That Terrible Strength (Keres/Open)

[KERES]

[atrb=border,0,true][STYLE= float: left; height: 100px; width: 100px; background-image: url('http://i50.tinypic.com/w1cuo8.jpg'); border-bottom: solid 5px #4e0e42; border-left: solid 5px #4e0e42; border-top: solid 5px #4e0e42; margin: 32px -220px 0px -5px;] [/style][style= float: left; height: 80px; width: 80px; background-image: url('http://i50.tinypic.com/w1cuo8.jpg'); border-bottom: solid 5px #4e0e42; border-left: solid 5px #4e0e42; border-top: solid 5px #4e0e42; margin: 148px -220px 0px 15px;] [/style] [style= float: left; height: 60px; width: 60px; background-image: url('http://i50.tinypic.com/w1cuo8.jpg'); border-bottom: solid 5px #4e0e42; border-left: solid 5px #4e0e42; border-top: solid 5px #4e0e42; margin: 228px -220px 0px 35px;] [/style] [style= height: 211px; width: 310px; background-image: url('http://i.imgur.com/Nn2ug.gif'); font: normal 10px verdana; color: black; border: solid 5px #4e0e42; padding: 5px 15px 5px 15px; margin-left: 100px; text-align: justify; overflow: auto;]A sly smile came over the female as she started walking towards an abandoned and crumbled building. He didn't speak much after she mentioned the side effect of her drug. Looking back over her shoulder at him, her smile grew to a full blown grin. He was starting to question her methods. Good perhaps she could show him just what she was capable of. "Well to be honest I don't really know what kind of effect it will have on people. I've seen it so many things like cause them to simply drop dead. Or their heart explodes. It varies on how much they are given and what their species is."

[/b] Keres explained as she entered the destroyed building. Placing a hand on the back wall, she gave a soft push and the wall slowly slide to the side. A staircase was revealed that descended into darkness.

"Don't worry dear. It's only one flight of stairs and there are easy ways for you to get out. This way will remain open so if you feel uncomfortable or threatened you can leave at any time."[/b] The female flashed him another smile as she began to walk down the staircase. Lamps lit themselves along the walls as she walked. At the bottom of the stairs it opened up into a grand room. The walls and ceiling were made of stone. Lab tables and all kinds of lab equipment littered the room. This was one of her cleanest labs. All the tools were neatly laid out on the counters. Cabinets along the back wall were filled with even more equipment. This would be like a dream for the young man. All the tools and means to do research were here in one room. Unlike the rest of her labs, this one didn't stink of blood and death. Lamps along the walls and a few hanging from the ceiling all flickered to life as she stepped on the stone floor.

"Welcome to my finest lab. This place has everything you would need to do research. This is one I do not use very often, so if you were to give me your services this entire lab would be yours."[/b] Spinning on the ball of her foot, she gestured to the entire room. Eyes alight with excitement, she settled them on him. "I will get you the drug and you are welcome to look at all the properties it has within it."[/b] Keres turned back to the rest of the room and headed over the wall of cabinets. She ran her claws along them until she stopped at one in particular. Opening the cabinet, she pulled out a small vile filled with a dark red liquid. "This is the PI drug. There are plenty of other drugs you can investigate as well if you wish."[/b] Holding it out to him, she smiled. How long would he last here? Should she mention she also helped develop the Yajuu ability suppressant that the Iustus use? Nah where is the fun in telling him so soon. [/style][style= height: 36px; width: 310px; background-image: url('http://i.imgur.com/Nn2ug.gif');font: normal 10px verdana; color: black; border-bottom: solid 5px #4e0e42; border-left: solid 5px #4e0e42; border-right: solid 5px #4e0e42; padding: 5px 15px 5px 15px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 100px; text-align: justify; overflow: auto;] words: i dunno~
notes: welcome to my lair~
Credits: ROLLY of LOVE STAMP & BtN[/style][/td][/tr][/table][/center]

[MICHAEL]

Michael was impressed- enamored, really- with the lab and all its trappings, and to attempt to hide this would have been a foolish endeavor for the young man. His eyes practically lit up at the sight of the equipment, all of the highest quality. Scientists, indeed, were in short supply given the circumstances, yet this woman had collected only the finest of supplies. All glassware and instruments were maintained in flawless condition, and her chemicals, compounds, and cell cultures boasted variety unlike he had ever seen. Keres was one of tremendous resources, this much was certain, though some of what was to be found in the laboratory was quite unrecognizable to the well-read soldier. The nomenclature of certain test tubes did not match with his established conventions, suggesting an alternative method not entirely in-line with the contemporary scientific community. Yet he could not deny that it was a lab of the Biological sciences; a man of less suspicion might even have suspected it was used for Medicine.

"A drug that can cause spontaneous cardiac eruptions isn't exactly one that I would put on the market." Said Michael. His eyes locked into an accusing squint at her words, the boy's sharp mind having picked up on the subtle clues as to the true nature of her research. Even with the deep fog having set in over his higher faculties, Michael caught on to the disquieting fact of the matter; Keres had tested this drug on humans. However, he was not yet ready to play his hand. "It must have required extensive experimentation." He tugged gently at the issue, hoping not to disturb the needles on which it so delicately rested. "I suppose soon it will be safe enough for human testing. I mean, provided we both work diligently." Of course, he knew that she had already begun that phase of her little project, but Michael hoped to fool her into thinking he hadn't caught that blatant disregard for scientific ethics.

