Blood and Gore (Constantine/open)

[Kuroshi Maki]

It has been days not that I saw her for the last time, before dropping her off in a nearby town. I could not have brought her further in as I would endanger us both. I just hoped she was doing alright, but knowing how smart she was I had no doubt that she was already being protected and hopefully by some stronger men. It was weird having more then myself to life for. Yet I could not leave the road I was walking on. I had to become the Demon known by all. I could not replace my hate with care.

As I walked the road early in the morning, to the right there was a river flowing with the rising sun turning it orange. Not wearing my helmet so I would not walk around a Demon just yet. Guando placed upon back, blade covered. I was on a quest to find stronger fighters and beat them to make my name go around. Not in the way a Hero's name would be passed around, no that of a man that would be feared even among lords.

The path was pretty empty as it was still early in the morning I would walk beside my horse. The only companion I had and needed at this point. I came near a house standing alone beside the river and stopped for awhile. Sitting down I would eat and drink some to regain some strength and get some rest. Yet did didn't take long as a couple of men walked out of the building I just stopped at. It seems to be a group of outlaws. The fools would try to take me on?

' You there! You better give us all you have before we kill you. "

I would raise up and start laughing, I would walk up on my horse and grab the helmet. " Ever seen a demon? " I would put my helmet on turning my body into that of a Dark knight with the aura of darkness. My weapon would scream for blood. Ripping of the cloth around the blade I would swing my GuanDo making it roar. " Let me show you true dispear. "

I would rush forwards speed greater then they had ever seen and the blade would rip them all apart strike by strike, blood and body parts would spread around me. Screams heard miles away. As I stopped attacking only one was left hiding in the corner next to the house. It seems I also attracted a guest. Behind me somebody was watching.

[Constantine Lawrence]

It took some days before Constantine finally reached this place. It ws rumored that another foreigner had been shipwrecked, and as it turns out, he was also an Englishman. He went here to look for this man, to meet him, to inquire what has become of England when he left. The loss of his father and mother, who had been well-to-do with mercantile and naval business in London, would mean the collapse of the Lawrence family, since his brothers were still young and unable to do business. That prospect had worried Constantine a lot.

"I hope my brethren were in good hands," he thought as he sought for the man. But when he finally saw him, he was fighting off some outlaws. Drawing his katana and his staff, he tried to help, but the man was killed and the outlaws ran away even before he was engaged. His fury sparking due to this moment of inability to help, he chased the outlaws until he arrived at a house just beside a river. He had seen one of the outlaws enter the house, and so he decided to break in, to recover the items that the outlaws took from the foreigner. But before he could enter the house, he saw another man, very muscular in form, pass by it. This seemed to alarm some outlaws, and they all came out, swarming the man. This would be critical, even if the strength of the man was overpowering, given his form, surely he would not withstand a lot of enemies. Constantine then came out of his hiding place and tried to attack, but for some reason he glanced at the man as he equipped his armor, but the outlaws just watched on, seemingly confident. That would turn out to be their demise, as the man turned into a demon after he donned on his armor, and cut them down with ease.

Knowing the outlaws would be defeated easily, Constantine just watched on as the man incessantly cleaved up the imbeciles with his guan dao. At the end, all of the outlaws, numbering 50 or so, had their bodies chopped up in grotesque positions while the man is relatively unscathed. Knowing that there's no outlaw left standing there, Constantine passed by the man, saying, in Japanese, "Demon, if they did not just stare at you as you donned your armor, you might have been defeated. But they are imbeciles, all of them." He then walked into the house, and, for some reason, thrust his monk's staff held with his left hand towards one direction, and continued to walk in. After he was lost from the view of the demon, a man collapsed, his skull bashed through and his brains coming out.

[Kuroshi Maki]

It seems to be a man not from this place, or should I say boy. He didn't look older then me. But his words were foolish. Even without the armor I would have beaten those in front of me. He didn't see my full strength or speed. All it did was creating a grin upon my face. Knowing my weapon had tasted blood today and making it more and more powerful. Walking in upon this all was pretty foolish of the boy. And as he walked off into house. At one point a body dropped on the ground head bashed in. It seems the boy did hold some strength. This would only make him a target. I seek strength and all that had some would become a target.

