The Fate of a Murderer (one person, maybe more)

OoC: Have you ever felt that your life is moving too slow? Like you've been waiting for longer than you should have?

BiC: Fuzen woke up early in the morning. He got out of bed and scratched himself. The cool morning air, coming from the half open window, chilled his skin.

He looked around as he tried to shake off his groginess. Nothing out of the ordinary in the room he had rented. A chair, a table, a bed with the bloody corpse of his last victim still resting in it.

Fuzen let out a large yawn as he streched out his arms. He brought his hand up to his face and started licking the blood from it. Most of it had cached since the night before, but there were still a few moist spots.

He shifted back to his Hylian form and grabbed a towel from the corner. He wrapped it around his waist and left the room. Quickly and quietly, he made his way to the baths. He washed himself thuroughly.

Fuzen dried off and returned to his room. After he closed the door, he started looking for his clothes. The woman he had killed, had violently torn them from him and tossed them away, before she dragged him into bed.

After retreiving his lost articles, he took one last look at his victim. "Too bad Jean. You should have stayed with your husband. At lest then you would still be alive."

He jumpped out of the window, and into an alleyway. The inhabitants of the town he was in, weren't awake this early in the morning. There wasn't even a night shift for the guard around here. Needless to say, sneaking away was simple.

Fuzen quickly walked down the streets. He had a beaming smile on his face. The thougts of the past few days welled up inside him.

In total, he'd reduced the population by twenty, in less than a month. It wasn't hard either. It was like they were being served on a platter for him. It would have been a perfect thirty, but he had to have a few days off to rest his weary killing spirit. "Just like old times."

After walking to the other end of town, Fuzen looked for some place to hide. Eventually he found a nice little niche. The smell of the homeless was atrocious, but it was a perfect place to wait till he made his next move.

But as he sat down, an unpleasant thought entered his head. He'd killed a score of people, and yet, he's not had to run from the law once. "Why isn't anyone after me?"

OoC: For whoever joins, hope you have a good time.

OoC: I'm using Elrick, simply because he is awesome.

"What do you mean?" a voice asked near him, Fuzen jerking to see another homeless person sitting in the corner of the road. "Who would wish to find you?" asked the man, his voice haggared and frailed. His body was hidden under a black cloth, a giant hump extending from his body, hiding his face from veiw.

"None of your business old man," Fuzen retorted, sitting down on the corner. "I just need a place to lie low, you gonna stop me?"

"Go right ahead," the man muttered, shuffling to make room for the murderer. Fuzen rested himself by the old man. "I heard word around that there's a murderer going around these parts killing everyone. Why haven't you fled town by yet?"

"I'm not scared of any demon," Fuzen replied, shifting himself. "After all, what's the point in fleeing if he's just going to kill you later?"

The man laughed under his cloth. "Good point," he muttered, looking down on the earth. "You just don't seem like the kind of person that would want to ruin your pretty little head from being killed is all."

"I can handle myself if I have to," the other said, looking at the man. He glanced around the ally, making sure he was alone with the street walker. "After all, why would a murderer want to kill himself?"

"A good question, but only one a killer could answer," the man murmured, turning his hunchback to look at the man. "How would you know such a question?" He felt something slip near his throat, claws of some kind.

"Because you're victim number twenty-one," he hissed, before the claws came down to snip off the homeless man's head. He felt satisfaction as his claws closed on each other, before he looked at his handiwork.

"I beg to differ," the man replied, for he had ducked just in time to dodge the attack. "But now that I know that you're the murderer, I don't think I'll be letting you go from here." He raised himself to a standing position, his voice somehow sharper despite that his appearence maintained as a hunchback. "Think you can take me? You're deluding yourself. Kenjin the Encorna personally asked me to deal with your bounty."

Fuzen grinned. "Been a while since I've had a challenge."

OoC: C-C-Councilman P-Power Shot! It's an honor! I'll t-try my b-best not to dissapoint.

BiC: "Hopefully, you won't fail to entertain." Fuzen finished. He got down in his favorite rushing stance. His left arm above his head, his right below his belly. But the man in front of him wasn't even moving.

Fuzen rushed forward, and brought his claws upon his opponent. But once again, he got a whole weaponful of nothing. He slid his claws against eachother, and returned to his stance.

Fuzen rushed again, this time spreading his arms. His attack came in the shape of an X. Successful in landing a hit this time, he looked up to see the damage he had done. He had done nothing but cut the man's shroud.

The man reached out and tore his garment off. He threw the black cloth forward. And from behind the discarded clothing, there rose a large red spire.

