Daut Barrett and the Explosion Devil

Daut didn't know what was happening, didn't know who these people were, or even where they are. What he did know was that these jerkoffs think they're better than him!

"You losers better get outta my way! I'm confused, somewhat tired, thirsty, and extremely hormonal! SO I CAN'T BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU IF YOU DON'T LISTEN UP!"

All the surrounding bandits cocked their weapons, adding to their defined and bandit-like appearances giving them a cool factor that Daut just couldn't overlook. "Is that a threat, brat ?"

It made him hate them even more, who did they think they were!? Believing their pretty looks alone will get them places! HE'LL SHOW THOSE RAGGEDY ASS BASTARDS! "Nah! It's a warning!" Showing off a sharp smirk, Daut twirled his spiked wand, beckoning them to come forward. "Give it to me! GIVE ME ALL YA GOT!"

Small booms resonated from those handsome pricks, striking his body and forcing him back a few steps. Daut groaned, whatever those things were they stung like a suicidal bee! "My turn!"

He thrust his trusty wand out and yelled "DIE A HUNDRED TIMES! MACHINE GUN EXPLOM!"

Dozens of exploding balls made themselves known, hovering over the crowd of bandits. He dropped them all like a bombing run and carpet-bombed the entire area in front of him, leaving nothing but a pile of soot-covered schmucks.

"Serves ya right! Just a buncha losers with rugged looks. Well not anymore!" He flipped them off for good measure.

He stood on top of his pile of human agony and bellowed at the top of his lungs, "WHO'S NEXT HUH!? I'LL KILL ALL YA HANDSOME BASTARDS!"

Looking down from his victorious tower, Daut smirked over at Mash who was just walking out of a burnt-up tent looking confused but satisfied as ever. "Mash buddy! There ya are, don't worry I've got these jerks!"

"You cocky git!"

Daut turned and blasted his way down his handmade pile of explosive suffering, nailing the angry bandits as they tried to near him. With every bandit brought to their blown-up demise, two more took their place.

It's like these bastards are multiplying!

Snarling, Daut summoned more exploding balls behind him. Instead of firing them in front of him, he aimed below him.

BOOM

Rocketing above those lame bandits Daut attacked from above, keeping him safe from their weapons. At least until he started getting pricked from midair. Whatever they were shooting out of those things packed a punch especially since he started getting juggled in midair. "Not goin' according to plan!"

His original plan was to keep up his bombardment from above, raining karmic justice for all the unattractive people of the world. With that plan shot to hell, he had to resort to his last-ditch effort. His trump card! Run like he-Retreat! That's right, a strategic retreat is the smartest move to make in this scenario.

It's a damn shame that Daut isn't the smartest tool in the shed.

Narrowing his eyes, Daut fought through the pain thinking hard about his next move. He was thinking so hard in fact that he didn't realize he was falling until he was suddenly rolling in the dirt. He quickly tried to get up but was instead kicked to the ground. He growled, but the onslaught didn't end.

"Not so tough are ya!?"

"That one's for my friend you blasted to kingdom come!"

"You really think I'm handsome?"

"Nows not the time to validate your looks, Berry!"

"When is it the time then!?"

Daut could barely hear them, instead of focusing on anything besides the pain. Somehow, he held strong. Feeling hardier than ever before!

"You got some aura on you, kid! Wonder how long it'll take to break!?"

Aura? Is that what the protections called? Too bad all it did was make his suffering last longer. Daut could only growl as they even tried stabbing him. He kept his grip on his wand, wishing he could Explom these fools! If he let off a spell in such close proximity, he'll be blown to bits! At least that's what his panicking brain told him.

Daut was close to exploding anyway until his wand was snatched from his grip. His eyes frantically looked for the culprit, wishing nothing but explosive retribution on whoever's responsible. He spotted his wand lying on the dirt and reached towards it, not even caring about the feet stomping on his outstretched limb. He was so close! Just a little bit-

Snap

He stopped, an inch away from his broken wand.

"Sorry about your stick! Things just happen you know?"

He clenched his bruised hand, fist-shaking. His forehead glowing.

"This all could've been avoided if you just kept napping like a good little boy and not think you can take on the Branwen Tribe!"

He growled once more, a much deeper baritone than before. Eyes brimming with such emotion they glowed.

His wand, given to him as a gift. From his…

"Who the hell do you think you are!? Huh?" The piece of shit kicked him when Daut remained still. "Answer me!"

The only thing he had of her…

Daut didn't explode, he erupted.

Giving a roar of absolute rage, Daut's aura ignited and blew away all the bandits surrounding him. Standing up despite his injuries, he strode forward with red eyes unforgiving. Warding cross blazed onto his forehead, headband burnt off and forgotten.

Those pretty little bastards tried shooting. Their attacks became ash as he walked, undeterred by their boring resistance. His feet left scorched footprints on the earth, an eternal reminder of his rage.

Some brave idiots tried slicing at him. Their weapons heated and shattered as their blades came into contact with his blown-up aura. Glowing eyes narrowed at their desperate flailing. Daut simply pushed out two palms and the bandits became acquainted with his close-range Explom.

Daut scoffed at their smoking bodies embedded into the ground. They weren't dead, they weren't worth the effort. Daut breathed in deep, feeling somehow empty. As the cold air filled his lung, he almost gagged. This thin, tasteless air… felt wrong. He looked around, there was no smoke, no ash, no inferno's to bask himself in!

Floating orbs of unimaginable explosive power appeared in his outstretched hands. He grinned sharply, he could fix that! Daut tossed his concentrated Exploms around him. The air ignited and scarred the earth, bandits ran screaming. Running for their cowardly lives! He laughed as the air became darker, filled with the smoke he so much enjoyed!

