Wow Happy Thanksgiving I really screw with this kid omg.

Flames.

Problematic. Flames were always problematic. They lashed out with hot violence and triggered some deep primal fear within man. Flames caused subconscious hesitation. For fighters, it was nothing less than psychological manipulation. The flame was hot. Its noise and heat disturbed one's movements to the degree where almost nobody could fight at 100% when facing a flame user.

Almost nobody.

That's what Iori Yagami had taught him through many months of sometimes painful sparring. It wasn't as if Iori was trying to, but Rock had proven himself able to derive lessons from the most unlikely of places. He was truly a student at heart. For the past six months, Rock had learned how to successfully battle fire from one of the most prolific flame users on the planet.

Barely even hot… phew… relax

Time and time again, Rock had sparred against those flames. In the beginning, it was because his employer had gotten bored of the treadmill, and decided to use Rock as exercise. Other times, Rock had requested it, just in order to hone his homegrown fighting style against instinct. More recently, with the KOF coming up in a couple of months, Rock found himself dodging flames almost every day after work. During those months, Rock Howard had lost his natural fear of fire. He'd suppressed it to the degree where his instinctive reaction to cringe at the flame was all but non-existent. After all, Iori never actually burned him. He merely proclaimed Rock dead whenever the dreadfully hot flame licked harmlessly around them.

Probably not a good thing… honestly. Gotta remember not to stick my hands in the campfire...

So if Yagami flames - which boasted such extreme heat they melted steel in a moment - barely elicited any fear in the teenager, then Billy Kane's flame was hardly a hindrance at all. Sure. Fire was more problematic than no fire, but Rock was used to dealing with problematic.

I wonder if Boss is alright… focus Rocky. Phew…

Because Billy Kane was nowhere nearly as problematic as Iori was, even on his most agreeable days. Right now, in Rock's mind, he was merely fighting a guy with a (very dangerous) stick. The flame that occasionally spewed from those wide swings hardly mattered to Rock at all. He all but ignored them, only acknowledging them enough to dodge… but even that kept him busy enough.

*Swish*

Rock ducked as a flaming staff swung across the room and nearly struck him in the head. He felt the heat singe the hairs on the back of his neck, and stumbled backwards, guarding. Even if Rock wasn't bothered by the flame, he still needed to deal with that three piece amalgamation Billy wielded with fearsome expertise. The staff seemed to dance about the room by its own volition, winding and whipping about like a deadly, heavy snake. A snake that wanted his blood and had already left a sizable (and very painful) bruise on Rock's left wrist.

Aghh! Dammit I can't get close… think… c'mon...

Rock quickly sidestepped behind a convenient pillar, just as the staff struck it - making a ringing, hollow noise. Flames burst out upon impact, and Rock was forced back again. There was no wonder Billy Kane was Geese Howard's top bodyguard. This man was strong. Surely there was hardly anybody who could deal with the twin threats of that deadly staff, and the psychological disturbance from the flame that seemed to light randomly upon it.

Ughh shiit… no… you can do this… but how…?

Billy Kane wasn't a man Rock could manage without his power. Honestly, Rock hadn't expected to need Gaia's strength for the rest of this battle. He had been operating under the assumption Geese similarly could not use Chi from such elevation. Fistfighting… or rather, beating to death a 55 year old man wasn't going to be particularly easy, nor particularly pleasant - but it wasn't impossible. And with Rock's life hanging in balance, he would gladly take 'not impossible' over 'certain death'.

I should have brought a gun… or something. Kain was supposed to take care of this! Where is he?!

But Rock hadn't anticipated needing to fight Billy - someone whose power didn't scale to his proximity to the ground - and thereby found himself in a bit of a pickle. Frankly, without easy access to his supernatural energy, Rock couldn't see a path to victory. He had been counting on Kain and his - now deceased - mercenaries to take care of problems like this, but alas, Iori showed up and derailed everyone's plans.

As a result, here he was, alone, climbing Geese's tower. He was scared shitless, but still climbing. He knew death was lurking behind every corner, yet still he climbed. Climbing because retreat was no longer an option. Climbing up because some deep dread within him just knew he couldn't turn back. The faster he climbed, the better - for the longer he spent in this cursed ordeal, the more precious things he would lose.

