User:NeloAngelo/Redstuff/1-31

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Rizaia - Nelo "Red, I think you should-" "I DON'T CARE. DO IT!" Red's yelled so loud, it immediately overwhelmed the light screeching noises of Grotesque. For now, let's just go in while securing an escape route.
 * Sigh* I'm not even sure I have the ability to nuke an entire village.

Walking to the edge of the Rizaia, I closed my eyes. Spreading through the heat, I can accurately trace all the Grotesque's thermograph. 10...20...30... Huh? Was my thermography sense always this fast? .... It's definitely more than I expected, but let's see what I can do.

As I entered Rizaia, the fog obscured my vision as far as I can see. Destroyed homes, facilities made up the rest. Two Grotesques, beast variant rushed towards me, one in front, one from the left. Normally, an ambush like that would've gave a momentary shock, but I feel unusually calm. I quickly drew my sword, and rushed towards the left. The right path is still and unknown variable, but the left route would be more reasonable- the Grotesque is closer to me. Huh. I'm moving faster than I expected. Was my body always this light? Swoosh. A single horizontal slash torn amputated two of six of the Grotesque's limbs. Then, an advancing step, a kick to the Grotesque's face to further disorient its focus, then a finishing blow of a heavy sword rend. A Grotesque dead in 3 attacks. Was my sword always this light? Was my kicks always hitting this hard? I feel incredible...it's like having a surge of energy inside me I never knew. The Grotesque that ambushed me in the front continued its advance as I raised my right hand forward- three rounds of compressed shot that pierced through the Grotesque, pining it down. Amazing, I can even compress up my shot this fast. No- this is how should be. This feels right...like I'm in control of my body. Did the shrapnel did this? First things first- I rushed towards the shot Grotesque, and greeted it with a slash to the neck, decapitating it clean.

I never felt so energetic since I was woke up by Red. Motivated the first two kills, I walked further into the area. The head of a white grotesque was suddenly flung towards me like a bludgeoning tool from the red-fog, just as I easily dodged out of the way- it's the white grotesque I fought back in the marsh. Sure enough, it never operates alone- 4 more beast-variants charged out of the fog, and started swarming me. What a grand reception. I raised my hand and fired a barrage of fire plumes. These projectiles aren't compressed, but it made up for its rate of fire. More importantly...I wagered correctly that my increased physical aptitude would be able to replicate the rate of fire produced by Sophie's Grotesque. Round and round of sweeping shots quickly overwhelmed the beast variants of Grotesque, slowing down their movement. The white Grotesque has been throwing its head at me from different directions, which means its moving within the fog as well. But since there's a retraction period, it can't attack as fast as I can. Dodging the last thrown strike by the white Grotesque, I rushed to the nearest beast-variant, and quickly disabled its limbs with 2 slashes. A finishing blow followed in the form of a superheated sword-stab to the head, turning it a motionless cadaver. With this one cadaver as a shield, I can use it as the break-off point to scramble their advances. It's the most shameless tactic in the world: stacking your defenses right in front of your enemy's doorstep. With that being set, I backed off,feigning the impression of a threatened target. More importantly, this will limit the white Grotesque's attack radius. The Grotesques screeched in excitement the instant I moved backwards. Following the screech, they ramped up their aggression charged towards the me, with the cadaver in between us. Calculated. The white Grotesque extende its neck forward, shooting out faster than the beast-variant's advances- but it fell short, I was hiding behind the cadaver's height discrepancy, causing the white Grotesque to hit it instead. With its recovery, I can take my time to hunt down the beast-variants one-by-one. One in the front, one right, one left. Circling behind the cadaver, I started from the right- 2 compressed shots at the right Grotesque. I couldn't even wait for a hit-confirm, gripping my sword, I charged towards the beast-variant. My shots flew faster, and rounds already pierced into the Grotesque's body. The two shots is enough to give it a momentary shock- inhibiting it so I can hit its vitals in one, clean blow. One dead, onto the center one. Same as the rest- I retreated behind the freshly killed Grotesque, breaking the rest of the two's advances. The white Grotesque shot out its head again, but with 2 cadavers messing up its targeting, it could barely hit me. Focusing on the remaining two, since my starting approach is from the right Grotesque, they're now lined up one-after another- they can't swarm me. Well, with two Grotesque stuck with one-another, this is easy- amputate their limbs to disable their actions, then go the killing blow, repeat. With all the beast-variants dead, now it's only the white Grotesque left. It's still hiding behind the fog, but with its underling down, and consecutive missed attacks in a row, it haven't tried anything. I can still sense its pulse, so it can't be that it escaped. Securing my footing, I channeled a huge surge of mana towards my sword, and threw it towards the fog where I traced the white Grotesque's pulse. With the additional mana channeled, the thrown sword, who regularly flew like a guided boomerang became a vicious flaming wheel that tore through the air at high speed.

