Pain...

Everything hurt.

It hurt to breath.

It hurt to think.

It hurt to move.

But that is exactly what he did. His fingers flexed in the dirt of the forest floor as the body lay sprawled out upon it. Several other bodies lay strewn around him, or slumped up against trees. He could only see them because of the light of the dying campfire illuminated them – the eerie orange glow painting them into a ghastly tapestry. Despite the number of bodies, only his drew breath. Only his body ached with the pains of being alive, the painful throb that each thought brought with it as it passed through his mind.

You have to move, Chylde. Get up.

There it was again, that voice that spoke to him. The same voice that he remembered, the voice that 'woke' him from his slumber.

More will be coming, Chylde.

He had to move. That voice had yet to be wrong in anything it told him; it had told him he would find this location, and that it would be scarcely guarded. He'd acted upon the impulse, but found himself surrounded by several people, each armed and looking to harm him. The resulting fight had been messy, to say the least; bodies were strewn in places, ripped apart as if pulled in two by horses. One poor woman, the last person to fall, was skinned alive – her flesh grabbed and ripped from her body while she kicked and screamed in the monster's hands. But he remembered none of this – no, his mind hurt too much to remember much of that. Their screams had pushed all rationality from his mind, leaving only a monster hidden in human flesh behind. When the screaming stopped, slowly the mind returned, like a timid animal peering its head out of the burrow it hid in when it sensed danger.

Get up!

Another thought, another shot of pain through his skull. With a groan, the male began to flex his limbs and digits once more. As he began to attempt to sit his seven foot four frame up, he came to realize just why his chest was hurting when he drew breath; there were several slashes and cuts upon it were still bleeding, as well as three shuriken embedded in in his left side. The did not seem to have hit anything vital, but they did bleed as he removed them with his right hand. He would have used his done it with his left hand, but the kunai that was protruding from his palm was making that rather difficult; a sharp tug, and a scream of pain later and the Kunai was free. The bleeding grew more intense with the kunai free, and the male had nothing on hand really to stop the bleeding. Unless...

Cloth was ripped from the dead bodies to form a dressing. The Kunai was heated until it glowed in the fire, then pressed to the wound to cauterize and close it. Once the cloth was wrapped and secured as best he could on his had, the male looked around. There were supplies here; food items that he could take with him to keep himself from going hungry. He did not care that he was looting the dead – if they valued their lives, they would have just given him their stuff when he asked, he would not have to given them death in the manner that he did.

It was truly better to give than to receive.

But it was fine to him. Now that he was calm, he did not mind killing. He simply viewed their deaths as a matter of necessity – it was either going to be him, or them, and obviously, he was still standing. Speaking of standing, one he gathered what supplies he felt he would need, he would begin to walk, not particularly caring or noticing what direction he was heading in. Something told him that the metal head bands each person he killed was wearing meant something – they were all identical, so the male assumed they were part of some organization. He had no clue if it consisted of just them, or if there were more of them, but he did not want to chance it...

“You seem awfully wounded, mister.”

In a moment, the monster paused his stride mid-step; there was a child before him, seemingly have popped out of thin air.

A child that spoke to him.

Was this a trick? Was it an attempt to stop him, distract him so that someone could take his hard 'earned' gains? To put another knife into him? Another shuriken? Maybe something even worse?

A bigger knife? A bigger shuriken?

No. No.

He watched the child warily, taking a moment to carefully think on his choice of words. Each word was spoken in a child like manner, save for the last one, which held the undertones of sarcasm. A light smile tugged at the monster's face as he dropped the bag that contained his stolen goods upon the ground. Those violet eyes peered at the child through the hair that fell over his face, taking note of his diminutive size comparable to the monster's own. His head tipped to the right, carefully considering his response and reaction to this child. The devious mind began to turn its gears, imagining out the child's death; perhaps Nova would open him like a book, each slice of flesh a page in a novel written on the subject of pain and suffering. Blood would be ink, his organs and bone be the bindings of the pages. A delicious idea; the monster actually took a step towards the child in order to begin acting this idea out.

“My injuries are none of your concern, child. But tell me... what is your name, child? I would like to know what needs to written upon your tombstone.” The smile was back, that delicious, wicked smile. The tongue snaked between the parted lips, licking away at a drop of blood that dripped near his mouth. If the voices did not want him to harm this child, then there was nothing against making afraid, no? He was curious as to how this child would respond to the 'threat', if he even were to perceive it as such; many would, but this child knew nothing of those whom spoke to Nova. Those terrible voices that stroked the madness that crept through his veins alongside and betwixt his blood; the song that lulled him to sleep, that woke him in the morning and drove to treat the people around him like toys, pieces of a deranged game that none knew they played in his presence.

