Dancing with an Oni

Clang. Clang. Clang. The sound drowned out the world as tempered steel was forced to be shifted, changed, and made into a sharp edge. Flares of orange lit up in Wyll's eyes as the hammer was brought down, the scattering of sparks illuminating the back of the forest as the club sped toward him. He held his breath as a string of information rang in his head, the club gaining a sort of an outline as time seemed to slow.

[[Kanabō, blunt heavy weapon type. Rarity: Rare. Name: Unknown. Wielder: Unknown. Size: Six foot long]]

Wyll was confused, brow furrowing as he quickly dropped to his knees, narrowly avoiding the decapitating swing as it cleaved through the large cedar tree. The groaning crack of the wood, the alluring scent of the flesh of the wood, Wyll's blood pumping as the copper taste and smell of his own blood overwhelmed his senses. This wasn't anything like Wyll's training; life and death were a fine line to walk, a true battle for survival as the bandit began to recover from his swing.

The massive studded club of iron began to slow, the sizeable greasy man slowing the club with his strength as Wyll dashed forward to close the gap. A smile crossed the man's face as he twisted his body, the Kanabō regaining inertia as the bandit brought the club over his shoulder and slammed it down. The clanging stopped as the forge's flames began to dull with heat as a cold began to creep in, the once glowing hot forge seemed to cool quickly.

The hiss of the blade being quenched sent the flames of the forge ablaze as they slowly came back to life. Wyll's blood ran cold as he panted, a silver thread slowly illuminating the night; leading Wyll as he trusted the ethereal thread, narrowly dodging the Kanabō's destructive crater. He struck out with his fists, planting them in the man's chest, causing Gideon to grunt. Gideon quickly shrugged off the blows, grunting as he pulled the Kanabō from the crater he had left from the force of the swing as he placed the two-handed club on his shoulder. He reeled back, hands balled into a fist as he brought it to the boy's jaw, hoping that Midori Oni would provide him with the strength boost to take Wyll's jaw clean off.

The meaty thwack met Gideon's ears instead of the crushing crunch of blunt dismemberment, Wyll catching the blow with both hands. Blood began to spill from the split skin on Wyll's hands, blood painting the forest floor as Wyll gasped for air, his breathing ragged thanks to the broken ribs as pain seared into his body. Wyll transferred his grip from the mitigated blow to Gideon's wrist as he tossed his opponent over his head. Gideon lost balance, his world spinning as he hit the dew-covered floor of the forest with a dull thud as the air in his lungs was forced out. A pained gasp leaves the heavy bandit as he struggles to regain his breath, but Wyll hasn't had his fill, knowing that the man is more than capable of getting up.

Wyll brought his foot up before slamming his heel into Gideon's face, stomping the man's face in as thoroughly as he could, wanting to make sure that his opponent wouldn't be getting back up any time soon. Blood splattered, bones cracking under each crushing blow of Wyll's foot as Gideon's face became a bloody mush. Blood spatters the Kanabō as a miasma of green emanates from the Weapon, a dull heartbeat beginning to stir to life as the Weapon begins to shake some.

[[Kanabō, blunt heavy weapon type. Rarity: Rare. Name: Midori Oni. Wielder: Unknown. Size: Six feet long. Abilities: Oni's Kanabō, Green Rampage]]

Wyll flinched as he saw this, turning to look at the Weapon still embedded in the ground as the miasma encased the weapon; a foreboding chill crept up Wyll's spine as he stepped towards the Kanabō, reaching out nervously. Gideon's heart began to race, rage welling up from the deepest pits of his being as he began to stand. Deep darkness engulfed him, his pain had disappeared, but his vision was gone; he knew where his Weapon was as he reached out and stumbled closer with an outreached hand, knowing his saving grace would be his Weapon.

Before Wyll even realized what had happened, he watched the man reach past him, grabbing the handle of the Kanabō and pulling it from the ground before letting off a monstrous roar, shaking Wyll to his core as he felt unable to move as his body refused to breathe. He looked back at Gideon, the bandit's eyes swollen shut, his face a bloody pulp and smashed to pieces. He could see glints of pure white eyes in the bloody pulp left of a face as veins bulged all across his body, lifting the iron club with a single hand before beginning to swing wildly with no direction as he roared out in spite. The man's swings were unpredictable and powerful, forcing Wyll away as he quickly began to assess the careless swings.