In any case, he mused excitedly as Keres went to fetch her unrefined tonic, this raised innumerable possibilities as to the cause of its dangers. If it involved the heart, that meant it may have something to do with the blood, or else with the complex muscle's rhythmic contractions. Yet, she said it worked like a charm on some but caused sudden death in others. Michael was, thus, led to believe that it somehow acted on the antibodies attached to a person's blood cells. His eyes were still alight with emotion most powerful, though they were now of a different sort. He was caught in the depths of contemplation, struggling to form some sort of hypothesis that he could easily test. Yet his toils were in vain for the moment, as he would not even come close to such an idea until he had a sample of the drug in-hand. Fortunately, the wait was not too long. He did, though, not want to take any chances in handling such a concoction, especially in the company of so unscrupulous a guest.

He reached hastily for a pair of rubber gloves sitting on a nearby counter, themselves having clearly not been used. Slipping them on snugly, he accepted the vile from Keres. "Thank you very much, dear." He returned her term of endearment with a very understated sarcasm, such that one might miss it if they were not hanging on his every word. "But I think this will do for now. Well, unless, of course, you have some other projects you think I might be especially interested in." Michael suggested, though he was already on his way to a nearby bench, that he might begin working on this most valuable sample.

[KERES]

[atrb=border,0,true][STYLE= float: left; height: 100px; width: 100px; background-image: url('http://i50.tinypic.com/w1cuo8.jpg'); border-bottom: solid 5px #4e0e42; border-left: solid 5px #4e0e42; border-top: solid 5px #4e0e42; margin: 32px -220px 0px -5px;] [/style][style= float: left; height: 80px; width: 80px; background-image: url('http://i50.tinypic.com/w1cuo8.jpg'); border-bottom: solid 5px #4e0e42; border-left: solid 5px #4e0e42; border-top: solid 5px #4e0e42; margin: 148px -220px 0px 15px;] [/style] [style= float: left; height: 60px; width: 60px; background-image: url('http://i50.tinypic.com/w1cuo8.jpg'); border-bottom: solid 5px #4e0e42; border-left: solid 5px #4e0e42; border-top: solid 5px #4e0e42; margin: 228px -220px 0px 35px;] [/style] [style= height: 211px; width: 310px; background-image: url('http://i.imgur.com/Nn2ug.gif'); font: normal 10px verdana; color: black; border: solid 5px #4e0e42; padding: 5px 15px 5px 15px; margin-left: 100px; text-align: justify; overflow: auto;]Eyes settled on him. She watched him carefully as he spoke and as he moved. he female's expression hardened slightly. Was he mocking her work? All of her years of research and testing and one little human was going to mock her work. Turning away from him, she headed over to the cabinet and pulled out a vile. This one was a deep purple in color. With her vile in hand she went over to a counter away from him. "You can stop hinting at my testing methods. Yes I have tested all my drugs on humans. Because you see they give the best results. How am I supposed to know what a drug does on an animal if it's designed to work on a human?"

[/b] A devilish smile crossed over the female as she turned to face Michael. Her claws drummed along the counter top.

"My research might help lives but that is not what I use it for. The drug that the Iustus uses against Yajuu was thanks to my careful tweaking. But despite all this that I have done. I am willing to use my drugs for good. They can be modified for use by those that need it. Which is why I brought you here. If you think you can get the drug or any other drug to work without their side effects, then you can take them with you and go."[/b] The smile played at her lips as she watched him carefully. If he was going to mock her and be incredibly rude, then she was going to let him know just what she was capable of. Hell if she needed to she'd even bring in Masashi or Michio to help prove her point. Perhaps she could Michael watch as she tortured little Masashi. Would he try to save him? It would be precious to watch. Masashi might even walk out of there and then die. How would he die? Would it be painful?

Picking the vile up again, she opened the top and it made a soft hissing noise. Carefully scratching the side of her face, she let the blood coat her claw. The female let it drip into the vile before she closed it up. With a light swirl of the liquid, she watched as it shifted color from purple to a brilliant blue almost matching her eyes. "My hands are not clean by any means and my science is not the typical science. I do science by my own means, but I willing to let you to do as you please while working under me. All you have to do is work on a few projects that I give you from time to time. It isn't a bad gig really. You are quite lucky. By now I'm usually beating my victims into submission."[/b] Pulling herself up onto the counter, the demoness gave him a pleasant smile. One that said she no longer wanted to play games. It was time for an answer from him.[/style][style= height: 36px; width: 310px; background-image: url('http://i.imgur.com/Nn2ug.gif');font: normal 10px verdana; color: black; border-bottom: solid 5px #4e0e42; border-left: solid 5px #4e0e42; border-right: solid 5px #4e0e42; padding: 5px 15px 5px 15px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 100px; text-align: justify; overflow: auto;] words: i dunno~
notes: patience is thinning~
Credits: ROLLY of LOVE STAMP & BtN[/style][/td][/tr][/table][/center]

[MICHAEL]

Of course, this new revelation did not bode well for the deal that once sat so enticingly on the table. Though the smog of Keres's aura loomed above his rational faculties, it was yet deterred by a willpower not oft seen in the hearts of men. The miasma wove itself comfortably among his neurons, but so strong was their resolution that his ethics remained mostly in-tact. Michael once was blinded to the truth, at least in part, by his desire to return to the sciences, then amplified by the constant influence of this godlike woman's power. However, direct mention of human testing cast him free of all doubt and indecision, no matter the potential applications of the drug. The equipment that surrounded him would be used for evil one way or the other, and he would not contribute. Too many scientists had let their petty need for advancement distract them from why they had pursued such a path in the first place- to serve those around him and make the world safer and more prosperous for them.

