Artist:Darkness OST - Song:Krauts - Word Count: 1333
The visions of the explosive battle between two monsters flashed through the distant Hollow's eyes. They were world's apart, the monarch still residing comfortably in Hueco Mundo making preparations for their own venture soon to come. A small legion of his own had gathered, each bearing the mark of his strength and the benefits it garnered. Through the unique ties established with Demonica, the Hollow King was still able to watch everything. The Captain Commander's strength was just what he'd expect from someone of their title. To dominate in battle so easily against someone as powerful as Demonica...It was almost enough to make him salivate at the thought of ripping control from their body and taking it as his own vessel. But now wasn't the time for that. For his own operation to work, he needed this battle to last. and the Monsuta wouldn't hold out long at this rate..Fortunately, even without going there himself, the formless fiend could spread their influence through the strings that tied the nuclear warhead of a Demon to his own essence. They took in a deep breath through their current war-machine of a vessel, gauging their options.
The link opened, a tinge of Ruvik's vile presence manifesting in Demonica's body as she moved in for the next confrontation with Ibiki in a battle that ravaged the landscape around them. His voice echoed through her mind, the fragment of his soul embedded in her being starting to flare for the first time since their merger. Even without directly inhabiting his subjects, his powers could still sway the tides of wars, even from an entire dimension away. "
Mm...You've found yourself quite the opponent..A shame they don't take you very seriously..Seeing you as nothing more than an insect...How about we fix that?" The creature's voice ceased as quickly as it appeared, the fragment of his essence evolving, building into a conduit of power all its own deep in Demonica's core.
The slightest traces of Hollow-like spiritual pressure flowed together alongside the Demon's own tainted power. It started out small, but clearly noticeable. Wisps of pitch-black energy started to resonate from their body, acting on its own accord with no need for Demonica's attention to sway from the task at hand. Her energy started to increase rapidly, a secondary power source fusing with her own to push her strength and reserves to an entirely new level. The already demented power at her fingertips became even fouler, their spite, lust for destruction, greed for victory all amplified as the Hollow's mark gave birth to new strength in the demon's body. It expanded outward in a destructive current of raw power, Ruvik gave her as much strength as the mark allowed, which while not as drastic for someone already on her caliber, was more than to give her that extra push to shatter her limits and become a true monster of the battlefield. The dark spiritual energy spiked up, a pillar of shadows shooting into the sky above and creating a dark fog that blocked out the sun! The land plunged into darkness, the pressure from the sudden surge acting as a buffer between the two warriors at its peak. It softened any immediate attacks that crashed against it until the metamorphosis was complete, from either side.
The power coursed through Demonica's veins, giving form to another mark of the Hollow's gifts as well. Traces of the dark miasma melded into her skin, fusing with flesh, muscles, and even bones. The fragment of the Hollow's soul mutated the woman's body, empowering it with the gift of the shroud's armor. Her clothing was overwritten, thick, scale-like armor forming above it and above her skin. It was a sick shade f green, designed like the scales of a serpent with yellow muscle fibers visible along the forearms, legs, and chest. It merged with her body, melding into the skin and muscle. Every inch of their body became adorned in the reptilian armor. A lighter green scale mask protruded over their face, covering their mouth and nose, stopping just below their eyes and clasping firmly against their flesh. It was as light-weight as a second skin, granting numerous perks to the Demon it adorned that pushed her talents just that much further beyond what they were before to face off against the Captain Commander herself! Their muscles grew, reaction time decreasing. Their new flesh was more durable than ever before, acting like another layer of armor on top of their other defenses.
It transformed Demonica into a new level of monster all-together! Their power drastically increased, their strength magnified one and a half times over, and their speed and agility doubled! But even that wasn't the end of it all! On top of numerous other small benefits that would make themselves known throughout the fight, a final gift appeared around the woman's neck. A small necklace manifested in the shroud of darkness, a steel ring with a small imprint of a wolf's skull hanging at the bottom. It clasped a bone firmly in its jaws, the artifact exuding a thick and dangerous aura all its own! The explosion of energy faded away once the fragment of Ruvik's power finished manifesting, Demonica's energy calming down in tandem, but still much thicker and downright suffocating to lesser beings. Hollow-like energy synchronized perfectly with her demonic essence now, the combination of strengths creating a vile aura that flowed gently around her. A few more words echoed through the girl's mind.
