Zuma's Infection

[Riot]

Azul the Riot
Zuma
Nightime


" You're not the only one refusing to back down!" Could be heard above everything, for it shattered the silence of the midnight moonlight. The voices echoed through the air, slicing the calming soothing wind seconds before. Screeches from a woman could be heard, has she spit out swears that even a dirty sailor would feel embarrased by. A lover's quarrel was harder to deal with then fighting tens and thousands of soldiers in a battle.

" I can't stand this anymore Jerimah i'm leaving you! My mother was right, I came to love you for your caring and sweet nature. But look at you, a pirate among that stealing from people and acting has if your a good man!" The woman retaliated at her husband, who she had stayed over ten years with and had grown to hate for his bad intentions. They had managed to afford a small home at Zuma and it had grown to a bustling house, full of riches. From someone else's work.

At first she was blind, ignoring his piracy has if he was doing it for her, to afford them a house and gifts to show his love. But now, she wouldn't stand for the lying and disgrace that engulfed her husband. " So many times have I tried, to save you from this fake life!" It had been woven, threaded deep into their minds that eventually their love would crack and break into fragments never to be mended back to a whole.

" Stop this whining, you lavished in these jewels and now that I have gone for only a few weeks and you return nagging me!" Jermiah swore, lashing out at his wife who was a small woman, with short brown hair that stretched to her neck and a frame that seemed like a twig compared to most other women. The slap, struck her so hard that it dazzled her and she was sent flying to the ground, striking it face first. Dirt seemed to clog her throat, has she coughed up peices of the ground back out and turn, to look crying at her former love.

Jermiah, was a man of strong complexion his veins seemed to rip through his skin and showed his strength has he could take down three men alone with brute force. This was what had attracted her at first, a stout sailor to hold her close in his arms and protect her from hurt. Bald was his head and skin, all shaved off and cleaned completely for he thought that hair was a woman's covering. This was the final battle, that each would have to deal with for it was over, they were fighting in the heart of Zuma in the center of a street.

" Stop, your hurting me!"

That was when it seemed to drive through Jermiah's mind, hurting his sweet lover Nell seemed to make him even more pitiful. His wife, who was pregant and carried their child of six months to which they were to name Cronen, for they thought he would be a tough little fighter, like his father. But now, has they both stared with tears soaking their face and dripping, falling with slow accuracy to the dirt beneath them.

Cronen, would be a orphan that would have no parents for his mother wouldn't be able to survive long has a beautiful women with no husband, on the streets of Zuma. While Jermiah, lets not speak about the man anymore and just watch. For has the night crept on, their argument had aroused the interest of a fellow Zuma dweller. Azul Sicili, the Riot which would douse the flame of this argument by his own terms.

His laugh, which sounded almost has horrible has a squawking bird, since it was almost shaped to annoy you and make you distressed. This caused the two to look above themselves, to see a ledge upon a high building and there laying down upon it was Azul. With his black hooded cloak, shadowing his body from those below has he stared beneath him, his eyes showing death through them. His knife brandished, being held with ease by his right hand and etched in the direction of the Nell for that was his pure victim.

" Behold audience, for I am Azul Sicili of the Sicili family to which has been brought to nothing since my departure. Now, to see a lovers fighting just disgusts me and makes me want to just get rid of both of you and be off. But what interests me more, is that your foolish enough to beat a wife bearing your seed, so let me take care of that for you my friend. I'll make sure he goes to the depths of hell, burning alive with your lover."

Seconds, that was all it took for him to dart down from the ledge and land on the almost laid down woman, who was arched holding herself of the ground with her elbows to cry at her husband and peer at the stranger above. The knife embedded into her stomach, tearing through the skin and causing her to scream like she never had before, not over hatred but over the pain of losing her child. Then it landed once more into her neck, slicing it clear open, tearing the whole front half off and then her body being slumped falling the ground with a splash of blood being released from the wounds.

" This isn't a nightmare Jermiah, and if it was then let me show you the end..."

Jermiah in shock, could not say a word, for you must all understand that he had just witnessed his child and wife die before his very eyes. To a brutal death, to which her blood made a small pool around her in a few minutes, that caused Azul to lower himself down and drink the blood of Jermiah's wife by the neck till it stopped flowing and ended the process. She was clearly dead.

[Shin Ishikin]

Shin Ishikin
Zuma
Midnight

The grey mists closed in around him, as Shin Ishikin stepped through the veil of water that separated the vibrant earth-like realm from the blank passivity of the Aether. The warmth of the pseudo-world quickly left him, and his water logged clothes became a sudden burden of encompassing chill. As uncomfortable as moving now was, he hurried his steps, hoping to make the beacon of the inner circle before the cold Aether stiffened the wet garments. Too, he understood the dangers of tarrying in this place, and he had no desire for another battle that might possibly turn out to be as unwinnable as the last one.

The woman he was now after was close at hand, the chattering warnings coming to him as he led the way to the keep of Zuma. The streets were slightly silent for the time of day, Sunset had reached him in the Aether and yet it remained dark and brisk now.

Another conclusion came to mind, and that was the simple fact that the Aether was no place to travel if time was a matter of any importance.

