The endless dunes of sand belied a chaotic state and discord that was hidden deep within its vastness, the once proud land of wind had fallen into turmoil and within its borders it now held a being of such prodigious power and eerie nature that it would be hunted, fought and feared outside of this nation wrought with chaos and discord.

Where once were numerous villages, now lay camps of bandits and invading shinobi. Where once was peace, now loomed the threat of war. Oh, how so few could turn the tide for so many. How such small actions could turn out to spin the thread of the world and create a succession of unforseen events.

Within this nation of chaos, this land of discord lie waiting a simple and single singularity, a being whose event horizon was stretching out. Tendrils of dark, corruptive natured chakra spread out through the desert, signifying what kind of ominous presence lingered within Kaze no Kuni's borders. It was from within this lands borders that the most wanted shinobi in the whole world enacted upon a sinister plan only she knew about.

Far gone were the days of loyal servitude to the leaf, long gone were the times of harmony and peace. A snake had crawled into the desert and called it her own and now so many nations were disturbing her peace and stirring her wrath.

From the north, the great nation of fire had decided to send envoys to keep the peace, from the west, soldiers and shinobi were send to affirm the claim upon the desertlands by Kumogakure and aid from Iwagakure. From the south came the well oiled military machinery of the village hidden in the mist. So many came to disturb the lands once more, so many came to tear down the fragile peace and calm that had been achieved by the warring factions.

In the darkness and stillness of night, the snake descended upon a small outpost of Kumogakure shinobi. A single sign and a hand swiftly placed upon the ground made the sandy dunes of the desert shift and tremble, swallowing the whole camp into its sillicon embrace. Screams were muffled, blood covered by sand and within minutes, the small outpost was no more.

"Pitiful little creatures, entering my domain without so much as an invitation," The shadowy figure sighed, pressing a button at the side of her helmet, which instantly retracted and fell onto her back, revealing white skin, jet black long hair, golden, snakelike eyes and a set of boney protrusions crowning her head. "Lets make sure that the one I seek knows that it is I who is calling for him."

Burrying her arm into the ground, the woman dragged a wounded shinobi from out of the sand and smiled at him with diabolical glee in her eyes. "You're perfect." Instantly she plucked out the poor shinobi's eyes and dropped him to the ground, calmly placing her hand on his shoulder and sending some of her medically charged chakra into him to make sure he'd at least hold out for a few more hours. "When your comrades arrive...ask for Daremo, he'll know how to find me."

With that being said, she left behind the man who lost his light, swallowed by the snake's power. Placing a shattered headband of sunagakure on a tentpole still sticking out of the ground. She'd be waiting for the man she sought at the ancient runes of the old kazehane empire, not far from where sunagakure had held its last stand...

600

The stupidity of youth. It seems to be a trend of late that the upcoming generation of Genins and Chuunins all have some form of past traumatic experience. Each one having a similar or worse experience than their comrade, as if there was a competition to see who had the shittiness life before becoming a shinobi. From such crappy experiences, these individuals believed they were able to take on anything and everything that the Shinobi World could toss at them. That, because of what they have already gone through, they have become hardened to the true horrors of this profession. With a strong mental constitution to deal with humanity's evil.  

Such thinking breeds ill-placed bravo and a reckless behavior. They were believing nothing bad can happen to them because they have lived through ‘worse,’ and managed to come through it perfectly unscathed, not realizing how impossible that is. With reckless behavior comes them taking risks that a more level-headed shinobi would never consider. In this particular case, the reckless behavior caused a group of Genins to, foolishly, attack a bandit camp. The members were believing that those who comprised the camp were nothing mer than civilians or academy dropout at best. Needless to say, things did not turn out well for the genins with them being captured and possibly interrogated, by the chuunins who made up said encampment, for information. Because of their stupidity, the group was in need of rescuing. . .

Daremo stood outside of one of the Kumogakure no Sato’s encampment, patiently waiting for the men and women, who were picked for the rescue mission, to arrive. His thoughts drifting to said impromptu rescue mission. He did not see the benefit of rescuing the genins who was not authorized to attack the bandit camp. They should be left to their fates, and, maybe, if they survive the ordeal, they would learn from their mistake. Alas, he was no longer a Kage nor had the power to make such a call; therefore, he and his group will rescue them. Hopefully, if torture was involved, none of the genins gave away any information, not like that had much, that would jeopardize Kumogakure no Sato’s war efforts.  

Seeing three Kumo-nin walking in his direction, he turned around and began walking out of the encampment, “Let’s go. We have people to rescue.”, His words were a whisper amongst the light breeze as said shinobis followed him. After reaching a good distance away from the encampment, Daremo started sprinting across the sandy dunes, his temporary companions following suit as the world around them become nothing more than a chaotic swirl of colors as everything begin to blend in with one another, as they headed into Sunagakure. Unfortunately, they would arrive too late, with the genins have been killed, and the bandits been dealt with by them.

Making their way back to their campsite the four shinobi decided to take a detour to visit one of the outpost not that far from their position, they want to check in on the location due to the chakra spike they felt earlier. While such spikes were common, with so many shinobi within the lands doing heaven’s no what, they still wanted to make sure nothing happened, coming up to the outpost, they were greeted with completed destruction. The building have been destroyed. The remains of bodies thrown about. The sand being soaked in blood. “What happened here?”, Daremo said out loud, him and his ground moving through the carnage to see if they could figure out what happened. As the other members continued to search, something, hanging from the tentpole, caught his attention. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was a shattered suna headband.

That was odd. Why would a shattered suna headband be placed here? Could it be the calling card for the individuals who did this? Where they former Suna shinobis who had an issue with the invading forces? Or, could it be someone else who had the problem> Before he could think about the situation anymore, he was called over by the shinobis he had come with. They having apparently found a survivor who was asking for him.

Arriving by the mostly healed man, Daremo listened intently as the man spoke about what happened. Not having memory much due to the suddenness of the attack, but did say, the female who did this was specifically asking for him. A female? That was different. Thinking about all of those who knew him, he narrowed out everyone apart of the village. It was only when he thought back to the shattered suna headband that he remembered a certain female shattering a similar one during their first encounter. Lamya. Could she be doing this? He did remember she was attempting to recruit him to be apart of her group. Was this her second attempt at doing such? Or maybe, it had to deal with Lais? The young Jugo he had been training was an underling of Lamya. Could that be why she wanted to meet with him, because of her student?