"
I've given you an extra present. If you do well, you can even keep it! That necklace around your neck is very special...All you have to do is focus your energy on it and throw the bone from the wolf's jaws...After that, you'll have an extra companion just as dangerous as you are. Whether you use it or not is up to you, but I've given you enough to crush that cocky Shinigami. Now...Show them the consequences of underestimating you...A crushing and agonizing defeat!"
The telepathic link between them severed. Ruvik laid back in his throne, a small force of Hollows resonating with the power of his mark standing before him..While Demonica had her fun with Ibiki and the assaulting force of the Gotei, the Hollow had their own mission to do. After taking a moment's rest and watching the debuting moments of Demonica's rekindled strength and demented spirit? He set his sights on his next objective and departed, his legion following closely behind for the next rampage to follow the bloodbath of the Sirsa Lands.
(Techniques used.
- Soul Contract:
Soul Contract: Perhaps the second most potent ability at the parasite's disposal. The Soul Contract is the second best thing to fully infesting a person's body and claiming their strength as its own. The process is a simple one, but very effective and diverse in what occurs. To incur a soul contract, the creature simply need ask them if they accept a contract that will be told at the time of through any medium. The terms are usually vague, promising power and aid in fulfilling some kind of vendetta or revenge against another in return for a favor or two in the future. If they accept, then the creature can make the deal official by any means it desires. There isn't a specific ritual to it and could be made painfully over-the-top, or as simple as a touch on the forehead. They need not even be close to one another for this to take effect. However, there is a way to force the contract on to another, but it is much harder to do. The first is that the subject in question be drastically weakened. If they are near the creature's level or even decently powerful, they would need to be in a state of great emotional distress or decreased willpower. The second medium is if they simply are drastically weaker than the parasite. In which case the contract can be forced upon them.
Now, what does this contract do exactly? As in the name, it is a contract of the soul. Unlike traditional demon cliches, this isn't an ownership of the one in question, but a deep link put in place between the soul of the parasite and the subject in question. There is no limit to how many people can be linked this way, but it can also be broken should the subject desire it and have the willpower to do so. Power isn't even needed to break the bind, only willpower. The contract has benefits for both parties that make it a less-than-easy choice to simply request the contract be removed or force it off themselves. Starting with immediate effects. The contract will put a seal somewhere on the subjects body. This seal will be pitch black in color and has the mold of a serpent's head.. While this is in place, the effected will gain an enormous rush of energy and even the parasite's regeneration immediately after the contract begins. This only lasts for the thread in question, but is still useful. The second and more long-lasting change is in the subject's intent. The seal brings out the darkest parts of who they are, be it greed, lust, or just wrath and hatred. These aspects are amplified multiple times over, turning minor flaws into the biggest parts of who a person is so long as the contract is in place.
This seal will allow the parasite to give the subject in question immense power, No matter how weak they were before, this can raise them up to a level just one tier lower than the parasite itself. If someone is already at that level or above, a bonus is still obtained. The limt will change to instead offering only a half-tier bonus ( 1-1 -> 1-1+ etc). Like all other things, the parasite controls how much power it offers and can alter the tier anywhere from their base level to the maximum on a thought. Additionally as a bonus, the creature can allow someone access to the darkness cloak ability with the same benefit it has while using it. However, unlike the host, that is the only ability it can offer through this medium, and a seldom one. Only the most useful of contracted combatants will be allowed to use it. A bonus of such power is life changing for some, but it isn't without flaws. Naturally the parasite has benefits from the ordeal as well.