I would walk up at the house myself looking at what the boy was doing. Seems he was looking for something. My weapon still at hand I would point it towards the boy. Blood dripping from the blade.

" You seem to hold some fighting skill, to bad for you! "

I would wait for him to grab what he was seeking, but before the boy would want to walk out I would slam my weapon with speed and power on the floor breaking the wood right in front of him. My body was hungry for more power.

" You won't be able to walk away now! "

[Constantine Lawrence]

As Constantine walked into the house, he searched for the things that the outlaws robbed from the foreigner he was expecting for. It was too bad that the outlaws had killed him before Constantine came to meet him, but it was the turn of events and he can not alter it. The only link remaining to maintain his knowledge about his home might lie within the belongings of that man.

After some minutes scrimmaging through the booty of the outlaws, he found what he was looking for: a brown bag filled with clothes and some diaries and old newsletters. He carried the bag on his shoulder as he prepared to walk out of the house. But that was stopped by a swing of the guan dao, the wood that collided with it breaking down due to the force of the swing. But that revealed something that Constantine had expected to see when raiding a house of outlaws: traps. Traps everywhere. And the demon was standing on a simple pitfall trap that had not collapsed yet. What's more, he saw some more outlaws going towards the house. They had seen the loathsome atmosphere that surrounded the house, and they decided to attack the demon. There is no escape for him this time, but Constantine kept his cool, and steeled himself that he would get over this.

He took a simple fighting stance, holding his katana sideways at the front with a somewhat lowered right arm, and his staff at the back with a slightly raised left arm. He then said, "I know that I could not defeat a demon like you, but I am fairly confident that I would get out of this alive."

[Kuroshi Maki]

As I broke the floor it revealed that I was standing on a trapdoor or some sort. Always the damn traps. As I jumped back outside away from the traps I could hear more men closing in on me. 'really? they saw all the bodies and still wanna fight?' I thought to myself. As they closed in on my they would see me and halted their attacks. They never saw anything like me in there life's and then they noticed all the bodies around the place.

" What is this Demon! "

The men didn't attack and I could hear the boy speak, about not being able to beat me but getting out alive was something he knew would happen. I started laughing as my voice went dark. those around me could feel it shaking their bones. Even the boy would have to feel some type of way by it. It was like something took over.

" Looks like you got some friends. "

As I would close in to the outlaws on my right they would try to protect themselves, but my Guando would easily break their weak weapons and soon they will drop dead, bodies cut in two. The rest would try to attack me from the back as I would spin the Guando around with a roar cleaving also those close enough into 2 as the rest would back up towards the boy.

" What is this monster! "

[Constantine Lawrence]

As Constantine predicted, the outlaws that charged towards the demon got diced by the skillful wielding of his guan dao. It did not really matter to him when he was attacked at the front or at the back, he managed all of them. Truly he was a demon in all aspects.

Some of the outlaws started backing down towards Constantine, thinking of him that he was sort of a friend. But the sight of them just made Constantine's stomach lurch. These imbeciles, cannot do anything against a demon, now tried to shove another person to defeat him? They need to pay for their sin, Constantine thought. For all of the people they robbed and killed without mercy.

He struck down the outlaw nearest to him using his katana, felling him down with a clean cut to the shoulder. Seeing this, two other outlaws attacked him, but he just parried them using his staff, and with  quick turn-around, the katana he was holding ws agin stained with the blood of other people, as the guts of the two people he struck came out of their bodies. He then charged at the two remaining beside him, whipping them full-force with his staff, setting them flying to the river. Seeing there were no remaining people except him and the demon, Constantine just walked for some distance from the house, and then struck the ground behind him with his staff. A pitfall revealed itself after the strike, which is sufficient for Constantine not to be attacked by the demon within that distance.

