Hunting

The sky bled without mercy. Dark clouds hung over the sky as a thick veil, blocking out all forms of star or night light for miles to see. The city crystallized under the torrential downpour as rain water bounced from the steel structures with vicious ferocity, before dropping to the ground as gravity took it’s toll. The streets were flooded, and the few cars that happened to be out were fighting for control over the slick pavement. Even fewer then the vehicles were pedestrians, and from the roof of a rather tall skyscraper, they looked like an Ant’s ant. Nonetheless, within their veins and arteries pulsed the thick, iron-ladled liquid that sustained Urufu Azathoth, and through direct association, Vereor Azathoth. A sharp wind picked up, dragging cars along the roads as if they were toy scraps of aluminium. This very wind slapped the rain against Urufu’s flesh, although he barely noticed. The sharp stinging of each drop was disregarded as nothing more then a nuisance. It wasn’t even worth his time to notice. Stepping onto the ledge of the building, the young man wiped the drenched blond locks of hair that was currently over his face out of his eyes, before snapping the cuff of his cloak in front of him. Water fractured from his sleeve to join the ocean that was surfacing in the city.

It was a hurricane in the making. The city would be forced hard to remember a night of more moisture. In the clouds, a network of electricity was snaking it’s way along the darkness to match the fiendish roaring of the wind and Devil’s Clap of thunder. Inching his bare feet towards the edge of the building, the harsh wind cut through his simple cloak and wracked his small body, causing him to shiver. Stopping himself, Urufu’s purple eyes narrowed as he spotted a figure on the sidewalks below. In the darkness and rain, the distance only adding to the problem, he could barely see anything about the person aside from a moving dot. Nonetheless, his instinct told him who it was. Dropping forward, Urufu crouched along the building and slid down the slick surface. Dropping rapidly, thunder clapped to signify the incoming youth. Making it to the base of the building faster then he thought he might, the cold steel left Urufu’s feet as he kicked hard and propelled himself forward through the air. The hard ground was approaching swiftly, and the kid would be flattened if he didn’t do something before he struck the concrete of the city and painted the gray with red. It was a shame his cloak was drenched, otherwise he would simply open up the cloak and float to safety. Unfortunately, that wasn’t happening anytime soon. Instead, Urufu aimed his body for an adjacent building and formed two simple swords in his hands.

A blackness welled up in his hands before spreading into the shape of swords and solidifying rather nicely. This was the beginning of several spells, although Urufu had no need to actually form a spell. Instead, he drove the blades into the building and held on as tightly as he could. Jagged cracks ran through the building as the blades drug on for a few meters before stopping. Urufu’s wrists felt as if they had cracked, and his left shoulder dislocated. Nonetheless, he wasn’t dead, and that was a bonus. Dropping from his handholds to the ground, the blades disappeared into the atmosphere, his reiryoka no longer being concentrated into the blades. None seemed to actually notice Urufu appear near them on the ground. The cold, hard concrete below his feet was ignored once more. He had no time for complaints. He was here on a mission. Popping his shoulder back into place, he blinked away the pain without a single look of discomfort flashing across his face. He had no time for pain, either. Rolling his wrists slowly, he cracked his neck first to the left, and then to the right, before marching forward. He had to find who he was looking for.

The man’s name was Christopher Monarch, and he apparently had memories of a specific event happening that would allow for Urufu to meet a certain person and perhaps gain assistance in his goal. Urufu… Wouldn’t it be easier to violate your human existence with my form? The human mass does not see my kind. It would be much simpler to stalk your prey if they cannot see you. Inside of his head, the broken voice of Vereor cut a swath through the static of the rain. Shaking his head, Urufu appeared to simply be flicking water from his face and hair. In reality, he was answering Vereor. Even though that is true, it doesn’t matter. He is hi-spec, and can see us. Nonetheless, even though he is hi-spec, he is incapable of defending himself against someone of my…our caliber. That too was the truth. Humans were never a match against Urufu. Suddenly, the wind picked up once more, and carried with it more then the usual rain or pollution. It brought with it a scent. As if a gift from the gods, the heavily diluted scent was the very one he needed. Offering a quick acknowledgement to the goddess above, Urufu grinned maliciously and changed course for the scent.

It did not take him long to find Christopher. Tracking him in mere moments, he found him cutting through an alleyway. Urufu dropped from the building he had been previously scaling (his claws cracked from the concrete, wrists and ankles aching from the strain) and stopped the man. A pale hand was immediately at Monarch’s throat, which lifted the man into the air. This was an odd sight to see, if one was to take into account Urufu’s own height, which was roughly five and a half feet. ”Christopher Monarch?” The man tried to deny it, shaking in fear and stuttering. Unfortunately for him, Urufu could feel his pulse beneath drenched fingers. He was clearly lying. ”I apologize for this.” He didn’t, really. He wasn’t sure why he told people this. Lately, any victims that were slaughtered merely for information was apologized to. Vereor thought it was useless. He didn’t apologize to his meals, so why should he apologize for this? Urufu agreed. It was stupid. Nonetheless, it was something he did regardless. Dragging the man down through the rain, his throat was ripped open with a single slash of his free hand, the claws eviscerating through the flesh. Bringing the wound to he face, the dying screams of the man were drowned out with the sound of a steady gulping as Urufu consumed the life-blood of the man.