After a few leagues worth of marching, Shin Ishikin paused beside an old heaped rock, it remained potent in its stance, yet the aura it produced indicated clearly that it was of no natural structure to the highlands.

"You know what that is." Greeted an old yet familiar voice.

Shins Ishikin didn't reply, his metallic plated face merely swirled and stared into the soul of the speaker. It was Gandorik, an old man who had often appeared throughout the warrior's life. How the old man had traveled to such distances still amazed Shin, yet with a grunt he nodded a greeting to him, and turned back to the blackened stone.

"It's called a Vargite Stone. A piece of the unknown mysteriously appearing upon these feeble lands." He continued steadily, taking long pauses before proceeding, "Still. A man like you should have no quarrels with it, it is things like these that brought you here."

Shin remained potent, standing as a warrior should, and watching with what looked like beams at the stone, "Vargite is a material Gandorik, and nothing more but a blank passivity, very much like the Aether you just watched me walk through, it is mysterious, yet this is a tomb for the unknown, or even the undead, and has no history for demons."

His voice was tainted with coldness, like a bitter chill had infected his entire lung capacity, making him speak darker and firmer then any human could. Gandorik never did reply though, and when Shin Ishikin turned to continue his march, the old man had disappeared.

It didn't bother him as such, the old man was more of an annoyance then a friend, but concerning his health, he did notice how he stammered even more then usual. The bitter chill of hell had finally caught up with him; there was no saying in how long the old man had left, before the fragile structure that form the lumpy old man would fall beneath its clutches.

Still, Zuma was only a few leagues away, and he could see quite clearly the off set ridge in the cities poor defenses. With a quick crack of the bones, he re began his search for the woman.

But what he ended up with was far from what he had originally planned, for standing there, between building and pavement, was Azul. A vampirric warrior that fed his only treasure, a blessed dagger through the hearts of pregnant women and children.

The sheer view of the blood was enough to trigger Shin Ishikin's anger, and with a slightly belated reflex his sword was drawn and his targets were set. The other man, appearing human yet crying, as if he had contributed or scorned the woman before her butchered death stood only an inch or two away from Azul. His hands covering a limp strand of hair that once belonged to the woman.

"God doesn't play with dice." His words echoed as he walked beyond the darkness, his shimmering sword and garments displaying in all accuracy the sophistication of this warrior's standards.

"And neither do I." He continued briefly, his words delayed yet for a purpose that none could truly see, "And unlike god I don't believe in coincidences, this was fated the happen, as was your demise."

He chanted before proceeding, a second too late and the blade struck the victim, his mouth displaying a mixture of anxiety and pain as he felt the sword pass and leave within a blink of the eye, and then it was gone. The sword, the Ninja, even his wife and the cloaked Vampire.

He stood within a world, perplexed and confused with the passing toil of the universe, all that surrounded him was a bright glowing light, finished curtly by off red fire stripes and pretty glows. It almost resembled tranquility for him, until of course the white Ninja re appeared, where upon the lightness turned grey and black, and the once blossom filling music turned to screeching pain as he fell on his knees.

Again he was back in reality, the rain had started to fall and his innards were sprayed gently over his wife's limp body. "How. the." he cried in frustration, he wasn't dead, or even dieing, he just sat there, crying in misery.

"You have seen enough. Now be gone." Shin Ishikin chanted for a final time, and the body before him dropped for a final time, and then his eyes turned to the Vampire, "To kill is to act, to act is to live, to live is to die. It all means the same, and yet when you do it, I see no reason for vengeance. Tell me, why you should survive this night, why should people or better yet, mere vampires exist. Your nothing but a half breed, a human transformed."

[Riot]

It was a question, a mere stupid question that many perferred to ask a vampire once they met them and were determining whether or not to execute the vampire of their question's direction. To survive this night, how could a vampire survive a night when he was wrapped in a sea of deadly cold fortunate lies of bitter ends. It was an addiction for a vampire, any race to become addicted to living that so much that he would die if that addiction was lost. If this addiction was stolen from him, he would become a rabid dog that would sink its teeth through the stealer till it surrender the possession.

Her blood, the pregant woman's blood didn't taste normal due to the other life that was mixed with it and he almost wanted to gag but held it back, swallowing it back down his throat. He had done this often has a younger adult, when he first tried to drink all different types of wines and alchol. Drinking was never his specialty, except with blood to which he had a course at least once a week to fulfill his hunger. Has he arose, watching Shin Ishkin who he had never heard about his whole life, and agreed that Shin probaly never heard of himself. This demon, dared to question his quality to live or die, well that was an understatement.

So preparing his words, has he sheathed the knife retracting his hand into the cloak till the tip of the blade pointed out of its sleeve and released his hood to show his dark green eyes, that were combined to mix with the sea of the blue that were shined by the moonlight. His hair whiched matched the moon exactly, almost has if it was given birth after his death by the moonlight due to its pure brilliance and grace.

The wolves hides, which were just paddings that warmed his body and allowed him to move freely and quickly than armor, which would weigh him down even though he was a vampire. It also advertised, that he considered himself has fast the great wolves, to which were known for their beauty in the moonlight and their dazzling display almost has if they were bullets has they catched down their preys with speed. Their sharp teeth matched his and they were a perfect description of a vampire, almost could be considered the closest thing besides a human.

