The Enemy

They reached town soon enough and everyone first headed to the ice-cream parlour. Amelia ran to the counter and the clerk sighed deeply "You again huh?" he said with a dismal tone. Mark smiled at the clerk's odd reaction to a bunch of customers. The clerk asked "well what'll yah have if you're here anyways." Amelia appeared deep in thought and then screamed "Double chocolate mocha chip fudge!!" very quickly. The clerk then looked at Garrett who walked up to the counter next. Before he could order Mark said "You know I'm only paying for me and her right?" Garrett frowned and walked away along with half the group to various stores in town. "And you sir?" asked the clerk "I'll have a.." he thought over all the flavours Amelia described in great detail on the way there. "..Mint" he finally answered. Amelia was shocked "mint?!" Mark asked defensively as the clerk got their cones ready "What's wrong with mint?" Amelia answered "Nothing you just don't look like a 'mint' to me, that's all." Mark smiled "I'm not a mint, I'm a Mark" Amelia burst out laughing and barely stopped to say thank you to the clerk. Mark places a few coins on the table and walked out with Amelia, looking over the different shops, stores, and booths they could check out.

In moments the axes were done. The first two were identical to his old pair. He handed his old pair to Amelia in taking his new axes and said "I need you to make me a back sheath for the second two." Then he handed a small piece of white cloth to her, it had been drawn on with a coal pencil and were the rough designs for Mark's "dream axes". Amelia looked at the cloth then turned it in it's side, then completely upside down. Eventually she smiled and said "Well these won't fit into a basic sheath, but I can make you clips. The axes with click into place, it works like a sheath just for more exotic weapons." Mark smiled and nodded happily "Whatever works" he said clearly pleased. He put the new identical axes into his old waist sheaths under his vest and waited intently on the newest pair. The rhythmic clang of metal on metal was almost hypnotic. Amelia looked to the cloth every few minutes and the chosen eight turned into an awe inspired audience at her prowess and craftsmanship. After another ten minutes or so she handed a large complex set of loops and straps with small metal clips on one side. Mark struggled to organize the straps then Amelia smiled and helped him put the mess on. Once completely suited, the straps fit onto Mark like a glove, they looked lean and efficient. He smile at them and almost shook in place waiting for the axes themselves. Then shortly after painstaking half hour Amelia finally woke the drowsy members of the crowd with "DONE!" Mark was still on his feet ready to take the blades at any second. The new axes were strangely angled and curved. They almost looked like swords with the odd shape. Mark swung them around a bit and then happily snapped them into the clips on his back. They clicked in and were tight into the holders. Mark jumped turned and pivoted but the blades stayed in place perfectly "Thank you thank you thank you!!" Said Mark exuberantly . He hugged Amelia tightly and she smiled and blushed. "And my prize?" Mark looked her in the eyes and smiled "How could I forget our date? I'll take you anywhere buy you anything!" he paused and scanned the inside of his pockets with his hands and counted the coins within them. "Almost anything." She giggled and the group surrounding smiled either at how sweet they were as a couple or smiled at the amazing axes which now adorned Mark's back.[URL=http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l142/gooseberry_01/sword5.jpg][pic here][/URL]

Mark smiled and jjumped to his feel quickly. Throwing his axes onto the ground lightly he stared into Amalia's eyes intently. She raised and eyebrow and Mark explained with "Learning my observation, miss." Soon his forwrms dances and glowed with the flashes of electricity jumping from his wrist to elbow and vise versa. Amelia looked surprized but instantly resumed her proud cocky air letting loose a smirk of enjoyment. Mark smiled fully and openly as he dashed forward, lightning lines behind him as the scenery became a blur and only a small patch of grass and Amelia were visable. He stopped on a dime and spun into a low sweeping kick. Amelia jumped his leg and he kept spinning, hiting her with his arm. She blocked quickly but her arm felt numb, and overflowing with pins and needles. She shook her arm to get blood flowing again but Mark raised his hand and shook his finger objectivly. "The nerves are stunned." he said calmly. "Amelia looked at her mumbed arm and shrugged lunging at Mark with her free hand. Mark quickly side-stepped and a gloss of wind around Amelias arm pushed him far back anyways. When he caught his footing she had grabbed her swallow and redied it in one hand. Mark jumped high into the air and cracshed to the earth like a bolt of lightning in itself. There was a slight shock wave of electricity and Amelia felt her ankles numbing aswell, though not as bad. "You're cheating!" she protested. Mark simply grinned and said "I'm using my powers, just like you." She frowned and jabbed at him with the swallow. He barely dodged and she stepped against his leg. He almost laughed as she felt the same effect ocuring on her shin and lower thigh. She stepped in a circle with her good leg and caught Mark's arm with her swallow. A quick shock surged threw the blade and wooden handle and zapped her other arm causing her to lose balence and fall on Mark. He toppled backwords and she ended up laying on him. He moved his leg slightly and touched hers, numbing the last of her limbs before noticing her blade was hard against his neck. "Call it a draw?" He asked Amelia struggled to move and pouted while nodding. "So we both lose?" she asked sadly Mark still had his unusual grin and said "No, we both win, new weapon for me and you can have your precieus date with me. Amelia smilled and tried to jump for joy but couldn't move. Mark said "let me take care of that for you," then he leaned forward and kissed her gently. She feared her neck going numb and snapping but instead the shocks to the rest of her body slowly faded away. It felt like her entire body and soul was flowing into Mark, into his lips. She just looked at him with awe in her eyes as he pulled back gently, staring at her lips. Then he shook off his shock and said "you can really get off now. She stood and smiled at him. He blushed and said "it was the only way to make you back to normal. or at least it was the funnest way."

