What was it about the drab and dreary that brought such an overflowing sense of nostalgia. Warmth erupted from the very core of his being, embracing every inch of his innards until the flames themselves weren't a match for his heat. Perhaps it had been the stench of death that lingered about. The thought of mangled corpses of innocent girls bringing the utmost about of joy to his heart.

...He'd have to save his reminiscing for another time however, he was to embark on a quest of less-than-epic proportions..

The mud sought to encase his feet in it's influence, specks of brown appearing on his jet black shoes. He chuckled slightly, a pleasant visage upon him as he continues forth. "It's too bad Mud isn't a woman, I can't love it in this form; lest I love Gaia herself and that's a bit too much of a task for me." Stalking the landscape, he eventually found himself before the entrance. Within his peripheral he'd noticed a female silhouette seemingly distraught. With the potential of love in the air, he hastened his movements in an attempt to catch up with her.

Whilst approaching her, she'd spoken about the beauty of the manor; good, he'd use that as a conversation starter. Putting on his best expression, adopting only the most useful personally traits, and removing any disdain he may have for her he began phase one.

Engage.

He'd taken note of a plethora of gravestones and docile zombies about as the swiftly followed behind. This was apart of a quest was it not? Why hadn't she proceeded? Furthermore, he was on the same quest, he should've used this as an opportunity to get her attention. Regardless, he would play it cool and catch up to her for now; displaying his skills can come by later.

"Captivating is it not?" He soon found himself standing by her side "That such darkness can bring about such..beauty?" His head turned to face her "Y'know, a lot of people don't take the time to appreciate these kinds of places! Maybe it's because their too scared or something, I don't know; I think it's kind of romantic." As the description of the quest flashed before him, he turned to face a healthy amount of zombies who'd seemed less-than-impressed with their arrival. 

"Uh oh, looks like we're in a bit of trouble, huh? Hey! I think we can take em!" He withdrew his dagger, a malicious grin behind the docile one "Don't worry though..If you aren't strong enough, I'll protect you!" Let the games begin.   

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Something about this specific individual was off, and not in the traditional sense. He'd known he wasn't the manifestation of perfection himself - however, she set of a string of thoughts that beckoned a much more cautious approach to their relationship. First and foremost . . "Is she arguing with her hand?" he thought to himself. He'd known she mentioned the incoming threat and that was important and all however . . "There is no mistaking it, I definitely witnessed this." Upon confirming this fact, he was able to easily transition to the other topics of discussion; he'd save that one for later. 

"I've always fancied the old films in which two people attacked a horde of monsters while watching each other's backs, so let's go with that." Of course, the motive of this being so that he could observer her skills in combat and determine what he would have to do to subdue her in the future. "Should we need to split them up? We can do so when the moment calls for i--" Before he could finish speaking, he'd noticed a zombie rush the two of them; more specifically aiming for the girl. Stepping forward, he'd placed his hands in his pockets as he'd begun to activate one of three skills. 

A widening grin now struck his visage, pupils shrunk as the true nature of his being exposed itself in the form of a gaze. As this gaze fell before the zombie it ceased in motion; seeming relatively concerned more so scared by this opposing force. Keeping that fear in mind, it attempted to attack once more; tripping over itself and ultimately failing. He made use of this opportunity to lunge forward, his blade dipping down and cleanly sliding through the windpipe of the enemy. 

Immediately after, the zombie's body exploded into nothingness, their exp bars rising as Jack wiped the blood that now coated his face. "Phew, that was a close one. You could've gotten in some real trouble, you know?" Now positioned to strike once more, he looked on to the zombies who'd witnessed his attack yet proceeded to move forward regardless. "I hope you're ready, this is going to be fun."

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Blades of grass . . 

Elegantly they dance in this wind, unmoved; existence in itself beckons to their call. The world could cease, time bestilled yet they still swayed. Truly, such a sight could be found as admirable. Of course, this hadn't been any different. Before him was a woman whose movements closely mimic'd these blades of grass; something he hadn't planned on with the plethora of plans conceptualized. However, as well as this, yet another surprise laid in store. 

Whilst others perceived this to be ferocious, primitive even, he viewed it in another light. From zombie to zombie she moved, effortlessly severing her opponents like a well-oiled machine. Undoubtedly, she'd been no stranger to the crimson art. One wondered exactly what her past was prior to joining this game. 

. . Another time perhaps, more interesting events have yet to occur. 

