Post by Donatsu on Jun 9, 2015 8:12:20 GMT
"Get the hell away from me you damned hounds!" A small red soul called down at to flaming hell hounds that were barking up at him. Donatsu had found himself first in the check in station and now on top of a hellish stalagmite facing possible re-death from devil dogs. He wasn't able to fly fast or very high either, more like float a few feet above ground at most leaving him vulnerable. Thoughts of dying yet again flew through Donatsu’s mind. “I wonder if there’s another level of hell? Or maybe I’ll just be a smaller soul? Bah I’m acting like Bing, time to lose these mutts!” The soul thought to himself as he changed his form to that of a lion’s head, producing a fearsome red face. The flaming canines whimpered in fear and backed away before taking off full sprint through the lava ridden floor and away from the clever spirit. Donatsu chuckled to himself as he turned back into the form he preferred since the discovery of his new talent. “Being dead sucks but at least I have this new found ability, wonder if it’ll stick when I’m back above ground?” Donatsu pondered this as he floated onward, making more distance between hm and the canines that had hunted his soul. The dead warrior marched(floated) onward to what he hoped would be the starting point of a ritual the desert dwellers called “The Sistrum”. Everyone in the desert were very superstitious, having many odd rituals most revolving around death and preventing it in the town Donatsu had lived in. This especially rang true in Majo, Donatsu’s late mother. “Maybe the one good thing my mother ever did for me.” He reflected thinking of how detailed she had been in it’s description. The Sistrum was a very convoluted and specific ritual that was said to bring a chosen sand dweller back from the grave completely restored despite any form of death. The ritual needed a soul from heaven or hell to complete three trials, as well as form a new body while still dead. The first trial the deceased fighter would need to overcome was stealing the egg of a Infernum cobra and ingesting it. These creatures were said to be the reason Donatsu’s people had begun living in the desert decades ago. They believed that the intense heat warded away the cold blooded killers, which Donatsu found ironic seeing as they formed from flames themselves.
“Alright now all I need to do is get the jump on one of tho-” The soul was cut off by the scaly wall he had floated into. He angrily looked up at what he thought was just some demon, but was unpleasantly surprised to find was the beast he had intended to hunt. The cobra peered down at the soul with it’s dead eyes. the eyes turning sideways and becoming agitated as it coiled up ready to attack at the slightest movement. Donatsu froze in place, usually he’d have challenged this monster in a heart beat. This time though he was at a huge disadvantage, his vulnerable soul the only thing keeping him in existence. “Listen I don’t want to hurt you, I’m giving you this one chance to run lizard breath!” The ball floated up a bit as he spoke, Donatsu felt as if he was puffing his chest as he bluffed to the monstrosity. The snake however obviously didn’t buy such words, it may have not even understood them. The predator’s mouth opened and hissed loudly at the soul bound warrior before attacking. Flames spewed from its mouth like venom turning the hellish dirt into magma behind Donatsu who had narrowly dodged the attack. He sped away from the snake and hid behind another stony spire. “Well looks like I found the damn thing, but what can I do without my Ki?” Donatsu said this as he awaited the snakes next move, hoping it would just move on. Unfortunately for him this was the snakes territory and he would be pursued relentlessly. A loud hissing noise rang in Donatsu’s ears as the snake broke through the rock Donatsu hid behind with ease, sending the red orb flying. The spirit shook off the dust that surrounded him and was about to curse at the cobra, but he was cut short as he took in his surroundings. The infernum cobra had knocked him straight into it’s lair and he now stood by the eggs he had been seeking. “Well here I am, but how can I outrun this snake?” He asked himself internally as he absorbed the red and scaly egg into his form, encasing it much like he seen Komoto do with his majin appendages and shaping him into an egg shape. He sped deeper into the cave system he had found himself in as the cobra entered. Donatsu had figured that the cobra wouldn’t follow him and think that he was long gone, however he felt a chill run up his spine at the sound of the flaming snakes roar at the discovery of the missing egg. “Shit,shit,shit.” Donatsu repeated the mantra as he floated deeper downward into hell's crust, the snake could be heard gaining on the soul. The crimson soul had arrived at a large cavern full of lava, worst than that it was also a dead end having no exits. Donatsu hid in a crevice and released the eggs from his spectral form. “Last chance, this better work!”
