The Demon and The Half Blood (Zanza V.S. Khaos) [Referee: Broly]

The sun had just reached it's zenith, it's gaze bearing down upon the forest with intense scrutiny. If not for the shade of the tightly packed tree's the heat would make break into a sweat in just seconds. A seemingly constant, gentle breeze wafted through the area helping to alleviate some of the heat. The small animals didn't seem to mind the heat, the birds still chirped happily, squirrels and chipmunks skittered around the forest with no cares. Many would find the scene beautiful or comforting, Zanza however found the scene a bit disturbing. Not that he disliked this place or these things, he just wasn't used to them, it was so strange when compared to his home.

Where was the blood and carnage? Where was the darkness broken only by the occasional flickering torch or campfire? Where was the stench of death and decay? No demons strapped to torture devices, no burning piles of bodies and no rivers of blood. These were the things that Zanza had hated about his home, but he knew them they had been constants in life. This place was strange to Zanza, almost completely alien, but maybe in time he could learn to accept these changes. Not really like Zanza had much of a choice in the matter, to return to his home was to sign away his own life.

Zanza sighed as he trudged through this forest, was this planet covered in forest. Finding any sign of civilization would be a welcome sight. Other beings would allow Zanza to hide even if only slightly, since a demon doesn't exactly blend in with humans, but the sheer mass of bodies should provide him with some cover. Then again some of the rumors he'd heard back in demon realm said that there were transport between planets, which would allow Zanza to hide even better. Zanza growled and plopped down on the ground under a tree. All these plans were just temporary solutions, what Zanza really needed was to get more powerful. Powerful enough to defeat whoever was sent after him and maybe someday launch a retaliatory strike.

"Sitting here thinking how hopeless this is solves nothing", Zanza mumbled to himself under his breath as he got back up. Dusting his raggedy pants as he did so. Zanza was glad partially glad he'd left his armor back in demon realm, in this heat it probably would've been a liability. Zanza ran a three-fingered hand over his bald head, now the only question was where in the hell was he going.

WC: 424



Battle Tracker:

Spoiler:

Khaos had been tracking the demon he had heard call itself Zanza for several hours, he could still pin point the demon's energy even though he had completely lost sight of the demon. He had no idea why he felt the need to hunt this demon, it didn't make any sense to him, but something about it was refreshing, every instance he had battled before he had never really had the upper hand.

As he thought and ran his memory jumped to the first fight he could remember, he had been fighting a odd green and white being that almost took his leg off. He remembered the searing hot pain as the more powerful being used some sort of beam that cut deep into his thigh. Jumping to dodge an attack was a mistake he would not soon make again. His memory then jumped to the odd green being that was very similar to the great Kami, but in fact evil.

He remembered how he had been angered when it snuffed the bird out with out a second thought, he also remembered it controlling flames trying to kill him with fire, fire one of the elements he was born from, it reminded him of another memory, this one he had never remembered until now. It was some time after his first death, and he was on the planet hell, his form was nothing like it was now, he was more feral, more demon like, but it was an odd demon almost like a wolf.

Suddenly his mind snapped back to fighting this time with his friend Alberdyne. He remembered the feeling as some how Alberdyne used some kind of magic to tug on his sword, he remembered how it felt, he remembered thinking he must learn how to use this ability, and later on he did. It was psychic powers, and it had come in handy to manipulate his environment, tree limbs bent to his will, boulders rolled to make way.

Finally his most recent death came to mind, the feeling of being charred and burnt to a crisp was fresh in his mind, even as he remembered he could still smell his flesh burning as he was flying through the air from the blast. All of this had left his mind twisted and warped, he no longer wanted to atone for his past, he realized it was kill or be killed, so he continued to stalk his prey like he was a wolf stalking a deer.

Khaos has been so lost in thought he almost missed the demon sitting under a tree, when he actually did realize he had caught his prey, he smiled a malicious grin. The tree the demon was under was full of green leaves, with a brownish grey trunk, the contrasts of colors against the black cloth pants and red skin of the demon made not noticing him almost impossible. The demon hadn't noticed Khaos yet or didn't seem to care he was happy leaning against the tree it appeared.