"Y'know, Keres," said Michael, eyes gradually tightening themselves into the glare of a dagger, "last time I read about a scientist working under someone like you, the young man paused and took a step away from the workbench, "I was a bit disappointed." The vile, still full of what had the potential to be a glorious elixir of eternal life, was set down on a nearby counter. Much as it pained him, Michael released his vice grip on the bizarre solution, forfeiting- for the time being, at least- the secrets contained within. He had no intention of being this woman's puppet, and the resolve woven intrinsically into his soft yet confident features spoke volumes on its own. To work under her instructions bore the inherent risk of playing an instrumental role in such a terrible thing as the Yajuu Suppression Field, nevermind the other crooked projects she had up her sleeve.

"I'd wager you've been around a couple centuries, right? Don't worry, though, you don't look a day over twenty." Were it not for the scathing sarcasm tied to his voice, the young soldier of fortune may have sounded quite charming. Certainly, he spoke in commanding tones, glaring the sharpest of blades into the eyes of the demonic goddess. His voice echoed off the walls of the cavernous laboratory, booming forth with godlike volley and resonance. It would not have taken a great intellect to see that he was caught in a very deep-seeded fit of anger seen only in those who have had their very ethical epicenter insulted. "But I don't think I need to explain to you why we use animals to test a procedure's safety. So, I'm afraid I cannot work for someone who doesn't understand such a fundamental rule of ethics." Of course, Michael had not disregarded the incredible advancements that had taken place in the laboratory. If need be, he would pursue this woman's research until he was able to procure a sample of the drug by force, or at least her notes.

[KERES]

[atrb=border,0,true][STYLE= float: left; height: 100px; width: 100px; background-image: url('http://i50.tinypic.com/w1cuo8.jpg'); border-bottom: solid 5px #4e0e42; border-left: solid 5px #4e0e42; border-top: solid 5px #4e0e42; margin: 32px -220px 0px -5px;] [/style][style= float: left; height: 80px; width: 80px; background-image: url('http://i50.tinypic.com/w1cuo8.jpg'); border-bottom: solid 5px #4e0e42; border-left: solid 5px #4e0e42; border-top: solid 5px #4e0e42; margin: 148px -220px 0px 15px;] [/style] [style= float: left; height: 60px; width: 60px; background-image: url('http://i50.tinypic.com/w1cuo8.jpg'); border-bottom: solid 5px #4e0e42; border-left: solid 5px #4e0e42; border-top: solid 5px #4e0e42; margin: 228px -220px 0px 35px;] [/style] [style= height: 211px; width: 310px; background-image: url('http://i.imgur.com/Nn2ug.gif'); font: normal 10px verdana; color: black; border: solid 5px #4e0e42; padding: 5px 15px 5px 15px; margin-left: 100px; text-align: justify; overflow: auto;]The demoness stopped drumming her claws along the edge of the counter. In fact her whole demeanor changed. The slightly pale eyes were not almost completely white as she looked at Michael. Her aura was thick in the room and would bring any normal man to his knees. It was an aura that was incredibly thick and powerful. His will power was rather strong to resist it for so long. But how long would he last if she gave him the brunt of it. Would he crumple so easily as all others had? Eyes roaming over him, she smiled to herself. He didn't seem like the kind to give in so easily. "Boy let me tell you something. I have been around many years. probably more years than you can even imagine. I have tried animal testing, but let me assure you. The results are never the same."

[/b] The female smiled to him as she walked towards him. Her claws were dragging along the counter top.

"We are in the middle of a war. Do you think I have time to test my drugs on animals? I test them on humans and Yajuu because I get results faster. So what if one or two die. It is all in the mane of science after all."[/b] The smile grew into a malicious grin as the female stopped in front of him. "Well Michael if I didn't know any better I would say you were being smart with me. Do you know what happened to the last man that was smart with me? I ripped his chest open."[/b] The words were sweet and short as she slid her hand over his and took her drug back from him. "If you are going to question my methods then I am just going to take this back. After all you obviously don't want the chance to save humanity. I've already done so much for them. They were given the right drugs to take out all Yajuu. It's only a matter of time before the Yajuu are wiped out completely."[/b] The female turned away from him and snatched up the other vile she had out as well. It was a bold move to turn her back on him but she didn't care.

Turning back to face him, she leaned against the counter top. Pale eyes met his as she gave him a sweet smile. "My offer to you still stands. I am willing to give you this lab and everything you need to do your own research. Meanwhile you will not hinder my research. I am offering you the chance to start your own research and do as you please. All you need to do is say you'll belong to me. At this point you will either work for me of your own free will or I will have to take you by force. I grow tired of all these games."[/b] This was true. She was getting tired of all this talk and the sarcastic comments. This boy would either give in willingly or she would beat him into submission. She had no problem with the latter. She had done it before and wouldn't mind doing it again if it meant she got someone like him under her. This boy was different from what she had seen and different was never a good thing. [/style][style= height: 36px; width: 310px; background-image: url('http://i.imgur.com/Nn2ug.gif');font: normal 10px verdana; color: black; border-bottom: solid 5px #4e0e42; border-left: solid 5px #4e0e42; border-right: solid 5px #4e0e42; padding: 5px 15px 5px 15px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 100px; text-align: justify; overflow: auto;] words: i dunno~
notes: welp looks like she's getting down to buisness
Credits: ROLLY of LOVE STAMP & BtN[/style][/td][/tr][/table][/center]

[MICHAEL]

It was, of course, very true that the force of her aura would have reduced a lesser man to desperate shambles in short order. Hers was a powerful essence, born of Hades itself and laced with the most intoxicating of shadows. No longer a subtle influence looming in the deepest crevices of Michael's subconscious, the ethereal miasma tugged at his very neural impulses in a tenacious campaign to lead them astray. Prior to this remarkable impact, Michael had begun to suspect that some part of his mind's inner sanctum had been violated, and the sharp pressure threatening to crush his very spiritual essence had more than convinced him. With a start, his glaring eyes opened in full and his entire body gave a powerful jerk. As the pristine room and all its scientific instruments spun about him, Michael's knees grew steadily weaker, and his hand balled up into a fist so tight that his entire forearm quaked with mighty tremors.