Donatsu shouted this as he shattered open the eggs shell, revealing the fluid he must consume. If he had a face it would show complete disgust as he lowered himself into the egg and began eating what he could. At first he thought he surely had been lied to, how could a soul even eat solid food? he had not felt hunger for the past months of death. Suddenly as if on cue, some strange power began filling up the soul's body. It derived from the egg he sat in, red infernal energy could be seen flowing into Donatsu. “Here’s my chance!” He shouted as he attempted to absorb much as he could swiftly as possible. Now on a rampage the cobra sought out the red spirit to no end, wanting his life in return for his egg’s. The monstrous serpent neared the crevice Donatsu was currently hidden in, approaching the smell of what it knew to be it’s demonic offspring. Upon reaching the spot where the scaly monster believed he would end Donatsu, it was instead met with the sight of a crimson beam. “Say goodnight you scale ridden lizard!” He unleashed this blast right into the beast’s face, sending it flying into the lava below that filled the cavern. Roars and cries of pain erupted from the serpent as even it felt pain from the evil magma it sank into. surely this wouldn’t slay the beast, but it definitely helped Donatsu escape with the little energy he had left. New markings now covered the orb that was Donatsu’s soul, these symbols marked that he was on the path to completing the sistrum and reviving. It also meant that he had somehow managed to escape the serpent for the time being. He floated onward towards the next challenge aimlessly. “How the hell am I even suppose to find a soul well? What in hell is a soul well anyway? Or should I say where.” Donatsu chuckled at his very lame joke and proceeded along the molten and beaten path he found himself on. The next trial was to find a soul well which contained the souls of 1000 lesser people who have fallen victim to demons which trap the within. Not only was finding such a thing a daunting task but worst yet was that once found Donatsu needed to absorb the energy of all 1000 souls, plus the soul of the demon that was responsible for that soul well. He walked(floated) for what seemed like ages along many rocky and treacherous paths. scaling rock formations and avoiding many of the hellish imps and other demonic entities.
Eventually after pushing on for so long Donatsu decided he needed some direction, the best way being to ask one of the locals. The red sphere approached a small imp that seemed unsure if it should attack him, or run off. “You there, tell me where to locate the nearest soul well. Or if you’d like I could just beat it out of you.” Donatsu hoped that his new markings would intimidate the imp enough to spill the beans. Small, green, and weak he may have been, but imps are sly as they come. “Oh please sir don’t hurt me! I’ll lead you wherever you’d like! Please follow me.” He spoke to Donatsu just the way he knew the warrior wanted to. He had seen through the bluff, but imps are well payed for delivering souls to well demons. Donatsu and the imp traveled slowly and cautiously, neither of them strong enough to take on half the things that roamed this cursed realm. “How much further? I’m ready to teach those demons why the sistrum is no challenge for the crimson lion!” Donatsu’s voice was as usual full of confidence that for once he couldn’t back up. “Er not much farther sir, patience is key.” The imp spoke in a nervous and high pitched voice. Donatsu found it funny, but did not want to offend his guide, so he held his chuckles back. As the imp had stated, they did in fact happen upon a soul well. It was a huge glass tube with various colored souls spiraling upward and back down endlessly looking for an escape, not unlike a lavalamp. Donatsu approached the well of souls, feelings of awe filled the red soul; truly this well had potential for many great feats. “No wonder this is part of the sistrum, now to figure out how to extract all of thes-” Donatsu’s inner monologue was interrupted by the imp that had just pushed him into the wells entrance! Donatsu couldn’t float out of the pressurized pipe he was being pulled into, only able to resist the inevitable long enough to witness a demon handing the imp a large sum of shoki. “I’ll get you bastards!” the crimson soul threatened as he was finally pulled into the pipe. After only a few moments of being sucked through the winding pipe Donatsu found himself in a colorful sea of souls.
The souls all very much weaker than the dead criminal, varying in color shapes and sizes. As Donatsu began to utter what would of been a stoic speech of how he would consume every last one of the lost souls, a few broke off from the majority and dashed at the newcomer. Donatsu braced for the ensuing attack but was surprised to find that all the other souls were not attacking him but instead willingly fusing with him. He grew in size and strength now garnering the attention of the much larger souls that had undergone the same transformation. “What kind of shark tank is this? Well no matter, prepare to be my dinner!” As the words left the soul hungry predators from, all souls of varying sizes began eating each other in a rat race for power. Thanks to Donatsu it was now every soul for themselves in a frenzy, the big eating the small and the small ganging up on the big only to turn on one another. Donatsu narrowly dodged the larger masses of spirit energy that barreled towards him, eating up smaller orbs of souls everytime he moved in any direction. The more he devoured the more Donatsu grew in strength, but something else was forming in the man's essence. His objective had been to absorb these weaker souls, however it was becoming less and less of a goal and that of a need. Every orb he took into his form filling him with a power hungry feeling, all their evil flowing into him eating at his psyche and his own neutral heart. The crimson spirit could sense this inner change as he swelled to take up half the tank, all the other souls of varying size cowering at the bottom and merging to attempt combating Donatsu’s power. “More, more, give me all your weaklings energy you don’t need it! I can feel my power growing, this hunger grows with it! Perish and be absorbed by me the Crimson Lion!” Donatsu’s new voice had a new tone of pure hatred that would surprise even him if he was not preoccupied with his slow takeover of the remaining souls. Now cackling madly Donatsu siphoned souls after soul from the conjoined rainbow hued blob he was now pressing down into the wells base. The demons and well keepers were screaming and shouting in fear not knowing what to do as the events unfolded. Both the entities formless as the fought for dominance, Donatsu being a singular crimson blob consuming all souls he had taken in. The other a collection of many souls fighting not only the red cloud that was siphoning energy from it, but for control over their own form. In the end Donatsu was victorious all of the souls that were in the well now consumed and erased from the afterlife. Now brewing in the well that now only contained the red cloud, he began a transformation.
