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Those Aren't Skeletons- Demon Lords 1F (Cross, Alice, Ayumi)
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Post by Bonetrousled? on Mar 7, 2020 4:25:17 GMT
The Kimeramon's knees buckled to the ground at Solomon's command, cutting his grasping tendrils short as they looked back towards Dorothy for a second pass. If the witch was afraid to find out what they were made of, she'd be spared the worst of it. Instead, the crimson tentacles splayed harmlessly on the floor, writhing at uneven intervals. Dorothy wouldn't really feel any pain from the missed attack, even if a splatter of red stained her leg.
However, she would feel ever-so-slightly peckish.
The way Solomon's attack worked was perfectly clear. If a Digimon had remorse, he would freeze where he stood. If it regretted nothing, it could move without issue. Yet somehow, Kimeramon had settled into a grey area between the two. His right knee had completely fallen, so stiff that one would assume it was attached to a cadaver. So, too, had his shoulders and face stopped, leaving him frozen in mid roar. However, his forearms and left leg continued to move, pawing at the ground in desperate attempts at grinding its tremendous body forward. There didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason behind which parts of Kimeramon stopped and which continued: its chest stopped heaving, yet even its hair continued to twitch. In this state, it couldn't exactly answer Dorothy or Solomon's questions. Yet in lieu of these it continued to make strangled rasping noises, almost as if forcing itself to breathe.
However, despite the struggle, it was slowly dragging itself forward.
~~~~
If Alice was expecting arcane secrets, demonic revelations, or plans for world domination, she'd be a little bit disappointed. However, what she had in her hands was actually a bit more precious than any of those. The words "Hey Diary" right on the first page made that all too clear.
Hey Diary,
Yeah, yeah, I know. Big tough Impmon's got one of these. Yuck it all up, will ya? Get it all out of your system already! Look, we both know I've got trouble paying attention sometimes. So this is a good way of helping keep my head in the game, you dig? It ain't gonna be all about my feelings or all that crap. So don't even get any ideas!
Anyway, guess this is just me starting this all off. Maybe I'll come back to it later.
-Impy
Most of the pages were perfectly banal accounts of the then-Impmon's day. Usually they talked about him getting into scraps (often losing), impressing local Digimon (through rather exaggerated accounts), or talking about things he wished he did differently during his day. However, a few had more substantial information behind them.
Hey Diary,
Justimon's in town again. And people call me a showoff? Sheesh, this guy can't stop talking about himself for five seconds! Sure, he's "humble" about it, but he ain't fooling me. Got one hell of a scarf, though. Maybe I'll get one like that someday. Anyway, I'm gonna find out what makes everyone so crazy about him and do it at least twice as good. You'll see!
-Impy
Hey Diary,
Me and the gang (That's right! Got a crew now. Jealous?) are really making some moves! Whenever we're strolling through Terminus, you can bet people get out of our way. Well, the little ones, at least. A Cyclomon tossed me through a window when I tried telling him to pick on someone his own size. But you don't mess with my boy Flame and expect to get off easy, y'hear? Once I'm a Devimon, that big, dumb arm of his is gonna be so broken!
-Impy
Hey Diary,
We're totally getting noticed. Justimon told me to have a good day. Me! I even looked around to make sure there was nobody behind me. He might be a sap, but he's a sap everyone loves. If he's going out of his way to talk to me, I guess that means I'm the new big shot in town. And I'm not even fully grown yet. At this rate I'll be running this town some day!
-Impy
P.S. Never mind, he says that to everyone. Stupid nice people. At least with jerks, you know where you stand.
Hey Diary,
You know the cure to bit rot? Heh. Figured you wouldn't. Stupid book. Yeah, Flame's not doing so hot. He keeps trying to tell me it's gonna be okay, but, shit. Each day, he's looking a little smaller. Pretty sure he'll be a Koromon again before he knows it. It's a fucked up thing to do, right? Just lie to your friend like that? There's gotta be some way I can help him.
-Impy
Hey Diary,
Broke into MaloMoytismon's mansion today. I'll update you later. Probably.
-Impy
There were still many pages left, several of which had tantalizing bookmarks sticking out from the margins. However, a notice stood between this entry and all of the later ones.
BUZZ OFF, PEEPERS! THIS AIN'T FOR YA.
SCRAM ALREADY.