The silver thread had disappeared, Wyll began to panic as the heat of the forge quickly faced, and the sound of the hammer had ceased, the forge growing colder by the second. He could only hear his heart as his breath picked up in a panic. He didn't know what to do; the bandit began to step closer as he forced Wyll to dance between the heavy swings, each one narrowly connected with Wyll, but there was no time to close the distance. A strike grazes Wyll's shoulder as he grunts in pain, and the shoulder pad is shredded, the fabric of his shirt torn apart and the impact of the blow almost debilitating. Gideon quickly places both hands on the Kanabō, his swings picking up with power as each one demolishes bits of his armor, each one beginning to hone in on his exact location.

A wellspring of emotions began to swell in Wyll, his heart racing as his breath grew even flimsier. He needed an escape, a way to knock out or kill Gideon, lest he would be made into a fine paste by the club. His head became a muddled mess of thoughts and emotions; hopelessness began to build up as Wyll cried out as he screamed out in a mess of overwhelmed emotions. Gideon saw for a brief moment as his rampage began to clear, grey eyes quickly filled with flames. A blue glow filled those dull grey eyes with flames of purpose. As if an unseen force was repelling Midori Oni, intricate patterns of glowing blues, red, oranges and yellows painted Wyll's skin as suddenly the club was sent flying. The darkness took Gideon as he watched an ethereal Weapon form, feeling an undefined blade pierced his body, impaling his heart as it took its last beats before falling still.

Wyll smelled and tasted metal, feeling his body surge with foreign strength and energy as blood began to spill from his nose. As quickly as the strength had filled him, it faded just as steadfast from his body as he let out a withheld breath before suddenly crumpling into a mess. The unseen blade clattered to the ground as Wyll lost his grip, dissipating as it grew still.

Gaemo was scared, his heart racing as the Dragoons hurriedly searched the forest. An injured Beastkin cub had come sobbing into the camp, screaming that a boy matching Wyll's description needed help, that he was in danger with bandits. Everyone quickly suited up and armed themselves before heading into the forest. They had been searching for hours, trying to find their star prodigy, the beloved son of the mercenaries, fearing the worst had become of Wyll and the bandits had dragged him off or possibly even worse. Gaemo was sick to his stomach, sweat beading on his skin and his blood felt like ice as he ran about looking for any sign of his baby boy before some men began shouting they had found him.

Everyone converged on Wyll to find a gruesome sight. Wyll and a bandit, both batted and bloodied, with one key difference between the two, Wyll was still breathing if only barely. Everyone was shocked as each of them was quick to identify the man, Gideon the Green Demon. A notorious bandit, a known killer, trafficker, and stain on humanities history. What was shocking was that Wyll killed a rare Weapon Wielder of such infamy. Gaemo shakily approached, carefully picking up Wyll to get him back to camp; his expression hardened, and he looked to his men, the face of their calm leader returning though panic was still in his eyes.

"Get Gideon and drag him to camp. As for his Weapon, carefully bring it back to camp so that the Apostles of the Forge can reclaim the Weapon. Quick on your feet people, sunrise is just around the corner, and today is still a massive day!"

He shouted out, his voice cold and harsh as he commanded his men. None of them held it against him as they knew the captain was trying to remain their leader as tears streaked down his face, fear seeping into his being for his son's injuries.

[[Midori Oni]]

Type: Blunt Heavy Weapon

Rarity: Rare

Weapon: Kanabō

Wielder: Gideon Thorn

Abilities: Oni's Kanabō, Green Rampage, Reckless Abandon

[[Oni's Kanabō: passive ability that is always active when Weapon is equipped. Wielder's strength is doubled, allowing for the Weapon to be used with ease.]]

[[Green Rampage: When the Weapon feels it necessary it will further increase the Wielder's strength to four times at the sacrifice of cognitive functions for the duration]]

[[Reckless Abandon: A series of quick and powerful strikes in front of the Wielder, broad strikes meant to push an enemy back or ensnare them in the flurry. Once an opponent is stuck, the strikes become more precise before ending with a pinpoint accurate blow.]]