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","count":"22","submission_left_submission_id":"1870480","submission_left_file_name":"2688841_LoneWolf278_lonewolf.jpg","submission_left_thumbnail_url_huge_noncustom":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/preview/2688/2688841_LoneWolf278_lonewolf.jpg","submission_left_thumbnail_url_large_noncustom":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/large/2688/2688841_LoneWolf278_lonewolf_noncustom.jpg","submission_left_thumbnail_url_medium_noncustom":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/2688/2688841_LoneWolf278_lonewolf_noncustom.jpg","submission_left_thumb_medium_noncustom_x":"90","submission_left_thumb_medium_noncustom_y":"120","submission_left_thumb_large_noncustom_x":"150","submission_left_thumb_large_noncustom_y":"200","submission_left_thumb_huge_noncustom_x":"225","submission_left_thumb_huge_noncustom_y":"300"}],"description":"Vito and the group he has gathered make plans to eat and to heal Gina, but things take an unexpected turn","description_bbcode_parsed":"Vito and the group he has gathered make plans to eat and to heal Gina, but things take an unexpected turn","writing":"[t]Game On[/t]\n[u]chapter 8[/u]\n\n\n That day went on as Vito figured it would. He went to a few shops selling magical items and reagents for the ritual to fix Gina. While they did that Jessica and her group of volunteers did some shopping of their own. Jessica showed her true talents in haggling and other tricks of the trade, picked up from watching her father. By the time the two met up once more Jessica was sorry to tell her master that she had spent most of his money; a little remained though. But she had bought a great deal of food telling him no one would go hungry for some time. Vito gave Jessica a head pat upon hearing the good news, silently lamenting his now exhausted funds. [i]'There goes the bulk of my cash, still,'[/i] Vito watched the mood of the people. Already many looked to start cooking, and children watched with glee. [i]'It'll be a good investment. No doubt that these people will follow me now. You need people in order to build a kingdom. As unsavory as playing these refugees this way is, they’ll be better off in the end.'[/i]\n Vito looked around for Gina, who once spotted was preparing the materials for the ritual. She was channeling mana into a few crystals… in-between fits that was. “Where shall we do this?” He asked getting her attention.\n “We'll need a bit of room.” Gina told him, perhaps a little too excitedly “Out back would be more than enough room.”\n Vito gave her a thumbs up, “alright, get me when you're ready.” Just like a little bolt of lighting that she was out the door, an almost skip to her step. It wasn't hard to tell she wanted this affliction done with, and this hope she finally had pushed her on.\n “Shall we start cooking Master?” Jessica asked to get his attention.\n “Yes” Vito replied warmly, seeing more than a few faces light up at his response. “Whose hungry?” There were cheers as Vito gave the go ahead to start cooking.\n While Jessica and several others started cooking the meals for that night, Vito sat down. After some time he felt a tug on his sleeve. It was a young girl Vito guessing she was about six maybe six and a half, “Mr. Dragon, the magic lady says she's ready. She asked me to come get you.” She told him a cheerful tone.\n “Thank you.” Vito told her as he pat her head, tussling her hair. Following her outside, the girl lead him to Gina who had set up the ritual to cure her.\n “There you are.” She stated an eager tone to her voice. “Are you ready for this?”\n “As I will be.” He replied approaching her as he went on to ask, “What do I need to do?”\n “I’ve taken into account your relative novice mage status, I've changed the ritual accordingly,” She quickly handed him a pair of crystal marble like gems, the two filling his palms, “Hold these, one if each hand. Focus your mana on them and only them, that's all you need to do, i’ll take care of the rest; Oh and brace yourself,” She paused for a few moments, “This is going to hurt.” Vito nodded readying for the worst as Gina started the ritual. The moment it started Vito felt the surge hit him. He was thrown into his mind space as his entire being reeled from the impact. It took a moment for him to get his bearings, even under the assault of this surge of mana. The very air around him felt like an electric charge was running through it.\n He looked around his mind space, a violent storm of mana striking around him like lighting, “Holy shit.” he stammered watching the storm grow more and more violent, “This is what she has going on in her head, no wonder she can't focus her mana.”\n Vito looked back once he heard Gina's voice, it sounded distant but it was clearly coming from his mind space not one of the feeds. “Get ready, and please forgive me.” Vito could only guess what was about to happen but for a moment the storm subsided briefly; the clouds of energy angrily churning above him. It took him by surprise when it finally struck him, a bolt of raw wild mana striking his very soul. He went tense for a moment, only to cry out in pain when a second bolt struck him, then a third.\n “This is what she's been living with? This is agony!” He looked over when he heard a different cry, that of Gina. Looking around himself he finally spotted her, far off into the mind space, Gina much like him being struck by this lighting like mana. “Are you ok?” he could barely ask under the torrent of wild mana.\n She looked over to him, “N . . . no, it's never been this bad before.” Vito looked on in horror, the storm reacted almost like it had a mind of its own, and was enraged that she was trying to rid herself of it. It started striking mercilessly, her screams starting to echo all across the mind space.\n “STOP!” Vito yelled, watching as Gina collapsed under the lighting striking her, “It's going to kill her at this rate.” He looked around for a moment it had let up on him albeit slightly, but he had to draw it back force it to unleash all its fury on him; his mind was the mental fortress thanks to that mask entry. Focusing his mana into the gems he held the storm suddenly stopped, it entirely shifted to glare at Vito. The gems were acting like lighting rods as a loud and powerful dragons roar started to echo across the mind space. Almost as though a wild animal had turned its gaze on him, the storm started to unleash on him. Bolt after bolt strike after strike, Vito could only howl in pain as he absorbed the wroth of the storm, the surge no longer striking Gina at all.\n\n Gina finally was able to stand, only to look on in horror as the storm focused on Vito alone, “NO DON'T!” Gina watching almost helplessly as Vito forced the storm to ignore her, “its too much for one mind to bear, PLEASE pull back!” He refused, the storm unleashing bolt after bolt on him his screams reaching agonizing levels. It kept striking him bolt after bolt, not giving him a second to recover. Vito's everything hurt, he couldn't even think but something happened in that moment once the storm had started to show signs of being spent, a mask formed on his face. A few bolts struck him again and again, and the mask started to splinter, till a few large chunks of it fell away and shattered on the ground. A blue eye looked out past the half broken mask, wincing when a few more bolts struck him.\n The silence in the area was deafening at that moment, both Vito and Gina noticing the eerie stillness, till a voice echoed out, “It's not over yet, above you little mage.”\n Gina looked up and was taken aback by what she saw, “Wait what?!” Gina and Vito looked in the heart of the storm, trying desperately to recharge and reshape the storm clouds was a wispy purple creature, “A curse marker?!?”\n “Destroy it!” The deep voice boomed.\n “Ok, leave it to me.” Gina called out, a ball of mana forming in her hand till it ignited, Gina then blasting the fireball at the creature. The curse creature shirked in pain until it dissipated in a sickening black cloud of smoke. Once the creature was dead the storm clouds now spent receded. It took a moment but Gina looked around, “Its over.” there was a visible tremble to her “it's actually done!”\n It lasted a moment longer, the pair sitting in near silence, “Gina how are you holding out?” Vito asked calling out to her across the mind space.\n “As good as I can be.” She looked over at Vito noticing his face still half covered in a mask, “You?”\n Vito was about to respond but suddenly drew silent, the strange voice from before saying, “He's about to black out.” Vito couldn't move, he couldn't speak, his everything hurt. “Five, four, three, two...” Vito was down before the voice had finished counting, absolutely drained. By the time Vito came back around he found himself back in reality, laying on a bed. He looked over Jessica was sitting in a chair next to the bed, and not far away Gina was asleep as well, sitting next to the wall of the room. Vito looked over when he heard a small voice, a young boy and his little sister the kids from before he recognized. They had poked their head into the room. Vito smiled at them and held his finger up to his lips, asking them to let the others sleep.\n\n The two children approached Vito, the boy asking, “Good morning mister dragon, uh . . . do you need anything?”\n “Yeah, actually” Vito paused for a moment his throat felt very dry. “I could use some water, do you mind getting me some?” The two children nodded then quietly left to get him some water. Watching them leave Vito looked around for a moment, it was dawn, he could tell by the light shining through the window.\n “Ah, so you're awake. But now, the question is, can you hear me?” A strange voice called out, but Vito could not see the speaker. “I'm not out there boy.” With a slight bit of understanding Vito turned inward, to his mind space. Once in the familiar shapeless room, Vito looked around, “Ah so you can hear me now.”\n Vito looked around unable to see who was speaking, “Who's there?”\n “Behind you human.” The voice called out.\n Vito turned and fell back at what he saw, a large red dragon, “How the hell did I miss you?”\n “I could ask you the same human,” The dragon said as he brought his head down to Vito. “I would feel insulted if I wasn't more interested in finally having someone to talk to.” The dragon was large and just as Vito pictured a dragon should look like. “How does anyone miss someone as big as I am. Let alone the fact we've been together for months and you've never spoken to me. I doubt you've heard my voice at all in fact.”\n Vito sat in his surprised shock for a moment, until finally he was able to bring himself to speak. “Who are you?”\n “That's a rude question to ask the man whose body you've invaded.” The Dragon told him\n “Your body? You mean.” Vito asked confused\n “Yes my body, I am the only dragon here human.” The dragon told him.\n Vito sat in silence trying to process this, then asking once his head was more in order, “Jessica and her family found me in a tomb, if it's your body they found what were you doing there?”\n “Being a prisoner in my own flesh.” The dragon clarified. “For the life of me, I can't remember what happened to me. Whatever it was severed my soul from my body, unable to move my own flesh my people took me for dead and buried me.” He gave a quiet sigh then looking back at Vito, “Never thought I'd be so happy to see a human even when it invaded my mind and body. Just my luck it lived in a mask and could no more see me then I could control my own body.”\n\n A mask?” Vito asked reaching up to his face.\n “Yes, and a rather sturdy one at that.” The dragon told him, “All that wild mana unleashed on it, and all it did was crack.” Vito reached up and felt his face. He felt the left half of his face, it felt unnaturally smooth like none of the facial features he had were actually there. He then slid his hand over right, he felt a sharp edge that lead to his actual face, almost poking himself in the eye.\n “What is this?” Vito asked his confusion raising.\n “Have you never felt a mask before human?” The dragon asked as his voice boomed in the void. Vito kept feeling the mask on his face, touching around his eye till he could finally see his hand. He looked at it for a moment, it was the same hand he'd seen a million times, it was his hand, his human hand. Now able to see the edge of the mask covering his face, he moved to try taking it off, but the second he tried his entire being echoed pain; Vito forced to cry out in agony.\n It took a moment, they realized at the same moment, Vito and the dragon looked at one another, Vito asking, “So you felt that too?”\n “I did, that was agony” The dragon clarified Vito looked at the dragon, he thought of something, the dragon then saying, “Indeed, I do recall their taste. I've never had them though.”\n “Huh, so we share a mind.” Vito said aloud\n “Indeed we do, but right now it feels more like a sluggish back and forth, seems I can recall your past memories a pity I have none to share.” The dragon mused aloud.\n Vito was about to speak, but both of their heads turned when they felt something, a pulse of energy, “You felt that too right?”\n “I did,” The dragon told him, “I've been feeling that for some time now. I know not what it is, but it is sinister that's for sure.”\n\n The two sat there in silence for a few moments trying to figure out where this sinister aura was coming from, however their train of thought was shattered when Jessica asked, “Oh you're awake, thank the gods. You collapsed so suddenly I was afraid we'd lost you.” Vito and the dragon both turned to the feed. The girl had woken up and seen Vito sitting up in his borrowed bed. Back in the flesh space Vito looked over at her, rubbed his face briefly, then gave her a head pat. “I'm fine, how is Gina?”\n Vito looked over at the mage in question who perked up hearing her name called, “I'm fine, no far more than that really. I can think again. I can focus without that damnable tic.” Gina stopped then with a deep sigh conjured a bright, elaborate magical light. “I finally feel normal again.” She told him as a few tears welled up in the corners of her eyes, “all thanks to you.” \n “Glad to hear it.” Vito told her as he swung his legs over the side of the bad, his feet now on the floor. He looked up when he heard a pair of excited and more importantly light foot falls quickly approach the room. The two children from before came back into the room, lugging a heavy urn full of water.\n “Mister dragon.” The boy excitedly called out,\n “We got you your water!” His little sister said after.\n “Ah, Thank you little ones.” Vito told them. He accepted the jug from them, then took a deep long drink of the cold water inside. They watched him as he drank and drank... and drank, the others watching somewhat surprised at how much water he put away. He handed the children the jug once it was empty, “Thanks, damn I was thirsty.” The others looked at him a little surprised, sure he was a dragon but he just drank down an entire jug of water in moments. “What?” He asked with a confused look as he got up out of bed.\n “Are you sure you're ready to get up master?” Jessica asked\n “I'm fine.” Vito quickly told her, he got up then said however, “OK, maybe that's a lie, I'm starving.” He held his hand out to Jessica, She smiled warmly at him as she took his hand, allowing him to pull her to her feet. The small group made their way out. Having paid for it all, Vito was allowed to eat his own food rations. He had just finished a small meal when things started to happen.\n “My lord!” One of the refugee men shouted as he rushed into the room he was in. “Trouble outside sir, I think you should come take a look.” Vito nodded and grabbed up his sword. He rushed outside where a few men had grabbed up weapons, the whole feeling in the air was dangerous. The lord of the town, a tall young man, pale skin, and long blond hair stood, currently flanked by a large number of well armed and full plated men. Vito looked around as the people around him seemed panicked.\n “No way.” Vito heard one man stutter.\n “The imperial knights!?” A woman cried out.\n [i]'The imperial knights?'[/i]Vito asked himself, now worried about what he had gotten himself into. [i]'What are they doing here? I was told they were on their way back to the capital city.'[/i]Vito's eyes snapped open that moment, as if realization dawned on him. [i]'Did the emperor send them? I'm screwed! I don't have the forces to match the fucking imperial knights.'[/i] It was at that moment Vito caught a sound. It was a light feminine giggle and the fact he heard it was unnatural. His eyes trained around till he heard it again finding the figure emitting the sound. It was a short figure, wearing a black hooded cloak, and he was sure he saw a light strawberry red furred fox tail wagging around behind. He saw a pair of Jade green eyes looking back at him, but he also saw it wave at him. He noticed how quiet it was at that moment. All the knights, the lordling commanding them, and the refugees. They were silent almost as if paused in time, but the moment he noticed he heard the giggle again and things went back to normal.\n “You there, dragon.” The lordling shouted. “By order of his majesty Emperor Maximilian Grenwald the third, you are under arrest for crimes against the crown! Men seize him!!” The man shouted as he held out a proclamation, bearing the emperor's crest stamped in wax at the bottom.\n “Forward men!” the knight captain shouted, “Capture the dragon! Kill any who interfere!” A row of pikes then dropped, the men marching on Vito. He quickly drew his sword, but shook, [i]'This is bad … how do I get out of this? DO I have to kill them? But I came here to save people not kill them!'[/i] Vito's panicked frame of mind came to an abrupt halt when he heard a few screams. A few men that had some cheap looking swords had charged the knights intent to protect Vito... it didn't end well. There were more screams as the knights started clashing with men, the one sided fight wouldn't last long. Vito started to tremble, watching as the knight captain drew his blade and approached. Vito got ready to defend himself parrying a strike the man sent his way. The ring of steel rang out for a few moments longer till the captain backed off a little. A few smoke bombs had been lobbed into the group, and a few knives had been thrown.\n “Jobs done, master.” Vito's ears rang hearing this voice. He looked over as Muffin came into view flanked by Tank and Jacky. “Were in a bad spot, when this fool pulled the guard I didn't think it was to move with the imperial knights. Damn, the Emperor wants you dead Master.” Vito looked over as suddenly more smoke went off more of the members of the shadow children guild getting involved with the battle. “You need to leave, we'll buy you time, but were no match for these guys the last time proved that.”\n\n The shit hit the fan, and fast. Muffin and her guild engaged the knights. Vito was still out of balance, he couldn't do it. He looked over to Jessica who said, “I'll help lead the evacuation.”\n “That's a sweet idea girly, but I'm afraid it's not happening.” A roguish man said stepping out of the shadows, “His Majesty sends his regards.” The man said as he rushed Vito forcing himself to defend himself from the man. “The emperor didn't get to his position letting rats scurry around under his heels, time to die filth!”\n “Bastard!” Muffin shouted as she interjected herself “So that's how you fuckers got the knights to raid us, you bent the knee to the emperor!”\n “OH like you didn't do the same cozening up to this dragon!?” The man yelled as he and Muffin were pulled into their own heated battle.\n [i]'This is bad, shit this is bad, How could I have allowed myself to get so horrifically outplayed!'[/i] Vito's mind was a chaotic mess, he was losing himself to panic and fear. He knew what needed to be done but he couldn't, he couldn't bring himself to kill. Vito watched as the smoke started to clear, he didn't even have enough time to make a move.\n “Wind magic!” Gina shouted, rushing to Vito's side. “There are mages involved too.”\n She threw up a protective shield as more magic rocketed toward Vito. Judging from the look on her face, Gina could tell who the mages were even before they showed their faces. “So, The Crazy Horse assassins guild, The top ranked mage guild code named Black Cats, and the Imperial knights, who did you piss off Vito?”\n Things were going to hell in a hand-basket, [i]'I SCREWED UP!'[/i] Vito shouted internally, [i]'How could I not have already been on the emperors radar? How could I make such a jackass rookie play!?'[/i]\n\n [i]'I HATE THEM!'[/i] Vito's mind suddenly echoed. He looked around as the battle was well and truly over before it started. With the mages countering them with magic, Muffin's ticks and that of her guild were no use, and no match for the knights. Gina stood her best before a large gathering of mages. They pelted the area with magic, her shield was holding but it was getting weaker with each hit. He looked over as the refugees now cowering behind him.\n “Hate them” a cold and sinister voice cooed in his ear. “Hate them, Kill them.”\n “WHO GOES THERE?” Dragon suddenly roared in his and Vito's shared mind-space. “Human, be careful something has invaded our mind! … Human?” The dragon looked over at Vito and what he saw chilled his blood. A creature more presence then form, hovered over his shoulder, it glared once back at the dragon. “DEMON!” The dragon roared. It laughed at him, then went back to whispering into Vito's ear\n “Wroth” it echoed over and over. Back in the flesh Vito had bent over, he was angry. He watched people being hurt. People were going to be killed, and he could not help but ponder if killing them was just or not. He features were starting to twist, his mind started to cloud all he could think was rage and anger. His features started to twist, a dark pulse here and patch of taint there. He was turning. He started mindlessly muttering the word hate over and over. It started to unsettle those around him.\n [u]“This is what you made, Storyteller”[/u]\n\n[i][u][/u][/i]\n In the higher plane as this event unfolded, the cloaked Storyteller stood. He looked over as an all to familiar voice called out to him. “I was wondering when I'd see you again Sin.”\n “[u]This is what your, grand design has brought forth.”[/u] Sin toyed, mocking the wolf. [u]“You made a hero. You gave him a few allies, You gave him some power. Than you gave him a heart of gold.”[/u] The Storyteller could almost feel the devil's presence as it then spoke into his ear, [i]“You know what's wrong with gold??? ITS SOFT!”[/i] The devil laughed mockingly.[u] “So here's my idea! You weave your story about your little hero. You give him a golden heart and i'll paint it black”[/u]\n\n Back in reality Vito's muttering had turned to insane shouts, and the sinister presence enveloping him brought the battle to an instant halt. The air was getting heavy with dread. Vito's form was starting to twist, patches of purple and black cropping up on his skin. Within, the shine of his heart was slowly being stained by an ooze of pure darkness. It happened so fast, none on the field could tell it happened before Vito was seen suddenly in front of the knights. They all jumped at his sudden appearance, and more so the absolutely blank face he currently wore. All was silent, unnaturally so till a bloody scream echoed out. Vito had jabbed his claws through the man's neck, in the blink of an eye the strike landed and blood started spewing into the air. Five more screams echoed out in unison as Vito's now more demonic form blinked around the field ripping out throats. He was covered in blood by the time he had a fist full of windpipes, than promptly dropped them. The sickening slap of meat hitting mud curdled the blood of onlookers. Vito looked more monster at that moment then anything he had faced, covered in blood and still absolutely stone faced as he glared at the knights.\n\n “No!” Jessica cried, the whole world slowed to a crawl as she latched herself to his back. Vito stopped his claws still outstretched for another attack. “This isn't you. Don't do this.”\n Vito looked at her, he saw the tears in her eyes. He heard the fear in her voice. “She's... crying...” He was pulled into his mind space. His eyes were still clouded over, but he could hear it now. The dark sinister voice whispering in his ear, cooing of rage and anger begging him to kill everything that made him angry.\n “Get off him foul creature!” the dragon roared unleashing a plum of fire on Vito forcing the creature to flee.\n Vito shook his head his thoughts slowly starting to right themselves. “Thanks dragon, you make a really good conscience.” Vito glared back at the wispy barely visible form the demon that had invaded his mind. “How long has it been here you think?”\n “No clue,” The dragon replied. He approached Vito' side bearing his fangs at the demon. “It must have been what's been throwing us off lately though.”\n “Us?” Vito asked\n “Yes us, we share a mind do we not?” The dragon said as he looked at Vito. “We are in a sense one person, true?”\n Vito's masked face had a sudden look, realization. He looked up at the dragon “And you don't remember your past?”\n “No” Dragon told him, “Whatever separated my soul from my body destroyed my memories. I remember nothing but crippling silence till you woke in the tomb.”\n Vito was lost in thought for a moment. He thought of what he was trying to do, and just how he got what he knew of ruling, of statecraft. It took, what felt, far too long till he laughed, running his hand through his hair as realization washed over him all absolutely silent as he spoke, “I'm the problem here, aren't I?”\n Vito glanced at the dragon whose face told the story. Whatever thought just crossed Vito's mind left a bad taste in the dragon's mouth. “NO, why would you do such a thing.”\n “I'm too soft. It's not just me, its human nature.” Vito said as he looked at his hand, “Who can be asked to make the call, who can ask any human to make the choice who lives and who dies?” Vito sighed then turned from the dragon. “If I am to save this world, I must use what I gained from my games; But I can't use that knowledge as a human. I was never human when i played a four X game, no i was a monster.” Vito then glared at the demon who sneered right back. “Hey dragon, you're kind likes treasures ...right?” The dragon watched a little baffled at Vito's question. “Ok, if I gave you something precious to me... would you protect it... even from me?”\n “Vito what are you asking me?” Dragon asked.\n Vito sighed deeply, “OK straight up it is.” He turned to the dragon, the look on Vito's face at the moment was a wash of fear, regret, worries and sorrow. He held his hand out to the dragon and a heart thumped in his grip. “Keep… me… human… ok?” It was the most sincere request he had ever given. The heart in Vito's hand vanished, he then turned to, and ran at the demon, “You've been fucking with my head for months now! Time to pay rent!” He yelled as he decked the demon in the face. A battle erupted in Vito's mind that shoved the dragon into his body proper. He could barely believe it himself as he looked down at his fingers, and was able to move them. The utter joy of this revelation was lost in moments when the dragon sensed something then promptly blocked a strike that had been swung at him.\n “I JUST GOT THIS BACK!” the dragon roared as he struck with enough force to cave in the armor of the man who had tried to attack him. He promptly swung his tail like a bullwhip clashing against another man behind him.\n Dragon suddenly looked up when he heard Vito's voice, pained and weak “I need time, buy me as much as you can.”\n “What happened, did you beat the demon?” Dragon asked.\n “No questions...” Vito's voice painfully said, “Buy time.”\n Dragon nodded, gripped tight his blade as he then said, “A friend has asked me for a favor and for the first time in forever I can carry it out, so who wants to die first?” Dragon plunged head first into the battle, managing to push back against the knights and draw out the doomed battle. Jessica was left behind, but could almost swear someone had just given her a head pat. Confused she looked around watching as the air itself had suddenly calmed. Even with the battle lost as it was raging, things felt too calm. She looked around she could feel something starting to grow, it was a power unlike anything she had ever felt. It felt savage, it felt wild, it felt utterly demonic, but it also felt tempered with a desire to protect. Jessica than screamed, she was lost in thought and didn’t notice the pike seconds from impaling her, but Dragon threw himself in-front of her. Dragon howled out in pain as he was run through by the pike getting stuck in him. He grabbed the man who had done it by the throat, “Bas...tard.” It wasn't too hard for dragon to throw the man into a nearby building, hard enough to shatter the wall. Dragon looked down at the pike lodged in his gut and with a firm grip on the poll started to push it through. He howled in pain as he reached back to grip the pike and pull it though, but muffin got to it first.\n She and Tank rushed over to him shouting “Master!” as they gripped the pike and pulled it though.\n Soon joined by Jessica who cried out “Vito!” looking at the horrific wound in his chest. “Oh my gods no, please no.” She looked up at Dragon and asked, “Oh, please Master there must be something I can do.”\n “Outta the way!” Gina yelled as the shoved her way up to Dragon, as the others were, mistaking him for Vito. “Not sure why the mages ran off, but can't say I'm complaining, FUCK I'm not sure I can close this with the mana I have left.” She held her hands out the glow of magic wrapping around her fingers, “Major cure wounds.”\n As Gina tried to heal Dragon, Muffin, Tank, and Jacky tried to hold the knights back. Jessica couldn't do much and was forced to helplessly watch as someone managed to stab Tank.\n “Hey how you holding up?” Vito asked Dragon.\n “I... could use a break.” Dragon told him weakly.\n\n[u][i]~Mood Music: [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtQqRvI6PF4]Vito’s Theme[/url]~[/i][/u]\n \n “Right.” Vito said “My turn” There was an explosion of magic power in the area and a black film enveloped then consumed Dragon's form. In his place stood a towering figure. Almost seven feet in height stood what clearly wasn't human. His muscles where well toned but by far not large. His long brown black tainted hair was pulled into one long tail that ran down to the mid point of his back. He was currently wearing shadows, to protect modesty, but white skin with a few purple blotches across his biceps and a few others places could be seen. Last but not least Huge demonic horns grew out of his forehead. They grew outward a few inches till the curved back over his head. And under them was the cracked mask, in the hole an almost diamond blue colored eye looked back. “I'm done running!” Vito shouted, as he reached his right hand up. “I'm done hiding, I'm threw being a coward, if Humanity is my weakness then to hell with it!” Without much effort Vito shattered the remaining mask, the shards hitting the ground. Vito Glared at the remaining knights.\n\n Back in the realm above the Storyteller bore a rather smug grin. [u]“IMPOSSIBLE!”[/u] Sin roared, [u]“He usurped Wroth, how ...wait YOU!” [/u]Sin's presence glared at the Storyteller with all the hate it could muster, [u]“You used a plot line to take one of my weapons!”[/u]\n “I did.” The storyteller replied rather matter of factly. “You think I would forget how you used it against me once already? Think I would ignore such a dangerous weapon.” The Teller smiled as wide as he could as he walked away, “Don't underestimate me.”\n\n Once more Back with Vito the newly formed demon glared at the now unnerved knights, “From behind blue eyes, a devil cometh!” He glared around for a few moments, he felt his new power coursing through him. He started stretching himself, starting with his arms, then moving to stretch his legs, “Damn feels like I've been sitting down forever.” There was the sudden sounds of men shouting in pain, Vito had almost materialized behind them then swatted them like flies. “Ooooh, I'm fast.” Three more groups of knights shouted as they were tossed like rags, Vito visible behind them for a few seconds before he had moved on to the next group. As he toyed with the knights merely testing his new body sound caught in his ears, Jessica struggling against someone who had grabbed her. Vito turned toward the sound and saw a few knights had grabbed up Jessica. “HEY!” Vito shouted, in the blink of an eye he was in front of them. “That my elf! Hands off if you want to keep 'em.” The men instantly let her go. Jessica ran behind him then stuck her tongue out at the men. Vito looked around for a moment, and noticed something. The hostile mages were gone, so too was the assassin's guild. Then came the sound of someone clapping. Vito looked over as the Storyteller himself came walking up, but now everyone was frozen in time. The young vixen from before came scampering up next to him once more giving Vito a friendly wave.\n “Good job, way to come out of your shell.” The Storyteller told him still clapping.\n “You planned this.” Vito told the wolf flatly, “So if this is all by your design, why are you here?”\n The Storyteller grinned for a moment giving the tiny Vixen a head pat, “Sara, reset.” The Vixen gave a swift nod giving both her wrist a flick as she snapped her fingers. A large ethereal clock then appeared before them, the hands started going backwards. Vito watched as the damage done by the battle undid itself. “Let the record show that I am a man who gives a fighting chance.”\n Once Sara had finished her task, Vito paused. He made sure to get a good look around, eyeing where everyone was on this new battlefield. “A fighting chance? Why are you really doing this?” Vito asked a bit of concern creeping over his visage.\n The Storyteller stopped, folded his hands behind his back, then leaned forward, “There's always a price to pay, in this case knowledge for knowledge.” The Storyteller grinned before he started to explain, “Your foe, now knows who, and how truly dangerous, you are.” Wolf glanced back for a moment till his eyes turned upward. He then turned back to Vito, flicked his forehead then said, “Heads up.” In that moment The Storyteller was gone. The young lordling was giving his proclamation and he could sense Muffin and her crew not far away, but Vito ignored them all. All jumped at the sudden demon before them besides the few who knew who he was, their memories of what happened kept intact by the Storyteller. Vito acted so fast that the explosion happened before most could blink. There was a blinding light, the deafening roar of a colossal explosion, and fire. In the moments after the event all who were still alive, stood in collective silence. dozens of mouths were left agape at what could be seen once the smoke cleared past the blood colored shield Vito somehow managed to maintain; The city... was in ruins. Sensing the danger was past Vito dropped his barrier, and then dropped down to one knee, gasping for breath.\n “wha...” Jessica stammered for a moment, the shock of what she was seeing still had yet dawned on her.\n The young lord shrieked as he fell back into the mud, many of the knights around him stood petrified.\n “No way.” one man murmured\n “What happened?” Another questioned.\n Vito recalled the split seconds he had. The Storyteller flicked his head, he looked up, saw a colossal bolt of magic aimed right at them. He barely had the time to throw up the barrier spell the Storyteller had no doubt given him. The silence was bone chilling, a major city reduced to rubble in one attack. “That son of a bitch...” Vito cursed as he gasped for breath. “He'd use a weapon of mass destruction... on his own city.”\n “Look there are survivors over here!” One man shouted once he started sifting through rubble.\n “Try to find as many as you can!” Vito yelled, many heeding his order and began searching through the rubble. Vito, after a few seconds of recovering from absorbing the impact, marched up to the knight captain and the lord of the town. He grabbed the knight captain by his chest plate and pulled him close, “You're Emperor just blew up a goddamn city!” The man's eyes widened he looked around. He didn't want to believe such a thing, but who else could hold such power; let alone be willing to fire it at a major city belonging to empire it would be an act of war. Vito let the knight go with a light shove.\n The look on the knight’s face echoed realization. He did not see the assassins, nor the mages they had come with. They had been left behind as a sacrifice to keep Vito here where this attack would hit “I did not sign up,” The man started, but he paused as he reached up to a crest on his armor, “To slaughter my own people.” He ripped the imperial crest off his armor, held it in his hand and looked at it for a moment, a sickened look of regret on his face before he dropped it in the mud. Seeing this many watched as every knight there followed suit and ripped the Imperial crest off their armor.\n Vito eyed the knight captain, who honestly looked like he was about to be sick. “Good choice.” Vito told him “You and your men will aid the search, save as many as we can.” The knight captain gave Vito a salute, then gave orders to his men. Vito walked around as to be in view of all. “Spread out and look for survivors!” There was a general condenses from all gathered as all who could from the young to the old tried to save as many lives as they could. Vito marched over to Jessica, where Gina and Muffin had also gathered. Jessica was horrified, she sank down into the mud with her hands covering her mouth. Muffin was ordering her guild to aid in the search. And Gina was doing her best to heal those she could with magic. “Gina!” Vito shouted as he walked over, “I need to be able to heal, please tell me you have a spell book for it.”\n “I have one.” The now town less lord said as he fished a book from his bag. “It... it was given to me as... an expensive gift... but I've no talent for magic, so I never bothered to read it.”\n “Thank you.” Vito told him as he accepted the book. It was as fast as Vito thought it would be, he opened the book the texted started to glow. Then in a flash the book was empty and he knew how to cast the spell. Vito started using this spell seconds later to help heal survivors.\n\n As Vito and what people he had worked on saving as many as they could. Miles away at the imperial capital stood a middle aged man, perhaps forty five years of age, still young enough but a little bit of grey hair was poking through his bread. He wore very regal robes, a light brown in base color with golds, whites, and reds mixed in. He was currently holding a staff and had it pointed in the direction of the city that was just obliterated. “Arch Magistrate?” The Emperor called out.\n To his left was a human man, roughly the same age range as the Emperor. He was currently using a spell that looked like a crystal mirror, “Direct hit your grace, the city has been devastated.”\n The Emperor nodded clacking the staff's butt on the ground, “As expected, what of the dragon?”\n “Your grace,” The arch mage told him looking into the mirror, “It happened so fast I barely noticed. But a powerful magic barrier was projected over a large portion of the cities slums. No doubt the dragons doing. I highly doubt he's dead sire.”\n “Damn!” The emperor cursed the sound of metal ringing off stone as the Emperor angrily slammed the butt of his staff on the stone beneath him. “And this spell will take a bloody fortnight to recharge.”\n Another man, judging by the armor he wore most likely an imperial general then asked, “Your grace, should I muster the troops to march on this dragon?”\n “No.” The Emperor told him sharply, “If he was able to repel a magical attack of this magnitude, he is no ordinary foe. Any men you send will be slaughtered.” The emperor clutched his staff in a rage, “I just laid low a major city in hopes of destroying a dangerous foe. I will not add to my losses by sacrificing my army.”\n “Speaking of which your grace.” The arch mage said the crystal mirror he was using now vanishing as he moved away from it, “The city, when people find out about it.”\n “They won't,” the Emperor barked. “We control the spread of news, the truth is what I say it is.” He thought about it for a brief moment before he said, “The city was destroyed in a vicious terror attack, and the dragon is the one who did it.” The Emperor then turned to his advisers and other nobles, “Spread the news as far and fast as you can, turn the Empire against this bastard!” The people around him gave a salute then left to carry out his orders. With the staff in hand the Emperor starts to walk away and back into his castle, “Today the Empire goes to war.” The emperor then walked away, and into the tower he was on top of.\n\n[i]~End of chapter\nEnd of Arc One~[/i]\n\n","writing_bbcode_parsed":"Game On
chapter 8