“This power, its exactly what I need to pierce the heavens! No, not just pierce the heavens, I’ll destroy them!” Donatsu’s voice boomed across the volcanic plane, a nefarious cackle following shortly after. Magma surrounding the well burst through the ground in geysers, the energy oozing from the well causing mayhem in the well keeper’s camp. Demons, imps, and monsters in the camp all watched in horror after witnessing something that had never been done. A human had single handedly drawn all the power of a soul well and was wielding it effectively. The red mass began spinning and compacting itself into what seemed like a cylinder, gaining speed as the moments passed. Evil energy that had clouded the well, was now rapidly spinning, compacting more and more into the shape of what seemed to be a drill. Demons and imps clambered to get a look at the well, most of the crowd having confidence in the wells ability to contain the human. A loud whirring sound echoed across the hellish landscape and an eerie red glow came from the well. “Witness my new power whelps, don’t forget to spread word of hell’s newest power!” Donatsu’s voice made even the demons worried, the crowd’s confidence in the well was fading and some had left to spread word of the events. He had taken all of his new found evil energy and constructed himself into a drill that spun at high velocity. A transformation and a battle raged within Donatsu’s now tainted soul, his fury at a new peak. The drill solidified and rammed it’s sharp point into the demonic glass that attempted to contain it, a thunderous sound of energy resisting energy resounding through the area. “With this new found power and lack of my useless conscience, I’ll be unstoppable! No primitive magic will stop me anymore, nothing will stop me you hear me!?” The demons scattered at his words, fleeing in all directions and abandoning their posts. Between the force behind the drill that was Donatsu’s very spirit given form, and the drill constantly chipping more and more of the glass away, the wall stood no chance. Huge shards of glass rained on any of the demons who had been foolish enough to stick around as Donatsu had broken free. The drill that was the crimson lion’s essence crashed into the crowd of demons and imps, sending a huge shock wave of energy into them. The few imps that had narrowly avoided both the hazards look at the cloud of dust that was left from the impact. The imps seemed paralyzed in fear, never had they witnessed such raw power, from a human soul no less. Red eyes looked at the small group from behind the cover of dust, a crimson star shape taking their place as the dust dies down.
Eyes full of anger he stands up and points a hand at the imps, snapping his fingers causing red sparks to form at his fingertips. Weak souls are ripped from 4 of the 5 imps that had been there, only able to scream for a moment before the orbs burst from their chests. These soul filled orbs flew to Donatsu’s hands, leaving the smiling mad man to eat them like berries, popping them into his maw one at a time. Donatsu had regained his body, but something was definitely different. His attire was no longer a cape but a full on cloak, the red eclipse symbol burnt into the back. His shades now a dark red star shape, constructed from his own spirit force. “Tell me imp, do you regret trying to capture the crimson lion? Do you feel remorse for your comrades lives, or even now do you only think of your safety? Pitiful weakness, I’ll rid this plane of it then my own realm’s.” He spoke with utter disgust for the imp that was only able to shake in fear. Donatsu pressed his finger against the little monstrosity’s forehead, burning a mark into it. “Spread word of what I’ve done, let the chief know I’m coming for his soul next.” The reformed warrior turned from the imp and walked away towards his destiny, the imp sure to follow his orders. Donatsu had every intention on keeping the promise he had relayed to the imp, the sistrum demanded he did. Now that he came this far failure meant more than just eternal wandering, it meant eternal suffering. “Gods be damned it’s great to be back!” He thought to himself as he walked along the stony path. His body was just as strong as it had been when he fought Sage, his mind however had changed. If this was for the better or not only time could say. Donatsu definitely felt his new path was the correct one, his old mentality of only harming those who opposed him gone. Now he was a hunter, now he would take more than just wealth and lives, the crimson reaver would take the weaks very souls. Already he could feel the addiction he had formed from the thousand souls he had consumed. Donatsu took flight, satisfied with his new body. Maniacal laughs could be heard from around the lava pits and spires he passed, his laugh being the one thing demons would speak of most. A crimson streak was all he left in his wake as he sped around the hellish landscape, seeking someone to give him the chief’s whereabouts. Eventually he came upon what seemed to be a platform built to torture truly wicked souls. There was many objects Donatsu did not recognize, but he could tell they functioned as torture devices. Demons formed a circle around him as he landed at the platforms center, his arms crossed to display his confidence. Monsters of hell howled and cursed at him, word of his recent deeds not reaching this far out as of yet.