" True you may be, about me being only a transformation of a human into a half breed, not even worthy to be called a demon. But why would I want to be, atleast I had the chance to live a brink of my life to live and love, to hate and cry like that fool of a man and woman. While you, are a demon that has never experienced anything of those but death, to which now I have grown accustomed to enjoying and pleasurable. You can almost say, that I have transformed into a new being, a new person that has outgrown the old and shed his skin and soul.

Why should I survive this night, let me explain this in simple terms or else I would have to wove a story into a yarn of ball that would stretch till the end of time. I, till I became a vampire didn't deserve to live which sounds like the opposite of what I should be saying doesn't it? Well being a slave should make you want to burn in oblivion, well now that I am a vampire, I will break, torture, pulverize, crush, destroy, smash, collapse, deconstruct and then establish a new era. For this is all lies, or why else are the people so foolish to think that vampires..are merely a worthless race.

Then why, are almost all deaths of the human caused by vampires and their decreasing population forced by us? Simply because, we harbor the death of races, we can simply suck them dry of all life and be done with it. Which I could possibly, have done to that Jermiah fellow. I not only saved the life of that woman from the savage beating of fists, but also the child from a life of an orphanage and slavery to pirates. So tell me, would you rather that she lived and have her life beaten to a pulp while the child died also inside being kicked by its father?"

Azul stated, flicking a bug off his hand since it had landed and tried to settle itself there has if it were its home! Now has if this person has effected him, by trying to state that he was nothing.

" So tell me, Demon whether or not that I seem nothing but though I had just gathered a new life from this half breed transformation. Also whether or not, I should even consider you anything due to the fact that you may shimmer of brilliance, but seem foolish enough to state such a question. For life, is everything while death is nothing, but I am both..so you are only half right. But on the other hand and your a demon, so you are..nothing."

[Shin Ishikin]

The words flowed, like pieces of a torn up family finally rejoicing a union they had never quite experienced before. Each word was summarised, planned and even quoted, yet through it all Shin Ishikin watched and studied, no expression visible, no murmur heard. Just a statue, a distant statue from a life that had held him down for all of his life.

Even the moon had taken its grips upon the world, and sat as still as he himself. Watching and even listening to the murmuring soul of this wicked Vampire. He killed in the name of honour, justice, commitment, was he ending a life that had succumbed to nothing, did he end a life that was built upon suffering. Or was it merely an excuse for the new comer.

Answers and questions are an important part of how the world ticks by, Shin Ishikin knows this, and yet remains potent in the ways he acts, he doesn't fidget but he doesn't care either. He listens without listening, and watches without watching. So in every possible way was he a statue for those few minutes, and for every second was he a mere fragment of the night.

"Your tale is filled with inner sorrow." The night silence had finally broken from the two, the statue re woke and the Vampire re spoke. But when the Vampire had finished, and when Shin Ishikin fell back into his usual state, what was there, but the words from his own mouth.

"What is this world that passes me by, what is this reality that sucks my blood so dry? Questions and answers may tell the truth, but deep inside reality will always forge the lie. Existence Vampire is why we all stand today. Without you there is nothing for me to hunt, and without humans there is nothing for you to feed upon. The world is a glimmer of an illusion, a precious myth or an idea. So fragile that even a murmur of it will break it. It is this illusion which feeds us all vampire. I need not explain to you why or even how, but you say I am none existent... You are correct."

He paused briefly, the rain having stopped as the reflection of his armour intensified, "Think of me as a knight in shining armour, you think I was bred, or born or forged. You are wrong. I am a creation Vampire, a mythical being that has the blood of a Demon and the body of a Human, my natural skin is red, and I appear as if any other demon. But I stopped being a demon a long time ago Vampire. Look at me, look at what you see, you see white glows, you see glowing swords and I have no eyes and yet I can still see you, I have no mouth yet my voice is directed to your brain, you see and hear me as if I am truly standing here."

He paused only to laugh. His hands opening to offer peace before villainy, but then they clasped shut, and his stature butchered firmly into that of a Ninja's before continuing, "I am Shin Ishikin. My skin is what you see, and I was forced to run a life of…empathy. I can understand why you kill, heck I can even understand why you still exist, but that is all I am. I am merely a person, or a demon, or even a Ninja. Whatever you may wish to call me I am it. For I have no true identity, no true purpose, I seek and I destroy. Just like you."

He finally stopped, yet only to have succumbed to the biddings of an old man and whisper away a fortune of lies. Nothing had broken their ill silences, the cloaked warrior stood there, and he stood here. The two just watching, listening, even reading each other.

Not that Shin Ishikin could be red; he had no bodily motives, he had nothing but the deep voice that somehow left his metallic plated body. Eventually though, Shin Ishikin bowed and said, "If I am of no trouble, I'd like to see the life that you lead. I seek nothing but a worthy general, and your insight grants you that worth, yet I must see what the world you live in is truly like, to see if you live by anything I go by."

