the-oc-nebula

[the-oc-nebula]

'Tis my birthday.

I feel old.

[the-oc-nebula]

...Huh. For some reason, he expected fire, brimstone, lava, and horrifying architecture, not whatever... this place, was. It was more like he walked into a cave than a portal to a monster's haven.

But, he knew that looks could be deceiving. The walls could be hiding any number of things, that the darkness conceals much, and even the murky puddles could be deeper than they appear-

And speak of the devil, the water beast was right on cue.

A sharp pain came out as he was being bitten and dragged- the Black Beetle armor could only take so much abuse before giving way. He could feel blood pooling from the bite marks- He had to think fast, or he was going to be Crab Rangoon.

"DENSHI BUNNY- LIGHTNING!"

Instead of flesh, what would be left inside the monster's maw would be pure, unadulterated lightning. The electric current conducted through the water, electrifying anything and everything within and around it.

"Sorry for the shock to your palette, but I'm not on the menu!"

The sparking electric form would likely be more than enough cover to tell those monsters off, as he'd race right past them, searching for that girl who got away.

He won't let her do that again.

Yeah, whatever she was saying, he was NOT buying. Between her flighty nature, the unsureness of her voice, along everything else that Kimiko had found suspicious about her, he did too.

However- he wouldn't have time to think about it; more monsters appeared, and they were already upon his friend-!

"KIMIKO-!"

Time seemed to slow after Kimiko gave her command. He had to make a choice.

Kimiko was a strong warrior, right? She also had the Dragon's Tail and Star of Hanabi, so she should be fine... right? Not to mention splitting up would divide their attention. But there were more and more coming. If he left her alone with them, they could very well kill her... but if he stayed, they'd let the mastermind get away, and the whole world would be doomed!

Was one life to be sacrificed, a very dear life to him, worth saving millions..?

"...Alright! I'm going! But you'd better be alive when I get back!!"

If she wasn't... he'd never forgive himself.

With that, he'd have the Beetle reform his armor around his face, as he rushed on, head-first into the Portal.

Straight into the Maws of Madness.

[the-oc-nebula]

Yeah, whatever she was saying, he was NOT buying. Between her flighty nature, the unsureness of her voice, along everything else that Kimiko had found suspicious about her, he did too.

However- he wouldn't have time to think about it; more monsters appeared, and they were already upon his friend-!

"KIMIKO-!"

Time seemed to slow after Kimiko gave her command. He had to make a choice.

Kimiko was a strong warrior, right? She also had the Dragon's Tail and Star of Hanabi, so she should be fine... right? Not to mention splitting up would divide their attention. But there were more and more coming. If he left her alone with them, they could very well kill her... but if he stayed, they'd let the mastermind get away, and the whole world would be doomed!

Was one life to be sacrificed, a very dear life to him, worth saving millions..?

"...Alright! I'm going! But you'd better be alive when I get back!!"

If she wasn't... he'd never forgive himself.

With that, he'd have the Beetle reform his armor around his face, as he rushed on, head-first into the Portal.

Straight into the Maws of Madness.

He took his defensive stance next to Kimiko once she did, but seeing the other appear was a wonder in of itself. Another survivor? But... why was she dragging a body-!?

The scrambling on to run into the portal was unexpected; Good thing Kimiko was hot on the draw! As soon as this mysterious other was being dragged back, that monstrous hand reached out from the Portal, as if wanting to grab her!

"Oh no, you don't! Lightning!"

While Kimiko dragged back this mysterious newcomer, he would go to work on that Giant Hand. Slashes from his Doombolt Dao seemed to cut up the monster's palm, and with one decisive stab, it cut off the beast's pinky finger. A discordant roar of pain echoed through the portal as the hand retreated, as he went on to help Kimiko get this other a good bit away from the Portal, and the body she was dragging.

"Alright- let me start off with a simple question; who are you?"

He had no real reason to be suspicious... yet. Maybe a minor interrogation was in order to find something out.

[the-oc-nebula]

He took his defensive stance next to Kimiko once she did, but seeing the other appear was a wonder in of itself. Another survivor? But... why was she dragging a body-!?

