Awakening Beast. (Hellhound's Entry)

[Warning]

Previous Chapter in the Story... (Click here)

Hellhound had left the Underworld though one of her secret paths to the surface. It was not as quick as a portal but it did the job to not announce her arrival to anyone. With her past experiences and especially her latest, she felt like she had grown a little stronger but she required more power to match the level of magical girls. The only way she knew was to go after humans and not just for a fun hunt this time. She wanted to provoke a battle with them. The blame would all be on her, anyway. No demons would be involved in this so it would not go against Zorn's wishes. Technically. And so, Hellhound found her way to the human world, leaving the secret path secret, and looked around at where she was. A road was not too far from there, leading to a town further down.

With a smile, the dark beast girl started moving toward it, her tail wagged behind herself as she didn't care to hide. She always had been lazy but she finally had a motivation to become better. Raising her hand once close enough, she formed a flame but didn't stop at that. Giving the flame energy, she wanted to increase the damage done. Without any doubts, she was quickly noticed, bringing armed humans to focus their attention toward her. As they readied to shoot, she finally swung her arm with full strength, casting the charged fireball toward them forcing them to move. The impact however caused a sudden but powerful fiery explosion, igniting all in its range. Alarms rang as humans fully understood that they were under attack in plain daylight. Humans were coming.

Hellhound starting moving closer again while panic was setting in, everyone wondered where that explosion had come from but the few who saw shouted that a monster was coming. A few shots was finally heard, flying toward her, making her dash instead of retreat. She would not run. Going through the burning area, she stepped into the town and started attacking without hesitation, leaping at her attackers and slashing them or kicking them away. The brutality of her strikes did well to eliminate her enemies but this is when the humans understood how dangerous the threat was. These humans didn't have magic but their weapons could hurt and kill. They were the best defense for when magical girls could not be around to take care of threats only them could really fight.

Unfortunately, the beast girl was not just any monster as she was capable of controlling fire and flames at her will, spreading it around herself while moving and jumping around to evade attacks sent at her. Hellhound was seemingly getting hit by some but did not stop, setting fire at everything she could touch or see. She slowed down when she saw a female human with a long sword coming toward her, thinking she might be a magical girl but she did not seem all that special. A smirk still drew on her face as she headed toward her, kicking another human near her and closely dodging a slash before she grabbed the woman by the neck and pushed her against a wall nearby, getting a gasp of pain out of her. Hellhound looked at her with a smile and leaned close to give her a kiss.

The woman blushed slightly, confused by what was going on before she tried to push her back. "G-get off me...", she ordered her. Hellhound licked her face as a response and whispered, "I'll make you mine, soon. ♪" before she moved back and ran before more shooters would have the time to take aim at her, leaving the girl shocked for a bit before she shook her head and told others where she left to, pursuing her as well. This beast girl was killing without mercy despite the fact that she had been wounded by now, why did she stop to her, not to kill her but to give her a kiss... A warm one, even... She had felt Hellhound's tongue lick inside her mouth. It felt so wrong to her. The underworld dog in question was fighting still, a red-ish glimmer coloring her chest slightly. Heat?

Not only that, Hellhound seemed hurt yet her body was still trying to heal, slowly. She was getting a little faster by the moment, more merciless as everyone tried to fight her off or kill her somehow. Yet, doing so only seemed to make her worst and angrier... More savage... Exactly the feeling the beast girl was looking for. Even worse, the town was getting eaten by flames more and more as well. "Play with me more...! Kill me if you can!", she taunted everyone, wanting to feel the thrill of battle. The sword woman was getting closer but waited while her men tried to shoot at the monster. She was fast, getting rid of them one by one until nobody but her remained. A panting beast ignoring the woman for now stood still, hurt but not done. What pushed such a monster to do this?

The woman did not wait, thinking that it was her chance... She was filled with anger at seeing so much destruction from a single monster girl... Shouting for revenge, she dashed to slash but missed as Hellhound dodged just in time, watching her for now as the woman attacked relentlessly, forcing the beast to either dodge or block, getting hurt worse as a result but it fed Hellhound's power. The desperate woman tried to go for the kill but the blade of her sword was stopped by the monster girl's hand, making her wince but give a violent strike at the woman's chest, knocking her back and letting go of her weapon. Hellhound then just dropped the sword before she leapt at her before she could regain her stance, pinning her down to the ground. "I told you I would make you mine."

Hellhound was bleeding here and there but that did not seem to stop her. Grinning a bit even, she leaned in to kiss the confused woman who was powerless to push her back now. The town was burning and nobody around could save her from what this cursed monster girl would do to her. Using a hand and her claws, she undid the woman's armor and stripped it off her, casting it away, leaving her to blush and more so when Hellhound stripped any chest protection she had. "W-what are you doing?". The beast smirked and stood above her but put a foot on top of her stomach to stop her from going anywhere, soon grabbing her legs and stripping any clothes or armor off them as well. Afterward, the only thing the woman was left with was her panties, otherwise, naked.

The woman was in panic, having seen her town attacked, set ablaze only to be stripped naked by the same beast girl who committed all of this destruction. The girl's foot had pretty threatening claws against her belly as well and trying to escape would only make her tear through her like paper. "A-are you going to...", she started asking, as Hellhound soon lifted her paw, turned around to face again then moved down kneeling above her. "You're mine... I earned it.", she said to her then leaned down to kiss her again. This unnatural warmth again, it felt good but she didn't want to be the toy of a monster. Despite this, Hellhound only stopped the kiss to offer a worse alternative, one that was bound to come. Sitting on her belly, she started to cup the woman's breasts, playing with them.