The idea had been unintentionally planted there by Iori. Somehow, when the red-haired man (thoughtlessly) exclaimed that Rock would lose everything if he reached the top of the tower, it felt like a curse was being proclaimed over him. For the past twenty minutes those words had itched maddeningly at the back of Rock's brain, and eventually drove him onwards without Terry's much needed company.

"The moment I reach the top, I'll lose everything?" No… fuck that. I'll finish things quickly...Phew…

And so, he proceeded on his ill advised journey driven with his misplaced courage. As he trod onwards - feeling his power draining as he proceeded - he found the path open up to him… opened like the maw of a great beast. Still he climbed nearly unhindered, avoiding encounters rather easily - as the troops seemed to be in panic with some commotion below. In fact, even when Rock was caught… once the men recognized him, they nervously let him go. Somebody was pulling strings for him, and the only person Rock knew with that level of gang influence was the same person Rock had just finished betraying in rather glorious fashion.

I guess Boss must have worked out an arrangement before all this happened… I sure hope he's not too mad at me…

*Fwish, thonk*

Another swing. Rock hopped up to avoid being swept off his feet. Billy wasn't adhering to whatever deal Rock had assumed Iori struck with HCon. The other soldiers left him alone, but Billy Kane was having none of it. The British thug had leapt out from behind a doorframe a few moments ago - and didn't even introduce himself before he began attacking so viciously, Rock was convinced a single good hit would kill him. So far, they've had four exchanges - Rock had dodged three strikes and blocked one. The impact of parrying had nearly shattered his wrist, and Rock knew he couldn't sustain a drawn out battle. He needed to think of something, and quickly.

Oh crap-

"Gaaak!"

A heavy overhead strike aimed at his skull. Rock raised both arms to block the blow, and felt his elbows creak as the impact whipped through him. Without thinking very hard, Rock capitalized on the opportunity to seize hold of the staff. He yanked - desperately hoping to disarm his opponent. It was a vain hope. Billy held fast, but at least the stick was no longer being swung at him.

"Hah!? Yer a dead man, brat."

Billy had been wearing a deadly serious expression for the entire duration of their short battle. A cold, professional demeanor which reminded Rock of Whip and her IKARI friends. Yet when Rock seized hold of the staff - the professionalism broke, and Billy showed a nasty grin.

"I thought you'd be stronger being da boss's kid an' whatnot. Gotta say, yer dissapointin'. Not very smart either, eh?"

Rock gritted his teeth and glared, not responding to the provocation. He once again attempted to jerk the weapon from Billy's grasp to no success, instead accomplishing nothing more than tearing a callous. The sharp pain and slick blood caused Rock to yelp and drop the staff - and very well he did - because it was in that moment the entire length of the red pole ignited in a burst of flames.

Aghh! Annoying!

The weapon - once rigid - detached into three portions and, like a whip, lashed his shoulder with such force, he was thrown against a nearby wall. Rock gasped as stars burst before his eyes, just barely regaining control of himself in order to lurch back - narrowly dodging another brutal strike. Instead of breaking his ribs, the pole cracked against floor-to-ceiling windows, shattering them. Immediately they were exposed to the elements. Cold wind and the cacophony of helicopter blades flooded in, and the danger of falling to one's death suddenly became 10 times more threatening.

Oh shit. Oh fuck. I gotta do something...but if… if I try to use power, I might bring down the building.

Things weren't looking good for him. Rock hadn't underestimated Billy persay - after all, there was no method by which he could prepare for such an encounter - but he was unpleasantly surprised with how deadly Billy Kane was proving to be. Seven exchanges. Rock had dodged 4 hits. He had blocked two. He'd gotten hit once, and his shoulder was smarting something awful. Meanwhile, Billy Kane was standing three metres away, entirely untouched. If this kept up, Rock would be killed without ever getting close to his opponent. It was a desperate situation, which called for desperate measures.

Shit… I've gotta risk it, otherwise I'm a dead man…

Below. Eighteen storeys below, was a repository of Gaia's power. The Earth's strength, which he wielded with an inkling of Orochi's influence - a gift from his despised pedigree. Seizing the power - albeit difficult - wasn't the primary issue. Even from such a distance, he could reach down and stir it up, cause it to siphon up the buildings already damaged foundations and… and then what?