No one else could know, no one else could comprehend it. Unbeknownst to Nova, it was his clan before death that focused so much on the art of casting illusions, or Genjutsu. Their minds didn't not work the same as most people -- their view of the world was askew, a bit off center, and they loved it. A mind that could not be understood that operated a body that contained a soul that was born of fury. It was a most interesting combination that made Nova an unpredictable person to be around.

“A tombstone is all you will get. This body of mine will never be buried six feet beneath the ground by the likes of you.”

Nova could not help but chuckle at this child's boldness. This child had balls as big as church bells, and made of brass, it would seem. He was brave, doubt about this, but bravery would only carry him so far in this world.

“I would like to know the name of the person that is aiming to kill me, however. I will never forget it, even long after your death “

Oh? The Unspeakable Horror grinned even more now, head tipping again as the he took another step towards the child. The child thought of him as wanting to kill him? Good, good.

Trust no one. Chylde.

Nova spoke again, staring at the child before as if looking through him. The expression on his face was that of amusement, as if he were remembering the funniest joke in the universe, but could not quite remember the punch line. Perhaps this child was the punch line? Perhaps not. Either way, it was amusing as hell to him.

“You ask the wrong question, child. I do not aim to kill you; more so to the point, you interest me.” A straight answer, something rare from his kind, but it was the truth. He could not help but be curious as to why the voices he heard specifically told him not to harm this child. There had to be something special about him, something worth seeing. “If you wish to try your question again, please, by all means.”

He would and could continue to amuse himself for hours on end with this child; toying with him through word play and the like. It was the most amusing game that one could play with another individual...

"I have a feeling you are not going to introduce yourself, I might as well introduce myself.”

Oh, but Nova was more than happy to introduce himself, but this child did not ask the correct question. He had previously asked Nova for the name of the person who was aiming to kill him; this was information that Nova could not provide, since Nova was not aiming to kill the child like he assumed. Not that Nova could blame him for assuming as such, as it was Nova's intention to be confusing with word play. But for this child, Nova could imagine him to be a source of great entertainment for some time.

“Ikari Soneho is the name. You did not introduce yourself previously, either. So it is only natural that now, you do the same. “

Ah, now he was playing correctly, and asking the correct questions and making the correct requests. He wanted to know Nova's name, then fine. At that moment, he had no inkling of an idea of the history and legacy of this child's name, nor did he care. He only know the Soneho clan to be summarily as this child that stood before him, and it satisfied him. He would be told the larger male's name, since he asked ever so nicely. The larger male's lips curled back, revealing teeth that seemed to be a bit too sharp for a normal man, in a wide grin. He was about to part his lips and address the child's concerns as to his identity, but then the child opened his mouth and bumped his gums together again, tongue twisting and moving within its home to formulate yet another question for the Unspeakable Horror to answer.

“Other than that, what is a man like you doing here? With those wounds, at all. They look pretty fresh.”

Again with the concern for his wounds? For a rude child, he seemed to have a bleeding heart – perhaps this was something that could be exploited at a later date when the time was right. For the moment, the larger male did not respond; instead his right hand moved, with his left index finger extended. Said digit would find the wound that once contained the kunai and disappeared into the bleeding orifice, a soft sigh escaping from betwixt his lips as his fingertip curled within and tugged on the edge, stretching the wound another half inch across to the sound of flesh ripping and another sign of pleasure from the Unspeakable Horror. The entire time that Nova did this, he stared directly at this child, his gaze never wavering. Those violet eyes would lock with those of the child if possible, as if searching his mind for something. After all, the eyes were the windows to the soul.

After freeing his finger with a wet sound, the male would move the blood-stained digit to his mouth, licking the vitae from it before he began to respond to the child's question. “These wounds...? They are scratches from a desperate animal, one fighting to keep his own life.” Eyebrows would raise, that too sharp grin spreading wider like a Cheshire Cat who found a new toy to torment. He would not tell this child that the animal that inflicted them upon Nova was another persona – he did not lie to the child, but rather neglected to give him to the full story. Man was just another animal in the world, after all. “But as for my name, it is Nova. Unfortunatly, I do not know my last name, nor anything before this time yesterday...”

