This is an improved version by my beta Eva-Saiyajin...The dude is the man! He did the secondary vbeta from some camp somewhere! That is dedication!
Raki: the Abyssal of the South
Ch1 Birth of the Vanguard of the South!
Two men stood in a dark room, its contents and appearance characteristic of a laboratory.
"I feel you're being too hasty, Raki. This is dangerous, and I believe it would be wiser to continue your training without taking such a risk."
"Isley…We both know that my strength can't grow anymore. This is the only way."
One was a handsome male with long silver hair that reached down to his shoulders and back. His eyes were blue and his posture was firm. He was not a man at all despite his uncanny resemblance to one. To those that truly knew him, he was known as the White Silver King, Isley the Abyssal One of the North.
He was the first of the male generation of Claymores, humans with the flesh of yoma. Yoma were demonic creatures that plagued the land, and Claymores were the primary weapon against them. There were never more than forty seven of them at a time, and Isley was the former number one, the most powerful of his generation. He was the oldest and perhaps the strongest of the three Great Abyssals. For many years he had controlled the North, but now…his reach has extended far to the south as well. However, the Silver King cared not for land; no, his mind was focused on something very different as he conversed with his most trusted friend.
"You don't know that for sure, Raki. Besides, the work done in this project has gone on for five years and it still hasn't reached a definite breakthrough."
The second man merely smiled. His posture was firm and his stance unwavering. He had light brown hair that was wild and untamed. He had a distinguishable scar above his left eye. He was tall; almost look like around 19 years old. He wore a simple vest and beige pants under a cloak. He had brown eyes that reflected his conviction and resolve.
"Raki, this will forever change you. While we have been working on this for a long time, there is a reason why no one uses an Awakened Being's flesh and blood to make a Claymore, let alone a male one!"
The brown haired man shook his head.
"We both know that a human, even the strongest one, can never last long in this chaotic world. And given how often I encounter youma and other dangerous beings" he shot a wry glance at his companion, who chuckled shortly despite himself "than I'm even more likely to die without accomplishing anything. If I am to make a difference, I need strength that rivals an Awakened Being and more." The man who once travelled with a Claymore replied. He turned to a vial that contained a strange black liquid.
"Adding an Awakened Being's blood into a human is crazy; however my theory that Priscilla's blood being a seal for the raw power has proven correct. We have been doing this for some time Isley. Our experiments on animals have shown that it's much more stable and less dangerous than before."
"I don't dispute that. However, there is a great difference between animals and humans. And I will remind you that we still haven't finished, it's still largely in the experimental state."
"I agree, but the samples of my blood were pure and untainted after the tests were they not? Priscilla helped to make her blood to form a restriction on the solution to adapt to my blood. Isley…We have no more reason to delay it. Our project…New Male Generation Claymore is complete." Raki said his voice filled with excitement. However, his mentor didn't share his positive attitude.
The Silver King felt more uneasy than he had for some time, and a frown had occupied his face for most of the conversation. And Priscilla…Even after years spent together, seeing her in action multiple times, and fighting her,she still amazed him sometimes. He knew that Priscilla was powerful, without a doubt more so than him, but to think she managed to manipulate her inspiring levels of yoki in her blood to the point that she could control the solution to this extent was still mind-boggling. The dark liquid concoction around which the current discussion was centred was a solution containing parts of three of the strongest Claymores from various male generations.
But somehow Priscilla managed to contain most of the irregularities, and control their creation to the point that it was potentially ready for its designated use.
This project…was something organized by the two unlikely friends after long discussion over improving Raki's abilities. After many days they concluded that while Raki was a magnificent warrior among humans, he would never be a match for an Awakened Being, save perhaps the weakest and stupidest ever, and even then the outcome would be uncertain. The solution they found was simple…Claymore.
Making a new, more improved male claymore was the answer; however, while the solution was easy to think up, acting on it was far more difficult.
After much trial and error, they concluded the method used by organization was both useless and outdated, for Raki would almost certainly simply awaken like all the other males, however the two men ventured into the world of possibility and found a solution.
Priscilla.
The girl was an Awakened Being, peerless among her kind. One who had powers that made the big three look weak in comparison. Priscilla always demonstrated power and strength that seemed impossible, and after many trials…her blood didn't destroy a sample of Raki's blood and managed to fuse with it. With this discovery the two men added blood from three beings that once roamed the land as some of the mightiest in existence.
Isley the Silver King and Abyssal of the North
Rigardo the Silver Eyed Lion King.
Dauf the fool, a fitting title for a being known more for his idiocy than his strength.
The three samples of their blood were collected and added to a single solution, which since then they had balanced…enough so that a human to drink it.
"…While I realize this was our goal…Raki, are you willing to throw it all away?"
The young man was silent. His body was relaxed, but in his mind existed a turmoil that was raging like a storm.
"…Isley, I don't want to be weak. If I'm strong, then I can protect the ones I care about. If I'm srong…perhaps I can see her again."
Clare…her name and face had never faded from his mind even after all these years. After being separated by that crazy ass woman, even after being sold as a slave in the North, and finally befriending two Awakened Beings, his goal was still the same. He wished to see her again.
"A man's resolve must be absolute…that is what you taught me. Don't worry, Isley. I trust your work."
The silver haired man could only shake his head at the foolishness of his considerably younger friend. While Raki had reached a great height in terms of human capacity, it's most certainly true that he was no match for most of the stronger demons that roamed the land. To kill a man, a man is all that is needed. To kill a monster, a monster is the best option.
"…I will prepare the chamber…you do know that I can't let you out until it fully adapts right?"
"Of course."
The two men descended into the lower basement and begain preparing for the scientific breakthrough. Not long after they began a young girl walked in.