It came down on Fuzen, who sidestepped slightly to the right. The red spire shook the ground when it hit, sending up a cloud of dust. Fuzen snickered, his opponent hadn't see him either.

Fuzen peered through the dust, trying to examine his opponent. When it thinned, he got a good look. The man was young, kind of a looker in his own way, he wasn't as good looking as Fuzen though. The spire was actually an oversized Zweihander, colored red.

"This is a joke, right?" Fuzen asked. "You are going to fight me, with that giant thing? How do you plan to hit me?" The man quickly lifted his weapon over his head, to rest it on his shoulders.

But as the sword passed Fuzen's head, he smelled something. It was one of his favorites: Blood. This whole situation was so invigorating for him.

But it was also triggering some memories as well. Kenjin. Fuzen thought. Where have I heard that name before?

OoC: I hope that was satisfactory.

OoC: There is no need for drooling...just have fun.

BiC:

Elrick returned the sword to its gigantic sheath, sliding the mammoth sword into its black holder. "Think you can take me?" Elrick asked, raising his fists. "I can fight you with only my hands, foolish mortal." He grinned as his opponent's face flushed deep crimson, angered by the insult of his abilities.

"What makes you think I'm so weak?" Fuzen asked, his voice cold as ice.

Elrick grinned, loosening the gloves on his hands. "Simply put, because I have never lost a battle, and I've never met a person I could not beat." He threw his arms up, indicating that the murderer should attack first.

Winds fell across the scape of the battlefield, the narrow alley seeming to grow smaller between the two warriors. "Tell me something," the Red muttered, wondering when the man would attack. "Why do you find pleasure in killing innocents?"

Fuzen laughed, raising his claws. "Because it's so fun," he retorted, a wild grin on his face. "See, lives are so fun to end. People die all the time, it's just a matter of when I can get to them."

Elrick's face held a look of disgust. "I never take life unless needed, it is something to be cherished, not taken for granted." His dislike for the man was growing with every moment spent with him, Elrick's need to defeat growing.

"Life is worthless, to be removed when I see fit," the murderer replied, taking a stance. "How would you know anyway?"

"It is not worthless," Elrick growled, his eyes growing darker. "After all, I died once."

OoC: Yes sir!

BiC: "Then we have something in common." Fuzen replied. He lowered his claws down to his left side. It was a sword stance, but it was effective no matter what weapon you were using.

"How can you think that way?" The man asked angrily. Without replying, Fuzen burst forward and unleashed his attack. With his right, he arced across slower than a normal cut. The man leaned backwards. With his left, he performed an uppercut that used the extra speed from his last cut.

A glancing blow, but it made contact none the less. Three slash marks made their way along the man's leather armor. "Again, you aren't going to lose, why?"

Without missing a beat, the man slipped off his glove, reached up, and grabbed Fuzen's wrist. Fuzen felt a sharp stinging pain right where the man's palm was. The man let go and hopped backwards.

Fuzen looked at his arm. There was a circular wound that was crying blood, just above his elbow. "I've never been beaten, and you're not going to be the one to do it." The man said boldly.

Fuzen brought his claws down to his sides. "Life IS worthless." He said, anger filling his voice. "But without it, I would have nothing to extinguish. There would be nothing to lead to the death I bring to my victims."

Fuzen calmed down. "Tell me your name warrior. I like to know the names of the people I carve." "The name's Elrick."

OoC: I hope that was satisfactory.

"The name's Elrick."

"Well Elrick, enjoy your trip to hell!" Fuzen shouted, lunging forth with his claws. Elrick stood still, not making a single move. As the blades came down, Fuzen felt something, something was slowly him down. Elrick leapt up, flying over the youth's head with a single jump, landing behind him.

"I'm Elrick, but you will address me as the Red!" the master commanded, kicking Fuzen violently in the back, sending the murderer flying. Fuzen dug his claws into the mortar surrounded them, stopping his body from being knocked further. The handsome man turned around, seeing Elrick's arms crossed.

"Well then, Mr. Red," Fuzen replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "What makes you think a little kick can beat me?"

"That was a warning," the Red retorted. "Leave this place or I will kill you."

Fuzen laughed at the statement, scraping his talons against each other. "Not if I kill you first," he grinned, baring himself for an attack. He lunged forward once more, much like a cat. the Red once more leaped, this time striking a foot against the walls, ascending to the rooftops.

"Come follow me if you can!" the Red shouted, as his feet disappeared to the top of the building. Not wanting to be left out, Fuzen dug his claws into the earth, climbing like a cat to the top, following the man with the giant sword.

Dreary air met his face, blasting at him as hard wind he had not noticed in the dank alley. The sky was dark gray, the only color in the surroundings seemed to come from Elrick himself, crimson red. His face was hard, his ponytailed blond hair swaying in the breeze.