He kept having the time of his life, causing boom after boom of destruction in the bandit camp. His grin turned maniacal, never having felt so alive! Daut knew something was wrong, this awesome power didn't just come from nowhere. Something was wrong as he loved to inhale the burning earth and wood.

He felt something similar once before, back when Love was their enemy. He defeated her soundly with his newfound power, but he was focused on the safety of his friend. But now?

Daut roared with power! He has no such reservations about this time! Nothing was holding him back! Nothing could stop his raging inferno!

No! Something was still wrong. He felt choked, even with his strength. He felt like a hand was grasping him, making him move the way it wanted. Daut shook his head, growling. Nobody controlled Daut Barret, future Divine Visionary, and the main character!

But, if this hand made him so powerful. Feel so divine. Then was it so bad? He'd feel less muffled, less restrained if he just gave in. He could have all the power he wanted… the unholy might he needed to accomplish his dream. Daut just had to… give in.

He gasped, hands going to his throat. Coughing up the ash and smoke he previously inhaled. That hand grasped him tighter than before, almost like it was burning him. Daut went to his knees, trying desperately to breathe.

Submit

Never! I can kill these handsome jerks myself!

Sweet little mortal… it must be so hard to breathe

Shut up! I'm doing just fine on my own!

You must be sick of being so pathetic, why not become so much more?

Daut's body burned, his head aflame with thoughts that were not his own. He couldn't move, trapped in this thing's hand.

I don't need your help!

But you need their help, why rely on the other mortals? They will throw you into hell if they were given this power

…

You are special… Daut Barret. I'm only giving this chance to you, I will grant you so much. Nothing will be a hindrance to you, you will truly become divine

Against his better judgment, Daut thought to all the times he lost. The Iron Fists that made him choke on his blood. The hateful glare's from the people who took advantage of his infatuation. The wind that tore him apart, the stone maw that almost crushed him. The glance of utter annoyance from that rock-licker bastard! Like he was nothing but a bug to be stepped on.

He remembered the times he did succeed and how they were always taken away from him. When he completed Silva's challenge and the insane mocking laugh that greeted him. The betrayal of the girl he took the beating for. When he defeated Love, only to almost die to the Fourth Fang. When Finn and Lemon praised Mash for saving them when he was the one that bled for them.

He could remember Lance looking down on him, humoring him because Mash was his friend. Finn's cowardice as he protected him with all his might. Mash forgetting about him. Love's… usage of his injured state. He could remember it all.

So you understand… they will only use you. I promise I will not think so lowly of you. Whatever you want, I will give you the power to take it all. All I ask in return is your faith…

He almost considered it, almost submitted himself to the hand squeezing him so.

But then he remembered… everything else. Mash standing up for him, getting angry on his behalf. Showing concern for him, picking him back up when he was unsure of himself. Lemon's kind words, her worry towards him. How she and Lance accepted him even with all of his… quirks. He and Lance's friendly competitive banter.

Daut choked not on ash, but on his tears. He could remember Finn's care for him, his friendship that he dearly wanted. The warm feeling of their dorm room, the easy smiles, the companionship he always craved. And finally, he could remember the tending to his wounds. How Lemon went out of her way to move him around in a wheelchair when he couldn't walk.

He could still feel the way Love smothered him with her- AH, don't think about that! Okay, moving on!

He could remember it all! As his tears stained the ground he so carelessly burnt he thought back to his most precious memory.

Stop cowering and start fightin' back.

I can't… if I do. They'll just get worse.

You give up too easily. But… that's gonna be a problem. Once you get a real friend.

A real friend?

That's right. Someone who'll get sad or angry on your behalf. That kinda person comes along once in a lifetime. If you find that friend… never betray them.

This big bastard thinks he can just get him to betray his friend! The friend who… got angry on his behalf! The hand started to burn, even more, he didn't care. The hand squeezed tighter, he didn't care. His legs wobbled but he still stood up.

"GET OFFA ME YOU TEMPTING LITTLE PRICK!" Even though he could almost smell charred flesh, he still resisted the hand that held him so tightly. The pressure was at an all-time high, he could feel his newfound power leaving him. Daut didn't give two shits!

He roared as he forced the influence out of him, the seductive power being drained by sheer will alone. Slowly, ever so slowly the hand started to lose its grip on him. Daut pushed on last time and sprang free from the unholy clutches of his power, feeling drained yet… fulfilled.

Perhaps I was wrong, you are not as pitiful as I thought

Go to hell you probably handsome bastard!

A cute choice of words, you still have much to learn…

With those parting words said, the voice and hand left. Their presence went as well. Daut could finally breathe. As the cool air filled his lungs, Daut laughed. What the hell just happened?

Finally getting his legs to move, he walked down the path of destruction he created. Wincing at the burning tents and scarred earth around him. He did however smirk at the bandits cowering in fear at the sight of him. Serves them right! Who just breaks someone's wand-like that!?

Daut kept walking until he joined up with his friends, victorious as usual. Lance with a scowling girl stuck to a floating pillar, weird but he doesn't judge, Much.

Mash looked a little cut up but he doubted the creampuff-loving madman even felt it.

Lance nodded to him, "Good to see you up and about. I didn't know you were so competent."

Mash lazily looked over to him, "Dunno what happened to make you blow up like that but it was pretty cool. Where'd your headband go?"

Daut blinked… then he showed off a toothy grin, "I guess you could say, I'm a man of many mysteries!"

They all chuckled as the bandit camp was destroyed around them. Bandits watching in an awed stupor. Just another day in their young lives.

Yup, he wouldn't trade this for anything,