Mark let go of Amelia and stood, with a little stumbling and help from her, he did however make it to his feet. Then he walked over to Chase and said "Hey, hey there. I'm pretty sure Garrett just got back from half dead and I sure as hell need a breather, so we aren't going anywhere quite yet." Garrett gently rolled over leaving Oko sitting in the grass and stood as well joining in with "Yah I'm in no condition to travel right now." Chase was clearly disappointed but understood the enormity of their just beaten task and agreed. "Ok we can rest for a bit." he said sourly. "Hey what are the rest of us going to do, I'm sill itching for a fight" protested Amelia playfully. Mark didn't give time for Chase to answer and supplied one himself "You could train." he said bluntly. The others didn't seem thrilled at the idea. "I'm a master with my swallow, " continued Amelia "I don't need to train, ?cause I'm not getting any better." Then before she exploded on Mark yet again, Garrett stepped between them. "What Mark means is..we should spar-" Mark cut in "yes exactly what I meant" then Garrett, unaffected by the interruption continued. "If we spar with each other we'll learn the techniques of those around us, making us know the boundaries of each other and giving us and edge should we ever fight as a team with someone we don't know." The others nodded to each other justfully, and let Garret press on "So we're in agreement, I was pretty well healed by our wonderful nurses" Garrett grinned at Riiko and Oko and Oko blushed madly. "And if there's one thing mark is good at it's attacking things." Mark retorted "Hey! I'm good at other stuff!" Garrett simply smiled at his rebuttal. Mark then stepped into Garrett?s place, a small mount of dirt turned make-shift podium, and said "Well I can't wait who's first??" He was staring directly at Amelia and she barely believed it, for a moment she checked around her to make sure Oko or Chase wasn't right behind her then she grinned fiercely. "OK bring it on, Sparky!" She taunted drawing her Swallow into an offensive position and tightening her grim in anticipation. Mark looked back to Garrett and then tilted his head toward Oko while keeping his gaze. Garrett quickly nodded and walked over to her to train some and Mark focussed on Amelia again, "what's say you make me a new pair of axes if I win?" She asked back "Out of what??" Mark gestured to the temple and said "My old pals axe was broken but the blade was intact, with your skill Garrett's strength and Chase's fire, we could have a pretty damn good smithery up here." She smiled at her new idea and counter offered "OK but what it I win?" Mark thought for a moment and deduced he had nothing to lose "Name your prize." he said confidently. Amelia smiled bigger than he had seen before and said "If I win you take me on a date!" Mark's breath caught in his throat. Amelia could see it was obvious he didn't expect that and might need a little coxing. "What's wrong, scared of the little wind girl??" she said proudly as a breeze much like her hand touched his cheek softly. Mark smiled himself and answered "You have no idea what you're in for."

Ject now charged Garrett and Mark trying to hit then with his broad fists. Mark dove to the side and cut out Ject's hamstrings. Ject slowly stopped then turned to Mark, who then sped around him and slashed his achilles tendants. Ject wailed in pain and fell to his massive knees. Garrett drew forth his sword and leapt to the giants chest. He swung as hard and fast as he could, using all of his strength to hack threw the massive Ject's armour along with his neck. A red bolt of lightning travelled to his blade as he cut and shocked him badly. Mark ran over "Garret! Garrett!" he fell unconscious and everything fell black. From the outside all anyone could see was the large stone Garrett blocked the door with. Then it started to crack, a pin-prick of light flashed to the centre, then lightning pattern cracks erupted threw the stone and granite shrapnel flew out the door way. Everyone looked in curiously. They saw two large poles melted threw the middle, and a ruined, bloody battle field. Mark stood just in the doorway, Garrett hanging lifeless at his shoulder, with steam slowly raising from his palm. Holy shit what happened?! said almost every spectator. Mark smiled slightly and said "He..he needs medical treatment..." Then Tray and chase rushed over to carry the passed out warrior. The other well trained warriors had been slain by lightning, whether it be of Ject or Mark was unknown. Mark fell to his knees as soon as Garret was safely off his arm and faintly said "you know breaking rock and melting metal are allot harder than one would think.." then with a soft smile he closed his eyes and fell to the ground, out cold.

As Mark drew his axes Ject let out an echoing laugh. "Axes?! I should have known, hoe befitting" he grumbled as he lifted up the mighty war axe of his own. Soon the others rushed in to see what the trouble was. Most of them paused in fear and awe and Garrett let out a loud "Oh shit!" Ject raised his empty hand and a massive ray of electricity ran threw his veins and out his palm. Mark looked back and screamed "Move!" to those behind him. They all jumped away and the bolt scorched the ground where they once were, leaving a large sizzling line of burnt earth and brick. Electrical remains disappeared into the air behind it, temporarily leaving a line of small lightning whisks in the attacks wake. Mark looked at the damage and was shocked. "Positively charged..." he muttered. Garrett asked "what was that?!" Mark leered at him with the look of deathly fear on his face. "His attacks!" he said "They use positive electricity!" The others looked around and were still lost. ?What's the big deal, is that any different from negative??" asked Ashara. Mark jumped to the side using his powers for speed and said "Yes with lightning that's a difference of more than a billion volts! You get hit your pretty much done for!" The others had the same look on their faces that Mark donned moments earlier as he struggled to avoid another axe swung and bolt. Then Mark fully focussed on Ject. "How did you master positive?" he asked while jumping from side to side and trying to slash for himself. "Much training." replied the hulking Ject as he swung his overbearing axe again. Mark just barely dodged it but jumped almost head on into a blast of electricity. "Mark!" cried Amelia. Mark flew back a few feet then stood and resumed fighting. "Stay back!" he exclaimed "I'm a living conductor I can survive his lightning attacks." Amelia strained herself to stop from running to his aid. Then an idea struck Mark and he almost swore because he didn't think of it sooner. "Garrett! I need you!" Garrett ran to his side and dodged along with him while mark explained. "You control rock and stone! You have the ability to also block his lightning!" Garrett thought for a moment "By the way you talked about his attacks it seems like the bolts would smash stone to pieces." Mark nodded "Yes, don't count on one stone for a shield of more than one attack, in fact: it might only hold up for a few seconds, so move quickly." Garrett nodded in reply and thought to himself "If I use my strength I'll have a much better chance of taking down this beast, but then everyone would know of it, they could exile me!" "Chase said I would be needed to save the others at some point, this is a little sooner than I expected but I'm sure, now is my time." Mark looked over to Garrett and said "He has powers far beyond mine. If all goes well I'll learn something new..but be wary, and be ready for anything." just then Ject laughed once more "You cannot prepare for what I can do!" he hollered before transforming into an enormous lightning bolt himself and leaped across the room as living electricity. "This could get complicated." Said Mark ad he and Garrett charged after the massive warrior, blades at the ready.