"How, dramatic." Fuzen said in a mocking tone. "Now lets see if you can keep up with this." Without getting into a stance, he rushed at Elrick. When he was almost within reach, Fuzen bent forward and dug his claws into the roof. Once he completed the flip, he quickly brought up his claws, taking a chunk of roof with them.

Fuzen threw the debris at his opponent, which struck him right in the face. Elrick started to move backwards, but it wouldn't be enough to avoid Fuzen's attack.

He brought up his left arm, to cut into Elrick's right. But before his blade hit, something nagged him. Once again, a glancing blow, leaving three more cut marks along Elrick's armor.

Something was slowing Fuzen down. He ignored it and slashed across with his right. Another nag, another glancing blow, another set of three marks. What did he do to me? Fuzen thought.

Elrick fell backwards, but caught himself before he hit the roof. He pushed off with his feet, leading into a backflip, kicking Fuzen in the chin.

Fuzen stumbled backwards. His foot got caught in the hole he made in the roof, and he fell onto his back. With a few quick twists, he got back on to his feet.

And they were right back where they started when they first got onto the roof. While Fuzen had hardly even landed a hit, Elrick had landed a very effective blow.

Fuzen cracked his jaw and got ready for another round.

OoC: Sorry, I've run out of Mountain Dew and concurrently have run myself out of CJs. I hope it was satisfactory none the less.

Elrick's face showed no feeling, in contrast to the murderer, whose face was nothing but a blaze of fury, angered at the strange man who, despite refusing to use the giant sword strapped in the black sheath on his back, had been winning, and rather easily. "Ready to give up youth?" the Red asked, before crouching for the next attack. "No matter what you try, the outcome will always be the same."

"Shut up Red," Fuzen growled, feeling a sense of anger he had never had before. He wasn't bluffing when he said he could fight, he thought, gazing at the sword the Red had kept out of Fuzen's attacks, preferring hand-to-hand. "You can't beat me, not when I have defeated the entire village with my fear, spreading it from murder after murder like a cloud. The people live in fear of me, you cannot beat that."

"Really?" Elrick asked, raising himself. "Ever heard the legend of the Bloodsword, and the demon of Blood?"

"That old fairy tale?" Fuzen laughed, shaking his hips. "That's nothing but an old wife's tale to make children fear the dark. Why should I fear something like that?"

"Because the legend is real, or at least part of it anyway," Elrick answered. "You see my sword, it weights much more than a mortal could ever lift without a care. That is the reason you will lose, because it so happens I am the only person who can lift it." He unsheathed the sword, drawing forth the legendary demon sword, Its red surface stood straight, its length six feet. The black hilt gleamed in the gray light of the dismal town.

"This is the Bloodsword, and I am its wielder," Elrick stated, holding the demonic sword in one hand. "You say that you hold this town in fear, but the very mention of my name is enough to send even the bravest cowering to the ground in fear."

Fuzen gaped at the declaration, as the immortal returned the sword to its scabbard. "It's not possible, the Bloodsword is but a fairy tale. There is no way you could be its..."

"Cut me, I bleed," the Red growled, his eyes hardening. "But I never die, no matter what is done. You are dealing with a champion that will never die, how do you plan to defeat that which you cannot kill?"

"At least I know what you have been doing to slow me until now," the murderer retorted. "You have somehow been controlling my blood, keeping me unable to graze you."

The blood master nodded, raising his hands and loosening the gloves that kept his hand openings concealed. Putting them in his pockets, the Red unleashed his holes, opening them in anger. "I am going to eliminate you," he said. "And I won't even need you use my demon sword."

"Bastard!" Fuzen shouted, coming forth with his claws, raising the talons in anger. Elrick stood still, raising a hand against him. The opening began to unpeel skin, revealing a hole in the blood master's palm. Red liquid began to form, before shooting out towards Fuzen's face.

"ARGH!" he roared, as blood filled his eyes, blinding him to sight. He instinctivly gripped his face, but was unable to move the liquid. Elrick came up, slamming his knee into the murderer's chest, kneeing him into another building. Fuzen gripped his chest, there was no way a person could be this strong. Blood left his eyes, leaving them completely dry.

The blood returned to the Red's hands, going back into his bloodstream. "Get up," he ordered the killer, delivering a roundhouse kick that sent him flying from the face. "I know that you're in no way done."

Stay calm Fuzen. The murderer was thinking as he got up to defend himself. There was once a time when you would've used a sword like the Bloodsword as a toothpick.