"Raki…danger?" inquired the child. She was dressed in a simple shirt and skirt. She had brown, somewhat ragged hair that swept down the sides of her head and her bangs were parted between her forehead. Her speech pattern and intelligence were like that of a child…however she is the single most powerful being in the entire history of Claymores.
Raki smiled toward the young girl. He went down on one knee before her and patted her head gently. After all these years the young former Claymore had long ceased to inspire any fear in him, and for years had been a source of affection and care for Raki. He treated her not as his enemy, but as his little sister.
"No, no I'm fine Priscilla."
This young girl was the single most powerful Awakened Being in the world. She was quite possibly the most powerful being period. Her power was so vast, that it dwarfed all the super powers. Her power reached the highest among monsters and warriors. However, there was no outward trace of such power…only after sensing deep into her, were only the most superb sensors able feel the dormant power within her.
Raki continued his ministrations for a few more seconds before gently urging her to go outside.
"I'll be fine…I'll see you soon ok?"
The young girl merely nodded and walked away. Before exiting, she turned around to give the brown haired male one last look. Somehow knowing something dangerous will occur.
"Bye bye…" said the Queen of the Awakened beings as she walked out, her destination the outdoors where she spends her time staring into nothing.
"Raki...it is time."
The brown haired man stared at the open door where the young girl left…He still had a chance to stop here. He didn't have to risk everything for a small chance at power. However…He knew that his existence was no match for the world of monsters and that his only chance lay in the hard work he and Isley had spent on the last few years…The curse that he made for himself.
"Ah…right." the young man replied as he followed his mentor downstairs…heading toward the place that might be his death bed or the site of his rebirth.
The lone human walked into the cell; here he will stay until the side effects from the drug have passed. The pain will be unimaginable, but…this was the path he selected for himself. A curse that will make a man into a beast, but a beast that can make a difference.
There was a man who once said "A monster can only be slain by a man." Such an idea was preposterous. Even with his years of training under a very good teacher, and his skill with multiple weapons, he can slay only the normal youma. Something as powerful as an Awakened Being is beyond the capabilities of a normal mortal, trained or not. His conviction is heart wrenching and painful…Only a monster can slay a monster. Only a man should slay a man. Only the strong can slay the strong.
"My conviction will not falter…to reach the imperial villa, the top of the sky, the peak of the heavens, I must become the very definition of strong." he muttered softly.
The Silver King handed him the vial containing the liquid.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes…See you later, my teacher."
The Silver King cracked a smirk. His blue eyes were full of concern, however was willing to allow this happen.
"Very well, my apprentice...Godspeed." The Abyssal declared as he closed the door, trapping Raki inside.
Raki turned his gaze to the bottle. He brought it up to his mouth and drank.
"Ahhgg…Should have added something for the taste." the human slowly felt heat collecting in his body.
"This…is going to hurt."
His body felt as if someone was tearing it up from inside, his blood was on fire as his muscles screamed in pain. He let out a roar of pain as his entire body began breaking down and remaking itself according to the liquid. Every cell and every bone was replaced and rearranged. It burned off the old, human flesh and replaced it with the powerful body of a monster.
[DEVOUR! RAVAGE! FEAST!…..]
The man clutched his head as he felt his very brain melting and recreating itself as it rearranged his mentality to accept this new…presence. His view was being wrapped and distorted to fit the new mind frame as his conscience was being split from a lone man to another being.
Raki bellowed in pain as he punched and smashed the walls. His actions rewarded him with open cuts and blood spilling from his fists. The raging man didn't care as blood spilled from his mouth and ears as his entire chest was refitted, and his eyes shed tears of blood. His white iris turned black as his pupils slowly changed color. However it was no eye of a Claymore or a Youma. It was an eerily yellow eye in the shape of a horse shoe.
The roared as his body began to glow in a violet aura as his pale flesh shown signs of tanning and it turned greyish. His hair changed as well, slowly but steadily its length became noticeably longer as it reached toward his back. His once brown hair was now white as his lips turned a shade of violet and his developing youki began to flood the basement.
SNAP! CRACK!
This arms and legs were repeatedly being broken and remade as it gotten stronger with every pain.
SNAP! CRREEEKKK! POP!
His joints and veins were ripped apart and rearranged as they became stronger, tougher…less human. Every tear and creak brought him closer to a monster than a man.
"GGGGGEEEEEE…!"
The changing male's roars were muffled by the specially made walls and doors; however his agony could still be felt by those with sharp senses. His form was becoming more feline as the mixtures of multiple beings were broken down into a new form according to their new host. His energy spiked as it burned away his older form andgf became more adapted to his new form.
"Ha ha ha…AAAAGGHHHH!"
The pain was bone shattering and agonizing, but it was only the beginning.
Outside of the chamber and out in the lawn of the 'home' they were using. Isley was drinks a glass of whiskey.
"Raki…if you live through the process…your training will truly begin."
He could only hope that his friend's mental strength-which was exceptional-would be strong enough to maintain his sanity. This method was new and might actually be worse than the one used by the Organization. While they did not surgically add the flesh of Youma, they did add a solution with blood from powerful Awakened Beings. Something that was reckless, but balanced with Priscilla's blood; however…Priscilla herself was an x-factor. It was unclear what will result…the only thing left was up to Raki.
(A week passed)
Days…or maybe months.
He didn't know how long he'd been there. His body was in so much pain that he lacked the strength to cry. His body was changing form every moment, his blood now tainted by the blood of powerful former Claymores, which were fighting to adapt to him. He saw glimpses of his body…he saw the grey colored skin, something that was coming out of his body, he even felt something on his back.
"D-do…they all…go through this kind of pain? T-Truly…those women…are stron-g."
Raki had always had respect for the warriors who had given their humanity for the sake of mankind. Girls who had thrown away their chances for normality, and instead opted for eternal, lonely, and thankless servitude that was filled with fear and scorn.