“Looky here, a human who’s practically thrown himself to the wolves!” One of the demons chortled, getting a rise out of his peers. One became to bold and reached out a hand to grab Donatsu’s shoulder, a mistake that he would regret. The noise died down suddenly after a ripping sound followed by a loud scream came from the platforms center. The crimson lion had ripped the foolish demon’s arm clean off, leaving him sprawled out on the ground and bleeding out of the stub he clenched onto. “One of you will tell me where to find your chief. Before or after I consume you is the only choice you have.” The devilish human threw the dismembered limb into the crowd, as he finished speaking. Five at a time the monsters charged at him, thinking their overwhelming numbers would dispatch the intruder. Donatsu proved this theory wrong as he threw attacks of immense strength with precision into the demons that attacked him. Every strike was made to count, no movement was wasted as they fell one after another. So many dead and wounded now laid on the floor they had piled up around Donatsu. By the time the initial charge had ended only half of the forces remained. Still they circled their enemy, his crimson aura flaring around the soul hungry human. “Come now, you didn’t think you could take me that easily did you? Give me the information I need and you’ll all be spared.” Donatsu lied to them, his guard never being lowered. None of the opposition made a single move for a few moments. They all had thoughts of compliance, some about to break. No one had a chance to come forth when a single demon charged Donatsu with a spiked club that was bloody from his last victim. As the club came at Donatsu he simply activated is Ki shield, the club of iron breaking in impact. Yet another standoff followed suit after Donatsu ripped the lone fighters soul from his chest. A lone demon broke through the crowd and begged at Donatsu’s feet for mercy. The old him would surely rally this rabble into a fighting force to overthrow the current chief. But he wasn’t the same man, he needn’t rely on others for such things anymore. His reaver instincts kicking in as they all fell to their knees, begging for their afterlives, Donatsu only wanted their souls not their plights. One by one he ripped their souls out devouring them like apples he picked off a tree, is strength growing with each one. They remained begging, knowing it was their last chance at survival. After each had faced their death at his hands, Donatsu stood before his last victim. “Where. is. the. chief.” Donatsu looked down with disgust behind his shades at the demon. The reaver pressing a hand in front of the demon's chest threatening to kill him in the same manner as his deceased allies. “He’s at the top of the great spire! It’s only a hour trip to the north from here!” Donatsu grinned down at him and lifted his hand from his chest. “Oh thank you sire, thank you for this one’s life!” The demon joyfully said a smile on his red face. Donatsu had lied to the demon, taking joy in how well he strung him along. “Oh I haven’t spared you demon. I just don’t eat filth, now join your brethren in re death!” The reaver cackled as he placed a burning ki filled hand on the demons skull, melting his skin to the bone. Agonized screams of pain came from the evil beings lungs, his arms scratching fro freedom from the burning palm. Donatsu drew out his death for a whole three minutes of melting, before crushing his skull within his hand. He laughed in his new dark voice letting what was becoming his calling card ring out across the wastes as he took to the air and blasted towards his target.
Demons, monsters, and many anomalies lined the fortress walls in preparation for the crimson reaver that many scared imps had spoken of. Donatsu arrived at the spire with his energy surrounding him in it’s usual dark red hue. Shaking his head at the pitiful ranks of monstrosities that lined the spires walls. “To think filth like you would actually stand and fight against someone you can’t dream to beat. It pisses me off to no end when wretches take a stand, it’s Suna town all over again. Die like they did and let me consume your souls!” Energy formed around the reavers hand forming his infamous drill. The distance between him and the spire’s defenses were too great for them to interrupt him. Donatsu yelled out as he powered up his most devastating weapon, in size the drill was half of the massive spires width and height. It span faster as Donatsu fueled it with the souls of the fallen, reaching velocities high enough to rip apart whatever he saw fit. He would end his trials here and now, the path towards the world of living behind this obstacle. He unleashed all of his fury from behind the spinning drill of spirit energy, Ki flowing so strong from him that he was encased in the ki’s streak making the drill look as if it was jet propelled. The reaver of souls barreled towards the spire, the blasts of fire and dark magic being cut in half by the rapidly spinning Ki construct. “This is it! Perish at the crimson reaver’s hand! Heaven piercer!” Donatsu’s dark voice echoed throughout the tower, striking fear into the hapless soon to be victims. The screeching sound the drill made as it ripped through the fortress was loud enough to make the stalagmites above fall off and impale demons below.