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Post by Alice Alexandria on Mar 7, 2020 5:47:55 GMT
"Come on... Don't make this any harder than it needs to be. Just answer us 'n it'll all be okay." The hunger is something Dorothy notices rather quickly, but disregards for the time being. It's strange... Not something she expected to experience right now, in this rather tense moment. This hideous creature might be doing something to her head. Maybe it's just stress, the witch thinks to herself... This creature is unlike anything she's ever seen before, after all. She keeps a spell ready just in case it makes another move, and she looks to Solomon. "The moment ya can't hold it any longer is when I'll get to attacking. Just say the word!" The sick feeling in her stomach causes her mind to wander, not to normal places but to topics a bit more... Food related.
Maybe she just didn't have a good dinner before the party, who knows...
The emerald haired woman smirks as she reads through he journal, getting increasingly interested despite the anxiety of this. Her curiosity gnaws at her patience, flipping to the forbidden passages without even considering it. If only she had her notebook, she chuckles to herself at the thought of recording these entries separately for later speculation. Dorothy has it, though, so for now she's confined to just reading. The passages that stick out to her seem... Odd. Some sort of degenerative Digimon disease? An Impmon determined to save their friend? An attempt to get into a powerful Digimon's lair? A hero who doesn't really care? All of it strikes her as intriguing, if not outright confession-like in nature. "I don't have much time, but I need to figure this out quick... Before this thing does anything dangerous."
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Post by Ayumi on Mar 11, 2020 15:16:55 GMT
The Darkdramon's eyes darted back and forth between the two halves of the Kimeramon. What in the name of the Sovereigns was going on? This beast was, evidently, of two minds, quite literally. Still, he held his ground. He told Dorothy through gritted teeth: "Something seriously wrong is going on. Hold your fire still. I feel there is an innocent soul in the crossfire here." He then pointed his lance at the shambling, snarling half that continued to move. His inexpressive face did him well to mask his nervousness. He was terrified of harming what he felt was an innocent victim. "Cease your possession, demon, or I shall burn you from the inside out." He could act, but he was frozen by indecision. Instead, he continued to threaten the demonic being.
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Post by Bonetrousled? on Mar 17, 2020 2:06:16 GMT
Yo, Diary!
You wouldn't believe it. That crazy old coot's actually onto something. He told me he could give me some of his power, use it to get stronger. Didn't believe him at first. Then he picked up a Chuumon and turned it into some kind of freaky metal rat-ball like it was nothing! Said a bunch of other stuff too, but honestly? He had me at power. So you know I had to take that offer. And y'know what? Look at me now!
-Beelzemon.
The journal page had a shirtless selfie of Beelzemon attached, flexing his newly form-shifted muscles. He didn't quite look like the Beelzemon Alice had met yet. He was a good bit scrawnier, but also younger and fresher. The slight bags behind his eyes and world-weariness to his smile hadn't quite set in yet. And to think this was only at the halfway point.
As Alice continued to read, Kimeramon continued to struggle. Its wrists strained as forearm and upper arm fought one another, making every inch of movement agony. Yet midway through this approach, it stopped and turned to Solomon. It was blind, yet the heroic Digimon would feel dozens of eyes staring back at him as Kimeramon's "gaze" held fast.
Yo, Diary!
Been running with Justimon lately. He's actually pretty cool when you get to know him. I'm totally tougher, though. I'll be gunning for his number one spot in no time. Flame can't really keep up these days, but fuck, man. What am I supposed to do? He didn't take the deal, and MaloMyotismon's not all about second chances.
-Beelzemon.
Yo, Diary!
Beat a BanchoLeomon for his turf today. Justimon ain't a fan, but what does he know? Absorbing that chump's data felt great! I bet I could do anything now. I could even ask out that Sakuyamon from the good side of the tracks. I know she's been eyeing me lately.
Wait. No time for distractions. That data thing gives me an idea.
-Beelzemon.
The Kimeramon shook its head, as if trying to remembered something, before looking at Solomon and laughing uproariously. It swung around like a demon possessed, clutching its head from the sheer agony of what it was doing. And yet, it still laughed, dozens of voices swirling into a single chorus of amusement.
Yo, Diary!
It worked! Cyclomon didn't know what hit him. Not only's the ass taken care of, but now my buddy Flame's got a sturdy new core to hold himself up with. I don't think he knows what I did, but shit, what am I gonna do? Rain on his parade and tell him the truth? MaloMyotismon gave me a miracle cure. That's all the truth he's gotta know.
-Beelzemon.