Looking at the shinobi, Daremo spoke, “Head back and tell them what happen. I will be going ahead and deal with this personally.”, Not leaving any room for argument, and watched as the shinobis disappeared amongst the dunes. Once they were gone, Daremo thought about where he could find Lamya. Where would someone like her be? What place would suit her? From his last interaction, she did not seem to be the type who likes to hide. She wanted everyone to know who she was.

Moving through the ruins, Daremo paused, looking in the direction of where the Kazehana Empire was located. It nothing being too far from his current location. Could she actually be there? With no other idea where she might be, he took off in that direction. It did not take him long to arrive at the ruins of the empire. His black haori with gold trimming fluttering as he down on the ground. Underneath the jacket, he wore a dark blue kosode with black hakama. A pair of matching jika-tabi finished up the outfit. “I received your message.”, He spoke out loud, looking around to locate the woman in question, “You know there were other ways to garner my attention, right?” The pieces of the shattered Suna headband dropping on the ground.

Ever vigilant, he waited for the woman to reveal herself and reply, before continuing speaking, “Does this meeting have to do with Lais?”, He would guess, that being one of the two logical conclusions he came up with, “Or something else, like the talks we had before. . “ Curious he was about what the woman wanted for him. Now with the questions asked the only thing left was for him to wait for her answer. Once more the snake and pestilence meet, maybe this time it would be more fruitful than the last.

---

1161

A mouse squeaked in the darkness, as it rose from the rock it was resting on into the air. It's tiny claws tried to scratch, but caught nought but the air around it. It's tail wriggled while the creature squirmed, two slender fingers adorned with long, perfectly manicured nails colored with a brilliant onyx black nailpolish had grasped the poor creatures fleshy tail and lifted it from safety into a realm of fear and chaos. She could hear it, the tiny heart beating more than ten times faster than that of any human, pumping tiny amounts of blood throughout the tiny vessel, with every heartbeat, the pmouse screeched and squeaked in fear, yet the fingers did not let go of their prey. "It's a sad, cruel thing...to live in this world on the lowest rung of the ladder, the lowest ring in the foodchain," Slowly the woman lifted the mouse over her head and looked straight into the tiny creatures black, glossy beads with her own golden, snakelike eyes. The silver ring around those eyes, which had only appeared after she had gotten rid of the cursed seal on her back with some help from Yosei; a man she had both respected and despised due to his lack of fear and seemingly focus, that very ring simply accentuated the cruelty inside those magnificent golden irises. "If one were to deprive the low of their basic needs, one would wonder into what they'd devolve. If I would deprave kaze no kuni of any and all hope, what would its remaining populace turn into?"

Two men, dressed in black garments with an emblem of an eight-headed serpent on their back seemed to listen calmly to her words, ignoring the large white snake slithering between them and towards the woman, who rested atop a ruined statue of an old and ancient, bygone age in the history of the land they were residing in. "One could always wonder, Mistress. Though I'd reckon that if one were to achieve such a goal...the result of it might be...slightly unpleasant," As the snake ended his retort with a hiss reminiscent of what could be called a chuckle, the woman atop the ruined statue simply smiled and reached for the mouse's neck with two fingers of her other hand. A soft, yet unmistakable sound of snapping bone resonated through the chasm in which they were, a sound similar to the snapping of a twig. A final squeak left the poor critter's lunges before it was thrown towards the snake and gobbled up like a snack to be savored for quite some time. "But...as far as entertaintment would go, I'd say it would be most pleasing...like this gift you gave me."

The woman jumped off of the statue's head and landed gracefully in front of the snake and the two mysteriously quiet men. As her heeled boots touched the soft sand covering the ground, her white and gold dress still danced in the wind like an elegant practitioner of ballet for just an instance. Her attire was revealing, almost shockingly different from what most people knew her to wear these days. However, it also displayed something significant: wealth and power, the lack of any defense meant she was confident, so much so that it seemed she believed her mere presence was enough of a deterrent towards any would be assailant...that and the fact she had two rather strangely silent men standing near her would be enough to scare off all but those she'd invite herself and as she closed her eyes for just a moment, she smiled. "Though not completely...He's still arriving, my pretty interesting guest of today."

When she opened her eyes again, there he was: her guest. Lamya could only smile when the invited shinobi dropped her invitation to the ground at his feet with a most unusual sort of greeting: telling her that there were other ways to garner his attention. In response to his somehow disrespectful tone, the two men suddenly hand their hands resting on the hilt of the blades hanging from the belt around their waist, while the large snake rose up and let out a deep hiss. However, Lamya simply placed her hands on the shoulders of the two men and whispered a single word: "Leave." Just by that, they calmed down instantly and vanished into thin air, with only the white snake remaining vigilant, yet less so than earlier, as Uraeus lowered himself again and slithered towards the statue's head to coil up and keep an eye out for the proceedings of this strange meeting.

"You should know that I needed to make a...statement that could cover up your own invitation," The woman laughed and came closer to daremo, until she stood right in front of him, looking upwards into his eyes with a strangely seductive smile. "Straight to the point I see," letting out a chuckle she took a step back and turned around, showing her seemingly defenseless back to a man belonging to a nation that was hellbent on capturing and detaining her. "My dear little Laïs is simply in the need of more...specialized guidance, something I know you could offer her. However, I know everything has a prize...so what would you like in return? Wealth, power, fame...or perhaps...me?"

Looking over her shoulder, Lamya smiled that same smile again, licking her lips softly with the tip of her tongue. "Just know, if it's the last...I'm not cheap."

937/1537

Daremo took note of the amount of hostility garnered when the shattered remnants of the Suna headband were released from his hand and fell harmlessly to the ground. The change in the atmosphere did not come from the inviter herself, but those who accompanied her. Dressed in black garments, the two guards, whose hand were now resting on the blades hanging from their side, looked ready to strike him down at the moment notice, at the slightest indication of him doing something to Lamya. Though, it was not the cloaked individuals who he took note of, of the hostess, but rather the gigantic snake who towered over him, hissing like some anger serpentine God. The sound was vibrating loudly throughout the otherwise peaceful night.

”What interesting company she keeps.”, He silently mused, eyes never leaving the woman who had invited him. It was not hard to notice the woman’s attire. Outside he was not showing it, but he was surprised by her choice of attire. The, revealing, pure white dress with golden trim, the choice of color seemingly mocking the nature of the woman, accentuated her feminine assets well that if he were not married, and loving his wife, he would have been hard-pressed not to stare. However, it was because of his marital status, and him being faithful, despite his past transgressions, that he only gave her an approving glance, never lingering on a single aspect of her for longer than necessary.

