Izanagi Trials (Haji)

[Oda Nobunaga]

The water he collected seemed to make almost no difference! As he threw it at the fire creature, the water evaporated almost instantly, and the ball of light crashed against its chest! It roared in anger, ripping through several huts before slamming its fiery tail into Haji's arm and tossing him into a nearby hut!

The water began to pool into an unrealistic form, and it began to grow!

[Morei Haji]

My eyes widened in shock as the water was ineffective, and the creature sent me flying back into a hut. Grunting and getting to my feet, I was glad my arms took no damage.

"EVERYONE! RETREAT! THIS IS ABOUT TO GET BAD!" I would shout at the top of my lungs, calling my doppleganger out. Together we charged at the fiery beast, blades drawn. He attempted to distract it from the front, aiming for its heart, while I circled around from behind, planning on decapitating it.

The growing water was worrying me, but I had to take this thing out now before it could harm anyone else.

[Oda Nobunaga]

The strikes the two would make seemed to be effective, to a degree! The monster shrunk back in pain, before shooting its arms out to knock both Hajis away!

The water would be pulled from everything in the ground, so that it was dry, and all of the rain began hitting a single spot. It formed a single entity, a being of pure water! It, too, began to wreak havoc on the village, on the exact opposite side from the fire demon!

[Morei Haji]

Being sent back from the monster, I grimaced, looking up at the water monster. This really wasn't happening. What the hell was this? King of the Monsters?

My doppleganger produced both whip swords, while I pulled out one. Together, we swung them at the fire demon, planning on grabbing him and throwing him at the water monster. At the same time, my free hand channeled energy around the water monster, planning on trapping him in a dome, and hopefully sending him flying right back at the fire demon. It was a strain on my spirit, but I had to do it for these people. I vowed to protect them.

"GET THE HELL... OUT OF HERE!" I would shout, mustering every bit of energy that I could.

[Oda Nobunaga]

As Haji threw the fire demon, the water demon would shriek in pain as its body began to evaporate. It quickly acted, however, shooting through Haji's spirit barrier and slamming into him in a small, controlled tidal wave!

[Morei Haji]

"Son of a..."

As the water demon pushed me back with its tidal wave and I struggled to find my bearings, my doppleganger would act. Using his whips, he would aim for my hand, wrapping it around my wrist as I held onto the whip tightly, and he would pull me out of the water. Sliding to my feet, he would jump into the air, creating a spear of light energy, tossing it at the monsters. He planned to impale both of them together, while at the same time, I channeled my light into both hands, raising them and attempting to erect a wall on either side of the creatures, bringing my hands in in an attempt to further smash them together.

[Oda Nobunaga]

The two creatures slammed into each other, and the water demon continued roaring in pain! It would have been dead, however the rain restored it to its full size, and it angrily swept through half the village in a tidal wave of rage!

The Fire demon whipped its arms in a circle angrily, setting several huts in a blaze that could not be doused by the rain!

[Morei Haji]

"You've gotta be kidding me..."

I looked on tiredly at these seemingly immortal demons. There was no beating him, there would be too many casualties. Panting, I looked over at my doppleganger, and he nodded. He began to run away from the village, grabbing both of the demons with his whip swords and channeling light energy into them to strengthen them, attempting to drag them out of the village.

At the same time, I began to run from house to house, shouting. "IT'S TOO DANGEROUS HERE! EVERYONE, RETREAT! RUN IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!"

I would do this, ensuring I would get all of the survivors out. I would not leave until every last person was gone, including Katsumi. I would be sure that she left. My blades would be held tightly as I stuck to the back. If I could get all of the villagers out, maybe I could fight without worry, and hopefully away from their homes.

[Oda Nobunaga]

The villagers would begin to run, and as they did, the clouds would part and the sun would become visible! The rain was slowing down! Light-Haji was also successfully dragging the creatures, though they continued whipping their elemental limbs furiously from side to side, hoping to destroy something!

[Morei Haji]

Ensuring the villagers were safe, I would do one last check to make sure everyone was out. Katsumi was hesitant, but I assured her it was something I had to do. I felt like I was being tested again, maybe this was.