Why did he reveal this to the child? Why reveal a weakness to someone who could potentially be an enemy? Simple; to lower their guard, to make them believe they possessed the upper hand, to make them feel as if they were in control. That way, if and when the tables had to turn, Nova would be the last person suspected.

That is right, Chylde. Keep them from suspecting you, keep them guessing. Never reveal your true hand; never show your full power. Play the part of the poor, pitiful lunatic. Keep them guessing.

“As for me being here, well... I was just passing through the area. That is, until I was attacked by that pack of animals. Now that I've taken care of them, I suppose that I can continue on...”

The larger male would shift his body some, bending over to retrieve the sag of supplies that he'd 'won' and lifting them to his shoulder, despite the wounds on his torso. “Do you have any more questions, Ikari of the Soneho clan, or shall I be on my way?”

"Your behavior has made a slight adjustment since a few moments ago. You were the silent type and intimidating, yet now you share with me the information that you don’t know your last name. Let alone the fact that you, what I assume, are black outs. Perhaps.. Did the warmth of an innocent child such as myself open up your heart, old man?”

At that point, something clicked within the mind of the monster, and the world tilted slightly. A sense of realization flooded his mind, and the voices spoke to him again.

Pay the apparition no mind, Chylde. The child is not real.

What..? His mind was playing tricks upon him once again? As the body halted, the eyes blinked and the mind of the monster cleared itself. With the bit of clarity he gained, came the vanishing of the small child. The monster frowned and growled in a frustrated manner, turning away and continuing down his path. He had to stop falling in these mental traps, and get to where he was going. To where he was going, he had no clue. But he would take his time, and make no haste to reach his destination.  He would arrive there when ever he did. He would not be late, nor would he be early.

He would arrive precisely when he wanted.

For hours, the monster walked through the darkness of the forest until it gave way to grasslands. Through this, he would continue moving on, even as the sun rose up over the grasslands, as they themselves gave way to the burning sands. Through the motions, through the journey the male noticed none of it. He moved in his chosen direction without faltering. In the distance he could see a large wall.. something... and what appeared to be a gate. Where.... just where was he?

Was this another apparition? Another trick? Time would tell...

---

2628 wc

Daremo did not blink an eye, watching as the woman fell to her knees, frantically trying to stop the blood from squirting out of the multiple holes in her neck. The life-giving liquid painting the cooling sands a tinged red color. As the last wisps of life drained from her eyes, joining the fifteen other men and women around her, he shook his head in disgust. The woman, whose name he already has forgotten, was nothing more than scum. Parading around like a saint, the woman lured other women and girls in need into her clutches, promising them food, clothing, and sheltered, only to pump them full of drugs and tricked them out to anyone who needed someone warm to keep them company for a few moments. Those who were not deemed good enough was giving to her men for personal use.

He had come across her after getting a tip from a distraught woman who managed to escape after knocking the man, who was about to have his way with her, with a giant rock. It was only pure luck that she stumbled across him and Niala after the pair got done treating some of the locals, coming out of one of the hospital tents that had been set out throughout the lands. Having grown up in a culture were the signs of unwanted advancement was all common, Daremo noticed, and had Niala to heal the woman, exposing her to the harsh truth of the world outside of the comforts of the village. Only after the woman was treated did she tell them both what had happened, and a general idea where the base was. Not wanting to risk Niala’s safety, less he wanted to inquire his sister’s wrath, he went alone to handle the situation, not before his niece told him where she might be going.

Upon arriving at the small encampment, Daremo took a quick survey of what he was dealing with before dealing with the situation. The corrupted men and women were not standing a chance, being nothing more than mere genin and chuunin reject believing they were ‘monsters’ when they were insignificant ants compared to him and others that stood near or at the top. Only after killing the majority of them, did he stumbled over the heartbreaking scene of women and girls who were far too gone for saving. They have literally become nothing more than an empty shell of themselves from the abuse caused by the ants. Knowing there was nothing he could do to say them, he granted them a quick death.

Sure, some might argue that they could have been saved. That their broken limbs could be mended. The cuts on their body stitched together. The abuse to nether region, bloody and deformed, from the actions of those who had them, could be reconstructed. But, Daremo knew the truth. The scene was not known for him. There was no possible way for them to come back from this. They could have been saved, but, there was a high possibility that they would find a way to take their own life. They would not be able to live with what happened. So it would have been a waste, no matter how cruel that might sound.