In this valley of despair, however, a white hot flame was kindled. For, just as Keres had unleashed her true ferocity, so, too, had Michael's conscious willpower been called to action. He knew now, beyond the merest hint of uncertainty, that his mind was under attack. So, it came to pass that the resolve which once lay dormant in the back of his skull welled up and broke through to the surface. Though he was assaulted with horrifying and intimidating thoughts- that Keres was an inherently "greater" being or that humanity was naught but a race of maggots before such power- he beat them back with incredible strength. The power surged through his veins like so many amperes of electricity, stirring the invincible storm for which he had become so infamous among his enemies. Michael Magnum aimed to prove why he was known every bit as well for his willpower as he was for his godlike bolts of lightning.

"Listen up, and listen well." He snarled through gritted teeth, once more rising to stare the deity in the eye. His face hardened as he turned his back on the fear and anxiety that had so briefly plagued him, settling on a look of utter defiance. For all the world, Michael looked as one who was ready to storm Mount Olympus himself and throw down its pearly white gates. "Never would I even consider using a human or a Yajuu as a test subject. There are other ways- better ways!" He clenched his fist once more, but this time, an errant spark of electricity escaped from its folds. This was no attack on Keres, however; rather, it was a premature outburst brought on by supreme determination in the face of this crushing aura. "I swore to use my knowledge and power to help others -- not to use them as guinea pigs. Michael spoke now in a rebellious roar, having been offended on a most basic level. Here was one with tremendous power and a sharp mind, yet she used this strength only for her own sadistic and selfish ends.

It was sickening.

"I do not want the Yajuu eliminated. If it were up to me, this whole awful war would never have happened. Yes, I hope to save humanity, but I want to save it from the likes of you." He took a heavy, mighty step toward Keres, his foot crashing down on the hard, gray floor of the cavern. "If you truly wished to help anyone, you'd be working nonstop to fix that drug of yours. And don't pretend that you can't; someone with your resources and experience can affect any change you desire." He spat accusations left and right, eyes set on the way out. Even in this fit of reckless fury, Michael was in no mood to fight this woman on her own home turf. However, if need-be, he would get her soundly out of the way. "I decline your offer, Keres. Take that as you will, and I will respond in kind. Are we clear? The weight of the aura had been shrugged off, and Michael now stood with shoulders back and head held high. It was a mighty test of his inner power, but Michael was a man of uncommon faculties.

[KERES]

[atrb=border,0,true][STYLE= float: left; height: 100px; width: 100px; background-image: url('http://i50.tinypic.com/w1cuo8.jpg'); border-bottom: solid 5px #4e0e42; border-left: solid 5px #4e0e42; border-top: solid 5px #4e0e42; margin: 32px -220px 0px -5px;] [/style][style= float: left; height: 80px; width: 80px; background-image: url('http://i50.tinypic.com/w1cuo8.jpg'); border-bottom: solid 5px #4e0e42; border-left: solid 5px #4e0e42; border-top: solid 5px #4e0e42; margin: 148px -220px 0px 15px;] [/style] [style= float: left; height: 60px; width: 60px; background-image: url('http://i50.tinypic.com/w1cuo8.jpg'); border-bottom: solid 5px #4e0e42; border-left: solid 5px #4e0e42; border-top: solid 5px #4e0e42; margin: 228px -220px 0px 35px;] [/style] [style= height: 211px; width: 310px; background-image: url('http://i.imgur.com/Nn2ug.gif'); font: normal 10px verdana; color: black; border: solid 5px #4e0e42; padding: 5px 15px 5px 15px; margin-left: 100px; text-align: justify; overflow: auto;]The female's eyes narrowed dangerously as she watched him. Was this man insulting her? How dare he question her methods and her work. She remained silent through his rant but her eyes never left him. Oh how she wanted to break him. She wanted to tear him down til he was nothing more than a whimpering little dog. All this talk about what was right and not using humans for test subjects was really making her mad. This man knew nothing. He didn't know how truly difficult it was to get medicines to work. Blood red claws drummed along her arm and they paused ever so slightly. Speaking of medicines was that still linked to her air vents? A mischievous grin spread itself across her face. One claw twitched ever so slightly as a breeze began to shift through the room and her hair shifted about her shoulders. To any normal person it would seem like the air had just kicked on. But to her trained nose she can smell the sweet scent of her drug filling the room. It only took seconds for the drug to flow through the air. It would soon find its way into his lungs and work itself into his system. This drug should slow him down. The way it was designed it would make him groggy and tired. His body might even feel a bit heavier. Yawing ever so slightly, she flexed her claws and set gaze back on him. "Oh Michael. It is so sad that you paint me as such a monster. To think that I would be so cruel. I've told you everything I do is all for the better. I only want to be able to help in anyway I can."

[/b] The demoness shifted away from the counter letting one hand hang loosely at her side. "Your refusal to join with is quite upsetting. I thought you had so much potential. So much that might help the world and yet you turn away the one chance to do something better. How sad"[/b] A grin spread across her face.

