Bernard Byrnes

Bernard "The Burner" Byrnes is a character in Hell RP roleplayed by Lunchbillion.

## Story Thus Far

#### A Rude Awakening

Bernard began his Hell RP story having recently arrived in The City; both to be closer to his daughter and to seek worthy foes. Whilst sitting at a bench in Cafler Park he met Scorn, a young girl accompanied by two tricky spectres. The two made a deal: Scorn would help him work Grindr (a phone app Bernard mistakenly believed was for setting up duels) and Bernard would help Scorn locate her missing friend. After searching the block and a brief encounter with Zoie bore no fruit, Scorn suggested they ask after her friend at Otarion's mansion. Supposedly said mansion housed all manner of supernatural characters, a prospect which intrigued Bernard.

In the forest en route to the mansion, the two ran into a sparring match between the magical gangster Wiz and Otarion himself. Their power impressed Bernard, though they seemed to pay him no attention. The combatants and their nearby friends eventually returned to the mansion, with Bernard and Scorn following suit.

It was here that Bernard learned the residents were building a team of extraordinary people to enter the Genie Games, a competition in which the winners would have their wish granted. Bernard duelled Xeana for a spot on the team: but as a result of her blood-bending, he collapsed before even drawing his sword, Svadas.

As Bernard lay half-conscious on the couch, Wiz began to absorb the magical energy in his sword. Furious and humiliated, Bernard was goaded into a fight outside. After a fierce battle, Bernard was ultimately defeated by Wiz's reflection spell. Having gone from longing for a true challenge to beaten twice in the same day, Bernard's ego lay shattered. Wiz left a few gold bars to pay for sword repairs and teleported away.

Xeana offered a few words of support, but they were of little comfort to the old warrior. He exited the forest, leaving Svadas in the dirt.

#### Sam

Later, Bernard met with his daughter Sheryl at the Kiwi Cafe. Being humbled had brought his failings as a father into focus, so he'd decided to put fighting aside in an effort to be a bigger part of her life. Sheryl told him he shouldn't give up on his passion "for her" and should bounce back into self-improvement. Promising to balance both her and fighting, Bernard left the cafe with rejuvenated drive.

Bernard bought a katana from Julia's store before entering a new training regiment, seeking to master his innate pyromancy without the aid of Svadas. During this time he met Avia (a being from the sky) and Rin, helping the latter learn to catch fish and discovering she was the adoptive granddaughter of Birdkage, a warrior he had duelled many years ago. He also met Jiao at the sauna and accidentally set the place aflame when his training went awry. Eventually, Bernard was able to cast balls and waves of fire with just his own body.

The blade tournament Avia had invited him to earlier was fast approaching. However, on his way there, Bernard came across Dr Amy Van Heerden. She was a former engineer at Synthesis Ltd - the same organisation that built his robotic legs - and was now on the run from S-27, an android of her own creation. Working together, the two managed to subdue the android. Van Heerden called him Sam, and had created him as humanity's next great evolution before Synthesis reprogrammed him into a ruthless assassin. With one of her devices she managed to restore his conscience before asking Bernard to help reintegrate him into society. Bernard initially refused, but ultimately left the door open for future contact.

For now, he had a tournament to compete in.

#### Blades Between Life & Death

The blade tournament was attended by many interesting fighters, some of which Bernard had met back at Otarion's mansion. Bernard had broken his left wrist in the effort to stop Sam and therefore had to compete with only one arm. He'd only entered this tournament to test the results of his training, but what remained of his pride would rear its head once again.

Bernard's first match was against Aria. Despite her unpredictable array of powers (including time manipulation), Bernard's battle sense just barely prevailed.

His second match was with Nio Tamanegi, a saiyan warrior and Aria's adoptive mother. Faced with a young opponent who outmatched him not in magical trickery but strength and skill, Bernard realised something. He'd lost his love for combat. After a long and storied career, he just didn't have another rise to the top in him. No amount of self-belief and effort was going to change the fact that he was burnt out. Bernard lost the fight, losing his left arm in the process. Truly defeated, Bernard left the battleground and finally retired from combat sports.

What the former champion was supposed to do now was anybody's guess.

#### Seeking Purpose

Months later, Bernard visited Sheryl at the Bulging Iron Gym. It was a tense meeting. She was disappointed in him for retiring, but even more so for shutting her out again ever since. Nonetheless she decided to give him another chance while insisting he do something about his missing arm.

Bernard made his way to the Inn & Yang, as its barkeep R had offered him a restorative potion after his fight with Nio.

## Relationships

#### Nio Tamanegi

Bernard sees Nio not as a rival, but as his inevitable replacement. Despite this he is aware of no resentment toward her. In fact, he respects her skill and the drive he once shared.

## Gallery

Bernard as he appears at the beginning of his Hell RP story. He wields the mystical sword Svadas.Bernard at the Kiwi Cafe with his daughter Sheryl.