A Game of Gods: A Multiversal Challenge

"...So you're Ravage..." Kimimaro said, looking at the mechanical being that had stalked into the room. "I looked over some of the combat footage from previous Challenges. Your skills are rather impressive."

Rey responded in as cheerful a voice as one could imagine. "Thank you, Ravage, that is very thoughtful of you. We'll be sure to give Dis Baba some time to calm down before we approach him. We very much appreciate it."

Spriggan eyed Ravage only. He tried to look for the trainers and sighed after he realized that they weren't around.

Found his hatred, has he?

—The Turian idly inquired as he watched the entrance into the dark hallway.—

"Glad you appreciate it," the panther replied, his tone making it seem as if they were discussing something as trivial and unimportant as the weather. "Seriously, do not come within three meters of him; unlike Cybertronians, it is somewhat difficult for you organics to remain functional when your heads aren't attached."

With his warning thus delivered, all amicability immediately disappeared from the Predacon's tone as he glanced at this white-haired human youth. "As expected of an agent of the Predacon Secret Police. You have me at a disadvantage; who are you, human?"

"That does remind me..." Rey stood from the couch, glancing around, trying to locate the Engineer.

"My name is Kimimaro, last surviving member of the now-otherwise-extinct Kaguya Clan. I am a Jonin-level shinobi, formerly of the Sound Village until I learned shortly before being brought here how that my old leader, whom I practically worshipped, saw me as but another disposable pawn. I was made a Challenger shortly before the most recent Challenge, where we infiltrated the homeworld of the Combine Empire who laid waste to Dr. Freeman's homeworld." He smirked lightly. "We bullrushed through their armies, infiltrated a structure that held a very volatile power source, and Dr. Freeman destabilized said power source, leading to the utter destruction of that planet and every single Combine on or near it. Unless they had presence on other planets, the Combine is now extinct."

He concentrated, and a holo-screen popped up about a foot and a half in front of Ravage's face, showing various clips from the Challenge, including demonstrations of Kimimaro's abilities and Kimimaro's explanation to Narumi during said Challenge. Any amongst the present Challengers who had not heard Kimimaro's explanation got that clip played for them as well.

edited 16th Mar '11 8:09:21 PM by DKN117

The Doctor just keeps downing beers. "And that's 3! Man I forgot how helpful these are!"

"What are your abilities, Kimimaro?" Red asked.

"You alright there?" Spriggan asked the Doctor.

Since no-one's bothering to go back several pages and read...

COPII-PAISTU TAIMU!!!

"My bloodline ability allows me to manipulate my skeletal structure. I can form various tools from my bones, though nearly always I use it to make weapons - usually swords and spikes. The sword I currently hold, for instance, is two modified humerus bones. My abilities allow me to create bone that is stronger than tempered steel, and able to cut or pierce through nearly anything. I can also fire modified fingertip bones as projectiles with very high piercing power. I can also generate entirely new bone that is not part of the standard skeleton - thick spikes from the palms of my hands, a drill (as some of you saw earlier against those Striders), etc. My healing factor means that any bone that is extracted for use as a weapon grows back within seconds, and any damage to my flesh or other soft tissues also heals rather quickly. I can also form a layer of protective ultra-hardened bone just beneath my flesh as a sort of internal armor. Lastly, the Cursed Seal I possess, " he opened his shirt, revealing the mark below his neck, "when activated, drastically increases my strength and durability. I am an accomplished swordsman, am skilled in both direct combat and infiltration & assassination, and am, simply put, very difficult to kill. Though I am by no means immortal; decapitation, incineration/vaporization, poison, drowning - all could kill me; also, my first death was from a particularly nasty strain of tubercolosis."

edited 16th Mar '11 8:19:31 PM by DKN117

Ravage nodded idly, half-listening to the boy's explanation; when Kimimaro was done, the Predacon lifted a casual paw and swatted at the screen. Although his claws simply passed through the hologram and thus had no real effect on the image itself beyond disrupting it for a few seconds, his dismissal of the boy's accomplishments was made perfectly clear by this callous gesture.

Without further commentary, the transmetal panther padded away, keeping his thoughts to himself. Though he refused to admit it, for some reason the boy's story seemed to resonate with him, particularly the undying loyalty to his master; that he had been so readily discarded had put Ravage on edge. Megatron had died long before the Civil War had reached its conclusion and the Autobots and Decepticons had accepted the Great Upgrade into Maximals and Predacons; had the war gone differently, and Megatron emerged triumphant, would his master have...