Whatever was said to the two armed individuals, the vanished in thin air. There presence no longer capable of being sensed in the normal way. No sooner after they left, the hissing, which had been permeating the night air,  died down as the elongated beast lowered itself and slithered towards of the statue's head, coiling up it. The way it kept a near vigilant watch over them spoke of the creature now being as mindless as some others. Whatever the snake origins were, there was a hint of intelligent far succeeding its brethren.

Daremo smiled at her statement about having to find a way to cover up the invitation, “Mmmm, do you always invite people that way, or am I just special?”, The mirth in the words he spoke as he jests about being special to the woman. Yellow orbs watched as the woman approach, but, if she thought he would stand still, she would be sadly mistaken, for he would meet her halfway, and looked into her eyes. If it was not apparent by the way she had dressed, the seductive smile on her face gave him some inkling of an idea what she might have planned for him. Seductive it might be, there was something dangerous about the smile. It tempted him, trying to charm him in doing something forbidden only to devour him once he did so. He did not waiver though, he stared into her eyes, and prevented himself from being swept away by her appeal.

“I am not always straight to the point. I do like to play now and then.” There were many ways his words could be interpreted from something innocent and harmless to something perverted and twist. It would not be up to him to tell her what to think. She would have to come to her conclusion on the matter. Some shinobis might have felt disrespect when another turned their back on them. It being taken as a sign of disrespect or that the individual did not see whoever they were talking to as a threat. Daremo did not care for such meaning, so her turning her back to him meant little. He did not come here to fight her after.

And the truth of why he was invited out here was revealed. It seemed like Lais has either spoken to Lamya about their prior meeting, or the woman dropped his name, and Lais made a comment on it. Neither scenario disturbed him; he had figured Lais would mention their meeting to Lamya; she was the girl’s master after all. He already knew what she was referring to as specialized guidance, Lamya wanting him to part ways with his knowledge over necrosis; the one thing he poured years into learning and mastering. She wanted him to train her pupil. “You want me to train her in my craft, necrosis, right?” This was not a question, merely him stating a fact, “I will train her. It will be amusing to see what she does with the knowledge. To see if she can leave her own imprint on this world, or will she fall short like so many others.” Many did not realize nor comprehend the depths of Daremo. Asides for two exceptions, he did not train people out of the goodness of his heart. No, he trained them to see what type of chaos they can create. To see how far or short, such teachings take them before their lives are snuffed out.

Chuckling at her comment of not being cheap, Daremo moved to stand beside her. The steps being careful ones, in case the snake coiled up the statue head got the wrong idea, “Me as my prize? I don’t have anything worth what it would take to please you. Even if I did.”, He held up his right hand, the silver wedding band flashing in the moonlight, “I would have to pass. I am a faithful man after all, and quite enjoy what I have waiting for me.” Was it dangerous to let the piece of information slip? To let Lamya know that he was married, and had someone waiting for him at home? Yes, but, it was a sign of good fate that she would not use what was his against him.

Staring out into the distance, Daremo thought about what he wanted from her. What could a wanted criminal have that he desperately wanted “Lamya.”, He spoke, glancing at the woman beside him, “I have been inactive for far too long. Many of those in my generation and even younger have surpassed my power or is about to. It is time for I do something that is passed over due. I was once called The Pestilence of Iwa, and even your pupil call me an Avatar of Pestilence, it is time for I to seek out that mantle and sit on top of it. To cement my place in the realm of monsters like yourself.” He allowed her the chance to absorb what was spoken. To figure out the identity of the man standing before her. To understand that the man was tired of being inactive in the world, to understand the man sought one thing - power. Enough power to protect his precious people, and condemn the world. Turning to look at her, he spoke his desire, “Power. That is what I seek.” His right hand outstretched towards her's, “Think you can promise me that?” And shaking it, if she agreed.

It was passed overdue, but, finally, the one who earned the title of Pestilence was making his move, and it starts with a deal with a snake.

---

1189[2350]

Lamya's eyes twinkled slightly when the man who was known in her book as a living, breathing avatar of disease and pestilence seemed to wonder wether or not he was the only one who'd be granted such a special invitation. Placing her left index finger under her lower lip, the rogue shinobi looked upwards and seemed to be thinking about how to answer that question, but could only respond eventually by just nodding her head and grinning rather deviously. "Would you say it's inappropriate to invite someone who's supposed to be providing some aditional education to my dear student in a slightly unique and quirky way?" Ofcourse such were the tendencies of the desert's snake, to show off not her strength or her overall power at every turn, but to show that underneath the elegant and seductively beautiful exterior, she was first and foremost a cold, calculating and extremely cruel being. "I guess in that regard, you may call yourself a special person...after all, did you not tell me in Kumogakure during the Chuunin Exams, that you knew a monster when you saw one. It takes one to know one, no?"

The fact that he mentioned that he did like to play didn't seem all too threatening, in fact it didn't even sound as if he was taking up on her offer, it was more of an amusing way to show how he walked in life apparently, something Lamya could indeed agree upon. It was after all important to at the very least have fun in life, with or without the gifts one was given by birth, status or power in general. The rogue shinobi already had more respect for this man with every passing moment, even if he didn't seem to react to her avances, he seemed to find the humor in things and also seemed to have the gall to call her out on her bluff in a most amusing way. "There's always room for fun, even when the times do not prescribe it."

Smiling at Daremo, the woman walked over to the snake from earlier, who had posted himself upon the ruined head of what must've once been a mighty statue. With a swift leap, she jumped atop the head and sat down, gently nodding in agreement to his inquiry. It was indeed true that she had sought him out in further developping the latent potential and abilities her cute little student possessed. Though she herself had started to understand and develop her own forms of negative, yin based medical ninjutsu, her former ANBU intel and her gut practically told her that the man now standing before her was indeed someone of the same caliber as the rumored to be dead Nanashi from the Stone. The same bloodline or perhaps there was more to it, sadly as she had never met this Nanashi before, she could not say anything with certainty, as she had no clue as to how Nanashi's chakra was like. However, there was no doubt that this Daremo was a skilled user of the yin based medical ninjutsu, of that she was certain. He simply smelled like decay, most would probably not even sense or smell it, but Lamya was far beyond the average human and was graced with the power of senjutsu, the very same power this man seemed to have somewhere hidden deep inside. "The child has some remarkable qualities as a Jugo from the land of demons. She may be slightly ignorant of the world around her, but I am certain that with proper guidance and tutolage, she will make a fine shinobi," The woman grinned rather deviously, flipping her long, jetblack hair backwards and placing an elbow onto her knees as she leaned forward, resting her chin upon her hand. "If she falls short of my desires and my expectations...would it not be the fault of those who taught her rather than she herself. Though she possesses great talent in necrosis, if she falls short...she may still have her uses. After all, I'm always short on testsubjects in this ever changing world."