    That day went on as Vito figured it would. He went to a few shops selling magical items and reagents for the ritual to fix Gina. While they did that Jessica and her group of volunteers did some shopping of their own. Jessica showed her true talents in haggling and other tricks of the trade, picked up from watching her father. By the time the two met up once more Jessica was sorry to tell her master that she had spent most of his money;  a little remained though. But she had bought a great deal of food telling him no one would go hungry for some time. Vito gave Jessica a head pat upon hearing the good news, silently lamenting his now exhausted funds. 'There goes the bulk of my cash, still,' Vito watched the mood of the people. Already many looked to start cooking, and children watched with glee. 'It'll be a good investment. No doubt that these people will follow me now. You need people in order to build a kingdom. As unsavory as playing these refugees this way is, they’ll be better off in the end.'
    Vito looked around for Gina, who once spotted was preparing the materials for the ritual. She was channeling mana into a few crystals… in-between fits that was. “Where shall we do this?” He asked getting her attention.
    “We'll need a bit of room.” Gina told him, perhaps a little too excitedly “Out back would be more than enough room.”
    Vito gave her a thumbs up, “alright, get me when you're ready.” Just like a little bolt of lighting that she was out the door, an almost skip to her step. It wasn't hard to tell she wanted this affliction done with, and this hope she finally had pushed her on.
     “Shall we start cooking Master?” Jessica asked to get his attention.
    “Yes” Vito replied warmly, seeing more than a few faces light up at his response. “Whose hungry?” There were cheers as Vito gave the go ahead to start cooking.
    While Jessica and several others started cooking the meals for that night, Vito sat down. After some time he felt a tug on his sleeve. It was a young girl Vito guessing she was about six maybe six and a half, “Mr. Dragon, the magic lady says she's ready. She asked me to come get you.” She told him a cheerful tone.
    “Thank you.” Vito told her as he pat her head, tussling her hair. Following her outside, the girl lead him to Gina who had set up the ritual to cure her.
    “There you are.” She stated an eager tone to her voice. “Are you ready for this?”
    “As I will be.” He replied approaching her as he went on to ask, “What do I need to do?”
    “I’ve taken into account your relative novice mage status, I've changed the ritual accordingly,” She quickly handed him a pair of crystal marble like gems, the two filling his palms, “Hold these, one if each hand. Focus your mana on them and only them, that's all you need to do, i’ll take care of the rest; Oh and brace yourself,” She paused for a few moments, “This is going to hurt.” Vito nodded readying for the worst as Gina started the ritual. The moment it started Vito felt the surge hit him. He was thrown into his mind space as his entire being reeled from the impact. It took a moment for him to get his bearings, even under the assault of this surge of mana. The very air around him felt like an electric charge was running through it.
    He looked around his mind space, a violent storm of mana striking around him like lighting, “Holy shit.” he stammered watching the storm grow more and more violent, “This is what she has going on in her head, no wonder she can't focus her mana.”
    Vito looked back once he heard Gina's voice, it sounded distant but it was clearly coming from his mind space not one of the feeds. “Get ready, and please forgive me.” Vito could only guess what was about to happen but for a moment the storm subsided briefly; the clouds of energy angrily churning above him. It took him by surprise when it finally struck him, a bolt of raw wild mana striking his very soul. He went tense for a moment, only to cry out in pain when a second bolt struck him, then a third.
    “This is what she's been living with? This is agony!” He looked over when he heard a different cry, that of Gina. Looking around himself he finally spotted her, far off into the mind space, Gina much like him being struck by this lighting like mana. “Are you ok?” he could barely ask under the torrent of wild mana.
    She looked over to him, “N . . . no, it's never been this bad before.” Vito looked on in horror, the storm reacted almost like it had a mind of its own, and was enraged that she was trying to rid herself of it. It started striking mercilessly, her screams starting to echo all across the mind space.
    “STOP!” Vito yelled, watching as Gina collapsed under the lighting striking her, “It's going to kill her at this rate.” He looked around for a moment it had let up on him albeit slightly, but he had to draw it back force it to unleash all its fury on him; his mind was the mental fortress thanks to that mask entry. Focusing his mana into the gems he held the storm suddenly stopped, it entirely shifted to glare at Vito. The gems were acting like lighting rods as a loud and powerful dragons roar started to echo across the mind space. Almost as though a wild animal had turned its gaze on him, the storm started to unleash on him. Bolt after bolt strike after strike, Vito could only howl in pain as he absorbed the wroth of the storm, the surge no longer striking Gina at all.