"I am not your match, even given my mental presence," Constantine quipped. "But when we meet again, I am sure that I will give you the fight that you would never forget."

[Kuroshi Maki]

Seeing the boy take out a few of them was funny to see, he seem to have some skill. But fighting me wasn't something he would have liked. He was backtracking out of a fight and it was funny seeing as he already knew he would fall like those men beside me. As he created a distance between me and him he would feel save enough to talk. Next time we meet he would be able to give me a great fight? Did he think I would not grow stronger as he would.

" You're no fun! Walking away from a fight. "

As I would rush and jump towards the boy I would slam the bottom of the GuanDo on the ground raising the sand up. Looking at him, fighting him now was no fun as his heart wasn't in it. I would wrap my free hand around his cloth raising him up from the ground yet didn't attack. Looking him in his eyes. He didn't seem to scared but he was sure he could not beat me.

"What does a boy like you here for anyway? "

Tossing him back abit.

[Constantine Lawrence]

As Constantine was about to leave the scene, the demon jumped over the pitfall, kicking up sand in the air, and reached towards his clothes, grabbing him from his back, and raised him up before throwing him aside with some words of hate. But Constantine did not seem to budge from all those hate, his eyes bearing a slight hint of sadness. He then stood up from where he fell, holding his staff to help him stand.

"I once thought that I am stronger than anyone else in this world," he said, removing dust off his clothes with his free hand after sheathing his katana. "From where I came from, all of those who surrounded me kept on praising my swordsmanship when they watched me. And so my pride was increased, and with all the people who I had defeated, my pride kept on increasing. Until I saw you."

He then looked towards the demon, and continued on, "I tried to hold up my pride, even insulting you for not focusing much on the battle. But steadily, after watching at how you fight, I lost pride on my skills and the interest to fight a man like you. My strength today is not worthy for your consideration. But this new-found knowledge would guide me to greater strength, and I know for sure that I am ready to face you with determination the next time we meet again."

[Kuroshi Maki]

This kid really, he lost his pride just by seeing me fight? Hell, he had people praising him for what he did and for his skills? Something I never had, I raised myself training and kept on training till this day. Still feeling to weak but never back down from anything. I could fuse my hate to keep going no matter how strong the other warrior. Hell I even fought Tak. probably the strongest growing warrior this land had seen. But he seemed to be sure he could fight me next time.

" Pride? You're pride dropped seeing me fight? Who needs pride when you have strength! People calling you great or whatever whats the meaning if you back down from a fight after seeing the strength of another? All I know is gaining strength.. I don't need people telling me I'm strong or whatever. "

Seeing as the boy wants to leave I just place the Guando on my back.. I could break this kid with my fists if I had to. I would always try to find the strenght to win no matter the odds. But this kid was not me, he seemed to hold things different in live. As he felt strong but after seeing something like me felt weak. There was not winning in fighting an already broken fighter.

" Just make sure next time we meet, you better be ready to die! Because running won't be a option at that point. Weak fool! "

[Constantine Lawrence]

At the very words of the demon, Constantine stopped, and grasped the handle of the handle of his katana. He had found the strength he had needed to continue on, but he was just running away from a fighter he thought he could not defeat in any way? What's the point of saying he had a new-found strength when he can't prove it?

He turned around at the warrior, drawing gently his katana. "At one point, you are right. I had discarded my pride to challenge myself to greater heights to gain strength as you did, but why am I running away while faced with an opportunity to prove myself? 'Weak fool.' I deserve that epithet if I run away now."

At this moment he activated his stance again with his weapons while facing towards the demon. "Now I ask forgiveness for declining your challenge, and challenge you to a battle." His eyes, while still showing sadness, now bears determination to face a challenge.

[Kuroshi Maki]

It seems my words gave the boy some balls, as he turned around and revealed his blade. My grin just grew wider at the sight of his blade. Yet it didn't scream for blood as my Guando did. seeing him taking a fighting stance I knew I would have the chance to test my might against someone with at least some skill, hell they told him back home he was good well let me test that out. I would spin my Guando around having the blade point forwards towards the boy. He would have to face a demon now. Something most people run away from. He was ready to face it and that would gain him some respect but just a little.

