Re: The Grand Battle [Round 4! Pop-up Land!!]
10-22-2009, 08:14 PM
Originally posted on MSPA by Dragon Fogel.
It's coming closer again. Have you made your decision? asked the demon.
I'd sooner take my chances with that... thing. You demons aren't exactly known for your trustworthiness, the Younger replied.
I am inclined to agree. In general, the better a deal with a demon seems on the surface, the worse it actually is, said the Elder.
Then so be it. The amalgamation should be arriving any minute now. If you change your mind, let me know. Maybe I'll be able to rescue one of you from its grip. The demon's grin widened, as Nathan walked off, still staring blankly and unaware of the conversation his "other half" had been having.
Well. It felt good to tell that guy off, said the Younger, but I have to admit, I don't have any other ideas. How about you?
Perhaps if we... become one... The Elder's voice suddenly took on a familiar tone. AAAAAGH! It's got me! Join us...
The Younger panicked. It could not even see the attacker. Suddenly, the Elder's shape changed.
A half-dozen formless heads came out of the Elder's shoulders. Its own face changed, no longer resembling Lutherion - now it was a blank slate. It grew multiple arms, and the heads turned to speak in unison.
We are Eximo Pulvis. And we hunger.
The Younger turned to flee. The monstrosity tried to follow, but stood in place, as it something was holding it back.
He must still be fighting it! the Younger thought. The spirit considered trying to rescue its "brother", but decided against it - that might not even be possible, and the Younger had its own survival to worry about.
It had come to a decision.
Demon! it shouted, with all the energy it could muster. Help me! I accept your offer!
***
The vacuum cleaner had reached its target - Lutherion's prone body. Unlike the spiritual Eximo, the machine had no problems moving closer to the crystal.
Normally, it would have numerous tools available for corpse removal, if it even proved necessary; its master usually had other plans for bodies than simply cleaning them up. But without its arms, it could not use any tools; and the programming which allowed it to consider them necessary relied heavily on its undead brain, which was no longer functioning. Instead, it attempted to simply vacuum up the "corpse".
But even this was more a complicated process than the lobotomized machine could handle; it had no way of determining the best angle to approach the body. Its attempts resulted in little more than it bumping into the still form of Lutherion, moving it ever so slightly.
Towards the crystal.
After a minute or so, the vacuum's single-mindedness caused it to push Lutherion's body right up against the crystal, where the full power of the healing energy flowed into it.
The strange mix of life and death convulsed wildly. It would have been a disturbing sight to a living observer, had any been close enough to see the display in all its gruesome detail; as it was, the only witness was the vacuum, which merely continued its futile attempt to clean up the body, accelerating the process.
When it ended, Lutherion tumbled away from the vacuum and knocked it over. Its storage compartment came open, and several objects fell out.
The necromancer looked over himself, and looked into the crystal, hoping to see a reflection; when that failed, he spotted a strange disc on the ground near the vacuum. He picked it up; one side was reflective enough to show him his face. His human face.
"I... I'm alive!" he shouted with glee.
It's coming closer again. Have you made your decision? asked the demon.
I'd sooner take my chances with that... thing. You demons aren't exactly known for your trustworthiness, the Younger replied.
I am inclined to agree. In general, the better a deal with a demon seems on the surface, the worse it actually is, said the Elder.
Then so be it. The amalgamation should be arriving any minute now. If you change your mind, let me know. Maybe I'll be able to rescue one of you from its grip. The demon's grin widened, as Nathan walked off, still staring blankly and unaware of the conversation his "other half" had been having.
Well. It felt good to tell that guy off, said the Younger, but I have to admit, I don't have any other ideas. How about you?
Perhaps if we... become one... The Elder's voice suddenly took on a familiar tone. AAAAAGH! It's got me! Join us...
The Younger panicked. It could not even see the attacker. Suddenly, the Elder's shape changed.
A half-dozen formless heads came out of the Elder's shoulders. Its own face changed, no longer resembling Lutherion - now it was a blank slate. It grew multiple arms, and the heads turned to speak in unison.
We are Eximo Pulvis. And we hunger.
The Younger turned to flee. The monstrosity tried to follow, but stood in place, as it something was holding it back.
He must still be fighting it! the Younger thought. The spirit considered trying to rescue its "brother", but decided against it - that might not even be possible, and the Younger had its own survival to worry about.
It had come to a decision.
Demon! it shouted, with all the energy it could muster. Help me! I accept your offer!
***
The vacuum cleaner had reached its target - Lutherion's prone body. Unlike the spiritual Eximo, the machine had no problems moving closer to the crystal.
Normally, it would have numerous tools available for corpse removal, if it even proved necessary; its master usually had other plans for bodies than simply cleaning them up. But without its arms, it could not use any tools; and the programming which allowed it to consider them necessary relied heavily on its undead brain, which was no longer functioning. Instead, it attempted to simply vacuum up the "corpse".
But even this was more a complicated process than the lobotomized machine could handle; it had no way of determining the best angle to approach the body. Its attempts resulted in little more than it bumping into the still form of Lutherion, moving it ever so slightly.
Towards the crystal.
After a minute or so, the vacuum's single-mindedness caused it to push Lutherion's body right up against the crystal, where the full power of the healing energy flowed into it.
The strange mix of life and death convulsed wildly. It would have been a disturbing sight to a living observer, had any been close enough to see the display in all its gruesome detail; as it was, the only witness was the vacuum, which merely continued its futile attempt to clean up the body, accelerating the process.
When it ended, Lutherion tumbled away from the vacuum and knocked it over. Its storage compartment came open, and several objects fell out.
The necromancer looked over himself, and looked into the crystal, hoping to see a reflection; when that failed, he spotted a strange disc on the ground near the vacuum. He picked it up; one side was reflective enough to show him his face. His human face.
"I... I'm alive!" he shouted with glee.
Spoiler
There's no reason for this | Or this | Death is inevitable | You can't challenge fate | The smallest change | I'm overwhelmed
I'm serious | It makes perfect sense | Easy as ABC! | I can't even explain it | Cleaning up someone else's mess
I suck | I rule | I've got it made | Really, I'm serious | This bugs me | It's all lies | I want to believe | Beauty is a curse
I'm serious | It makes perfect sense | Easy as ABC! | I can't even explain it | Cleaning up someone else's mess
I suck | I rule | I've got it made | Really, I'm serious | This bugs me | It's all lies | I want to believe | Beauty is a curse