Axel Steele
PRAVUS
It's time to separate the chaff from the wheat.
Posts: 172
OOC Name:: Kiane
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Post by Axel Steele on Dec 1, 2013 4:49:32 GMT -5
By this point in his search Axel was beginning to be quite irritated, not to mention just plain tired. He'd seen more combat, or at least more challenging combat, in the short period of time since he'd received that accursed letter than he had in the entire time since the end of the war. Even for someone with his levels of battlelust it had become exhausting, to where every moment he wasn't within the battles themselves he dimply felt drained, exhausted beyond any normal measure. This of course changed entirely once the taste of combat whetted his appetite and his instincts took hold, there was no lack of energy or enthusiasm there. Unfortunately this only lasted for a short period, and it did him little good otherwise.
That was why, rather than run the entire way, he'd taken a company jeep out from the base to this so called 'sacred' region. Normally he'd simply have flown with Fafnir, but with his team so weakened by that 'curse' he wasn't willing to jeopardize their safety merely for ease of travel. In any case the jeep was well armored enough to fend off most of the infected that were attracted by the noise, and the small armory beneath the floors was more than enough to fend off the few that had to be dispatched violently, as was illustrated by the still slightly smoking shotgun lain across the seat next to him.
Once he'd reached the outskirts of the area he'd parked the vehicle and locked it securely, strapping several of the weapons to his body just in case more of the infected appeared. Most would have merely kept driving, but Axel wasn't most. He didn't truly believe that there was anything spiritual about this area, but whether that was true or not it was one of the very few untouched area left in the region and he for one wasn't about to spoil such a pristine reminder of days past.
As he made his way through the forests, he couldn't help but remember the times when he'd first come to Remoor, back before that damnable war had begun. The region had been quite different then but he still remembered it; the sites, the smells, the pokémon and the people. Who would have thought then that the region would come this...apocalyptic wasteland. Even someone with such a cynical outlook as he or Decipio had never imagined such things could be possible, that an entire region and every soul within it could be reduced to this. Though he'd never been able to comprehend emotions all that well he could acknowledge that it was...saddening he thought was the word, that this was all that was left. Still, he couldn't allow himself to dwell; he was off his guard enough as was with the exhaustion, he didn't need to make things worse with something so foolish as nostalgia.
Eventually he passed through the forests and groves and arrived at the edge of a lake. At this point he couldn't help himself, he simply had to stare. The waters that spread out before him were pristine, crystal clear and so pure that he could practically taste it. They were nothing like the putrid, filth riddled waters that filled the majority of the region, nor like the stagnant, overly processed waters drank within the havens left to them. These were waters that he'd not seen in perhaps half his lifespan, and it was actually a pleasing thought to him that he'd need to submerge himself within them in order to gain what it was that he required from this place.
What he'd come in search of, was a certain gem. A perusal of research notes from the legendary that had been captured sometime ago, as well as ore 'intimate' conversations with the scientist whom had captured her, had revealed that one of the items he required was likely a gemstone that was usually affixed to said legendary's forehead. He'd likewise learned that these stones tended to periodically be replaced, and so had assumed that there would only be one place that such a superstitious being would allow them to rest; hence why he was in this 'sacred' region. He continued to inhale the fresh, pure scent of the waters as he began to remove bits of his attire. First was the weapons, which he made certain were carefully placed well at hand, and then removed his shirt and boots. Afterwards he removed the rest of his clothing, laying it with the rest before diving into the water without another pause, actually reveling in the feeling of the purity against his skin. How strange it was that someone who did not believe in gods, could find something as simple as water to be so very nearly divine.
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Axel Steele
PRAVUS
It's time to separate the chaff from the wheat.