    Gina finally was able to stand, only to look on in horror as the storm focused on Vito alone, “NO DON'T!” Gina watching almost helplessly as Vito forced the storm to ignore her, “its too much for one mind to bear, PLEASE pull back!” He refused, the storm unleashing bolt after bolt on him his screams reaching agonizing levels. It kept striking him bolt after bolt, not giving him a second to recover. Vito's everything hurt, he couldn't even think but something happened in that moment once the storm had started to show signs of being spent, a mask formed on his face. A few bolts struck him again and again, and the mask started to splinter, till a few large chunks of it fell away and shattered on the ground. A blue eye looked out past the half broken mask, wincing when a few more bolts struck him.
    The silence in the area was deafening at that moment, both Vito and Gina noticing the eerie stillness, till a voice echoed out, “It's not over yet, above you little mage.”
    Gina looked up and was taken aback by what she saw, “Wait what?!” Gina and Vito looked in the heart of the storm, trying desperately to recharge and reshape the storm clouds was a wispy purple creature, “A curse marker?!?”
    “Destroy it!” The deep voice boomed.
    “Ok, leave it to me.” Gina called out, a ball of mana forming in her hand till it ignited, Gina then blasting the fireball at the creature. The curse creature shirked in pain until it dissipated in a sickening black cloud of smoke. Once the creature was dead the storm clouds now spent receded. It took a moment but Gina looked around, “Its over.” there was a visible tremble to her “it's actually done!”
    It lasted a moment longer, the pair sitting in near silence, “Gina how are you holding out?” Vito asked calling out to her across the mind space.
    “As good as I can be.” She looked over at Vito noticing his face still half covered in a mask, “You?”
    Vito was about to respond but suddenly drew silent, the strange voice from before saying, “He's about to black out.” Vito couldn't move, he couldn't speak, his everything hurt. “Five, four, three, two...” Vito was down before the voice had finished counting, absolutely drained. By the time Vito came back around he found himself back in reality, laying on a bed. He looked over Jessica was sitting in a chair next to the bed, and not far away Gina was asleep as well, sitting next to the wall of the room. Vito looked over when he heard a small voice, a young boy and his little sister the kids from before he recognized. They had poked their head into the room. Vito smiled at them and held his finger up to his lips, asking them to let the others sleep.

