Firepower

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== Summary ==
== Full Text ==
Lila Ericson: Jari looked out over the plains, a single building sitting tall above them. If her info was correct this was Rhenco’s hotel. After hearing about her cousin’s capture she reluctantly abandoned her search for Darien in favor of striking back at him in revenge.
As she approached her jaw clenched as the stink the building emanated her nose. It was the smell of death, rot, and decay. Rhenco would pay dearly, regardless of whether Sven was alive or dead.
Rhenco: Rhenco sat at a small table just outside of the building, two drinks before him. He squinted as he sensed someone’s approach. “Milae…? No…someone else…”
The man didn’t want to admit how close things were to being decidedly against his favor. He wanted his enegery to go into successfully negotiating with the time jumper, and very little else.
However, as he saw Jari’s young form approaching, he couldn’t help but feel a stir of excitement. Maybe he could distract himself until the goat arrived.
“Hello…” He called out serenely.
Lila: Jari took a deep breath as she approached the man sitting at the table. “You are Rhenco?” She asked as she drew her sword.
Rhenco: Rhenco gently produced the long knife he kept in his robes and set it on the table. “Come closer and I’ll tell you…”
Lila: “I think not.” Lila said as she began to flourish her blade. “You are going to pay for all the people you’ve tortured, and for kidnapping my cousin.” She held her sword up in front of her as flames began to crawl up the blade to the tip.
Rhenco: Rhenco’s knee hit the underside of the table, which caused some of the drink to spill, but he pretended it didnt happen as he kept his face calm. “You seem…familiar…who was your cousin? Although…I suppose a better question is,what did he look like after I was done with him? ”
Lila: She said nothing refusing to indulge the mad man any longer as she advanced on him and swiping at his neck.
Rhenco: Rhenco tipped backwards in the chair and smoothly snatched his knife back up as he fell. He rolled into a crouched stance.
“Did he tell them already?! There’s no way! He was too concerned for his family!”
Rhenco swallowed dryly. “Teleporting isnt an easy recipe to pull off in the first place. And I way over did it when my binding week was up. I’m stuck on my feet here…”
He held up the knife menacingly. “Stay back…or you’ll only make it worse for you…and everyone you love.”
Lila: “You have no idea who I am or who I love. And you find it very hard to hurt anyone when you’re dead.” She lunged at him as the flames spread down the hilt and across her body, engulfing her in flames.
Rhenco: “Fu-!” Rhenco lost his footing in surprise and couldn’t help himself but stumble a step away. He then cried out as her blade caught his hand and sent his knife into the snow. He furiously bit back a reaction and gripped his wrist where heat blisteres had already started to form.
“Not a demon? A fire mage? She didn’t even balk at my threat! This must be because of that boy…”
“You’re making things worse…” He finally said, pacing a slowly circle around her. “Sven…was it? That was his name? You wouldnt want to continue his suffering would you?”
Lila: At Lila frowned and her brow furrowed, a look of confusion on her face. “Who?” She asked as she swiped towards him, a wave of fire erupting from the blade and flying towards Rhenco.
Rhenco: Rhenco sucked in a sharp gasp of air before the wall hit him full on. He gave a ragged cry that he cut short, his teeth gritting together as he strained to keep himself composed.
His shoulders hunched as the flames licked up his clothes a low growl turning into a yell. Rhenco flung himself into the snow, scraping it over his head and rolling in the wet grasses.
Lila: Lila stepped on his chest to keep him in place as she held the tip of her sword to his throat, the fire receding a bit down to blade so as not to burn him. “Tell me alchemist. I’ve heard tell of your supposed deathlessness but your aversion to fire is a surprise. Tell me what happens if I kill you with fire or else I will roast you alive.” She threatened.
Rhenco: Rhenco opened his mouth, but his gaze flickered, as if seeking an answer. “I…” He breathed heavily, and then gave a scoff as if he couldn’t believe his own words. “I can’t answer that question…you’ll have to rephrase it.”
Lila: The flames crept down the blade once more as she began to enunciate each word. “What happens if fire happens to destroy your living body.”
