given a few more seconds - and that Noel's eyes have already rolled to the back of her skull. The girl usually so full of life has been reduced to spastic twitches, a few inches away from death. She's certainly going to die.

Any semblance of calm that wasn't already eaten up by panic then turns into a blind rage.

No hard feelings, Ragna. The brutal kick Sanji aims at the beast's face is not meant for you. As far as the chef's concerned, you're already dead, and this is a fight between Sanji and the shadowed remains of a man he hates.

So drop her.]

[The kick is well-delivered and well-deserved, forcing the beast into releasing its iron grip on Noel's throat and being tossed across the ground like a rag doll. The only sound it emits is a low grunt, something similar to the grunt Ragna always lets loose when hit or annoyed. In so many ways, the beast was Ragna's deepest desires, but at the same time, it was just a corpse with Ragna's likeness.

It'll only be down and out on the ground for a few moments, so Sanji would do best to make his move as the Azure regenerates onto its body.]

[Noel falls into a crumpled heap; in some way, maybe, the grass below provides some cushion from the fall, though it doesn't help any. Her eyes still wide with shock, she can hardly speak or feel anything anymore. Everything feels dark and weird and she could black out at any moment.

It's all so numb, save for her neck. She could cry out in pain, but she can't anymore--because from where his hand squeezed remains deep burns, the skin now charred and bubbling.

Maybe dying was better.]

Edited 2012-06-17 05:53 (UTC)

[That one kick, and for all the energy his trembling rage is allowing him, Sanji notes immediately that he feels... winded. A lot more than he should. And the practical side of his mind points out that it can't be helped, this is what he gets for rushing around with no plan besides "Save the girl". So it's time to improvise and hope the back-up comes, and soon. He's on a shitty time limit. He keeps his gaze fixed on the beast only for a second before he turns to rush to Noel's side.

But then he stops. And stares. And forgets how to breathe. Her name is on his lips but that doesn't matter, he forgets how to speak, too. He's only capable of staring in sickened horror at the burnt excuse for a neck that chars and festers.

His first thoughts were right. She's going to die. He's going to lose her.]

N... Noel! [Shit. Shit. He's beside her in the same moment it occurs to him that he does not have enough fuckin time here; once Ragna is back on his feet, the choices are to flee and possibly direct his wrath back to the village, or engage him here for as long as he can -- and leave Noel to her fate.

... No contest then. He clenches his teeth hard enough to almost bite through his own cigarette, and arranges the girl's body as best he can in his arms.

Please, please don't die. Don't make him tell Nami he couldn't save you.]

[His outburst of Noel's name only causes the beast the look up more quickly than planned, deciding that now was the time to get up and act. No time to reel over how hard that kick was, or that the beast knew who that kick came from. The aspect of revenge and hatred coats the mind of the beast, already clouded by hundreds of things that make up the reason why Sanji was right. Why Ragna was already dead.

Up to his feet now, the beast roars again, aiming to move forward. One foot at a time, it approaches slowly, picking up pace with each step. Each step was accompanied by a growl filled with bloodlust and pure, unadulterated hatred.

If it wanted to kill Noel before, those plans were abandoned. Sanji was at the top of all priorities for the empty shell of a man. Sanji was a threat, and more than that, Sanji was Sanji.]

[One step at a time? Sounds like a plan. A shame that there is a cat moving several steps a second, rushing right after Sanji. Just when it all looked like a good plan was going to come together. As the monster begins to walk toward the two, a blur of orange will come rushing from the trees. And, before there is even a moment to think, the blur slams it's body and paw fist right at the front of the monster without any mercy.

But it doesn't go with the beast. Just as the paw connects, the small cloaked beastkin pushes off the monster and using the same force to kick it backwards again. The cat then lands on the ground, crouched from the harsh pounce.]

Get yourselves out of here now! [He yells out to the two behind him. To think Noel would find the beast before they did - this was the opposite of what he wanted.]