    The two children approached Vito, the boy asking, “Good morning mister dragon, uh . . . do you need anything?”
    “Yeah, actually” Vito paused for a moment his throat felt very dry. “I could use some water, do you mind getting me some?” The two children nodded then quietly left to get him some water. Watching them leave Vito looked around for a moment, it was dawn, he could tell by the light shining through the window.
    “Ah, so you're awake. But now, the question is, can you hear me?” A strange voice called out, but Vito could not see the speaker. “I'm not out there boy.” With a slight bit of understanding Vito turned inward, to his mind space. Once in the familiar shapeless room, Vito looked around, “Ah so you can hear me now.”
    Vito looked around unable to see who was speaking, “Who's there?”
    “Behind you human.” The voice called out.
     Vito turned and fell back at what he saw, a large red dragon, “How the hell did I miss you?”
    “I could ask you the same human,” The dragon said as he brought his head down to Vito. “I would feel insulted if I wasn't more interested in finally having someone to talk to.” The dragon was large and just as Vito pictured a dragon should look like. “How does anyone miss someone as big as I am. Let alone the fact we've been together for months and you've never spoken to me. I doubt you've heard my voice at all in fact.”
    Vito sat in his surprised shock for a moment, until finally he was able to bring himself to speak. “Who are you?”
    “That's a rude question to ask the man whose body you've invaded.” The Dragon told him
    “Your body? You mean.” Vito asked confused
    “Yes my body, I am the only dragon here human.” The dragon told him.
    Vito sat in silence trying to process this, then asking once his head was more in order, “Jessica and her family found me in a tomb, if it's your body they found what were you doing there?”
    “Being a prisoner in my own flesh.” The dragon clarified. “For the life of me, I can't remember what happened to me. Whatever it was severed my soul from my body, unable to move my own flesh my people took me for dead and buried me.” He gave a quiet sigh then looking back at Vito, “Never thought I'd be so happy to see a human even when it invaded my mind and body. Just my luck it lived in a mask and could no more see me then I could control my own body.”