I looked up, seeing the sun become visible through the clouds. Yes, this would be perfect. My doppleganger seemed to pick up on my thoughts, and he began to drag the monsters into the sunlight, while my own hands shot out to try and encase the creatures in a dome of light to ensure they didn't cause too much more damage. Once in the sunlight, I would smash them together again, my doppleganger aiding me the best he could.

[Oda Nobunaga]

The water demon would scream, evaporating in the sunlight and from the fire demon's heat, though he would also find that his intense use of his power was weighing on him heavily! The fire demon broke free from his hold and smashed a hand into his doppelganger, sending it flying own the valley! It roared at Haji, weakly charging at him, arms extended, sweeping across the village in a tidal wave of flame!

[Morei Haji]

"Oh man, that took a toll on me..."

I collapsed to my hands and knees as the water demon evaporated. However, the fire one still remained, and he swatted my doppleganger far away. Holding my hand out and recalling him for whatever last bit of strength I could gain from my spirit, I climbed back to my feet, gritting my teeth and panting. Prolonged use of my Musou to this regard was tough, and right now, I had to rely on my own strength to protect everyone and their homes.

"Time to finish this..."

Grabbing my dual blade and conjoining them, I would charge at the fire demon, jumping up at him and sending the entirety of my blade into its skull downwards, planning on impaling it straight through. I was tired, but it looked much more weak.

[Oda Nobunaga]

Haji would find the demon had no skull, and the blade went through pure fire! Its hands would slam into Haji, before throwing him to the ground!

[Morei Haji]

Damn it, I failed yet again. Gritting my teeth as he slammed into me, I would be thrown to the ground. At the same time, my doppleganger would appear once more, jumping from my body and planning on impaling the demon straight in the chest with his blade of light. At the same time, I would recover as quickly as possible, coating my own weapon in light energy and attempting to slice the demon from his head and down the middle, wanting to cut him in two. I had to end this quick. My strength was waning, fast.

[Oda Nobunaga]

Haji's maneuver was successful! The demon would be cut in two, dissipating, though Haji would feel the strain from overusing his Musou as he did! He would collapse on the ground, unconscious!

By the time the boy woke up, the entire village seemed to be perfectly fine. Every home was okay. In addition, no one was homeless.

[OoC: Trial 2 of 10 passed. +3 Exp.]

[Oda Nobunaga]

[OoC: Trial 3 begun. Lock stats in your first post.]

Haji, being a mercenary, would have recently received a job to help transport some goods from the fief of Awa, to the fief of Kii. He is on a ship, and they are about to reach the mainland, though the sea is in a rage, and a storm is wrecking the sails.

[Morei Haji]

(OOC: Str: 15 (35+6) | Dex: 22 (51+6) | Con: 15 (72) | Wis: 24 (33) | Spr: 35 (43) )

Odd jobs. Sometimes they really were ones that I'd rather not do, having to take me so far from the one that I loved. That said, the pay was usually more than generous, and I knew it would make Katsumi happy that she wouldn't have to work so hard for a little while longer.

A storm soon came upon our ship as we were beginning to near the mainland, and I was standing atop the deck, doing my best with my Musou to attempt to hold the sails together, but it didn't seem to be going as I planned...

[Oda Nobunaga]

"HALF-SAILS! QUICKLY, MEN!"

The captain and crew roared, pulling in to half-sail, trying to keep the boat from going too fast. That was a death wish in this weather. Haji would be ushered along with a group of three pirates and handed a rope. Using all of his strength, he would be requested to pull on that rope. "It's life or death, man."

[Morei Haji]

Ahh, crap. Physical labor. Oh well, I wasn't paid for nothing. I was considerably stronger than the rest of these men, and I would pull with all of my might, hoping that it would do something noteworthy. But still, I felt like something was about to go horribly wrong. I had a very ominous feeling about this.

[Oda Nobunaga]

The waves would bring the ship down fast, just as one passed underneath it! The hull would crash into a large land spike, protruding from the momentarily shallower water! A large hole would rip into it, and it would fill relatively quickly! The pressure was so immense that the sails were ripped from the sailors' hands before they could tie them down, and, returning to full-sails, the ship crashed into the shore!