[One moment the beast is charging at him, Sanji already positioned to run like hell, but then there's a blur of orange and fur and -- what.

Shit, he can not keep track of this. But he hears that order, recognizes the voice, sees Ragna forced back, and wastes no time in taking off into the sky with one leap.

Hopefully the cat can handle himself, as Sanji spares him no parting glances or thoughts. He's running as fast as he can, all the way to the clinic]

[One moment, the beast is sure that it can finally see Sanji's head roll. The next moment, it's sprawled out on the ground with the familiar scent of beastkin coating the air around it. Of course, it had to be Jubei.

First, it had Noel's death in the grasp of its hands before Sanji arrived to play hero. Then it might have been able to cause Sanji's death, and lead into Noel's once again, but it had to be interrupted by someone else. The world's strongest creature.

Damn it all.

With a growl unlike any made before coming from the beast, it reluctantly rises to its feet as it watches Sanji escape with its first prey of the day. If it could curse under its breath, it would. But no such case. All it does is roar again.

Jubei, you are a dead cat.]

[He breathes out in relief, when he sees Sanji getting away with Noel. Hopefully Litchi and the other doctors can do something for the girl. He was hoping to get a surprise attack and finish it off quickly, but it doesn't seem like that's an option. The others should be running in any moment now, so it's just a matter of keeping the monster in one place.]

What's wrong? Not so tough without your other half huh. I won't standby and give you a chance to ruin this world. Not this time, you monster.

[Jubei stares the beast down and takes out his blades, one in mouth and the other wrapped around his tail.]

The group attacking the back of the monster, charging in right after Noel is taken off by Sanji.

You're not goin' anywhere!

[Adell lunges in from behind the beast, his fists already alight with flames. He'll be flying in, throwing a Herculean blow, meant to be strong enough to get the Beast to register him as a threat, rather than his partner, Raven.]

[If Ragna goes for Adell then that works out fine for him, he's still exhausted from the mission and would much rather keep as far away from this thing as possible. If it made other people sick, he knows it'll take him out in no time. This old man just isn't what he used to be.

So he'll keep his distance, firing arrows from his bow to give Adell some cover. It's the least he can do until he knows what exactly they're up against.]

[The Black Beast's small form was hit directly by Adell's attack, obviously more than distracted by Jubei's appearance enough to not even notice others arriving in tandem with the strongest creature from its planet. That blow causes the beast to stumble forward, not inhibited by the pain but clearly agitated. Jubei could wait.

It turns, aiming to go straight towards Adell with unabandoned bloodlust and a claw full of Azure, similar to the one it tried to kill Noel with moments ago. But the arrows begin to rain upon it, causing it to back off in mid-attack due to the force of them hitting against its momentum.

But no wounds are apparent as it tries to attack Adell again, obviously ready for arrows this second time around.]

[Adell watches as the Black Beast reels from his attack, and then comes back with blackened claws brimming with an evil power. He jukes left away from the claw attack as Raven's arrows rain down.

The Beast doesn't even look fazed by either of their assaults. It was time to turn up the heat. When the Beast went in for his second attack, Adell hops back, then lunges forward after the swipe with another powerful, flaming punch, and if there's an opening, he'll continue the onslaught.]

The group attacking the front of the monster. Jubei will be casting ars here frequently because the heads are going to have the most potent amounts of seithr to spread around. Also where the final hit will be made by Jubei.

Edited 2012-06-17 02:52 (UTC)

[This was it. This was the monster that was destroying everything? He couldn't deny that it looked dangerous. Deadly, even. But was it really, truly a monster? That's the sort of thinking he couldn't understand. Aside from appearances, what made this thing a "monster"?

...Asbel couldn't waste time thinking about it. He knew, regardless, that this thing was dangerous. It's hurt many people already. It's hurt Richard. If left unchecked, it could very well destroy the world like Jubei says.