    A mask?” Vito asked reaching up to his face.
    “Yes, and a rather sturdy one at that.” The dragon told him, “All that wild mana unleashed on it, and all it did was crack.” Vito reached up and felt his face. He felt the left half of his face, it felt unnaturally smooth like none of the facial features he had were actually there. He then slid his hand over right, he felt a sharp edge that lead to his actual face, almost poking himself in the eye.
    “What is this?” Vito asked his confusion raising.
    “Have you never felt a mask before human?” The dragon asked as his voice boomed in the void. Vito kept feeling the mask on his face, touching around his eye till he could finally see his hand. He looked at it for a moment, it was the same hand he'd seen a million times, it was his hand, his human hand. Now able to see the edge of the mask covering his face, he moved to try taking it off, but the second he tried his entire being echoed pain; Vito forced to cry out in agony.
    It took a moment, they realized at the same moment, Vito and the dragon looked at one another, Vito asking, “So you felt that too?”
    “I did, that was agony” The dragon clarified Vito looked at the dragon, he thought of something, the dragon then saying, “Indeed, I do recall their taste. I've never had them though.”
    “Huh, so we share a mind.” Vito said aloud
    “Indeed we do, but right now it feels more like a sluggish back and forth, seems I can recall your past memories a pity I have none to share.” The dragon mused aloud.
    Vito was about to speak, but both of their heads turned when they felt something, a pulse of energy, “You felt that too right?”
    “I did,” The dragon told him, “I've been feeling that for some time now. I know not what it is, but it is sinister that's for sure.”