Mark cursed his feelings and began walking away from Oko and Amelia. He spoke tohimself as he walked "'I loke you' she says, oh yah? funny way of showing it, drive off who I like then drive me away from both of you..." Then Mark dashed away with his lightning boosting his speed. He was well out of sigh and hear shot within seconds. Where he a last stopped was a little creek surrounded by thick bramble bushes and fallen trees. He climbed in and sat next to the creek. Mark stared at the water as a faint breeze graced his cheek. There was nothing he could do, almost every idea ended in someone getting hurt. To punish himself for hurting those around him he drew one axe and placed the blade to his right wrist. Many scars were there lashing across his wrist entirely for pain and not death, if he wanted to die he'd cut up his arm towards the elbow to slice a vain. Instead he had just made several slits from below his thumb to below his pinkie. Mark gritted his teeth and squeezed his eyes shut as he quickly pulled the blade across the scarred skin once more for Oko, then again for hurting Amelia, and a third time for disputing with Garrett earlier. His newly sharpened blade cut fast and deep, blood trickled down his fingers and dripped into the flowing water. A tear mixed with the blood as he looked down at the cuts. He did not know what he could do. He simply waited for an idea to come, watching the blood flow and watching sparks jump along the creek as each drop brought a new zap of energy to it.

Mark walked in silence with Garrett for a while. Suddenly he took a step in front of him and stopped abruptly, forcing Garrett to stop as well. Mark had thought long and hard about the situation. He deducted he was wrong, wrong in his actions, wrong in his emotions, wrong in everything. He clenched his fists around his axes and drew them. Garrett gave him and aggravated look and said "Not again." sternly. Mark simply stood without a particular form or stance and waited. Garrett quickly enough drew his sword and said "Fine let's get this over with." Before assuming a defensive stance to block any of Mark's attack's as best he could. Mark then took a deep breath to help him swallow his pride and he dropped to one knee in front of Garrett. Garrett himself just looked down at Mark dumfounded at his actions. Mark then bowed his head and lifted his axes crossed over each other toward Garrett and said "I offer you my sincerest apology, and I pray you take it. I also offer you my friend ship and loyalty that comes with it." Everyone close enough to see or hear them stopped in their tracks and stared at Marks uncharacteristic actions. Mark then said "I plead you to join my offering of the [I]fricai ren[/I].." Everyone around gasped, everyone who understood anyways. The fricai ren was an ancient pact, translated it means the "friend oath" accepting meant that both persons of whom agreed were obliged to protect one another if the need ever arose. And to provide assistance when asked. Breaking the oath was a tragic sin and usually resulted in the death penalty. That alone is the reason the oath had died out and hadn't been offered for over 400 years. It was a truly strong offering, and the answer could decide Mark's actions to Garrett for the rest of their lives. [COLOR=DarkOrange]((Greeting all who want to talk to me, I plead you get msn or aim to do so, my addresses are in my profile, thank you. I hope to enjoy talking to people I often pm'ed, once again.))[/COLOR]

Mark pulled his arm away gently and Oko took a step away, embarrassed. Mark looked at her shame filled eyes and he said "Don't feel bad, it was nothing, but if you held on too long your arms would go numb." Oko looked as Mark and smiled slightly. "We'll all want out arms usable when we're in that temple thing. "Oh by the way, that's some fighting style" Oko blushed and said "I read it was the style that Eka used ,so I learned it for myself." Mark felt stupid now, he never knew anything about Ject ,,although it might help to know was his ancestor used to do with his powers. "Maybe you can help me research the guy I'm incarnated from, you know if you want to." Mark blushed nervously waiting for an answer.

Mark walked up as Oko finished her sentence. "You know? you'd be surprised how many people think electricity is useless." He said sitting down and taking a bite out of an apple he picked on the way there. Garrett was surprised he so blatantly began conversation "Mark?" he said astonished. Mark replied "Garrett, Oko" nodding to each of them respectfully as a greeting. Mark had slight burns form where the sparks tried jumping back to him. Oko looked over his sadly and touched one of them, and a static shock zapped threw her hand and partially up her forearm, making it tingle and go slightly numb. Oko giggled at the strange sensation and Garrett once again got jealous. Mark reached behind Oko to her pack and drew our her weapon. "Some blade for the fine girl." Mark said admiringly, Oko blushed in reply, and Garrett just steamed staring at Mark. Mark then got an interesting idea and asked Oko "May I treat the blade?" Oko looked at him quizzically and eventually nodded. He then closed his eyes and let the blade sit on his legs in front of him. He placed his hands over the blade, about 2 inches off of it, and touched thumbs. Soon sparks of electricity linked his hands and the blade almost constantly, creating a bright light. "Don't try to touch it." Mark said sternly as he slowly separated his hands and ran them to each length of the blade. When he was at the ends of it the sparks stopped and Mark opened his eyes, breathing deeply. Then he flipped it and repeated the process. When both sides were done he opened his eyes again and smiled proudly. The blade itself was sparkling gloriously, as if clear glitter had been sprinkled all over it. Each way he turned the weapon different specks of light caught the metal and made it sparkle more. Upon closer inspection, the metal had a strange swirling pattern to it. Almost as if someone had etched entwining spirals all over it's surface. To create the effect by hand would take months. Then Mark checked the edge, it was shaven to perfection, cutting now more like a hot knife threw butter than a battle weapon. Mark grinned vivaciously and exclaimed "It worked!" Almost loud enough for the whole mountain to hear. Garrett pointed out "What you took a risk at damaging her only source of defence?! How could you?!" Mark smirked and replied "Are you implying you would not defend her if need be?" Garrett answered "Of coarse I would!" now clearly angry. "Well it's not her only source of defence then is it?" noted Mark smugly. The only words from Oko were "Oh my gosh! look at how beautiful it is!" The spinning swirls of the pattern reminded her of splashing waves in the center of an ocean, she loved the idea that she was now wielding an ocean of her own while in battle. Mark smiled at her gorgeous voice and incredibly cute smile.