To think they went through such pain…their version according to Isley was even more barbaric than his own. The pain would be similar, but their process was more marring and gruesome than that brought about by a black liquid. They have to surgically attach a part of a youma to the body after all.
Raki couldn't move any part of his body, but his sense of pain was still intact. It was clear that he was no Claymore, but…He wasn't sure if he was an Awakened Being either. Isley told him of the hunger for human flesh, but he felt none of that. Isley also warned him of the danger of being a male claymore, how to them, using youki was almost orgasmic so pleasurable was it. However, he felt nothing as he tried to mold the…strange energy that was travelling throughout his body from the tips of his toes to the crown of his head.
He slowly and painfully rolled onto his back. He saw the dark and filthy ceiling and as he lay there he felt a pulse of pain. He grinded his teeth as he fought back the urge to scream. He gripped the floor tightly, not knowing that his fingers dug into the solid rock and left a series of indentions.
"Just a little longer…Priscilla…Isley…Clare."
The newly born monster closed his eyes, accepting the cool comfort of the darkness.
(Few Two to Three days later)
"Only a few days left...I just need some time…"
"It's not that easy you know." A voice intoned in the dark.
"W-What?" Raki exclaimed, startled.
"Now, now, no need to shout."
"Who are you? What are you?"
"Ah…I see, it is rude for me not to introduce myself." Said the voice as his vision blurred and he realized he was no longer in his cell. He was now in a…throne room?
The room was rather gloomy and ominous looking. It was filled with many painting and statues of warriors and monsters. The floor was made of black and white marble in a chessboard pattern and it had several pillars to support the roof. The throne on the top was made of silver and black metal. The throne was embroidered with jewels and gold indentations and the chair itself was red and looked rather majestic.
"What…Where am I?"
"In our room."
Raki turned around to see…a monster. He was grey and tall. He was around same height as him and had long white hair. The shape of his hair was wild, but its spiky ends were flowing down his back. He also had some lines of hairs on the front, by the side of his head as it reached his chest.
The strange monster had black eyes with yellow pupils. His lips were purple with a tint of blue in them. He was wearing baggy pants and was barefooted. His upper body was devoid of clothes as he displayed a muscular, toned body.
He had a smirk on his face as he turned to Raki.
"Yo…king."
"What the…"
"What with that look…it seems you swallowed a lemon." Teased the demon.
"What-What are you?"
The grey monster raised his eye brow in amusement as he let out a bellow of laugher.
"HAHAHAHA! I am you, I am the world, I am the darkness in you, I am the killing intent, I am the joy, I am the killer, I am the temptation, and I am the wicked!" The demon's grin slowly began to grow.
"I am…your instinct and your ambition. I am the urge that pushed you to be stronger! I am the desire in your heart! And finally!"
He stabbed his finger toward Raki and his insane grin reached well past his eyes.
"I am the one who is going the take that throne as my own!"
Raki felt a suddenly sense of dread as he stared into those black eyes. If this demon is his inner Youma…then one day it will devour him and turn him into a full youma!
"Wrong!"
"HUH?"
The demon leered at him and chuckled.
"Don't put us at the same level as those rejects. We are different from them." The demon declared, a twisted sort of pride filling his voice.
"How so?" asked the brown haired man.
"Unlike those freaks, we were adapted, not forced. Those girls were made like animals, while we forced the darkness to obey us. They are like slaves, chained to the floor, however we are a king who stands above all such restrains! We are a whole new breed of monster; we are stronger, faster, and better."
The Demon walked toward Raki at a slow pace. His steps were filled with confidence and pride…or was it arrogance?
The monster raised his hand and a claymore appeared in it. Raki jumped back and got into a fighting stance. "Don't worry! This is for you." The reflection grinned as he tossed the sword to him. Raki caught it and raised it forward.
The demon raised his hand toward his shoulder, and from there something white grew out. Raki's eyes widen as his darker half pulled out a shoulder bone from his flesh. The bone was like any other bone Raki had ever seen, but one end was sharp, like a blade. Even if using youki was new to Raki, he could feel the vile energy coming off the bone.
"That's a bone alright, but how did he do that?" Raki wondered as he held the sword with both hand.
"My abilities are unique, even among Awakened Beings. A combination and adaption of Isley's and Dauf's abilities, I have complete control over my skeletal structure, allowing me to manipulate my bone tissue and it's malleability and density. My bones are far harder than the smiths could ever dream of making steel, even the shells of armored Awakened Beings pales in comparison to it! And the spreading of super hard calcium throughout my body also increases my muscle durability. And of course, my bones are my weapons. Any small injuries that result from obtaining them are easily regenerated!"
He smirked with an absurd amount of confidence as he brought up his newly made bone sword.
"This ability to make bones, adapt my form, and harden my body…Awakened Beings might not name any techniques or abilities they have, but I'm not exactly a proper Awakened Being. Anyway, this is a skill I like to call the 'Dead Bone Pulse.'
"Dead Bone Pulse?" Raki repeated, testing the name.
"Ah…A form that represents all form of a defensive style. With this power…I weld the strongest body." He stated as he charged forward. Raki used his claymore to parry a side slash, but the demon continued his assault by kicking Raki in the chest, which Raki rolled backward from to nullify the impact.
The monster jumped into the air to slam his knee at Raki. As he fell, his knee sprouted two curved bone blades pointing at Raki's head. Raki quickly rolled over as the demon landed where his head used to be a second ago, leaving a large crater on the ground. Raki rolled back to get on his knee. He picked up his large claymore and posed himself for an attack.
Raki charged forward this time and swung his large blade at the demon. In his lesson to kill youma, he learned that youma were stronger and faster than most humans…But it doesn't make their bodies any stronger than a man;s. A clean hit in a vital spot can hinder them enough to get in a killing blow
'Sharper than any other! Stronger than any other! Use all the power in the arm and hip to make that one strike that can cut through bones! Even if he blocks…Envision cutting through it!'