In mere seconds Donatsu had drill clean though the top half of the demonic spire, guessing that’s where his target was. He stood there floating on the other side of the huge gape he had made in the demon structure. He knew he had slain the chief with this attack when the final mark of the sistrum appeared upon the other half of his face. It was deftly quiet now that all who had been in the vicinity were dead. Donatsu would have left to carry out the sistrum, but a scent caught his nose. The souls of all the fallen lay in the spire, just waiting to be consumed by the victor. And so he began roaming the ruined fortress eating the delectable essence of his victims. “Hell isn’t that bad, I’ll stick around for a few more snacks.” And so the veracious crimson warrior began his feast. Surely he would create even more even more uproar in his remaining time here, but that’s a different story.
THE END
“Alright now all I need to do is get the jump on one of tho-” The soul was cut off by the scaly wall he had floated into. He angrily looked up at what he thought was just some demon, but was unpleasantly surprised to find was the beast he had intended to hunt. The cobra peered down at the soul with it’s dead eyes. the eyes turning sideways and becoming agitated as it coiled up ready to attack at the slightest movement. Donatsu froze in place, usually he’d have challenged this monster in a heart beat. This time though he was at a huge disadvantage, his vulnerable soul the only thing keeping him in existence. “Listen I don’t want to hurt you, I’m giving you this one chance to run lizard breath!” The ball floated up a bit as he spoke, Donatsu felt as if he was puffing his chest as he bluffed to the monstrosity. The snake however obviously didn’t buy such words, it may have not even understood them. The predator’s mouth opened and hissed loudly at the soul bound warrior before attacking. Flames spewed from its mouth like venom turning the hellish dirt into magma behind Donatsu who had narrowly dodged the attack. He sped away from the snake and hid behind another stony spire. “Well looks like I found the damn thing, but what can I do without my Ki?” Donatsu said this as he awaited the snakes next move, hoping it would just move on. Unfortunately for him this was the snakes territory and he would be pursued relentlessly. A loud hissing noise rang in Donatsu’s ears as the snake broke through the rock Donatsu hid behind with ease, sending the red orb flying. The spirit shook off the dust that surrounded him and was about to curse at the cobra, but he was cut short as he took in his surroundings. The infernum cobra had knocked him straight into it’s lair and he now stood by the eggs he had been seeking. “Well here I am, but how can I outrun this snake?” He asked himself internally as he absorbed the red and scaly egg into his form, encasing it much like he seen Komoto do with his majin appendages and shaping him into an egg shape. He sped deeper into the cave system he had found himself in as the cobra entered. Donatsu had figured that the cobra wouldn’t follow him and think that he was long gone, however he felt a chill run up his spine at the sound of the flaming snakes roar at the discovery of the missing egg. “Shit,shit,shit.” Donatsu repeated the mantra as he floated deeper downward into hell's crust, the snake could be heard gaining on the soul. The crimson soul had arrived at a large cavern full of lava, worst than that it was also a dead end having no exits. Donatsu hid in a crevice and released the eggs from his spectral form. “Last chance, this better work!”
Donatsu shouted this as he shattered open the eggs shell, revealing the fluid he must consume. If he had a face it would show complete disgust as he lowered himself into the egg and began eating what he could. At first he thought he surely had been lied to, how could a soul even eat solid food? he had not felt hunger for the past months of death. Suddenly as if on cue, some strange power began filling up the soul's body. It derived from the egg he sat in, red infernal energy could be seen flowing into Donatsu. “Here’s my chance!” He shouted as he attempted to absorb much as he could swiftly as possible. Now on a rampage the cobra sought out the red spirit to no end, wanting his life in return for his egg’s. The monstrous serpent neared the crevice Donatsu was currently hidden in, approaching the smell of what it knew to be it’s demonic offspring. Upon reaching the spot where the scaly monster believed he would end Donatsu, it was instead met with the sight of a crimson beam. “Say goodnight you scale ridden lizard!” He unleashed this blast right into the beast’s face, sending it flying into the lava below that filled the cavern. Roars and cries of pain erupted from the serpent as even it felt pain from the evil magma it sank into. surely this wouldn’t slay the beast, but it definitely helped Donatsu escape with the little energy he had left. New markings now covered the orb that was Donatsu’s soul, these symbols marked that he was on the path to completing the sistrum and reviving. It also meant that he had somehow managed to escape the serpent for the time being. He floated onward towards the next challenge aimlessly. “How the hell am I even suppose to find a soul well? What in hell is a soul well anyway? Or should I say where.” Donatsu chuckled at his very lame joke and proceeded along the molten and beaten path he found himself on. The next trial was to find a soul well which contained the souls of 1000 lesser people who have fallen victim to demons which trap the within. Not only was finding such a thing a daunting task but worst yet was that once found Donatsu needed to absorb the energy of all 1000 souls, plus the soul of the demon that was responsible for that soul well. He walked(floated) for what seemed like ages along many rocky and treacherous paths. scaling rock formations and avoiding many of the hellish imps and other demonic entities.