It was the possibility of stumbling over such a scene that Daremo did not want Niala to come. She was not ready to experience this level of cruelty. She got a taste of it when she healed the woman, that would suffice for now. There was no telling how she would react if she came along with him, and saw the scene. He did not want to risk breaking her so soon; she still has some innocence within her. An innocence that he wanted to protect, hence him going alone to do what was needed.


“You humans are funny.” Daremo’s eyes fell upon Hikari, a Komodo dragon of considerable length that was currently feasting on the inwards of the freshly killed woman, “You call yourself monsters. Proclaim yourself as Gods. It is truly amusing how stupid you humans are. Monsters? Gods? None of you understand the true scope of such words.” Daremo shrugged, having no comeback to his companion’s statement. She was right. Humans who proclaim themselves as such was stupid, including himself. “Take a monster for example. Just because you kill people, it does not constitute you as a monster. No, a monster is an entity who has zero-shreds of humanity left in them. An entity who will not hesitate a murder a baby in cold blood because they felt like it. A monster has no moral compass, only the primal instinct to survive, and maybe mate. There is no good or evil with a monster. Such conceptual concepts do not apply to them. The only thing that matters to them is their self. And you can’t tell me that such beings walk amongst the Elemental Nations. For, you know, if a monster did, you humans would seek it out to kill it in fear.” Hikari spoke slurping up the long intestine, blood splattering everywhere, luckily not on Daremo.

“Of course, we would. No matter the human, they all fear the inconceivable or something that goes about the norm. It is why these so-called ‘monsters’ and ‘gods’ exist because the smart people know those who give themselves said titles are foolish and delusional. For they would not be alive long if they were true what they proclaim.” Daremo admitted. He always gets a chuckle at those who proclaim such titles. While he has called himself a ‘monster’ a few times, he must prefer the title giving to him by Lais: An Avatar Pestilence. The name being fitting for a man like himself.

Looking up at the sky the sun barely starting to rise, Daremo looked back at Hikari, whose head was deep with the woman’s cavity. “I need to meet of with my wayward niece. Who knows what kind of trouble she may find herself in.”, He spoke, receiving a grunt from the Komodo who was too busy feasting to give a verbal response. Walking away from the destruction, bodies thrown about, Daremo disappeared amongst the sandy dunes, heading towards the outer fringes.

It did not take him long to transverse the sandy terrain and spot his wayward niece who was looking across the distance of Sunagakure. As the distance between them closed and the sun began rising higher, Daremo’s clothing attired could be seen. A dark brown haori was thrown across his shoulders. The light brown kosode, which matched the hakama pants, was seen underneath. His anbu armor was beneath said kosode, he going nowhere without it, considering where they were. A pair of simple Jika-tabi, black in color, was worn on his feet. His silver hair was no longer in a bun, instead reached just passed his shoulders.

As he drew closer, Daremo’s eyes narrowed, seeing his niece mouth moved, but could barely hear what she saying. An eyebrow was raised when he saw the medical chakra resonating from her body. It not having the normal soothing and calming effect, but, being tainted in nature. Reaching his niece, Daremo placed his right hand on her shoulder, “What have I told you about your anger?”, He asked, gently squeezing her shoulder, wanting to see if she remembered what he had told her during their first meeting. He had told her to keep her anger in check. He wonders did she remember that lesson.

As he waited for her to calm down, a smile appearing on his face as he felt his niece’s chakra. It being an infant to his own. A child that was in the process of becoming an adult. ”I wonder.”, for a brief moment, a minuscule amount of his tainted and disease-ridden chakra flowed out of him. It being enough to give her pause, but, not enough to make her physically ill, like larger doses. Beyond that, there would be a sense of familiarity, amongst his energy might remind Niala of her mother, his sister. “Tell me, did you notice your chakra is tainted? It reminds me of your mother’s when she is angry. . .just an extremely weaker version". He inquired. Did she notice this change in chakra?

---

1391

Where the hell was he? He could remember, yet not place his location. Hot sands, scouring winds that seems to shave the very flesh from your bones... he could feel the memory of this place, tugging at the back his mind. Perhaps it would come to him in time? Pushing the thoughts and memories aside to make room for the porcupine that decided to tap dance its way across the male's mental space, Nova continued his trek across the sun scorched wastelands towards the gate. Despite him being able to see the gate so clearly in the distance, a trick of the light would soon be lifted from his eyes, the sort that seemed to bend space and distort it severely. Instead of what would appear to be another ten minutes of walking time would end up taking the male another hour to cross the expanse, his lean frame be pressing on despite the heat of the sands.