Mark sat trying to perfect shining his axes, then it started to rain. Amelia just looked up and said "we should join the others, they'll be worrying about us." then she covered the blade of her swallow in cloth and began walking. Mark jumped to his feet and sheathed the axes. Screaming "No!" he began running in the opposite direction. Amelia got closer to him trying to grab him and make him stop, but she got a strong electric shock and fell hard on the ground, confused. Mark ran as hard as he could with no use of his powers, he hated the rain. As drops sped passed him large electric sparks began jumping from Mark to them, soon the sparks would jump drop to drop making burns and strange marks when they finally hit something. Every puddle Mark stepped in also became a pool of sparks licking the surface repeatedly. "I must find shelter!" he thought. Soon he found a large group of trees bent into each other. They were far from adequate shelter but the stopped the rain so he ran over to them. He sat in the middle hugging his knees and praying for the rain to stop before someone found him. He constantly gave of electric discharge, as a side effect of his power, he learned that rather toughly when he tried to help his father out of a swimming pool and killed about twenty people in an instant. He avoided water from then on as much as rationally possible. Perhaps that is why he was drawn to Oko, she was forbidden, the safe and secure form of water he could actually touch. He kept in the cover of the trees as long ad the rain fell, fortunately no one came. He then cautiously walked out of the haven and back to camp, staying away from remaining puddles as much as possible.

Mark watched as Tray walked away. He was a little put off by his actions to Amelia, but he liked him much more than Garrett. He ran a few steps after him, and after saying goodbye to Amelia. Once he caught up to Tray Mark said "Hello, Tray was it? I'm not sure if your offer was directed at me at all, but if it means anything I would surely enjoy a healthy sparring match , I want my body and mind as sharp as my blades you know. Not to mention how sloppy my powers get without practice every once in a while." Tray looked Mark up and down and smiled "Sure buddy, uhh Mark right? We I'm sure we can have a decent training session between the two of us." Mark replied "I'll be sure to keep my axes sharp for our fights." Drawing his axes to show off to Tray. Tray looked at one then the other, then raised an eyebrow "they're not evenly treated, one is in much worse condition than the other." Mark looked at them himself and kicked himself mentally. "Oh yes! that reminds me, I have to be going, I'll see you later to train." Mark then left Tray to his own businesses and went back to Amelia for her sharpening and shining skills.

Mark looked over the shining blade of his newly polished axe and let out a small smile. No one had ever, ever, helped him or did him a favour. He admired the sharpening job and deduced he could not match it without allot of practice. But at the same time, he didn't want his axes off key and unmatched. So he knew he should go back to her to get them evened out and maybe teach him how to do it for himself. "This is fantastic!" he though exuberantly, smiling and grinning for the first time in ages. "I get a fine job on my axes, I might get a sparring partner, and above all, I can use all those reasons and more to talk to that nice girl again!" She definitely had wind powers, being able to move as she did. And her spear was as beautiful as she was. He happily raced back after her, using his electrical speed boost to divide the time it took him by more than ten. Once he had reached camp he looked around, careful to avoid Garrett and Oko, but still hoping to find the new girl. Eventually he saw her, she was by the guy with blue hair. Mark took a step back and thought "Oh come on! that's just not fair!" then he realized Tray didn't really seem to be interested in her as more than a friend. Mark still had a chance, small as it may be. He watched her leave the camp to a river near by and followed her. He walked up behind her as quietly as possible and then jumped out, making sure to leave some sparks in the air, next to her. "What the?!" she exclaimed as Mark appeared. "I love the job you did with my axe." he replied. She smiled and winked "Oh it's just you, well I'm glad you like it." He smiled back, a rare sight to be sure, and said "I...uhh..I was wondering if you could do that to the other axe...or even each me how to." Mark was also blushing a bit, embarrassed and nervous.

