A Good Setting for the Ruin Goddess [private/invite only]

Zellha, for once actually in control of her body by the will of Acalia roamed the woods. Acalia was being a baby and couldnt face walking through here in full control, and had Zellha take over so that if any trouble came Zellha could take care of it. She took her time while walking, taking slow steps and humming a soft tune, until she stopped by a tree and stood against it with her eyes closed and arms folded. Acalia (who is invisible and inaudable to everyone but Zellha) started freaking out. "Zellha! What are you doing? Why did we stop here, we have to go now!" Zellha continued humming the same soft tune until she heard some rustling, so she prepared her spell Light of Ruin, as a green sphere of light surrounded her right hand and a small palm-sized ball of green and white stardust-looking energy waited there. She jumped up and glared at where it came from, but didnt seem to care about it being a potential threat as she continued to remain calm, humming her soft tune with the energy still charging in her palm.

"And you're certain this type of wood grows out here?" asked Za'cha of his mental inhabitants. Pride slowly nodded. "From my calculations, this forest grew out from the site of a previous magical clash of energies. Energies which of course gave rise to the roots of the guild hall, as well as a copse of soil that would have ingrained itself into the trees." said the Dark Celestial Spirit with the Weapon of Death rolling her eyes. "Remind me again why you're dragging us through the forest for a tree?" Tessa asked, both males rolling their eyes now.

"Because Tessa, even though we can get access to the Horse when we get stronger," began the Ex-Quip mage as they walked through the trees, "I'd still prefer something with a little more... oomph to it. Something that I can call forth without having to have you in my hand." he explained. "Plus I want to fly around. Would make getting to these damned jobs easier, both ways." he said before stopping as his ears picked up a tune in the wind. "The hell would be out here humming?" he asked, both Spirits within his mind shrugging before they walked towards the origin... and straight into a small red haired teenage girl pointing a ball of green sparkly magic at them.

The robed man blinked at this turn of events. "Hi there... mind pointing that somewhere else?" he asked before frowning as he could hear Pride making a hmm noise. "Alright, what's up?" Za'cha asked of his guest. "This girl feels... off." the Dark Celestial Spirit said, earning a grumbling sigh from the human host. "Care to clarify? Last time you said that, they turned out to be some kinda bloody Celestial Spirit hybrid thing." said the mage before glancing back at the girl. "Name's Za'cha. Yourself?" the human asked, figuring that the easiest way to figure this out would be to ask... although he was preparing to move quite rapidly out of the way if the girl decided to shoot him.

Zellha narrowed her eyes. "My name is Zellha." With that being said she threw the ball of energy, not at Za'cha himself but purposely missing and exploding behind him, destroying about 4-5 trees behind him. "Is that all you want?" She said coldly, as if Za'cha had been some lifetime rival or someone that she had hated since childhood. Acalia, on the other hand, disliked this negative energy from Zellha.... or at least more negative energy than usual. "Hey, Zellha be nice! What did he do to you huh? He is just passing by and you threaten to blow him up, and he does something wrong?" Zellha turned her head, glaring at the girl with eyes of "shut the hell up or else." She turned her head back to Za'cha. "What causes you to want to come over here anyway?" After saying this the goddess walked over to a tree, stood against it with her arms folded and eyes closed, and began humming again, just like before. Except of course this time she had a ton of negative energy leaking off of her, she didn't like people in general but Za'cha made her sick for reason's she didn't know. Of course Zellha wouldn't blatantly say "i  hate you" but she would give little hints to it. Za'cha came over to her, asked her to not blow him up when he was a potential threat to her, asks the name of a complete stranger and thinks he will get it simply by introducing himself, and he expects Zellha to trust him? Zellha knew giving her name to Za'cha would have been perfectly fine because if he ever tried to use this information it would be useless because she inherited Acalia's body, meaning everything on record proves Zellha's name is Acalia.

The Dark Mage twisted his body as the bolt of energy shot... past him and exploded, destroying several whole trees, leaving nought but a crater in the ground. "Well... interesting..." he muttered under his breath before he returned to the matter of her name. "Zellha... that rings a bell somehow." he said, rubbing his chin in thought. "This girl reeks of arrogance... it is quite nourishing really." said Pride a little jovially, which made Za'cha grimace.