Lifting a clawed hand she pointed at him, and almost instantly Nyteri appeared withing her grasp it's blade inches from his neck. "I hope you'll be an easy one to put back together. I don't like ruining perfect specimens. You are quite something after all."[/b] The demoness laughed as she gripped the battle axe with two hands. Pulling it back over her head, she swung it down towards the ground with enough force to put a hole in the floor. "You see even if you decline my offer. That doesn't mean I'll let you walk out of here of your own free will. You are mine boy. Mine from the moment you stepped into this lab."[/b] Bellowing the words, the female shifted again with her axe this time aiming to swing at his middle. he would be hers. She'd have him under her control in no time. Even if she had to beat him into submission she would get this man under her control. This boy was hers[/style][style= height: 36px; width: 310px; background-image: url('http://i.imgur.com/Nn2ug.gif');font: normal 10px verdana; color: black; border-bottom: solid 5px #4e0e42; border-left: solid 5px #4e0e42; border-right: solid 5px #4e0e42; padding: 5px 15px 5px 15px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 100px; text-align: justify; overflow: auto;] words: i dunno~
notes: and she lost it >.>
Credits: ROLLY of LOVE STAMP & BtN[/style][/td][/tr][/table][/center]

[MICHAEL]

Michael remembered well the woman's boastful words; she had spoken of a strength before which the Gods themselves had fallen prey. The ax she summoned forth, its edge keen and swift, once tasted the flesh of immortals, or so the wanderer was led to believe. However, a man of science to the very last, he clung still to his doctrine of skepticism in the face of a remarkably shady character, charismatic as she was. This doubt was gone the moment Keres first lashed out, her heavy tool of war hungering for his blood. Michael Magnum, a man known for his sharp wit and sharper reflexes, who had engaged Purebloods of great prestige and walked away victorious, was very nearly taken by her speed. From the instant he sensed her malicious aura, the sharpshooting hero had been on on his guard, yet he barely twisted his body early enough to evade Keres's fell swoop. The ax, he could have sworn, had shaved a strand of hair from his very head.

The laboratory's reinforced floor was shattered by the near miss, launching jagged masses of rock and white tiling every-which-way. The debris erupted from the point of impact, bringing with it a cloud of dust and the booming roar of a thunderclap. Michael landed nimbly, briefly touching a hand to the ground to steady himself. The very instant he had his footing and his wits about him, he set off in a mad sprint for cover. His senses, though focused elsewhere, picked up a certain aroma to the air, however faint. Yet, it was ignored, for an infinitesimally small dose of a drug was of little consequence compared to the bitter sting of Keres's dread weapon. Thus he stopped for not so much as an instant, diving behind a sturdy, black laboratory station and taking with him an array of glassware. Equipment fell to the floor and was summarily ignored by the young man, who had scarcely even noticed that the ax had torn his shirt around the chest.

Prepared to mount his counterattack, Michael rose to his feet and searched the dust cloud for a human's silhouette. His hands shined and sparked, letting loose stray currents which shattered whatever equipment remained standing. "If you think I'll go down as easy as that old stiff, Zeus, you've got another thing coming!" He boasted, thrusting his arm palm-out. A devastating bolt was thrown from Michael's hand which seared forth faster than any bullet, powered by nature's own unyielding strength. His lightning burned blue, casting the entire laboratory in its radiance. Michael had scarcely taken a split second to aim, but, for him, it was more than enough. However, immediately after its release, he looked cautiously about for any sign of attack. He was, after all, on her turf, and she desperately wanted him in her grasp. "I should warn you, it'd be a waste of resources to try and control me." He shouted to the darkness in an almost mocking tone. "I'd sooner be killed than housebroken by the likes of you."

[KERES]

[atrb=border,0,true] The female shifted her stance and gripped the battle axe tight as she swung it up to rest on her shoulder. A dangerous smile played across her lips as her bare feet slid across the floor. It was covered with dirt and chunks that she had knocked up from her blow. His comment about going down as easy as Zeus truly made her laugh. It was a loud laugh that had her doubling over and wiping tears from her eyes. "Go down as easy as Zeus? Don't flatter yourself boy. You may be good but you are nothing compared to the gods. Their power is something that you will never be able to match."

[/b] The words echoed through the lab as she moved again dodging his lightning. In truth she really didn't have to move at all. She could just bat it away with her axe, but let him think he was getting somewhere. The dust that had gathered in the air was quite thick providing him with some cover. It would clear soon enough.

With a smile on her lips she pulled back the battle axe and let it fly towards him. The blade would be on a straight path towards him because it was an extension of herself after all. She could control it once it was thrown. Whether he was quick enough to dodge it or not didn't matter to her. "Michael why don't you just give in? It would save you so much time and pain." Her voice would sound like it was coming from everywhere. There was now way he would even pinpoint her location. There was a thump as he axe landed in the wall and she appeared on it's handle. "Come out, come out, come out wherever you are~"[/b] The female sang as she reached down and gripped the handle of the axe. Within the blink of an eye, she appeared behind Michael and spun to hit him with the flat part of her axe.