    The two sat there in silence for a few moments trying to figure out where this sinister aura was coming from, however their train of thought was shattered when Jessica asked, “Oh you're awake, thank the gods. You collapsed so suddenly I was afraid we'd lost you.” Vito and the dragon both turned to the feed. The girl had woken up and seen Vito sitting up in his borrowed bed. Back in the flesh space Vito looked over at her, rubbed his face briefly, then gave her a head pat. “I'm fine, how is Gina?”
    Vito looked over at the mage in question who perked up hearing her name called, “I'm fine, no far more than that really. I can think again. I can focus without that damnable tic.” Gina stopped then with a deep sigh conjured a bright, elaborate magical light. “I finally feel normal again.” She told him as a few tears welled up in the corners of her eyes, “all thanks to you.”
    “Glad to hear it.” Vito told her as he swung his legs over the side of the bad, his feet now on the floor. He looked up when he heard a pair of excited and more importantly light foot falls quickly approach the room. The two children from before came back into the room, lugging a heavy urn full of water.
    “Mister dragon.” The boy excitedly called out,
    “We got you your water!” His little sister said after.
    “Ah, Thank you little ones.” Vito told them. He accepted the jug from them, then took a deep long drink of the cold water inside. They watched him as he drank and drank... and drank, the others watching somewhat surprised at how much water he put away. He handed the children the jug once it was empty, “Thanks, damn I was thirsty.” The others looked at him a little surprised, sure he was a dragon but he just drank down an entire jug of water in moments. “What?” He asked with a confused look as he got up out of bed.
    “Are you sure you're ready to get up master?” Jessica asked
    “I'm fine.” Vito quickly told her, he got up then said however, “OK, maybe that's a lie, I'm starving.” He held his hand out to Jessica, She smiled warmly at him as she took his hand, allowing him to pull her to her feet. The small group made their way out. Having paid for it all, Vito was allowed to eat his own food rations. He had just finished a small meal when things started to happen.
    “My lord!” One of the refugee men shouted as he rushed into the room he was in. “Trouble outside sir, I think you should come take a look.” Vito nodded and grabbed up his sword. He rushed outside where a few men had grabbed up weapons, the whole feeling in the air was dangerous. The lord of the town, a tall young man, pale skin, and long blond hair stood, currently flanked by a large number of well armed and full plated men. Vito looked around as the people around him seemed panicked.
    “No way.” Vito heard one man stutter.
    “The imperial knights!?” A woman cried out.
   'The imperial knights?'Vito asked himself, now worried about what he had gotten himself into. 'What are they doing here? I was told they were on their way back to the capital city.'Vito's eyes snapped open that moment, as if realization dawned on him. 'Did the emperor send them? I'm screwed! I don't have the forces to match the fucking imperial knights.' It was at that moment Vito caught a sound. It was a light feminine giggle and the fact he heard it was unnatural. His eyes trained around till he heard it again finding the figure emitting the sound. It was a short figure, wearing a black hooded cloak, and he was sure he saw a light strawberry red furred fox tail wagging around behind. He saw a pair of Jade green eyes looking back at him, but he also saw it wave at him. He noticed how quiet it was at that moment. All the knights, the lordling commanding them, and the refugees. They were silent almost as if paused in time, but the moment he noticed he heard the giggle again and things went back to normal.
    “You there, dragon.” The lordling shouted. “By order of his majesty Emperor Maximilian Grenwald the third, you are under arrest for crimes against the crown! Men seize him!!” The man shouted as he held out a proclamation, bearing the emperor's crest stamped in wax at the bottom.
    “Forward men!” the knight captain shouted, “Capture the dragon! Kill any who interfere!” A row of pikes then dropped, the men marching on Vito. He quickly drew his sword, but shook, 'This is bad … how do I get out of this? DO I have to kill them? But I came here to save people not kill them!' Vito's panicked frame of mind came to an abrupt halt when he heard a few screams. A few men that had some cheap looking swords had charged the knights intent to protect Vito... it didn't end well. There were more screams as the knights started clashing with men, the one sided fight wouldn't last long. Vito started to tremble, watching as the knight captain drew his blade and approached. Vito got ready to defend himself parrying a strike the man sent his way. The ring of steel rang out for a few moments longer till the captain backed off a little. A few smoke bombs had been lobbed into the group, and a few knives had been thrown.
    “Jobs done, master.” Vito's ears rang hearing this voice. He looked over as Muffin came into view flanked by Tank and Jacky. “Were in a bad spot, when this fool pulled the guard I didn't think it was to move with the imperial knights. Damn, the Emperor wants you dead Master.” Vito looked over as suddenly more smoke went off more of the members of the shadow children guild getting involved with the battle. “You need to leave, we'll buy you time, but were no match for these guys the last time proved that.”

    The shit hit the fan, and fast. Muffin and her guild engaged the knights. Vito was still out of balance, he couldn't do it. He looked over to Jessica who said, “I'll help lead the evacuation.”
    “That's a sweet idea girly, but I'm afraid it's not happening.” A roguish man said stepping out of the shadows, “His Majesty sends his regards.” The man said as he rushed Vito forcing himself to defend himself from the man. “The emperor didn't get to his position letting rats scurry around under his heels, time to die filth!”
    “Bastard!” Muffin shouted as she interjected herself “So that's how you fuckers got the knights to raid us, you bent the knee to the emperor!”
    “OH like you didn't do the same cozening up to this dragon!?” The man yelled as he and Muffin were pulled into their own heated battle.
    'This is bad, shit this is bad, How could I have allowed myself to get so horrifically outplayed!' Vito's mind was a chaotic mess, he was losing himself to panic and fear. He knew what needed to be done but he couldn't, he couldn't bring himself to kill. Vito watched as the smoke started to clear, he didn't even have enough time to make a move.
    “Wind magic!” Gina shouted, rushing to Vito's side. “There are mages involved too.”
    She threw up a protective shield as more magic rocketed toward Vito. Judging from the look on her face, Gina could tell who the mages were even before they showed their faces. “So, The Crazy Horse assassins guild, The top ranked mage guild code named Black Cats, and the Imperial knights, who did you piss off Vito?”
    Things were going to hell in a hand-basket, 'I SCREWED UP!' Vito shouted internally, 'How could I not have already been on the emperors radar? How could I make such a jackass rookie play!?'