For a moment, she appeared fatigued. As promised, he motioned to step in and aid her -- yet what he witnessed next . . he would never forget. She lunged forward, teeth ripping into the throat of the zombie as she began to feast upon it; consuming bits of it no quicker than one consumed dinner.

"You...are beautiful.." A blush, woven by wickedness stretched across this tainted canvas. "Absolutely splendid work, my dear." Maliciousness now exuded from his frame, the pleasant visage drenched in plastic now melting from it's host. Those tired eyes, endlessly searching for love returned; the beast inside no longer capable of restraining itself.

 "Am I crazy to say this is love at first sight? I'm finding myself speechless before you. With you, I can amplify my love, truly display it to those deserving of such." His tongue dragged across his lips, now standing in front of the woman who desperately consumed this less-than-pleasant meal. 

"You...are an asset I must acquire. As such, it would be my honor to protect you, oh beautiful creature." A zombie launched itself forward, Jack stomping his foot on the ground as an upwards swipe would leave the zombie - from his windpipe up to the tip of his skull, splitting open and collapsing to the ground. 

"There we are..much more lovely that way." 

More approached, more met with the same fate. He sought to display his own skills before the queen of consumption, communicate with her in a language only they could fathom. Within the oncoming rush of zombies had been one in particular, a beautiful expression with a seemingly fragile frame. It took him no time to rid himself of the others, she alone standing before him. 

"With you, my love will blossom." His blade erupted in a deep black, the blade sliding across her stomach as the monster quickly fell to it's knees. Suddenly, it adopted a more humanistic expression, tears running down it's cheeks as it's gaze seemed focus upon him. "Shshshshhhh, hush my love, the warmth has yet to come."

It began with a stab in the eye, scooping it out as he held it in his hand. "Well that won't do.." He had turned it to face Akane "You must only have eyes for me." Multiple sounds of stabbings and slices could be heard as other various body parts had been ripped from the zombie; it eventually puffing into a cloud of smoke and EXP as tears cascaded down his visage. 

"Not again.. I have been dumped, yet again." It started with one, then two, then three, slamming his hands on the ground as he screamed at essentially nothing. Silence then fell, his body frozen as his head feverishly turns to face Akane. "You must forgive me, my dear. As you can see, I don't entirely take break ups very easily." He stood back up, the next horde of zombies soon to approach "I take it you're well rested now? Good, we've got a job to do."

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Romance exuded from this scene watched from a bird's eye view. The brutality of ripping limb from limb waltzing with the eloquence of a thin blade swiftly slicing flesh into ribbons. Love of a different kind rushed through his being; the crimson adrenaline of a higher power. He couldn't have thought to be anywhere else but here, with the Queen of Consumption. 

. . Working title, he'd figure out something more unique as time passed. 

Moving on, she appeared to be relatively fine after a "good meal". In the least, he hoped it was filling if not satisfactory. He also pondered what kind of inner workings resided within her for her to be able to effortlessly consume the flesh of the forsaken. Perhaps he'd ask her after all was said and done,  yeah? 

She spoke of his use of knives and began comparing it to her own. A light smile met with her words as he began to spin it with his fingers; unafraid of the consequences that may follow. "Personally, I think you'd do better without a weapon. Rather..." he paused, maliciousness seeping from his dialect "..your body is the only weapon you need." 

As she ruthlessly stomped upon the zombie's skull, he chuckled excitedly before turning his attention back to her; the lass mentioning a friend of hers whose interests aligned with his own. "Oh, is that right? Well, I'd love to meet him after all this is over. Maybe the three of us can chat over some food and tea." Wait, did Cannibals even drink tea? "Or . . . whatever it is you might prefer. I shouldn't be so hasty as to assume what food you may or may not enjoy." 

Following this, she sprung right back into action, Jack watching in amazement as she ferociously tore through anything that came before her. Truly, she would become an extreme asset in the future; the thought of tossing failed relationships to her like meat to dogs clouding every inch of his mind. He rejoined the fray, his blade stroking the rotten canvas that was their flesh as he continued their conversation. 

"Hey," The crunch of the blade dragging up the wind pipe could be heard "We should add one another after this, I think I've begun to enjoy your company." That was a lie, he fell in love the moment he witnessed her skills. "Besides, if your friend is anything like you, I can foresee a very beneficial relationship for us in the future." As he kicked the zombie from the blade it fell to the ground, it's helpless eyes gazing up at him prior to the blade crashing down into them. 

"Of course, you take your time in thinking it over. I won't force you into adding me or anything, I know that exclusivity has it's benefits too." 