The wind rustling through the leaves had masked his approach well, the element of surprise was his. Khaos could easily get a strike or two in now but in battle even he had some honor, surprise attacks, or sneak attacks were easy and would subdue a target swiftly, but he wanted to have fun.

"Ho there, you are trespassing in OUR woods, leave or pay for your transgressions" Khaos shouted, he had unlatched his sword and kept his left hand on the hilt ever the ready. His muscles were slightly tense but not to the point of ready to draw the weapon, he knew that if the time came he would draw the blood of the demon with out a second thought, for that is what he had been training to do. Life of the innocent was sacred and so far the only innocence he had seen on this planet was the animals and plants.

WC 660

While Zanza had been lost in thought he hadn't noticed the one known as Khaos sneak up on him. When the half-blood spoke it shocked Zanza slightly for he had thought himself alone. Looking around Zanza spotted the half-blood and turned to face him, Zanza really hadn't expected to see Khaos again, ever really. Zanza didn't really care to see Khaos either, half-blood's were bad enough being half shin though likely made this half-blood a rather inflated sense of importance. Khaos's words only confirmed what Zanza had been thinking.

"You belong no more to this world then I half-blood. Maybe even less so since your blood bears the taint of two races that belong in other world", Zanza smirked at Khaos as he finished speaking. Zanza knew his words do naught but infuriate the hybrid but Zanza cared little. Ignorance was a dangerous attribute especially when coupled with a a sense of strength that was generally unfounded.

Suddenly the wind shifted slightly blowing right towards Zanza's face, on the wind Zanza caught the scent again. The smell of a hybrid Shin and Demon, a smell Zanza was very familiar with. The smell was slightly different then Ruuriks smell, lacking the smell of smoke and death that often came from those who lived in demon realm. However Zanza's mind still flashed involuntarily to memories of his travels with Ruurik. Zanza remembered standing by and watching as Ruurik tortured countless demons who's faces Zanza had made sure not catch, for he knew their pleading eyes would've haunted him. The death of a small demon child torn limb from limb by the cruel prince. Zanza usually made sure not to directly watch Ruurik's antics but the attack on the child had been so unexpected Zanza didn't have any chance to look away. Afterwards he berated Ruurik for such an act, for his outburst he was severly beaten by his Makaioshin lord's guards.

Flashing forward Zanza remembered slitting the throat of the demon who's blood fueled the ritual that brought Zanza here. Followed shortly after by killing Ruurik almost entirely on accident. At the time Zanza's mind was consumed with fear for his life about the implications of Ruurik's death. Thinking back on it now though Zanza felt a morbid sense of joy, sure he had endangered his own well being till near the end of time, but to end the being that had caused him misery and done things that by simply witnessing them had crushed Zanza's very soul. It was liberating to finally be free of that monster of a being. Yet here Zanza was yet again being stopped by a half-breed who intended to send him back to an eternity of torture, merely for stepping onto the plane of existence that the half-breed happened to reside. Zanza's aura flared slightly, appearing as a darkness that almost seemed to suck the light from the area, as red and black energy began building in his right hand.

"Now begone with you, you damned half-blood!" Zanza screamed, he'd been building energy as he spoke and fired off the blast almost as if to put the exclamation to the end of his words. The blast flew directly at Khaos's chest, the energy seeming to cause the air to bubble as it soared through the empty space between them. Zanza began breathing heavily after the blast had been fired, his glowing red eyes seemed to flicker slightly the veins on his arms bulged slightly, that by far the most powerful Hell Blitz Zanza had ever fired. The blast would've made mincemeat out of any of the whelps Zanza was used to fighting in demon realm, possibly even more then one, against this half-blood though who know how it would fare though.

WC: 625
TWC: 1049

Battle Tracker:

Spoiler:

Khaos had been intently using his psychic powers to pick the thoughts from the demon's mind as he thought, he had seen every memory the demon had. He also knew why this demon thought of him the way it did. Little did he know he wasn't a demon first and shin second, he was shin with the taint of an unholy union in his blood, perhaps it was along the lines of a demon trying to go good, or a shin trying to go bad.

Khaos had been having flashbacks of his first life on this planet since his return from other world, they were becoming more frequent since the arrival of this demon, almost as if some how it was a key to his memories. As the demon's thoughts raced, Khaos' fell from the memories to his own memories, he was seeing himself in this one. It wasn't himself as he knew know, or from his past, but a younger teenage equivalent.