The scrambling on to run into the portal was unexpected; Good thing Kimiko was hot on the draw! As soon as this mysterious other was being dragged back, that monstrous hand reached out from the Portal, as if wanting to grab her!

"Oh no, you don't! Lightning!"

While Kimiko dragged back this mysterious newcomer, he would go to work on that Giant Hand. Slashes from his Doombolt Dao seemed to cut up the monster's palm, and with one decisive stab, it cut off the beast's pinky finger. A discordant roar of pain echoed through the portal as the hand retreated, as he went on to help Kimiko get this other a good bit away from the Portal, and the body she was dragging.

"Alright- let me start off with a simple question; who are you?"

He had no real reason to be suspicious... yet. Maybe a minor interrogation was in order to find something out.

...yeah this place wasn't exactly pleasant. Between the smell of already rotting bodies, and how they were positioned, it was almost as if it was a cult-like setting... like a ritual had taken place.

"...that makes some sense. No animals around here were harmed, but they exude a lot of fear too. If they were really after "Fear," they wouldn't stop at just Human Fear. Is our fear complex enough to warrant our near-extinction?

As for your point, it's possible, but... who would even want to bring Monsters into our world and doom humanity to begin with? This isn't Chase's doing... he only wants eternal life. As for Wuya, she's in her spirit form; nowhere near strong enough to cause a ritual this big. Cut out all the lesser villains we tango with daily; no Katnappe, no Tubbimura, and not even Jack would use monsters- he'd use his Robots. None of their motivations fit..."

The only culprit it could be that he knew of would've been either Wuya, who was ruled out, and Roy Bean; but wasn't he locked back into the Ying-Yang World after his defeat?

"...so, this could be a whole new person, or group of people, trying to plunge the world into a fear-filled nightmare. Let's search this place for clues; on who started this, what they want, and how to shut this place down. And be careful- who knows if there's a monster, or more, around here guarding the place..."

[the-oc-nebula]

...yeah this place wasn't exactly pleasant. Between the smell of already rotting bodies, and how they were positioned, it was almost as if it was a cult-like setting... like a ritual had taken place.

"...that makes some sense. No animals around here were harmed, but they exude a lot of fear too. If they were really after "Fear," they wouldn't stop at just Human Fear. Is our fear complex enough to warrant our near-extinction?

As for your point, it's possible, but... who would even want to bring Monsters into our world and doom humanity to begin with? This isn't Chase's doing... he only wants eternal life. As for Wuya, she's in her spirit form; nowhere near strong enough to cause a ritual this big. Cut out all the lesser villains we tango with daily; no Katnappe, no Tubbimura, and not even Jack would use monsters- he'd use his Robots. None of their motivations fit..."

The only culprit it could be that he knew of would've been either Wuya, who was ruled out, and Roy Bean; but wasn't he locked back into the Ying-Yang World after his defeat?

"...so, this could be a whole new person, or group of people, trying to plunge the world into a fear-filled nightmare. Let's search this place for clues; on who started this, what they want, and how to shut this place down. And be careful- who knows if there's a monster, or more, around here guarding the place..."

He'd move to shield over her- he still had on the Black Beetle armor after all- before looking up to see the gargoyle had gone. Once they were in the clear, they'd help each other up and disappear with the Serpent's Tail.

Once at the temple, Terrell was relieved to see that it was still intact, but it likely wouldn't be for long if they don't close that portal, and soon. But, a simple sight would help focus him.

"I'll do you one better. See that path, and those broken trees? That wasn't there before." He'd point to what looked like a desire path- a path made by continuous trampling; either over time... or by a stampede of monsters.

He'd shift to stay close to Kimiko as they'd adventure forwards- who knows what could be guarding that Portal... or how they'd even be able to turn it off.

[the-oc-nebula]

He'd move to shield over her- he still had on the Black Beetle armor after all- before looking up to see the gargoyle had gone. Once they were in the clear, they'd help each other up and disappear with the Serpent's Tail.

Once at the temple, Terrell was relieved to see that it was still intact, but it likely wouldn't be for long if they don't close that portal, and soon. But, a simple sight would help focus him.