Elrick rushed first this time. There was no recognizable style or form to his movements, or at least none that Fuzen could see. A simple offense that would require a simple defense.

Elrick oppened with a few quick jabs, which Fuzen dodged by simply moving backwards. With that, Fuzen countered with two horizontal attacks and a quick snap kick with his right, but once again, he was slowed down to the point of superficial damage.

"Catch." Elrick said solidly as he aimed his palm at Fuzen. He raised his hands to shield his face from the projectile blood. It splattered over his arms and started to bite at his skin.

When Fuzen let down his guard to try and remove the foul liquid, Elrick delivered a solid hit, right in the gut. The blood jumped off Fuzen as he stumbled backwards, and returned to Elrick's hand. He then grabbed Fuzen by the arm and shoulder, flipped him over his head, and tossed him away.

When Fuzen dropped close enough to the next roof, he did a little spin and dug his claws into it. When he touched down, he put his mind to work. He was trying to work something out that would take down his overpowered opponent.

Alright, not only can he control my blood, but he can control his as well. Elrick came upon him. He did his best to avoid as he tried to think. There's got to be some kind of an advantage that I have over him... I've got it.

After ducking under a right hook, Fuzen flipped backwards, trying to perform the kicking move Elrick did earlier. But of course, he was slowed down again. When he landed, he flipped back again, and then once more.

"You know Red," Fuzen said as he got down into a stance. "There was a time when that sword of yours would have been so far below me, it would have been laughable." He got louder with each word.

"Now its a threat, no doubt, but in the grand scheme, nothing changes. With any amount of loss, there is equal amount of gain. What I lost with my last life, I regained, in different ways, with this one." He was now shouting, his voice not too different from that of a mad man.

But he calmed down. "I wonder what it was that you lost." With that, a look of sadness came upon Elrick's face. A slight slump developed in his upright posture.

Taking the opportunity, Fuzen charged at him, his arms spread out to his sides. When he got within a few feet, he shifted to his Hylian form as quickly as he could muster. His right Katar twisted and warpped itself into a Katana.

Elrick tried to avoid the attack, but to no avail. Fuzen's weapon met with his side and pierced straight through.

OoC: I hope that was satisfactory.

Elrick gaped as the weapon pierced his shoulder, passing through the bone and severing it cleanly. The feeling in his right arm began to numb, immoble from the assault. Grinning wildly, Fuzen tore his weapon out, and leapt away to obvsere his handiwork.

Elrick's shoulder was pouring blood, but at the same time, the blood was not falling. He groaned in annoyance as his blood collected, forming together towards the gaping hole. "I told you murderer," he grunted, lifting himself. "Slice me, I bleed, but I can never die."

Fuzen gaped, his weapons stained with crimson blood. "You should be dead!" he roared in protest, as though Elrick had cheated in a game he was playing. He rushed the Red, wanting to chop the blood master to pieces. Elrick lifted an arm in response, his left one.

Overpowering weight began to grow on the claws, forcing them to the ground. Fuzen groaned in anger as the blades refused to obey him, and forced themselves towards the building ceiling below the murderer.

"See the power that will bring about your downfall," Elrick stated, collecting himself fully for the next line of attack. His left arm drifted towards the mammoth blade he wielded. It slid easily out, though it must have weighed over a hundred pounds. The blood master threw its giant curved edge out to point at Fuzen. "See the force of my Bloodsword!"

He lifted the blade, and sliced the air, concentrating with full force against the murderer. A giant shockwave emerged from the speed that he held the sword, blasting Fuzen with a hurricane of wind. Abandoning the claws, Fuzen leapt out of range of the attack, narrowly avoiding the blast.

"What was that?" he demanded, Elrick turning to where he was standing, Bloodsword resting on his shoulder.

Elrick's arm dangled uselessly, but his other one knew what to do. "Attacking the air creates a small shockwave of force. I increased the strength of my attack based on how much I wanted to destroy you." He raised his arm, and charged.

Fuzen noticed a change in his tactics. While Elrick had skill in fighting without his giant sword, with the Bloodsword he somehow seemed more on balance. Elrick dug the blade into the structure below him, before leaping towards the ceiling Fuzen stood on. The Bloodsword lifted like a catapault, sending the blood master flying towards the murderer.

Fuzen flipped out of the way, dodging the crushing weight of the sword. He turned and ran back to gather his weapons, regardless of their usefullness against something like the Red. Elrick paused, turning around to watch him strap them in once more, before lifting an arm.

"This might help," he muttered, as the blood from the blade collected, returning the liquid to his system. Already most of the damage Elrick had suffered, save for the broken bone, had healed away. "Now I can have some fun."