"S-stop! I don't want this, you filthy m-monster.", she ordered again but Hellhound suddenly squeezed her breasts hard, making her cry out a bit. "I don't want to hurt you but I will if you don't play nice... ♪", she warned her, making her quiet unless she wanted to be tortured by a monster and probably killed. The worst was that Hellhound was leaving blood stains on her body, only adding to the nastiness of it. The woman was tough normally but this was a lot, enough to make her cry. Not enough to make her beg, knowing it would not help. Hellhound played more kindly with her breasts now that she was quiet but the worst had not come yet. Playfully, she moved back to between the woman's legs and before she could resist, the beast girl lifted the woman's butt against herself.

Now partly upside down, with her legs forced back toward herself, she was locked for a much worse fate. "L-let go of me now! You won't do this... I forbid you!". Hellhound grinned but gently grabbed her panties before she tore them off and instantly started licking her pussy. It was warm... It felt good... Even her butt against Hellhound's chest felt good from her unnatural warmth. "N-nooo... Don't make me f-feel this..." but that didn't stop her. All hellhound wanted now was her reward and she was going to lick her easily pleasured pussy for it. If it was not bad enough, she soon inserted her tongue inside and started eating her out, probably since she was already getting wet. Why did it feel so good...? She was so hot, so rough... The woman already felt like she was going to come....

Hellhound didn't stop. If anything, she was getting rougher with this poor human who barely could take it, forcing her to moan loudly and louder. It took only a moment that seemed to last longer to the woman, for her to cry out, squirm and squirt in orgasm to the thirsty beast girl who switched from licking to drinking her juices. At the end, she gave a deep and hot lick of her pussy once more before she pulled back and licked her lips, taking in all the juices she could before she let her butt down gently and moved away. "Thank you...! ♫ You have been fun to play with.", she told the woman panting on the ground before she started leaving. The town was in flames and if any survivors existed, they probably escaped the town. The woman for now would be safe, recovering...

With this attack, Hellhound started feeling what she was capable of but what she never had tapped into due to her laziness... She was stronger and quicker than she knew and if she continued to train, she probably could get her revenge with the magical girls who made her feel weak. They did not know the power of the Underworld Beast. She barely knew her own power and what limit she could reach and the fun of finding out was only starting. Hellhound did not plan to leave back home just yet. The battle had put a toll on her body, even if she was healing slowly from it. A proper rest somewhere close by would probably do well. Nothing wrong with resting after a fight. What she had absorbed from the woman would also sustain her for the time being, until she would hunt.

Edited June 3 by Warning

[Balthier]

Akemi saw the smoke in the sky from miles away, and it only got thicker as she drove closer. She pulled over on the outskirts of the town, halting on the side of the road where the forest broke to fields. Fire engines and rescue vehicles screamed by, lead by a Komastsu armored car.

That was strange, although it wasn't unheard of to see the defense force help out in disasters. From her great ddistance Akemi watched ambulances pull away and fire fighters battle flames. She had been on her way to meet her friend at a bowling alley, but that didn't seem like a possibility now.

"Hikari..." her friend's name left her lips softly as see opened her car door and watched the scene with growing concern. She was not one to worry but felt her heart sink as ambulances raced by her away from the town. The wind from there passage blowing her hair.

A quick call on her cell phone to her friend. That would fix this... But it rang and rang, until voice mail picked up.

"No... this isn't good."

There were a number of cars stopped here, pulled off the road to let emergency vehicles through, civilian traffic wasn't allowed to go further, and local police car was parked and an officer was halting traffic ahead. Akemi sat back in her car with growing concern. And drove back the way she cam a kilometer or two. Then pulled far off the road, partially into the forest. Getting out she went further into the forest and said the words that began her transformation. She lifted into the air, her clothes falling away as her 18 year old body, naked for the briefest of seconds, was then bathed in bright blue light as she became Seraph, the magical girl. Angel wings sprouted from her back and form fitting armor covered her body. A sword, with blade of lightning was at her side and shield as well. A halo of  rilliant light above her head materialized.

Serph, felt herself fill with purpose, and in a few beats of her wings was airborne. Flying towards the city to search for her friend.

Remarkably she spied her friend fro the air, at a triage station on the edge of town, laying on a makeshift stretcher. She flew down to her immediately, forgetting she was in her magical form so overcome by emotion was she. Tears rolling down her face she knelt by her friend who was burned on one side. "Hikari!" She cried out as she cradled her still breathing friend in her arms.

Hikari looked up seeing Akemi, or Seraph, and the blinding halo above her, smiling slightly before passing out. Akemi held Hikari to her body, not wanting to let go. But the paramedics eventually came back and took her away for transport.

Akemi stood watching as the ambulance roared away. Only dust left in it's wake.

Wiping her tears she turned toward the burning town with renewed purpose.

What had happened here.

Edited November 12 by Balthier

[Warning]

Signs of damage were everywhere and no houses were spared by the flames. Many were burnt completely or partially. There were also signs of combat and among the fallen weapons and armors were also animal traces. Or at the very least, animalistic. They also were not very far from a trail of flames. Among all tracks that could still be found in the town, only one really corresponded to something that was not quite an animal and not quite a human either. The tracks looked deep enough that only someone with enough weight and a fair size could have caused these and if Akemi spotted them and investigated them, chances were that she would see them come from AND to outside of town, toward the forest, possibly being the cause.