Whooosh!
Clank!
"...What?"
It was blocked? But he had enough power behind the blow to cut through a youma's arm easily! His target is no Awakened Being of colossal size! There is no way his sword couldn't cut through him!
"Not bad…You used all that you learned from Isley in that strike…However…"
The monster had raised his free hand and from it had erupted several sharp, curved bones. The bundle of sharp bones had caught the brown haired boy's attack as he struggled to bring the sword down on his evil half.
"You still don't understand what I meant by the 'strongest body'" he slashed at Raki's open side with his other hand like a claw.
"AAAAHhhhhhh!" exclaimed Raki as he jumped back, but his inner darkness was faster. The demon buried his claw in Raki's chest.
"One…let's sees how many times I kill you before you understand…"
(Many fights later)
Raki panted as he got back up again. 44 times…he'd died 44 times against this monster and he came back as if nothing happened. Well, he knew he got hurt, he felt every bit of pain the attacks inflicted. His head throbbed as he tried to maintain his sanity, a true chore given that he was killed brutally 44 times. The demon showed quite a bit of what he could do as he was slaughtered again and again.
Bone swords, daggers, spears, and even claws. The monster even pulled out his spine like a chain whip and fired out his finger bones as projectiles.
SLASH!
"AAAGGHH!" He groaned out as the demon slashed him on the chest with two bone blades. He felt the warm blood pool on my chest as he got up.
The demon dashed at him and nailed a kick to his upper chest before smashing him into the wall. He then spun around to slash down with his arm, which was covered by an axe like bone. Raki ducked to avoid the slash and nailed his own punch to the demon's chest, however it was protected by ribs that blasted out.
The sharp ribs of his opponent caught his punch and he was trapped.
The demon stabbed his bone sword into Raki's shoulder with a yell. Before he could even scream, he nailed his bladed elbow down through Raki's head. Killing him instantly. His body fell down to the floor like a sack of potatoes. His mind realizing the death once again. He felt the pain of all the wounds he received. He felt even more as the wounds forcefully healed in his mindscape.
"How many times has it been…? 44? 45? Well, I lost count, but I know that every one of them hurt like hell." the demon said idly.
Raki didn't say anything as he struggled to get back up.
Clank! Clank!
"Aggghhhhh!" The boy let out involuntarily as he fell down again. This time he bore a nasty cut across his chest and another across his fore head.
"Tell me Raki…Is Clare worth the risk you've taken? Is fighting worth the risk? Is living alongside Isley and Priscilla truly worth going through this much trouble? For monsters? You have taken the path of a monster to gain power. So the reward better be sweet, right?"
The demon stepped toward him.
He died another ten times at least. The youma that was him suddenly changed as his white skin began to turn grey bit by bit as the greyness spread across his body. His body was soon completely grey and his eyes shined yellow.
"I am bored with this…I'm taking it a step higher." the youma stated as his body shifted and twisted as…he changed form once more.
Vioosh! Guuuguach!
He now sported a tail with sharp bones spiking out.
Vuuuu…Whooosh! Whooosh!
On his back and shoulder were several bone horns that curved inward.
The demon's tail was swaying right and left.
"What if…she has forgotten about you? After all, you're just a kid and she's a Claymore, why would she care. Is she even alive? You saw what happened in the north….All those dead Claymores…There's no way she's alive right? True, we never found her sword among the graves, but there's no proof that she's alive either…She is after all a mere number 47…"
"SHUT UP!" Raki yelled, standing up and somehow managing to slash the monster's arm, but the wound faded quickly. The demon smirked, "Fighting a losing battle and still trying so hard."
They clashed again, but those damned bones refused to even budge. His claymore seemed almost inadequate compared to them. They exchanged several blows, but it seemd the demon had all the knowledge he had regarding the use of weapons. The demon's style clearly showed signs of Isley's training.
Again they clashed as sparks flew into the air. Their arms blurred as they continued to exchange blow after blow. They stabbed, slashed, swung, and parried, but the demon was clearly winning the exchange. And it often seemed like he was holding back.
"MADA MADA!" roared the demon as he spun around, slamming his tail and shoulder bones into Raki's side and left leg.
"AAAHHHH!" The young man yelled out in pain, but before he could move a bone bladed elbow was driven into his stomach.
"!" He couldn't even scream as he was grabbed. The blade was pulled out, and Raki died again.
"…Not enough."
A finger was pointed at Raki's head.
"Nowhere near enough."
Whoosh! Pat! Pat! Pat! Pat! Pat! Pat!
…He died again.
(Many more deaths later)
"…Done now?" the demon asked, staring down at Raki. Raki's body was cold and unmoving. His eyes were white and he was covered in blood.
"Well…if that's all, then there's no point of continuing. See ya, because now I'm the king." The monster declared, walking away.
"…Sorry…it seems I fail….d-dam…n it." His body hurt so much, but it was his mind that was injured the most, for he felt and remembered all the deaths.
"Is this it? To gain nothing in the end. To die here…NO! THIS IS NOT THE END I WAS LOOKING FOR! MY WILL IS NOT THIS SHALLOW! HOW CAN I…HOW CAN I ACCEPT SUCH A NARROW ENDING!"
The young man stood up as his body began to emit youki. Purple flames of youkis covered his form like a blanket. The aura was nearly suffocating.
"…Did he do it?" questioned the demon.
Raki's body was covered in youki like a thick, concentrated mist. From the center of his chest there appeared a mark. It was three black windmills in a circle. The markings slowly spread across his body, as they did with his inner darkness, his instinct, his demon.
"Finally, I thought you were a lost cause, there…King." The demon's tone was damn near respectful.
The demon examined the marks and smiled. "So…since I'm making use of his newfound power…He's tapping into his youki."