"I was about to say the same thing," Fuzen growled, before leaping in for an attack, claws out like an animal. Elrick braced himself, setting on knee against the ground, lifting the giant sword's broad side.

Weapons collided, but Fuzen was thrown back from the force the Bloodsword could create.

Fuzen lashed out at his opponent, his claws resounding with vibration each time they were pushed back from making contact with the Bloodsword. With a single arm, Elrick was moving the behemoth blade like it weighed no more than any other sword. If this had been anyone else besides The Red, Fuzen would have been a lot more pissed than he was already.

I'll have to take off his head if I want to kill him. Fuzen thought as he continued to lash out. But with the defense such a large sword could provide, he had no idea how to do that. Besides that, he was hurting himself as he was hitting the sword.

"That's it?" Elrick said as he continued to defend. "That's no fun at all." With that, he pushed the broad side of his blade out, creating harmless, but powerful, gust of air. Fuzen was pushed back to the edge of the roof, where he balanced to keep from falling off.

Elrick then, in a horizontal arc, swung his sword at Fuzen. With that, Fuzen made a little hop with his toes, and fell straight down, avoiding the shockwave. But he caught the edge just before it was out of reach, and pulled himself back up.

Before Fuzen could get to his feet, Elrick brought his blade above his head, and quickly brought it down again. This time, the shockwave made a direct hit. Fuzen was sent flying off his feet, and crashing into the next roof over.

After stopping himself, he returned to his feet and put his Katar handle to his chest. The attack had knocked the wind out of him. Then, Fuzen looked over to see Elrick, instead of vaulting over to him like he did last time, getting ready to send another shockwave at him.

He broke into a run, and as he did, Elrick's attack crashed in behind him. He stumbled slightly, but picked up the speed again as his opponent sent another attack his way. Fuzen was now running in a circle around Elrick, who was continuing to send shockwaves at him.

He jumped from rooftop to rooftop, running from his opponent's incredible attack. He realized that if he kept running, the Red probably wouldn't be able to hit him. But on the flip side, there was no way he could hit the Red if he kept running this far away.

So once the last shockwave crashed behind him, he immediately turned toward his opponent. He jumped back to the roof the Red was on, and ran straight at him. With that, Elrick raised his blade and brought it down full arc, diagonally.

Fuzen slid forward, the edge of the shockwave pressing hard against his right shoulder. But with a push off, he was back on his feet and running. As soon as he was upon his opponent, he stuck his left claw out to his side and swung it at his neck.

Once again, their weapons met and Fuzen was sent back. His claw hummed with the vibration the Bloodsword sent through it.

OoC: I hope that was satisfactory.

Elrick's shockwave was stopped, the Red grinning at the murderer. "You still fighting, I thought you ran off to your momma," he growled, keeping the Bloodsword up with a single arm. The claws could not penetrate, not against the awesome strength of the demon blade.

"Shut up damned Red," Fuzen hissed, increasing the pressure of the talons on the red sword. "I will kill you, and spread your ashes into the wind!"

"Wouldn't count on it," Elrick retorted, before he released his pressure, ducking low. Fuzen was unable to stop, being thrown forward from his own attack. He stared down in rage as the Red bent low, raising a gloved fist and sinking his knuckles deep into his stomach. The force from the blow sent Fuzen flying straight ahead, off the building they were fighting atop.

Clutching his chest in pain, Fuzen spread out the talons of his free hand, tearing through the walls of the building to remain in the fight. Falling would mean defeat and death at the height they were battling at. Curse him! he thought furiously, digging his claws to return to the top, where Elrick was waiting for him.

The breeze was blowing his ponytail around, swaying it in the wind. His face was hard, one of extreme anger. He could not stand the killer, to simply have no remorse for his crimes against the people in the village. "You are going to die here," Elrick stated clearly, the Bloodsword resting on his shoulder, as though it was nothing. "But I want a fun match, I believe in sportsmanship before I destroy a bounty."

"You consider me sport?" Fuzen spat furiously, his anger at the boiling point.

"Yes," the Red replied, a cold look in his eyes. "Those who do not hold value in human life do not deserve human life. Even I am not human, not anymore, yet I know that. You are more of a demon then I am Fuzen, and must be exterminated."

He raised the sword, sending the shockwave out once more with an outraged call. Fuzen felt it coming, but could not move. His injury, which seemed minor at first, was spreading in pain. The winds struck him, launching him into the air.

After a short flight, Fuzen crashed through a roof. The wood and tile scratched at his body as he impacted. He hit the floor with a thud and a moan. His wounds stung as dust lowered onto him. As he lay inside, time seemed to slow down. Seconds seemed like minutes as thoughts drifted through him. "Why won't you die?" He groaned. "Why can't I kill you?"