Hellhound on her side started waking up from the spot she hid to, giving herself a stretch of muscles while being unaware of what was going on back at the town. Or what was left of it. While she had tasted something delicious before, she now required proper food. With this in mind, she got up and innocently started moving slowly to find prey. She was not looking for any humans this time. Any beast she could find would do just well. It was not hard to follow the scent of one but animals would be wary of her scent as well as she was feared. It's not something that she really minded as it would not stop her. Once she got her eyes on one, Hellhound didn't hesitate and leaped and while the beast tried to run, it got caught very easily.

Afterwards, all Hellhound had to do was to use her flame to make the meat a little more tasty after ripping it off the dead beast and eat. Other animals probably felt lucky that this dead one kept her attention away from them. Such was the rule of the strongest in this world. The fiery girl enjoyed her prey and what energy she could replenish from it before simply leaving the remains there and wiped her mouth. Now she had to find a new target. Summoning what energy she had awakened, her body emanated heat and she loved it but she was not done. Hellhound needed to push herself further. The power she felt could be much higher even. She wanted to become the legendary beast of the underworld that she was supposed to be.

[Balthier]

Akemi had spent hours as Seraph, helping rescue some remaining trapped survivors. During that time, that there were signs of damage on every building. The fires had engulfed everything. Fallen weapons and destroyed armor here and there, ahe got the feeling there had been a fight. Ahe stopped in her tracks when she found foot prints... tracks that didn't look human.

A beast, or a demon? Were her first thoughts. She was on her guard, looking around, but saw nothing else besides the tracks. She was no expert tracker, but the prints were heavy, and still smoldering. Like something on fire had been walking through town. After a few attempts she was able to follow the tracks to the outskirts of town, a smoldering trail led into the forest.

It gave her a bad feeling,  but what ever was still out there, had killed people. Seriously hurt her friend, maybe killed her too. Akemi looked back to town, then at the tracks again. The wind was blowing her hair as she considered what to do. She felt a responsibility, she had power, if she didn't use it, what good was she? Her civic duty compelled her forward. Silently she followed the tracks into the forest. She kept her phone in her armor, it had a good charge and she kept her location active, just in case...

As she went deeper into the forest away from the heavy smell of carbon from the town, she could swear she was smelling something... cooking? It briefly reminded her of her father grilling something.

Edited November 12 by Balthier

[Warning]

After spiriting herself some for the next part, she lazily stretched herself again and started thinking about what to do next, unknowing that someone was after her. There was only one way for her to become stronger now that she was starting to break out from her dormant state and it was to seek something even more dangerous to hunt and kill. Something that would really challenge her more. A life or death battle would do well to help her awaken more. How much could she really do anyway? If she kept spiriting her energy, could her move that she did before be much better? There was only one way to know. Readying up with her pumped energy, she leapt up with the power of her legs and came down punching the ground powerfully.

As a result, anything in the area would suddenly see an explosion of flames and all birds of the area taking off at once. Some animals might even quickly skip past Akemi. Hellhound's attack left no less than a close area around her in flames. Just a little more and she could commit to make hell on earth an actual thing. The idea of gaining this much power made her laugh like an idiot but unlike anyone truly hopeless, she didn't sound exactly like a main villain but more like some dumb hound with too much power. She was not the sharpest tool in the shed but she was dangerous nonetheless, being the one Hellhound. Whether or not she realized the harm she was doing, she was after all on the side of demons who fought the magical girls.

Her ears twitched after a bit and it quieted her dumb laughing, making her instead look around. Animals had run away and birds all flew for their lives, at least those that did not become roasted meat. Something else was there... Was she followed? The girl she had left in the town, maybe? Probably not. Not impossible, though. There was something, though. Something that clearly noticed her blast and what flames was now propagating around the forest a little. Something that came despite that to haunt her... If not, why would she have felt something? If it was a human, she'd do well to get rid of them... If it was a demon, well, it depended on the way they were going to address her. She was not in the mood for one of them at this time.

[Balthier]

As the explosion rocked the earth a short ways ahead, Akemi was on guard. This could be what caused all the chaos, and whatever it was it was most certainly dangerous. The birds and wildlife fled In a wave of wildlife.  Akemi scowled, thinking about whatever unnatural thing destroyed life and nature so casually.

She walked forward, cautiously. Seeing Hellhound amid buring debris, adrenaline surged through her body, fight or flight response kicking in. She stood, taking a deep breath to steady herself. Fight it was then, her heart pounding with nervousness. There stood the 18 year old girl, alone, facing the firery beast.

"A powerful explosion," a compliment and much as a statement, "Was it you, who destroyed the town?" She could feel her emotions swirling around her body, and fought to control herself.

 

Edited November 12 by Balthier

[Warning]

Hellhound felt alerted as soon as she heard the voice speak, her eyes widening by seeing who dared go as far as approaching her, especially after what she had done. The accusation, or rather, the question asked made clear about who this person might be or at least what they were after. Potential revenge. It didn't please her but it was expected. A smirk drew on her face, though. "What if I am...?", she asked smoothly while she moved to get a better view of who was talking to her. Someone who looked fun to play with, was who she looked to be. An impressive warrior, from the look of her armor. Nothing like the guarding girl she had a fight with before. One she had overpowered easily back then. This one girl was the real deal.