Lamya's words were cruel, cold and hardly to be taken lightly, anyone with an inkling of an idea on her nature would know this to be a certainty. However, her attitude seemed to change slightly when the man showed his wedding band, practically forcing her to show a bright smile. "Well that really does make things easier on me, after all...it shows you are at the very least capable of loyalty," The woman let out a soft chuckle, yet as her chuckle passed through the air, her eyes grew cold and her expression grew rather diabolical. "Though it depends to whom you show and owe your loyalty."

It seemed that Daremo had finally decided on his price, calling out Lamya and granting her some insight into his ideals and his desires, it intrigued her so much that she jumped off of the ruined statue's head again, the snake slithering onto her and coiling around her waist, laying its head to rest upon her left shoulder, though still intently keeping an eye on the stranger in their midst. "Power...you want power, you desire power, you NEED power," With an almost playful grin upon hervisage, she walked closer, the shadow she cast growing longer and wider, while her eyes seemed to have an intense glow in them, only strengthened by the strange silver ring that had been formed around her once fully golden, snakelike orbs. Daremo, though perhaps unintentionally finally admitted to his true identity, not so much shocking the rogue shinobi with this news, just confirming her suspicions, yet still she was slightly surprised that he of all people would come to her in search of power, seemingly in search of a reason for his existence. "If that is your price, if that is your desire...I am willing to grant it to you, though I must say I am surprised. Why would someone such as yourself, someone bound to a homely future be desiring power?"

Suddenly the snake raised its head from her shoulder and let out a hiss strangely comparable to a chuckle. "Aw, the poor guy probably wants power to protect his family, to be a protector for his children and his bride," Another few hisses sounding like chuckling escaped the snake's mouth. "Mistress, this man's desire is feeble at best. He seeks peace and comfort, not true power..." Lamya glared at the snake, silencing him immediately before turning her attention back to daremo with an inquisitive look on her face. "Do explain, is it to protect or to conquer? You see, I loath people who squander power, who let the strength and magnitude of their own skills decay for feeble dreams and puny desires. You desire power, but are you worthy of wielding it, are you worthy of having it...Uraeus makes a good point, if you truly want your desire to be granted, all you have to do..."

She looked at Daremo directly, her golden eyes surrounded by the thin silver rin looked into his own eyes intensely, when without warning and without any restraint, her chakra bursted out into its full glory, sand being whipped up on masse, stones all around shaking and crumbling when a huge pillar of black and silver chakra arose from her body, the pressure of her immense reserves being laid bare for the former Avatar of Pestilence to experience and to endure. "...Is kneel."

1267/2804

While he had a hunch behind the reasoning for the invite, he wanted to hear it from the woman’s mouth. To see if his conclusion was correct in the importance of the meeting, though, in his eyes, the reason behind the meeting was not exactly important. Afterall, there was a good reason why he decided to train Lais, and it was indeed not out of the kindness of his heart. He mainly did it out of sheer amusement. To see what would become of the woman after learning his craft, and developing it into something unique to her. There were many possibilities, paths, for the woman to go, and Daremo was interested in seeing which she would choose. Would she remain faithful by Lamya’s side, like the loyal pet she is? Doing whatever was needed to please the snake . . . Medusa, in front of him. Or, would she soar to freedom, breaking away from the viper’s grip, and start her own path? So, many possibilities for the young Lais.

At the woman’s question, regarding the invitation, Daremo chuckled, “Inappropriate? You jest? Everyone needs to find some form of entertainment, and if it is at the expense of ants than. . .” He left the statement hanging, there being no reason to say more on the subject. She would understand what he meant. Though, saying that, there have been those, a certain Jugo comes to mind, who invited him in a unique manner that probably would never be toppled by anyone else. A simple teacup set made from the bones of a Former Tsuchikage, who just happened to his lover at the time, and some others from his home village. The remains being put to good use by the murder who invited him to a tea ceremony. Said tea set was still with him, and of use to the very day. It being something of amusement when people compliment and drink out of it, never knowing the cup was made from the remains of a former Tsuchikage and many others.


“I could not agree with you more.” There would be people who look at the thought of having fun during such a bleak situation to be distasteful, to say the least. That someone like him, a member of Kumogakure no Sato, should not be mingling with the woman who caused an untold amount of death to the Hidden Cloud village. Instead of enjoying a pleasant conversation with her, he should try to apprehend the woman, and turn her in, so that she could stand trial for the atrocities committed against the village. Yet, as shown throughout his life, Daremo was not the one to follow conventional rules. He did not allow village rules to stop him from mingling and having fun with those who he happens to meet. The man simply did not care for rules which took away from his fun.

Smiling at Lamya, the silver-haired male watched as the woman walked towards the large snake from earlier, and with an effortless leap, joined the beast on the statue head. Never once did his eyes dropped anywhere near her backside; they always remained above, focusing on the woman, and not her access. While waiting for her to respond to the question asked, Daremo thought more on the woman before him. Honestly, he did not know as much about her than he probably should. There was no denying her strength. The world had gotten a taste of it during the Chuunin Exam, against her fight with Nozomi. Furthermore, from her own words, he could assume that what was shown was not all she was capable of; the destruction of Sunagakure no Sato is a testimony to that. He simply did not believe someone who would bring a village to its knees would struggle against one shinobi. There had to be more to the power she showed back then.

”Only dead people underestimate others.”, Daremo wholeheartedly agreed with his other aspects comment. Never in his life would he underestimate another - unless he wanted an early grave. It was foolish and shortsighted on the part of those lacking a means to tell the power differences between themselves and those around them. He rather overestimates a person, killing them instantaneously than underestimate, and end up meeting death before it was time to do so. It is because of this viewpoint that Daremo believe the woman was stronger than what was flaunted about at the exams, the only question is, by how much?  Such questions would have to wait, for she was speaking once more.