Draining him dry, the delicious substance was quickly devoured by Urufu. With every swallow, Urufu saw flashes of the man’s life. Tossing the corpse against the wall, he wiped his mouth clean with the back of his hand. Standing still in the rain, Urufu’s eyes closed as he watched the life of Christopher Monarch as a film. He was conscious of the memories, although they still felt familiar. Flash-forwarding by what he had no desire to see, he eventually found what he wanted. Fleeting glimpses of a few “people” completed the mental puzzle that Urufu was currently working on. They were the missing cogs in the machine that he wanted built. Opening his eyes slowly, the purple was replaced with a dominant gold. He had found what he wanted. He was pleased. Blinking rain away, his eyes reverted back to their regular purple. Strutting forward, Urufu walked through a puddle that was tainted with the red of the man he had just slaughtered for forty seconds of memory. He felt no regret. Rolling his wrists and shoulders once more, he allowed the blood to heal the stretched muscles and cracks in his claws, as well as minor scratches and bruises he had. Good. He was up to snuff. Walking out of the alleyway that he had been in, Urufu grinned wildly. It was time to hunt down the Yayjuu.

Ryder Ilio, a Quincy with a demon sealed inside of him wasn't so far from the scene of this brutal killing. Before he heard the screams, he was simply on a walk through the rain. But then when he heard the screams, his eyes popped open with interest and curiousity. What could of that been? He was also partly concerned that someone may be in trouble. Ryder didn't want to be a useless bystander, so he began following it to its source. After a few moments he had arrived at this scene. Ryder looked at Urufu from a distance to try and gather what he did to the man. Using his intellectual skill, he determined that Urufu must of been a vampire or some kind of blood sucker. He approached him and began to speak out to him.

"Hello there, blood sucking entity. Who are you and why are you feasting on innocent people? And what are you, most importantly.. Ryder didn't appear to be a threat. He looked like a college student.. but his looks didn't represent his powers. He then waited for a reply to his answer, rather patiently. "I hope your not a mindless blood sucking beast.. or I will have to put you down. Ryder was talking about Urufu like he was a dog..

What was he? What was he? He was… full, thankfully. Stopping his stride from the alley, Urufu turned to face the newcomer. Well wasn’t this an uptight man. His suit made him look… official. Urufu hated that. He was probably the top-of-his-class or some shit, too. The social suck up. ”I’m Urufu.” Muttering his name, he contemplated slaughtering him. He doubted anyone would miss him. There was a high possibility that he was hated by all, simply because of his annoying intelligence. ~Do it and I’ll give you a nickel. The voice of Vereor interrupted his thoughts. Smirking at the hollow inside of him, Urufu stared at the newcomer with purple eyes. What do you think, Vereor? Anything special about him? He had the power of someone higher then human, that was for sure. He was very nearly as powerful as him. Maybe, just maybe, he could be useful to him. ~Hey kid… I think he’s one of us. I think he can lead us to the Yayjuu. Vereor gave him news that nearly stopped Urufu’s heart. He would ignore the insults for the moment then, if that was the case.

”Urufu Azathoth. My full name is Urufu Azathoth, and I am currently looking for the Yayjuu. Do you know of them?” No point in beating around the bush. If they hadn’t they would say no. If they had, they would lead him to them. It was as simple as that. The city was huge. The Yayjuu may as well have been a company that this man didn’t know about if he was just a mortal, which Urufu highly doubted. Cracking his knuckles, he wondered if this man was a Ziamichi as well. Yes. Urufu was a Ziamichi, or so he had heard. ~Pretty sure he is, Sylvester.~ Vereor confirmed his suspicions. Flipping the soaked hair out of his eyes, the deep purple that surrounded his pupils flashed gold for three seconds, proof of his power. No mortal could do that.

Ryder had learned the name of this man. Ryder was indeed a part of the Yayjuu, but he didn't know why Urufu wanted to look for them. With uncertainity, he asked his next question towards him. Ryder had to try and keep threats away from The Yayjuu, and given what this man had just done, he saw him as a threat for now.. "I know of The Yayjuu. I am a member of it aswell. But judging by your cold blood murder, I have decided to deem you as a threat to it. If you want to know more about them, you won't get anything out of me..

Ryder then summoned his Quincy bow, which appeared to blue at present. He was going to defend him self if Urufu decided to attack him. With that in mind, he aimed his bow right at him. "Leave or I will extract the revenge that dead man could not. Until you prove to me you can be trusted, I don't see you as a ally just yet.. He kept his bow steady, and took aim. He wasn't firing though, instead waiting to see what Urufu did next.. this was probably the beginning of a fight for them both.