"A girl her age is able to give you enough pride to feed on? That's a little worrisome..." the human said before he glanced in the direction of Tessa who was chuckling. "Alright, what's so funny?" he asked. "Zellha... so this is what happened to her. How cute." the Spirit of the Weapon of Death said, making Za'cha raise an eyebrow. "Care to explain how what's so cute?" Za'cha asked. "Zellha was a Goddess of Ruin some three millennia ago by human time keeping measurements. Gave my previous master quite some work to do." said Tessa at which both Pride and Za'cha blinked before looking at the humming girl once more.

"Sorry, care to run that one by me again? Goddess of Ruin?" he asked before sighing and rubbing the bridge of his nose. Then a thought occurred to him. He looked over at the girl. "So... a goddess trapped in a human's body eh?" he guessed as he took a step towards her. "Can easily imagine that'd be a bit annoying... for both the host and yourself Zellha." said Za'cha before he tapped his own skull. "Got a couple of guests myself little girl, assuming you can hear me in there. Pride, the Dark Celestial Spirit of Sin, and the Spirit of the Weapon of Death." he said. "That's Death as in Four Horseman, Rider of." he clarified. "They both say hi. As for why I'm out here, could ask you the same thing... although if I had to guess, I'd be betting on you trying to find a way to return to your full godly power hmm?" he asked, taking another step forward.

"What would you both say, if I told you I knew a way that you could do so? Or at the least, channel your full power for a brief moment of time." offered the Dark Mage, bracing himself in case the girl really did turn out to be this Goddess of Ruin, and she didn't exactly like his insinuation that she was anything but at her full power. By all accounts, divine powers tended to be a bit prickly when it came to stuff like that.

Hiro tossed and turned in his little hammock amongst the trees of the dark, dank forest. The relaxing euphoria of sleep and dream about the usual revenge fantasy with mounds of demon corpses and corpses of the powerful figures of his guild scattered before him and a woman in each hand, kept him as still as a log. It was something he regularly dreamed about. Women and blood.

Suddenly an explosion. Suddenly his sleep is disturbed by an explosion. Suddenly, the trees around him and the one he was sleeping in are destroyed in an explosion as he falls to the ground and lands on his dead. Of course, Hiro chooses the natural course of action and starts spewing blue flames and shouting explicative’s as he tries to figure out what just happened.

“WHAT THE LIVING FUCK!?” Hiro yelled at the top of his lungs, his tail lashing and azure flames bursting from all possible angles of his body.

Zellha stopped humming when she heard him call her a goddess."You would be correct in saying that, and it is pestering for me, but my stupid host seems to try to form a "bond" between us." Zellha never once opened her eyes, or even looked at Za'cha. So he somehow figured out Zellha's identity, but that didnt matter to her. What caught Acalia's eyes was when Za'cha called out to her. "Hey Zellha, he is just like me! A person with another soul... or at least something close to it! I'm not alone!" Zellha ignored Acalia, and instead focused on Za'cha. "You would be incorrect with your next statement. I'm simply passing through this forest, and my little "host" as you say is too much of a bitch to walk alone, and she needs me to hold her hand the entire time." She began humming again, until he spoke about her full potential."Well, that would be divine, but i'd perfer leaving this stupid body. But what are you-" She was cut off by a flaming man coming towards her. "Seems we have another guest." She started walking towards the man, eyes still closed, showing her true cockiness while an orb of green light surrounded her body, and the white and green stardust started to manifest itself around her body. She then opened her eyes. "Calm down and shut the hell up, unless of course you would like to lay dead at my feet." Acalia growled. "Zellha! Thats not nice, seeing where he came from he probably was in the explosion that just occured! You shouldn't just threaten him because he is yelling! Cut him some slack!" Zellha did nothing but glare at the other soul, before returning her cold, dagger-shooting glare at Hiro.

Za'cha blinked as Hiro made quite the loud and bombastic entrance. "You seem to have the bad luck when it comes to trees and sleeping." he chuckled before nodding at the pink haired girl. "Hiro, meet Zellha, Goddess of Ruin, currently possessing a human host. Your Divinity, meet Hiro Villen, half-devil spawn of the Underworld." he said before returning to the situation that was Zellha about to let loose another of her spells.