Knock the building down? That was very possible. Without sufficient control, he would accomplish nothing but his own demise - and not just his, but everyone in the building too! Which of Rock's allies were still in this cursed place? Iori had probably gone home already. Kain… Kain had probably abandoned him. And Terry? Well… Dad was supposed to be in the building, but Rock had seen neither hide nor hair of him. Perhaps he was detained at the police line? Perhaps he hadn't come at all and Kain had lied to him. In any case, Rock needed to preserve his own life. He wasn't going to throw it away on the off chance his father may be in danger.

And everyone else can go to hell… Rocky… you need to do this… c'mon!

His decision made, Rock gritted his teeth and slapped both palms against the wall- desperately dragging Chi from the earth as quickly as he could. He put all he had into the effort, even tapping as far into that potent stinging 'Orochi Power' as he could. In times past, Rock sometimes wondered how strong (albeit insane) he would've become if Mrs. Kagura didn't seal his Orochi blood away - but never once regretted having it done. Only now, with his life hanging by a thread, did he dearly wish to once again wield the maddening strength of the evil god… if only for a moment… dammit, please...

"Eh? Givin' up so easily? Well, not that I blame ya, hehe… say yer goodbyes!"

Billy - seeing that he had opened himself for attack- grinned his nasty grin. He yanked his staff back and spun it expertly in on hand - clearly building momentum for what would likely amount to a killing blow. The staff made a whistling noise as it spun on it's chain - and everything in Rock was screaming at him to prepare to dodge… yet, if he pulled his hands from the wall - he wouldn't get another opportunity to fulfill his plan. This was his gamble. There was no retreat. He squeezed his eyes shut and willed with all his might.

Please, Please… fuck… c'mon! Just for a moment. Just for this fight… Please…

The whistling grew maddening. Rock felt his breath catching in his throat. Sweat slicked down the back of his neck. His hands trembled, not in power - but in fear. At any moment, that staff would fly and execute him. Yet… he wouldn't run. He couldn't. He clung to the tattered remnants of his baseless courage and clung to the wall. Beneath his feet, the power was flowing… but flowing slowly - and certainly not as easily as before. That staff would crush his skull before he could even lay a finger on the British man. He made another plea to the abyss.

Shit! Shit! Anyone! Fuck, I'll do anything, anything you want… just give me power! I need to finish this! I can't die here!

And this time… someone heard him.

Something heard him.

Time froze.

The air grew thick and icy.

The heavy presence of dread filled his mind, and suddenly - Rock felt he was being watched. Scrutinized. A crushing feeling in his chest. A brutal writhing in his stomach. He heard his heartbeat pounding in his ears. His mouth immediately went dry. He raised his eyes, and his vision was swimming.

Oh… oh god, what the fuck…

The malevolent presence gazed at him with open disgust. Glaring, staring down at him with scowling madness. That eldritch soul had cast it's eye upon him, like a man watched an ant crawl beneath his looking glass. A foreign thought - a single phrase- invaded his mind, emerging like a figure from the midst of that frenzied whirlpool of emotion. It spoke with haughty scorn and brutal amusement.

Pitiful worm… Live, and watch your courage turn to madness. Then… turn and eat the flesh of my captors.

Rock couldn't think. His mind was entirely overwhelmed. Paralyzed. He could neither accept nor deny the order given him. It was merely proclaimed over him… yet, the moment those words faded from his mind, the moment that feral deity looked away from him, something changed. Suddenly, his nerves were beset with a horrid tingling - as if he were being electrocuted. Beneath his feet, Gaia's? No… somebody else's power rushed up to meet him, flowing easily and with incredible pressure. It pooled around him, and filled him from head to toe. Strength!

Holy Shit! Holy shit what the fuck did I do… am I gonna die?!

The same wild strength he wielded when murdering gang members in Shanghai was once again flowing in his brain. Yet, unlike before - where the power filled him with the unspeakable desire to flay flesh from his bones - this time, he was filled with haughty courage. The dark knowledge of an assured victory.

His pain faded, blotted out with pure adrenaline. The seemingly endless power reinforced his limbs and armoured him. He raised his head to look at Billy Kane - who suddenly seemed disquieted. Perhaps he had sensed the entity's visitation? Perhaps he sensed the sudden power his opponent now possessed. Perhaps he saw something in Rock's face…

In any case, it didn't matter.

Rock Howard was going to climb the tower.

Terraria Calamity doesn't just have amazing Gameplay and music, but also fantastic lore I'm completely serious.

It's not even a standalone game. it's a mod for Terraria which feels like it's bigger than the base game itself. Absolutely amazing.