No place like Home (Bailey/Leon)

[Leon]

The elder would chuckle.

"Balance of power. See, our people are simple, they believe and do anything we tell them. Even kill their own children should we say so. All of that riding on the hatred of Qi users, the fear of the freaks outside our walls. Freaks inside our walls? That would destabilize our control, humanize Qi users over time. Can't have that."

The elder would then stab Blake in the abdomen with the blade.

"But you four we liked. Just smart enough to be useful. However, not smart enough to get far away from us."

[Blake Oleander]

The words were fuzzy, his brain struggled to process what he was hearing. The pit in his stomach was bottomless, and his whole world was turned upside down. He felt like he was falling. Everything snapped when he felt the blade pierce his flesh. His eyes bulged out, and the world came into focus, even if only for a moment. The rage inside of him was bubbling and with a roar he pushed himself forward, the blade driving itself deeper into his body.

It was instinct, but he'd try to turn his arm into its monstrous form as he shoved it forward with all of his might to try and rip out the Elder's throat. Right then and there.

SPOILER: Click to show

If it works

Qi use 5/16

Monsterous Claw - His right arm morphs and cracks into a monstrous claw that adds 3/4 of his energy to his attack stats while the transformation is +8 Def while active - 0 posts to unlock

Attack 77

[Leon]

Through sheer will and rage Blake's arm transforms, however instead of ripping out the elders throat, in surprise the elder used his extended arm to defend himself and it was caught by the clutches of Blades monstrous arm! There would be sound behind the Elder as well!

[Blake Oleander]

Blake's rage would not be quenched and his body would try to heal the wounds that had been inflicted upon it. His chest heating up around the blade that dug into his flesh.

"RRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"!

Blake howled to the heavens as his chest seared and burned itself, a blast of energy firing forth toward the Elder. Everything inside of him howling for him to rip, tear, and burn them to the ground.

SPOILER: Click to show

Regeneration - His body heals quickly and he can expend one use of his Qi to heal 1/2 his energy in damage. This power also cuts recovery time between threads in half.

Chest Canon - Blake's chest fires out a beam of concentrated energy at his opponent adding 125% of his energy stat as his attack for the blast. However, the attack deals 1/2 of his energy stat to himself.

Attack: 91

[Leon]

"Wha-?!"

The elder tried to pull the blade out of Blake's abdomen however, was now looking directly into a canon of energy.

"Blake, NO!"

Before he was practically incinerated by the blast, the noises behind the Elder was the other three breaking free of the bindings and turning monstrous to slaughter their captives. Even Diana launched a few light arrows to assist! The scene was over in moments.

[Blake Oleander]

Once everyone was dead Blake's chest heaved as he brought a hand to his chest. His body continuing to heal itself. But the pain he felt was deeper than any sword wound. Everything he had dedicated himself to was a lie. He was a lie, and now he had nothing. For the first time in his life, Blake felt completely and utterly alone.

SPOILER: Click to show

Regeneration - His body heals quickly and he can expend one use of his Qi to heal 1/2 his energy in damage. This power also cuts recovery time between threads in half.

Qi use 8/16

[Leon]

The other 63 boys were all yelling to the sky, damning their own hearts. Everything they knew was a lie. Dianna did not know what to do, or how to proceed. All she could do was wait for them to deal with their own emotions and proceed with them. They have however, gained her as a follower in the deal struck earlier.

[Blake Oleander]

Slowly his gaze fell to the dead Elders, the architects of their wasted lives. He didn't know how he felt, hatred, hollow, sad, shocked. It was a swirl of emotions, all conflicting, ever-shifting. But what he did know that for better or worse these men had been like parents to them. Blake and the others were who they were because of these men, and for his part, he couldn't stand to leave their bodies for the crows.

"I'm going to the quarry to get shovels. Anyone that wants to help me dig proper graves for the Elders is welcome to come, but I'm not going to let the birds feed on their corpses."

[Leon]

Brill would run off by himself.

Jake would go with Blake, Dianna would begin cooking the snake and the last moved to prepare the elders remains.

[Blake Oleander]

He frowned, but he'd not chase after Brill. He would handle things in his own way, to come to terms with what they had done. Blake had to focus on what needed to be done next. To grab digging equipment and return to start digging the graves. He would do it in silent reflection, however, unless Jake or someone felt the need to speak with him.

[Leon]

Jake was silent, but it seemed to be more shock than anything else. After grabbing the equipment on the way back he would speak.

"Blake... Does this change anything?"

[Blake Oleander]

"It changes everything."

They had killed the Elders. The men who they swore to protect. Who spoke gospel and law. Their beliefs were based on lies. They had been raised by the very monsters they'd been taught to hate. Spared for some reason that would now be forever lost in the minds of the dead. The path ahead was shrouded in fog and shadow. There was no way to know how their people would react. Likely poorly, but they needed to know.

"But we will forge onward. The Dawn will rise regardless of the actions of man. And so must we continue to follow our paths. Like the arrow, we charge forward toward our target. Only now we have a chance to be more than the arrow, but the archer himself..."

A fate he'd never considered.

[Leon]

Jake looked down and took a deep breath. Even with Blake's conviction becoming his own master suddenly, knowing his entire life, will, pride... Himself as a person was just dumped onto the road side. He was lost and losing himself further, his training didn't mean anything to him right now, his discipline and faith, if they were even real.

"The others... The people of sixty three need to know the truth. One way or another."

[Blake Oleander]

"We are of one mind. We will return to them with the dawn and inform them of the fate of the Elders. I know not what reception we will receive, but I would brace myself for the worst."

[Leon]

Jake gripped his tools and nodded as they would make it back at camp. Saw had placed the bodies, or what was left of them on mats woven from long grass. Removed masks and put them in respectful positions. Much as their traditions demanded, however he was worked with little sound and didn't seem to care or look at Blake and Jake's return.