[Riot]

Azul though his face was plain, it changed by curiousity that the man Shin Ishkin could say, and explain that he was almost greater than a demon and lesser in a way. Was it fate, that these two meet upon this night in Zuma at the night of the collapse of this city and the soon overturning? It had been planned out carefully, but now that this Shin was here, could he interfere or would he be an asset to Azul and his small army of five hundred? This man, could lead to a greater purpose and could be maintained not only has an asset, but more, a reliable source.

"You say you have no identity, but you just identified yourself Shin Ishkin, am I not correct? You glow unlike other demons, of great brilliant shining light but yet you are clouded with darkness and misery, or why else would you not be afraid of death? For only those that have experienced such a thing, will not falter before its presence of such a deadly power. If you wish to prove that you are something, then you must show me, assist me in the liberation of Zuma, already my forces are in attack upon markets of this city, for they had been given an assignment designed by me. Which worked perfectly.

So Shin, do you wish to be a legend among the demons, not a false nothing voice, a body that has no identity. If you wish to know more about the slave, that became Azul Sicili then aid him in this attack. And if not, then begone out of my sight while I spill blood across this city."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

500 Vampire with Gladius swords
Zuma
Midnight
Market Area

" Start it..The Master will be displeased if we disobey and miss time!"

The second in charge shouted at those beneath, him wielding his gladius has they all opened tens and tens of boxes that were filled with swords that they had brought in has apparently, selling merchandise from the inland. This had allowed them free entrance to the city, for they had dressed has merchants with a few dressed in robes and the others has lowly serving peasants to carry them. The leader who was a tall man, with a large bulk had kicked open the door of a large storehouse which was empty, now only containing their boxes of nothing, which were formerly filled with swords.

They had waited till the very brink of the moon to come, when the gates were almost being shut at the city of Zuma but managed to get passage right before it being shut and were allowed to stock their '' items '' in the storehouse, has a disguise it was a very well thought out plan. Which had other small seperate, if things had not gone out how it was suppose to and they were confirmed, when just before Azul had kill the woman checked in on them from the rooftops of the housing.

The markets had been shut and wouldn't be open till morning, so there would only be drunkards, patrols or even some civilians patrolling around the city at this time of night. They would be mercilessly slain, for the vampires had been craving for a good fight and wouldn't mind slaying a few hundreds of soldiers for the night, you could almost call it a good day to them.

Bloodshed would be shown upon the city of Zuma and a new arrival of a lord.

So the plan would follow out, they would rampage the streets in two groups of one-hundred and fifty, while they would each meet at the center street to which Azul himself was waiting for them, it was their destination. This was all to be an organized, bloody takeover of the hellish base of Zuma, then it would be the true start of a new age.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Zuma
Center of City
Azul the Riot

"This will be a nightmare for the lord." Azul took out his shortsword, weilding it in one and depositing in the sheath for the knife, the small dagger and then standing in a stance ready for a fight has he let a smile grace his lips, he would enjoy the death of these foolish people. " If I get too hungry, let me know for I have a tendency to lose control. This is your chance, to prove that you are worthy."

He displayed his left hand, which showed the scar which was like the right of a huge S, upon the palm standing for Slave. This was an example of what Azul had fought for, and what he wouldn't ever become once more. He would rather burn himself to death and get pillaged to death by pikes than live has a slave for a person, he was not broken.

"So many times, have I tried to escape the cage of life to break free and show this nightmare. Let it be unleashed, the beast inside me!" His eyes blazed with the fury of the devil himself, his fangs sharpening on the inside stimulated by the smell of blood coming and the thoughts that penetrated his mind and formed images of people being slain.

[Shin Ishikin]

A word for the damned is all that was split before the screeching host began. Shin Ishikin realised then what had just transpired, and he also realised that it would be him who could either clarify this victory or put a stop to the Vampires plans. But could he?

The answer was no. Azul as he called himself had shown a crest of enslavement, and although he himself had never experienced such punishment he did understand what the Vampire spoke of when he mentioned that they both did not fear death. And that was solely because, they both had died.

It was then that the rain began its course of punishment, blemishing the fragile glow from Ishikin's armour and subduing the once anonymous aura that imbedded them all with tranquillity. It was all harshly swallowed up with anxiety and hatred instead, the irrational emotions that he suffered from.

The rain produced a tinning effect as the small droplets forged a beat among the tin based rooftops, before the Ninja whistled loudly, a mere murmur that triggered a much louder whistle.

It was then that silence re took it's place, the sound of only natures moisture, ringing loudly through everyone's ears as the rain pulsated and intensified before dieing slowly. Flickers of light was seen from the reflecting moonlight, to show in full precision an army of what looked like Gallisian Ninja's, a sector of demonic warriors that was solely commanded by Shin Ishikin.

"Identification." He finally muttered, his appearance remaining firm even with the constant winds blowing in his direction. "I have nothing but a name Azul, nothing but a name that is not even my own."

He paused briefly, turned around to face the open street, he could hear in the background the murmur of conversation, some growing and others fading, yet none disturbed his thoughts, and he turned back to continue, "Can you hear them Azul. Your men moving like the wind across the docks. Had I not of noticed their calling me and you would be enemies.

Do you know why?