The first is an always active effect that slowly drains the soul of the one effected. This is so ridiculously slow that it can't be noticed for an exceedingly long amount of time. This is a medium for the creature to gain energy from other creatures aside the host and even gain the essence of races it can't normally infest, such as Quincy. The process is very slow though, not having much effect until weeks have passed with the seal active. At that point the subject may begin to feel minor illness that fades away in a few hours, only coming back every few weeks for short bursts of time. Only after multiple months does it become worse and last for longer periods. This can never kill someone, but eventually can build to serious migraines and other pains. The more power they gain compared to their original tier, the more these effects manifest and plague them throughout a month.
The creature also has extensive control over the contracted subjects. A number of simple powers can be accessed relating to those in question. The first is summoning, a basic technique that can take away someone under the conscription from the area they are in and bring the person directly before the parasite and their current host. This takes the form of a mass of dark energy manifesting around the target and consuming them to nothingness; rebuilding their body under the guise of another energy mass directly before the creature. The opposite can also be done. Through the contracted, the parasite can warp its own body to the same location as any that are linked to its soul. At the time the host will also be brought along by the extension of the parasite's will. These methods both take a full post to complete, making it unwise during battle where a distraction isn't available.
The second means of control is sensory. At any time the parasite can telepathically communicate with any contracted soul whether they want to or not. At this time the creature can read their thoughts and project its own at light speed. Aside being nifty communication, this telepathy has controlling properties. The words and commands spoken over this medium have an alluring effect that makes the subject desire to follow them. This is not control, but an extremely effective passive suggestion, One can easily ignore, or alter the orders given enough willpower, but since most subjects are treated as friends and associates, it isn't as easy as disregarding an enemy. It has the same effect as a request being given by a close friend. Sure, anyone could turn it down. They're not being forced to obey. They just want to. The second effect is sensory intake. At any time the parasite can tap into the senses of those affiliated with the contract and hear what they hear, see what they see, so on and so forth. It is like looking at a video through the eyes and ears of the subject and makes for useful tactical application. That is as far as it goes
The last effect of the contract is the most useful for the parasite,. While in place, the creature can use any powers that the contracted can utilize in all but their peak state, unless the person only has one state; in which case all powers will be available. This will only apply to personal ability, not racial skills or natural talents. For example, if a fire bender were to be contracted under this ability and they had access to their bankai, the parasite, and thus the host could utilize all powers and techniques available to the subject from their base form and shikai. The techniques follow the same guidelines and barriers as the original user, but do not require the same medium. Rather than a sword, the parasite could bend flames through its body, or the host's physical appendages. Any power generated via this medium is composed of malevolent energy and altered so that it can not harm the parasite or its host. This, combined with the initial benefits of its parasitic nature give it one of the widest potential arsenal of techniques in existence! Due to this, it hasn't come to develop many skills of its own, leading to a fatal issue down the road. Should all the contracted subjects break free or die off, or even the host killed, the parasite has extreme difficulty managing on its own accord alone. This dependency keeps it in check, needing to keep some subjects appeased to stay in power.
These contracts can be broken in three ways. The first is to overcome the will of the parasite and free yourself through excessive effort and energy expenditure. The second is if the terms of the contract are violated. The contract, though often vague is important. The terms must be fulfilled on the Hollow's end to remain active. Once those terms are shattered, the contract is removed. However the rules toward it are very literal, so if a technicality permits something, there are no drawbacks to it. the last medium is to kill the parasite itself, which will remove all influence it has on the world and the souls that reside in it.
Contract is being used for telepathic communication, obsevation, and boosting Demonica half a tier, placing her at 0-2 while it is active.
- Darkness Armor, Contract Version:
Darkness Armor: The Darkness Armor is the next evolution of the Darkness Cloak attuned to a more offensive purpose. Where the Cloak offered a versatile defense that flowed freely, the Armor is more compact with benefits toward a more aggressive and offensive styles. The Armor, like the cloak is a manifestation of the Parasite's will mixed with the spiritual power of a Hollow and the host's own power. This forms from the host's skin. Liquid will rapidly pour out from the body flesh, coating the subject almost entirely in a green material. This materials quickly fuses together with the subject's flesh, then hardens back into a solid piece of material. It has a very stretchy and light-weight make up that ensures it doesn't reduce maneuverability, while also being very dense. The material gives the user a very unique look a kin to mutated dark-green flesh with bits of orange muscle scattered throughout the armor.It covers them entirely and fits perfectly to the curvature of their body, only leaving the hair and eyes uncovered. Over the lower-haf of the face a mask will form with the same greyish green texture as the rest of the body will now take.
