The dead aren't meant to move!

It wasn't long after they had came across the tainted forest and even tended to some of the corrupted animals and seen some of the strange plants, some seemed to have a corrupting touch while others poisoned or done nothing at all; it even seemed that some of the plants turned to ash as they where harvested which brought up more questions than answers for the trio. It had been after they had stopped fighting they came across a strange scientist who seemingly had took the opportunity to study the plants, this had bothered them as he could have lent a hand dealing with the animal problem but nothing could be done about it now as much as they wish it could be. Personally he still wanted to yell at the scientist for being less than helpful but his parents had explained that he was a teacher, not a fighter so it made sense he done as he did but that didn't change how he felt but remained quiet not wanting to get into trouble.

After what had happened they got to the tree line and where about to leave the cursed place when the scientist seemed to catch up with them. Advent groaned already hearing what was going on from the man's panicked spirit but allowed the man to explain about the current situation as calmly as he could but it was clear he was in severe distress. "I'm so glad I caught you all, we have a serious problem..." he explained panting due to running "T.. the plants... well not just the plants but the overgrowth in general is pulling the life force and any mana towards it draining life and magical essence of the surrounding areas thus effectively killing the place..." he continued standing up looking at them "We don't know how this infernal plague is going to spread or where the main source is but we need to find the later and destroy it for the good of everyone, since the three of you are still here and have tended with the situation up til now please I'll pay you all well to find the source and destroy it." he said looking over his shoulder concerned.

"The animals seemed to have fled so it's eerily quiet, something isn't right in this forest so I suggest you start here. I'll wait here for your return I truly hope you are successful if not I will pray for your souls." he said Advent had already walked towards where the man had came from his hands clasped behind his head, it seemed like he was almost taking a casual stroll in a park. He just wanted this over and done with as this place made him feel sick.

Word Count: 459

The dragon mage takes a deep breath as she looks over to the scientist had come running from. "I'm tired of plants... can I just quit?" She grumbles to herself. Of course, she had listened to his bit. She runs a hand through her hair and takes a deep breath. "I'm honestly not surprised that the plants are still killing things around here..." She grumbles as she pinches her nose some. She nods after a moment, and motions to Advent. "Thanks for telling us. We'll take care of the job." She says as she pulls down on her cheeks some. Adalinda wasn't wanting to deal with these plants anymore.

She grabs her bottle of sake, taking a sip of it before she starts to go after Advent. "You have anything to go on as to where we gotta go?" She was only asking since he had seemed to know where to go to get to the scientist guy earlier. She scratches the back of her head and takes a deep breath while she looks around the forest. The distaste of the plants was plain on her face. With a deep breath, she shakes her head and looks to Advent again, before she looks back to where Kyran was. She makes a face as the lack of animals around was unsettling her. The lack of noise was starting to drive her a bit crazy. To calm her nerves, Ada grabs the jug and brings it to her lips again to take another sip of it. As long as she kept on walking and didn't take too big of sips too soon, she knew she'd be fine.

As they kept on walking a bit, Adalinda was smelling something going on in the air. "Heads up guys..." She warns as she lets her eyes trail about the place. She wasn't sure how far away whatever it was, was to them. Or if it was even dangerous. She mainly just knew that it didn't smell right to her. The smell had a rotten tinge to it, and she wasn't sure why. She never came across it before.

Words: 353

Kyran was at the end of his rope when the scientist showed up. He wanted to be done with this job that never seemed to end. It didn't help that he was struggling against the demon constantly. It pushed against the edges of his consciousness, becoming stronger as the violence got greater. As such, Kyran couldn't stop himself from grabbing the scientist by the throat. Advent and Ada had already headed where the scientist had come from. As the man struggled, Kyran lifted him into the air. "Why the fuck didn't you help us back there?" He snarled, ignoring the scientist's kicks. It took all of his willpower not to throw the man against a tree. "Oh I know. You're a useless sack of shit. You should be helping us right now but Clearly staying here is safer so this is where you'll be." Kyran dropped the man onto the ground. The red in his mind had faded a bit but he wasn't about to apologize. In fact, Kyran sneered at the weak one before heading after his companions.

He was within earshot when Ada cautioned them. Pulling out his bow, Kyran ran his hand over his quiver. His lips pulled back over his teeth. Three arrows. What was he supposed to do with three arrows? A deep breath didn't help him clear his head. He wanted to tear something. Or more accurately the demon wanted to tear something. "I'm on edge" He rumbled, his voice sounding deeper. It wasn't exactly an adequate warning but Kyran thought it should suffice. His dagger's hilt felt right in his hand. As he fingered his dagger, zombies burst from the forest.

