Taking Out the Trash (CONQUEST)

No, no, no! Things were swiftly falling out of hand, and Imugi had no cards to play with these people. Coaxing Zerori into taking their side had backfired tremendously, as the half-demon now stood at her strongest and dared someone be bold enough to defy her friend. Once, Imugi might have been, but the withered dragon now shrunk back to a safer distance and winced at the sinister aura she emitted.

The best Imugi could do was listen, to wait on any word that they could leverage or which indicated that it was their time to flee. Many names were said. Learning about the Nova Corps — of which the very powerful Zerori was a member — would be handy later, sure, but the demon found little that they could use in the now. Worse, the demon sporting only one horn revealed that this Erebos they had chosen to side with was a prince. Imugi was momentarily thankful that they’d been paid so little mind as they failed completely to hide the disdain from their face.

Steady. Biting back their bloodlust and the abrupt sting in their right side, they did catch something of interest. The startling transformation taken by the Konatsian, the likes of which Imugi had never seen, seemed similarly surprising to those who knew her. Very interesting.

Feeling just bold enough to stick around if not drop their guard, Imugi floated gently back into the circle as they schemed. Kamae would be an unfamiliar name no matter how Imugi brushed through their memories, but as a fellow demon, they would do their best to use the dark gift he’d left on Konats. Having tempered their unforgotten fury, they coasted along to the immediate right of Erebos Herosbane. Herosbane, now that was a name that touched their mind like a white hot brand to remind them of its meaning, house of the Blood King. Be it now or a century ago, Imugi could scarcely believe that they would ever try to work with one of his kin. And yet.

“Something is wrong,” They whispered into the pale demon’s ear, eye flitting between him, the pinprick of darkness at the back of his neck, and casting skeptical looks at the others. “Your friend, Crow, if she is not herself then I worry that… I’m sure she is strong, but this void corrupts absolutely. And Jinx. The madness to try and eat it. What if it merely turns one so powerful into one of its monsters? But of course, the decision is yours, prince.”

Slinking back away, Imugi waited with bated breath. They could retch at the thought of offering this prince their favour, but who knows? If their poisonous words rang true, perhaps he would go and get himself killed at the hands of the three powers. That would make losing the portal more than worthwhile.

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While Zerori preened at the complement of her power by Zaffran, she’d no sooner cocked an eyebrow at Erebos as he seemed to beseech her to see reason, unnerved by just how deeply he felt for the portal. Briefly, she glanced at said rift in space time and gave a grunt of acknowledgement before she looked back at the Prince. “...Another world?” Whatever Erebos was to her mother ‘back in the day’ wasn’t anything she’d ever cared to ask about but the mention of ‘razing worlds’ actually piqued her curiosity. Her mother mentioned many conquests in her prime but never had she mentioned helping to destroy one. In fact… Earth, from what her mother had mentioned, was a world she’d protected long ago. Her allies and friends of that time long since dead after calamities had struck.

In spite of his plea, however, Zerori would only shake her head. “You’ve only made assumptions since getting here and honestly? What reason do I have to believe you, anyway?” Her eyes narrowed, “You ain’t been part of my life for nearly a year and I could have used your help. My mother could have used your help,” With a scoff, Zerori took back her attention from Erebos to listen to Salvo, far better company than her mentor at the moment. As she finished, a warmth of pride at the introduction and moral gauntlet thrown down, Zerori would smirk back at the group. “That about sums it up!”

This new swords woman seemed to go through some… change of heart? Literally. And while Zerori held no trust for her, she wasn’t going to argue against a temporary ally. The mention of Kamae, however, had her skin itched horribly. While no mentor or relative of close origin… there was a feeling of understanding they had shared, but to know he was the cause of this portal? She didn’t hate him but it made sense why she never saw him again. Hell, for the longest time, Zerori didn’t think anyone cared to see her after she’d gone to Earth. Not even her sister.

After Erebos had explained his relation to the portal and a potential plan, her keen hearing picked up Imugi’s words as they spoke to Erebos that this wasn’t a good idea - going so far to potentially say that Jinx might lose control. Goading people on again? Mom would like you, Zerori thought with amusement, not offended in the least by Imugi’s interference.

“Not to butt in but you talk pretty loudly for someone trying to be sneaky,” She called out to Imugi with a chuckle. “If Jinx loses control, we’ll stop her. I don’t think I have to make it much more clear than that. It isn’t like you have many other options.” She looked to Erebos, “I agree to your plan. Two portals are better than a million like Greyscale said. So, if we’re done debatin’ the issue,” She spun her sword impatiently. “The faster we do this, the faster we can be on our way, yeah?!” She turned to Jinx, “You fine with that?”

“Hmm? Do you think something wrong with me? Me?” ‘Crotona’ looked upon everyone else, they seemed to think what was happening to Crotona was not right. No this was perfect. Not held back by feelings, just doing the right things. To protect Konats, was what Crotona needed to focus on. Having a massive fight would cause chaos. She just didn’t have the courage, but he did. To do what needed to be done. ‘Crotona’ glanced at Hullac as he made a good point, if they were not careful they could make even more portals. “Hence the need for us to be on the same side yes?” ‘Crotona’ mused. “If we all work together we should be able to contain any after-effects on the planet.” Once again, ‘Crotona’ didn’t care if Jinx became some almighty threat to the Cosmo’s as long as it didn’t turn to effect Konats why would they care? Earth? Namek? Plant? Arcose? They could all suffer the wrath of these events. Expect for Erebos. No, Crotona was not gonna allow that to happen, despite his efforts to change that belief.