The Darkness Armor can not be molded, changed, or manipulated like the cloak. It can't be condensed to an extremely defensive point, but makes up for that by being far stronger overall. The armor has durability equal to a master-level hierro, protecting the wearer from any attack be it minor or large-scale. The material has great resistance against things that center on piercing and against blunt force. When struck, the armor will absorb the force of an attack and disperse the energy over a large portion of its entirety, making it difficult to severely damage. It also offers great resistance to less mundane forms of attack like poison. Liquids, gases, and most spiritual powers will find it nearly impossible to reach the subject without breaking through the armor first. Though it is fused with the skin, it will not absorb chemicals or toxins on contact.
That rounds out the defensive properties of the armor, but its true use comes from its offensive. The Armor does not just fuse with the skin, but digs deeper into the body and strengthens the muscles and spiritual construction of the one effected by it. This drastically increases physical output. In Ruvik's case, it combines with the normal physical augmentation to give an even greater boost in raw might. Strength is increased to be three times as effective as it normally is by this method, where as a host's speed is .quadrupled! This will often make the host appear to blur from how fast they are and even contend with soul-dash level speeds for short bursts of time while active. For one exceptionally fast already, after-images may even form as they move. Lastly, it even has an effect on energy projection while this suit is in effect. When releasing energy from the body such as a cero, kido, or personal techniques, the armor infuses bits of dark power into the projection and increases their potency by 25%. This makes any form of energy used by the subject 1.25x as effective. It isn't as drastic as some things centered on that goal, but can still turn the tide of battle over time or be the deciding factor in close confrontations.
Additionally, like the cloak, this can be created through anyone that is linked with a Soul Contract. However, the effectiveness is reduced compared to one directly inhabited by the parasite. The defensive coating will only be on par with advanced-level hierro. The physical enhancements are drastically decreased, though still effective. Instead, the effected will have one and a half times their normal strength, as well as twice their normal speed. It is no where near enough to operate at the same pace as the normal armor however. The increase to overall effectiveness with energy is also lowered to toughly ten percent. Along with effectiveness, the armor of contracted souls can vary cosmetically. Whether it be color distinction or slight changes in the texture, most souls will have a slightly different look to the ability. However, they will retain a likeness to one another and have the presence of muscle-like protrusions from their flesh. The armor is attuned to the flesh of the one effected by it, so it does not repair itself. However, if one can regenerate their own flesh, the armor will also be restored along with it.
Since the armor is composed of the same material as the Darkness Cloak, the two can never be used at the same time. In Ruvik's case, his normal ability to physically augment the host is also restricted. The armor is potent in many ways, but also taxing for those reasons. Any form of regeneration accessed with this ability in play will cost 1.5x as much energy as normal to restore the material along with their own being. This is not optional once they have been damaged with the armor in place. It must be restored before it can be deactivated unless the one inside it is knocked out ot killed. Energy is also drained from any kind of technique effected by the armor's augmentations equal to the amount of power they gained from its influence. Most notably is the effect it has with sunlight and holy energy. Like the Darkness Cloak, this is very vulnerable to the sun and divinity. Its effectiveness isn't as compromised, only being reduced by 25% while in direct sunlight or being struck by holy affinity, and as low as fifty percent when being assaulted by sunlight and holy energy together. It also comes with immense pain though. As the armor is directly linked tio the host body these two flaws will directly burn the subject. This burning, while not fatal without excessive exposure, is exceedingly painful. Flesh melts away over time and even the core of their being will feel pained unless the Darkness Armor is dispelled. The rate these damages occur depends on the power and scale of the source in question. Concentrations of photons or immense amounts of holy energy will be more effective than rays of standard sunlight.
Unlocking the contract version of the armor for Demonica through the contract as well.