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A sea of red washed over the once tainted lands, purifying it with the holiest of crimson. Their struggle seemed nigh-endless, waves upon waves of forsaken meeting the wrath of their blades. While this romantic getaway was pleasant and all, he'd grown a bit tired of the repetition. With this in mind, he'd dealt a final blow to a lone forsaken; looking towards the woman loud enough for her to hear him. 

"As fun as this has been, I'm quite certain there is a source to all of this." Another straggler, swiftly thwarted by his blade "Some kind of hive mother, a monster spawner, a larger zombie, something that's keeping these things coming. I suggest we open a path and attempt to end this once and for all." 

He'd been thinking on it for some time, a way to end this quest. If destroying waves had been the main objective, he figured there'd be details of such on his GUI - however, there hadn't been a sign of such since. That must've meant something bigger existed here, that they were simply wasting time by going after this smaller game. Something more troubling lurked deeper within this area, possibly at the back of the wave; maybe deeper inside the manor itself. He hadn't known for sure, but pursuing the boss was certainly a better waste of time than this. 

"Unless you'd rather stay here, in which case, I won't stop you."

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And so it had been decided between the two to ditch the endless bloodshed and aim for something a smidge more beneficial. He hadn't entirely intended to be elected the leader of this endeavor - however, he hadn't particularly minded it either. A few factors came to mind when deciding the next course of action; factors that if not pondered carefully? Could spell their doom.

"It's heavily cliche for the objective to lie deep within the manor, isn't it? No developer within their right mind would truly do something so foolis--"

Suddenly, the horde of zombies came to an abrupt halt, their eyes all gazing toward the window as a sole silhouette stood within the largest of all. T'was a woman, skin seemingly melted away as an apoplectic glare rested upon what remained of her visage. "You've got to be kidding me.." A sigh, the zombies lifelessly watching her as she remained still.

"I'd thought the developers better than this. Not only are we faced with the stereotypical hive mother, it's at the top floor - more specifically in the main room, of the manor; deep within it, just as I predicted." His sigh only worsened as the quest objective updated itself on their GUI. "Our mission is clear, let's get this over with." 

The entrance that'd been heavily guarded up until this point was perfectly clear, the forsaken lined up and bowed down; almost as if to greet them in. "I assume it won't be as easy to traverse the manor as it is to enter it." Immediately upon entering the manor, the door slammed behind them, a voice echoing throughout their immediate vicinity.

"My children..my precious children.. why have you hurt my children?" Sobbing ranging from young to old crept about them as she spoke "You see us as monsters, forsaken; we simply seek to spend our cursed eternity in peace!" Lights flickered on, a grand hallway before them "YOU HURT MY CHILDREN! YOU HURT MY CHILDREN! YOU. SHALL. PAY!" As her voice faded off, the lights flickered once more. A much larger horde of zombies stood before them, the eyes of the zombies jolting awake. "Oh? I may've spoken too soon," they charged at them full force, Jack readying himself as he looked towards Akeno "This may entertain me yet!" 

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A moment of silence, lights flickering about as multiple waves of zombies stood before an eccentric duo of fighters. Maddening grins descended onto their visages, bloodshed quickly filling their minds as Jack took the initiative to charge first. "Goddess of The Forsaken" a zombie lunged toward him as stepped to the side. He quickly pivoted to face the enemy's side, raising his right leg and slamming down upon their back. As they cried in pain, another swiftly approached. "Tell me something...would you?"

To the approaching assailant, their throat would quickly be met with the tip of his blade, said dagger curving left; giving way to an eruption of blood. "Which hurts you the most? That . . " He gazed toward the zombie collapsed on the ground "Or this.." He raised his foot once more before crashing it down upon the zombie's skull . . repeatedly. Breaking into a sinister cackle, he turned toward more of the oncoming zombies, slicing in whatever which way allowed for the most tragic death. 

"Sit tight, my love! Soon, I will cleanse you of these burdensome children - then it will be you and I" his eyes narrowed, lips nigh-curling inward as his grin widened "Alone." Mid-slice, the zombie's neck hung by the blade as he paused 'Well, of course the monster in pink would accompany me as well but.. I assure you she won't dull our love by any means." In computer terms, this would be the moment in which his APM increases "In fact, I think she'd prove to make it even more romantic! The agony of being consumed alive paired with the love you shall share with me? AH!" He paused, his body shivering and shaking, odd gyrations and gestures as he hugged himself tightly "I'm almost losing myself to the excitement!"  

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