"Now then, back to the subject earlier... well, it'd be easier to show than tell." he said with a shrug. "Pride's Aegis." he invoked, before a dark void encased him which then shattered to reveal Za'cha standing there, exuding a different aura than before. Both of his eyes were now glowing red. "Greetings Ruin Goddess. I am Pride, Lord and Master of the Dark Celestial Spirits of Sin." he said by way of introduction. "With this, I am able to unleash my physical prowess that I hold in my true form through my host. It is a step towards freedom from his flesh, as I'm sure he can craft for you and yours." the Dark Spirit informed her, before closing his eyes and then opening them to reveal they were back to being blue, which meant Za'cha was back in control.

"Course, getting the materials for such an item for yourself... well, judging solely by your own powers, I'd have to hazard a guess at saying that the ideal metals reside in only one location. The Underworld..." he said, glancing towards Hiro, hoping that the hybrid would get the gist of the idea. Having a Goddess on their side in a fight with the second-in-command of Hell would definitely be a massive improvements on their survival and chances of success.

Hiro spat more flames out in retaliation to the girl in front of him. “Bring it on!” Hiro spat back, ready for a fight. His eyes saw two souls, one of which was disgusting enough for Hiro to call a delicacy, marinated in sins such as torture and murder without being hindered by things such as remorse, truly a meal fit for a king as far as Hiro was concerned. The other was just the opposite, pure as a fair maiden’s heart, as some would say. Nothing but purity was there, making it unappealing for a devil such as Hiro, such a bitter and unseasoned soul wasn’t even worth hunting.

Hiro immediately fired a ball of blue flames at Za’cha when he introduced him to his new and rather unappealing friend. “WHAT THE FUCK!?” Hiro yelled at the white haired, possessed, boy as he jumped in front of him and grabbed him by the collar. “DON’T GO AROUND TELLING PEOPLE I’M A DEVIL! ARE YOU TRYING TO GET ME KILLED!?” Hiro angrily continued yelling as he grabbed Za’cha’s collar with his claws hands and pulled him in close, snarling through sharpened teeth. If his ‘guild’ knew he was more than just a fire spewing demon, they may try and use him to their advantage in the workings of the underworld and amongst demons on Earthland. Likewise, if word got out a devil like Hiro existed, he would immediately get the attention of religious organizations and the rune knights, who would undoubtedly hunt him mercilessly. He wasn’t happy with Nakiya when she told Za’cha and he was most certainly not happy now that Za’cha had told a complete stranger.

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word count: 278

Zellha grinned. "I dont care what species you are, I don't discriminate who I destroy, but I am intruiged with your offer of the item." Zellha walked closer, now completely glowing green with energy until she was 4 feet away from Hiro. "You want me to bring it? It's brung." With that the energy was released in a wave outward, and a sphere of energy 5 feet in every directions surrounded Zellha, exploding and creating a crater in the ground of equal size. Zellha, after the explosion would be found in the center of the crater, scratched up as the blast hurt herself, but looked up to where Za'cha would be afterward. "I don't like your little friend. Tell him to keep his anger on the minimum, I can't keep exploding and destroying this forest. I would love to, but I can't. Now, tell me more." Zellha folded her arms as she slowly exited the crater, blood dripping from a scratch on her face but she seemed to pay little mind to it, and payed more attention to Za'cha and Hiro, wherever he would be after the blast.

"Oh for the love of..." Za'cha groaned as he rolled his eyes, sidestepping the fireball Hiro threw at him before the hybrid grabbed him. "First," he said before swiftly kneeing Hiro in the groin, "that was for the fucking fireball. Second, Darkwarp Raiment." he invoked, grabbing Hiro and immediately bolting for the air as the white winged armour took form around him when the midget got too close and began to explode!

When the explosion was passed, the armoured mage put himself and Hiro down on the ground, glaring at the devil hybrid. "A moment as I cool my friend off." he said to Zellha before he grabbed Hiro and drew him close. "Think idiot." he hissed. "First, Goddess of Ruin. She could probably tell what you were to begin with. Second, remember what your little pet, friend, minion, familiar, whatever said at the last meeting? Do you?" growled the armoured dark mage before he let Hiro go. "Now, I'd suggest cooling down a little. A cold flame burns much hotter than a heated one." he said before looking back to Zellha.