Having two meetings with Lais, the young Jugo did have potential to turn into something above-average. Though, the question remained if she had the drive and constitution to continue on the path set before her? When the teachings start to get more dangerous would she rise to the challenge or succumb to them? Would she find a means to weather everything he throw at her or will she become consumed by it? Whatever happens to her, Daremo was going to enjoy seeing everything unfold. “You wanting her as a test subject if she fails.” He chuckled, “I will need to keep that in mind during the training with her. I am not the type of coddle or baby those who seek my tutelage. They will either rise up to the challenge, and prevail, or those will succumb to it becoming more than rotten flesh, there is no middle ground. But, considering she is your tool, I will make sure not go too overboard. It is the least I can do.” While her words were cruel and cold, Daremo were polite and unassuming; it was as if he was talking about the weather instead of Lais potentially dying from his training. To some, they might find the casual tone more disturbing than others.

”You did that on purpose, didn’t you? You did not have to let that piece of information slip.”, Of course, he did, Daremo was not careless enough to less that piece of knowledge, the truth regarding Nanashi, to casually slip out. If Lamya were as smart as he assumed she was, she would be able to notice what he did. ”Tsk. A sign of trust?”, That exactly what it was, the silver-haired did. He extended a token of trust. ”Do what you will, but remember who is important at the end of the day.”, There is no doubt who was important to him. They being a large part of the reason why he was doing this, of course, there was . . .

Yellow reptilian eyes watched as the woman jumped down from the statue’s head, with her snake wrapping around her waist, as she moved closer to him. Staring into the eyes of the advancing Great Serpent, Daremo did not waver in his stance. There not being any indication that the woman intimidated him in the slightest. Before he could answer her question, the snake would speak, giving its unneeded opinion. While the serpent was speaking, Daremo looked upon it like it was nothing to him. Just a simpleton that was far out of its element. Mirth danced within the man’s eyes, even as they fell back onto the woman, “Well, your friend is an opinionated one, isn’t he?”, Dismissing the snake’s comment, Daremo looked at Lamya, “Sure, I want power to protect my hatchlings,” Seems like he really was spending too much time with the summons, “and to make sure my wife is protected. But, is it not in the nature of most animals to crave power to protect what is their own? To become strong enough to erase anyone who dares to threaten what doesn’t belong to them? The desire for such has only strengthened as of late. “ He was not going to tell him the desire came from his senjutsu training. The territorial behavior has been one of many side effects from his training. “Conquering the lands are boring.” He admitted a shrug of the shoulders. “Only those who ultimately seek peace, either by killing all of those who can oppose them, or enslave them against their will, strive to conquer the lands. I, unfortunately, do not care for about peace in the grand scheme of themes, as all those who conquer lands ultimately do. You can say, I want power to keep the world in discord and chaos. To never let the scales tip to favorably from one side. To stir things up, either directly or indirectly, and watch as the events unfold. And to do that, I need to be strong enough to bend even the strongest to my whims, no?” Chaos and discord, and the desire to protect a family, that was what he wanted the power for. If she denied him the power? It would not be a problem. There were other options out there.

Staring into her golden eyes, noticing the silver rings around them, Daremo was not ready for the massive amount of chakra to explode from her frame. The black and silver chakra were mixing beautiful as destruction was caused to the landscape around them. The pressure was felt on his shoulders, one that was pushing down upon him, demanding him to kneel at the feet of his superior. For a briefest of moments, the smell of decay became pronounced in the area as sick, twisted, diseased ridden chakra oozed from his pores, in an attempt to battle the onslaught beating against him. With a subtle twitch, the chakra receded into his body, the smell of decay leaving soon after that, and Daremo bore into the woman’s eyes, even as his body was being assaulted, “You asked me was I worthy of wielding power? I have been worthy, I just had no desire for it till now. You asked me to kneel than. . .” Daremo, slowly kneel down on one knee, his eyes staring into hers, “I do so as a sign of trust, not servitude, that you will be the key to the power I desire, and out of respect for what you have accomplished.”

”So, you really going for it, huh?”, The beast asked, not being pleased with his human half kneeling, but understanding, even a king kneels at one point before ascending to the throne. ”You really are going to see if ‘Pestilence’ is out there. To the embodiment of what you have mastered, and take its throne for yourself?”, Of course, if Pestilence did exist, Daremo was going to hunt it down, and take the title of ‘Pestilence’ and its throne, for himself. And if gaining the needed power means to kneel? It was a small price to pay for something that he desired.

---

1788[4138]

Humans are bound by their inner desires, their greed, lust and cruelty. Some humans were wolves in sheep's clothing, others were pretenders, sheeps in wolf's clothing. They were a contradiction in their very nature, seeking power to protect themselves in order to grant themselves peace, yet at the cost of taking it away from others. It was this contradiction in nature and desire that had been the root cause for the many wars, the rise and fall of so many nations and empires. Softly, the woman chuckled as she smelled the stench of decay and rot in the air, she was right on the mark it seemed. This man who had already practically confirmed her suspicions, had now truly shown his colours through his nature, his words and most importantly his chakra. "It is the arrogance of mortals that will always undo them and their insolent hubris," The rogue shinobi chuckled yet again, bending through her knees to place her middle and index finger under Daremo's chin and lift up his face to look have a good look at him. "But you are different aren't you? Yes, you do not have any reason to ask me for anything, you probably despise the very act of being dependant on anyone, but your mind is strong and your will does not bend so easily. You understand how the game is played and you understand the price of one's own goals and ambitions."

Removing her fingers, the woman stood up again and dispersed the massive torrent of chakra which had been crashing down upon the place, causing tremors that could've probably been felt far beyond the valley in which the both of them had been discussing their exachange, their desires and their beliefs. "You said conquering lands is boring and you are correct," The woman let out a sigh and stretched out her arms for a bit, feeling the backlash of removing the restraints on her chakra in the form of slightly sore muscles and a tingly skin. "But just like you is it not my intention to conquer lands, people or even the world. I do not conquer, I ascend and subjugate. Through chaos comes balance, through balance comes order and the circle always repeats itself over and over again. I won't turn the wheel nor will I break it, I will become the wheel...she who decides who rules, who dies, who lives and who...fries, heheh."