It's because my men are above you.

Watching you, almost feeling that energy you generate when you breathe, or how you smell when you elongate those beautiful fangs of destruction. I know that you was a slave Azul, I know what you had to go through as a slave to. And I'm sorry for your loss, if I had been in your position, I'd of destroyed everyone in my path, but for me Azul, for what I had experienced, who had I to turn against, my own kin. My own people."

The figure paused as he explained the story, his metallic head twisting to face the Vampire, he knew now that it would be gone soon, the figure and even the darkness that shrouded him, all illusive in a blank passivity of time.

"You must understand that I had died too." He continued briefly, watching his men from above, "But I was no slave, I was recruited into the Demonic ranks, I was given this…this…suit to wear on an assassination. Yet on my return, with the targets head in my hand, I was forced into a fire. The metal burned, yet it did not burst or fade, it singed black, as did my body and my life. I was rescued by an illusive figure of darkness that dragged me out and left me on a side walk between the demonic border and the highlands. That’s where I remained for nearly 3 years, listening without the ability to listen and see without the eyes of a human. You could say I was gifted, my body became agile and my strength failed to weaken. I am nothing more then a metallic Ninja now, a warrior of the damned, yet my vengeance isn't for those who betrayed me, it's for everyone, bar as it seems…you."

He paused when he heard the crash of his men, all 500 of them encircled around the two generals, they had been trained for so many years that Shin Ishikin had forgotten how old he truly was, but it didn't matter, not anymore anyway, "After the initial stiffness of being stuck within this suit, I realised that the only part of the armour that it had ruined were these grey and black gaps, that were fortunate enough to provide me with better movement. As for the armour itself, it glows with those it had destroyed, I drink no water and I eat no meat. Unlike a human and unlike a vampire. I need no water to survive, no food to stabilise, I am a demon with none of their weaknesses and all of their strengths.

So when you stand before me, and ask of me my helping hand, do the birds sing to you a greeting? Yes, that they do Azul. My services are yours to control."

He swirled round, barking an order in a demonic tongue that Azul had failed to understand, before fading illusively in the darkness. Before long, all that stood there was Azul and the two rotting corpses, all fragment of life had vanished, the 500 men, the Ninja himself. All gone, left for another days work.

[Cyrax]

"For such a powerful creature to offer his allegiance to a weakling night stalker makes me want to slay you here and now!"

A voice, so dark and dreaded, could be heard from the shadows; the very darkness Ishikin just disappeared into. Had Cyrax appeared too late?

"Pity, i was just about to recruit Shin for myself....."

A dark robed creature appeared from the void wielding a long reaper's scythe. Two purplish white eyes were radiating, sending signals of true power to any who were skilled enough to notice. Magical strength, he was surging with it and any who got in the way would become his puppet!

"A Demon by the name of Arktivilist pledged his service to Shin and i have a need to speak with him!"

"I suppose i could find him myself, but what fun is there in that?" he said, laughing out loud now as black smoke exited his face.

Neither Azul or Shin were powerful enough to defeat Cyrax who had an undefeated record until both Damian and Smite amazingly gained victory. So. hopefully they would not try. However, it would be fun for the dark magician to kill and the possibility of new pieces for his collection was a plus as well.

"If i kill you now, however, the other two will need a new master to serve!"

Cyrax laughed out loud, enjoying the situation immensely, knowing now that he was about to be soaked in blood, and soon purple emanations began to swirl around the scythe weapon in his right hand. Needless to say, it would be very bad if Azul was cut by the cursed weapon, with its dark magics, but if he needed a new arm Cyrax could sell him one for cheap!!

[Shin Ishikin]

Judging from the robe that clung to Cyrax's body, Arktivilist and Baalice realised that they was not so alone in the shadows of the throbbing city. Cyrax, who Arktivilist still called the demon lord, was standing near the mythical vampire, his facial expression revealing nothing but the mist that brewed with the man's growing agitation.

It had inevitably caused the start of a new war, at how simple the man would be angered. Arktivilist was once apart of that man's army, standing by a field of battle before his entire body seized and pained him, causing nothing but a spark of flashing light whilst in the fight with a dragon called Smite.

He remembered that day so well, and yet Cyrax was different then, armour adored his feats and the man's voice was not as mystified as it was now, but it was still the same guy, that much he did now.

Deciding it time to walk from his own personal chaos, Arktivilist revealed himself in the moonlights awakening, his gleaming armour black and tortured, as if he had been both blessed and cursed since his journey. He too had changed since their last meeting, he remembered the outfit then, he wore a black metal crown and a black cloak, fastened tightly by the magic that forged his physical appearance, as today, the man had no face, just a metal helmet that seems to swirl on an imaginary axis.

"It has been far too long." He muttered casually, his frame stronger and his hand held professionally on the butt of the scabbard.

Cyrax hadn't of said anything, all that were seen were the purple glimmer of eyes that flowed towards him, before another set of purple and red eyes illuminated the corner opposite the great Cyrax, moving in perfect unison with any mist, the creature approached.

Nothing but a cloak and gown covered him, and Arktivilist's helm swirled as he saw the detail that were somehow perfect in unison with that of Cyrax, from afar the two were identical, their only difference was in the sheer colour of the eyes.

