A/N: Hot damn, I'm just beat today, I just really wanna sit and do nothing, perhaps plug through some missions in Secret World but I can make it, I'll get a bit of this done if nothing else and then go to bed early and it'll all be good, I've got a black cherry soda, I can make it
Disclaimer: Yeah, I'm not going to make a new one of these today, that's for sure.
Prepare Yourself for the Worst
Katherine couldn't help the shiver that ran down her spine. The thing that stood before them was a beast, through and through. Legs twitched off at angles they shouldn't, slabs of flesh hung in ways that never could have been natural and another head… mouth… eyes… hung off its shoulder like a tumor. The Hunter had seen much, and more, but this was… something else. Their body dove into action before their mind had caught up, dodging to the side as the beast shot forward, splashing through the sweet blood that pooled on the floor as Ludwig the Accursed pulverized the dead and dying beneath his hooves. His claws caught their side and Katherine let out a sharp hiss between their teeth, hand hovering over the dripping wound before lashing back out, saw cleaver snapping in and out biting like a mouth of its own. Feeling its teeth sink into flesh filled them with renewed resolve and they slid through the blood behind the beast, noticing an orangish glow coming from Nero as they did. Ludwig spun, clearly in an attempt to snap his teeth around the Hunter's body but was interrupted halfway through with a swirl of flame. Katherine couldn't help the moment of pause she gave as Nero cranked something on his sword and it started to glow cherry red again before he lashed out and fire burned the beast's hide once more. The howl that tore through Ludwigs throat split the ears of his two assailants and he bowled over the partial devil when he flinched from the noise.
"Nero!" Katherine managed, their own ears still ringing. She shuffled in a pocket, hastily spreading the firepaper over the saw and sparking it alight as she dashed forward. Several nasty wounds were opened and burned into Ludwigs side before he'd truly finished mowing down the devil hunter. The good Hunter pulled back to give another swing as Ludwig gave a powerful kick with those back legs. Pain erupted from their chest as they splashed back down to the blood soaked stone floor, they fumbled with a pocket to pull out a blood vial, some part of her pain addled brain finding amusement in trying to find blood when they were covered in the stuff. The floor shook with each step of the beast, sending ripples in the puddles and pools that splashed up and into the Hunter's eyes. She blinked furiously, trying to clear them but all she could make out was a blue glow… Her head snapped in the direction of his voice when Nero called out.
"C'mon, is that the best you got? My grandmother hits harder than you!" Ludwig whirled with a shriek and Katherine felt the footsteps receding, their heartbeat settling some as their fingers closed around the blood vial. The pinprick of pain as it was jammed into their leg was nothing compared to the pure euphoria that jolted through their veins as it took effect. Katherine rolled back to their feet and dove back into the frey. Ludwig was slowing his slashes and stomps taking longer to come around and seeming more and more desperate. He reared back when the Hunter lashed out the saw cleaver and Nero took the opportunity to deliver a forceful blow to the beast's jaw. Too many legs collapsed under their own weight and something clattered from the beast's back to ground. Ludwig looked to it and a spark of intelligence gleamed in his eye, the two hunters paused uncertain of what was about to happen… the beast opened his mouth instead of horrific screams and cries, let out words…
"Aah, you were at my side, all along. My true mentor… My guiding moonlight..." some of the humanity was back in his eyes as he stood, wrapping a hand around the hilt of the blade and bringing it up to his face and for a brief, small moment Katherine was able to see the man who had been behind the beast, the legendary hunter she'd read about in the Dream, the one who'd dove into battle without fear… Just look where that got him… Nero nudged their shoulder.
"That thing looks nasty, prepare yourself for the worst." his voice echoed strangely in the other form he took and Katherine couldn't help the slight flinch she gave at the contact. Ludwig swung the glowing blue sword heavily and both of them dove back into the action, dodging to opposite sides. The fight had just become that much more difficult, before he had been a beast, lashing out without thought, now the former Holy Blade did his best to keep the two of them from moving to opposite sides of him and lashed out with that glowing blade with fierce and deadly accuracy. Katherine did what she could, pouring the ash in with the bullets, granting them a bit more bang but it didn't appear to do much to slow down the relentless rain of blows. She reached for another blood vial, needing the boost but her hand closed on nothing and the sinking realization that she was out fell in her gut. The realization had just sunk in when she heard Nero shout and then blinding pain erupted from shoulder to hip and her vision went dark…
A/N: I know that this is a bit short, but today's… it's a bit rough, I just found out last night that my parents had to put the family cat down… It was a bit abrupt so I'm hurting right now, I just hope wherever she's gone she's got a warm lap to rest in…
Till next time,
-Winged Element