"I'll do you one better. See that path, and those broken trees? That wasn't there before." He'd point to what looked like a desire path- a path made by continuous trampling; either over time... or by a stampede of monsters.

He'd shift to stay close to Kimiko as they'd adventure forwards- who knows what could be guarding that Portal... or how they'd even be able to turn it off.

Well, that was at least a good sign. No other known invasion points meant that it was still relatively local. Making the city into a stronghold would be a good tactic... though he paused at the question. He looked back at his drawing, and a lightbulb went off in his head.

"...I think I have a theory."

He'd erase the Earth with his shoe on the dirt path, before drawing a lot of stick figures-

"That many monsters must've made tracks, right? For all those that couldn't fly they must've trudged through the grass- and that much of an army would've flattened anything that stood in their way.

...So, if we find that trampled path..."

[the-oc-nebula]

Well, that was at least a good sign. No other known invasion points meant that it was still relatively local. Making the city into a stronghold would be a good tactic... though he paused at the question. He looked back at his drawing, and a lightbulb went off in his head.

"...I think I have a theory."

He'd erase the Earth with his shoe on the dirt path, before drawing a lot of stick figures-

"That many monsters must've made tracks, right? For all those that couldn't fly they must've trudged through the grass- and that much of an army would've flattened anything that stood in their way.

...So, if we find that trampled path..."

"An... Initial Portal?"

Kimiko had a point. The initial invasion all had to come from somewhere, right? And if she was right, severing that connection would likely lower their forces... but therein laid a problem.

"We still have the same problem. How're we going to get -TO- the Portals through all of the monsters? We're not gonna be able to ask them nicely to shut them off... and even then, this may not be the only one. There could be initial portals all over the globe." He'd explain, using his Dao to draw a crude outline of the Earth in the ground.

"They're not gonna just stop on this continent, Kimi. Fear is Fear, no matter where you get it from. There may be more Initial Invasion Points around all of Earth, but... what you say could work. Cutting off their supply from critical places should slow them down enough for us to clean them up..."

"...but it's not gonna be easy. This is probably going to be the hardest thing we've ever done. But, I'm willing to try. For the fate of the Future, and for everyone on Earth, I'm going to do my damnedest to make these monsters pay."

The plan was set. Find the portal, or portals. Cut the connection from the Monster's World to the Human World. Rinse and Repeat... until it is done.

He'd get up from his kneeling position from the diagram, and offer a hand for Kimiko to take. "Are you with me?"

[the-oc-nebula]

"An... Initial Portal?"

Kimiko had a point. The initial invasion all had to come from somewhere, right? And if she was right, severing that connection would likely lower their forces... but therein laid a problem.

"We still have the same problem. How're we going to get -TO- the Portals through all of the monsters? We're not gonna be able to ask them nicely to shut them off... and even then, this may not be the only one. There could be initial portals all over the globe." He'd explain, using his Dao to draw a crude outline of the Earth in the ground.

"They're not gonna just stop on this continent, Kimi. Fear is Fear, no matter where you get it from. There may be more Initial Invasion Points around all of Earth, but... what you say could work. Cutting off their supply from critical places should slow them down enough for us to clean them up..."

"...but it's not gonna be easy. This is probably going to be the hardest thing we've ever done. But, I'm willing to try. For the fate of the Future, and for everyone on Earth, I'm going to do my damnedest to make these monsters pay."

The plan was set. Find the portal, or portals. Cut the connection from the Monster's World to the Human World. Rinse and Repeat... until it is done.

He'd get up from his kneeling position from the diagram, and offer a hand for Kimiko to take. "Are you with me?"

OK, so she wasn't gonna be reasoned with. That was bad. With how many were swarming, and how many had come into the room now to try and make shredded flesh out of him, he felt his heart begin to race with both fear and righteous anger. If he was going to go down, he was gonna go down swinging.

That's when Kimiko had pulled him down through the floorboards; had that Ghost got him!? Thankfully not, and when he saw it was his fellow monk, he sighed in relief and hugged his friend. "Oh, thank god you're OK... You're right- we need to get out of here... I don't know how much else we're going to save."