"It seems another friend has come to greet you Cyrax." He continued briefly, his arm out-stretched to his side, displaying the gesture to Baalice, the twin of some sorts to Cyrax, "greet or meet, the devil does not speak."

"So, how have you been old friend, and what business sends you here of all places?"

[Cyrax]

Cyrax laughed whole-black-heartedly when he saw......... another Cyrax!? This truly was an amusing day for the dark magician and all the better that Arktivilist was present to speak with.

"Well, what a fine looking friend you have"

A hideous laugh followed the comment but immediately he stopped chuckling and stared at Arktivilist.

"I know not why you abandoned the armies after Hero Mountain but i again will need your assistance."

Cyrax could feel that another, more powerful being, was leading Ark's crew now. Still, he did not know of and cared not to know any other unless they to wished to help.

"I assume that you are still loyal to the Underworld and that death on a mass scale will be sufficient payment for your services?"

The dark magician patiently awaited a response from his former general. After all, he had all eternity to wait if necessary. Though, more than likely he would grow angered and start to kill if an answer was not given sometime soon.

The task, a most evil one of course, was not to be completed for quite sometime. However, Cyrax needed a few strong allies when the time came.

[Riot]

Confusion..Disarray

Azul had never learnt about the past or present, he had no idea about who Cyrax or any of these three were. Except small clues and facts about Ishkin, who he still didn't trust more than a whore upon the streets of Levigor. Although he wasn't had more skills, the whore or Ishkin?

So has his eyes carefully switched between each, seeing has two more presented themself from the shadows to which one..appeared has if he was a twin of Cyrax. Four people, this had just started the battle and now four had been introduced to the sight of Azul, to which he never knew of before.

" It seems that you are multplying, or my eyes are growing old and tricking myself into lies. Although you could easily all strike me down like a pig, slaying me upon this cruddy dirt of Zuma, enlighten me upon who you are. "

Nervous, Azul was not for if they decided to kill him then it would be something that he had not already gone for before. It was a thing worth living and dying for, but it would crumble to peices if the person who had constructed this small team of vampires to take Zuma would lose the battle if their general died. Who else would command them?

" Should I throw a festival, or are you all here?"

It was a fragment, to be a joke and to be serious was there more people arriving to ruin his perfect plan to strike down the fat lazy Zuma lord. Or was this all demonstrated and acted out by fate and destiny, but Azul didn't believe in that and waited patiently for one of their replies.

" Although if you are foes, then I shall leave you the pigskin for desert and keep the meat for myself. Although not that it will give me pleasure."

[Shin Ishikin]

Illusive as Cyrax now was, Shin Ishikin stood from a mere foot's distance, his men having already begun their preparations' for the taking of the city. "Enough!" Muttered the illuminate assassin, before his own appearance was revealed to the fall of men.

All around him stood warriors, Cyrax being the one they knew not as an ally or foe, yet Arktivilist did, and so did this creatures counter-part, who they all referred to as Baalice.

"Arktivilist follows me wizard, as does Baalice, there be no question on their loyalty to the Demon world, but who is even in a position to threaten it, and tell me dear fellow, who are you to stand here and speak and think of destruction, do you assume because we bare no faces or bare no expressions that we cannot manipulate your thinking, and understand words a man of your ability would think. You were once a great demon, but you lost, remember."

The general spoke patiently yet professionally, never once raising his tone to a direct assault at the demon before him, "Though I cannot say I blame you, Smite was hard and Damian was even harder. But remember the truth behind that battle."

It was then that Arktivilist bowed slightly, never leaving the sight of Cyrax before him, "Master Ishikin, The Dark King had fought bravely, and although I had hurt the Dragon as much as I could, a spell was cast upon me, and I had.. Vanished, to be awoken beside your very corpse Shin Ishikin."

"Cyrax is a cretin." Muttered the cloaked demon, just before Arktivilist swirled his head upon him.

"Cyrax is a god among demons Baalice, with powers that we mere demons cannot match up to."

"Haha, Bullshit, the man's a cretin, living upon a dream which lives more in his head then in reality, you think you can cause death Cyrax, don't make me show you what death truly is."

The two bickered, and Cyrax turned an eye upon the new comer, it was Shin Ishikin, a true demon in a form that didn't portray any of his true natural born assets, all that was visible was the golden glimmer of the world that stood around him, and yet when an eye caught his armour and sword, he was the centre of the universe.

His arms shining and his face marked with nothing but a face of death and emptiness, he stood silently, watching as Baalice angered over the man's own thoughts, such a pair these two were, and so similar to.

"If we help you Cyrax, then you help us, but helping claim this city under the demon rule, not that who we follow is a ruler, but the young Azul is a wiser then you think, and stronger ten you suspect."

[Hinsaa]

(well, here goes...)

“UGH...s-o WHEN, agaIN... dOEs the KILLing stARt...”

From the depths of literally nowhere, a ubiquitous voice rings out... seeming to span across the enter city. And, though he isn’t addressed formally, he is fully aware that this ...voice... targeted him...

“...I...sh...”

