Welcome to Gaia! ::

It was quiet in the office. the teenaged hunter had indeed been awake, and was taking his shower, even as the girl entered. Turning off the faucet, he stepped out now, drops of water landing on the floor as he got changed. As he was putting on his pants, he heard the phone ring, and kicked the door open, running his hands through his hair to dry it off. Moving to his desk, he took a swing with his leg at the chair, sending it up as he took his seat, his feet kicking the surface of the desk, knocking the phone off the hook. Reaching out to one side, the teenager grasped the reciever, and answered in the usual way. Sorry, it's not open for business yet.

Laughing between words, he tossed it towards the desk, the reciever landing onto the hook again with a few quick clacks, the teenaged hunter now reaching for some pizza. Raising it to his lips, he didn't seem at all like he was an expert in the paranormal, but more like a punk kid sent to watch the store while the real owner was away. Shows just how popular we are anyways...haven't even picked a name for this joint yet, and already we're getting calls. Still keeping his laughter, he turned to the girl on the pool table, swallowing his mouthful before speaking again. If you're here to use the bathroom, I ain't stoppin' ya. The john's in the back

Walking around the city a young man of twenty came across a shop that wasn't open yet; however, he senced someone with almost the same unique power that he had. Pushing on the door he walked in and noticed two people. The girl was sittin on the pool table while the guy was at the desk. Staying silent for a few minutes he finally spoke to the other guy. It seems we have something similar...although I can't quite place it at the moment. At any rate, would it be alright to stay the night?.

Looking up from his desk again, with his usual smile, he twisted to see the girl, then shifted back as he listened to her, turning his glance to the male. Lowering his head, he seemed to give off an 'I-got-my-eye-on-you' type of glance, the young man taking another slice that lay by his feet. Speaking now to the other male, the teenager seemed to have a voice fitting for him, yet wrapped it with a dark aura. Rina please, the joint's always open for transients who need to crash. It's if they're buyin' anything, or hirin' us, that we're shut down. the teenager nodded as he spoke, gesturing to the sofa before turning his face to him, steel eyes glistening slightly as he spoke again. Yeah you can crash here, just no makin' a habit of it. Oh, and ya might want to be careful with pulling that thing out, some of the springs are screwed up.

Moving over to the young man, he lowered his hand to his pocket, fiddling a little as though he were searching. Bringing it out, he held a sack of 20 red crystals to the man at the desk. I'm sorry, but this seems to be all I have right now. I hope I can afford the stay he explained. As he asked his question, he was moving to the sofa to pull it out.

Nodding, the teenager caught the the sack as it was dropped, rising to a stand, a smile crossing his face as he heard the other male's words. Don't worry 'bout the rent, dude. he told him, his smile fading from his face as the phone rang again. Shaking his head from a bit of frustration, he couldn't help but laugh as he walked to the front of the desk, picking up the reciever. If you're calling about the long distance... Before he could finish though, a garbled voice was on the other end, the teenager nodding occasionally as it would stop. Look man, I don't know who you think we are, but dog problems are none of my... the voice continued, the teenager nodding again before tossing it back on the reciever.

Looking around, he moved towards his weapons rack, grabbing the closest one to him, which happened to be a shortened scimitar, before starting outside. Halting, he glanced over his shoulder to the other male, and then to the girl as he spoke again. 'Ey dude, ya mind holdin' down the fort while me and the girl are gone? Seems some bozo's whining about a 3 headed mutt terrorizing the children at the local skate rink.

Of course...the teenager said, bringing them from his back holsters, spinning them before putting them back into place. you didn't think I'd forget these two did you? Realizing he had brought the wrong blade, he laughed a little as his body seemed to glow, emitting a strange scarlet tint as what looked like a skeleton's head was shown against the boy's back, the form lengthening to reveal the full length of the blade as he headed outside again. Placing a gloved hand on the surface, the door shone the same scarlet glow, as he passed through, out onto the streets. Glancing about left and right, he soon found the place he was going, and started to run to his right, his head over his shoulder as he called to the girl. If you're still alive back there, gimmie a sign, so I know when to wait up. he laughed. If one didn't know any better, they would definately swear he were just some kid left in charge at this point.

As he watched those two head out he stretched his arms and looked around the office bored out of his mind. Might as well do something, he said at last as he made his way over to the sofa. Sitting down he unsheathed his katana sword and began to sharpen the blade. He had this weapon ever since he was young; yet, he never had given it a name. After he finished sharpening he returned the sword to its sheath and attempted to relax by meditating as he waited for them to return.