Once the duo manage to get out while they still could, Terrell would look back at the horrifying scene. Screams were dying out. The ripping and tearing of flesh, rebar, and steel as the dinosauric Kaiju continued wiping out everything in sight.

Two Xiaolin Warriors were outnumbered and outgunned by that thing alone- add to it a whole army of monsters and that's a very apocalyptic situation.

"...Those things won't stop coming. Not until we break those portals. But we can't get to them with just our skills and our Wu. We need something bigger. Something Better, something stronger." He'd muse, while tending to wounds of both his own and Kimiko's. Kimiko had more than he did, considering the Black Beetle, but he was thanking heaven nothing was any worse than it had been.

"...Did Dashi ever make something that powerful that wasn't the Sapphire Dragon? That thing won't discriminate- it'll attack us and other survivors along with those monsters. Too risky... got any ideas?"

[the-oc-nebula]

OK, so she wasn't gonna be reasoned with. That was bad. With how many were swarming, and how many had come into the room now to try and make shredded flesh out of him, he felt his heart begin to race with both fear and righteous anger. If he was going to go down, he was gonna go down swinging.

That's when Kimiko had pulled him down through the floorboards; had that Ghost got him!? Thankfully not, and when he saw it was his fellow monk, he sighed in relief and hugged his friend. "Oh, thank god you're OK... You're right- we need to get out of here... I don't know how much else we're going to save."

Once the duo manage to get out while they still could, Terrell would look back at the horrifying scene. Screams were dying out. The ripping and tearing of flesh, rebar, and steel as the dinosauric Kaiju continued wiping out everything in sight.

Two Xiaolin Warriors were outnumbered and outgunned by that thing alone- add to it a whole army of monsters and that's a very apocalyptic situation.

"...Those things won't stop coming. Not until we break those portals. But we can't get to them with just our skills and our Wu. We need something bigger. Something Better, something stronger." He'd muse, while tending to wounds of both his own and Kimiko's. Kimiko had more than he did, considering the Black Beetle, but he was thanking heaven nothing was any worse than it had been.

"...Did Dashi ever make something that powerful that wasn't the Sapphire Dragon? That thing won't discriminate- it'll attack us and other survivors along with those monsters. Too risky... got any ideas?"

Oh, he's not gonna just sit back and let any of this slide.

"Then how much 'fear' do you need!? Is it until this city is reduced to rubble? The next one!? And the one after that!? Or are you not going to stop until the globe is full of monsters and terror!?"

"And why should I even believe you'll stop there? For all I know, you'll stay in this world and keep it emersed in Fear! Not happening, fang-face."

Terrell took a defensive stance. Hopefully the armor on him would be enough to protect against those aforementioned fangs...

"You and your monsters are killing innocent people; people who had lives, goals, aspirations! Probably the same that all you do! If you wanted to make a good first impression, then you've flubbed it, big time."

[the-oc-nebula]

Oh, he's not gonna just sit back and let any of this slide.

"Then how much 'fear' do you need!? Is it until this city is reduced to rubble? The next one!? And the one after that!? Or are you not going to stop until the globe is full of monsters and terror!?"

"And why should I even believe you'll stop there? For all I know, you'll stay in this world and keep it emersed in Fear! Not happening, fang-face."

Terrell took a defensive stance. Hopefully the armor on him would be enough to protect against those aforementioned fangs...

"You and your monsters are killing innocent people; people who had lives, goals, aspirations! Probably the same that all you do! If you wanted to make a good first impression, then you've flubbed it, big time."

"Kimiko, can you hear me!?"

Ohh boy, not good. This was legitimately like one of those horror games. Being separated from your crew, and in a locale this filled with viscera sans bodies could only mean a few things; either a big scare was coming, or a boss.

Or quite possibly a big, scary boss.

When he made it into the room, it... didn't seem like there would be either... though, looks could be deceptive. His eyes never left the Vampire, thankful his armor was still in-tact. If this monster was willing to speak with him... maybe she could be reasoned with?

Somehow he highly doubted that.