The man was right, to truly stand atop all, one had to be strong and powerful enough to bend all to their will, to be able to set the course of history simply by willing it. It seemed that despite her view upon the meek and weak examples of humanity, this particular person had obviously understood their flaws and his own, counting on them and rather than avoiding them, he seemed to have the explicit desire to exploit and use his weaknesses, turning them into strength and power. "Trust is a valuable commodity in this world and only those who truly know where power lies, will be able to earn mine," With a swift snap of her fingers, the Desert Snake motioned the serpent coiled around her waist to make himself scarce so that she could have a more private conversation with the interesting and certainly intriguing individual in front of herself. "So I shall entrust you with my own confidence, the power you seek and the will to stand atop this wretched world. I will put my trust in you as you exclaimed to have done in me."

As she took a step back, she grinned viciously as it seemed that the entire valley got silent, no wind to be heard, no sand stirring, not a single animal or insect letting out a sound. "To have you understand the reality of this world, the true scope of who stands before you, I will entertain you with a view into the very depths of power...power that even transcends that of your so-called godlike raikage. Witness now why I am truly worthy of being called...beyond human."

The ground shook violently, the sand shifting underneath the woman's feet, until it suddenly seemed to sink down with a heavy tremor, almost if the woman's own weight had started to defy gravity in one way or another. "If you truly...desire power...you should first and foremost realizing where you stand in relation to the one you are dealing...with," It seemed that just speaking was a physical labor to the woman, whose skin started to become whiter and paler than it had been all along, her skin slowly becoming scaled and harder than any regular human's skin. "Gaze upon the truth, understand the world as it is and when you finally reach the conclusion within your mind...you will see that your words, despite your own beliefs were false...one only kneels before me...in servitude."

Another shockwave followed suite, making the statue's head roll on its face, cracking the stone structure beyond repair and as one would look at the epicenter of the shockwave, Lamya's form was starting to bloat.

With a loud ferocious and deep roar, chakra seemed to burst out of her physical form, yet it seemed even more intense and much more pressuring than when she had displayed it earlier. This was not the image of someone showing their power, but someone utilizing it to its fullest extend.

Her form kept on growing, her legs stretching and forcing her to fall forwards on her arms, which vanished rather quickly as her mass had already passed the very size and weight of the statue's head she'd been resting on before and the outpour of chakra was so strong and so intense that it was extremely hard to even get close. At long last, her face started to distort, with an actual maw and fangs revealing themselves and her eyes becoming larger than her entire body had been moments before, yet even still, she continued growing in size and mass.

"Rejoice human," The sudden voice of Uraeus managed to reach the man, as the snake itself had managed to slither towards Daremo's position. "Use this image, burn it into your mind, for before you, my mistress has decided to trust you and reveal that which will lay waste to any and all opposing her will and her might. even if you have heard about or seen this form in Kumogakure, what you are about to see is not the weak and restrained form she had displayed before...what you will see is why she and only she is my mistress and indeed the most likely to take upon herself the mantle of God of Shinobi."

Indeed, the sheer magnitude and scale of the still growing form of the woman was at the very least beyond any normal human's comprehension. Already her form dwarfed the size of literally the largest of summons in recorded history. Her size alone would warrant her the illusion that she was not even a mere tailed beast of ancient lore, but far beyond it.

As her body grew longer, wider, thicker and heavier, a massive crown seemingly made out of rock and coral formed upon the middle of her back, forcing the sand beneath her to simply be crushed to glass as the weight's pressure was unbearable even for the silica itself. eventually though, the one head and neck started to split and eight equally great heads, maws and pairs of fangs revealed themselves, the pressure finally vanishing as the now immensely huge form of the Desert Snake let out a deep and terrifying hiss.

Each head, now several times the size of any ordinary human, reached out for daremo from all directions, forked tongues flicking out and seemingly grabbing a hold of his scent and essence, until a somewhat deep hiss akin to a chuckle could be heard coming from all of the heads. "Now than..." The chuckling his resonated in the valley again, the heads slowly resting down near and around daremo, literally surrounding him completely. "As promised I will grant you the power that you seek. I will teach you how to fully utilize the chakra and the bonds you unconsciously place upon them. I will set you free from the restraints that bind you...so that you may claim that which you desire and in exchange, you will do everything in your own power to spread the wings of my dearest child, my little student. Do not spare her, for just like the road ahead for her will be one of pain and suffering, so shall yours be filled with despair and agony... do you accept these terms... Guanyin Nanashi, Pestilence of Iwagakure, traitor of the rock... Avatar of Entropy?"

1483/4287

Although the pressure beared down on attacked his very core, trying to make him submit to a superior being’s will, it had the opposite effect on the silver-haired male. Instead of submitting in servitude, the intent called out to the natural predator with him, expertly picking at the locks that held it back. And, with more locks broken, the urge to destroy the one who dared to bare their fangs in his presence increase. It is a natural instinct that all predators have when their power is challenged. While the urge was strong, he resisted.

His facial expressions not given anything away, only showing a perceived image that was necessary for the time being. An act? Maybe, for him, acting was as natural as breathing, his entire life, from the tender age of five, was nothing but an act to get what he desired from others. All his words and actions were calculated to get an effect that he want, rather it be a favorable or unfavorable one. To ask who was the real Daremo, and who is fake, is a difficult question only hand full of people know.

Like a disobedient slave, the twisted and diseased ridden chakra wafted off his body, only to be brutally suppressed as a master would do their slave. The chakra disappeared as quickly as it came into existence. It being rein back in. Asides from his wife, and some family members, none ever was allowed to lay their finger on his face. No, call it a quirk of his, but, after being used by far too many men and women from a tender age, he detested others touching his face, with exceptions.  And while he could have turned away when Lamya placed her fingers underneath his chin, he did not. He allowed her to. ”Oh, someone is going to be mad when she finds out.”, Mentally he snorted at the commenter commented, of course, Kaia-mai would be mad, he will just have to keep her from doing something rash. ”Or you could . . .”, That was an option as well, but, not a favorable one for him yet.

Yellow reptilian eyes looked up at the woman who spoke. She seem to have caught on to the fact that he did not have a reason to ask her for anything. Afterall, him training Lais was something he did on a whim, to see what the young Jugo could do with the knowledge, and to gain something from it. The payment between them had already been made. Lamya was the one who offered to pay him for his services, and considering the path which he was heading, why not take her up on the generous offer? In the end, he would come out ahead further than previously thought.