Abruptly the Predacon shook himself. No, no! That is a ridiculous notion, Ravage; do not countenance it. There was never a servant of the Decepticon cause more loyal or efficient than you, not even Soundwave; Megatron would never throw you away.

The Doctor nods. "UH HUH! I'm just drinking out the stress... of life... and these games..."

"You use your bones as weapons? That...sounds both cool, gross, and strange at the same time!" Red said.

"It's called a kekkei genkai - near-literally translated, it means 'bloodline limit'. Essentially, it's a unique hereditary ability that cannot be taught to or copied by others."

"Alright..."

Spriggan raised an eyebrow. "Just hope you don't get drunk."

He sat on the nearest sofa near the Doctor, checking and clearing his weapons of any problems such as malfunctions or any signs of jamming.

"I'm underage" Kimimaro replied. "I have been told by many that I look and act older, but technically I am only 15 years old." He paused. "Not counting the three years that I spent being dead."

edited 16th Mar '11 8:32:22 PM by DKN117

"So...you're the only one left who knows how to do that?" Red asked.

"The rest of my clan were blood-crazed maniacs who sought only to kill and kill, revelling in bloodshed; they cared not whose blood was shed - enemies, allies, civilians, their own. They were genocidal madmen who foolishly attempted to slaughter an entire town... that was crawling with high-rank shinobi. I was the only survivor, and then only because I very quickly grew tired of the senselss slaughter. I sought something... more... out of life. I despise unnecessary killing. Oddly enough, despite being pretty much the clan's only pacifist I am the most powerful and skilled Kaguya in the clan's entire recorded history. Odd how things work out like that. Theoretically, since the ability's genes are dominant, if I were to escape these Nomads, find my way back home, and sire a child, my bloodline would be spread, and my clan could perhaps be restored. In fact... from now on, that is my goal: rebuild the Kaguya Clan, but as a peacekeeping force and to defend those who cannot defend themselves, to leave our bloodthirsty past behind forever."

edited 16th Mar '11 8:40:47 PM by DKN117

"Wait, didn't you say you died? How'd you come back?" Red asked, again.

Rey stopped his search after just a couple seconds, shrugging inwardly to himself...the Engineer would approach him soon enough when the armor was ready. Instead, he walked over to the ring, but for once, didn't immediately climb into it, simply standing and staring up at it, one hand resting lightly on his waist, the other fiddling absently with the fastener on his mask.

Spriggan got up from the couch. "I'll be in the armory if anyone wants me."

He began to walk to the armory, approaching before he opened the door and got in to close the door behind him.

Kimimaro looked solemn. "...Edo Tensei"

He took a deep breath. "Impure World Resurrection. A forbidden technique that violates the laws of nature. The user sacrifices a living - and unwilling - person as a vessel to resurrect a deceased person. Said "zombie" is then forced to do the user's bidding, often while being fully aware of what they're doing but having no control whatsoever of their bodies. My old master's former second-in-command summoned me and around two-dozen other deceased shinobi of high power and forced us - well, those of us who weren't quite willing to fight against Kabuto's current enemies, and there were more than a few - to fight for him. There was, however, a way to break the technique's hold on the summoned soul: to give that soul emotional closure. I got that with the help of my dear friend Juugo and his new ally, Naruto Uzumaki. That boy... hmph. He has a way of using the light of his soul to burn away the darkness that clouds many people's hearts. He helped free me, and in my final moments I instructed Juugo to watch over him. I can tell that boy... no, that man, will make a truly great leader. After the Edo Tensei lost hold of me, I presume that these Nomads caught hold of my liberated soul and forced me into this predicament."

"Right now, if you include the Edo Tensei, I am on my third life. ...First from tuberculosis, then from being made an undead slave... perhaps this life's eventual end will be more dignified."

edited 16th Mar '11 8:53:14 PM by DKN117

Rey hopped up to sit on the edge of the ring, then moved to the center, sitting down cross-legged again, head down slightly. His heavy consideration continued.

Spriggan placed his weapons on the long table, pondering over their previous situation as he sat down to relax.

"First of all, I need to work and get a better weapon."

He placed the beret underneath the BDU's left shoulder strap. The teen closed his eyes to think on what to do for the next challenge while he chose not to attend the next one after helping Gordon defeat the Combine.