Shin could feel the presence of eyes, boring right into the very pit of his soul. A disheartening experience for some... but because he was familiar with this “presence”, it shouldn’t effect him ..too badly.
“........”

Atop a roof not far from behind Shin stood a shadowed figure, trembling... exuding a firey aura which seemed to exist only to exhibit anxiety...

[Illyria]

Apollo and Company
Zuma
Sometime before Dawn

300 - Expert Elvan Archers, Armed with bows

City Garrison:
100 Riders of Zuma (Imperial Guard w/ War Stallion, Lorica Segmentata and Claymore)
200 Warriors of Zuma (Human Soldiers w/ Short Saber and Heavy Pillum)
400 Archers of Zuma (Human Militia w/ Shortbow and Pugio)

(I was rushed you will live with the quality/quanity for this one...)

Apollo on his journey to conquer Jericho and unite it under one ruler has taken a detour for he and his soldiershave grown tired on thier journey. Apollo soon came upon the city of Zuma. It was a magnificent port city in his opinion. He and his men would rest there till dawn which was only a few hours off then when they awake so that they may continue on to Jericho.

Apollo stared at the city seeing very odd commotion that was not suited for night. He yelled to his soldiers, “Quicken your pace men, evil is upon us!” his 500 troops where all on foot and there speed increased from a slow walk to a silent, but swift jog. Apollo being the only one with heavier armor he clanged as he rode horseback. As Apollo grew nearer he focused his eyes on the city, he was now approximately 200 yards away from the gate and grew closer as he dismounted and continued on foot and his horse fell back in the ranks of High Elvish men. When he got to the gate his men surrounded him as they peered in through the holes in the gate to see figures in the center of town and he heard commotion and yells at the docks. He immediately assumed that they were the leaders of the attack. He sent 150 of his men to the port to support the troops that were attempting to defend Zuma. “ Go now remain hidden till there is a clear shot … Until then you are invisible.”

The other 150 were to stay and guard their Cleric, Apollo. He opened the gate slowly and the soldiers followed behind a few feet. Apollo’s men where all in lines of 10 across preparing for a volley when Apollo stopped as his men did too. Apollo knelt on his right knee as he put his hands together as too pray. “Gods of old and new watch over me and Jericho, make the people of this city rest in peace tonight.” Apollo still praying silently to himself, two balls of pure white magic appeared sprouting from his upper back and grew into wings. Glowing a significantly bright white Apollo flapped his new appendages to become airborne now hovering a several meters above the rooftops.

Firing between Apollo and the rooftops his men released a volley towards the shadow like figures in the center of the town. Apollo then saw hundreds of men on the rooftops unarmored and easy targets. “Men the rooftops! Fire at will towards the rooftops…”

[Cyrax]

Cyrax listened to Shin Ishikin blabber on about his supposed loyalty to the Underworld, but the dark magician began to doubt such words when it seemed that the illuminate assassin was unaware of what was going on in the nether realm. There was certainly a threat, but not from the current weakling world in which this 'band' of Demons chose to live. Hell, Cyrax had to get as deep underground as possible to avoid the putrid stink of life. Sunshine, birds, and green vegetation made him sick. So, the sooner he could usher in hell upon this earth the better! The fact that Shin and his crew were aiding scum Vampires made Cyrax all the more pissed off.

"Hmph"

Scoffing at the comment about reading his mind or thoughts, he began to chuckle a bit. Who the hell did this Demon think he was? Zero fear and a sharp tongue. Hell, Cyrax was beginning to like him!

However, before he could respond to the leader, another of Shin's generals spoke up. It was not Arktivilist who was drawing attention to himself, creating an enemy with only a few words, but instead it was the dark magician wannabe.

The great Demon knight Arktivilist, who fought beside the wizard at Hero Mountain, tried to calm the situation by defending Cyrax's honor and legacy of dominance. However, it seemed Baalice had something to prove and continued to taunt the ancient evil.

"Interesting" he thought to himself, wondering how Baalice would taunt him further with no head.

Moving the scythe in his right hand across his chest, Cyrax looked toward the ground and began to mutter a spell. Shortly after, 20 clones were surrounding the group in the center! All at once they rose their heads, staring with content, and began to move inward toward Shin and his men. It would be almost impossible to discern the real Cyrax from the rest of the images but there would be no need to.

From the sky a volley of arrows rained down into the center of the city. The Demons could hear the projectiles cutting through the air but actually picked up the twang from bowstrings well before that! A loud, blood curdling screech, could be heard and it seemed clear that someone or some 'thing' was hit.

The multiple images of Cyrax faded, one by one, and finally he was left alone with three arrows protruding from his chest.

He began to pull them out and as each arrow was removed dark purple emanations started to pour from the wounds. Whoever just hit him with an arrow, like a coward, was going to suffer a slow and painful death!

The thick mist which was exiting his demonic body began to gather and swirled around him. Soon he was engulfed by the cloud and when it did finally fade he was gone.

Not able to sustain the body further, Cyrax had no choice but to retreat. However, he would not forget the attack from Apollo or the insults from Baalice. Both would pay in the near future, that was certain.