Twisting in mid air, she used her free hand to grab a table and threw it at him as well. Just how many things could he dodge at once? How fast could he actually move? That drug should be working it's way into his system now. He would be slowing down now and she wouldn't have a problem catching him and beating him around some more. The female disappeared from view again making sure to use the dust to her advantage. He was an electric user and she didn't exactly feel like getting shocked right now. Last time she took the full brunt of an electric attack she kept shocking herself for weeks. Smiling, her pale blue eyes practically glowed through the dust, but she had managed to place herself between him and the exit. Good now she didn't have to worry about him slipping away from her. [/div]

words: i dunno~
notes: this post makes no sense to me T.T
Credits: ROLLY of LOVE STAMP & BtN

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[MICHAEL]

"Laugh it up, Keres, but I'm a bit more resilient than I look." He warned the slayer of gods, staring into the face of this immortal with eternal defiance. Adrenaline yet surged through his every artery, pumping to his extremities pure, distilled vigor, of which he needed every drop he could wrench from his body. Michael knew well, however, that he would never match her great strength, for her sinews were woven not from mortal tissue, nor were her bones so easily shattered. All that he had over this women were the heavenly bolts at his fingertips. At range, he had a fighting chance; his eyes were as a hawk's, trained to perfection by years of sharpshooting, while his fist commanded a terrible power perhaps befitting that of an Olympian. However, if Keres, with her blistering speed, seeming to outstrip the wind itself, were to engage Michael in prolonged melee, he would not be long for this Earth. Worse yet, he could fall victim to her torturous instruments in the hopes of breaking his spirit -- this was far more grave, of course, because Michael knew that his spirit would endure.

Unfortunately for the intrepid hero, the deceptively youthful sadist had yet another trick up her sleeve. The keen, daemonic ax - itself looking quite heavy - was hurled as though it were a nigh weightless ball thrown by the mightiest of pitchers. Michael dropped with not a second to spare, nimbly spreading his legs out and planting his palm firmly onto the floor to steady himself. He was quick to rise, however, for he saw an opportunity to strike down his unarmed foe. Michael's fist shined and sizzled, but alas, it had no target to meet. Though the lights flickered, he still could see with relative clarity, and yet he could not find so much as an errant silhouette. Her voice, however, boomed loud and clear, seeming to come from all directions. Was this a form of witchcraft, or merely an illusion brought on by some mad science? In any case, Michael was far from amused. "Give in? You're wasting your time. Why don't you just run along and play with your chemistry set?" Michael was smart enough to know that an angered opponent is a careless opponent.

However, this did little to prepare him for the sudden appearance of Keres behind him. She seemed to burst from the aether, fingers already wrapped about the hilt of her menacing instrument of war. Never had he seen such speed; in fact, Michael very much doubted that this was fleetness of foot at all. Rather, Keres simply...was there, as though she had somehow warped conventional space to return to that ax. In any case, this strange power gave Michael little time to react. So scarce was his window of opportunity, in fact, that no man of mundane blood could possibly have evaded the devastating blow swung at his head. Michael could hear the air twisting and contorting in the wake of that horrible blade, itself moving with such swiftness that luck alone could have saved him. The lights gave a shudder, and time, for just a moment, stood perfectly still. His heart pounded rapidly against his rib cage, while wide eyes kept trained on the approaching steel.

Yet, when he moved to escape from its path, Michael found his speed quite adequate. However slight the increase, it was enough to see him under the ax. At first, he thought it Lady Luck's kindly hand come to aid him at last, but, when Keres threw a heavy table at the wily marksman, he handily evaded that, as well. Fresh from his precise maneuver, Michael hurdled over the makeshift projectile, tucking his legs into his chest and landing with flawless grace. For a brief moment, he paused to consider what he had just done. He had moved with speed surpassing that of a mortal, but he felt very much unable to perform such a feat on command. It was as though his body had tapped in to a latent power that he hardly understood. Michael took this opportunity to back himself up against a wall, hoping to prevent any more attacks from behind. "You'll have to do better than that, sweetheart." His eternally defiant voice echoed throughout the chamber.

[KERES]

[atrb=border,0,true] This lab had become her playground. The lights were barely staying on casting eerie shadows every which way. The dust cloud that had seemed to rise up in the air was not fading. This place had become her domain and now she was going to make sure he knew it. While he might not be able to see well through this cloud, her vision was perfect. Her eyes never left him and she saw him dodge her blade. How? How could that even be possible? This boy was only an electric user right? But he had just moved with inhuman speed. Well now this little prize was turning out to be better and better. Something else was lurking beneath the surface and she was going to find out. "Play with my chemistry set? Oh no. I'm having much more fun playing with you."

[/b] Voice still echoing around the room, the female leaned against her axe.

It seemed her prey had been backed against a wall. That was too bad. Now she couldn't surprise him anymore. Was he trying to lure her close to him? Either way he'd get his wish. "Call me sweetheart again and I might have other uses for you. You'll be in places other than my lab table.~"[/b] Laughter echoed throughout the room as she gripped the handle of her axe. Using all her strength, she threw the axe directly at him. It would end up getting stuck in the wall, but she didn't care about that. As soon as he moved she was on him. Clawed fists flying, she delivered blow after blow towards him. She was trying to hit him everywhere and anywhere. Each blow would be with part of her strength. If she had hit him with the full brunt of her strength he would probably have a few broken limbs. Amidst her barrage of punches, the female paused and stepped back from him. It was only for a brief moment that she stopped. And in this brief moment her gaze locked with his and she held it.