    'I HATE THEM!' Vito's mind suddenly echoed. He looked around as the battle was well and truly over before it started. With the mages countering them with magic, Muffin's ticks and that of her guild were no use, and no match for the knights. Gina stood her best before a large gathering of mages. They pelted the area with magic, her shield was holding but it was getting weaker with each hit. He looked over as the refugees now cowering behind him.
    “Hate them” a cold and sinister voice cooed in his ear. “Hate them, Kill them.”
    “WHO GOES THERE?” Dragon suddenly roared in his and Vito's shared mind-space. “Human, be careful something has invaded our mind! … Human?” The dragon looked over at Vito and what he saw chilled his blood. A creature more presence then form, hovered over his shoulder, it glared once back at the dragon. “DEMON!” The dragon roared. It laughed at him, then went back to whispering into Vito's ear
    “Wroth” it echoed over and over. Back in the flesh Vito had bent over, he was angry. He watched people being hurt. People were going to be killed, and he could not help but ponder if killing them was just or not. He features were starting to twist, his mind started to cloud all he could think was rage and anger. His features started to twist, a dark pulse here and patch of taint there. He was turning. He started mindlessly muttering the word hate over and over. It started to unsettle those around him.
  “This is what you made, Storyteller”

<Mood Music: The Devil Comes>
      In the higher plane as this event unfolded, the cloaked Storyteller stood. He looked over as an all to familiar voice called out to him. “I was wondering when I'd see you again Sin.”
    “This is what your, grand design has brought forth.” Sin toyed, mocking the wolf. “You made a hero. You gave him a few allies, You gave him some power. Than you gave him a heart of gold.” The Storyteller could almost feel the devil's presence as it then spoke into his ear, “You know what's wrong with gold??? ITS SOFT!” The devil laughed mockingly. “So here's my idea! You weave your story about your little hero. You give him a golden heart and i'll paint it black”

    Back in reality Vito's muttering had turned to insane shouts, and the sinister presence enveloping him brought the battle to an instant halt. The air was getting heavy with dread. Vito's form was starting to twist, patches of purple and black cropping up on his skin. Within, the shine of his heart was slowly being stained by an ooze of pure darkness. It happened so fast, none on the field could tell it happened before Vito was seen suddenly in front of the knights. They all jumped at his sudden appearance, and more so the absolutely blank face he currently wore. All was silent, unnaturally so till a bloody scream echoed out. Vito had jabbed his claws through the man's neck, in the blink of an eye the strike landed and blood started spewing into the air. Five more screams echoed out in unison as Vito's now more demonic form blinked around the field ripping out throats. He was covered in blood by the time he had a fist full of windpipes, than promptly dropped them. The sickening slap of meat hitting mud curdled the blood of onlookers. Vito looked more monster at that moment then anything he had faced, covered in blood and still absolutely stone faced as he glared at the knights.

    “No!” Jessica cried, the whole world slowed to a crawl as she latched herself to his back. Vito stopped his claws still outstretched for another attack. “This isn't you. Don't do this.”
    Vito looked at her, he saw the tears in her eyes. He heard the fear in her voice. “She's... crying...” He was pulled into his mind space. His eyes were still clouded over, but he could hear it now. The dark sinister voice whispering in his ear, cooing of rage and anger begging him to kill everything that made him angry.
    “Get off him foul creature!” the dragon roared unleashing a plum of fire on Vito forcing the creature to flee.
    Vito shook his head his thoughts slowly starting to right themselves. “Thanks dragon, you make a really good conscience.” Vito glared back at the wispy barely visible form the demon that had invaded his mind. “How long has it been here you think?”
    “No clue,” The dragon replied. He approached Vito' side bearing his fangs at the demon. “It must have been what's been throwing us off lately though.”
    “Us?” Vito asked
    “Yes us, we share a mind do we not?” The dragon said as he looked at Vito. “We are in a sense one person, true?”
    Vito's masked face had a sudden look, realization. He looked up at the dragon “And you don't remember your past?”
    “No” Dragon told him, “Whatever separated my soul from my body destroyed my memories. I remember nothing but crippling silence till you woke in the tomb.”
    Vito was lost in thought for a moment. He thought of what he was trying to do, and just how he got what he knew of ruling, of statecraft. It took, what felt, far too long till he laughed, running his hand through his hair as realization washed over him all absolutely silent as he spoke, “I'm the problem here, aren't I?”
    Vito glanced at the dragon whose face told the story. Whatever thought just crossed Vito's mind left a bad taste in the dragon's mouth. “NO, why would you do such a thing.”
    “I'm too soft. It's not just me, its human nature.” Vito said as he looked at his hand, “Who can be asked to make the call, who can ask any human to make the choice who lives and who dies?” Vito sighed then turned from the dragon. “If I am to save this world, I must use what I gained from my games; But I can't use that knowledge as a human. I was never human when i played a four X game, no i was a monster.” Vito then glared at the demon who sneered right back. “Hey dragon, you're kind likes treasures ...right?” The dragon watched a little baffled at Vito's question. “Ok, if I gave you something precious to me... would you protect it... even from me?”
    “Vito what are you asking me?” Dragon asked.
    Vito sighed deeply, “OK straight up it is.” He turned to the dragon, the look on Vito's face at the moment was a wash of fear, regret, worries and sorrow. He held his hand out to the dragon and a heart thumped in his grip. “Keep… me… human… ok?” It was the most sincere request he had ever given. The heart in Vito's hand vanished, he then turned to, and ran at the demon, “You've been fucking with my head for months now! Time to pay rent!” He yelled as he decked the demon in the face. A battle erupted in Vito's mind that shoved the dragon into his body proper. He could barely believe it himself as he looked down at his fingers, and was able to move them. The utter joy of this revelation was lost in moments when the dragon sensed something then promptly blocked a strike that had been swung at him.
    “I JUST GOT THIS BACK!” the dragon roared as he struck with enough force to cave in the armor of the man who had tried to attack him. He promptly swung his tail like a bullwhip clashing against another man behind him.
    Dragon suddenly looked up when he heard Vito's voice, pained and weak “I need time, buy me as much as you can.”
    “What happened, did you beat the demon?” Dragon asked.
    “No questions...” Vito's voice painfully said, “Buy time.”
     Dragon nodded, gripped tight his blade as he then said, “A friend has asked me for a favor and for the first time in forever I can carry it out, so who wants to die first?” Dragon plunged head first into the battle, managing to push back against the knights and draw out the doomed battle. Jessica was left behind, but could almost swear someone had just given her a head pat. Confused she looked around watching as the air itself had suddenly calmed. Even with the battle lost as it was raging, things felt too calm. She looked around she could feel something starting to grow, it was a power unlike anything she had ever felt. It felt savage, it felt wild, it felt utterly demonic, but it also felt tempered with a desire to protect. Jessica than screamed, she was lost in thought and  didn’t notice the pike seconds from impaling her, but Dragon threw himself in-front of her. Dragon howled out in pain as he was run through by the pike getting stuck in him. He grabbed the man who had done it by the throat, “Bas...tard.” It wasn't too hard for dragon to throw the man into a nearby building, hard enough to shatter the wall. Dragon looked down at the pike lodged in his gut and with a firm grip on the poll started to push it through. He howled in pain as he reached back to grip the pike and pull it though, but muffin got to it first.
    She and Tank rushed over to him shouting “Master!” as they gripped the pike and pulled it though.
    Soon joined by Jessica who cried out “Vito!” looking at the horrific wound in his chest. “Oh my gods no, please no.” She looked up at Dragon and asked, “Oh, please Master there must be something I can do.”
    “Outta the way!” Gina yelled as the shoved her way up to Dragon, as the others were, mistaking him for Vito. “Not sure why the mages ran off, but can't say I'm complaining, FUCK I'm not sure I can close this with the mana I have left.” She held her hands out the glow of magic wrapping around her fingers, “Major cure wounds.”
    As Gina tried to heal Dragon, Muffin, Tank, and Jacky tried to hold the knights back. Jessica couldn't do much and was forced to helplessly watch as someone managed to stab Tank.
    “Hey how you holding up?” Vito asked Dragon.
    “I... could use a break.” Dragon told him weakly.

~Mood Music: Vito’s Theme~
    
    “Right.” Vito said “My turn” There was an explosion of magic power in the area and a black film enveloped then consumed Dragon's form. In his place stood a towering figure. Almost seven feet in height stood what clearly wasn't human. His muscles where well toned but by far not large. His long brown black tainted hair was pulled into one long tail that ran down to the mid point of his back. He was currently wearing shadows, to protect modesty, but white skin with a few purple blotches across his biceps and a few others places could be seen. Last but not least Huge demonic horns grew out of his forehead. They grew outward a few inches till the curved back over his head. And under them was the cracked mask, in the hole an almost diamond blue colored eye looked back. “I'm done running!” Vito shouted, as he reached his right hand up. “I'm done hiding, I'm threw being a coward, if Humanity is my weakness then to hell with it!” Without much effort Vito shattered the remaining mask, the shards hitting the ground. Vito Glared at the remaining knights.