Mark went into shock at a combination of being engulfed by rock and seeing himself lose, again. He closed his eyes and charged his energy. Several waves of force shot from him blowing away dust and debris as he focussed. Soon he was ready, he opened his eyes wide and clenched his teeth. Releasing a massive amount of electrical energy. The stone around him blew into pieces almost instantly but drained him of energy harshly. He barely stood himself up to limp away after climbing out of the new hole and retrieving his axes. He walked slowly and with a limp for the most of two hours before stopping. He leaned on a tree then slid down it, sitting with something to support him. Then quietly fell asleep. He woke up several hours later with more energy but the same amount of shame and sadness. He heaved himself up and walked slowly threw the forest near by. Coming across some animals every once in a while. Eventually he found some sort of royal family mansion hidden in the woods. He didn't care about anything but Oko and how bad he felt for hurting her so he kept walking. Guards surrounded him and exclaimed "Stop there peasant, or defend yourself! These are sacred grounds and you must go or be slain." said the lead guard. Mark simply shrugged and kept walking the way he was. He was then stopped by a spear head against his neck. Mark had gotten perturbed by this point and wanted nothing to do with whatever they were guarding anyways. He groaned and drew his axes into a defensive stance. The guard leader attacked first with a lunge from his spear. Mark blocked it with the face of his axe. The next guard attacked with a short sword, harder to block by far, but Mark easily parried the blow. He countered with the statement "Kill or be killed." Then he threw an axe, it arched threw the air and landed imbedding itself into a man's skull. The other guards stared at Mark in horror as he also dashed to the lead guard and decapitated him with a swift slash. The third guard of five, now charged Mark, spear held high. Mark kicked the spear just below the blade, leaving lighting lines behind each movement, and shattered that part of the spear. Seemingly leaving it to fall on the ground, Mark grabbed the blunt end of the spear and sent a charge up the pole, electrocuting the man to death in seconds. The two final guards looked in astonishment at the grisly act. Then one was cut down as well, Mark grabbed the spear head from the air and hurled it into the poor guard's throat. The final guard, now scared for his life above all else, tried to run.. Mark effortlessly ran in front of him and gave a high round-house, hitting the guard's neck abruptly stopping him. The guard's neck muscles contorted and tightened viciously, twisting around his spinal cord and soon enough, snapping it. The man fell dead. And Mark kept walking silently. He stepped in a puddle of blood, while pulling his axe from a man's head, on his way off the fight scene. The ripples reminded him of Oko and her water controlling powers, then a single tear rolled off his cheek, ironically this also reminded him of Oko. And so he walked, giving up and accepting he can't ignore he missed her- even just the sight of her, or the sound of her voice- dearly.

Mark was infuriated! He could barely stand the build up of his own anger, as he wondered away from the group again. He walked for a long while before stopping to actually think. "I cannot hold back." He decided silently. "I must not hide my powers when facing such a foe, next time, he will be defeated." Mark wasted no time in finding his way back to Garrett and Oko. As he looked over them by the fire he desired to find out why they were suddenly so shy to each other. He closed his eyes and focused on the electric currents in the air, reading them, feeling them. He read that there had been a large movement of water and that they had separated for a short time, but that was all. Delving into the past threw the reading of where electric paths had been was a very hard art and Mark was barely a novice. He walked over to Garrett and said sternly "I must speak with you." Then he walked away. Garrett looked to Oko for minor advice and she nodded in approval. After following Mark, Garrett stopped curiously. Mark turned to him and asked "What's wrong?" Garrett simply stood still and asked "What's wrong?! What's wrong with you?! You could have killed me when you put on our little sparring match." Garrett said angrily. Mark grew cold and silent. In an instant he had spun ducked and tried to hit Garrett in the stomach with a hard blow. Garrett dodged barely and drew his sword. Mark then said "No weapons, this is a fist fight." then he threw his axes into a semi-far tree and reached towards Garrett?s sword as if to take it. Garrett pulled back the blade, but electrical sparks simply jumped form Marks hand then Garrett's sword. The sword flew back into a tree behind Garrett and Mark smiled. Seconds later Mark was attacking again. He went to punch Garrett in the jaw but Garrett ducked and punched the ground forcing a stone in front of Mark's punch. Mark recoiled in pain as he hit the rock, and Garrett took his chance, he went for a straight hard punch to Marks gut. "hate to do this to yah" said Garrett, but Mark replied with "I don't" Then Mark twisted to the left and grabbed Garrett?s arm. A surge of pain shot from Garrett?s wrist threw the rest of his body and electric sparks were clearly visible around Marks grip. Garrett stomped and a stone burst forth from the ground knocking Mark a ways a way into a tree and dazing him slightly. Then he rubbed his wrist sympathetically and Oko appeared next to him. Mark was angrier than ever and dashed forward with lightning speed, literally. He caught Garrett with a kick to his upper right leg and Garrett fell to the ground in pain as the muscle cramped violently. Oko stood in front of Garrett protecting him. And Mark glared at her with a curtain [I]how could you?[/I] attitude. He didn't want to hurt her but he knew he could get passed her. Oko stood protectively in front of Garrett as his leg felt better and he began to stand. Then Mark tried to run around her but was caught by a wall of water, with an extremely strong current. Saddened by what he had to do, Mark reached and touched Oko's arm gently by the shoulder, after a moment she flinched and revolted from his touch in pain. Garrett stood up straight once more and struck Mark in the stomach with anger and strength alike. Mark fell back hard but jumped to his feet quickly. He was content to defeat Garrett, thundering sparks of electricity now crawling over him like snakes. Garrett was likewise determined, fearing if he let mark live he would only hurt Oko again. Oko just stood on the side lines, wanting to join but fearing for her safety as well as Garrett?s if she interrupted.

Mark was a little shocked that anyone would be so nice to him without knowing him very well at all. Still though, he wished to be alone. He placed his hands on the sides of his neck and jerked his hood back on covering his face. "You'll know my name when I wish to tell it to you." Mark said coldly. With his strength back he could use his speed boost again. He ran away from her as fast as he could without using the boost then once far enough away, so that the sparks couldn't hurt her, he leapt into the air. Sending electric lines rippling in the ground behind him and not leaving a land trail. While in the air Mark saw Garret, the one who had prematurely stolen Oko from him before he could talk to her. With a minor jet of energy from his upper back and shoulders, Mark went soaring to the ground once more. He created a shock wave to reduce the impact and landed on the ground just off of Garrett with a loud thud. Garret ran over to a clearing where Mark had landed and looked him up and down, still oblivious to how he did what he just had. Emotions were one of the few things Mark didn't have control of, an overwhelming anger crept over him. "I have just met Oko and the others but Garret didn't even give me a chance to talk to her." thought Mark as Garrett approached him. Then a colder thought entered his mind "If I got Garrett out of the picture, I could have Oko without competition." Marks view of problems was a bit distorted ever since he accidentally electrocuted a babysitter to death. He locked a firm stare on Garrett and took a step forward. Garrett looked at Mark and knew he wasn't just going to be welcomed back. Mark reached into his vest and drew out his hand axes. Garrett took a step back. Mark then lunged at Garrett slashing at his ribs silently. Garrett stomped the ground and a slim rock jutted up in front of him, blocking the attack. Then watched as Mark jumped to on top of the stone and slashed down at him.