"Now, yes, I can make you something that would allow you to retrieve more of your power... but as I mentioned earlier, to craft such a device for such a purpose as harnessing the powers of a destructive deity as yourself, I'm going to need materials from the Underworld. Hell by any other name." he said, hoping that Hiro was paying damn well attention this time, or else he was going to be seriously getting his demonic arse kicked in later. "Of course there would be the small matter of payment... I don't exactly make stuff for free. Not even for a Goddess."

Hiro was quickly saved from the ruin goddess’s destructive rampage by Za’cha. Not that Hiro needed saving he would have survived a little explosion. After a little scolding Hiro didn’t need from Za’cha Hiro immediately retorted. “Why the hell would you want that nut case on our side?” he whispered back. He quickly realized however Za’cha wasn’t going let this go. He understood she could be useful as Za’cha knew she would be. But he didn’t like the idea of having an even bigger trust issue than he already had with everyone else.

Hiro didn’t trust his teammates at all. He could throw them farther than his trust. However he was aware enough that they had their own goals in mind and wouldn’t endanger their opportunity to get there. They needed each other alive regardless so he put up with them. Well, he knew Nakiya was ‘trustworthy’ in that regard. They’re objectives were completely aligned with one another. The goals of Za’cha on the other hand were a complete enigma to Hiro, and thus he didn’t like the idea of giving him the lead or leaving anything in his hands, especially not the spirit that resided in him, Pride. Hiro knew the possessed boy wouldn’t let this go and conceded as Za’cha continued speaking, spitting and looking away, deeply annoyed, and it showed. At least Hiro could keep an eye on Za’cha and Nakiya if he felt doubt. He couldn’t do that with Zellha who wasn’t bound by this guild’s leaders and the fear they imposed and danger of leaving, or in Hiro’s case, by its curse.

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word count: 267

"Nutcase... Interesting word." Zellha laughed at Hiro's exclaim. "Anyway, money won't be of any concern. I never ask of anything free, my status as Goddess means nothing to that." Acalia looked shocked that Zellha actually had some type of sense of honor. "W-wait... You are planning to cooperate with these guys? You are a nutcase..." Acalia giggled. She then had a shocked look. "Hold up hold up! You are planning to go to Hell and I can't even have some sort of voice in this!?" Zellha glared over to Acalia, and she quickly backed down. Zellha, with a short smile returned her gaze upon the two men. "Might I ask how this entire ordeal shall take place?" She folded her arms, and sat on the bare ground. She didn't care much about how dirty her clothes got, they weren't her clothes. They were Acalia's. Plus, she could get more if she wanted. Hmm... A trip to the Underworld. Might I kill the god that possesses that realm? That would be fun. But can I place my trust on these people? Feh, not like they are worthy of trust anyway. I'll lead them to believe i trust them, for now at least. she thought to herself.

Za'cha glanced at Hiro for a moment then back at the dark goddess inhabiting the human child. "Details are being worked out on the getting there part. And, no offense, but I'm not taking your hosts jewels. You may not need to eat, but I would assume that she does." he said before shrugging. "We can discuss the exact payment later." the silver-haired mage said. "I'll give you two a moment to talk and mull it over. My associate and I need to have a quick chat." he said, before trying to guide Hiro out of earshot of the girl.

Once he was certain that not even the goddess could hear them, he looked at Hiro. "Alright, first, sorry again back there about the whole origin spill. Had to work fast. Deities can be somewhat... fickle in their attention spans from what I've gathered." the Dark Magus said to the half-devil. "Now... the reason I'd want her with us is simple. Chess." he said, letting it sink in for a moment before sighing. "Right, best explain that better... When we get down there, what was the plan going to be? Wade through whatever hordes this guy has before we barge into his palace and then take him down there?" the possessed human asked, slightly rhetorically. He hiked a thumb towards the possessed girl. "With that however... how many jewels do you want to bet, that he'll come to us, just to figure out who and what deity's barged into the Underworld, on his doorstep?" Za'cha asked the hybrid.

"Personally, I'd rather not fight this guy inside his own house. Too many chances for traps and the like for him to have an advantage. This way, we can lure him out, and thereby weaken his overall position." he explained. "Plus if shit hits the fan, we can get to the exit that much more quickly. That sound alright?" the silver-haired mage asked of Hiro.