He was standing on the side of a mountain completely naked, his ivory skin already bore the marks he had thought were tattoo's, this disproved this theory. He was shivering and looked visibly frightened. He had dried tear stains down his cheeks, and the occasional echo of the word "mother" was heard reverberating off the other peaks. He knew instantly what had happened, it was when he had been left on earth, his mother no longer able to stand the embarrassment of the half blood child she had bore.

His father had never been seen by him, he knew not his name, nor did he care, but he knew he would know him when he saw him. This is where he deep seeded hatred for demon's came from, now he was sure he would kill his own father with out a moment's hesitation. His mother he felt something for that he had been taught later was a human emotion, he felt sorry for her, but despised her just the same.

Eventually the memory fast forwarded to where he was approached by a purple skinned Xeno, that was also a shin, and his training for protection of a planet began immediately. He remembered the pain of the training, the scars he still bore to this day from the combat training, the mental abilities he remembered to calm the inner rage the demonic part of him had. He was still in the flash back when his eyes registered the Hell Blitz coming directly for his chest.

Khaos didn't have a moment to react to the blast, so it bore down dead center of his armor he wore. The armor was purple in color and bore spikes on the shoulders, that protruded through his Cloak he wore. The sudden tingling and burning sensation from the blast caused him to gasp in pain, something he hadn't felt in near a month. The force of the ki blast knocked him back causing him to skid across the ground. Once Khaos came to a stop he shook off the initial shock from the attack. He didn't even feel or notice the fact that his skin had a deep hole where the attack had hit, part of this was thanks to the fact that the corrupt ki from the blast had sort of cauterized the wound, causing the nerve endings to deaden immediately.

"You shall pay dearly for that." Khaos screamed, his voice still sounding angelic.

At the same time he spoke the words, Khaos ripped his sword from it's sheath with his right hand, his ivory knuckles turning red from the pressure of his grip on the hilt, as he drew it and brought it forward it cut through the air effortlessly. In the next instant Khaos was rushing forward, his speed was at full, when suddenly he flickered from sight, he had used speed burst about ten feet from the demon known to him by look only.

Where Khaos had once been was nothing of the hybrid. He was already next to his opponent swinging his blade in a horizontal swipe at the demon's chest from left to right. His sword slicing through the air causing and audible whoosh sound. The sword was aimed to cut deep into the evil entity's rib cage, but Khaos was far from through. As his sword was still in motion he reached his left hand back and unlocked the gate he had holding his ki back.

The initial torrent of flowing ki was like a river that had it's dam blown away, it was a rush through from his toes to his left arm, then after a brief moment it began to gather again this time not behind a limiter but in his hand, the ki eventually became a crackling super heated ball of ki. Khaos then flung the hand forward releasing the gathered ki in a wave known as Cosmic Cannon Rank 3, his proximity to his victim almost ensured the success of the attack, at least in his mind.

Khaos didn't let this slack his attack at all, as the wave of ki crackled and singed the air towards his adversary, he utilized the moment of his sword slice, to mount a final sword attack, this time at a diagonal from right shoulder to left him, the finely honed blade of his sword would render flesh and bone if the attack hit.

Actions

Take Hit +3 Rage
#1. Speed burst and Sword strike +16 FP
#2. Cosmic Cannon Rank 3 + 28 FP
#3. Sword Strike +1 FP

45 FP total
8 Rage Total




WC 897
TWC 1557

Zanza was shocked that the half-blood was still standing after his blast, he seemed injured but not in a manner that sufficiently disabled him. Zanza was shocked that blast would've ended almost any of the demons he was used to fighting in Demon Realm, this would be by far one of the most powerful enemies he'd faced. Zanza wouldn't back down or shirk from this fight though, he'd started it and he'd see it through to the end. When the half-blood spoke it seemed that Zanza's blast had angered it more then anything else.