Mark looked around noting unique movement styles of each member to see how they would move in a fight, a skill developed in fighting leagues. He got tired of the crowd quickly. He walked quietly towards a boulder. Then something, or rather someone, caught his eye. It was a young girl with beauty far beyond her knowledge. In an instant Mark was entranced by this girls looks. Amazed that such a gorgeous girl could not be bold and outgoing. At the sight of her getting friendly with Garrett ,however, his feelings and lock on her changed. He viewed her as a lost treasure, taken from before him without a chance of luring her for himself. He continued behind the boulder and lowered as a track star would before darting one hundred meters. He over heard the beautiful girl say "Oko" in answering Garrett's indirect question of her name. He memorized it and took off, again leaving electrical lines arching along the ground behind him. He flew down the mountain almost tripping because of the descending and uneven ground. He had to stop and rest soon after leaving, but he had made much more progress than the group. He took a few deep breathes then panted shallowly for a few minutes, he couldn't stop thinking of Oko. Her hair, eyes , hands, figure, everything! He only took a few glimpses but it was enough for him to remember. He was happy to be alone, away from the group, but at the same time couldn't wait to se her again.

Mark walked for a few hours and made his way to the first of three villages between his and the mountain. He was growing hungry and was eyeing the road for a food shop. Soon he saw the butchery, and went in. The inside was dark and dismal, accented by the overweight man chopping meat with a cleaver in the darkest corner of the room. The sense that the next chop would miss in the dark and hit his hand or fingers almost seemed to be the theme of the room. Mark opened the door and walked over to the counter in the dark corner. The butcher didn't look up but asked "wha' can I get ya' ??" his thick vocal accent disturbed Mark but he didn't let it show in the slightest. Mark simply pointed to the rack of dried meats behind the over-sized butcher and lowered his hand again. The butcher looked up at Mark, then back to the rack, then to Mark again before finally picking up a small handful of meat strips and placing them in front of Mark. "Will tha' do?" asked the butcher. Mark simply picked up the meat tied it within a small cloth and dropped a few solver coins on the counter. The butcher looked down and grabbed the coins then said "Hey tha's is more than ya' need to pay, sir" but when he looked up Mark has already left. Mark took one of the 5 strips he got and chewed on it as he walked. Taking big bites, he often lost track of time and went without food thinking he'd eaten just that morning and he didn't need more food, for days. He ate al but one strip before leaving the towns edge. The town stopped abruptly, the buildings and stone road stopping at almost a straight line into a forest and path that was only there because it was heavily walked on. Mark finished the last of his meat and looked upwards slightly checking the top of the mountain to see how far he'd gone. There were a good few villages and small towns around the mountains base and he didn't want to be left out of the action because he lived too far away, so he decided to speed up. He lowered his body a bit and kicked off hard, flashing into the distance, leaving only heavy tracks and lines of lightning licking the ground for a few seconds as he ran. In a few minutes he was at the base, it took allot of energy to increase his speed so vastly with his powers, but he'd gotten used to it after much training and discipline. He slowed momentarily to adjust his footing to the incline of the mountain but sped up once more at realizing the steady angle of the edge. He ran for another ten minutes or so, before getting to the top. He noticed people and stopped instantly not wanting to show any of them his powers need he should fight them later, he wanted an advantage. He looked from behind a large protruding boulder for a minute or so before realizing no one had noticed him yet, then he walked out and onto the cliff where everyone else was. They looked at his strangely and he glared at a few from under his hood. He was angry that most of them were children, the oldest of them seemed to be perhaps 4 or 5 years younger than him. He just turned his back on them and didn't start talking to anyone. Waiting for a total of 8 people to arrive. So far he saw a few guys; one boy who had darker blue hair, Marks biggest fear of him was that he would mention how his hair matched Mark's vest; just after Mark arrived another man had shown up, he was huge and looked as if he could crush bones with his bare hand, he'd climbed up the sheer face of the cliff they were all standing on and his choice of pathways shocked everyone. There were a few girls too; the most interesting one had bright blue hair, and seemingly didn't bring a weapon as the others including Mark did; another girl had sort of greyish blue hair and carried a bow and arrows along with some fans that Mark didn't recognize as pointfull; the last girl was donning two katana's on her back and had purple hair. Mark counted a few timed and included himself the answer every time was 6, 6 of the chosen 8 were present. The most startling aspect of everyone he noticed was their hair, each one of them had a shade of blue or purple, except the larger man who had dark brown. Mark would fit right in, he had short spiked hair that was white as milk. He also made note of their weapons, a wide range of attacks and deaths were possible within this group, but Mark had seen almost every weapon in existence within his fighting leagues. Mark was emotionless and void to the observers around him, but inside he could hardly wait until the final chosen arrived, he also was very eager to see the others powers, if they were like him he was in for a good show.