"I don't know who you are, or where you came from or who you THINK you are, but don't you think letting all your monster buddies literally eat everyone they come across and raze the city is a little harsh!?"

[the-oc-nebula]

"Kimiko, can you hear me!?"

Ohh boy, not good. This was legitimately like one of those horror games. Being separated from your crew, and in a locale this filled with viscera sans bodies could only mean a few things; either a big scare was coming, or a boss.

Or quite possibly a big, scary boss.

When he made it into the room, it... didn't seem like there would be either... though, looks could be deceptive. His eyes never left the Vampire, thankful his armor was still in-tact. If this monster was willing to speak with him... maybe she could be reasoned with?

Somehow he highly doubted that.

"I don't know who you are, or where you came from or who you THINK you are, but don't you think letting all your monster buddies literally eat everyone they come across and raze the city is a little harsh!?"

Almost like a perfectly-timed skill-check; Terrell got out of the way of the truck just in time!

"Hey! Where'd you get your driver's license, the insanity ward!?"

Though it seemed that whatever had possessed that truck clearly had no time nor love for his quips. As she moved to haunt another building, that'd be a mental note to check out at a later time.

Right now, there were others in need of saving.

"Black Beetle!"

Placing the Beetle upon his chest, it wrapped him in armor not unlike a certain superhero of Japanese origin, before barging his way into the burning building. He'd save as many as he possibly could- instructing them to go seek shelter with their nearest official. It was hard, grueling work, and unfortunately more, not everyone had made it before the building collapsed. The Black Beetle provided enough protection from the collapse as with the fire, but those who didn't make it were charred and buried. Guilt and anger welled up inside him; if they only had made it here sooner, they all could have been saved.

He'd pull himself from the rubble; scratched up and dented, but otherwise alive. He'd pull his phone out and put Kimiko on Speed-Dial.

"It's me; I got out as many as I could. We've got to find the source of these monsters. Otherwise they're just going to keep coming. I saw a particularly nasty ghost haunt another building- I'm gonna go check that out. You wanna back me up on this one, or are there more people you need to save?"

[the-oc-nebula]

Almost like a perfectly-timed skill-check; Terrell got out of the way of the truck just in time!

"Hey! Where'd you get your driver's license, the insanity ward!?"

Though it seemed that whatever had possessed that truck clearly had no time nor love for his quips. As she moved to haunt another building, that'd be a mental note to check out at a later time.

Right now, there were others in need of saving.

"Black Beetle!"

Placing the Beetle upon his chest, it wrapped him in armor not unlike a certain superhero of Japanese origin, before barging his way into the burning building. He'd save as many as he possibly could- instructing them to go seek shelter with their nearest official. It was hard, grueling work, and unfortunately more, not everyone had made it before the building collapsed. The Black Beetle provided enough protection from the collapse as with the fire, but those who didn't make it were charred and buried. Guilt and anger welled up inside him; if they only had made it here sooner, they all could have been saved.

He'd pull himself from the rubble; scratched up and dented, but otherwise alive. He'd pull his phone out and put Kimiko on Speed-Dial.

"It's me; I got out as many as I could. We've got to find the source of these monsters. Otherwise they're just going to keep coming. I saw a particularly nasty ghost haunt another building- I'm gonna go check that out. You wanna back me up on this one, or are there more people you need to save?"

Upon hearing the explosion himself, he watched as the sheer wave of beasts went away from the Temple, right for the city. The monsters were smart to want to avoid them; but not smart enough to completely avoid any trouble.

"I'm right behind you!"

Once they got to the city... it was like someone had opened the gates to Hell, right in the center of the city. People were screaming in terror, running for their lives. Monsters were overtaking everything. Fires were breaking out, streetlights were snapped like toothpicks.

Kimiko was right- this was no Heylin attack. There was no sign of ANY villain here- even Spicer wasn't this brash... and even then, it'd be his robots wreaking havoc, not these beasts.

"...This... this is bad. Let's split up- I'll take the burning building with the Black Beetle to see if I can't get people out- You take the Silk Spitter, Star Hanabi, and the Dragon's Tail; there's probably some people trapped in the rubble!"