Asbel runs right towards him, drawing his sword with a flash once he's close enough, and striking with a Lightning Strike attack, crying out "Fall!" as he does so.]

[Jubei in the meanwhile is casting an Ars spell to lower the layer of Seithr around the monster. The less Seithr the better strikes Asbel can make without having to worry about inhaling poisonous gas. Once it finishes casting, Jubei follows behind Asbel and leaps slightly into the air to deliver a strike from above with the sword in his tail.]

[The seithr dispels around the beast's legs, leaving it vulnerable as the Azure is also forcibly parted. Asbel's attacks do a large amount of damage because of it, the Azure pinging through Ragna's mind cursing the existence of the ars magus and Jubei like it had been through this before. It knows it has. And even though Ragna was pushed far into the depths of nothingness and, as far as anyone is concerned, dead, he knew this as well.

Forced to watch this hell unfold before him, unaware that he's doing this just yet.

Jubei's attack from above connects with the beast due to the distraction of Asbel's attack coupled with the earlier attacks from Raven and Adell. But it won't be attacked so easily from here on, hell no. As soon as Asbel and Jubei both attacks, the beast reaches out with both hands and makes two heads of Dead Spike erupt of the ground at the two of them, clearly bigger than the original usage of the move. And also with necks.]

[Asbel goes reeling back from the attack. Is this the power of the beast? He was starting to really understand why Jubei feared it so much. Why he wanted it destroyed so badly. This was just a sample of the beast's power...

Asbel's quick to get back on his feet, and charges at the beast again, crying out "Plasma Shock!" as he executes multiple electrified thrusts with his sword, ending up with a sword uppercut that leaves behind a trail of lightning bolts.]

[Jubei on the other hand barely scrapes out of the attack and is left with a slight mark on his side by the spike. What a strong attack. To think it can already do that much -- looks like he made the right call.

He once against casts an Ars to clear the Seithr for a more effective attack, but doesn't launch himself at the beast again. For now he's going to stick behind Asbel until he's ready to move. The cut isn't deep at all, but the thing that made it...well it isn't good.]

[The beast wants to counter-attack within a moment, but with the combined efforts of Jubei's Ars and Asbel's attack, it's thankfully interrupted before it can land any sort of follow-up. It take the entire brunt of Asbel's attack and more, mostly because of the Ars working against the Seithr and the Azure all at once.

It forces the beast to reel back and try to play a little more defensively to give itself a better position of attack. For now, it waits. And a beast like this waiting is always a terrible thing.]

[Asbel takes a step back now, sheathing his sword as he observes the beast's actions. Jubei knows the beast better than he does, and he knows running in headfirst against something he doesn't understand is going to get him killed.]

Can you tell what it's planning?

[He frowns when the beast stops. That can't be good.]

Either he's storing energy or playing defensive. The ars I'm casting are making your attacks stronger than usual because the seithr protecting it is gone.

[His eyes scope out the beast carefully, trying to look for any dead give aways.]

It may be luring us into a trap, but if it's playing defensive then that means he's getting weaker. If you can take down more of the body, I can use my sword to cut it by the head.

[The beast give no dead giveaways other than trying to keep distance. It doesn't want to get its seithr removed like that again, because it opens itself up to too much pain. And pain was only relative, rather than a feeling. It did feel its body slowing down, however. So it can just play keep-away for a bit.

What are you? Scared?

Come get some, bitches.]

Edited 2012-07-12 08:02 (UTC)

Got it! [Asbel unsheathes his sword, giving it a flick as he strikes his sword against the ground like a match, using his Incineration Wave arte, sending a large column of fire speeding away from him and towards the Beast.

But as powerful as the attack is, it's just meant to distract the beast, as he readies his next attack to use on it.]

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The bond is severed

[Prebattle - Noel and Sanji]

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Group One (Raven and Adell)

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Who's bad at remembering threads. This man. Sorry! :(

Group Two (Asbel and Jubei)

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