Posts: 172
OOC Name:: Kiane
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Post by Axel Steele on Jan 12, 2014 11:07:52 GMT -5
As the waters closed in over and around him, the man's eyes opened wide. Curiously enough the water did not burn at them as those of the ocean had, rather it seemed to soothe them as though it were specifically designed as such. Most likely this was due to its curious purity, even when compared to other untainted waters. Most would hold this as evidence that this place was 'held sacred by the Gods', but Axel knew better than that. In all likelihood it probably owed a great deal to environmental factors that would have done as much regardless of outside influence. Otherwise, or more likely as well as, it was kept as such through the influence of one or more pokémon. Needless to say such would require immense amounts of power, but that was nothing out of the ordinary. He had faced and overcome pokémon whose powers eclipsed what most could even imagine, and his own companions were possessed of powers so great as to render them nigh on unbeatable by all but the most skilled and likewise powerful. Yet regardless of their incredible might they were still only mortal beings, as were all humans and pokémon. Gods were merely fairly tales of the weak, dreamed up to bear blame, fashion excuses, and explain away their ignorance.
He'd only been submerged a brief moment before he instinctively sensed the expenditure of power from above him. As a pokémorph he possessed many traits of his shared DNA, which included the ability to sense when the innate powers of others were being used. Likewise his excellent auditory senses allowed him to hear as the water began to solididy, the small cracks and pops emitted as it changed states an even clearer indication that things were not as they were. A brief glance over his shoulder in confirmation was all the attention he spared the obviously hostile being before he turned back and continued his descent into the clear depths of the lake.
Unsurprisingly, he swiftly spotted what it was that he'd come for. There, resting in the rich soil at the lakebed, he could spot a multitude of softly glowing stones. It was for these that he'd ventured out to this place. According to tales this area had, in the past, been frequented and perhaps even inhabited by the three 'legendary' pokémon that were native to Remoor. These same tales, and what small scientific research had been performed on them, indicated that the stones which normally were attached to their foreheads were periodically shed and replaced with new stones in much the same way a shark's teeth were. It was these, specifically those of the water type, Zephryne, that he believed the 'riddle' he'd been given was alluding to. He'd hoped that the signs were pointing in the right direction, and luckily enough it would appear that he'd been correct.
He continued his descent and before long reached the bottom of he lake, at which point he retrieved several of the stones and clenched them in his fist before turning and beginning his ascent. As he swam upwards he briefly pondered the being above him that clearly sought to trap him beneath the ice and in so doing drown him. It as entirely possible that the being could be a mutant, or possibly even another pokémorph. Loyalties did nothing to narrow the prospects; he had no delusions, as many in Pravus would wish him dead as those against the corporation. Likewise it could just as easily be some random pokémon who had seen or followed him and took offense to his presence here. In the end it didn't really matter however as whoever or whatever it was had a clear intent.
As he rose he angled away from the shadow he could see through the ice, aiming to surface a bit further down the bank so as to put a comfortable distance between he and they lest they attack immediately. When he neared the covering sheet of ice, now too thick in this spot to press through, he raised his free hand, cupped slightly as though grasping at the ice. In an instant a pulse of dark energy materialized in his cupped palm and shot upward, blasting a significant hole in the attempted netting. Moments later and he rose from the lake, the clear water pouring off of his body and his shaggy hair hang limpen around his head. This was fixed with a quick shake, as was stereotypical of canids, and his eyes were then turned towards the interloper.
What they came to rest on was none other than one of the so called 'legends' he'd been pondering just earlier, another water type as it would happen. Rather than worry he merely eyed the being with a watchful eye, careful to take note of any movements that might indicate a potential attack. Only briefly did he glance down at the equipment and weapons lying, of course, at the pokémon's feet. Clearly if the beast wished to pick a fight with him it was going to be fought entirely on his own merits, something that he normally would have no qualms about. His only concern was the fact that he was already injured, the scars from his battle with the Sharpedo only days before still plainly evident even amongst all the others coating his skin. Still, he'd fought under worse conditions and come out triumphant, so he wasn't overly concerned with how things might play out this time. Thus instead of fleeing, as most would, he merely kept his gaze upon the huge wolf as he spoke. "Ladies first. I don't have all day and I'll be damned if I let you waste my time." Was the pronoun applicable? Hell if he knew, he wasn't a biologist afterall so he could only go on what he'd heard. In any case the latter portion was the most pertinent, so he'd just have to see how the wolf took it.
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