Continuing down the street, he noticed the girl was behind, and laughed as he stalled his movement, stopping completely by the tavern so she could catch up to him. Brushing some of his silvery hair from his face, he paced about before walking up the wall, as though it were a normal thing to witness, his hands gripping the ledge of the roof as he flipped himself forwards to a crouch. Still awaiting his 'partner', he seemed to have hidden the fact he was up there, and leaned over the ledge, calling down to her with a wave of his hand. Hey Rina, up here! I figure if we're ever going to make it there in enough time, we need to take to the air, and since you can't fly, we'll do the next best thing, and use the rooftops.

from his place, the teenager then darted to the far edge of the building, and leapt across, his silver hair flowing about his head like he had been shocked, as he landed in a crouch, his hair now a silvery white mess. Laughing, he rose to a stand, and brushed his hair away again before leaning against the chimney, waiting for her. Hope you don't mind heights, cause some of the views are pretty wicked from up here.

As he meditated he began to feel as if he was being watched by someone or something. Getting up he walked around trying to find out where this presence was coming from. Making his way over to the weapons rack he started to admire the various Melee and Long ranged weapons there. This guy must be some sort of collector or he likes mix and matching weapons for damn good combos. he said at last until his eyes fell upon a blade that was somehow different from the rest.

From the rooftop, he laughed at her comment about walking there, and responded with yet another jump to the other rooftops, but finding clues as well. It seemed the closer they got to the skate rink, the more buildings were frozen by something, the teenager dashing to jump again. When he landed this time, the teenager's body fell forwards in a faceplant, sliding to hang on the ledge on the far side, his body sliding to flip him over, so he hung by his hands. Okay... he laughed, letting go, to spring himself back on the rooftop with a backwards flip. Gesturing with a pointing finger, he seemed as though it had all been just a game to him, and continued, his tone somewhat sarcastic as he did. Remind me, when we see this thing, to get it to clean up this s**t before people complain of leaky roofs.

Meanwhile, in the office, things were no better, as once spotted, the weapon the man had set his eyes upon began to hum slightly, the shaft glowing a deep blue in color. Maybe as a warning to him? At any rate, once humming, it soon found him approaching it, and it began to quiver, the blade's orange rivet opening to show a demonic eye once it was all the way. Instantly, almost milliseconds after it was opened, a bright beam of violet force was sent towards the man in a stream, almost like it knew what had happened, and was trying to keep him back.

Jumping back as the energy beam came close to him the young man shook it off and continued to look at the blade mostly the demonic eye. Well that's great.....this thing's got a built in security system to keep me from... he began to say but then he noticed a torn off tag with Old English text on the shaft. What is this!? "To: Michael Nightwind. From:" the rest of the tag was torn off making it illegible. With a look of disbelief he still stared at the blade only with more confusion than before. What the hell!? Michael Nightwind is my name, but I didn't tell either one of them. Who left this for me? Should I take it or not? As he began to ponder more, Michael's curiousity was starting to get the better of him. He finally gave in and reached out toward the weapon.

After moments of sliding, and slipping on the roof, the teenager laughed, as though he had planned that, shooting Rina a stern glare, his steel blue irises changing, as the whole eye was suddenly glowing a deep scarlet red. Raising himself to a stand, he advanced, the ice around them turning to mists, save the piece beneath him, and decided not to scare her after all. Turning his back, he glanced down with a grin, his right leg kicking off the watery gravel. Whoo-hoo! came the boy's response to her as he skidded about the rooftop as a surfer would. Deciding he'd had about enough, he skidded off the rooftop, the boy flipped himself off of it, landing in a crouch on the street as the ice crashed below, shattering in half behind as he stood up. Thanks for the idea Rina, and maybe you could give it a shot. he laughed hopping on one piece.

Still crackling after the blast of energy, the weapon seemed a bit rusted, but as the man touched it, a surge seemed to course, the shaft buzzing, and quivering as though it were afraid. Once finished, the blade pulsed with a shroud of sparks, a brilliant light forcing the office to light up, the blade tossed into the air. Falling now, the shaft was seen as a beautifully finished silver, as the blade held the strength of diamond, combined with a tip even the bat-winged blade beside it would shame away from. Beside it, the tag read as complete, as it read the following message: To Michael Nightwind, from someone you know. May this gift bring you more luck than it has to me.

Walking outside with the scyth on his back Michael began to look around for something to test his new toy on. Finding an old abandoned building about half a block from the office he thought that it would be as good as anything. Grasping the shaft of the Scyth he slashed at the building in a down rightward angle. After the light from the slash faded he looked as the building slowly collapsed onto the ground in a heap of broken debris. Once the dust settled he looked at the destruction and said to himself Now this is what I'm talkin about. Whoever left this for me thanks.