A magical girl had come to hunt Hellhound. She was not capable of sensing her power but she could still notice that the girl was not completely comfortable with her presence, despite how brave she was to stand there. An emotional struggle, not that the hound really understood human emotions all that well except perhaps anger and disappointment when she found herself defeated by the diamond sorceress the first time. Even that Emi girl had annoyed her a little when she made her look like a fool. That event was the reason she was willing to burn the world to gain power. Without knowing, they had caused this beast girl to make humans suffer. Of course, Hellhound was the sole one to blame for the damage she had caused.

In front of Akemi, she stood. Her paws and claws gripping the earth as she was ready to leap and tear, her tail eagerly swaying and curving behind her. Her stance was not trained like a human could be but she was setting herself to fight and those claws of hers looked sharp. "Do you want to play?", the beast girl asked, being clear enough about what she meant. Playing for Hellhound was fighting. She didn't mind being hurt as what didn't kill her made her stronger. Akemi might still not understand her intentions by words alone but her stance spoke for her and yet, she didn't move first, as if her eyes watched her and she tried to perceive Akemi's intentions first. If the angel retreated now, the beast girl might even let her go.

[Balthier]

"Play?" Akemi spat the word, "Is that what you call the senseless destruction? Murdering those who stood no chance against you for some kind of sport?" Her emotion was pouring forth into her words, "If that be the case, then monster I name you. In heart, if not body."

She found herself getting her footing. A grim resolution taking hold of her spirit, despite her petite stature.

Completely imperceptible to all, save Hellhound. If she was paying attention, at the very periphery of her vision, a ghostly image appeared. In appearance not unlike the girl who stood before her, yet about 10 years older. Accompanied by a odd feeling of being watched. Dark eyes looking at the Hellhound. Any attempt to look in the direction of the apparition, it would dissipate faster than eye could precieve, and would seem as if it was never there. A trick of the mind or eye. Yet the presence lingers on, the kind that would make mortal skin crawl and hair stand on end.

Yet Akemi showed no sign of precieving the vision, just aways beyond sight, or the presence.

Akemi stood resolutely, halo shining bright, regarding Hellhound's dog like features,  "Are you the kind that seek out mere chew toys? Chewing them up then moving on without thought or honor? Monster, I say again."

Edited November 12 by Balthier

[Warning]

Hellhound seemed excited by the first one-word question but then didn't look like she was bothered by any of the accusations made against her afterwards. Being called a monster was a mark of pride to her. She WAS a monster. Maybe to a human, it meant a horrible thing but to her, it was like calling her a dog. Lecturing the hound about her sport was nothing but merely explaining to her what she had done and what she was proud of. The morality of "destroying is wrong" or "killing is wrong" was not one very well understood by her as she did not see such thing as correct or incorrect. She was a hell beast, one born to kill, feed and have fun. She never was educated with human logic, or even educated at all...

The annoyance she managed to perceive however was to Hellhound nothing but a trick made by one of those magical girls. Perhaps by the one standing before her. They always had tricks and upsetting magic to play unfairly. Such was why the beast wanted to become stronger. Awaken herself... Wake the power from inside herself to face those magicians and show them how powerful she was. The girl seemed to have more bark than bite, though... Hellhound listened, enjoying the entertainment but she was not yet showing any real physical hostility. A visual showoff, if anything. If it was a thing to intimidate her, it did not quite work. She faced worse head on, even though it almost did cost her life back then.

The reference to pet dog was lost on Hellhound as she didn't really know about their ways of life. She still did understand or about what she meant with what she had done with the town. Being called a monster again made her smile with pride. "I AM a monster... Are you trying to be rude or be nice to me? I would not mind either... If you want to play, I WILL play. I woke up not long ago and I need to spend my energy but I thought about attacking other humans. Maybe you can help me get stronger, too!", she told the girl without hesitation, showing flames close to her palms. She was ready to scorch. Hellhound's playing method might cause damage but she was not one to care. The world was her playground.

[Balthier]

"Take it as you will, beast, for it was not an insult, so much as calling something what it is, plainly. I expect it would be no more insulting to you than calling a rock, a rock. We would talk further, but that I think the wagging of tongues will not sway your cold heart or change your vile ways."

Akemi was willing to talk, but thought it would only waste time. The creature didn't care. She ran her fingers along the blood grove of her sword, where etched into the blade were the words, "No matter the odds." Energy flashed along the blade as she took a practiced stance.

"Away with you mongrel! Go home!" She scolded her as she would a stray mut. Shield held at the ready.

Edited November 12 by Balthier

[Warning]

Hellhound tilted her head, as she was not sure if Akemi actually tried to throw niceties at her or not. She made clear that she though fighting was better than talk but the hound didn't quite understand the cold heart or vile ways part. Unlike a demon, she did not see herself as "vile" more than a predator hunting for her prey. The world she lived in taught what little she knew about everyone either being predators or preys. Magical girls gave her a headache because she didn't know where to put them. Humans were easy preys to play with but then there were these powerful humans playing being predators, hunting demons like preys. It was less about eating and more a game about winning against the weak.

Still... she did look oddly confused for a moment. Akemi's speech was nothing but the usual righteous drivel spouted by humans. Words that meant nothing to Hellhound. She didn't really take 'cold heart' or 'vile ways' offensively since these words were like another language to her. In her own dumb brain, she felt like her heart was hot. Or at least, her body felt hot. An intense warmth present at all times... And she was not exactly smart enough to figure what was really vile or not but she assumed that killing her kind probably didn't make her very happy. Animals weren't exactly happy either when the hound hunted them for food but so was the way this world worked. She didn't know better. She enjoyed her battles.