However, instead of Erebos running away again, he was going to stay and help!? ‘Crotona’ face twisted one eye having anger and another looking upon him with joy. A joy that normally she’d try to hide. “I suppose he can stay, having his help would make sure you are all kept honest yes? Which of course, I believe and if something bad does happen? Then we can stop it.” Which was something that Zerori noted. Yes, they could just stop any threat. If Jinx for example got controlled by the void power, she was not going to get so mighty that she’d defeat all three of them right? Well three and the other’s, Crotona kept reminding him of that. “If Jinx is fine with that then I am fine with it as well.” ‘Crotona’ spoke and glanced at Imugi who had been trying to goad Erebos. “Well done, my fellow Konatsian. However, the destruction of the portal is the greatest thing for all of our people. Your whispering is not gonna help ease all our tensions yes? We all mostly have the same goal. To stop this magic. Maybe your methods will not be the same but they will still aim for the same ends.”

However, at the same time he was speaking to the Konatsian, Salvo went on the attack. Slamming into him and then trying to slash him up with some blades. It was a devastating attack. Crotona in his mind screamed to take action to take the blow for the poor Konatsian. To save him! ‘Crotona’ however, had different plans. One eye was filled with fear the other with cold calculation. Perhaps, they would use him in the future. If he was left with a grievous wound, maybe he’d see things his way in the future. “That was uncalled for.” ‘Crotona’ spoke as Salvo was attacking. “Attacking one of my fellow Konatsian’s. I am unsure your intentions are so good if you can’t control those you brought with you.” He jokingly spoke to Jinx.

“Regardless, one more dead body to add to the pile is not something we concern ourselves with.” It was not true at all given the fear in one eye but ‘Crotona’ kept speaking. “Shall we all begin to rid this world of this corruption? To return to the way it should have always been?” Fully ignoring Imugi fate from here on out ‘Crotona’ began to pull out their ocarina. “I shall play my Ocarina, it will not do much but I shall focus it with my magic on the souls the void has consumed. To compel a calmness from this void, and allow most likely an easier transition from their state of near nothingness to nothingness. It is not a fate that I wish upon anyone but it is the fate we must choose.” One eye steeled with focus another with disgust. But, that was what they had to do. For Konats. This was all for Konats, they would see that in the future.

Wc:694
Powerlevel:1,785,000
Item's:Z-Sword, Armor Lining, Senzu Bean.

Why? Why couldn’t anything ever go right? For all the others seemed to enjoy ignoring Imugi, none seemed shy about eavesdropping on them. The Heran continued making a racket and the Konatsian — or whoever else presently held control of her — had somehow mistaken them for one of her kind, but at least the strong ones seemed unbothered. Barring the fact that their pretentious little prince didn’t seem to be taking a bait. Keeping their eye on him as he began to say his piece, Imugi realized too late the mistakes they’d made. The first was leaving their blind side to the rest of the group, and the second was apparently disregarding the pirate.

In little more than an instant, she’d knocked the demon away as well as the air from their chest, leaving them to inelegantly stabilize their flight. Their illusion of concern fell away quickly, betraying the contempt boiling just beneath the surface. Brandishing their sword in return, Imugi hissed as they regained their breath in what short interval Salvo had given them. If she wanted a fight, they’d love to give it, but…

She was much too fast. By little more than lucky timing, Imugi had raised their blade to clash against the Heran’s, only for their grip to be broken by the force of her blow. The hilt had only just slipped from their hand when the cutlass bit into their shoulder and cracked through the clavicle, its course hardly redirected. Hit immediately with a pain that threatened their consciousness, a dire warning pulsed in the back of their head. All before they registered the second blow.

“Don’t kill—!!” Imugi’s panicked rasp came out with a bubble, cutting them off. Their reptilian eye looked down, finding the Heran’s ki blade. Though most, it seemed, was buried in… in… A drop of blood fell from their mouth. Imugi pulled back from the blade, only another terrible mistake on their part, and their mind exploded with anguish. The scorn in their face had been unmistakably swallowed by fear, looking back up to the nearest being. That had naturally been their attacker, but she seemed to be getting smaller. The demon’s aura shattered as they fell into the ruined city below.

They shouldn’t have even been here. Not on Konats, forever a stranger to its land and people. They should have been home, living prosperously among their clan, forever a loyal warrior to their kin. Why weren’t they? Because nothing could ever go right. Everything had been taken from them once, and they could not even attempt to rebuild. Something always went wrong. Someone had to get in the way!

And with nobody left, Imugi couldn’t even count on themself. When they at last hit the ground far below, there’s not a sound beyond the trickling of blood and clang of their discarded sword landing a few meters away. Merely the deathly still shadow of a demon.

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