Catch-All for Valvatorez

[specialdog]

Comments

[omegathree]

I don't have any idea what God is doing, but this is the avatar that He uses.

[Val kicks one of them, and it makes a high pitched "Eriii" noise.

As they continue forward, there seems to be somebody ahead of them, seeping darkness- or maybe it's something further ahead. Whoever the figure is, they're on the ground, the Shrooms ignoring them.

The further they go, the fewer avatars there are.]

[specialdog]

Your God sounds like a weirdo.

[ Not like the very normal and ordinary god, Akane. She trails after him and gives an... Experimental kick to one of the mushrooms. Then sees the figure. ]

There's someone...

[omegathree]

[The mushroom makes a sad "eriiieriii" noise as it gets kicked away.

It seems to have shrunk.

The person dropped on the floor, is somebody Akane should be able to recognize. His body is mauled, like some large animal attacked him and didn't stop.]

Fenrich?

[Val rushes forward, kneeling down and inspecting him.]

[specialdog]

[ Akane doesn't know what to do - she's never really had to deal with the fallout of destruction before. So she just trails after Valvatorez quietly, looking over his shoulder at the injured Fenrich.

She's pretty sure Val has mentioned his name before. A friend... ]

[omegathree]

[The man who's stayed at Val's side even after his vast decline in power. If Fenrich is here, and he's injured like this... He traces the claw marks.

Familiar.

They're Val's claws.

Only one reason for it. The same reason he went for Milla first.]

... You're going to see a corrupted version of me as we proceed. Are you prepared?

[specialdog]

I want to see it.

[ ...... Akane. ]

[omegathree]

[What he doesn't say: It's your funeral.]

Very well. Then let us continue.

[specialdog]

[ Cool, well, bye dead body. Akane steps around it and carries on. She's confident that Valvatorez will protect her! ]

[omegathree]

[There's a screech from the heavily clouded sky. It would probably best to cover her ears.

There's a dragon in Val's colors swooping down. Val immediately reacts by blocking the claws with his sword.]

I'll protect you!

[At least her faith is well placed. Even if this close it's clear that the screw in the center of the dragon's chest is the corrupted item]

[specialdog]

[ Akane does, hunching over a bit, but then straightening up because she really wants to see that cool ass monster?!

She is genuinely wracking her mind for ways she could help, her eyes darting around for if there are projectile weapons or something, but. Look, man, she's a weak little girl. ]

... Don't lose!

[omegathree]

[It screeches, loud enough that the air seems to ripple around him. Even though Val can block those physical blows, there's nothing he can do about the sonic attack. Still, it means that the path their standing on is now full of loose rubble.

He says something, but it's impossible to hear him in this racket.

Despite how much this universe has taken from him, he can still push the dragon form away with a shove of his sword.]

[specialdog]

[ It's one thing hearing about Valvatorez's strength, knowing him as a sort of dumb, kind man. But seeing it is another. Seeing a person fight off a monster without growing to building height is hard to take in.

And Akane wants to help. She wants to help, because 'don't lose' really means 'don't get hurt.'

So she. Picks up stones from the rubble and just tries chucking them at the dragon. Which probably does absolutely nothing, if she can even hit it at all. ]

[omegathree]

[Valvatorez once held titles like "King of Carnage and Atrocity". In the years between then and now, he's lapsed in power, but he's never been weak. This dragon is a version of himself, one he can't access now and likely won't be able to until he's out of this universe.

The dragon's gaze turns to Aakane for just a moment.

This weak, emotional version of himself that relies on his friendships instead of just his own pure strength. There's no reason for a demon to bother with things like that. Valvatorez is strong enough that he doesn't need comrades. He can take on God alone and win.

Unnecessary. Everyone else is unnecessary. The sentimentality in this version of himself is unnecessary and he'll kill it right here.

A moment is all Val needs. His sword is set on fire, plunging it straight into the dragon's chest.]

[specialdog]

[ Akane sort of - reflexively cheers? Listen, fights with monsters are the exact shit she LIVES for. ]

Oh! Oh, did you do it?!

[omegathree]

[He winces, his ears are still ringing from the dragon's attacks. The sword gets a twist, still flaming, still burning the flesh around it.

The dragon screeches one last time, a dying wail, before the life drains out of it.]

Of course I did. I wouldn't lose to a corrupted version of myself.

[He slides the sword out and kneels down, unscrewing the nail from the dragon's chest. The exact same insignia that lies in his own.]

[specialdog]

You did it!

[ Oh, she's so happy! Sorry if that was vaguely traumatic for you, like, sorry you had to fight an evil version yourself and stab them to death, but

in Akane's opinion

It was extremely cool! ]

[omegathree]

[He's a demon. The most traumatic thing that happened here was seeing his best friend dead because of something some corrupted version of himself thought was a good idea.

Murdering that dragon? Incredibly satisfying.

Still kind of weird though.

The chest screw, which is about the size of Val's upper arm is finally out now, and he grips it by the bolt.]

Yes. I appreciate your help, Akane.

We're finished once we get this back to the portal.

[specialdog]

You're welcome! ♪

[ She literally did not do anything. ]

[omegathree]

[She distracted the dragon for just long enough Val could stab it... and she was here. The important part for Val?

It's not being alone.

He might have been able to defeat himself alone, but he also wouldn't have been able to recover any item.

There's a reason he goes on and on about camaraderie so much. It's those bonds that give him strength when he gave up the traditional ways of gaining vampire strength.]

We should be able to get through without much issue.

[specialdog]

Okayyyy.

[ Hm, Akane seems? Bouncy now? Like, that was scary, but also very cool?? And she'd been feeling weird about Val ever since he unforgivably betrayed her, but that was??? VERY COOL???? ]

[omegathree]

[Akane literally murdered his partner and he's still firmly on the lawful part of neutral. He can't just let a murderer go.

He gathers up his things and starts walking back to the portal, checking that Akane is with him.]

That was my true form.

[specialdog]

[ Doesn't matter, still betrayal. ]

It was cool...! Just like one of my kaiju. I'd love to see it grapple with someone its own size.

[omegathree]

Grapple? I rely on sonic attacks when I'm in that form.

[Because he's a bat themed dragon.]

[specialdog]

Those can be special attacks. The grapple is important!

[omegathree]

Is it? I find it's more important to subdue the enemy.