- Advocate given to Demonica:
Item Name: Barkion
Item Type: Weaponry
Used For: Offensive, Defensive,
Class: A
Item Description:
Spoiler:
Barkion is a very unique Advocate, taking only the form of a simple silver necklace. It is made of steel wire with a small gold statue of a wolf's face at the bottom. In the creature's mouth is a silver bone that radiates with the core of the object's power. To activate it, the holder must grab the bone and remove it from the statue's maw. A vast amount of energy must then be charged into the small bone until it begins to glow a bright red color. At this point, the user simply needs to throw the object in any direction. On impact with a solid surface, an enormous explosion will take place, ripping away at whatever was close to the projectile.When the smoke clear, the giant form of a werewolf will be standing on the ground. It stands eight feet tall with most of its features such as fur and claws obscured by armor around it. The creature is covered from head to toe in silver metal, only the eyes visible from inside it. Each eye is a dark gold with a pitch black iris. The creature is a monster of destruction, a sentient power house of a weapon that exists only to kill and protect. It has no thoughts, no will, not even a mind. It only has a directive and an instinct. The necklace and the beast together make up the A-class Advocate Barkion, a monster of a weapon that has and will lead to many deaths in its life.
This werewolf will aim only to protect the one wearing or holding the necklace. Anyone else or anything else will be seen as an enemy and likely be attacked by the conjured monstrosity without qualm. It has no memory of the past or any form of bond only its initiative. Should the holder not be enlisted under a Soul Contract,. it can and will disobey them to obliterate every living thing that could potentially harm them, even things as weak as insects. This leads to large-scale rampages, even wiping out the holder's own allies sometimes. To top it all off, once conjured this way, the beast can not be called back. This changes if the holder does have a contract in place. In that instance, the beast will serve their every command to the letter, and if need be can be returned to its bone state on a whim. If left to its own devices though, it is a monster of chaos with no mind to sway or control.Nothing is safe from its unending rampage.
Barkion's power depends on the holder. its tier will match the one that summoned it, and the few skills it has willl be oriented on theirs as well. The creature will have Strength, Speed, and Durability all one rank higher than the one that summoned it. It will also have a regeneration factor one rank higher than its owner, unless they did not have one.. if they do not, then it will default to an Advanced level. The creature's entire body can contend with other weapons due to its armor coat, but the strongest part of its form are the claws. The claws are especially sharp and durable, able to inflict and take immense amounts of force without even a scratch on them. It runs on the energy charged up in the bone, fighting continuously until that energy runs out or it was ordered otherwise. The energy pool can last for an extensive amount of time, even entire fights if enough is sacrificed. However, damaging the beast excessively will also lower its energy reserves. Tiring it out is a more effective approach than trying to kill it outright, as most will find extreme difficulty doing so. Only complete obliteration will fully kill Barkion and destroy the Advocate. The thick armor around Barkion's body makes it extremely resistant to spiritual influences as well, Things like cero and binding spells are drastically reduced in effectiveness when trying to combat the armor.. Though it is possible to break it through physical means, then return to full effectiveness against the disfigured beast under the metal. Additionally, as a Lycan Barkion has many other stereotypical perks,. His senses are all vastly improved from a normal entity, including a natural sense for danger and disturbances in nature. All this wraps up to make Barkion a lethal killing machine with few equals.
However, the flaws to this monster lie in the necklace it was forged from. Should anyone take the necklace from the holder, Barkion will immediately switch to protecting the new holder while attacking the one that gave it power to begin with. Any control-is lost at that moment. And if the necklace is destroyed? Barkion will go on a rampage with all the power it has left, attacking everything without mercy or logic. This state of rage makes it even more powerful than it once was, taking its strength and speed -another- rank higher, as well as regeneration for the remainder of its life span. Its energy will pour out without restraint, increasing its overall tier by one level, but shortening its life span to a maximum of five posts.However, should he enter this berserk state, the Advocate will perish when it finally runs out of energy.
Notes: Refer to Advocates of Corruption for other details that apply to all Advocates.
And lastly using the fragment of Ruvik's soul as a beacon to summon Barkion to Demonica's posession. )