Mark silently waited for his name to be called in the latest tournament arena. He stared upon Mt. Sot,, a mass of a mountain that towered over his village, even though it was several towns away . He then got an interesting message in his head and was compelled to follow it. "Next up the ripper Roran vs. The lightning wonder, The thundering destroyer, The town and world champion! Mark!!!" The crowd surrounding the ring went up into chaotic cheering when Mark began his ascension of the stairs into it. His opponent, Roran, was a short skinny man with quick jabs and large katars (punching daggers) jutting from his knuckles. He got a feel for his daggers punching and jabbing into the air in front of him as Mark entered the ring. Mark wasn't too tall, merely about 6 feet high, but Roran's shortness made Mark look like a giant. Mark reached into his vest and drew out his trusted twin axes. The match begun shortly after with the banging of a gong. Roran maid the first move, thinking he was faster than Mark he could end the match quickly. He punched forward towards Marks lower rib cage. Mark side-stepped and deflected the attack with the face of his right hand axe. Roran was thrown off balance and caught off guard, but he got his footing back in control before Mark could take advantage of it. Roran attacked again fainting, he stabbed forward once more but pulled his punch and slashed with his other hand down near Marks knees. Mark jumped in place, lifting his legs to his chest but not moving his torso more than a few inches. Then sharply handed on Roran's arm with a sickening crack from his opponents elbow. Roran screamed in pain and fell to his knees, begging to stop the fight. Mark simply stepped off his arm casually and looked back at him for another last attempt to win. His expectancy was met when Roran heaved his hand at Marks legs once more. Mark threw his left hand axe down and stepped back. The axe cleaved hard into the ground with enough blade out of the flooring to still block Roran's attack. Mark then spun his feet and turned his waist 90 degrees while throwing his second axe downwards also. This time the axe cut swiftly threw Rorans arm, slicing the bone like paper. Roran let out another loud scream and fell to the ground completely,, blood flowing all over the arena's base. The referee clearly saw that Roran could no longer fight and declared Mark the winner of that round. Mark bent slightly and without a word dislodged his axes and clipped them back into his belt sheathes, concealing then under his vest once again. Mark then walked out of the ring and over to the ref. He whispered something into his ear and kept walking towards the tournaments managers. A fear fell over them as they witnessed Marks grisly approach. The ref. broke their silent screams with the screams of himself. "Mark has dropped out of the tournament! He will get prize money for second place victory!" This news washed the managers of their fear and doubt. They calmly and gladly handed over the money in the form of a small sack of gold coins to the still eerily quiet Mark. He took the money without saying a word, and almost without making any sound at all, and walked out of town. The money he got would pay his trip to the enormous mountain. Leaving the town itself with no sound but the grass cracking under his feet, Mark slowly walked to his destiny. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OOC: I'll get to the mountain tommarrow sometime

Name:Yuri Orlov Age: 37 Appearance: He wears a black suit most of the time and has dress shoes. [URL=http://ic1.deviantart.com/fs8/i/2005/324/b/8/bruce_wayne_by_WitchQueen.png]FACE[/URL] Status in Society: civilian Occupation: Owner and head casher of the Speed-O-mart. Skills: He can work a cash register and is very good at math. He also used to be a cab driver and knows the city very well. Weapons before arming yourself: A baseball bat, and a standard 9mm pistol. He recently god his gun permit and baught the pistol at the sporting goods store, after hearing about a large amount of armed robberies in the area. Weapons after arming yourself: An M93 black arrow sniper rifle. And a jackhammer automatic shotgun. Personality: Yuri is a wonderful happy people person, he loves human interaction and can read people very well. He loves making new friends and is usually the one to start a conversation. Bio: Yuri grew up in a poverish area in Russia. Seeking a better life for himself yuri moved to America with his wife-to-be. After opening up his store he started to make some decent income, but it was no life his wife-to-be wanted so she moved back to Russia leaving Yuri broken hearted. He lived out his life for a couple months like so until he realizedf that he isn't living the American dream he mmagined. he is now in progress of closing his store and moving back to Russia.

Zak was walking with Karen and Forlorn looking for Jaden's trail when David started calling to them, again Zak took the lead. "I'll finish the job girls you go back to the hotel and stay safe." Niether of them fled they wanted to be ready if Zak got into trouble. "Well!? Come face me vampire!" Zak called out. David leapt from the pole and landed hard infront of him. "I'll tear you limb from limb!" screamed David inches away from Zak. David then heaved towards Zak ramming him in the stomach with a closed fist.Zak flew a few feet back and in fact onto his back. He then stood wearilyand drew his rapier. David took out a pair of blades and dashes at Zak angrily. Zak ducked to a squat and towards David slashing his stomach with the tip of the sword. "Damn this one's much faster, and stronger, he seems driven to kill me but I do not know why." thi=ought Zak as the blades of him and his opponant clashed vigerously. "You can't beat me vampire." announced Zak getting another quick gash accriss David's right leg. David bluntly answered this with "Stop your talking slayer scum!" and another full attack.

Name: Brik Age: 34 Personality: Brik is an extremely honourable man, respecting his elders and higher ups in rank. He is also very protective of his friends and has a military way of thinking about things. He can be a monster at times, these times are in battle, he lets his feral instincts take over and he fights ruthlessly. Appearance: [IMG]http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/fb_gallery/83579.jpg[/IMG] Weapon: A large hammer and the claws on his armour. Bio: Brik was taken as a slave as a child just when the new leader was rising in authority and power, he was beaten severely and repeatedly. He got a sense of military thinking when he was surrounded by nothing but the armies and prison camps of the new leader. Many half-breeds were taken to secret prison camps and killed off before the leader was actually the leader. Brik was a resilient fellow and survived, much to the dismay of the soldiers. They often made games of hitting Brik with sticks their guns and other hard instruments to see if he would fall or even get hurt at all. The hits hurt but Brik had a habit of hiding his pain very well, seeing it as a sign of weakness. Eventually he was fully grown and his, with a number of other half-breeds, broke out of the camp. He has since then been searching for an ledged camp of half-breeds starting a rebellion. Knowing he could be a valuable asset he's happy to be close to the group at last. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OOC: This is awesome! The first draft of this rp was my first rp on this site!