Then it drew it's sword and rushed at Zanza, Zanza smirked the half-blood may be powerful but obviously it wasn't that bright. From that distance Zanza would have plenty of time to prepare himself or maybe even fire off another blast. Suddenly the half-blood vanished, instinctively Zanza jumped backwards. It wasn't enough though, Zanza felt the blade slice across his midsection, it was a light scratch but he could already feel the blood begin to trickle down from the wound. That's when Zanza saw the energy blast, he had nowhere to go, there wasn't enough time to roll to the side and with the tree now right against his back he couldn't retreat to buy time. For a moment he considered flying up but the tree branches were in the way he would likely deal almost as much damage trying to break through the tree top. Zanza did the only thing he could think of he crossed his arms in front of his body and took the attack head on, Zanza closed his eyes and hoped for the best.

The blast washed over Zanza, paying no attention at his pitiful attempt of blocking. Zanza knew nothing but pain for the few seconds that the fire washed over his body. The pain obliterated all else Zanza's anger, hope and fear were all gone all that there was was the desire to escape the pain. Thankfully the blast passed quickly over him the, the damage was already done though. Much of Zanza's exposed skin was cracked and burnt, his pants smoldering, Zanza's arms had instinctively covered his face which while still burnt slightly wasn't covered in the dead blackened skin that covered much of the rest of his body. The tree behind Zanza was now engulfed in flames as well, crackling and popping on occasion.

Zanza opened his eyes just in time to see the flash of the blade again and feel the blade slice through his ruined flesh once again. Blood sprayed from the wound, likely spraying onto Khaos. Zanza collapsed to his knees, it was too much, too much power, too much damage. Zanza had nothing left no strength, no energy and no hope. Zanza fell forward, his face now planted firmly on the ground, his breathing was shallow, he was still alive for now but not much longer if he didn't receive some help. As he lay there knowing he was going to die Zanza's mind went to his life.

For the most part Zanza's life had been miserable, as it is for most of the denizens of demon realm. A life of pain and suffering, scrambling to survive and prove useful to the Makaioshin. Much of Zanza's life had been battle, it was one of the few things Zanza knew. Many would consider Zanza's life a horrible existence and with the things he had seen and the things he had done. Yet Zanza could not come to regret his life, because despite the all-consuming darkness there had still been some bright points. Zanza had felt love and had made friends during his life, the bonds of which he would never forget.

Zanza had always heard that right before death one's life flashed before their eyes. Zanza didn't care to see his whole life, there was too much pain there. Instead Zanza focused on the bright points, his long talks with Banren, the heartwarming days he'd spent with Midura and the steamy nights. A smile crossed Zanza's face, his dry burnt lips cracking in the process, thinking back on it Zanza was pretty lucky for a demon. Zanza had befriended one of the most frightening demons in Demon Realm and fallen in love with one of the most beautiful. Zanza was probably one of the luckiest demons that ever lived.

Zanza only had one regret, one thing that he knew would haunt him for eternity. Zanza hadn't been able to free the demons, Zanza had given his hopes up for such a thing decades ago, shortly after entering Ruurik's service. Now as death encroached on him though his mind went back to it. The Makaioshin were the reason for all the suffering he felt in his life, they were the ones who corrupted the demons. It was the fault of the Makaioshin that the demons were thought of as monsters, as beasts to be slain. Zanza blamed the Makaioshin for his dying right here if it weren't for their interference. Zanza shook his head slightly, no this was his fault, he had attacked, he had let his anger get the better of him and now he was going to die for it. Zanza turned his head so he could look up, he could still see the half-blood slightly.

It was obvious this half-blood hated demons, so in a sense this half-blood hated himself. Zanza could understand that feeling, at one point Zanza too had hated his kind not for being what they were but for refusing to rally and take their destiny in their own hands. Zanza feebly tried to push himself off the ground, his left arm gave out during his attempt though and he only mannaged to flip himself over.

"Don't hate us demons half-blood, for evil exists in every heart. We are only a product of what those of your bloods other half have made us. Pity us half-blood and if you must hate, hate the evil that consumes the hearts of the Makaioshin", Zanza's words were interrupted by a fit of coughing, he was to weak to cover his mouth and felt as the blood that his cough and sprinkled up rained back down on his face.

"If not for them maybe we would. . . . . . Maybe I'd be able to. . . " Zanza's words drifted off as he thought of holding Midura in his arms once more, tears began to stream down his face. He was so tired, tired in body and mind, Zanza's very soul was tired of the burden it carried.