There were many of them. Three were tearing through the distance between the two groups. They ran like animals, dead flesh dropping off behind them. Kyran classed them as the most dangerous. The rest of the group seemed to be made of normal undead. They shambled about, rocking from side to side as they walked. Kyran peered hard at the group, hopefully not wasting precious seconds. Some of the zombies were walking better. They came at the mages in a straight line rather than a shambling z-like pattern. Kyran hurried to place himself in front of Advent. He didn't block the kid mage's sight, standing a bit off to the side. This way he could protect Advent without harming him. "If we handle the fast ones, can you hit the group Vee?" Kyran asked as he pulled his dagger. The runners were closing in fast. Kyran hoped Ada could handle two or at least slow one and fight the other. That would give them the best shot at taking them all down. "Take the one on your side, Ada and the one in the middle. I'll handle the one on my side." Kyran settled into a fighting stance in preparation of what was to come.

WC: 489

Enemies:

Advent heard what ada said and shook his head in answer to her request "Whatever would your guild think of you?" he said with a smile as he clasped his hand at the back of his head as he continued walking deeper into the forest "Quitting mid task when innocent people could be getting hurt and you could do something about it. Have you no shame drunkard?" he said not caring if it seemed like a guilt trip as in honesty perception to the world was everything. The perception of a legal guild official or otherwise not helping when they could do something, was not only bad public relations it would have people not in the know questioning their motives. Something like that could and likely would lead into investigations wither they were justified or not. Then being as the others guild was that of West Fiore's Trading Company, it could be damning to their bottom line as customers and clients looked elsewhere for more 'worthy' people to do business with even if in truth they were second rate or down right shady con artists. Then again those who turned away from a legitimate business could end up dealing with a mafia and that brought it's own type of danger that he wouldn't wish on anyone as they were little more than backstabbers, hitmen, murderers and loan sharks only looking after them and theirs. Then again he knew little of that world and so this was his perception of it.

"You really do hate plants don't you" he finally said after she commented about the plants still killing things in the area. "You can't blame them for what they are doing, after all plants where on this world before we were and will be here long after we and our descendants pass." he said walking on humming a little "There is someone at fault for having them be aggressive but that isn't the plants fault, remember that." it was just a matter of fact at the end of the day to the blindfolded youth, he did believe that whom or whatever was the cause they should be punished harshly. Her hated when people messed around with natural cycles because it caused more work for him, all be it nature didn't fall directly as a cycle he was having to deal with but at the end of the day nature was needed for survival in his mind, if it was ailing or dead then the living would be the same and so by his perception meant he had to deal with issues that arose within it. Hearing the others question he stopped his arms lowering "Do I look like an information centre to you?" his tone holding slight annoyance in it, sure he could find information out like before but that wouldn't do anything but tell them to rely on him for information. This time they would have to figure it out without his insight. "Yes, but no I'm not telling." he wasn't one to lie especially about such things. "Is Key even with us?" he said his head moving as if looking around for the third of their small group, not that it meant much given his eyes were covered but still it was just something instinctual.

He let out a sigh "KEY LET THE MAN DOWN!" he yelled back to the other, it wouldn't help them if the one that was employing them ended up dead, he didn't care about the money but he was pretty sure that the alcoholic might not be as happy about not being able to pay for her habit. "He's a scientist, not a mage so of course he wouldn't have fought." he said shaking his head, his long white hair dancing around his body as he was getting frustrated. Advent lifted his blindfold a little before letting out an annoyed sigh taking it fully off, wrapping around his right wrist "Fine, your turn." he said the long set of runes activating the glowing purple runes going black with a purple glow as he dashed forward towards the first group without another word. He moved with accuracy jumping over fallen tree trunks and even using them as way to get to higher branches. Eventually he got to where the undead, how the white haired youth hated these abominations and it showed as he put his hand through the first one he came across while killing another's head clean off. It was clear that the time for playing and talking was over as far as the teen was concerned. As soon as he was finished with that he used one as a spring board and jamp on an third pummelling into its head several times in quick succession before going to his next enemy. With seemingly little effort the youth had already taken down six enemies and was now hunting for more.

Word Count: 817
Total Word Count: 1'276

As Advent seemed to guilt trip her, Adalinda looked to him with a small glare. "I was never planning on actually quitting the job midway. I'd rather not let people die anyways, so you don't have to worry about me ditching." She mutters more to herself than to Advent. Him stating that she hated plants, made her shrug. "I'm not fond of them after this job, yeah." She mutters and takes a deep breath. "I'm not blaming them either. I'm aware of them being here forever and staying forever basically. I'm not fond of these plants any longer... and most definitely don't plan to stay around them either." She grumbles. She didn't answer Advent's question on being an information center to her, and turned her head. "Well Sooorry for asking a question!" She puffs her cheeks up a bit. The question of Key, or more Kyran, came up, Ada was a bit more concerned. "Jeez! Kyran!" He dropped the guy before she had the chance to go after him and stop him, and she frowned some. His mutterings of being on edge, made her snort and rolls her eyes. She kinda got that he was on edge.