The majority of the men on the deck would make it out with no problems. But, there was a woman - one of the sailors' wife - and she was stuck at the doorway leading to below the deck! It seemed to be torn to a point it could not be opened without breaking it, and parts of it were stabbing the woman just above her stomach! From below the deck, Haji coul hear several men shouting, "Help us! We're stuck down here!"

[Morei Haji]

I don't know what happened... in an instant, it seemed like everything had turned around. The ship had crashed, and I was thrown from my feet, landing against the wall and grabbing the railing so I didn't fall overboard. Struggling to get my bearings, I saw that most of the people had gotten off of the ship, but there was a woman caught in the doorway leading to below the deck... and there were people trapped underneath!

"Oh no..."

I ran over to her quickly, wanting to pull her out, but I saw the wood stabbing her in the stomach... I couldn't move her without possibly killing her... but the people underneath... I sent some of my light energy past the woman, seeping in as little by little. In time, my doppleganger would appear on the otherside, and I would tell him. "Try to help the others get out... if you have to, make an exit."

He nodded and proceeded to go down below deck, while I examined the woman's predicament in closer detail... if I moved the wood, she could possibly bleed out. But we didn't have too much time before the whole ship went down.

[Oda Nobunaga]

Haji's doppelganger was able to get below deck, but the woman and the men were still in trouble. Removing the wood was likely to kill her, but save the men underneath the deck. But it seemed their was a slab of stone directly behind her, pressing her into the wood, that pierced the ship when it crashed. This stone could be moved, and in doing so, would save the woman's life. But, it would take too long, even with the help of his doppelganger, and the men under the ship would drown.

[Morei Haji]

Oh man, it sounded like there were a lot of people down under the deck... seeing the slab of stone underneath the woman, I bent down, attempting to pull it out. Struggling and pulling on it the best I could, the thing barely even moved, it was much too heavy, and it would take a very long time to get it moved. This could ensure the safety of the woman, but the men underneath the deck would drown by the time I could move this...

Damn it, what now, Haji? You always prided yourself on doing the right thing, but what was right in this moment? I could not value one life over another, and for sure, saving the people underneath would mean I saved multiple lives at the cost of one, but...

"What am I supposed to do..."

I bit down on my lip hard, clenching my fists tightly. If only I was stronger, I could move this rock fast enough to save the woman AND the men... unless... I called my doppleganger to the other side, and he began to push from the bottom of the rock while I tried to pull it myself. Still hardly moved. Damn it... I fell to my knees, feeling powerless. Were lives really going to be forfeit again because of my own weakness? I looked to the sky for a sign.

"Izanagi... what should I do...?"

I cursed myself. Even now, doubts plagued my mind. Even now, I was too weak to save everybody. I wished so badly that Katsumi were here with me, to tell me everything would be okay, to give me the guidance I so desperately sought...

"I'm... I'm sorry..."

I stood up, going to the woman, placing my hands on the wood. I wasn't planning on sacrificing her life, no, I planned to save them all if I could. She looked horrified, but I grit my teeth, preparing for her screams as I began to move the wood up, pulling the woman out when I could. This would ensure that the sailors underneath would be able to get out and save themselves from drowning.

My doppleganger would usher them out quickly, making sure no one was still trapped, while I quickly used my light energy on the girl's wounds, making sure that I could close them the best I could so she didn't bleed out. I needed to keep this up until she could get proper medical attention...

[Oda Nobunaga]

As Haji ripped the wood up, the woman shrieked in pain. The wood tore through her skin, and blood shot over the boy and the deck. By the time he got it all up so the men could get out, he would find that the woman happened to be pregnant. The men were able to escape, thanks to his efforts, but the woman was quickly bleeding out. The light Haji pressed against her skin would not be strong enough to stop the bleeding, unless he was willing to crush and kill the baby inside of her.

[Morei Haji]

"Oh god..."

I wanted to throw up, realizing what I had done. This woman was pregnant... I lessened the amount of light I placed on her to relieve some of the pressure, but tried to keep on enough to keep as much of her blood inside of her body as possible. I lifted her up in my arms, starting to get off of the ship too, keeping that light energy lightly pressed to her. I approached everyone else.

"Is anyone a doctor? Please... please, she needs help!"