"Why do you resent me so? Do you really think that I am that much of a monster? Even though what I do has it's benefits? Not everything I do is as awful as it seems."[/b] Even though she was hell bent on making him hers, this one moment was an odd one. It was one of lucidity for her, even her eyes shifted back to their brilliant blue. But all that faded as she felt a charge course through her. The shock made her eyes immediately change back to their whitish state and she returned her to attack on him. His electricity was coursing through her. At first it didn't bother her that much, but with each hit she could feel it building up more and more. Of course she could withstand it for now, but that wouldn't last long. Each hit her strength increased, only to counteract the building electricity within her. This was growing quite annoying. Even when she fought against Michio it hadn't been this bad. Just how strong was this human? [/div]

words: i dunno~
notes: this post makes no sense to me T.T again lol
Credits: ROLLY of LOVE STAMP & BtN

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[MICHAEL]

The impenetrable cloud of dust raised in the wake of Keres's assault was quick to become an issue. As formidable as his eyes were in even the most heated of battles, they still were limited by his imperfect rods and cones. The darkness, however thick, could be set aflame with his ionic rays, but this coarse, rolling mass of vaporized debris was proving a different matter altogether. Try as he might to cast away the earthen fog set in about the laboratory, Michael's stray discharges succeeded only in spreading throughout the dust a radiant luminescence. This electric blue ink revealed nothing more than the faded silhouettes of vague shapes, which hardly were of any use against an opponent so quick as Keres. Though the dust would settle in time, the electric boy and vengeful goddess dueled in a space very much enclosed. With no wind to see to its quick dispersal, this cloud would likely remain long after a victor had been decided.

"As I said, my dear, no matter what torture you put me through, I'd never dream of furthering your ends." This retort, however, was ill-timed, for Keres chose this opportunity to hurl her ax once more at his head. Again, it soared with a bullet's speed, and, again, it missed its mark by a margin far too great for fortune's hand alone. This had he unintended side effect of clearing the immediate area of dust, leaving Michael to observe Keres's sudden appearance once more. Though the dust quickly tumbled and filed back into an all-encompassing curtain, it had been spread thinner by the forceful disturbance. Thus, the wandering marksman caught an early glimpse of Keres's crushing blow, this one thrown with clawed fist. By all rights, he had no business evading such an attack, whether he had seen it coming or not. Her arm moved with the speed of a mechanical piston, far outstripping even the fastest kick boxer. Yet, when her arm reached its full extension, Michael was quite removed from its path. Throughout her superhuman display of fisticuffs, in fact, the young man ducked and weaved with increased fluidity. She scored on him only glancing blows, never striking directly; however, even these were nearly enough to stagger him.

Then, suddenly, the onslaught came to an end. Michael found himself staring into Keres's eyes as they returned to their more mundane shade of blue. For a moment, however brief, hers were not the eyes of a killer, but, rather, of a scientist, no different from Michael's own. "Keres -- " he began in a confused, cautious tone, "y-you really can't..." Michael was prepared to speak in earnest of the ethical responsibilities to which all scientists must adhere. For that fleeting instance, he felt as though he could have talked this matter through and swayed her to the side of altruism. Yet, this was not meant to be, for an errant jolt escaped his fingertips and entered his body. It was hardly enough to hurt a man, let alone this slayer of immortals, yet it was sufficient to remind her that she was, indeed, in a fight. So continued the deadly dance, but, this time, Michael made a special effort to put some distance between them.

Surprisingly, despite what seemed to be a much faster foe, Michael managed this, albeit through careful and precise maneuvering. With this advantageous position, he felt at ease to launch one of his devastating bolts. The electric blue surge was hurled with deadly accuracy, as is to be expected of the Man in Black. Even with vision so thoroughly obscured, he fired with tremendous dexterity, as though his hands truly were born of Death himself. "Whatever you're playing at, Keres, I'll have no part of it! Either give up your pursuit, or just kill me now and save yourself the trouble!"

[KERES]

[atrb=border,0,true] How long could he keep going? A low growl of annoyance came from her as the strength of her blow began to increase. Soon she was hitting him with her full strength but this boy was dodging her. This human boy was dodging her speed. The speed of an Ancient. One that rivaled the gods. One that had even killed the gods at one point in time. How? How was he managing to avoid her? Fists clenching tightly she pulled back and delivered and incredibly powerful blow towards him before she pulled back. The demoness disappeared almost completely within the dust with her axe in hand. "You are more than human. No human, no normal human, could dodge my attacks so easily. So how is it that you are avoiding my attacks?"

[/b] The words were hissed loudly between her teeth an they still echoed around the room as she stayed back.

His electricity had been charging through her and it was making her even more frustrated. Hand to hand combat wouldn't work. Whether he was controlling it or not, she was getting pumped with a charge and it wasn't a pleasant feeling. Giving a loud cry, the female gripped her axe with both hands and swung it through the air. This time she didn't launch it at him. This was a swing to remove the dust. The powerful blow acted like a fan and soon the dust began to clear. Pale white eyes settled on her prey and they practically glowed with her rage. Rage that had created from this boy. This little human boy that she wanted so badly. But the more she fought him, the more she wanted him under her control. He was so much more than a human boy. He had the potential to be great. By now the dust had completely settled and the pair would stare each other down. Long red hair flowed wildly behind her as she slid a barefoot across the broken ground. "You are quite the opponent. Much more than I had originally thought."[/b]

The words were cool as the female tried to collect herself, but it just wasn't working. Both hands gripping the axe, the female simply disappeared from view only to reappear directly above him. Nyteri would come swinging down above him, whether it hit him or not she didn't even care. The blade hit the ground with such force that it was stuck for a brief moment before she could tug it free. Flooring and debris went flying everywhere as the ground caved under such incredibly force. Shifting her stance the female swung the axe again, this time aiming at his side. The blade scrapped the wall of her lab and a crack formed in the wall. More debris fell from the ceiling as she kept swinging her axe at him. If she kept this up she would probably bring her lab down on top of her. But at this point she didn't even care anymore. This boy would be hers. He was something special. Something truly unique that needed to be caught and tamed. And that was exactly what she planned to do. [/div]

words: i dunno~
notes: rageeeeeee
Credits: ROLLY of LOVE STAMP & BtN

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[MICHAEL]