Rhenco: Rhenco gritted his teeth, his breath catching in his chest as he leaned away from the flame helplessly. “Do…not…burn me…” He said seriously. “Again…I cant answer that question…I would, but I don’t lie…”
Lila: “Why can’t you answer my question Rhenco!” She demanded as the fire grew dangerously close to his face.
Rhenco: “I will tell you if you spare me!” He yelled, every word etched in anger.
Lila: She set her jaw and drew her sword back, the flames extinguishing. “Talk. Quickly.” She said, boot still on his chest.
Rhenco: Rhenco visibly relaxed. “My body cant be destroyed by flames…I cant…die...by flames…”
The words had no sooner left his mouth when Rhenco looked as though he might be sick. “Now let me up.”
Lila: “You can’t die by flames?” She asked curiously. “Now why are you being so specific in your wording there alchemist? And what would it take to kill you?”
Rhenco: “I’m being specific because for the first time in a while the truth threatens me. You ought to feel proud about that…” Rhenco pushed her foot away and slowly stood up, walking over to a patch of snow and attempting to treat his burns with it.
“Normally when I say something like ‘I’ll drop by for lunch and kill your first born tomorrow’ nothing is able to stop me.” He waved a finger. “But you…very interesting…I actually dont want to tell you the truth.” He breathed a sigh. “But if you want to kill me just run me through…I’ll die…”
Lila: “And then you’d be back to kill my first born tomorrow. You must think me a fool, I know of your deathless nature Rhenco. But I do not know how you do it or how to stop it and until I find out I will put you in constant agony.”
Rhenco: Rhenco eyes flared an he turned to face her. He stood to his full height. “I’d burn for a thousand years before I gave you anything regarding a permanent death!” He spat, his typical composure abandoned. “You think theres anything, even flame, on earth that I fear more than what waits for me in the void?”
He walked towards her, and then past. He set the table back up on its legs, wincing over his burns. “This table…was for negotiation…negotiation for peace, between myself, and the Rebellion. That should mean something to you, unless you are of high central…”
Lila: She swallowed, the words on her tongue were like poison. “Yes I’m of high central what of it? Tell me something though, alchemist, what does await you in the void.”
Rhenco: Rhenco growled and he gripped the table, his head lowering. “A goddess…” He replied simply. “One of wretchedness, unfairness, and evil…I could not bear any exposure to such a being…”
He licked his blistered lips. “I had someone from central here. A reoccurring guest, climbed off my roof with a Rebellion kid…ran off that way if you care.”
Lila: “Not especially.” She said. “I’m not here for him I’m here for you. I assume you speak of Hel, she is the only God who survived Ragnarok.”
Rhenco: Rhenco brought up the knife he had retrieved, tapping the tip of it to his lips. “I may not lie. But I don’t always have to answer either.” He carefully sat down. “Looks like I’ll have to put my threat to that demon on hold…” He glanced back at the hotel. “Although that was a nice start…so what now fire user?”
Lila: “Now…” She said as the blade caught fire once more. “You suffer.” With that she lashed out with her sword, another jet of flames racing to meet Rhenco.
Rhenco: Rhenco was knocked back from the blast, landing hard on the ground. He immediately began to roll around to put out the flames as he let out an enraged yelled. “Stay…your…hand!” He strained, curling onto his side.
Lila: She paused for a moment. “Tell me what I want to know.” She said simply
Rhenco: Rhenco hissed through his teeth. “Yes…” He managed. “Its Hel…”
Lila: Lila grinned. “Good, now tell me how to be rid of your filth.”
Rhenco: Rhenco’s elbow gave out and he slumped over. His eyes searched for a suitable answer. His teeth ground again and his fists clenched. “I wont…”
Lila: Lila looked on, eyes uncaring. “Then perish.” She said as she launched another volley of flames at him.
Rhenco: This time Rhenco screamed.
His finger nails dug into the ground as the flames scorched him. His head ducked low as his shoulders hunched.
“AAAAAAAAAAARGH! What point is there!? To relent only for death!”
Lila: “To end your suffering.” She replied launching another torrent of fire.