She turned her head as she noticed exactly what was coming at them, and her mouth dropped. She didn't know what to think about these sacks of brainless flesh... Kyran telling her to take two of the three running at them, made her nod as she grumbles. Her hands had turned into claws as she was ready to go after them. Ada quickly took another sip of the sake, shivering with delight of the sensation of the alcohol going through her body. She noticed Advent out of the corner of her eye taking off his blindfold, and couldn't help but chuckle to herself as she nods a little. She figured this guy could pack a punch himself. She didn't wait too long before she started charging at the one coming straight for her after Advent had already gone, and she was on his tail nearly. She let her claws dig deep into the zombie before she yanks the claws out, ripping the head off in the process before she went after the second one, repeating the same thing to the second runner. Adalinda left the remaining runner for Kyran, like he wanted, and ran after Advent. Adalinda had ran passed Advent as he took down his sixth enemy. She had dodged to the side for a moment before she brought her claws down and was continuing taking out one after another, just barely managing to miss their hands. She had taken down four more in a similar fashion, getting smacked a couple times by them too.

She looks passed the two, and blinks as she noticed a pillar of a black stone. "What in the world...?" She mutters, sensing someone by it as well. She blinks as a robed figure comes out from around it. His robes were black with red designed on it and a skull on the front and on the hood. He looked a bit too calm for Adalinda's comfort, and smiles to them. "Oh. Hello." He simply says, which just made Ada shiver before he released three black spheres at her, and they seemed to come right at her. "Shit!" She hisses before she forms a kunai in her claws, then chucks it at the man while she started to step back to get away from those spheres. They made her feel like something was up, and held her claws up defensively to the spheres.

Words: 596
Total: 949

Iron Dragon Claws: 2 post Duration (1/2), 3 post Cooldown
Iron Dragon's Kunai: 1 post Duration, 2 post Cooldown

Kyran scowled as his companions berated his actions against the scientist. He was teetering on the edge of control, on the edge of violence. He wanted to argue with them even though he knew they were right. Luckily the zombies appeared before he yelled. It allowed to redirect the object of his aggression. Black veins stood out upon his skin. His control was hanging by a thread. As his companions exploded into action so did Kyran. The runner was met head on. His dagger cut through its throat but its ratty hands kept him from completing the stroke. A blow from its arm sent him tumbling into a tree. The blow cleared his head. Perhaps the demon could no longer cloud his thoughts due to the blow. Ironic really. Kyran noticed Advent was among the crowd of zombies, all alone. Desiring to help, Kyran dipped his fingers in the blood on his head. Five wolves burst from the blood charging into the crowd of demons. Their jaws snapped separating the zombies' heads from their bodies. Soon the way was clear between Advent and the final boss whom Adalinda looked like she was facing. The runner zombie turned on Kyran. He had lost his dagger after striking the tree. This wasn't looking good for him.

An arm saved him from being mauled by the zombie. He stuck his arm out and the zombie, in life, had been much smaller than Kyran. The zombie snarled, scrambling to reach or bite him. Kyran could see his first attack had nearly beheaded the creature. It just needed a little more. Risking a moment, Kyran grasped the head in both hands. It yanked off with a jerk. The runner got two strikes in. Fresh blood poured down Kyran's chest. He was finding that Advent's self repairing clothing wasn't comfortable when it was soaked through with blood. Kyran pressed his hand against the welling wound. Still he could use the fresh batch for his spells. He pushed to his feet with some difficulty.

The boss was giving Ada some trouble by the looks of it. Black balls were rushing for her. Kyran struggled forward as fast as he could go. The demon was gone for now. He was in control. The mage was focused entirely upon Adalinda. She was the clear threat. Or Advent, who had torn through the zombies like paper. The mage had no reason to fear Kyran. That made Kyran more dangerous. With a wave of his hand, the wolves gathered around Advent shot toward the mage. Their jaws clamped onto his hands, his arms, anything they could sink their teeth into. They slowed him down long enough for Kyran to put his hand on the man's back and unleash his spell. Eight spiky worms with overlarge mouths full of teeth burst through the front of the man's chest. The worms and the wolves turned to dust. Kyran fell over, the corpse of the mage right on top of him. He didn't have the strength to cough let alone move the body off him. Kyran was content though. His friends were safe and the plant menace was finally over. Odd. Friends. He had never had friends. He hoped his journeys as a mage would bring him many more. The thought brought a smile to his face as Kyran laid his head back, closing his eyes. The forest, the village, the people were safe.

WC: 571
Total: 1,060