Raki roared as they clashed yet again, and this time the demon didn't have a clear advantage. Between their exchanges the demon received a fair share of damages. The demon boasted his defensive power, however it seem the purple youki that Raki is now welding is hardening his body to add more power into his blows.
Raki's sword strike stuck home as the blade dug into the youma's flesh, but it didn't cut through the bone.
After all, he wasn't trying to slice through normal bones.
The two struggled some more until Raki pushed his enemy aside with his shoulder and the two engaged in a furious sword fight. Sparks flew and the sound of clashing blades echoed.
"HAHAHAHA! Perfect, feel the rush! Feel the power! This is your power! Something only you can control! Seize it, tame it, and conquer it!"
Raki roared as he summoned more power and the marking now covering his form glowed an ominous light. The demon summoned another bone sword and used the two blades in a masterful dance as he engaged the power-up version of Raki. The sparks flow as the two men clashed over and over again.
"HHHAAAA!' yelled the demon as he clashed again, but this time he lost the grip on one of his sword and lost it.
"Damn it!" Raki's dark side growled, covering his arm with a bone bladed pike, but Raki dodged the attack and spin around to stab at the youma's chest.
The demons' eyes widened, then…he smirked.
"Ah…Well done." SHIECCKKKKK!
"Guh." The demon grunted as he stared at the damaged claymore which had pierced through the thick skin and flesh of his chest.
Raki panted heavily as he began to calm down. His wounds began to heal. The purple youki that covered him began to slowly fade along with the markings. The anger and adrenaline also faded as Raki fell to his knees.
"Well, it's over huh."
"W-What do you mean?"
The demon smirked.
"This test was to see if you could bring out your own youki. If you failed then you would have died. As would I. But clearly we have nothing to worry about." He drawled, annoyingly confident despite his defeat.
"What do you mean…I don't understand? You mean to tell me…All this was a test?"
The demon smirked as he raised his arm up. "I'm your demonic half…the half that is naturally more powerful, however Priscilla's blood is too much even for me. It's like a chain that restrains me from eating you, it balances us."
His smirk widened. "I know I can't possibly overpower Priscilla, even if it's merely what comes from samples of her blood…my own strength is limited to what was applied to me and even if Isley, Rigardo, and Dauf are no pushovers, they're all weak in front of Priscilla. You, who are the king on top of his horse, only your will can make us stronger. If you swear to get stronger than I swear to carry your weight. I will be the pillar of your strength and your will!"
He stared into the human half's eyes as his grey skin faded to reveal a human form nearly identical to Raki's. The only difference was that his hair was silver-white.
"As for the test…Yeah, it was to force you into a life and death situation to bring out your new youki. You're an adult so the process of tapping into your raw youki is actually harder for you. All I did was to make you summon it. Now, there isn't much time left so I don't want to hear you bitch at me as I go."
"Go where?"
The demon's smirk grew wider \.
"Since you won…" he trailed off as the sword in his chest faded and he started to vanish, feet first into black powdery mist, which began to gather around Raki.
"Well, this game is over…for now. By absorbing me back into yourself, you have abandoned all of your humanity, now we are a Cursed One. A Cursed Being. A new breed of warrior that might be the strongest there is."
"A Cursed One…What the hell…?"
"We're not Claymores who are made through surgery, nor are we Awakened Beings who are those who lost control and changed permanently. We can change forms at will and we have no urge to eat human flesh. We are content with normal food yet our power will turn is into a monster…but have complete control over our power."
Raki stared at the vanishing demon and asked. "What is your name?"
The demon smirked and bellowed out laughing.
"What good is a name for me? I got no name… Raki is enough." Said the demon as the last bit of his chin faded. His black and yellow eyes stared right into Raki's own brown ones till the very end.
Raki said nothing as the demon faded back into him. Every last bits of the black powders absorbed back into his own body. He felt the strange and yet familiar feel of youki flow into his body. The strange mark on his neck pulsed in response to the foreign energy. It hummed against him, as if it was singing. And then… he understood all. His mind felt like a dam had been removed and water allowed to flow again. He understood all there was to his new body as if he had always known unconsciously known it. His brain deciphered all his abilities. All the information just flowed into his mind.
Raki stared at his hands. He felt a burning sensation on his chest and clinched it in pain. He quickly pulled off his shirt and saw a mark on my chest. It was a familiar black mark in the shape of three bladed windmills. "The Dead Bone Pulse…" he muttered.
"This is my power now…" whispered Raki as he brought his youki to the surface and watched the curved blade marks spread across his chest…he realized this was his equivalent to when a Claymore's eyes glow gold. By using around 10% of his youkis it seems the mark will respond.
According to what Isley had told him, and what he now knew about his abilities, there were two types of Claymores. Offensive types who value attacking power and defensive types, who value regeneration and durability. He is a defensive type…So he has greater regeneration along with sensory abilities, in exchange for greater offensive power.
"The powers of Isley, Rigardo, and Dauf…I can do this."
(Raki POV)
I recalled how the demon had done this…my mind and instincts told me to mold the youki in the shape I desired. I imagined a sharp blade, visualized its location, and then pictured it coming out of my shoulder.
I felt the bones under me shift and turn. I felt nauseated at all the unfamiliar sensations, and felt a fair bit of pain as it brought itself out from my shoulder…however it seemed that I could null the pain mentally. I grabbed the wet and hardened piece of my skeleton and slowly pulled it out. I had experience with swords and I had many accidents during training. One time I had a dagger buried in my leg and pulling that out hurt less than this. After a minute I fully extracted the newly made sword out. The hole quickly healed. I even felt a new shoulder bone growing extremely fast to replace the one I pulled out.
I looked over the weapon I'd pulled out. It was white and around two feet long. The handle was just bone, but the other side was roughly made. It had jagged edges and it didn't seem sharp enough to stab through Awakened Beings. Compared to my evil half's my own bone sword was crap. It seems I needed more practice.