Again she was right that he despises being dependant on anyone, but, she was sorely mistaken if she thought he was dependant on her. Again, it came down to the simple fact, he was not the one who sought her out, she did. Could he have found someone else? Probably, if he knew the whereabouts of Tsuyo, he would have sought them out. Hell, he could have sought out his wife’s adopted fathers if necessary. Their prices would, most likely, not be as stepped as hers. A strong mind he might have, but, one also capable of adapting to the situation, bending, but not breaking, when the moments call for it. His ideology and worldview could easily bend to one extreme to another, teetering on breaking, but never doing so. It was by far one of his most greatest access. “Of course, nothing is truly free, everyone has to pay the price for their desires.”

Once the oppressive feeling stopped bearing down upon him, vanishing back into which it came, Daremo looks up. The soreness in his muscles was not registering with him in the slightest, as he focused on the Snake before him. Nothing was said as her intention for the Elemental Nation was exposed to him. Though, he mentally questions if her words were just sweet honey laced with poison, or was she truthful in her endeavors. There were flaws in the words she spoke. She wanted to be the wheel. But, it seemed, she did not understand what it meant to be the wheel of this world. There is no need for new rules. Universal rules already exist, humanity just has a bad habit of not following them, leading to their own desire. In his eyes, becoming the wheel is allowing humanity find their own way, and dealing out the consequences of the actions when it calls for such. It seems to him, she wanted something else entirely, but, pointing out the flaws in her goal was not why neither of them was here.

Lamya was right. Trust was a valuable commodity in this day and age. Far too many people were into the idea of backstabbing those who helped them or taking advantage of those needing help. Rarely does anyone do anything out there being treacherous thoughts in mind. Because of such a mindset, most, if not all, people are somewhat paranoid. Trying to look too deeply into the words, looking for anything to discern the individual’s true intention, and thinking of ways to backstab them before they can be backstabbed. Really, a vicious cycle, but one to be expected to give the state of the world.

When it came to him trusting, Lamya. The answer should have been apparent with the hints of who he indeed was being dropped by him. He could have played up the notion of being Koyabashi Daremo, but, to gain what he desired, he knew a foundation of trust must be built. Seeing how it was him who wanted something from the woman, it would be been up to him to extend the notion of faith by giving up something she could potentially use against him, and it seemed to have been worth it.

An unnatural silence descended upon the valley. A silence made only eerier by the words of Lamya. She spoke of him wanting to understand the reality of the world. To open his eyes to the power of those who he sought to be amongst; to understand the power of the one who he entrusted himself to. She having more power than the Raikage, a self-proclaimed God. The notion of anyone being a God was laughable at best. He did not see the man as a God, but someone who is trying to escape their own humanity and flaws by proclaiming them above others.

“Beyond human. . “ He tasted the words, looking at Lamya, watching and waiting to see her back up the claim. To see what her definition of such a word meant. When the ground started shaking, one would naturally take a cautious step back, Daremo did not. Only when the pressure increased, the ground seemingly sinking underneath the woman, and the transformation began, did he take a step back.  With rapt attention, noticing the paling of her skin, and the scales beginning to form on her body. Listening to the words her own words about him bowing to her only in servitude. He would not correct her on the statement. Sure, he bowed in servitude.

Although he wanted to stand in the same place, the powerful shockwave released from her body, that was starting to bloat, had him to jump back a few meters. The sound of a beast bellowed throughout the valley. It being a warning statement to all not to come near. Arms went up to shield his eyes from the blast of chakra, lowering them in time as he watched Lamya undergo a transformation. Briefly, his eyes flickered towards the snake who had moved towards him and was speaking. ”How many others proclaim themselves as God of Shinobi, and end up dying by man. It would seem another one has fallen into the foolish curse of that titled. What foolishness. . .yet this is the one you trust? Better hope it is worth it. I can always tell. . .it is not.”, The animal aspect spoke, turn its back from what his human side was watching, returning back to the cage and closes its eyes. It had seemed enough to realize that the relationship would hardly be beneficial to his human side, but, because of the situation they found themselves in now, they had to go along with it. Hopefully, there would be something worth wild in this partnership, at least Lais gave him more than Lamya has.

Speaking of Daremo, an emotion that he felt when the King and Queen of the Komodo’s summons decided to humor him with their human form, fear, and excitement. It took self-control on his part to keep his body from shaking at the presence before him, but he could not stop the beads of sweat from rolling down his face. While his animal side was fearless, Daremo was human, and such emotions were apart of him. Only the foolish and dead was without fear. Though accompanying his fear was excitement. This was the realm he wanted to break into. To stand with those who were considered strong by some, and godly by others.

Naturally, he felt danger when the eight heads, each one dwarfing his frame, surrounding him, Daremo did not move. As she spoke, her very voice vibrated his frame and rattled his bones. He listened to her words. She was going to grant his desires. She was going to free him from the restraints. She was going to teach him how to utilize his chakra and the bonds that he held. And the price for it all? A simple one. Once again, he bowed, head lowering, “I accept your terms.” Only after the words were spoken did he rise up from his position.

Noticing how much time has passed, he knew this meeting would need to draw to a close, unless unwanted attention comes to check out the commotion, “To keep up appearances, I should head back to base. Don’t want to bring any unwanted attention here. Who knows who might become a little bit too noisy for their own good. By your will. . .” He asked for permission to leave, executing a body flicker only after permission was granted. 

---

1724[5862]

She was no fool. She was arrogant and from a long lasting inferiority complex had grown a massive god-complex, but nonetheless Lamya was not a fool. The massive form of the Orochi no Yamata curled around the lowly human cowering between it's heads, body and massive crown which practically blotted out the light of the sun shining upon him. Sixteen golden eyes looked at Daremo, each the size of a large barrel stared at him without blinking, until finally a deep rumble could be heard again, with a booming deep voice reaching out from each maw the beast possessed. "A human stands before us, but within this human slumbers great power and potential. However, within this poor human, there also resides something else, something more savage and less injtimidated by our mere presence," Each head reached closer to the human at the center of the immense mass of flesh, bone, sinew and scales, huge, long forked tongues flicking out when the beast let out a loud, yet still restrained hiss. "No other reptile can compare itself to the majesty of the one who faced Amaterasu no Susano'o in the far flung past. Does the tiny creature within not know of the blood which runs through our veins and the powers we hope to regain through this vessel? Only the tiniest of insects would dare defy our being, for only the tiniest of insects lack the necessary lifespan to fully comprehend and remember our divinity beyond all reproach."