Thank the gods he was not a normal person; while he could feel the heat of the air around him and earth beneath his feet, he could actively not pay it any mind, as it would do no damage to him that was  not worse than his current state of being; the male looked like death warmed over. His very life force was the only thing holding his carcass together and keeping him from decomposing; so long as the male had chakra in his body, he would not die. In a sense... he was a sort of immortal? Not that he would ever tell people that... it was a secret he kept to himself. But beyond that.. he did not scare, he did not tire and he did not stop. He was an undead juggernaut, and he was -- what the hell was that in the sand?

Those pale eyes blinked as the male stopped midway through the distance towards the gates, having spied something glinting in the sunlight. Curiosity would get the best of him, and the male would approach the half buried object. It was some sort of crystalline object; and after digging it free of the sands, it would be revealed to be a scythe of sorts. It was a strange looking weapon; the handle of the scythe is five and a half feet long. The blade itself is a foot and a half long, and capable of piercing or slicing an inch and a half into flesh. Towards the shaft of the scythe the blade has a width of six inches which gradually decreases towards the tip until it creates a fine point. The back of the scythe blade has six points of various degrees of length; all of which are slightly curved, making them excellent for latching onto an opponent and when removed dealing maximum tear damage. Beneath the scythe blade is another four inches of an area where this same design that is found on the back of the scythe blade is then repeated only for the front. Further down, covering about half of the scythe shaft is material with various symbols on it. The base of the shape is also wrapped in a sturdy material making it non-slip for the wielder as well as protecting their hands.. Giving the weapon a quick twirl in his hands, Nova judged that it was light enough to wielded in one hand. Shifting the sack of supplies to his left hand, the male would grip the scythe in his right hand and continue on his way. He had some knowledge of using a scythe as a weapon, so a find like this was a boon from the gods...

It would not take him much longer to reach the great gate that he had observed in the distance. Nova would approach, and he would see some flesh pointing at him, he could see another one as well, this one seemingly larger. A wicked thought crossed his mind as the creature stared at the duo.

"The larger they are, the larger the grave that must be dug."

"Silence yourself. I do not have time for your foolishness."

Cremation was an option, of course, but an option to one that hasn't already bathed in flames, felt the painful, fickle touch of them on their names, or knew what it was like to inhale nothing but smoke and exhale only ash. No, this is a place of sand, so no rivers were in sight either, but perhaps the corpse can be given a shallow grave, one that would point to the raging sandstorms as the main method of ridding it. It seemed though that he wouldn't have to do that, as the other left, leaving only the pointer, the one that can't help but shoved his finger in the direction of others, almost as if he had seen something surprising, almost as if he didn't just stand at the gates and greet the Satsuriki no Tenshi this entire time.

"This could be someone you know."

"Everyone I know is dead."

He would proclaim when he was around five meters away from the other male, glaring at him. The six foot two monster wouldn't move though, instead he would only glare at him, waiting for something to happen, anything. Talk was too cheap and worthless for him to be the initiator of this conversation. Those that gossip are weaklings, people that cannot bring their actions up to back what they say, a toxic influence upon this world. This was the ninja's village, and as a walking corpse, Nova would rather see a pair of balls on this stranger rather than displaying his own. The fact that he breathed in Nova's area was a direct insult, a sign of life that he had none of. For him, a husk, he had all the time in the world to wait, but none to waste on another that wouldn't let him into the village, should things go down to that.

"We could kill him."

"Flay his flesh."

"Make him like you."

"Not like me, but how I should be. A corpse to start the pile."

He would think to himself as he waited to see what this male's intentions with him are. If he said nothing, Nova would merely enter the ruins of the village, not wishing to waste time on this silent flesh, but should he speak, he would hear him out, and judge his soul accordingly. His glare wouldn't leave as he would stare directly into the male's eyes, waiting for him to speak, to waste his words like the living flesh he is. He was but one soul out of many more Nova could meet, and if he didn't speak in the next few moments and get those words out of his mouth, he would simply walk past this person, and move on to find someone else that would prove more worthwhile.

Gods help them all.