Diary,
I, uh. Don't think it's working too good. Flame's starting breaking down again. And now he's starting to look all weird. Getting this helmet over his eye, and one arm's getting bigger than the other. Don't think he took to the data like I've been. But I'm sure it was just a bum set. Maybe if I find someone else . . . hold this page.
PS: Three times. No luck. Miko's gotta help though, right? We're hitting a year, damnit, that means something!
-Beelzemon.
Finally, the Kimeramon settled down, before pointing a long, taloned finger at Solomon. "Po . . . ssess?" it asked, another raspy chuckle building in its throat. It shook its head, planting itself firmly into the ground with all fours to avoid losing its focus again.
Diary,
I fucked up. She didn't get it. Fuck, I'm an idiot. She got all freaked out, too. Said she was gonna tell somebody. Tell Justimon. Tell the city watch. Pray to the goddamn Sovereigns and tell them. You agree I had to do it, right? I really had to? Usually the data tastes way better than this. Something's rotten here. I know it.
-Beelzemon.
Diary,
I knew it'd come down to me and Justimon eventually. And I knew who'd come out on top in the end. If you're reading this: first of all, how many times do I gotta tell you to buzz off already? But second of all, know this is my town now. Nobody's gonna get in my way. Nobody's gonna stop me from fixing Flame. And most of all, nobody's gonna take me what to do.
PS: That arm thing he does really comes in handy. Should've done this years ago.
-Beelzemon.
Occasionally, Kimeramon started to revert again. The intellect left his stance, and he hunched over like a feral beast. However, each time he did so he impaled himself with a claw, forcing a few more moments of rationality. All the while he continued to drag himself, slowly, inevitably advancing towards Solomon. By the end of his trek, he was so close that hot breath rained down on the poor Digimon's face.
"Not . . . me. Not . . . anymore . . ." With those words, he loomed there, holding up his tremendous bulk and "staring" Solomon down.
Diary,
You know how they say it's boring at the top? Well, turns out they lied. All this time I thought I was king shit around here, but someone's been holding out on me. Turns out MaloMyotismon just gave me a drop of what he's been packing. And I don't take kindly to getting lied to. So I went over to have a little talk with him.
Said something about how he was eternal. How he'd be back, one way or another, and I'd regret this. I told him to take a long hike off a short bridge. And you can bet I drained his data to the last drop.
He had some kinda mark on him. Started freaking out when it faded. Was damn near a wreck when he saw it etching itself on me. Guess I've got his power now. And I guess that means it's time to make a true name for myself. We had a good run, old friend. But where I'm not going, I'm not gonna need one of these.
-Gluttony.
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Post by Alice Alexandria on Mar 18, 2020 8:17:09 GMT
It all makes sense to her now, the sheer weight of the situation being hard to even comprehend. A corruption seeping further and further into someone desperate until there's nothing left... But this. The monster kept in the basement, this abomination. "...I can't believe it. This monster, Beelzemon, both of them have no idea what they're doing..."
Alice's heart metaphorically drops into her stomach, and she closes the book, having realized her answers. This is unthinkable, she thinks to herself. The actions that transpired are enough to make her feel legitimately sick for the first time upon setting foot in the Digital World. The concept of a Digital disease, an illness, is unsettling, and yet, something the emerald haired lady should have anticipated as something that existed from the start. She takes steps away from the wretched thing before knowing what she must do.
Dorothy is as still as she can be, a hand pointed and ready to unleash her sorcery at a moment's notice, and yet more and more afraid as time goes on. That strange feeling within her eats away at her focus, the witch's eyes darting from place to place as if distracted more than afraid. It's strange, a sensation unlike anything she's felt before, yet wholly unwelcome. "C'mon! Answer me already! I ain't having any of this monster talk from you!"
When Alice comes out of the room, she's holding the book in her hands, closed and somewhat shaky, but her words are different. They're sympathetic but cold, less like she's ready to order Dorothy to fight and more like someone's mother, sternly talking to a child that doesn't know better more than anything else. Once she's in between her friends and the beast, she speaks.
"I know at least one of you in there. Flame, answer me. If not, I'll gladly accept the words of anyone else willing to talk." She stares down the creature with a glare beyond any kind of fear, a gamble on her life. "You're sick, aren't you? And your... Friend... Thinks he knows what's best for you. But it hurts. It hurts more than it ever has before because what he's done doesn't heal you, it only numbs the pain, only to make it worse later."
"Hey, Greeny!?" Dorothy's aim changes to target her own Tamer, a grimace of pure agitation on her face as she shouts. "The heck are you doing, you're gonna get killed by doing something this reckless 'n stupid and that's my thing!"