A bow was formed as spiritual energy condensed itself around the man and took shape, using the charm on his wrist as a catalyst to pull and mold the energy into a discernible image. Although the creation of weapons using pure will and soul was a beautiful process, it was still the green light for a fight. This man, this Yayjuu member, had actually pulled a weapon on Urufu Azathoth. Grinning, the blood staining Urufu’s lips dribbled off with rain water, dispersing into the ground the moment it hit. The sharp teeth that were revealed by the movement of his lips as he smiled were tainted a dark red from the blood that he had consumed just moments ago. ”I really feel that’s a poor decision for you.” Urufu snickered as he stared at the bow, his purple eyes flashing red momentarily.

”You have no idea who you’re dealing with, do you?” A clap of thunder rocked the heavens, as the torrential downpour strengthened in flow and power. Bringing a clawed hand to his thin face, Urufu grabbed this bangs, the soaked, blond hair acting as a curtain for his face, and pulled it upwards. Last time he tried this without moving the hair out of his eyes, he made a fairly decent mess. ”Watch closely.” Blinking once, his purple eyes were gone. In their place remained a pair of glowing, red eyes with no pupil or sclera. Blinking again, a white liquid began to swim over his eyes before dripping down his face like tears. The moment it reached his chin, it stopped moving downwards and spread across his chin. Soon, the same liquid dripped down his nostrils, then ears. Quickly, the white liquid was covering his face in a perfect mask. This white mask hardened.

Although it was very basic, hardly defined with any detail whatsoever, what it was would forever remain a basic answer to any whom asked. It was the mask of a hollow. Snapping the barely-defined teeth of the mask, Urufu dropped his hand and let the hair flop onto the mask. Water made splotches in the white, bone-like material as the dry mask became wet with rain. ”~Do you know what this is?~” Gone was the teenage voice of Urufu Azathoth. In it’s place was a broken and vacant voice. Grabbing the hem of the white cloak that weighed his body down, the being that once was Urufu ripped off the drenched fabric and threw it over his shoulder. The cold rain hit his bare chest with a refreshing ping along his nerves, sending shivers across his flesh. The black cargo pants that he wore began to get darker as the rain tainted it as well.

”This is my ultimatum to you, child. The first choice you may make is to put your toy away and lead me to the Yayjuu so I can ally with them, and in turn, you. The second choice you may choose is to fight me here and now for no reason whatsoever, and die a painful death at the hands of a Vasto Lorde whom has no qualms with ripping out your spine and using it as a toothpick. You may decide now.” The flesh of Vereor, for that was whom was in charge now, began to ripple and bubble. Directly underneath the skin, in the pores of the flesh, was a black liquid akin to blood just waiting to burst out and cover the body, transforming him into his true form. His back especially was thriving with movement, for they held the six appendages that would rip this kid apart. Flaring his reiatsu, Vereor watched as a streetlamp to the left of him was blown into the building behind it, and a fire hydrant to the right popped away, flying into the air as the water under it shot upwards. Cracking his knuckles, Vereor stared at the ziamichi impatiently. He needed to choose now.

Ryder looked on at him, and began to analyze and make a determination about him. At first, this "vasto lorde" appeared to be a normal human. He wasn't a Vizard, no no. It seemed like the Vasto Lorde was maybe.. a spirit of his? From this information, Ryder determined that this man was like himself. He was confronted with the uliimatum. Ryders thoughts right now were perfectly clear. From the way he talked.. and the fact he was a hollow.. the very beings Ryder despised as a Quincy, Ryder now felt the feelings of a fight beginning to rush. "How do I answer your ultimatum? I answer it with this. Your a hollow. I'm a Quincy. I'm going to carry out what my job is as one. You may be a Vasto-Lorde, but I have power beyond any Quincy. This bow of mine is no toy, it is a powerful weapon in my hands. Ryder wasn't bluffing. In Ryders bow, a arrow that was blue in color was formed in it, and then, it turned green for no reason. Ryder shot this arrow past Urufu, as it pierced through the wall, causing some minor destruction. "Show me the power of a Vasto Lorde...

After speaking that line, Ryder had used a Quincy techinque, namely Hirenyaku to appear up into the air, and another arrow came through on the bow. He waited a few moments, and then the arrow turned black, nearly competely black. Like a very dark room. He fired this at Urufus current postion. If he was still on the ground, it would smash into the ground and leave a small crater due to the fact that was one of Ryders strong shots. Ryder had let himself for this, but he had to still had to use his intellect to try and win over him. He then, while in mid air, took a Seele schneider from his belt and then a blade came out, blue. He held it with one hand, but he did not put it into his bow. He simply just kept at his side. What was this genius up to..?

This thread was never continued

~Archived~