Rhenco: “Grrrahhhhhh!” Rhenco’s skin began to sizzle as his neck craned upwards. “M-m-my suffering here is n-nothing! Aagh…! Stop thiiis!”
Lila: She pauses. “And why should I? How many times did the ‘guests’ of your hotel beg for you to stop? And did you? No. Tell me something though, what have you done, so wretched, so horrible to gain the ire of our God?”
Rhenco: Rhenco took a pace forward on his hands and knees, his lips burnt back away from his teeth. “Exsisted…” He snarled.
Lila: She snorts as fire slides down her blade once more. “I don’t believe you’re telling me the whole truth alchemist.”
Rhenco: “EeAhhhhh!”
The man thrashed around on the ground as his form blackened and blood boiled.
“Fine! Fine! Fine!” He shrieked. “I’m! I’m! Fine!”
Lila: “You don’t look fine alchemist.” She taunted. “Why do you do the things you do? What drives you to commit these atrocities.”
Rhenco: “W-i IIee do yu thiiiiinaaaaaa!?”
Rhenco continued to writhe as his words devolved into incoherent babble, the flames reducing his form the little more than charred, stretched skin over bone.
Lila: She sighed, there was little else she could get from him for now. She looked at the building next her and began to drag it across the wall outside, lighting it. This place had no more purpose and needed to be destroyed.
Rhenco: Rhenco brought up his head shakly, his fingers digging into the soil. He regretted letting everyone out, he would have loved to see the girls face when she realized she had burned innocents to death. His fully exposed teeth clicked as his scorched eye sockets twitched.
Of course she may have already known it was empty, save for Jerod’s body. He slowly inched himself back over to his knife, leaving a trail of chard skin smeared over the grasses in his wake.
“Eh…eh…” He mouthed over his boild tongue. “Now I see…you lied…you must be Rebellion…I understand now why Orskaf was so apprehensive of you all…why he went at you so savagely…people like him…people like me…you shut them down…you dont put up with it…and you’re all willing to become the villain to do it…”
With an agonized cry he rolled over onto his back, squirming from the pain. “Humiliating…I’ve never been so quickly backed off…well…done…little girl.”
Lila: She walked over and grabbed the knife before stepping away from him. “What makes you think I’m a rebel? I’m just a girl who can’t stand the atrocities that you create. And yes maybe I am willing to become a villain to stop them.” She says as she steps away and watches the building start to burn.
Rhenco: “Cause…I heard tale…” Rhenco quietly sang in his broken, raspy voice. “Of a little boy…and a king who did the same…the goddess…and her little friend….they all caused so much pain…for men like me…oh isn’t that a funny thing to see? What really makes someone different…from me?”
Lila: She squinted, looking genuinely confused. “I think your brain has been scorched because I have no idea what you’re talking about. As for what makes us different. You refuse to die, therefore I must take extreme measures
Rhenco: Rhenco convulsed once, and dug his finger nails into his charred scalp, the flesh crunching as he pulled a strip away from his own head. His face once again held no emotion, but this was because all his features had been seared away. He shakily stood to his feet, his head practically vibrating.
“Bah!” He spat out, and flung the section of skin to her face.
Lila: It was disintegrated before it ever reached her as the flames roared off her body. “So… What now alchemist. I won’t kill you, to do so would be… Counter intuitive, and I doubt you have much strength left to do so yourself.”
Rhenco: “I’ll eventually die of thirst…or starve.” Rhenco barely was able to whisper. Images of a Rebellion full of fire breathing dragons flashed in his mind. “In more than one way this day is yours though, my dirty little secret…but the day is also over…perhaps next time we meet…something will be different…”
Lila: “The next time we meet you’ll be dead.” She said as she began head west towards Central.
Rhenco: “Hm hm…so you along with me then?” Rhenco asked, amused as he slowly walked back to the scorched table and sat down.
Lila: Once she was a good distance away and the only sign of the hotel was the billowing cloud of smoke she sighed and sat down. She didn’t know what to do. The mad man was unkillable and he refused to give much information. After a couple of minutes of contemplation she sighed and got on bent knees, hands clasped together. “Dear Hella, I know it has been sometime since we’ve spoken and… I’m sorry for that. I’ve just been so focused on getting revenge for my father that all else has left my mind. But… I need your help, your guidance. There is a man, Rhenco, he is terrorizing my people, your people and he seems to be unkillable. I-I don’t what to do. I want to keep my family safe but nothing I tried worked. Please give me guidance, send me a sign, anything.” She begged in prayer.