[B]Name:[/B] Mark [B]Age:[/B] 27 [B]Gender:[/B] Male [B]Personality:[/B] Mark is quiet, extremely so. He hardly talks to anyone and in thus seems to be mad constantly. He is however a very caring man. He is usually shunned at for his ruthless fighting competitions and secrecy, but if anyone gave him the time of day they could see he was a smart and passionate individual. People who do know hi, there arn't many , would describe him as "misunderstood" they have seen his true sides and his true feelings. Mark is very cold to strangers though. He has verious personal bounderies and blocks to keep others out. Very few have made it to his good side. [B]Appearance: [/B] [URL=http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l142/gooseberry_01/lightning-2a7z.jpg]Mark[/URL] Note the lightning shaped scars from his shoulders to his chest. [B]Rencarnation of:[/B] Ject of lightning [B]Power:[/B] He can sence and read the electrical surrents in the air and in people, this gives him the inate ability to predict the movements of others. He can also manipulate the currents, allowing him to create and control electricity. Including slight magnetism. And more so, Mark is fast and very acrobatic when needed. [B]Weapon:[/B] Twin hand axes [URL=http://www.superiormartialarts.com/wleimages/W339.jpg]PIC HERE[/URL] [B]Bio:[/B] Mark participates in fighting competitions, like tournaments of martial arts. In one of these fights, common in his home village, he was losing badly. His opponent was a large slim man who faught faster than it looked like he could. With a trickle of blood running down his forehead, Mark got a burst of energy. He kicked the man in the stomach and appeared to be letting off electrical sparks with every blow. The man he fought backed up a few stepps with every hit and winced in pain as his muscled tensed uncontrollably. Mark simply kept fighting silently. He sped around his competitor and hit him fluedly, as if each hit was what he meant to do the entire movement, the hits however were consecutive and many. He finally ended his onslaught with a reach towards his axes a few meters away. A quick flash of lightning on his hand and his weapons were proceded by then flying t him. Mark quickly grabbed them out of the air and slashed his opponants neck out. Mark had never considered his powers to be of an incarnation, he simply desmissed them as an edge over his enemy fighters.

Zak stepped forward calmly and drew his sword as well, he was given the choice to design his blade when the slayers took his old one, he took up the offer knowing he'd probably fight for them later. The blade was an exemplary piece, and looked to be of the finest crafter. When Skye looked down at the sword it almost hurt her eyes, like staring directly at the sun for a normal human. After she coped with the stinging sensation she asked angrily "What is that?!" Zak just smirked and examined the blade himself "Oh this thing?" He asked sarcastically. He gestured to Jaden Karen and Forlorn to stay back and said "Only help if I absolutely need you." then he turned his attention to Skye "The his blade is your doom." He started "'It has a wooden handle wrapped with treated leather and inlayed with gold an silver filigree, the blade itself is folded solid silver, blessed and baptised with holy water, and engraved with divine scripture. It has a german style rapier wire hand-guard with a pappenheimer guard for extra protection. And I am an honourable being, so I'll warn you now I am not a human like you know them." Everyone in the room, even Zak's ally's, were shocked by the ingenuity of his sward but still thought Zak's speech was a little unneeded and all to smug. Skye replied to it with "I don't care what kind of human you are I'll kill you all anyways!" Zak began the battle with a quick jab at her rib's. Skye was fast enough to dodge t but Zak came around and cut her back. She winced and focussed on her defences. Zak attacked again, sweeping at her neck. Skye brought up her sword to block but Zak changed direction just before their swords met and cut her right shin. Skye cursed the stinging pain from Zak's blessed rapier and straightened. "I'm better than him!" she thought to herself. "How does he keep breaking threw my guard???" While she was thinking Zak had made another attempt to slash her. She saw what he was going to do and countered with a slash to his forearm, it hit. Zak stepped back, looking at the fresh wound, then it healed almost instantly. Within seconds the arm was good as new. "You heal instantly too?!" Skye said, feeling she was doomed in this fight. Zak looked at his arm again and said "Apparently. You learn something new everyday huh?" Skye attacked while he was looking at his arm. She almost got a slash on his left calf but he parried and slashed her back in return. Skye stumbled a little, thrown off balance by the slash. She could barely stand now and was losing allot of blood. "I do not with to kill you if you're to weak to defend yourself." Said Zak readying his rapier once more, after every cut Skye's blood had seemed to sizzle and evaporate off of it. Skye held her sward up but the cut on her arm stung badly. Normally she would heal too but Zak's sword made her wounds stay. She dropped the sward and pulled forth the strength to pick it up from her anger at the situation. Forlorn, Jaden, nor Karen had ever seen Zak actually duel someone with swords, he was much better than any of them had expected. Zak took a few steps forward and waited for Skye to ready herself as much as possible before saying. "Now! En garde!!" and beginning another bladed assault.

Zak thought about it for a moment then decided being on the slayers' good side couldn't hurt. "We're waiting for me to relax." he answered Karen's question. Karen Forlorn and Jaden all looked at him in confusion "You've had two days, or so I've been told, to do nothing. And I've been stressed like nobodies business. So I need a break." Jaden seemed irritated but Karen didn't mind at all, and Forlorn just giggled slightly and didn't care. Zak led them to a bar/ strip bar. Jaden didn't mind so much now but Karen and Forlorn were definitely uneasy here. They all took up seats at the bar's counter and began ordering drinks. Where as the dancing stages were behind them. Zak and Jaden carefully planned this out to keep the girls happy. After a while Forlorn was drunk and hanging off of Zak. And Karen couldn't see straight. She spent most of her time groping Jaden bluntly, it didn't take a genius to see she was grabbing his crotch every five seconds, and the occasional "Come on, do me" or "please, let's go fuck" was heard from her general direction. The boys however were much heavier drunks and weren't even buzzed yet. Zak was still having a good time though. Plus he and Jaden were going to get drunk themselves soon enough. Forlorn sitting in his lap made his night entirely. And Jaden didn't exactly complain about Karen either.