At the end, being called a mongrel did nothing but confuse her even more but the battle stance with her sword and shield meant PLAYTIME in her head and it only gave her an excited mood with a wagging tail. Anyone else with a normal brain would have shown fear, concern, a readiness to defend themselves, a wariness before a powerful enemy. The stupid hound that Hellhound was felt excitement and wonder for how powerful Akemi was and if she was going to make a good playmate, uniquely fighting wise. She was not having dirty thoughts. Those generally came afterwards depending on what state they found themselves in. With hype, Hellhound readied herself and with a grin, she leapt to throw a first slash.

Edited November 12 by Warning

[Balthier]

Akemi felt a true distaste, and even a little... pity? Such a base existance. The beast clearly had no morals as humans understood it, she was probably completely selfish, and self serving to her ends, and caring little else other than her narrow wants.

Akemi surged forward and used her wings to boost her speed as Hellhound lunged. Throwing all her force behind her shield, to bash the shield into Hellhound with all her weigh behind it as she clawed at her.

[Warning]

Hellhound was ready for the attack, more or less. Or she was ready to be hurt to get her grounds. As she saw the shield swing, she didn't stop her motion. Not like she could... So she aimed one of her slash at her shield, putting all of her strength into it. Her claws probably was not going to do much if not only scratch it. The girl had aimed to hit her with all of her force and there was no doubt that it would succeed but it barely dazed the hound even if it sent her back some. Quick on her paws, she formed a flame with her palm and pushed her hand to thrust right toward her with it.^{Rasengan Style} If the attack was to hit, it would probably hit her armor or whatever impact area with heat, possibly burning some as well. With her second hand however, she was outright trying to punch with fire within her fist, effectively sending a fire punch her way. Heat was already building around her as the battle started, Hellhound was already having lot of fun.

[Balthier]

Akemi was a student of Kendo, where a simultaneous kill, Aiuchi, was acceptable. You had to be tough, and take the hit, but an opponent couldn't block effectively while they attacked any more than the swordswoman could. Akemi committed fully to the Aiuchi.

Her foot work was perfect as she pressed the attack. The claw on her shield scratched it, her charge only pushed the hound back minorly. She took the first return hit on her armor, while she slashed viciously at the Hound, with her sword, energy crackling down it's blade, aiming a blow that would slice a human in two. She took the hit to her face in order to land her simultaneous attack. She felt her sword connect but couldn't see the damage as Helhound fit her full in the face, snapping her head to the side. Teeth were knocked loose, and she could taste blood in her mouth. The aura from her halo was the only thing that saved her face from being burned off. She sustained minor burns even through the aura, but she rolled with with the punch, beating her wings once flying back to reduce the impact. Still it had hurt greatly.

She cracked her head to the side, carbon scoring on her face, but her eyes looked back at the Hound with all the fierceness of a Sumarai. If this was to be her end, then she would make such an end, as to be worthy of her family line. She spit blood on the ground, and gritted her teeth. Holding her sword high, in an offensive stance. She meant to give every bit of the damage she took back in kind, and then some if she could manage. She let out a short kiai/battle cry, to harmonize her mind, body and spirit to the task at hand.

A deep ghostly groan emanated from the forrest around them. Unknown to either combatant, an Onryu, a vengeful spirit, lingered around them. Her otherworldly haunting visage only briefly perceptable on the very edges of peripheral vision. And her anger was slowly rising.

[Warning]

The rapid movement of the woman was interesting. She was much better than the woman she had fought back in town. The better her opponent was, the more excited Hellhound seemed to be. The slash that she felt at the same time that she attacked had felt painful but in the heat of the moment, it's like she didn't feel it until she was knocked back right after her punch hit. A line of blood then marked the floor, lining back to Hellhound who found herself with a gash in the middle of her body. Her eyes widened but she was still standing, strong as ever, her heat aura only grew stronger as she kneeled for a short moment while Akemi was busy recovering. Her wound slowly recovered on its own but she still felt it.

There was no such thing as a perfect recovery, not without magic. The hound was not worried... This pain was what she needed for her to go berserk. What didn't kill her made her stronger and her wound seemed to emanate some smoke as it healed. The attack still had some lasting effect as she was no longer in top shape but that didn't seem to bother her. She was hunting. Her body was a weapon and she was treating this like a game. Whatever magic trick Akemi tried to pull now, she didn't care. Leaping swiftly, her movement suddenly got a little faster as she slashed, her attacks all being fiery now. She was not aiming anywhere in particular, she just wanted to end her, throwing a clawed slash kick in her direction.

[Balthier]

Here it was, the beast... she was getting sloppy to Akemi's mind. She made to charge forward to meet her claw to sword again, but it was a feint. Instead she leapt back quickly, Feeling the presence of her ancestors with her, her halo flared blindingly bright, as if Amaterasu herself was present, for just a flash. Recommiting to an attack, Akemi yelled, "Banzai!!!!" at the top of her lungs, and aimed a spirited thrust. Again she put her whole body into the attack, she saw the claws coming at her again but was undaunted. The spirit was upon her and there was no turning back at this point. The force of her charge meant that even if her sword missed, their bodies would slam together like a sumo, though doubtful she had the strength, she had every intention to plough through her opponent. She aimed her thrust true and lunged, the claws of the hound cought her body, piecing and melting  parts of her armor, pain like fire spread through her abdomen, even as her blood spilled in arcs on the ground. Yelling, gritting her teeth she drove her attack home, holy blessed sword first.