In truth, Michael knew not how he had evaded so swift a huntress. She moved with speed well in excess of a cheetah in full sprint, and she wielded her ax with matching skill. The harsh trials of several thousand years had molded Keres into the very picture of brutal, unrelenting efficiency. She walked with such impeccable grace, never so much as acknowledging the crushing weight of her daemonic steel. As though it were carved from the lightest of bamboo, she swung her over-sized arm with such speed that the naked eye could scarcely follow its path at all. Yet there stood Michael, himself one of mundane sinews, who had managed to escape from its path without fail. "Wrong, Keres." He issued this cautionary word in a voice whose valor was matched only by its inextinguishable spirit. "I am a man - nothing more. I said I'd defy you to the bitter end; I never said anything about letting you have your way with me."

It was then that Keres removed what seemed the last of her restraints, dropping all pretenses of toying with her prey. She now fought Michael as an adversary, one worthy of her ax's true fury. The dark goddess swung her fell blade with force unrivaled, sending from its tip a fierce gust of wind that expanded about her in a perfect sphere. The dust was whipped haphazardly about, spread so thin that it scarcely could be seen at all. What little glassware remained in tact was thrown from its shelves and smashed against the laboratory's cracking, stone walls. With nothing left to stand in their way, radiant sapphire eyes met those of a hardened killer - deathly white and free of remorse. "Why, Keres, I'm flattered." Michael spoke now in cavalier tones, as though pleasantly chatting away with an old friend over drinks. "You're certainly tougher than anyone I've ever faced. I now fully believe that this is the strength which killed the old Gods."

With that, however, the kid gloves were truly off. Keres disappeared once more from his line of sight, returning to the visible spectrum near to the lab's gray ceiling. Michael nimbly ducked out of her ax's path, leaving the dread weapon to become stuck in the floor's paneling. Keres, however, was quick to pull it from its sheath, sending chunks of debris flying every-which-way. While Michael protected his vital organs, a jagged remnant of the ground below struck him cleanly in the shoulder. Blood trickled down the length of his arm, and his shirt tore yet again, unveiling still more of his battered yet powerful frame. Unfortunately, he had no time to tend to his wound, for Keres was still in the midst of her relentless pursuit. The Daemon Queen's ax was swung now with reckless abandon; its owner no longer cared for such trivial mattes as the laboratory's structural integrity. Though her blows struck at what may well have been vital support beams, she continued only with redoubled ferocity. Michael, for his troubles, earned a fair few gashes cut across his torso and arms, though he managed to avoid all but superficial surface wounds.

In response, Michael struggled once more to put some distance between the two. However, realizing that aggression was all but required for his continued survival, the electric warrior let loose a number of super heated bolts at point-blank range. This led to a most graceful exchange which, to the uninformed observer, may have been a sight of remarkable extravagance. The blackened steel of Keres's ax glistened in the flickering lights as it narrowly missed the flesh of its target, while rays of bioluminescent fury crackled and forked in a brilliant display of pyrotechnics. "Like I said," Michael roared over the searing pain of his bloodied wounds, "I don't intend to go down as easily as Zeus before me!"

[KERES]

[atrb=border,0,true] Electricity was something that she was really getting annoyed with. It was getting hard enough to ignore the shocks she kept getting from him, but now he was increasing the strength of his attacks. The electricity was making her even more agitated with every passing second. A low growl came from the female as she gripped her axe. Just as she was about to swing it at his head, one particular jolt of electricity hit her and made her stop. It hit her in the shoulder and ran right through her entire body. The pain made her cry out and draw back away from him. One of his bolts hurt her? How could that be? How was this even possible? Anger seemed to boil from the female from the hit as she looked down at her blackened clawed hand. Merely a man? This person before her was not merely a man. It was not possible. Oh this was getting better and better. A twisted grin crossed over her face as she closed her eyes. Laughter began to bubble from her, twisted and sick laughter poured from the female. Swinging her axe up onto her shoulder, the female continued her laughter. "You are quite the opponent indeed! Years. It has been years since anyone has made me feel this way! So this is what pain feels like? Do you know how long it has been since I have felt such pain? Michael you are an amazing being!"

[/b] The female bellowed as she brought her gaze up to meet his. Pale white eyes shifted to the darkest shade of black as flames seemed to grow in her hand. Closing her hand, she let the flames engulf her clawed fist and snake up her arm. The dripped onto the ground like a liquid and burn through the floor. "You should be honored. Not many have seen these flames and no one has ever survived them."[/b] The words were cold despite the twisted grin that had settled on her face.

Gripping her axe with both hands, she let the flames coat the heavy weapon. Even as the dripped onto the ground and burned everything they touched, her axe was unharmed. It remained in one piece but it was soon coated in the hellish fire. Taking a step forward the female disappeared again, only to reappear right in front of the boy. Axe in hand, she swung with all her strength at the boy and barely touched the wall with her flame coated weapon. The instant the black touched the white it spread like, well fire. "I wouldn't let this touch you! You might end up without a limb! Though I'm sure we could get a new one for you!"[/b] The demoness laughed as she swung her axe at him again sending her fire flying everywhere. It would only be a matter of time before the entire place was covered in the hellfire. Everything would be destroyed by these black flames, they hungered for death and destruction and she would let them have it. [/div]

words: i dunno~
notes: ramble ramble
Credits: ROLLY of LOVE STAMP & BtN

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