A beast of burden (OPEN)

[Ayen]

Z-Rah held up his hand and generated an energy field from it that protected him from the incoming mace.

“Can you find the Promise Land?”

Once again the demon released toxins out into the air to poison the human form of Clash where he stood. Should he once again choose to change back into the giant metal shark Z-Rah would change tactics back to the rusting to wear him down.

Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.

[Clash]

Clash threw up, sticky viscous liquid pooling on the ground. The amount of momentum he had behind himself having stopped so abruptly caused his stomach cavity to evacuate itself. He saw pieces of grit and little red chunks on the ground, leftovers from his visit to Moon Valley. He tore a long strip from the shirt under his jacket and wrapped it around his head and mouth repeatedly. He didn't have time to urinate onto it so he couldn't make a proper filter against the gas, it worked though, at least for now.

His mind raced, this talk of the promised land, of what was set in motion only escalating... Damn interesting stuff. If they survived the encounter he'd keep Z-Rah close, like some kinda sadistic living radio. Then again if he survived this he'd probably take a day to relax, probably with at least one of the local babes. His eyes darted over to Ranko and her Entourage, did they expect him to kill this being? He hoped so, Z-Rah was damn well asking for it.

He began to wheel the mace around quickly, throwing blow after blow, trying to bludgeon through his little energy barrier and start dealing some damage to the meat within. He felt his strength redoubling as his adrenaline glands worked into overtime, the poison was an issue though. He had a good dozen seconds or so of bludgeoning before he'd need to change back or start succumbing. "I'll be sure to let you know if I do, prat!"

[Ayen]

“They do not believe in the approaching threat.”

Z-Rah continued on with his rambling that made sense to only him, but not impossible for the human mind to discover the hidden meanings. His body was not bounded by the laws of physics, nothing to hold his feet down to the ground or cause him to float up into space, his body remained stuck in the inbetween as he evaded the swings of the mace. The toxins continued to flood the area around Clash.

“They do not believe there is anything to fear.”

The toxins began drifting through the air in a strange way. Instead of it threatening to consume all of Jherrazad it remained around Clash. Wherever he moved, the toxins would followed. Wherever he hid the toxins would give away his position. It would not let up unless Z-Rah demanded it. Z-Rah knew that Clash did not have the time to create a proper filter. That in a waiting game Z-Rah had the clear advantage. How much longer could he hold out against the demon?

“They are wrong.”

[Clash]

They were wrong... Well Clash was wrong about not peeing on his cloth, a sudden pain lanced through his lungs followed by a boiling sensation in his stomach. The toxins were kicking in, he couldn't hold out any longer. He had to change back once more, the sounds of heavy metal plates scraping together as he reformed into his massive mechanical form. This time he'd be ready. That power might be able to corrode away his outer shells but he'd work faster. His two Rayz detached from his body as he rushed at Z-Rah, the man was remaining incorporeal but he decided to see how a specter could withstand his massive maw.

"aaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"

The Rayz hit the ground, looking like large and ornate chunks of discarded armor as the Megalodon opened his giant mouth, linked metal tendrils extending out and lashing forth, attempting to grab Z-Rah in any way with their metal barbs as the ginormous mouth of the shark-monster drew closer, threatening to completely engulf the demon in one massive bite.

[Ayen]

“Enough!”

Z-Rah was gone. Vanished into thin air before Clash’s attack could finish. There wasn’t a single trace evident from his appearance. Even the toxins that surrounded the area was gone, as if it just evaporated into nothingness. All that remained was Clash, Ranko and Alexander as the people who were evacuated from the area before the demonstration was being led back by the statue guards under Z-Rah’s command.

“I’ve seen all I need to make a decision.”

The Crimson Devil approached the large shark, drawing Kasul, the demon blade. Clash would feel a very strong presence radiating off of it, stronger than even Z-Rah. Ranko held Kasul up and then looked towards the headlights that were the behemoth’s eyes.

“Kneel.”

Clash was to be knighted.

[Clash]

"Wha?"

Clash stopped, turning his head, actually hopping on place trying to find Z-Rah as he looked all around angrily. "Where are ya? Where are ya?" Then it sunk in, Ranko's words got to him and he stopped. He'd done enough it seems. Thank whatever god giant monster sharks worship! That Z-Rah was something else and was more than a match for him. Clash's Ray's floated off the ground and loudly reattached to his body as he dropped down to one knee with a loud, dull "CLUNK." He lowered his head until his chin was on the ground, red eyes focusing on Ranko. He'd need to get used to her being in charge.

"My Lady..." He used the antiquated honorific for noble women in his homeworld.

[Ayen]

Ranko tapped Kasul on both sides of the behemoth known as Clash’s head as she spoke softly, yet still with the same tone of authority that she always carries around in her voice.

“I dub thee, Sir Clash, a knight of Jherrazad.”

Kasul began glowing a bright red color before Ranko resheathed the demonic blade.

“You may rise.”

[Clash]

"Sir Clash, I like it."

Clash rose his head slowly, his arms raising next as his legs braced themselves properly. He strained up until he was at his full height, raising his body up to near his full length, almost 15 feet in the air, his tail curled softly, dragging its massive blade loudly back and forth over the cobblestone of Jherrazad. He was a knight now, a knight of a demon kingdom. A bit of a step down from a destroyer of worlds but Demon Knights get paid better. That's why all the snobby types go for the job.

"What is thy bidding, Mistress?"

Mistress Ranko... that just sounds hot.

[Ayen]

“You’re to assist the citizens of Jherrazad in the rebuilding of our country. When we need you in battle you shall be called upon.”

Ranko turned around and began heading back to the black tower that overshadowed the rest of the empire, Sir Alexander at her side. Jherrazad, while now small thanks to her younger sister’s intervention, was starting to slowly rise back up to the top as one of the strongest nations on Jherra and as a rival to Isafaro. They have acquired a new army through Z-Rah, conquered Death itself and commanded it as a slave and now they recruited a sheer powerhouse in the form of Clash.

Jherrazad was on its way out of the ashes.

The End