Skidding on the chunk of ice with a kick off his left leg, the teenager slid to a stop outside the arena, only to find the doors open. Curious, he entered inside, brushing back his snowy strands with a tilt of his head before finding the girl standing on one of the bleachers, teasing someone. This didn't seem too exciting, but then a voice sounded from the rink itself, the boy now seeing a massive dog covered in it's icy element, but with three heads. Stop! You may come no farther. it began, each head with a different eye color, and Dante smiled, deciding to tease it as well. Now just why would I go and listen to you, Fido? he asked, his voice playful, as he gestured with a wagging finger to the dog. I mean surely you've seen around you that it's the humans that command the mutts.

Growling, the dog didn't seem to like this boy, and the blue eyed head reared back before speaking again, his tone more animalistic now, and deeper than last time. Insolent pest! You'll regret making a mockery of me. Rearing back again, Dante decided to crash the party, as the dog tried to freeze him, only to hit the windows of the stands. Leaping down, he landed on his toes, twirling on the ice before setting up for another taunt. Gesturing with his hands to calm down, the teenager laughed as he glanced behind him, voicing another insult bomb onto the canine guardian. Down boy...just take it easy, and I'll consider extending your walkie time.

Smiling at himself Michael began to walk back to the office. As he walked the thought outloud Well I got a new weapon and damn I really like it. Now I'll make some better combos with the Scyth, my katana sword, and the two Desert Eagles I got from my father. I better get back to the office before somebody steals something. Walking back into the office he sat down on the couch laid both of his melee weapons beside him for quick aquiring if the need arose. Leaning back he thought Now I wonder what those two are up to right about now.

A man in black had been leaning against the wall for some time now, seemingly camouflaged against the dark stone. His crimson eyes had been following the little battle intently for awhile now, taking in it's every detail. This was almost all new to Niveus, he'd never really fought anything quite as big as Cerberus, the Order of the Sword only had to deal with smaller things like the Hells normally. He thought it would be a good time to make his move however, despite his inexperiance. The man in the blue coat had given him exactly what he needed to make the right impression. In a flash he'd moved across the room and was standing beneath the dog's middle head, a black and red flash as he moved. He held the huge single edged sword in his right hand as if it had just struck something and sure enough a trickle of blood came from the head's thick neck. Another flash of black and he was behind Dante, having placed the Crimson King on his back while Cerberus lost a head.

Dark leathers murmured against one another even as her purposeful stride lengthened -- though her pace slowed enough to leave her prowling. Wanton eyes snapped away from her at a glare sharp enough to stop lightning in its tracks; though she seemed so warm at first glance, her heart beat to such a wild, alien rhythm that few would dream of her save in the throes of nightmare.

It was then that she saw it -- a towering edifice no mortal architect could hope to match. So this was what had drawn her notice? Its side was hidden by debris and destruction -- a strange kind of homage to its forced purpose.

A cruel smirk twisted the stranger's lips upward harshly, amber eyes narrowing in consequence. What purpose? she thought. The barriers have weakened enough to let the shrewd ones pass, and now Temen is stirring. I wonder, will this world stand tall or have its back broken by the swarms?

Surefooted, the woman scaled that pile of ruin, coming close enough to place her hand against the tower's proud side. She could practically feel it pulse with nefarious energies, almost begging to be unleashed. "The seal's weighing on you, sweet, I know," she whispered, almost as if reuniting with a lover. "Just wait. Your time's coming. Wait."

The battle was distant from her. Though she was aware of it, she didn't care. Cerberus would play his part, and whether he lived or died didn't matter. The canine guardian was only a pawn, and Senal would seek out the master's hand -- to see if it was worthy of the appellation.

Twin ambers looked up, and locked onto a balcony perched precariously above. Carefully at first, she quickly adapted to the infamous structure's side. Finding hand- and footholds seemingly without effort, she began her ascension. As she slithered, snakelike, along this strange surface, one thought etched itself unto her mind.

Let the hunt begin.

With the dog disadvantaged, a howl was heard from the other heads as the dog reared up to blast anyone within distance of it, the twins included. Oruuuuuuuuun! You think one head will matter in your demise? With that, it slammed down its paws, the rafters of the arena seemig to drop a load of icicles towards the twin devils, speaking up again. Now you will feel the end come closer Dante, who'd been watching the attack, laughed a little, and dove in a sideways roll to the right, the ice shards crashing behind, to where the stranger stood. Wow, that was a close one poochie, now watch this trick. Now you see me... the teenager said, standing to jump into the air, his body fading from sight as he revealed himself above the dog, Rebellion held high as he fell, taking the dog's blue-eyed head as he landed back on the ice with a twirl...now you don't Another large howl escaped it as the second head was taken, the ice coming slightly faster for the stranger, but Dante didn't seem to care. As far as the teen knew, the stranger was trying too hard, and didn't seem worth the hunter's skills.