I looked around the throne room. In here I realized time flowed slower than in the real world…in his mind he can train. Here I will get stronger…Then I can search for her again. As my resolve solidified excitement filled my entire being.
I saw my body slowly being covered in blade like marks…at least I knew where to start in practicing. In my mind I was in the throne room. I will practice with my power and master it.
(Day unknown)
Isley walked toward the chamber…two weeks have passed and now the untameable youki emitting from the room calmed…now it is the moment of truth.
Isley held the door knob that prevented Raki from reaching the outside world. Behind this door is one of his few true friends and his student. He might have died, he might have gone insane, or worse…Regardless of the result, if necessary, as promised he will kill Raki.
"Raki…I am opening the door."
"…Come in."
"?" Isley was startled by the clear answer.
The Silver King opened the door and revealed his apprentice. The sight surprised him.
"Raki…you didn't change?"
In front of him was Raki, but he looked the same as before, his hair and his eyes were still brown and his body looked the same.
"What happened?"
"I subdued him…I won."
Raki looked up to me. His eyes were tired, but his resolve was still intact.
"All the evil and the monstrous impulse in that solution…I made them submit to me." He looked up to face his mentor eye to eye. He posture was firm and his stance devoid of any weaknesses.
"This curse…it is mine to control."
Raki walked toward the door and walked out…he needed more practice and what better place to practice than the real world with real, life targets.
The Silver King of the North stared at his student and chuckled. Is seems he had created a whole new piece in this chess board with the Organization and the Abyssal Ones. Well…he had better check on Raki, Priscilla was bored out of her little mind since he disappeared and he might have his hands full with her. Also, a good home cooking from Raki was a well missed treat.
(1 year later)
Raki was standing in the middle of a valley. It rippled with rocks, trees and rivers from miles away. He was topless and wearing a tight blue suit with armor over it from waist down. It was actually a left over from the male generation.
He was panting, a clear sign of his weariness. On his chest was a small three bladed wind miles tattoos, however the most noticeable thing was that left side of his chest was grey. The grey colours on his skin fade slowly toward his chest. Raki's right eye was still his normal brown; however his left was a yellow pupil.
As the last bit of the grey skin vanished into the mark on his chest, his remaining eye returned to normal.
"Well, it seems your training paid off Raki." a man sitting on a rock stated. He was none other than Isley of the North.
"Ah…I know I've sure that I gotten strong…Strong enough to bare the title of Abyssal of the South."
Isley nodded.
"I don't want this land for myself anyway, it's all for Priscilla."
Isley was proud of his student, in one year he managed to learn to control his two forms freely. While he was lacking in experience, in strength wise he can rival the old Abyssal of the South. Around the valley lay the destroyed bodies of tens and hundreds of Awakened Beings. They all gathered here to fight Raki.
There were rumours that Isley was relinquishing his title as the lord of the south and that the strongest in the south may rule. With that prize on the line many Awakened appeared. All gathering in the South to fight for the seat amongst the Abyssals. They all were prepared to fight to the death…just not against a tiny, unrecognized male Awakened Being. Only later did they learn it was a new male warrior, made by Isley himself.
The battle, if you can call it that, was a slaughter. Raki unleashed his power and ripped apart all of his opponents. Some were reminded of former servant of Isley, Rigardo the Sliver Eyed Lion King. Some thought he was the recreation of Isley himself. Some even thought that Raki was a better looking and smarter version of that stupid oaf, Dauf.
Raki slashed, hacked, and bashed all the furious former half youma warriors with his skeletal arsenal. He formed weapons of all shapes from his flesh and bones which he then used to slaughter all of his opponents. Those who lasted to the end even got to see the newest Abyssal's released form…the Dead Bone Pulse in its finest.
He was vengeful as he tore them apart. His swords made of flesh and bones were being weld like a performance of a beautiful dance. Each step was like a luring art work that brought death to the gathered Awakened Beings.
(Flashback)
An insect like Awakened Being dodged an overhead slash from the smaller and more nimble Awakened Being. This insect demon was a former Number 5 of the Organization, Liviana. Her form was a mantis like body with a human face and chest in the front. She had green skin and a green exoskeleton with two bladed scythes for her front limbs.
She squelched in anger as this little bastard was cutting up all the Awakened Beings gathered there with little effort.
"Why you! Stand still!" she yelled slashing down the smaller monster, however the smaller Awaken simple dodged her slash and pointed his fingers at her.
"Teshi Sendan!(Ten Finger Drilling Bullets!)" Yelled out Raki as hardened bones from his fingertips shot at his enemy, their spinning motion increasing their power.
The spinning bone bullets tore through Liviana's hardened skin as if it was paper. And they left behind small fragments of poisonous yoki as they exited her body. While not life threatening at the moment, it was without a doubt a hindrance she could do without.
She wailed in pain; however she was cut short as Raki landed on her head and simply slammed his fist into her skull, smashing through muscle and bone. Raki's strength was beyond exceptional. Liviana struggled even with the fist embedded in her skull; however Raki ended her misery by curling the fingers of the hand in her head and shooting his finger bone bullets in every direction, ripping her cranium apart.
Raki barely had time to give her a parting glance as he somersaulted to dodge the attacks from other animal like Awakened beings. He ducked low to avoid a swipe from a claw and rolled to the side to dodge a finger projectile by another. He pulled out a bone sword from his shoulder to parry a slash from a centipede like Awakened Being's clawed legs, and then blocked a claw attack from a mutant humanoid Awakened Being.
"Simple enough…" He muttered as he jumped on top of the centipede woman's body and nailed her side with several bones. As she roared in pain, a pointy bone dagger emerged in his palm, and he slammed it into her head. As for the other Awakened Being, Raki simple launched off his dagger, which turned out to be more along the lines of a spear as the rest of it erupted from his arm, spiking into the offending Awakened Beings's eyes and tore off his throat. The mutant was finished off with an overhead slash from Raki as he jumped off the centipede's head and killed the mutant with a single, clean cut.