Outside, Elrick was vaulting over to his fallen opponent. He touched down and looked through the hole at Fuzen. The murderer was shuffling back to his feet. Elrick pointed his weapon down at him and brandished it from side to side. "Stand up." The Red demanded. "There's no sport in slicing a downed man."

"Damn you and your sport!" Fuzen yelled sharply. And with that, he jumped up and dug his left claw into the roof above him. He hung there for a second and landed back on the floor. As he grinned at the blood that stained his claw, it started to drip upwards. Too late, Fuzen remembered just what that blood was going to do.

This time, the stuff jumped into his throat and cut off his breathing. Fuzen struggled for air, but the blood would not clear. Elrick returned his blade to its scabbard, and hopped down inside. Fuzen had dropped down to his knees now, he was clearly running out of oxygen. Elrick took a step over to him and put his hand over Fuzen's mouth. The blood returned to his hand.

Fuzen gasped for air, and would have clutched his neck, had that not meant his own decapitation. He tried to stand, but whenever he did, he broke into a fit of coughing. "Pathetic." The Red scowled. "You can't even stand up to me. Are you a man at all?" But before he could answer, Elrick lifted up his opponent by his shoulders, and threw him back to the rooftops.

Fuzen landed on his feet. He stumbled a bit, but before Elrick could get back up, he turned around, and took off. Looking back, he saw The Red returning to the roofs as well. He quickened his pace, but Elrick was already starting to catch up. After the beating he took, his sprint was not at his fastest, but after peircing The Red's foot, neither was his.

"Try and keep up."

Fuzen roared, rushing after the Red as he sailed across the rooftops with ease. almost as though he was not attached to the earth, not held bound helplessly by gravity or injury. The murderer leapt, digging his talons into the surface of the buildings as the Red climbed ever higher.

Elrick looked back, seeing that the monster was catching up. He flipped off a building, twisting in midair to face Fuzen upside down, nearing the next building. He reached for the Bloodsword, trusting in behind him, building up strength. "Ready, set, go!" he shouted, unleashing the giant sword like a great boomerang, hurling the weapon towards Fuzen without pause, before landing gracefully on his feet.

Fuzen didn't think, but flipped sideways to dodge as the weapon headed for him, the demon sword grazing his shoulder gently, taking some blood as it did so. He didn't have time to care, leaping after the Red, eager for his unholy blood. "Now you're defensless!" he cried savagely, brandishing his claws with excitement.

Elrick turned, dodging the blades as they came down. "Your feet are defenseless," he pointed out, dropping to the ground with a sweeping kick, smashing at his feet. Fuzen fell to the ground as Elrick came back, delivering a powerful roundhouse kick that sent him into the nearby building wall.

Fuzen growled, bracing himself on the building before jumping back to where he had come from, Elrick's throat. The Red stood silently, crossing his arms in preparation. "I'll slice you to ribbons!" the murderer screamed, stretching out his claws.

"You won't reach me!" his opponent proclaimed, a grin on his face. "Your blood's on my sword!"

Fuzen had precisely two seconds to think What? before the Bloodsword came streaking in front of him, slamming directly into his face with its blunt side. He screamed in pain as his beautiful face met hard steel, and fell to the ground clutching his head.

"Ready to give up?" the Red muttered, as his sword returned to his hand. "You're not even giving me a proper challenge, your mind so clouded with hate. You will never win if you continue with such destructive natures."

"I'm trying to kill you," Fuzen roared, anger surging through his veins. "And you're giving me pointers?! Are you suicidal?!"

"Must be a trait I've picked up from the Encorna," he answered, crossing his arms. His injured one seemed to be getting better by the second, controlled through the blood in his arm. "He doesn't like to kill unless necessary. I don't like to kill if there isn't a challenge."

The Encorna... Where have I heard that before?

"Don't bore me with the tales of your life!" Fuzen roared, "They'll be coming to an end soon anyways!"

"As I said," the Red replied calmly, "You don't even have a chance, as long as you follow your destructive impulses."

With nothing more than a growl in response, Fuzen rushed toward his opponent. He raised his claws over his head and brought them down upon him. And once again, they met with the Bloodsword, only to be turned away by its force.

"See?" Elrick said, as he continued to defend from the murderer's attacks, "You're not even trying anymore. You've let your rage consume you."

With a quick parry, he pushed Fuzen back, and brought his weapon above his head. In a slow swing, he brought the blunt side down on the top of the murderer's head. With that, Fuzen started to wobble back and forth till finally, he started to trip over himself.