Coming up with a plan now, he motioned to the girl, as he jumped up a second time, this time bringing out the pistols he was carrying, shooting them off like they had been machine guns. Loud growls were heard as Dante kept up this action, each volley aimed for the creature's eyes, the teenager now with a plan, as he spoke up, but refused to halt his shots. Rina, if you're still alive down there, I got a plan. Just bear with me, and it should work. Dante stopped shooting, but long enough to avoid a blast of icy breath, with another of his vanishing tricks, this time the teen was seen riding on the dog's back, hacking and slashing away. Now then, while I'm busy 'obedience training' this mutt, you can keep the new guy entertained. Now...as for my brother, well...I couldn't really care less, as long as he ain't in my way.

A huge crashing sound behind Niveus alerted him to the giant canine's actions. He span around and watched the silver haired demon slayer rolled out of the way, imitating the move in the opposite direction. He continued to analyse the movements of all he could see and noted the teleport maneouver Dante utilised as well as the ice blast that Cerberus was firing. Niveus dodged this easily by simply leaping high out of the way and then jumping off the wall, shattering the ice he landed on. Crimson eyes followed Dante as he executed his numerous attacks on the demon before them until he was inturrupted Dante's female companion. This was almost too easy. They had to be holding back if this was all they were capable of doing. If they weren't, it was no wonder they were after Sparda's power. He replied almost emotionlessly to Rina's questions, "I'm just a wanderer, much like your red loving friend over there. Also, I'm hardly what you would consider a "newbie". Tell me, is he actually having trouble over there or is he simply trying to stretch the dog's pitiful death out?"

Falling asleep from the boredom he was getting Michael woke up when he heard all the commotion that was going on down the street. Sitting up he said Now who the hell rolled the damn Army tanks into this city!? Better go find out where it's coming from. Jumping to his feet he grabbed his katana sword and his new scyth blade he locked up the shop and began to walk towards the location where he heard all the crashing and rumbling. As he walked he said Well it looks like I'll be able to get some exercise and have some fun after all.

"You think I'm interested in Dante? It's a man named Vergil I'm interested in. More specifically however, it is their father. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a guardian to bypass" Niveus said smoothly, using the tip of his left finger to push her sword away slightly before flashing from sight and reappearing as a blur that slid on the ice Cerberus stood on. As he went underneath the huge dog he put a hand out and fired concentrated on what he'd seen Cerberus do, soon firing a blast of ice from it that froze the door. This pleased him greatly, he didn't know for sure if he could do something on such a large scale, although his other half said it was more than possible with his power. He then rolled and flipped forward, using Crimson King to shatter the frozen doors. Cooly the red blade was slipped onto his back again as he turned to give a little wave to those he was going to leave behind. "Ciao" he said, an insulting tone to his voice, "Be sure to let me know when you finally manage to kill that thing. Hurry up though, I'm pretty sure I don't have any more than a few decades left of my life."

"I take it that was Vergil..." Niveus thought to himself, watching the heads clatter to the floor from where he stood. His view was obscured so he couldn't see everything that occured, but the movement at least he noted. He grinned slightly and turned to the shattered door before walking out, uninterested in sticking around and letting the others catch up with him. The room he walked into was clearly the base of the tower, it's ground floor. He thought, "Truly astonishing" upon looking up and seeing the height of the ceiling in this room. There were breaks in the staircases and cracks in the walls, signs of decay and the internal violence with which the tower rose from the ground. Niveus pressed onward, seeking only to beat the other group to Sparda's power.

"Tch, that clown's catching up. I guess that's the one weakness we have..." Niveus thought, watching as Dante made his way further up. He halted abruptly as he almost ran into Rina. This was most irritating, although he knew that he'd have to let them get ahead in the end. Probably. Still, he couldn't let himself fall behind and become incapable of catching up. That would be highly detrimental. He'd have to get her out of the way then. Red King was soon in his hand and he took a fighting stance, saying to Rina calmly, "I need to get to the top of the tower. Move or I'll cut you down."

Looking up at her quizzically, Niveus wondered if the girl was making fun of him or just plain ignorant. By working with Dante she had to know what sort of power Sparda had. The human blinked a couple of times and shook his head saying, "I thought it would be fairly obvious. Come on, a bright girl like you should be able to figure this one out easily."