" Well well, seems someone have grown some balls. "

I would spin the Guando around fast, and at the point were it was up I would slam it down from the upper right to the lower left, if the boy didn't dodge or block it would cut him in two. Dodging would be a problem because of the range of the weapon combined with my speed but I would be glad to see him try anything. It was just a test to see his speed or strength for that matter.

[Constantine Lawrence]

Seeing the demon spin his guan dao, Constantine stood on alert, still standing with the same stance as before. He studied how the demon wields his weapon as he whirled it, and then, on its raised position, struck it down on Constantine, by the looks on the swing it would come from his upper right in a diagonal manner. The range of the weapon is large, and the swing very powerful that it could split a tree. But Constantine was undaunted by the display.

He charged forward as the weapon swung downwards towards him. As the weapon neared his body, he covered sufficient distance that his body would not be hit using the bladed part of the weapon. He then struck the handle of the guan dao with the staff that he held in his left hand, but as the strength of the demon came with the swing, he winced as the staff collided with the handle of the guan dao. Even the handle of the weapon seemed too much for him, and so before he got crushed by the force of the weapon, he would attempt to get in a slash from his katana, sideways to the stomach of the demon, before moving to his right. He was really a demon; he had great strength to come with his fearful appearance.

[Kuroshi Maki]

As my weapon came down I could see him move forward avoiding the blade of the weapon. It seems this boy had knowledge enough to know taking the blade would be far worse then the handle. To bad for him the force behind it would push him own if it made contact. As the boy knew the strength was far to great to block he seem to make a slash at my stomach. It was a nice attempt I had to give him that but strength wasn't the only thing I held above the boy. My eyes would never leave the motion of the boy. As his shoulders gave away what he was planning I would place my left foot backwards and would spin my body as the Katana would just skim my armor not causing any damage. I could then see the boy move to my left and his right.

" Nice try. "

My Guando would follow his motion as he was now going to my left and I would pull the Guando back as it would hit the boy's shoulder unless he was all of the sudden way faster then me. If my Guando did hit his shoulder it would take flesh and disable the shoulder. If he did dodge then I would pull it all the way back spinning it around for he could not strike at me. I would then take my stance again, blade pointing at him.

[Constantine Lawrence]

As Constantine's slash barely missed its mark, he was evidently irritated. The irritation was increased when the demon started to pull his guan dao back to himself. At this rate, even if he tried to parry it using his staff or evade the weapon, the slash of the bladed part of the weapon would cut his right shoulder, disabling him to use his katana. In this type of situation, a mix of strength and speed should be utilized.

As his katana was still on its sideways position due to the missed slash, he used it to strike the weapon of the demon. As the blade won't budge due to the more superior strength of the demon, he exerted excessive force for his body to move away sidewards to Constantine's left, evading the most part of the blade of the guan dao. But the tip of the blade of the guan dao was too quick for him; the tip managing to rip through the skin of Constantine's right arm before he could evade it.

He then move backwards to gain some space, and then activated his stance again facing the demon, the blade of the demon's guan dao pointing at him. Blood flowed from the cut on his right arm, but it did not seem to affect his hold on the katana. He stood and waited for the demon's next attack.

[Kuroshi Maki]

Blood has been drawn from the boy his arm. It pleased me as I saw the arm turn red of the blood leaving the wound. A grin would just grow wider upon my face. This kid had some balls all of the sudden. He didn't seem like running anymore. He stepped back and waited for me to attack him. My weapon didn't cut deep enough for him to lose his weapon ability but it was just a matter of time before the arm would weaken from blood loss.