[the-oc-nebula]

Upon hearing the explosion himself, he watched as the sheer wave of beasts went away from the Temple, right for the city. The monsters were smart to want to avoid them; but not smart enough to completely avoid any trouble.

"I'm right behind you!"

Once they got to the city... it was like someone had opened the gates to Hell, right in the center of the city. People were screaming in terror, running for their lives. Monsters were overtaking everything. Fires were breaking out, streetlights were snapped like toothpicks.

Kimiko was right- this was no Heylin attack. There was no sign of ANY villain here- even Spicer wasn't this brash... and even then, it'd be his robots wreaking havoc, not these beasts.

"...This... this is bad. Let's split up- I'll take the burning building with the Black Beetle to see if I can't get people out- You take the Silk Spitter, Star Hanabi, and the Dragon's Tail; there's probably some people trapped in the rubble!"

"You got it! Cover me while I'm down there!"

Kimiko could handle herself- but for how long really depended on him. He went downstairs to grab the Wu while Kimiko and the other monks kept the monsters out. The Silk Spitter, the Black Beetle, the Mosaic Scale, Dragon's Tail, and the Hanabi Star. Terrell always kept the Denshi Bunny and Doombolt Dao on his person, so this was more than enough for the two between them. With haste, he hurried back to Kimiko and tossed the Hanabi Star and the Silk Spitter to her.

"You're not just preaching to the choir there!"

"DOOMBOLT DAO- LIGHTNING!"

Taking out his blade, the rings upon it released and flew towards several of the fishmen that approached, binding and electrifying them, keeping them down for a short while. Even despite their training, if more monsters were to come, they'd be overwhelmed in an instant.

"You got a plan, Kimiko!?"

[the-oc-nebula]

"You got it! Cover me while I'm down there!"

Kimiko could handle herself- but for how long really depended on him. He went downstairs to grab the Wu while Kimiko and the other monks kept the monsters out. The Silk Spitter, the Black Beetle, the Mosaic Scale, Dragon's Tail, and the Hanabi Star. Terrell always kept the Denshi Bunny and Doombolt Dao on his person, so this was more than enough for the two between them. With haste, he hurried back to Kimiko and tossed the Hanabi Star and the Silk Spitter to her.

"You're not just preaching to the choir there!"

"DOOMBOLT DAO- LIGHTNING!"

Taking out his blade, the rings upon it released and flew towards several of the fishmen that approached, binding and electrifying them, keeping them down for a short while. Even despite their training, if more monsters were to come, they'd be overwhelmed in an instant.

"You got a plan, Kimiko!?"

AU Starter for @sillymuses- Kimiko

"Kimi- we got a situation!"

Somehow, a great darkness had began to descend upon the world; there was no way Wuya came back, was there!? They just saw her scampering off with her tail between her legs just days ago! And even worse than that, there were all these monsters! Stereotypical ones like you'd see in monster flicks- zombies, vampires, Frankenstein's Monsters, Werewolves of all shapes, sizes, and viciousness. What gives!?

"I don't think a "Monster Migration" was part of the itinerary! Coming up on your left!"

[the-oc-nebula]

AU Starter for @sillymuses- Kimiko

"Kimi- we got a situation!"

Somehow, a great darkness had began to descend upon the world; there was no way Wuya came back, was there!? They just saw her scampering off with her tail between her legs just days ago! And even worse than that, there were all these monsters! Stereotypical ones like you'd see in monster flicks- zombies, vampires, Frankenstein's Monsters, Werewolves of all shapes, sizes, and viciousness. What gives!?

"I don't think a "Monster Migration" was part of the itinerary! Coming up on your left!"

[the-oc-nebula]

"I can never stop thinking. Sends me in a fit." {Kimiko to Terrell!}

"I guess that's kind of the secret to meditation, isn't it? Clearing your mind? We should probably find a literal mindless game to go through- something you don't have to think about. Maybe something like Minecraft or Stardew?"

[the-oc-nebula]

Multi-Muse RP blog featuring : Bill Cipher || Draculaura || Daphne || ZIM And plenty of other muses 10+ Years of RPing Experience Crossover and OC Friendly! Rules