journal ⚔️ a warning

[discourtesies]

Sender: Barok van Zieks

[The writing is hurried, a cursive that just manages to be legible. In his rush, his usual formalities are cut short. The message is more important than the form it takes.]

There is a demon in the wilderness — a bestial man. Powerful and violent, able to heal itself in an instant. Anyone unable to defend themselves should avoid the woods until [until what? It's killed? If there's any shred of the man still in there, he can't condone that.] further notice.

[Is that a drop of blood on the page? Eh, it's fine.]

It was Kazuma Asogi. I don't understand it, but I wasn't able to reason with him and he became this thing before my eyes.

[After a moment, he adds:]

He cannot be left like this.

Comments

[chippedsoul]

[Well, Rokurou is going to get his money's worth from this fight, and a serious bruising. The flames are new, but Rokurou's glowing daemon eye and that strong desire for bloodlust is nothing new to Kazuma, putting him at an advantage since Rokurou doesn't remember how he fights. Kazuma is also not in the best of moods and would like this to end as quickly as possible, making him more dangerous.

It's not quite the Asogi clan style though, more of a mixture of feral unarm combat with his claws and brute strength, with the occasional use of swords when he manages to summon twin blades made of flames. Either way, Rokurou is going to find himself struggling, quite the contrast to how the daemon is usually the victor in their bouts. It would amuse Kazuma, and admittedly, he wanted to continue this with how stubborn Rokurou was to back down, but he still had a mission to complete.]

Give it up already. [He says as he comes in to aim a punch in the stomach.]

[rokubro]

[It's an intense battle for sure, his first real one since arriving into this place. While his own skills aren't nothing to laugh at, Kazuma is proving that brute strength of his is more than what Rokurou can handle at the moment, even as a daemon. Well, not that being a daemon had that much of an advantage other than increased endurance and allowing him to focus on the fight without any fear. Even when Kazuma landed hits, he just laughed through gritted teeth and returned with increased fervor, scoring a few of his own even if he was still taking more damage. Even if this was heading towards a loss, he fully planned to take it as an opportunity to study Kazuma's attacks so he can start training up to prepare better counters.

And then he's reached the limit. The punch lands squarely into his stomach, sending him staggering a few feet before he's forced to use one of his blades as support, the tip digging into the ground. A bit disappointing, but not a total crushing defeat. He can accept this defeat willingly, and he just grins despite wiping the blood away from his mouth.]

As much as I like fighting, even I know when it's better to retreat. But I don't need to say that there'll be a rematch, right?

[He laughs, though it's followed by a wince. Yep, a few cracked ribs along with the numerous cuts and bruises. There were a few times when he took the hits on purpose to allow him to counter in close range, so the damage is more than if he had simply dodges or blocked to avoid it. But he can still walk—just would need a bit of a breather.]

[chippedsoul]

[If there's one word to describe Rokurou, tenacious. Even as he's getting pummeled, the man keeps trying to get hits in and succeeding with better precision each time. It's easy just to ignore the wounds when they would eventually get healed though, and there's plenty of hell beast food around him to replenish his strength. So he's not too concern for his own well being, all of his focus can be on hitting the daemon enough times that he cannot continue.

He was ready to rush him until he hears the laugh, the admittance of a surrender. Finally.] You owe me for wasting my time. [He flexes his hands, beating back his desire to demolish this man. In the end, he'll manage to walk forward and pass the daemon.] That rematch might come sooner once I take care of that man. [Cause he doesn't know if he'll still be himself, or regain control once he's dealt with Barok. He doesn't really care after that point.]

[rokubro]

[Kazuma may think it a waste of time, but Rokurou learned a lot so he finds it a very opportune fight.]

"That man"? [Grimacing a little, Rokurou straightens up, flinging his swords clean before sheathing them.]

Is that how you ended up like this?

[chippedsoul]

[A light shrug] I lost someone important to me because of that man. Everything I worked for and sacrificed, has been for this moment. [Changing into a Noctaere was probably not on that list, but that's probably what a desire for revenge translates to in this world.]

[rokubro]

...Aah. I can understand that feeling. But instead of killing him you're out here.

[chippedsoul]

Tch. The coward conjured a fog to cover his trail! But I know he's gone back to town. It's people like you that are keeping me from completing my task. [It's warm again, flames nearby flaring up. Is he irritated? Yes, a lot. Nevermind the fact he's been taking a few detours to consume a few hell beast here and there.]

[rokubro]

[Uh huh.]

Hey, I'm not really here to try and stop you, just wanted a fun fight. [Mostly.] But just saying if you knew that much already, you could have gone back to town by now.

[chippedsoul]

Continuing to talk to you isn't going to get me there, is it? [He is taking his time, savoring the moment perhaps, or maybe letting Barok live with his fears and regrets a little longer before he cuts him down. He's only a normal human afterall. Or he could just be outright lost.

A fallen hell beast is in his path. Rather walk pass it, he stops, digging his claws into it. Dark wisps comes out as he absorbs it into himself before continuing on.]

[rokubro]

[He just waves a hand as he watches Kazuma.]

Right, right, I'm just being nuisance.

[And he won't really say anything more. Without really knowing what happened, it's not really his place or even his problem to butt in. Should he do more to try and stop him? Maaaaaaybe, but this is clearly a personal issue and he doesn't know the guy well enough.

So he just hums to himself in thought a bit before making his way back to town.

Should he at least ask Barok about it? —Nah the guy probably won't say anything.

For now he should get himself treated and train up for the next time.]