Edited November 13 by Balthier

[Warning]

Hellhound's senses were sharp and the human was skilled but not very subtle. She already had been caught in a stupid attack like that by the diamond sorceress, she knew better than be caught twice. Her strength also was scarier than it was expected. She was not a trained warrior but she had a native will for killing. With a movement of her body, she made sure the sword would not impale her like a kebab. Whatever clothes she wore though were as good as torn off her, at least when it came to her top body. With a grin, she pushed her claws against her with as much power as she could muster. She didn't have a goal to destroy her target, though. But at least hurt her enough to prove herself a winner in this fight.

After that attack that seemed to last forever yet was done in barely any time, even Hellhound herself had no idea what was happening or if she was feeling anything that she shouldn't. Her body had hit Akemi's and both of them probably were sent backward and this meant that the hound found herself on top of her, her own breasts free but a cut on them from the sword that came way too close for comfort. This girl was not Alexandrine or Emi, who she had a longer fight with. But the violence and precision of the attacks were almost scary. Not exactly a mean to train but she had been cut, the first attack being more serious than the second miraculous one. Still, she looked down to make sure she was in one piece.

Whether she had been damaged again or not, her fiery eyes automatically looked at the human she was close to next. If she was alive or not, conscious or not, bleeding, probably. Hellhound may have been seen as "vile", cold, childish and dangerously immoral but while she valued a victory above anything and perhaps a certain domination over her opponents, there were exceptions to the rules depending on how she felt about what she saw. Unlike a stupid demon, she wasn't completely devoid of emotions. Did she have any for humans? It depended. She did leave the last one she had found completely unharmed, mostly. It proved she was not completely merciless but the damage she caused were still unforgivable.

[Balthier]

Akemi's sword stuck in the ground, when she hot Helhound and they rolled, the beast had ended up on top of her, minus a little clothing. Akemi looked up at the beast as she say on top of her. There might have been a way for a pause, but her anger was too fresh. Her friend had been seriously, hurt, and the images of people killed where still in her mind.

Gritting her teeth straining to over come the pain, she raised her hips, and jerked to the side, pressing one hand on the Hound's chest to push her off, as she rolled to a crouch, then stood up slowly. Blood and carbon scored her armor, some blood still leaked from her wounds, she held her arm injured with her good arm, for a moment, then shook it out. Her eyes squinting in a scowl, noting her foe also still bleeding.

 

Edited November 15 by Balthier

[Warning]

The beast was quite tough, despite her own wounds. This human was flailing like her life depended on it but despite her attempt at getting the hound off her, Hellhound made sure to stay put by her weight and strength alone. Unless Akemi's strength was able to counter weight herself, anyhow. The press on her chest amused her more than anything, not even minding wherever Akemi felt like touching, even if it was meant as a form of defense more than anything. Right now, however, she pushed her down and tried to control whatever flailing the girl did. She didn't even try to take advantage of her or worse, just hold her down. "You're trying to play rough but Hellhound is better at playing rough. And now you're hurt...!", the beast girl said. She was also hurt but it didn't seem to do to her as much as it did to Akemi. She didn't really underestimate her, though. At the same time, she had no plans to outright finish her, either. It was not a fun thing.

Looking down at her, she made sure not to move her hands away in a way that could have her try and fight back. Hellhound looked stupidly happy but she didn't quite have the murderous look in her eyes right now. She almost felt bad for the girl. A quick fight that was won out of luck for the time being but she knew when playtime was over. The only toys she killed were the ones that weren't worth her time. Even if she wanted her revenge against Alexandrine, she probably wouldn't kill her either. There was no trophy to be gained and she didn't abide by the demons' stupid rules of war. "I can help you if you stay calm... Unless you want to bleed to death. I think we played a bit too rough but we get stronger from it. Do you feel stronger?", she asked even so innocently, thinking that whatever applied to her must have applied to her enemies somehow. "Fire burns but fire helps sealing wounds too. It stops bleeding. Makes you better.", she told her.

[Balthier]

Akemi considered refusing outright, than except aid from her foe. Only this beast was grinning like an idiot, and talking like she would help. Akemi didn't trust the situation, in the least. She could feel her phone, tucked into the back of her armor, at least her friend had probably been able to track her location.

She was at a disadvantage currently, but her strength was not entirely spent. Nonetheless wrestling around on the ground didn't seem like a good idea. "Why would you want to help me?"

Akemi had considered she could end up like her mother, killed in combat, she didn't think it would be so soon however. The offer felt like a trick to have lower her guard, and she meant to take her foe with her, if it was her time.

Then again, maybe this was just a playful fool. A dangerous playful fool. If that was the case perhaps living to fight another day was worth a chance. Suddenly she thought of her father, he would be devastated if she perished here, and she wouldn't be able to take over the ramen shop from him anymore. Perhaps a chance to walk away, for his sake was worth it.

Akemi, she heard her name whispered by a feminine, familiar voice. Looked around and saw nnothing. I'm I delusional? Perhaps that hit was harder than I thought, was all she could think. The same ghostly image again haunted the very edge of Hellhounds peripheral vision.

"What do you propose,  and how do I know you won't grill me like a tacoyaki?"