1171 | 3799

To those who remembered his moniker of old. To have known him when he went by a different name and represented another village, they would be looked upon his actions in slight wonder. When had the Pestilence of Iwagakure become nice? Wasn’t he the man who nearly killed a genin doing a training session to test their endurance, and to awaiting their Sharingan? The man who had no problem in putting his students through hell just because he could? What happened to the man who helped Kirigakure no Sato during their battle, where his title was earned? Had he died when the world found out about his apparent death?

”She is learning.”, Behind the cage, a single eye opened, revealing a yellow dragon orb with slitted pupils. The animal stretched behind its cage. It’s hulking mass rattling its confinement. Though having been asleep, the thing was aware of the bloodshed his other-self caused. The amount of blood that had been spilled tonight to quench both of their thirst for carnage. The blood and smell of death were like the finest wine to the animal, and it drunk itself off of it. While it knew that it was the one who enjoys carnage the most, being the manifestation of darkness and animalistic tendencies, so too it human self. Daremo was no resistance to the temptations that was apart of him. He was not immune to the need for violence, to kill when the itch arises. But, to put it in the plainest of terms, it was like a dog covered in fleas, needing to scratch the itch constantly, and Daremo was like a dog with a flea collar, who only need to scratch once and awhile. It was because of this reason why it was behind the cage, although. . .

”Ours... “, The beast spoke, it’s gravelly voice coming out as a growl, it’s long eye focusing one a member of their family. One of the few people who the beast would never hurt. One of the few who it would protect till it’s last dying breath. A family member who it will plunge the heaven, earth, and hell into untold chaos to find. Damning the world, so be it, if it meant she was safe. There were not many people either of them liked, while Daremo tolerates many, the beast did not. If they weren’t family, then the creature had nothing to do with them. Though, those who caught its interest should be wary, for they will be played with like a dog toy.

Daremo smirked, it being mirrored by the beast within him, showcasing a pair of canines that was built to tear through flesh. “No need to apology, Niala. You manage to take control of your anger quickly, so you are learning well.”, The words were spoken softly as he gently squeezed her shoulder once more. Indeed, there was no need for his niece to apologize to him. The man was far from upset with what she had done. Considering she originated from this place, he would have been more surprised if she did not react in anger at what was happening to her home. How all four villages were invading her place of birth for whatever reason. Trying to take whatever valuables they can for themselves. Trying to turn Sunagakure no Sato into nothing more than a memory.

”We both know who was at fault for this.”, The beast spoke, laying down on it’s haunches, whip-like tail flickering back and forth, putting more dents into the cage. Without having to wait for is inner self to go further, Daremo knew exactly what was being implied. The Suna council, if only they did not have a chokehold on the Kazekage, allowing the leader(s) to do what was best for the village. But, it seem after the one Kazekage’s affairs with a certain Uzumaki, the council wanted to have a tighter control over what the future leaders would do. And what came of it? A clan nearly being wiped out? Kazekages disappearing as quickly as they appeared? A large crime rate? ”The village was dying.”, Yes, the village was dying but they had a chance with the last Kazekage. A good leader. Probably one of the best Suna ever had, but like all the rest, the council got what they wanted, and in the end such actions led to the village destruction at the hand of at least two people: Mitsuo and Lamya. ”What they did was right but also wrong. . the innocence is heavy.” There was no denying the fact that  those two did what was needed, but, the cost of the innocence was too high. Too many good people who were trying to make a honest living died in vain. It was both wrong and right.

Daremo’s yellow, reptilian eyes peered into the innocent blue one’s of his niece as she recalled what he had told her about anger, during one of their hospital shifts. “Protect her. . .”, The beast spoke, wanting to make sure it’s human half will listen,  closing it’s one eye as it allowed it’s human self some peace and quiet. “Glad to see you recalled what I said.” He spoke, ruffling her hair a bit before straightening it back out, “Remember this well, Niala. Uncontrolled anger blinds people and animals alike. It clouds their judgment making them easier prey for others. If you want to use anger, you must become its master. You must learn how to control it. And that in itself is not something many masters. Even I have fallen to my anger a couple of times.” Though what was left unsaid was what happened during the last time his anger got the best of him. When he dropped several men in a tub of corrosive acid when they touched something not belonging to them. ”I wonder did they ever find the remains, not like there would be any.” The beast chuckled going back to silence after the memory was brought up.