Raki landed on the bloody ground softly and stared into the eyes of his remaining enemies.
"GET HIM!"
"KILL THAT LITTLE SHIT!"
Raki was not phased as he spun, ducked, slid and dodged all the attacks aimed at him and returned fire with his finger bullets. Again and again he fired, slowly but steadily whittling down the numbers of his opponents.
More agile and faster Awakens launched a group assault on the lone warrior; however they were greeted with sudden growth of bone blades from the warrior's shoulders, hand, elbows, knees, and back of the heels.
"Yanagi no Mai(Dance of the Willow)!" stated the scarred warrior as he flew into the battle dancing around like willow leaf in the wind, zipping from one spot to another in, a hurricane like blur, slicing enemies from left to right with the simplest movements. The willow leaf simply floats to where the wind blows…and Raki's wind was his enemies.
Half of Raki's chest and face were covered by the blade like marks emerging from the primary symbol. The more youki that emerged from his body, the more the markings spread.
The smarter Awakened Beings stayed at a distance and launched various kinds of projectiles at him.
Raki began to shift around and over. His every spin and turn narrowly dodged or allowed him to parry the attacks, and as such he didn't get a scratch. He slowly approached the remaining group, all the while causally dodging their ranged assault. There were only five Awakened Beings left and they were stronger than most of the others…or simple smarter than to engage him with no plan.
The remaining former Claymores were careful, they didn't care for the title anymore, they simply wanted to live.
"Hit him! Hit him!"
Raki's tattoos began to cover his entire frame.
"This is a good time…to test out this form in its strongest."
Raki's youki intensified as the black blade marking covering his entire body slowly smeared and blended together to turn grey. Raki's eyes darkened and his brown pupils turned yellow. His shaggy hairs turned sliver white and it started to extend down to his back. The lone warrior's once red lips turned purple. Raki tugged his armour off and removed the top half of his suit leaving the parts below his hips. His dark and muscled body was releasing a powerful, intense and aggressive youki.
Ever since he gained his power Raki noticed that unlike normal Claymores or Awakened beings, his power has two stages only. One was when he used ten percent of his youki, and the marking spread across part of his body. But as soon as he released over fifty percent his skin turned grey and he gained a skeletal tail, trunk like bones on his back and shoulders, and numerous sharp, curved bones in his legs and arms.
In his final stage his defensive power is at its peak and his flesh is hardened to the point that no one lacking high level single digit physical strength, not counting various special abilities, could penetrate it. In addition his bone manipulating abilities were speeded up by many times. His regeneration improved considerably. And of course his overall physical abilities shot up.
One of the remaining large Awakened Beings charged at him, a fist ready to smash the smaller warrior; however the offending punch was block…By a large flat bone shield.
"W-What?"
Raki removed his shield and created a long bone spear from his entire arm. The long spear flew and impaled the Awakened beings in its chest.
"Not yet…" the bones on Raki'ssShoulder extended and stabbed into his current enemy, killing him. Another came at him with her giant mouth opened to chomp down on him.
Raki covered the palms of his hands with a layer of bones. The moment the Awaken ate him, he grabbed the teeth chomping at him and held it open with his arms and feet.
"…My turn." Said Raki as he formed a bone blade from his tail and used his longest limb to navigate inside the Awakened Being's mouth and reach the brain.
"GUUUAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
"…Shut up…"
Whoosh! Palck!
The giant fell to the ground, now lacking a mind.
Raki jumped out of the dead monster's mouth and ran toward the remaining Awakens.
"No!"
A few minutes later Raki was was gazing down at a female Awakened Being lying on her side…Her limbs were torn off and her body impalled to the floor by bone swords.
"You…Who are you?" Groan out the dying former claymore.
"…The Second Abyssal of the South…Raki the Gouging Spearhead."
The test or the Slaughter of the Southern Mountain would be the starting point of Raki the Gouging Spearhead's legend. A place where the newest Abyssal of the South was officially declared.
(Flashback End)
"Isley…lets go." said the newest Abyssal One as he donned his discarded armor and clothing. It was almost time for dinner and Priscilla must be waiting for them...Hopefully where they left her.
"Ah, you must be tired. Priscilla should be waiting for us by the river across this mountain." the Silver King said, following his student.
The two human like demons walked away from the battlefield.
Now there was no force that could stand a chance against them.
No Riful, no Organization, certainly not humans.
(One Year later)
Raki ran across the field as he sliced through another one of the…things. They had the perverted forms of women. Their eyes were bound with stiches, blinding them. They They wore rags, leaving most of their bodies exposed. They were more ferocious than anything, even an Awakened Being. About a week ago they attacked the three companions. Isley and himself fought them off rather easily multiple times, however as time passed the monsters slowly became better at fighting them. They adapted again and again. Raki had sliced apart these monsters hundreds of times now, but nothing short of destroying their heads could truly kill them.
"There's no end to them." Raki muttered as he sliced apart another mosnter. Isley was on the other side with his arm in the form of a bow. He fired another volley of flesh made arrows, but while several suffered severe damage, and many more were sent flying and suffered smaller injuries from the arrows' impacts, most didn't manage to hit any heads, because the monsters had learned to protect them, and not allow them to take killing blows.
Raki's face was suddenly covered by the black marks, which showed his frustration as he began to unconsciously release more youki. Raki pulled out a white halberd, which was made of his bone.
The halberd was at least three meters long with a large, diamond edged blade on the top with two inner crescent moon shaped blades on the two sides. For a weapon made of bones it was unusually aesthetic, and appeared to be almost like a steel forged weapon in shape.