Elrick let out a groan of disappointment over the weakness of his opponent. Letting Fuzen regain is wits, he sheathed his gargantuan sword, and folded his arms. The murder in front of him was starting to regain his footing. After a moment, Fuzen shook his head side to side and stood up straight.

"You see Fuzen," Elrick said as he wrapped his fingers around the hilt of his blade, "I could have ended your life just then, but I chose not to."

"I don't care what you could have done!" Fuzen shouted while recomposing his stance, "You didn't, so it doesn't matter!"

And with that, Fuzen once again rushed his opponent. With a slight grunt, Elrick brought his blade out once more. With its blunt side facing the murderer, he prepared to defend himself from another flurry of mindless claw attacks.

But this time, Fuzen changed his tactics. In the middle of his dash, he lept into the air, and thrust his feet forward. Landing solidly on the center of his opponent's weapon, he caused the Red to slide backwards. And although the blade forced Fuzen back, he simply spread his legs, and flipped back into his stance.

Elrick tumbled backwards, falling to the ground unprotected. Fuzen saw his chance, and took it. The murderer leapt up, his desire to kill taking hold in his dark soul, stretching his cat claws towards Elrick's chest. He could almost feel the skin on his talons, though he had yet to connect.

Elrick grinned, and to Fuzen's amazement, the blood master twisted in midair, untied by gravity. Fuzen slipped in astonishment, his claws falling upon mere air once more. Elrick's body passed below Fuzen as he threw himself by inertia through the air, before the Red's foot came back up, slamming hard into Fuzen's gut, sending the murderer flying up into the air with the force to knock out an elephant.

Fuzen flipped up, saoring above the ground clutching his stomach in anger. Damn him! he hissed to himself. How did he- He didn't need to finish his last thought, he had only to look down at what Elrick was doing at that very moment.

Elrick was flipping back into a crouching situation, glaring up to him. The Bloodsword in his left arm's grasp, Elrick exploded out into the air, bursting through the air with a flourish. His hair blew through the air as the blood master flew up into the air, heading directly for Fuzen's helpless form, still launching up with no signs of halting.

"You can fly?!" Fuzen roared in disbelief, as the Red's face rushed to meet him, the Bloodsword preparing to strike.

"I can control blood can't I?" Elrick retorted, blasting up to strike. "Enjoy your taste of fear!" The Bloodsword came up, striking through Fuzen without even trying, the red metal sinking deep into his side, tearing through the murderer's body, spilling blood onto the Bloodsword's red blade.

Elrick swung, throwing the body of the murderer off the sword, and into the ground below. The torn flesh ripped off, coming apart as Fuzen fell to the ground. The murderer's body cried pain through his mind, but Fuzen still held through to grasp the walls of the buildings as he fell to the earth. The claws sunk through, scraping on the surfaces to keep hold.

Fuzen fell to the ground, his perfect body ruined. The slash in his side brought forth pain, but he stood through it, crawling to his feet like vermin. His face was covered in blood and dirt, damaging his looks beyond return to normal, the worst injury Elrick could have done.

The blood master coldly floated over where Fuzen had returned to his feet, somewhat impressed. He is a durable mortal, Elrick thought, but that was the only thing admirable about his opponent. But it is time I test his longevity. Elrick returned to the ground, precisely in front of where Fuzen was holding himself together, alive despite the damage done to him.

"You've ruined it," Fuzen growled, though his threat was faint. "You ruined my perfect face, my beautiful body."

"Your flesh will grow back," Elrick replied indifferently. "But now you will understand why I do not allow people who do not value life to live. If I was you, would I treat you any differently then you have treated the people here who have died?"

"Shut up demon," Fuzen snarled, chutching his side. Blood flowed freely from his wound, trailing crimson across the ground. "SHUT UP!"

"Why?" Elrick's cold voice broke through Fuzen's madness, striking him frozen to the spot. "Did you give them a chance? Did you care as they died? Did you?!" Elrick's voice had risen, turning into a deep roar, but Fuzen wasn't answering him. He branished the Bloodsword, wielding the massive sword at the murderer. "You do not deserve life if you do not regard others as deserving of it."

"I should have struck you down the moment I laid my eyes on you." the Red scowled at Fuzen, "But I kept you alive. And since then, you've managed to absolutely disgust me. What you do, what you think, and even the way you fight, you don't deserve the mercy I've shown you."

And with that last word, Fuzen looked up and stared Elrick right in the eyes. "Then what are you doing?!" the Murderer shouted, "I don't show mercy, I don't ask for mercy, I don't want mercy. If you despise me so much, then run your blade through my chest! Kill me."