As Niala mentioned the first time she noticed the taint of her chakra, Daremo nodded in understanding. While she might be only half-Guanyin, it seemed the nature of his particular family had passed down onto her. “The taint chakra is a byproduct of the Guanyin family line. Without going into much detail, everyone starting from your mother’s grandparents was exiled from the clan because of our unique interest in the dark arts, and how it seems to come near naturally for us. Rarely do we use our medical knowledge to heal, but rather to destroy via diseases, virus, and bacteria. Your mother should know a thing as well, but, if you do not want to ask her about it, then I will gladly tell you more later on. We have company.” Daremo spoke, his nose picking up on the scent of a corpse getting closer to their location. His eyes locking onto a mummified man.

”Seems like someone has a death which . . . even if he is already rotten.”, The beast spoke having woken up when it’s human self-caught the smell of a corpse getting closer to them. “Mind if I take over for a bit? While I trust you to keep Niala safe, just let me stretch my legs a bit. I won’t cause much trouble unless he asks for. And then? Well, he is already in our kill zone range, and it would take divine intervention to save this sack of flesh.”, Daremo snorted in amusement at his inner self-statement, though those who could not hear his inner monologue would assume it was directed at the mummy man plight. "Behave yourself. Just play with him, he can be your chew toy for now. But above all, protect what is ours ”, Daremo mused, the locks behind the proverbial cage shattered. The beast stretched before walking out.

”But of course, I am a territorial bastard after all.”, to the outside world, nothing would seem different. Niala, she having been around him, might have noticed a sudden shift in his demeanor. A more dangerous and predatory nature to the hand that was now lightly drumming against her shoulder, “Here is an important lesson about all things they have a glutton for punishment. They come to places knowing what to expect and hoping someone would feel sorry for them. But why feel sorry for something that goes back willingly?” He asked no one in particular “Do not feel sad for those who are too weak minded to move on. They will just drag you down to their pitiful level of existence.”

At first, Daremo did not pay any attention to the insect glaring at him. The cute glare was doing nothing more than making him giggle in the inside. “That is a cute stare you have. Reminds me of a baby who has their bottle taking away.” Daremo commented, his eyes dancing with predatory amusement. Oh, he wanted this thing to react to take the tantalizing bait in front of him. It mattered not if the insect took it or remained quiet. He had unknowingly caught the attention of a bloodthirsty being who had a perchance for playing with their food. And right now? The beast was salivating at the thought.

Such thoughts had to wait as the muffled screams were heard coming from the west of the mummy man, that was quickly silenced by a couple of loud ‘smacks’ which was followed by “That will teach you, bitch”. Past the sand dunes, heading in their direction was a group of twenty to thirty men dressed in shabby armor that was either too small or too large for some. Amongst the group of men, who variety in appearance, was a couple of bounded and gagged women. Some who had their clothing torn at various places. The men had seemingly not noticing them, though this changed when one of them stopped, looked in their direction, and began advancing towards them a few, ten, hanging back with the bound women.

Daremo narrowed his eyes at the men approaching them, noticing their lecherous looks aimed at his niece. In a brazen act, one of the men reached his dirty, grubby, hands towards Niala, tempting to attach her away. The keyword being attempted as she was pulled out of his reach and moved behind Daremo, “Didn’t your parents teach you not to touch what doesn’t belong to you?”, The man spoke, a two-foot-long senbon, black as the night sky, sliding into his left hand, out of view of the man. “No, because that bitch is dead.” The man spoke, Daremo wrinkling his nose in disgust at the foul breath, “But whatever. We will be taking that bitch behind you off your hands.” A round of laughter and catcalls were heard from the other men behind the one who spoke. Daremo did not let the man’s words affect him, “Really?”, He asked, “It will take more than your men to do that.” His comment seems to piss the weapons raised charged at the group of three.

“Poor. Poor Choices of words, my dear friend.”, That being the last thing the man heard before screams ripped through the night sky and blood squirted in the air as a two-foot long senbon became logged three inches into his eye. The man’s head snapped back from the sheer velocity in which the weapon was thrown, and pulled forward when Daremo reached for the senbon and snatched it out with the man’s eye coming along with it. Holding the giant needle in a reverse pick-ax manner, he punctured the man’s jaw, tongue and partially his nose. The mummy man should count his stars, for tonight, the animal would feast on someone else. Though, if temptation still knocks then guess who will answer?

1990[3381]

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OOC: For all tense and purposes the all bandits(30 in total) have D-3 stats with three of them have C-1. Their weapons and armor are D-rank. Any jutsus that would is C-rank and below, and from the library.