Akemi's mother had been a shinto priestess on top of a magical girl. She had inherited some of her mother's spiritual power, and gathered it inside her. For the hope that if she did die, the energy would release catastrophically and purify anything close to her.

Edited November 16 by Balthier
Spelling/grammar

[Warning]

Hellhound simply tilted her head to the side like she was confused. Considering how dumb she looked, it was not impossible to think she really was. She didn't exactly have this plotting-for-evil attitude like a demon had and so far, she had been nothing but playful even if playing with human lives was understandably wrong to humans as they were her playthings, after all. Her reasons for helping might not be right but they were honest, at the very least. "Humans bleeding like this usually die fast and you're no boring human. Playing with you was fun, even if I didn't get a taste of it.", she said with a strangely honest smile that was not even trying to creep her out or anything. Just being there on top of her was fun.

The next question however made her blink but nonetheless, a human basically asking "How do I know you won't kill me?" still asked a good question. Hellhound however, didn't really have an answer to that. None that would please her, anyway. "I don't want to eat you... what Hellhound will do will hurt but you will not die, because of it... Why do you play so rough, anyway? Normally humans don't hunt me unless I come to them.", she asked, like she had no idea why Akemi was after her, lacking the awareness of doing the connection between the town and her challenge. The hound naively was busy looking at the armor of the girl, trying to figure a way to do what she intended. She could only try anyway, for her sake.

It didn't matter what she would gain or not by helping her. If anything, being pet would be a nice reward but this girl didn't look like the kind to pet and Hellhound might even find herself stabbed through her heart for helping her. There was one way she could make things equal. "Hellhound will help you now but you will have to trust her...", she said with another honest smile before she looked around, trying to offer a deal that may still get her dead but she either didn't care or wasn't aware of the consequences. The hound reached for the girl's sword if it wasn't close to her and pulled it to her reach. "If I don't, you punish Hellhound.", she said, then tried to tear the armor parts open to allow her to touch her wounds.

If everything went as planned so far, Hellhound would not even try to scratch her but instead put her palms against her wounds and not even roughly. Granted, she was not tender either but this was an emergency situation. If the hound had learned something through her battles, it was that her own heat or fire in general was a good way to seal wounds. Hellhound herself had a good recovery, being a beast of hell but the logic was not entirely different for a human. And they had these magic cars capable of healing them. Right now, all she did was infuse a high amount of heat against her from her palms. It would feel hot, maybe even painful but it would be short and once done, she took her hands off, looking at her.

Edited November 15 by Warning

[Balthier]

"You destroyed a town, hurt and killed people. We are a social people, and I am a guardian, of Japan at least, if not humanity." Akemi's eyes and voice were full of passion as she spoke, "Have you ever considered how much potential is waisted ever time a life is cut short?"

She looked at the hounds face to see if anything was getting through to her. "What is someone was cut down before they could become a great hunter? A great chef, or a great musician? Or a great warrior even? Now we will never know or experience in our lives, what they might have done. Destruction for destructions sake, ultimately makes the world far less interesting. Destroy everything, and the world will be a lonely, boring place, even for you I would imagine. Less people to talk to, less to hear interesring things. Less people to notice you..."

She tried not to get too deep on morality, but explain it how she thought the monster might understand. Akemi's eyes watered just slightly as she couldn't help but think of her mother, cut down in her prime.

Akemi's eyes widened as the hound held her sword out to her. It was not something she herself would do. Not to someone she considered a vile foe. With quickness but upmost caution she took her sword back, holding it down by her side. Her eys widened even more as the hound started taking pieces of her armor off, clothing coming with it. "What are you doing? Hey! You are forward"

She protested verbally, and turned her body a quarter turn to the right, to shield her modesty. She squinted her eyes, but did not wince when she felt the heat sealing her wounds, her control like her swordsmanship was precise. Still concentrating on gather her spiritual energy in her body, just in case.

She still held a lot of anger, she thought about cutting down Hellhound, but somehow, restrained herself. Perhaps they would live past today after all. The words of her friend Ragnahild echoed in her mind, "It is wisdom to recognize necessity, when all other courses have been weighed, though as folly it may appear to those who cling to false hope. Be not too eager to deal out death in judgement. Even the very wise cannot see all ends." She had often wondered if Ragna had thought of that herself, or heard it somewhere else before passing it on to her. No matter, it made good sense.

She stilled her hand, withholding judgement for today. Checking the front of her mostly bare torso. Only really now accepting she may very well live through the day. She released a deep breath, and some tension.

"Well done. Have you considered... you're playing with the wrong people?"

Edited November 16 by Balthier

[Warning]

Hellhound listened to this human explaining human development to her. Half of it was yapping to her but still... Akemi tried to appeal to her with arguments about how her playtime would become boring. Or worse, how she would get less attention from anyone if she continued. A demon would have laughed, uncaring of such petty feelings and emotion and probably finished her right there under them to make a point. A world without magical girls would be a heavenly hell for demons. Making the weaker ones their slaves. The hound herself seemed to show a moment of weakness as her ears lowered down on her head. She liked some humans but the consequences of killing them seemed to be beyond her.

Hellhound didn't even look at Akemi as she grabbed her sword. The deal was made. For now, she had to help this human survive and she was getting more and more reason do so. She looked fun for one but maybe if she did good, she would also pet her. Her protestation didn't stop her from overpowering her and doing what she had to but she never tried once to touch her breasts or anywhere below that she should not. Her own breasts were in full sight but again, Hellhound was too uneducated in human modesty to care. The small yet healing cut on her breast was a testament of how deadly Akemi's attack could have been if the hound had not done a move. She didn't want to be beaten twice in this way.