Hel: “Not the phone call I was expecting, but itll work. ” Hel’s voice echoed in her mind. “Also, I Iove how I choose to let ya’ll do whatever, free will and whatnot, and yet I still get telegrams about all the human woes of the world.”
She gave a mighty sigh, inhaled, gave another long sigh, and then clicked her tongue. “What’s up biscuit?”
Lila: Lila froze for a moment in shock. If she was being honest she didn’t expect to receive an answer, especially not a verbal one. “I-I um… Rhenco… He’s threatening the new Rebellion. Nothing seems to kill him and he won’t tell us how to even after burning him.”
Hel: “Oh you are SO much like your dad.” Hel huffed. “Hi God, I just tried burning one of your, literal, kids, to death. Maybe I dunno, you could step on him, and that way I can go back to killing even more children in vengeance.”
Lila: She swallowed as tears pricked at her eyes. “I’m sorry. I-I don’t know what to do. He kidnapped Sven and others and was doing terrible things to them. He’s going to do it again and I don’t want him to hurt anymore of my family and-” She cut herself off realizing she was rambling.
Hel: “Hm…” Hel’s voice became a little more gentle, and a black, wispy tendril snaked out of the ground. It coiled around her and flicked one of her tears away.
“Alright, hush now…you know I cant stand it when one of my kids cries…child, I gave you a golden opportunity to try and turn this back on me…but you didnt. And because of that…eh…I guess I’ll tell you what you might need to know. Although it may not be what you want to know…are you okay with that? ”
Lila: She swallows and nods. “I-I’ll accept anything that you will give me.” She says.
Hel: Why the fuck is she so precious!? There are days I hate myself!
“Good.” Hel huffed as she kept her thoughts to herself. “For starters I have surrendered this world to you…and you have chosen war. I knew it would happen, but I didnt care because your sacred lives had to be just that. You’ll get better…you all will…your life here, is not all that I have planned.”
The tendril wrapped snugly around her for a second. “Murder, vengeance, bitterness, they will only bring you to a place of deep hurt that you will be stranded to wallow in.”
Lila felt her face look back towards where Rhenco was in the distance. “See my child? What path did he choose that would let him sit there, in agony, too stubborn to feel the sharp blade of humility long enough to seek a better life? I love him no less than I love you. I love central no less than the Rebellion…”
Hel then paused, and waited for Lila to speak.
Lila: She sighed as she realized what Hel was saying. “War isn’t the way, vengeance isn’t the way. But what do we do when others start the war, and they refuse to see reason and sense.” She asked, not accusatory but looking for a genuine answer.
Hel: “I have blessed you all with great abilities…but the best of them is love…followed by creativity. Cause let’s face it, ass face over there has made love a foirgne concept to himself, like many have done, and creativity is the only way to keep bad kids like him and the rulers of central from victimizing others.”
Hel paused. “Get clever. It’s what made you all so special in the first place. And dont worry about mistakes, they exist for a purpose. And as much as I detest violence among you all, it’s a two way street. You were right to take his resources away, and not let yourself or others become a victim.” She added with a nod to the burning hotel. “Maybe the same philosophy can be applied to your other struggles.”
Lila: She nodded. “Alright, I’ll heed your advice. And… Thank you, I’ll do my best to make sure we are the best we can be.”
Hel: “You know it’s okay to fight me a liiittle bit on some of this stuff. I mean it, I could get real bitchy with some of the O.G rebels and it was kinda fun. Ah…whatever, don’t mind me, smooch.” Hel added as the tendril came up to poke Lila in the head. “Find a thicky accented seventeen year old girl to hang out with or something. I’m gonna split.”
And with that Hel and her voice vanished.
Category:BOTGD
Category:Act I
Category:Events
Category:Rhenco
Category:Lila Ericson
Category:Hel (deity)