Eventually after pushing on for so long Donatsu decided he needed some direction, the best way being to ask one of the locals. The red sphere approached a small imp that seemed unsure if it should attack him, or run off. “You there, tell me where to locate the nearest soul well. Or if you’d like I could just beat it out of you.” Donatsu hoped that his new markings would intimidate the imp enough to spill the beans. Small, green, and weak he may have been, but imps are sly as they come. “Oh please sir don’t hurt me! I’ll lead you wherever you’d like! Please follow me.” He spoke to Donatsu just the way he knew the warrior wanted to. He had seen through the bluff, but imps are well payed for delivering souls to well demons. Donatsu and the imp traveled slowly and cautiously, neither of them strong enough to take on half the things that roamed this cursed realm. “How much further? I’m ready to teach those demons why the sistrum is no challenge for the crimson lion!” Donatsu’s voice was as usual full of confidence that for once he couldn’t back up. “Er not much farther sir, patience is key.” The imp spoke in a nervous and high pitched voice. Donatsu found it funny, but did not want to offend his guide, so he held his chuckles back. As the imp had stated, they did in fact happen upon a soul well. It was a huge glass tube with various colored souls spiraling upward and back down endlessly looking for an escape, not unlike a lavalamp. Donatsu approached the well of souls, feelings of awe filled the red soul; truly this well had potential for many great feats. “No wonder this is part of the sistrum, now to figure out how to extract all of thes-” Donatsu’s inner monologue was interrupted by the imp that had just pushed him into the wells entrance! Donatsu couldn’t float out of the pressurized pipe he was being pulled into, only able to resist the inevitable long enough to witness a demon handing the imp a large sum of shoki. “I’ll get you bastards!” the crimson soul threatened as he was finally pulled into the pipe. After only a few moments of being sucked through the winding pipe Donatsu found himself in a colorful sea of souls.
The souls all very much weaker than the dead criminal, varying in color shapes and sizes. As Donatsu began to utter what would of been a stoic speech of how he would consume every last one of the lost souls, a few broke off from the majority and dashed at the newcomer. Donatsu braced for the ensuing attack but was surprised to find that all the other souls were not attacking him but instead willingly fusing with him. He grew in size and strength now garnering the attention of the much larger souls that had undergone the same transformation. “What kind of shark tank is this? Well no matter, prepare to be my dinner!” As the words left the soul hungry predators from, all souls of varying sizes began eating each other in a rat race for power. Thanks to Donatsu it was now every soul for themselves in a frenzy, the big eating the small and the small ganging up on the big only to turn on one another. Donatsu narrowly dodged the larger masses of spirit energy that barreled towards him, eating up smaller orbs of souls everytime he moved in any direction. The more he devoured the more Donatsu grew in strength, but something else was forming in the man's essence. His objective had been to absorb these weaker souls, however it was becoming less and less of a goal and that of a need. Every orb he took into his form filling him with a power hungry feeling, all their evil flowing into him eating at his psyche and his own neutral heart. The crimson spirit could sense this inner change as he swelled to take up half the tank, all the other souls of varying size cowering at the bottom and merging to attempt combating Donatsu’s power. “More, more, give me all your weaklings energy you don’t need it! I can feel my power growing, this hunger grows with it! Perish and be absorbed by me the Crimson Lion!” Donatsu’s new voice had a new tone of pure hatred that would surprise even him if he was not preoccupied with his slow takeover of the remaining souls. Now cackling madly Donatsu siphoned souls after soul from the conjoined rainbow hued blob he was now pressing down into the wells base. The demons and well keepers were screaming and shouting in fear not knowing what to do as the events unfolded. Both the entities formless as the fought for dominance, Donatsu being a singular crimson blob consuming all souls he had taken in. The other a collection of many souls fighting not only the red cloud that was siphoning energy from it, but for control over their own form. In the end Donatsu was victorious all of the souls that were in the well now consumed and erased from the afterlife. Now brewing in the well that now only contained the red cloud, he began a transformation.