Senbon Using:

Blood splattered, drenching the cool sand with its crimson like, and a scream pierced through the night as the bandit, who dared to try lay a land on Niala, was met with a grizzly end by the ways of a two-foot-long senbon being shoved up his nose, and piercing their brains. Flicking the grey mass off of the weapon, Daremo did not show any signs of surprise when a shadow overtook him from behind. He simply stepped out of the way, eyebrow raised as a hulky mass, a puppet, started steamrolling those who dared to interrupted the conversation. “Now that’s a big bastard.”, Daremo said out loud, taking a moment to appreciate the hulking humanoid beast. Having not encountered many puppets, he was curious how well they would perform, but his curiosity would need to wait. . for now

”Niala.”, He mused, dodging between clumsy strikes of five bandits, who were moving in slow motion compared to him. Before they could realize what happened, their necks would be sporting a gaping home, courtesy of the pair of senbons being wielded by the silver haired male. Their attempts of grasping at the neck, trying to stop the flow of blood from squirting out, would be useless. He did not pay them any mind, caring not how they crumpled onto the ground, moaning in agony as their life slowly came to an end.

Pivoting on his foot, Daremo turned and tossed both of his senbons towards the zombie boy, heading two bandits that were about the murder the useless one. ”Pathetic.”, He mused, grabbing and snapping the wrist of a bandit who had overextended, making them drop their weapon. The bandit being used as a meat shield, receiving the sword strikes that were meant for Daremo. Only once the bandit’s screams had become too much to bear was neck snapped, the sound echoing loudly in the dessert.

From his fingers, thin strands of chakra uncoiled, speeding towards the cooling corpses where his senbons remained buried in. Grabbing them, the strings whipped forward, sending the senbons into the necks of two others, who pulled the weapons out, causing even more damage to their necks. Ducking under another attack, Daremo chopped the bandit in the throat, causing him to gasps for air that was quickly silenced when his head was snapped; the body dropping like a sack of potatoes.

By now, many of the bandits, even those who had stayed back with the hostages was attempting to flee from the massacre happening before them. Sadly, Daremo was not about to let them leave, alive. Rapidly forming three hand seals, he expelled a large dragon head from his mouth. The gigantic head impacting on the remaining bandits some distance away from Niala. Their screams piercing the night sky as their bodies was consumed by necrosis. With the last bandits taken care of, Daremo walked towards the women hostages, who showed signs of abused. “Niala.”, He spoke, noticing how the women flinched at his voice, “You will need to tell them what is going on, and take them to the nearby medical faculty. Make sure only female doctors treat them.” there was no need to explain this reason with it being plan as day.

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541[3922]

”Have you had your fun?”, The human side of Daremo questioned, knowing that it takes more than a few bandits to quench the animal’s thirst. They being nothing more than a snack to the beast who craved something more . . . fulfilling. ”No, but you need to be in charge.”, The beast spoke, having seen the way the females looked him in fear. Knowing that they were afraid of, not only because he was male, but, because of the violence that had been on display only a few moments ago. Walking a good distance away from the women, the beast relinquished control of the body, returning back into its cage, the doors locking behind it, without much of a fuss.

”That was boring.”, Daremo could not help but to mentally chuckle at the beast’s comment as the massive thing flopped down on its haunches and laid on its paws. ”Don’t worry, you will get another chance to have some fun.” Daremo promised, watching as his niece gathered up the females that initially was wary of the girl due to her massive puppet. Speaking of puppet, there were some questions he wanted to ask her regarding the hulking thing. Questions that would have to wait for the time as he watched her begin to walk off with the females.

Did she really think he would allow her to head back unprotected? Surely, she should know better than that, right? Without missing a beat, Daremo began shadowing the group of females, keeping an open eye out for any dangers that might oppose or hamper their journey home. Though the journey would turn out rather peaceful with the only disturbances coming in the form of wildlife that was scurrying about. As they made it to one of the many encampments, Daremo waited outside of the tent for Niala, taking her away to do other things, and to talk about the puppet she had.

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Personal Word Count: 329[4251]
Total OverAll Count: 11070

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Personal Word Count: 4251
Medical Art: Sleep Inducement |A-rank | 1800 wc | 250 Ryo
Crowly Hiden - Second Sight | C-rank | 900 wc | 150 ryo
Path of Pathogen: Acceleration Virus | B-rank | 1350 | 200 ryo

Discarding: 201 words