    Back in the realm above the Storyteller bore a rather smug grin. “IMPOSSIBLE!” Sin roared, “He usurped Wroth, how ...wait YOU!” Sin's presence glared at the Storyteller with all the hate it could muster, “You used a plot line to take one of my weapons!”
    “I did.” The storyteller replied rather matter of factly. “You think I would forget how you used it against me once already? Think I would ignore such a dangerous weapon.” The Teller smiled as wide as he could as he walked away, “Don't underestimate me.”

    Once more Back with Vito the newly formed demon glared at the now unnerved knights, “From behind blue eyes, a devil cometh!” He glared around for a few moments, he felt his new power coursing through him. He started stretching himself, starting with his arms, then moving to stretch his legs, “Damn feels like I've been sitting down forever.” There was the sudden sounds of men shouting in pain, Vito had almost materialized behind them then swatted them like flies. “Ooooh, I'm fast.” Three more groups of knights shouted as they were tossed like rags, Vito visible behind them for a few seconds before he had moved on to the next group. As he toyed with the knights merely testing his new body sound caught in his ears, Jessica struggling against someone who had grabbed her. Vito turned toward the sound and saw a few knights had grabbed up Jessica. “HEY!” Vito shouted, in the blink of an eye he was in front of them. “That my elf! Hands off if you want to keep 'em.” The men instantly let her go. Jessica ran behind him then stuck her tongue out at the men. Vito looked around for a moment, and noticed something. The hostile mages were gone, so too was the assassin's guild. Then came the sound of someone clapping. Vito looked over as the Storyteller himself came walking up, but now everyone was frozen in time. The young vixen from before came scampering up next to him once more giving Vito a friendly wave.
    “Good job, way to come out of your shell.” The Storyteller told him still clapping.
    “You planned this.” Vito told the wolf flatly, “So if this is all by your design, why are you here?”
    The Storyteller grinned for a moment giving the tiny Vixen a head pat, “Sara, reset.” The Vixen gave a swift nod giving both her wrist a flick as she snapped her fingers. A large ethereal clock then appeared before them, the hands started going backwards. Vito watched as the damage done by the battle undid itself. “Let the record show that I am a man who gives a fighting chance.”
    Once Sara had finished her task, Vito paused. He made sure to get a good look around, eyeing where everyone was on this new battlefield. “A fighting chance? Why are you really doing this?” Vito asked a bit of concern creeping over his visage.
    The Storyteller stopped, folded his hands behind his back, then leaned forward, “There's always a price to pay, in this case knowledge for knowledge.” The Storyteller grinned before he started to explain, “Your foe, now knows who, and how truly dangerous, you are.” Wolf glanced back for a moment till his eyes turned upward. He then turned back to Vito, flicked his forehead then said, “Heads up.” In that moment The Storyteller was gone. The young lordling was giving his proclamation and he could sense Muffin and her crew not far away, but Vito ignored them all. All jumped at the sudden demon before them besides the few who knew who he was, their memories of what happened kept intact by the Storyteller. Vito acted so fast that the explosion happened before most could blink. There was a blinding light, the deafening roar of a colossal explosion, and fire. In the moments after the event all who were still alive, stood in collective silence. dozens of mouths were left agape at what could be seen once the smoke cleared past the blood colored shield Vito somehow managed to maintain; The city... was in ruins. Sensing the danger was past Vito dropped his barrier, and then dropped down to one knee, gasping for breath.
    “wha...” Jessica stammered for a moment, the shock of what she was seeing still had yet dawned on her.
    The young lord shrieked as he fell back into the mud, many of the knights around him stood petrified.
    “No way.” one man murmured
    “What happened?” Another questioned.
    Vito recalled the split seconds he had. The Storyteller flicked his head, he looked up, saw a colossal bolt of magic aimed right at them. He barely had the time to throw up the barrier spell the Storyteller had no doubt given him. The silence was bone chilling, a major city reduced to rubble in one attack. “That son of a bitch...” Vito cursed as he gasped for breath. “He'd use a weapon of mass destruction... on his own city.”
    “Look there are survivors over here!” One man shouted once he started sifting through rubble.
    “Try to find as many as you can!” Vito yelled, many heeding his order and began searching through the rubble. Vito, after a few seconds of recovering from absorbing the impact, marched up to the knight captain and the lord of the town. He grabbed the knight captain by his chest plate and pulled him close, “You're Emperor just blew up a goddamn city!” The man's eyes widened he looked around. He didn't want to believe such a thing, but who else could hold such power; let alone be willing to fire it at a major city belonging to empire it would be an act of war. Vito let the knight go with a light shove.
    The look on the knight’s face echoed realization. He did not see the assassins, nor the mages they had come with. They had been left behind as a sacrifice to keep Vito here where this attack would hit  “I did not sign up,” The man started, but he paused as he reached up to a crest on his armor, “To slaughter my own people.” He ripped the imperial crest off his armor, held it in his hand and looked at it for a moment, a sickened look of regret on his face before he dropped it in the mud. Seeing this many watched as every knight there followed suit and ripped the Imperial crest off their armor.
    Vito eyed the knight captain, who honestly looked like he was about to be sick. “Good choice.” Vito told him “You and your men will aid the search, save as many as we can.” The knight captain gave Vito a salute, then gave orders to his men. Vito walked around as to be in view of all. “Spread out and look for survivors!” There was a general condenses from all gathered as all who could from the young to the old tried to save as many lives as they could. Vito marched over to Jessica, where Gina and Muffin had also gathered. Jessica was horrified, she sank down into the mud with her hands covering her mouth. Muffin was ordering her guild to aid in the search. And Gina was doing her best to heal those she could with magic. “Gina!” Vito shouted as he walked over, “I need to be able to heal, please tell me you have a spell book for it.”
    “I have one.” The now town less lord said as he fished a book from his bag. “It... it was given to me as... an expensive gift... but I've no talent for magic, so I never bothered to read it.”
    “Thank you.” Vito told him as he accepted the book. It was as fast as Vito thought it would be, he opened the book the texted started to glow. Then in a flash the book was empty and he knew how to cast the spell. Vito started using this spell seconds later to help heal survivors.

    As Vito and what people he had worked on saving as many as they could. Miles away at the imperial capital stood a middle aged man, perhaps forty five years of age, still young enough but a little bit of grey hair was poking through his bread. He wore very regal robes, a light brown in base color with golds, whites, and reds mixed in. He was currently holding a staff and had it pointed in the direction of the city that was just obliterated. “Arch Magistrate?” The Emperor called out.
    To his left was a human man, roughly the same age range as the Emperor. He was currently using a spell that looked like a crystal mirror, “Direct hit your grace, the city has been devastated.”
    The Emperor nodded clacking the staff's butt on the ground, “As expected, what of the dragon?”
    “Your grace,” The arch mage told him looking into the mirror, “It happened so fast I barely noticed. But a powerful magic barrier was projected over a large portion of the cities slums. No doubt the dragons doing. I highly doubt he's dead sire.”
    “Damn!” The emperor cursed the sound of metal ringing off stone as the Emperor angrily slammed the butt of his staff on the stone beneath him. “And this spell will take a bloody fortnight to recharge.”
    Another man, judging by the armor he wore most likely an imperial general then asked, “Your grace, should I muster the troops to march on this dragon?”
    “No.” The Emperor told him sharply, “If he was able to repel a magical attack of this magnitude, he is no ordinary foe. Any men you send will be slaughtered.” The emperor clutched his staff in a rage, “I just laid low a major city in hopes of destroying a dangerous foe. I will not add to my losses by sacrificing my army.”
    “Speaking of which your grace.” The arch mage said the crystal mirror he was using now vanishing as he moved away from it, “The city, when people find out about it.”
    “They won't,” the Emperor barked. “We control the spread of news, the truth is what I say it is.” He thought about it for a brief moment before he said, “The city was destroyed in a vicious terror attack, and the dragon is the one who did it.” The Emperor then turned to his advisers and other nobles, “Spread the news as far and fast as you can, turn the Empire against this bastard!” The people around him gave a salute then left to carry out his orders. With the staff in hand the Emperor starts to walk away and back into his castle, “Today the Empire goes to war.” The emperor then walked away, and into the tower he was on top of.

~End of chapter
End of Arc One~

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