[Shin Ishikin]

Baalice smiled at Cyrax, each stray arrow having entered and left his vanishing body as he stood in the cities town. Already had Shin Ishikin disappeared from the fray, as had Arktivilist and now he realised, Cyrax.

The city was no small town, it was a city, not as throbbing as he had quite expected, but he noticed that it was by no means small, each house portraying the somewhat medieval outlook that it gave off, the houses small and crammed, with fire torches lighting the only small darkened valleys of the mined village.

Shin Ishikin had undoubtedly moved to check up on the Eastern rooftops, he knew for sure that such a volley would have no impact on their concealed stations, for if not filled with brilliance, his men were good it terms of hiding, and with how many arrows glistened the flight, he realised almost automatically that only about 150 archers had shot, the single volley having hit the western villages, where Apollo now glistened airborne in the sky.

"The man's either stupid, or his wings can protect him of anything, seems I must make the distraction myself. Long live ISHIKIN!"

And at that the gloomy looking figure vanished, appearing against only 100 or so feet away from Apollo, his red beady eyes staring into the angel, the two were destined to fight, he noted. Angels and demon wraiths never got on well together, but that was simple knowledge, surely.

"Well done Apollo." He screamed the words above the cities gate, the Angel's eyes having not shifted from his own deadly glaze, "Feel my PAIN!"

A squeal followed shortly after his statement, the high-pitch sound having blasted enough even to shatter the glass that was all around him, the outcry worked well enough, he thought. But then again, Angels were always crafty enough to avoid his pain, it hardly mattered though, Apollo was facing him, and only him, what would happen to his men however, was a different story entirely.

His eyes quickly drew towards the floor around the airborne Angel, his white wings glistening to show no more then a few foots worth of light, he realised that he himself was cloaked with the shrouding darkness, and what those archers must have thought when they was shooting into no real direction only made the wraith like demon laugh.

His cry however never ceased, after his own little out-burst, it resumed as planned, their troops from what once looked like a sane stable army, into a casting group filled with maniacs, as their hands were outstretched over their elongated ears, such ears were beautiful to him, yet their sharpness was even more. He suspected that all elves suffered more to such squeals then that of humans, it amused him somewhat.

---

*The Cry of Hatred = A similar skill to Shin Ishikin's, though the cry does not heal him, instead it destroys his enemies, when he cries and it's combines with his magic, the enemies around him falter and squeal, their ears infected by the high pitched squeals, sometimes the spell can send even the most honourable of warriors insane. (Tier 2)*

---

His cry eventually stopped, the Elven men half knelt in the floor, the sound continuing to electrify within their minds, sending them not only to the floor in pain, but mentally unstable, the sound was developed to address a man so powerfully the sound would shatter the sanity they felt, the stability they had, these men would take a trip to hell before they regained themselves again, and so long as they was in such a state, Shin Ishikin, who now moved along the opposite rooftops, would begin his own spell.

"Master, control their minds, and then strike."

Shin Ishikin's head swirled as the message entered his head, yet his ears had played no part in its understanding, Baalice simply stood there, no movement, just like a statue he waited for the move, hoping to be capable of defending himself against whatever wrath the Angel had.

Shin Ishikin moved swiftly, his senses picking up the cries of the elven troops as he nodded towards the two main soldiers behind him, "Prepare the points, let darkness guide you to victory, I shall assist however I can."

It was then that Shin Ishikin dropped to the floor, each Ninja simply hoping past his consumed and withdrawn body, for his mind, or soul was no longer there. Instead he had divided himself and had eagerly forced into the minds of the elven troops, he realised they'd never of co-operated with his signals so long as they was stable, but insanity from Baalice had worked wonders, and he had control over each and every one of his men.

---

*The Controller = (Gains control of a enemy unit for two turns, twice per battle)*

---

The first thing he did, was lace each of the remaining archers to draw their bows and arrows, their master Apollo would not have seen the transaction in place, his own eyes still squaring with that of Baalice, such taunting eyes that man must have had, to keep him so secluded from the rest of the world.

Then without their master knowing, they prepared their aim, all from below, shooting high towards Apollo, from the distance they could not have missed such a feeble and defenceless target, and before anyone could say anything their own arrows pelted from their bows.

Apollo would realise his own mistake, maybe it'd be too late, only a pure god could evade such a blow, and even Cyrax, the demon overlord of the entire continent could not withstand 3 simple arrows, how this man could avoid a few hundred, would be impossible to believe.

The bloodshed however wasn't over, with the arrows pelting towards Apollo's defenceless and worthless body, Baalice and the Ninja army vanished from the scene. Baalice never to again reappear, but for his men, they all appeared once more.

Behind each stationed Elf fighting their own master was an assassin, their daggers already swiping across their worthless bodies, unable to move yet could feel the trauma they had just gone through.

The bodies dropped and Sin Ishikin had lost his powers, only because he controlled now, the simple dead. "Get Hinsaa to come forge his troops." He muttered, his energy draining somewhat as 2 of his men lifted his gleaming body.

The Ninja's were gone after their original attack, back on rooftops, back into the shadows, consumed, they moved around, jumping down with daggers towards their enemies heads, waiting for their chance of victory, Apollo would fall, here in Zuma.