“This power, its exactly what I need to pierce the heavens! No, not just pierce the heavens, I’ll destroy them!” Donatsu’s voice boomed across the volcanic plane, a nefarious cackle following shortly after. Magma surrounding the well burst through the ground in geysers, the energy oozing from the well causing mayhem in the well keeper’s camp. Demons, imps, and monsters in the camp all watched in horror after witnessing something that had never been done. A human had single handedly drawn all the power of a soul well and was wielding it effectively. The red mass began spinning and compacting itself into what seemed like a cylinder, gaining speed as the moments passed. Evil energy that had clouded the well, was now rapidly spinning, compacting more and more into the shape of what seemed to be a drill. Demons and imps clambered to get a look at the well, most of the crowd having confidence in the wells ability to contain the human. A loud whirring sound echoed across the hellish landscape and an eerie red glow came from the well. “Witness my new power whelps, don’t forget to spread word of hell’s newest power!” Donatsu’s voice made even the demons worried, the crowd’s confidence in the well was fading and some had left to spread word of the events. He had taken all of his new found evil energy and constructed himself into a drill that spun at high velocity. A transformation and a battle raged within Donatsu’s now tainted soul, his fury at a new peak. The drill solidified and rammed it’s sharp point into the demonic glass that attempted to contain it, a thunderous sound of energy resisting energy resounding through the area. “With this new found power and lack of my useless conscience, I’ll be unstoppable! No primitive magic will stop me anymore, nothing will stop me you hear me!?” The demons scattered at his words, fleeing in all directions and abandoning their posts. Between the force behind the drill that was Donatsu’s very spirit given form, and the drill constantly chipping more and more of the glass away, the wall stood no chance. Huge shards of glass rained on any of the demons who had been foolish enough to stick around as Donatsu had broken free. The drill that was the crimson lion’s essence crashed into the crowd of demons and imps, sending a huge shock wave of energy into them. The few imps that had narrowly avoided both the hazards look at the cloud of dust that was left from the impact. The imps seemed paralyzed in fear, never had they witnessed such raw power, from a human soul no less. Red eyes looked at the small group from behind the cover of dust, a crimson star shape taking their place as the dust dies down.
Eyes full of anger he stands up and points a hand at the imps, snapping his fingers causing red sparks to form at his fingertips. Weak souls are ripped from 4 of the 5 imps that had been there, only able to scream for a moment before the orbs burst from their chests. These soul filled orbs flew to Donatsu’s hands, leaving the smiling mad man to eat them like berries, popping them into his maw one at a time. Donatsu had regained his body, but something was definitely different. His attire was no longer a cape but a full on cloak, the red eclipse symbol burnt into the back. His shades now a dark red star shape, constructed from his own spirit force. “Tell me imp, do you regret trying to capture the crimson lion? Do you feel remorse for your comrades lives, or even now do you only think of your safety? Pitiful weakness, I’ll rid this plane of it then my own realm’s.” He spoke with utter disgust for the imp that was only able to shake in fear. Donatsu pressed his finger against the little monstrosity’s forehead, burning a mark into it. “Spread word of what I’ve done, let the chief know I’m coming for his soul next.” The reformed warrior turned from the imp and walked away towards his destiny, the imp sure to follow his orders. Donatsu had every intention on keeping the promise he had relayed to the imp, the sistrum demanded he did. Now that he came this far failure meant more than just eternal wandering, it meant eternal suffering. “Gods be damned it’s great to be back!” He thought to himself as he walked along the stony path. His body was just as strong as it had been when he fought Sage, his mind however had changed. If this was for the better or not only time could say. Donatsu definitely felt his new path was the correct one, his old mentality of only harming those who opposed him gone. Now he was a hunter, now he would take more than just wealth and lives, the crimson reaver would take the weaks very souls. Already he could feel the addiction he had formed from the thousand souls he had consumed. Donatsu took flight, satisfied with his new body. Maniacal laughs could be heard from around the lava pits and spires he passed, his laugh being the one thing demons would speak of most. A crimson streak was all he left in his wake as he sped around the hellish landscape, seeking someone to give him the chief’s whereabouts. Eventually he came upon what seemed to be a platform built to torture truly wicked souls. There was many objects Donatsu did not recognize, but he could tell they functioned as torture devices. Demons formed a circle around him as he landed at the platforms center, his arms crossed to display his confidence. Monsters of hell howled and cursed at him, word of his recent deeds not reaching this far out as of yet.