Their eyes were still locked on eachother, each peering into the other as if they could be seen through. "If that's your final request," Elrick said somberly, "Then I will fulfill it." With that, the Red brought the Bloodsword to his side, and pointed it at the Murderer's chest.

For a moment, it seemed like time was standing still. The whisper of the wind, the chirps of the dawn birds, the dripping of water somewhere nearby, all seemed to stop. Then, as if lightning was about to strike, Elrick burst into a run.

Shing.

The entire length of the Bloodsword had made its way through the Murderer's body. As Fuzen stood there, so close to the Red, he was able to utter one more sentence. "Funny thing is," he said weakly, blood dripping from his mouth, "You think you've killed me."

Shing.

With the last of his body's energy, Fuzen raised his claw, and removed the head of Elrick the Red. Instantly, the decapitated body raised its arm, slicing the top half of the Murderer in two. Both bodies fell to the ground, blood spurting from their exposed insides.

But not even a moment after they had went limp, something started to happen to each body. While the headless form of Elrick started to rise to its feet, a white blotch appeared on Fuzen's neck. And where the Red had begun looking for his head, the Murderer was starting to move again as his form shifted from Demon to Hylian.

Fuzen, now standing whole again, stared with terror and anger at what was in front of him. Not even a Kamikaze had been able to stop the man who was after his bounty. Thinking of nothing else but his own survival, Fuzen ran like a madman in the opposite direction.

And he continued to run. Not until he was far away from the Red, but until he was far away from the town itself.

OoC: A little short, but that was one of the most fun battles I've been in since I've started here at the BA. Can't wait till next time. But until then, I'll be at my training thread.

The Bloodsword glowed.

Its red blade glowed crimson, gleaming in the hands of the decapitated warrior. As Fuzen sped into the distance like a frightened child. The blood gushed from the wound, falling to the ground in pools, only to be collected and reput into the body through the holes in his palms.

The body could not speak, seperated from its head. Elrick's head was gone, crushed into the dust by the claws. Elrick's body did not work like a normal person's, his soul bound to the earth by the Bloodsword. Not even death could stop him from protecting the weapon.

Light began to emerge, the dust that had been Elrick's head reforming, collecting in the wind upon command. It spun round the head, forming again into the fact that the world knew as Elrick of Red, the demon of Blood. The dust turned pink and golden, matching his skin and hair colors respectfully, the hint of azure that made up his eyes forming once more.

"Uggggg..." he groaned, his neck snapping into place, his voice returning. "I hate when I have to put on that little show," he muttered, cracking his neck, the bones perfectly back to normal. "It's disgraceful I allowed him to escape." He glanced at the fleeing figure, wondering to himself. "No, I won't follow the coward," he said, sheathing the giant sword in its hilt. "There is no point, he will reappear again. And when he does, I will make sure I don't let him leave."

The giant sword fit snuggly into place in the coal-black sheath on his back, and he folded his arms. The city he had saved would be safe for now, but there would be other battles for other fighters to face there. "Now all I must do is find a way out of the city unseen," he said carefully, he did not like to come into contact with others.

***

"Stop where you stand Fuzen."

The fleeing man halted, already out of the city. The voice behind him was what caught his attention, something about it was different, unatural. Almost like its owner was something not of the earth he knew. He was damaged, yes, but not beaten. He turned around, and almost fainted on sight of the person standing over him, looming him in shadow.

He was massive, over seven feet in height. The shadows around him hid most of his face, but it was safe to say that he was growling at Fuzen, though Fuzen could detect nothing from the giant, even taller then Elrick. His arms however, were folded in the same way, and the stance was identical.

"You live still," the being stated, as though it was a matter of fact. "But you fled like a coward, when you could have stayed and fought like a man. You are no man, you are a child at best, frightened when given something you cannot handle, though you have no problems harming the innocent. You are a coward Fuzen, and you always will be if you continue to fight as you do, unwilling to face a challenge."

"What are you?" Fuzen gasped, staring up at the hidden face. "How do you know about me?"

"Because I sent the Red after you," he answered. "I am the one they call the Encorna, the master of Light and Darkness. You are Fuzen, the coward."

"You..." Fuzen stopped, remembering all that Elrick had said about this creation, and how the Red even took orders from him. "So you sent a lapdog to do what you wanted? What right do you have to call me a coward then, if you won't fight your own battles?"

"Because you fool," the Encorna answered, staring down hard on him, "if I wanted, I would not need to move to kill you right now. And he will find you one day Fuzen, so remember that those who cannot uphold justice lose favor with me, and you do not want that."

Fuzen blinked, but the Encorna was gone when he opened his eyes.

OoC: Interesting ending, nice battling you though.