One of the heads encroached onto the Kumo-nin, it's nostrils blowing out a wave of hot and humid air towards the human, it's tongue flicking out until the tips of the forked appendage only barely miss the human's face by a few inches. "You are a sage, just as the child who has managed to invoke our power through the use of senjutsu in her blood and the lineage her clan possesses, but unlike this one, you are no true sage, your blood is fould and contaminated with the foul stench of humanity and there is no trace of true sage lineage in your cells," retreating again, the head made way for another of the beasts faces, silently sliding through the deep sand with ease. "However, you are owed a favor by our invoker and our vessel, you bear titles of great merrit and great suffering. Silence the voice of the beast within and only focus on the task at hand, for as you are owed a favor by the one who has managed to reach out to us through the millenia's past in the purity of the bloodline, so to do you owe us a favor for not devouring you whole in response to the being's insolence that dares disregard us and hides within your flesh and mind. You will become this child's agent, you will watch this so-called new god that has risen to these lands...you will become a spy, a pawn for us to use and control...in return for your feeble life."

The massive beaast rose up and though it did not break the circle its body had drawn around the human beneath it, the Yamata no orochi's heads did rise towards the heavens, letting out a loud, rumbling hiss, which sounded like a human's arrogant laughter, a cackle of sorts. "Yes...yes...you shall be an avatar of entropy and you will rise from the dredges of humanity, but heed these words we speak, before you make the mistake of most sages of foul blood in this world," Removing it's body from the basin of sand and coiling up more comfortably to place itself and also to make way for Daremo to freely leave as requested. "This world has the sad tragedy of having their users of senjutsu being overwhelmed by the power of their chosen or earned contract. The toads turn their failures into stone, the eagles end up turning their failures into eggs...but those who engage into a contract with any of us grandest of the scaled predators to roam this world...we devour our failures and turn them into our mindless slaves, aspects of our own greed and hunger. Strength of mind and body is needed to overcome the corruption of the reptiles for those who do not posses the affinity through blood."

With those words as a parting gift, the snake regurgitated a small scroll from one of its maws, hidden within it one of their invoker's more powerful techniques: the Chōten Hoshoku-sha no Jutsu, better known as the Apex predator technique.

777/5064

[allowing exit+own exit]

training:

Perspective. A look of surprise did not appear on his face upon hearing her words. She having seemingly caught onto a fact only three others knew about him. She having figured out, either through his lack of intimidation of her monstrous form or some other means, that there was another aspect to him that lack any fear of the danger present. Something about him that was not scared of the form, rather, dismissed it as anything but impressive. ”Because it is not. Such a form seems to be the hallmark of every powerful shinobi, it is nothing but a copy of those in the past.”, the beast spoke, closing its eyes once more, and going back into a deep slumber. He had to agree with the being. It was just like every other shinobi, past, present, and future, just the shape being different.

Reptilian eyes looked at the heads that were approaching closer to his figure. Some might have instinctively stepped back from the intrusion, he did not. The silver-haired male stood his ground, remaining rooted in place, “I’m impressed. You are the only person, outside of family members, who have some inclination toward it. Though, from your words, you seem to only know the basis of what it is.” He spoke. There was no way that he were going to tell him the intricate details surrounding the formation of the particular aspect. How it came about from his own foolish in the past when dealing with Senjutsu.

“I had an inkling of the clan you belonged to. Seeing this technique only makes the connection clear. But, I wonder is the blood running through your veins follow his lines in particular or another from his lineage? I would assume it is from his line, only those with his blood could produce one of his legendary techniques, no?”, He asked. The knowledge regarding the legendary snake shinobi, Orochimaru, was one spoken about throughout the text in the Elemental Nation. A genius man of intellect that was only surpassed by the Naras. He was a master of the medical arts, rivaling and surpassing Tsunade’s own knowledge. And while his experimentation might seem immoral, the results were worth it.

“Do you know the downfall of many of  those who descended Godhood?”, He asked, “They tend to forget their own origins. They forget, at one point, they were nothing but mere insects in the eyes of other Gods. Yet, they manage to climb their way to Godhood. Only those who know that, even the tiniest of insects can bring down an arrogant God who dismiss them as nothingness. But, you are not like that, are you?” How many shinobis who proclaim themselves as Gods live up to the title, only to die at the hands of those lesser than them? If they were a Gods than they would have never fallen in battle. Those proclaiming themselves as Gods are nothing but delusional, and misguided.

Daremo did not say anything as he was reminded of his senjutsu training not being completed. It would have been completed if it was any other animal, but his particular teachers were not easy teachers. And to say they were teachers would be an understatement. They forced the practitioner to learn senjutsu through trial and error, allowing them to become intimate in the art in a way no other animal could comprehend. It was only through experimenting, learning the ways of nature, can one fully understand the scope of senjutsu, at least in the eyes of the Komodo’s.

“Very well, I will do what is asked.”, Daremo spoke. He had figured out, considering her personality, she was asked such, as many others evil people. They request servitude, threaten death, the typical tactics of those in power. ”Just like when you are in the underworld, eh? People using the same tactics to control the masses., The beast spoke. Finding it funny how people used the same tactics no matter their position of power. He did not bother in mentioning any of this to the woman. She was set in her beliefs, and he is his own.

An eyebrow raised as he listened to the words of wisdom that she was going to give him. What mistake do all sages make? A chuckle escaped his lips, “I wish I knew that beforehand, but, I already paid the price for my failure, and till paying for it till this day. But, thank you for parting those words of wisdom.”, He bowed. Just as he was about to leave, he watched as a scroll was regurgitated. His hand reaching out to grab the scroll, and look between it and the woman. It did not take him long to figure out that the scroll was for him. “I will make sure Lais is worthy of being your pawn.”, With the words spoken, Daremo left the area, returning back to the Kumo based, though not before making it seem like he got into a fight. Got to make them believe he fought someone, right?

---

842[6704]
Finishing Training Senjutsu from this thread: Senjutsu(B -> A) 7221/8000

Senjutsu(B ->A) 8000 | 8000

remaining wc: 5925
Spectre of the Plague | A-Rank | 1800/1800
The Defiler: Death’s Solemn Herald | A-Rank | 1800/1800
Spectre's Wail | A-Rank | 1800/1800
Wc Used: 5400

Total Thread WC: 11768