Still, once she was finally done and the girl was out of danger, Hellhound proved herself by not abusing of her control over her and leapt off before she sat down and took a breath, now needing to relax some from this rough playing as well, even going as far as just laying down there without fear, completely naively. She was not pet but she was praised at least and it made her tail wag gently but the following question made her think. Play with the "wrong" people? Who were the right one? "Hmm, I should not play with humans, is what you say...? Who should I play with, then? These stupid annoying demons? They piss me off by trying to give me orders but Hellhound doesn't listen.", she said, looking at the sky.

This was one thing Hellhound felt honestly about. Living in hell was one thing. Dealing with patronizing and power tripping demons was another. She didn't know what to think of Zorn just yet but Exzel had been nice to her so there were exceptions. She did not dislike them all but a large part of them, minions included, felt natural to order her around or mistreat her. Many also met their demise doing so, which ended putting a certain line of respect and fear between demons and the hound. Most let her sleep rather than bother her and she did whatever she wanted. She didn't mean to be evil, only to have fun and get stronger. Humans were so quick to hunt her that it felt natural to play with them the same.

Still a part of her longed for more... Something that felt better. Playing was nice but as Akemi said, if she kept playing then there might not be anyone else to play with soon. Or at least she easily believed. Hellhound was not the sharpest tool and she was gullible. She had played the day before, left one alive to have some heated fun with, then left to rest. But this girl... She looked nice. Angry because of Hellhound's playing but otherwise... Sitting up slowly, Hellhound crawled toward Akemi but without any ill intentions in her demeanor. She just sat nearby then tried to grab her hand gently, probably with resistance but she tried to show, with it or without, that she wanted a headpat from her, looking at her.

Edited November 16 by Warning

[Balthier]

Hellhounds actions seemed so foreign to Akemi. First they were at each other's throats, now the beast was topless and acting friendly without a care in the world. Akemi felt weird herself just having her midriff bare in the sight of a foe. Oh well, if the hound didn't care she wouldn't let it bother her. The only thing that slightly annoyed her was that her friends and foes, thus far, seemed to have a bit more up top than her.

"The average human isn't worth your time, to fight. The average demon however..." She resisted, then reluctantly gave in to let the hound guide her hand to her head, giving her an awkward head pat. "However demons, arrogant and strong, would seem like the natural being to test your strength against and get stronger. Think about it, you fell a measely humans, it's nothing special, you don't get stronger, and the demon's don't care. Say you lay in wait, like the patient hunter, and ambush a demon attacking a human town. That would definitely get a lot of attention for the townfolk. Plus there's so much more to do when in a city, so many more people to meet."

Akemi finished the head pat, putting her hands back on the ground.

"Besides, take out too many cities and either you run out of things to destroy, or the Daimond Sorceress comes in with her full team. Either way, it seems like there are better ways to go. But just think how many people would see your prowess if you took out a demon in front of them."

 

Edited Tuesday at 02:29 PM by Balthier

[Warning]

Hellhound's tail wagged as she received her head pat but she listened. The first statement was odd to her but Akemi did say "the average human.", which was true... To reflect back on what she had done, the town saw its humans mostly powerless and the one looking like a powerless magical girl happened to only be a small challenge. It helped her awaken but it was nothing close to what Akemi did for her in this regard. This angel however shared something with Hellhound: Hating demons. By the sound of what she said too, the hound would find more productivity trying to fight them than with trying to fight humans. No rewards except power to it and even then... Only magical humans could fight her now.

On the opposite side, Akemi was telling her how much attention she would get if she fought demons instead. It could be a trick to corrupt her but demons never gave her a head pat. She did. All Zorn wanted was power as well... Exzel, she wasn't very sure. The hound wasn't exactly sure that "meeting" people was her kind of things, though. She knew how humans were. Seeing her like a monster, they do what demons usually do but worse. Demons tried to intimidate her and it failed horribly. Humans try to kill her as she is not one of them or one like them. She was, after all, "the beast." and that was not said nicely. Only so few dared approach her in a manner that wasn't hostile. She was so conflicted by this...

Even as the head pat ended, Hellhound seemed satisfied at least. Akemi mentioned good reasons not to do that often, not talking about how much harm it did to humans and all. What pain she had caused. The hound was too naive to realize, barely caring that she could herself bleed a lot from playing. One slash that healed was a thing but too many like this and even Hellhound could bleed to death. But in her head, she didn't really think that about how innocent humans could be hurt easily. It might not matter to her but it mattered to the likes of Akemi. The mention of the diamond sorceress made her frown. She wanted her revenge against her but at the same time... Could she get praise from her, too?

It was hard to believe but Akemi had made sense so far. Still, the question of the minute was "What now?". Would they simply leave each others be and separate already? The least Hellhound could do now was to take this human back to her kind. Would it make humans happy if she did? Clearly, there weren't such questions for demons. Those wretched annoyances never seemed happy with anything. Hellhound was a pet and/or a tool to fight humans, nothing else. Hellhound despised them. The beast girl moved closer and tried to pick her up but explained herself. "I will take you back to them... To humans. They can heal you, right? I will be a good girl...", she said, treating herself like she was a dog. Well...