"Good luck in the battle of evil in your own heart Khaos" Zanza said his voice growing weak, tears still glistening on his burnt cheeks. Clenching his fist Zanza gripped the soft grass that he laid upon and looked up at the beautiful blue sky with it's fluffy white clouds.

"At least I got to see the sky", Zanza said hardly above a whisper, speaking more to himself then Khaos. With a flutter Zanza's eyes closed, and darkness consumed him. Zanza was not dead but consciousness had left him. At this point there was nothing Zanza could do to defend himself, not that he was truly capable of defending himself after that last onslaught.

WC: 1203
TWC: 2252

OOC

Spoiler:

From the moment the blade drew blood from the demon's stomach Khaos felt intense pleasure, it was after that first blow struck he was no longer seeing the demon before him, instead he was seeing his father. The father that had impregnated his mother so long ago, the father that left her to be ridiculed by her kind, the same very father who had chosen to not help him when she had abandoned him to a life on earth.

The being he was seeing standing before him, most people only saw in the darkest of nightmare's they had but to chaos this day dream was eternal bliss. His father who he could recall from his mother's memories, was almost seven feet tall, with purple skin and horns protruding from all over his body. Sheer luck had made his genes adapt the ivory skin of his mother, and kept him from having any other mark but the smell of a demon.

Khaos then heard the flesh of his foe sizzling from his cosmic cannon rank 3 attack, the sound was like a symphony of angels singing to him alone. Just the knowledge that he had been inducing that kind of pain onto the being who sentenced him to a life of non acceptance, and ridicule from everything including demons. The sheer thought of the agony he must be feeling gave Khaos what some would consider a sadistic grin on his face. It was very clear to any one looking on that Khaos was no longer the shin they knew, but was close to losing control to the demon inside once again.

The second sword strike found home, exactly where he had aimed, it splattered hot, almost black ichor all over him. The blood felt good, like a cool rain on a hot summers day to him. He could see his father falling to his knees before him, begging him to spare his life, begging him to have mercy like he did not have many years prior. In Khaos' day dream the only mercy he had was a swift end to his existence.

Khaos began to walk towards the fallen demon, his sword ready to bring the final blow, and end it's life. That's when he was snapped into reality by the dying demons voice.

"Don't hate us demons half-blood, for evil exists in every heart. We are only a product of what those of your bloods other half have made us. Pity us half-blood and if you must hate, hate the evil that consumes the hearts of the Makaioshin", The demon who lay dying clearly wasn't his father, and this stopped Khaos in his tracks.

"If not for them maybe we would. . . . . . Maybe I'd be able to. . . " The demon continued his breathing growing more labored. Khaos listened to every word he heard the demon before him utter.

Khaos had never been faced with this choice since his rebirth, to kill or let live. He had had this choice many times in his past before his slate had been wiped clean, and every time before he had chosen to end the life, whether it be mercy, or for fun. This time was different, he had a conscious, on one shoulder he could hear his inner demon calling for blood, on the other his shin asking for mercy. As he watched the demon on the ground, all hatred drained from his body and heart.

He knew his actions during the battle were caused by a frenzy, he had seen his father not the actual demon, during the entirety of the fight after the first Hell Blitz hit him. Now as the being lay on the ground, he knew that he only had moments to live before his life bled from his veins, Khaos did the only thing he knew how to do to treat the wound. He grabbed the demon just lightly touching his bare blistered flesh, and closed his eyes.

He began to picture the green house where Master Korin grew Senzu Beans for healing, he knew it would take more than one of the beans to restore the demon to health, but for the moment one would save his life. He slowly and carefully hefted the fallen demon into a firemen's carry, then using all the speed he had, and powered flight he shot up like a rocket. The ground where Khaos had been standing was nothing but a crater at this point, the tree branches never touched them as he expertly navigated through the canopy.

He raced towards Korin's at top speed, and arrived a few moments later, he hoped he wasn't too late, laying the demon gently down he rushed to the green house and found Korin watering the plants. He conversed with Korin a few moments, while the cat picked a ripe bean, and the two walked over to the demon, and made him eat it. The deadly wounds were reduced to non life threatening, the other wound's were completely healed. It was then Khaos noticed the hole in his chest and armor. He looked down and eyed it for a few moments then passed out.

WC 857
TWC 2414

FIN