A pained screech came from the red fog. Hit-confirmed. Raising my hand, I fired a rapid barrage of uncompressed shots towards that direction. While these shots are weaker, they also have a better spread, allowing me to cover more ground. The flames shot out by me seems to have an effect on the red fog as well- on contact, the fog grew thinner and thinner- to the point I can even make out the light from my sword and the white Grotesque's silhouette. With it struggling as my sword coils and spirals around it, I pressed on my advantage and charged towards it- firing 3 rounds of compressed shot to distract it as I recall my sword. Sword in hand, I immediately cut off the white Grotesque's limbs, sending it crumpling to the ground. With a killing blow lined up nicely, I finished it with a stab to the head, just like last time. I looked across the horizon, then closed my eyes. More Grotesques.

Moving across Rizaia, I felled more and more Grotesques. My shots became faster and faster. My sword swung faster and faster. But heartbeat- remained calm. I wasn't tired after 5 Grotesque felled. Nor was I fatigued after 10. 11....12....15....20... Eventually I stopped counting, and found myself in the middle of Rizaia. I can sense the remaining Grotesque hiding behind the fog, but none of them are approaching me. Is this fear? It happened back when I was working with Beovault's defense force.

Though I stood among Grotesques. I don't feel any fear. Cutting through swath and swath of them, I feel energetic, excited... and nostalgic. Almost like something like this once happened in my distant memory. Focusing, I began charging a huge amount of mana within me. Wave of wave of mana surging through, from the center of my body, then to my limbs, then to my very fingertips. "Bom. Bom." My heart, which has remained in a state of calm beated hurriedly in excitement. Channeling the explosive surge to my right hand, I directed it towards the ground.



Boom. An explosion emanated from my position, followed by the mana I channeled into the ground erupting into massive walls of fire tearing forth. In an instant, the entire field became clouded by firestorm. The fire burned more intensely than whatever shots I have fired thus far, Grotesques... buildings.... even the very red fog, all were consumed by the flames. I closed my eyes. Heat signals from Grotesque I picked up before were quickly overwhelmed- replaced by the high temperature set off by my own flame. Originally just one small radius, and then- the fire quickly devoured the entirely of Rizaia. Ashes to ashes. Just like she wanted.

Walking about the flames, I saw Red waiting for me. She continued kneeling, but has finally lift up her head, looking at her burning hometown. Her lips curled into a thin smile, but her eyes remained a somber, soulless expression. What a sad smile. But...the way she smiled also looked so calming, almost like a burden have been lifted off her chest.

"Thank you, Nelo". Red greeted. Normally she'd make an additional jab about me unlikely having enough strength to do so, but today- There's no pretension, no jokes, not even any energy left in her voice. I couldn't find any words to reply. I simply nodded my head. We remained silence for a while, looking at the burning Rizaia. The cloud of red are beginning to break down from my flames, and the screeches of Grotesques are growing fainter and fainter.

"Nelo." Red suddenly spoke again, then continued "Please, honor just one more request." Her lips quivered, her body is shaking, then finally, she muttered two simple words:

"Kill me."

"What!?" I asked. Surprised. Is she trying to die with Rizaia? She replied nothing, but looked straight in my eyes. Her body is no longer shaking. Her expression has now grown into that of a steeled resolve, however somber it looked. Almost like someone who've accepted her death. She never anything further, leaving only the sound of the flames crackling before us.

Looking at her, I...


 * 1) Spare her.
 * 2) Kill her.