Well, i like the way they asked if the badge was worth crashing the server....
i think we know what i'd say to that ~_^
Anyway, at Spark's request...
Hellbane...
The vast tangled thorny trees of Thorn isle towered overhead, casting long jagged shadows in the light of the early dawn. waves lapped gently against the shore, sending sprays of water that dripped down from the rocks the group of villains was hiding in.
"The Circle of Thorns has caused us enough trouble..." Two Fist was saying, flexing his massive stony muscles. "Information we have recieved from our 'sources'..." he gestured to the mangled corpses of a half dozen Circle Mages, "Seems to indicate that the Nerva Demons here protect a powerful spirit creature. If we can force him out into the open and destroy him it will be a clear message to our foes in the Circle that we are NOT to be messed with."
Two Fist surveyed his team. There were many faces from Demons and Vengeful Spirits, including Black Jon Bludd, Atomic Tempest, Hellfire Roaster, Big Evil Boulder and more. There was also a couple of mercenaries they had hired, to pad out the numbers and to absorb any dangerous enemy attacks.
"Two team, one sunward, one moonward." He continued. "Atomic Tempest, you're with me, as i feel the need for speed. Xipido.," he said, looking to another brute of stone, who was sinking into the soft sand under the weight of his granite body. "You lead team two. Be the battering ram, and smash through. Take Scarlet Vengeance with you..." he said, gesturing to a woman standing quietly in the shadow of a larger series of rocks. Closer inspection revealed a small squad of ninjas guarding her, effeortlessly blending in with the background. "Take Black Jon too, and Big Evil Boulder." that was a nother stony brute. "And those mercenaries. Destroy every Nerva demon you see, rip them down, cut them down, burn them, SMASH! them, i don't care how you kill them, just do so! Everyone else, you're with me."
......
The sun was at it's peak now, the waters around Thorn Isle glittering with brilliant sunlight. A pair of unearthly shrieks pierced the air as Scarlet's ninjas dispatched another pair of Nerva demons, leaving a faint cry of pain that howled through the gentle breeze.
"that's most of them..." Xipido said, surveying the area. They had cleared a vash swathe of beach, slaying scores of the demons.
"Up here." Black Jon Bludd called from above. He had climbed a rocky trail to the summit of the cliffs that surrounded Thorn Isle, and could survey the wooded bowl below. Dozens of Nerva Demons were clustering around, chattering nervously, watching the sun. As the others climbed up he crept closer, listening to their talk.
"Caleb will not be pleased..." one chittered to his companions. "Many are dead, and we cannot hold the isle. Our enemies, the Devouring Earth, they will take the isle unless we..." he paused. "What was that? An emeny? For Caleb!" he cried, then exploded into a spray of cold mist as Jon's blade smashed through him. Then Xipido and Big Evil Boulder charged downwards, smashing into them, fists flashing with baleful energies. ninjas leapt down, blades flashing, and a slaughter ensued, the Nervas being butchered savagely.
...
Two Fist hurled a great chunk of rock at a pair of fleeing Nerva demons, smashing the life (or more appropriately, unlife) from them, leaving them to fade away, thin voices whispering promises of Calebs retribution. Ms Kitty and Atomic Tempest returned then, flying down to land before Two Fist.
"Seems we aren't the only ones here." Ms Kitty said. "Someone else has been killing the Circle."
"And it doesn't look like our second squad." Atomic chimed in. "looks like they've been torn to bits by thorns or something. so very ironic."
"Hmmm." Two Fist looked at the sky. It was beginning to darken, the sun dipping behind the horizon. "Well, keep alert, it could be something we need to... what the hell?" He was cut off as a volley of razor sharp thorns whipped through the air all around them, piercing flesh. Atomic tempest fell, a long thorn cleaving through her eye, and Ms Kitty howled in pain as one clipped a good six inches off the end of her tail. Ropy vines burst from the ground, snaring Two Fist and Mister Fister, hodling them secure.
"I feel that need for that lovely speed again!" Two Fist shouted as he tried to break free.
"Out of luck!" Kitty said, ducking another volley of thorns. "Our dearly beloved Atomic is eating floor again. I'll attend to it in a minute, as soon as... oh shi...." She was cut off as a wine wrapped around her neck and began choking her. Soon she was as pruple as her outfit and close to losing consciousness.
Hellfire Roaster, who had fared better than the rest as his fiery aura had burned through the entangling vines, raced to the summit of the surrounding cliffs and saw the foe, a half dozen tree-like beasts, dripping with ivy and surrounded by clouds of stinging insects.
"Devouring Earth!" he cried, racing downwards, hurling himself into the fray, sending flames leaping across them, the fire rapidly conduming their woody forms. As the Devouring Earth died the hold on Ms Kitty was loosened she fell to the ground, and struggling for breath she unleashed her power, and a howling gale of midnight energy struck the foe, the backwash of releashed power closing the wound to Atomic Tepmest's eye, and forcing her heart to start beating again.
Atomic dragged herself to her feet, just in time to see the now freed Two Fist and Mister Fister tear apart the last of the Devouring earth with extreme anger. Looking up she saw that the sun had almost vanished entirely below the horizon, just a thin sliver remaing. Then it was gone, and darkness was here, accompanied by a huge howling voice.
"All who desecrate my island and kill my children must diiiiiiiiieeeeeeee!"
..............
The battered groups had rejoined, and under the wan light of the stars overhead plotted their final move. All of them bore many wounds, as swarms of Nerva demons now thronged the island, and there were several more encounters with the Devouring earth, but they had finally tracked Caleb down to his lair, where he waited.
"Right." Two Fist said. "We need to make this quick, as he is immensly powerful. If our first attack doesn't take him, nothing will. We all know our roles?"
Everyone nodded their agreement.
"Then we attack! I need my speed!" Two Fist roared, leading the charge, the other brutes in fighting wedge behind them. Atomic Tempest hurled the blue energy over them and they suddenly accelerated, hammering into Caleb even as he turned to face them. Their many attacks wounded him, throwing gouts of mist and darkness off from him, but he fought back, claws rending and icy mist burning.
"I'll eat your souls for an ettttteeerrrrrnnnniiiittttyyyyyy in hhhhheeeeeelllllllllll!" he roared, breathing out a cone of icy crystals which hurled everyone back. Then he staggered, as Black Jon Bludd appeared from hiding and speared him with his blade, then spun on his heel and whipped it through his eye, shattering it. Caleb reeled back, both hands going to his now missing eye, and then Scarlet's Ninjas struck, moving in and lashing him with their many blades, while the leader belched a volley of flame, which scorched caleb, setting his back and shoulders alight.
Ms Kitty and Atomic Tempest began to bombard him with dark energy and nuclear bursts respectively, doing further damage, shearing away one arm.
"I.... cannot be... defeated..." Caleb burbled.
"Demons and Vengeful Spirits can defeat anything that lives or breathes." Two Fist said grimly. "And while that technically rules you out, Caleb, you bleed, which is another good criteria for your imminent termination." His fists flashed out and Calebs last arm was severed. Then the other brutes moved in and with a final volley of blows Caleb exploded, showering everyone with cold misty gore.
"And so ends mighty Caleb." Two Fist said with satisfaction. "Truly, we are Hellbane!"