I would dash forwards, blade pointing forwards and I would trust it towards his chest, this with great speed at least, almost at the top speed I had. It would cut trough the wind if it had to. If it would hit I would pierce the chest but avoiding the heart or lungs. I didn't feel like killing him just yet. If he did dodge I would turn the blade of the weapon side ways and slam it either in his arm almost taking it of or in his side creating a wound that would force him to stop. But may he by some reason dodge all i would pull it back and place it as before blade pointing forwards.

[Constantine Lawrence]

As Constantine saw the demon thrust his weapon towards him with his full speed towards his chest, he also charged forward, whirling his staff in his left hand for it to gain some momentum. As the weapon head was about to go through Constantine's chest he swung the staff upwards, meeting with the blade of the guan dao. He then exerted some force on his weapon to plummet himself downwards, skidding again towards the demon, his katana poised to strike the demon's stomach. But the attack of the demon shifted its position as it now swung towards Constantine's right, seeking to cut clean on Constantine's waist. Constantine tried to get a slash through on the demon before he was hit by the weapon, but the weapon came too fast, and as he tried to block it using his staff, the force from the demon's swing flung him away to the left, setting him tumbling until he hit a tree nearby the house. As his body hit the tree, Constantine coughed up some blood. It was evident that his internal organs became affected by that impact, but still Constantine rose up, and struggling to keep himself standing, still activated his stance, and again waits for the next attack of the demon.

[Kuroshi Maki]

It seems the boy held some speed and was able to get under the Guando, If I really slashed the blade of the GuanDo his staff would have been cut in two but as it was a trust it held his own against the blade. But as I already saw something like this coming I was already moving again and lucky for me fast enough, that way the katana would not meet his mark as he used it to block the staff of the Guando. The force behind it slammed the boy against a three. He was tough seeing him get back up. But I knew he was near its limits as it was just pure guts that kept him up.

I would dash forwards blade once again point forwards, but knowing the blade would kill the boy I would spin it around not having the backside pointing forwards at the boy. Seeing as the boy had two weapons his chances of blocking were higher then holding one but also he had no free hands. As I came in range but still out of the boy's range I would trust it forwards again but this time not just once I would trust it forwards multiple times but in a motion that was unpredictable and would hit anywhere from stomach,face,shoulders,chest and so on.

[Constantine Lawrence]

Seeing the demon charge yet again Constantine braced himself for another attack. But this time it was something that he could not evade, as the demon used his weapon to deal multiple thrusts on him. The only thing that he could do was to blunt the strikes of the opponent using his two weapons, and when he found n opening, he would steel himself to make another shot at striking the demon.

This he endeavored to do, as he set the staff and the katana at his front. As the strikes came towards him he used his staff and his katana to shield himself from the strikes his body being hit at nonvital places by the knockback of the weapons. The strikes kept pouring, but he stood on, shielding himself from the strikes, weathering the storm until he saw the sun. He then noticed an opening to his right, where the demon seemed to be unguarded while he issued his attack. On one moment when the strikes somewhat slowed their pace, he drew out his right arm, and then used the arm which held the katana to again attempt a strike on the demon. But as more punishment he took from shielding himself from the continuous strikes, his body gave way, and as the strikes died down, he coughed up more blood. But it must not end here, he thought, as the katana he was holding gave a final swing towards the demon before it dropped to the ground, along with its owner, with a slump to the ground.

[Kuroshi Maki]

The boy did had a strong backbone as he pushed forwards into my attacked. Even if he did get hit he kept going forwards. I did felt some respect for him as he was trying to give it all like I always had done. As he came closer and closer I would hit harder and before he could make his swing the weapon dropped and so did the boy. Spinning my Guando around and slamming the blade next to the boy his head I would stop and not kill him. He earned himself another shot another day.

" You got guts, I give you that! But you're pride will only get you so far. Next time I will kill you. So you better grow stronger from this day on and use it as a second chance. "

I would turn around and walk away, the boy his wounds were not going to kill him. He was just pumbeld with some minor injuries. I would walk back to my horse and would take my leave at the edge of the river and keep following it.

[Oda Nobunaga]

Thought it was going to be a battle of dialogue for a little while there.

Both participants receive +1 Exp.