Raki was a skilled swordsman; however he knew that a spearman has the advantage against a sword welding enemy. He can wield a spear well enough…And after he gained his youki he could fight against a warrior with skill alone.
Raki spun the weapon over his head and slashed through the torso of another monster, however, this one didn't retreat, and healed in the blink of an eye. It jumped, but in an air-cutting swing, the monster was split into two pieces, only for another to take its place, and this one somehow formed a blade on its hand.
The monster swung its arm wildly, slowly learning how to wield its somewhat improvised weapon properly, and when another joined it and with its own sword arm, they both managed to block Raki's furious, skilled thrusts and swings, though not without countless injuries, none to the head. Raki managed to pull back and swung his halberd lower to the ground, forcing both monsters to jump; in that instant, Raki's launch a devastating series of youki boosted slashed, slicing apart both monsters, and he made sure to destroy their heads.
"Isley! We need to get Priscilla out of here! You need to cover me!" Shouted the former human. He jumped into the air after throwing his halberd into an approaching abomination and pointed his hands towards the them.
"Teshi Sendan!" Yelled out Raki as his fingers released a barrage of skeletal projectiles. The bone bullets were too small and too fast for even these creatures to dodge…for now.
He ran up to pick up his halberd then swung it in a circle to give himself some space to fight. He jabbed and swung the majestic weapon using one wrist as the center of its rotation, then crushing the opponent between the spear's thrust and the smashing swings. He swung his halberd again and this time managed to tear off a leg from an attacking demon and thrust at its head, however the blasted creature bent his head backwards, it's neck contorting at an absurd angle, before it retreated to heal in under ten seconds.
"These creatures have been learning too well. Before we could kill them easily, but now it's hard to even kill one of them!"
Isley didn't move as he stared at the approaching enemies. They had managed to fully kill three of these monsters. All the other ones suffered minor or critical damage only for them to heal again. Cutting them in half was no use unless the head was destroyed as their insane regeneration kept them alive. They would retreat after killing at least five or six of them…with only three down, this fight will only get worse… there is only one thing he can do.
While these creatures may have attacked them out of nowhere…they initially aimed for him and focused on him. Whatever the damned Organization did to them…They were hunting for him, not the other two.
Isley was forced to return to reality as one of the creature jumped at his unguarded back. The Silver King of the North turned and unleashed his lance like claws on the cursed monster as he tried to tear it apart…only for the abomination to dodge and take a chunk out of his limb before being forced to leap away as Isley swung at it. The former male number one morphed his hands into an axe and a clawed talon before letting loose a volley of slashes at the abomination, however the creature fluently weathered his onslaught by contorting its neck and creating various appendages of flesh to block. Isley was relieved of the annoyance as Raki fired off a bone sword at the creature's back, which created an opening for the Silver king to hack the monster into dog food in a quick volley of slices, but several others charged him before he could destroy the head, forcing him to retreat.
Isley glanced at his family that had stayed with him for the last seven years. Raki…he was now almost if not as strong as he himself was. He had matured and was no longer a naïve, powerless boy. Now he was one of the lords of the island. Raki had no problem taking life, whether it was human or Awakened. Those who failed to obey his law in the south paid dearly. For the ten months, no Awakened Being or youma attacked the south. He had ordered all to prey on animals or bandits on the island, never to attack a human settlement. For a few weeks, many tried to defy him. He made swift examples of them, and eventually the dissenters ceased. His rule actually brought some form of peace in the south. Not even the Organization could reach him there. He allowed the Claymores to continue to patrol the land, it didn't bother him.
Priscilla…she was still rather child-like. She continued to cling to Raki as she did when they all first met. She was an important investment…which now turned into a figure of a little sister for the two males. However he feared the day she will truly awaken was near…when that day arrives… not even the two of them together could stop her. He still remembered the day he met her, fought her and lost. His body caved in and half of his limbs destroyed.
He feared for the future…however he needed to insure that there will be future at all first!
Isley unleashed his full power, and his his youki covered his entire form in a brilliant burst of light and energy. From the rising dust and smoke the true appearance of the king had appeared. His centaur like form was as imposing as it was majestic. He was at least ten meters tall, with a black lustre body. He had glowing, icy cold blue eyes, and despite the situation, his stance wcas unwavering.
"RAKI! GET PRISCILLA OUT OF HERE! THESE MONSTERS ARE HUNTING ME, SO GO NOW AND NEVER LOOK BACK!" roared the King of the North as he stomped down one of the abominations. His hoof smashed the wretched being into the ground, and he made sure to grind it to mush
"I-Isley…What are you-"
He was cut off as an arrow that was as tall and thick as a stone pillar shot at him faster than most beings could react to. Raki dodged to the side in a blur of motion, then looked up, feeling more hurt and scared than he had in years.
"DON'T' MAKE ME REPEAT MYSELF! I WILL LURE THEM AWAY! RAKI! YOU HEAD OUT THERE AND DO WHAT YOU MUST!" roared out the strongest Abyssal as he turned toward the remaining demons.
Isley charged toward the monsters, his hooves shaking the earth as his form became nothing more than a blur to untrained eyes, with his arms morphed into a shield and a lance. Like a knight on horseback, he dashed through the remaining enemies, ripping most of them into various pieces as he passed, though none were put down permanently. As they jumped to reach him, he bashed two aside with his flesh made shield and skewered another with his lance. Without stopping or turning back he rode away, leading the Abyss Feeders with him.
Raki gazed at the rapidly fading form of his master, but did nothing…he wasn't strong enough yet.
The two remaining companions left on a journey...A warrior who allowed a child to tag along. The two would travel to allow Raki to find Clare and stay away from those monsters. He might be new...But the south was his land to command.
The Abyssal of the Gouging Spearhead and the southern lands turned towards the direction his mentor had ran off to. He gave a silent prayer, hoping to see him again.
Several months later…The Ghosts of Pieta left their hiding ground.