Alice looks back to the party with a frown, indicative of her mood. "...I read Gluttony's journal. I know who Beelzemon is, what this monster is... Not everything, but enough to understand what is going on. And that it needs to stop at the source more than anything else."
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Post by Ayumi on Mar 18, 2020 14:48:29 GMT
Solomon's resolve was unflinching. Inside, he was full do dread, paralysed with indecision. But he stood his ground. To flinch was to lose. To lose was to endanger everyone else. His lance continued to point at this demon. ...if it even was a demon anymore. It...wasn's posessed anymore? Was he too late? No, it could not be. He had to act. Any more waiting, and things would end up beyond recall. "...if you refuse to answer us clearly, then I must make a decision. And a knight's purpose is to protect. The innocent soul inside of you...I apologise to it. May you find peace." His lance was cloaked in black light, giving it an edge that split the air, and filled the basement with the smell of ozone. He raised it, ready to bring it down, but head Alice speak. It made him hesitate. Doubt filled his mind once more. He froze in place, lance raised. "...speak, fast."
Solomon uses Risen Demon Lance: Similar to the Gigastick Lance of other Darkdramon, this Darkdramon can also slash with its lance by energizing the blade, allowing it to engage in close-range sword combat.
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Post by Bonetrousled? on Mar 22, 2020 18:20:21 GMT
The Kimeramon roared in a cacophony of different voices, each garbled together and blending into a singing droning sound. Hundreds of different emotions lined each vocalization, relief, frustration, confusion, fear, anger, and pure hunger blending together into an indistinct mass. Occasionally the Kimeramon took a wild swipe in the general direction of Solomon, Dorothy, or even one of the humans. However, each time it did so, the offending arm twitched, forcing it to pull back the strike. It looked in every direction, as if searching for explanations painted on the walls. It couldn't answer Solomon's demand. It couldn't answer Alice's plea. It couldn't even respond to Dorothy's confusion. It was just as lost as they were.
Finally, it gestured to its throat with a single, sharp claw. It rasped desperately, but it couldn't quite muster up the will to speak. Had it lost the control over its speech that it once had? It shook its head, as if emphasizing this fact.
It then pointed a single finger at Solomon, the one who had made him kneel. The one who had allowed him to speak. It stared meaningfully at the knight, just waiting to see what he would do.
He could only hope that he was sufficiently understood. With the way that the knight's lance sparked, a miscommunication could mean deadly consequences . . .
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Post by Alice Alexandria on Mar 29, 2020 20:20:49 GMT
"...I need to get through to this creature. Deep down it's far from the abomination it looks like, and what I saw in Beelzemon's journal is proof." Alice looks a bit desperate, or perhaps more than a bit, considering how utterly exhausted she is of things. "...Solomon, would you be willing to help me with this theory?" The green haired woman is uncertain, but she knows she has to try and at least suggest the option to the group. "It was talking before, I need it to understand me."
"...So lemme get this straight. You're sayin' this ravenous, confusin', scary monster is actually another victim of this!?" Dorothy doesn't buy it one bit, her brow furrowing as she gets increasingly tense and irritated at pretty much everyone and everything. "So who isn't suffering here?"
Her Tamer just shakes her head, and doesn't give her Digimon partner a response, Alice's attention firmly on the beast and Solomon as she backs off a bit, unwilling to be too close to any potential savagery. Perhaps she's just stubborn and reckless. Perhaps she's onto something. And to her, there's only one way to know for sure. "We need to at least try this."
"...Gah, all this arguing is makin' my head hurt. Should we listen to her?"
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Post by Ayumi on Mar 31, 2020 15:22:49 GMT
Solomon shuddered, not at the display of despair from the Kimeramon, but at Alice's explanation. It was dawning on him that he had almost hurt someone entirely innocent. He thanked the sovereigns that he had held back. He quietly nodded at Alice's plea. "If this one is truly a victim too, then it is my duty to help. I shall try my best." Thankfully, for the Kimeramon, Solomon was a very empathetic person, in spite of his monotony, and his facial paralysis. He watched it, but soon realized what it meant. "...you cannot speak any more? Something is keeping you from it? My eyes cannot unleash their might just yet, but if I do, then it will harm you, not the beast that is doing this to you...how can we free you? How can we -help- you?" He was not about to -lower- his lance, but he was not moving it any closer. The black light vanished, as well. "Perhaps the lady with green hair can help you, better than i can."
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