“Looky here, a human who’s practically thrown himself to the wolves!” One of the demons chortled, getting a rise out of his peers. One became to bold and reached out a hand to grab Donatsu’s shoulder, a mistake that he would regret. The noise died down suddenly after a ripping sound followed by a loud scream came from the platforms center. The crimson lion had ripped the foolish demon’s arm clean off, leaving him sprawled out on the ground and bleeding out of the stub he clenched onto. “One of you will tell me where to find your chief. Before or after I consume you is the only choice you have.” The devilish human threw the dismembered limb into the crowd, as he finished speaking. Five at a time the monsters charged at him, thinking their overwhelming numbers would dispatch the intruder. Donatsu proved this theory wrong as he threw attacks of immense strength with precision into the demons that attacked him. Every strike was made to count, no movement was wasted as they fell one after another. So many dead and wounded now laid on the floor they had piled up around Donatsu. By the time the initial charge had ended only half of the forces remained. Still they circled their enemy, his crimson aura flaring around the soul hungry human. “Come now, you didn’t think you could take me that easily did you? Give me the information I need and you’ll all be spared.” Donatsu lied to them, his guard never being lowered. None of the opposition made a single move for a few moments. They all had thoughts of compliance, some about to break. No one had a chance to come forth when a single demon charged Donatsu with a spiked club that was bloody from his last victim. As the club came at Donatsu he simply activated is Ki shield, the club of iron breaking in impact. Yet another standoff followed suit after Donatsu ripped the lone fighters soul from his chest. A lone demon broke through the crowd and begged at Donatsu’s feet for mercy. The old him would surely rally this rabble into a fighting force to overthrow the current chief. But he wasn’t the same man, he needn’t rely on others for such things anymore. His reaver instincts kicking in as they all fell to their knees, begging for their afterlives, Donatsu only wanted their souls not their plights. One by one he ripped their souls out devouring them like apples he picked off a tree, is strength growing with each one. They remained begging, knowing it was their last chance at survival. After each had faced their death at his hands, Donatsu stood before his last victim. “Where. is. the. chief.” Donatsu looked down with disgust behind his shades at the demon. The reaver pressing a hand in front of the demon's chest threatening to kill him in the same manner as his deceased allies. “He’s at the top of the great spire! It’s only a hour trip to the north from here!” Donatsu grinned down at him and lifted his hand from his chest. “Oh thank you sire, thank you for this one’s life!” The demon joyfully said a smile on his red face. Donatsu had lied to the demon, taking joy in how well he strung him along. “Oh I haven’t spared you demon. I just don’t eat filth, now join your brethren in re death!” The reaver cackled as he placed a burning ki filled hand on the demons skull, melting his skin to the bone. Agonized screams of pain came from the evil beings lungs, his arms scratching fro freedom from the burning palm. Donatsu drew out his death for a whole three minutes of melting, before crushing his skull within his hand. He laughed in his new dark voice letting what was becoming his calling card ring out across the wastes as he took to the air and blasted towards his target.
Demons, monsters, and many anomalies lined the fortress walls in preparation for the crimson reaver that many scared imps had spoken of. Donatsu arrived at the spire with his energy surrounding him in it’s usual dark red hue. Shaking his head at the pitiful ranks of monstrosities that lined the spires walls. “To think filth like you would actually stand and fight against someone you can’t dream to beat. It pisses me off to no end when wretches take a stand, it’s Suna town all over again. Die like they did and let me consume your souls!” Energy formed around the reavers hand forming his infamous drill. The distance between him and the spire’s defenses were too great for them to interrupt him. Donatsu yelled out as he powered up his most devastating weapon, in size the drill was half of the massive spires width and height. It span faster as Donatsu fueled it with the souls of the fallen, reaching velocities high enough to rip apart whatever he saw fit. He would end his trials here and now, the path towards the world of living behind this obstacle. He unleashed all of his fury from behind the spinning drill of spirit energy, Ki flowing so strong from him that he was encased in the ki’s streak making the drill look as if it was jet propelled. The reaver of souls barreled towards the spire, the blasts of fire and dark magic being cut in half by the rapidly spinning Ki construct. “This is it! Perish at the crimson reaver’s hand! Heaven piercer!” Donatsu’s dark voice echoed throughout the tower, striking fear into the hapless soon to be victims. The screeching sound the drill made as it ripped through the fortress was loud enough to make the stalagmites above fall off and impale demons below.
In mere seconds Donatsu had drill clean though the top half of the demonic spire, guessing that’s where his target was. He stood there floating on the other side of the huge gape he had made in the demon structure. He knew he had slain the chief with this attack when the final mark of the sistrum appeared upon the other half of his face. It was deftly quiet now that all who had been in the vicinity were dead. Donatsu would have left to carry out the sistrum, but a scent caught his nose. The souls of all the fallen lay in the spire, just waiting to be consumed by the victor. And so he began roaming the ruined fortress eating the delectable essence of his victims. “Hell isn’t that bad, I’ll stick around for a few more snacks.” And so the veracious crimson warrior began his feast. Surely he would create even more even more uproar in his remaining time here, but that’s a different story.
THE END