The cold barron waste land of the dead sits peacfully in the darkness that never lifts. From the far reached of the living medows stummbles a man who has had bad luck as of late.....Cole....He is sweating and looks on deaths door....Well as close to deaths door as a demon can get, which in some cases is pretty close...His energy is still weak.

"I......Know what I have to do to survive.....But." Cole is cut off by a huge power surge through his body which originated from deep within his heart.

He falls to the floor clutching his heart and panting. He frowns aggressivly.

"Belthazor?" He thinks to himself and is replied to by a strange deep demonic voice.

"Not quite....Belthazor is dead." Comes the voice.

Coles eyes widen at what the voice said, but soon collapses in pain as yet another huge power surge lundges through his body with no remorse. However this time all the power flies out of his palms and high into the sky, whatever is inside Cole wants to get out.

"Whats happening!" Cole screams as his skin begins to split.

Small dagger like objects pierce the surface of his skin, his body begins to grow large and blood begins to pour from his mouth. Its runs down his body and drips sickly onto the floor. The wins around pick up and thunder strikes the ground, but much to Coles dismay he is struck harshly by one of the bolts which lights him up. He is blasted back crashing into a rock causing a huge cloud of smoke.

Cole lays there coated in blood which still continues to emerge. But after all the pain, his eyes slowly fall closed....Cole....Has died. Thunder begins to strike more violently at the dead body of Cole and suddenly a huge blast of flames fire back at the lighting knocking them off course. From the smoke appears a new demon......A huge knight like demon with devilish glowing eyes.

He rolls his shoulders back and growls and then cracks his neck from side to side.

"Ahhhh.....How I've missed this body." Laughed the demon.

Strife.....Had been born and was now free.

Xei saw the figure he was followig cole but he had changed, and not into his demon
"Ahhhh.......How iv missed this body,"The new demon laughed.

Xei stumbled forward in the darkness "Cole?......... cole where are you?"

Drawing his sword running to confront the new demon.
"where is he?.. Where is cole?"

Strife looked down at this bold human. His fiery demon eyes shone brightly through the slit in his helmet. The winds and storm which had aided his birth had now vanished and instead just left a thick veil of black clouds almost ready to burst with rain. Strife remained motionless as he examined both his opponent and his weapon, it was clear Xei wasn't here to welcome the birth of a new darkness.

"So you knew Cole." Groaned the armour claded demon.

He could see the fury that had built in Xei when he found out Cole was missing. Strife stretched his arms out, clicks and crunches could be heard as the bones adjusted to the space, after all he had been trapped inside Cole for many years. He brung his arms back down to his side as he looked at Xei.

"Well I regret to tell you that Cole has been....Disposed of." The sick monster was taking joy out of revealing Cole's death to his apperent friend.

Seeing that he was being examined, Xei did the same ... it honestly seemed hopless smiled hiding his deep anger ... yes he had only known cole a bit bit he was his only friend.

"a bit, you killed him?"keeping his voice cool and relaxed as if he was enjoying it.

he now started to circle the demon getting a better look at his weapons and noticind a bat around could it be his.

The bat was resting on a rock near by covered in it's crimson wings. It was a wild bat and had all the instincts of one, as soon as Xei looked at it a loud screech came from the bat as he flew around Xeis head biting and scratching while screeching. It's crimson wings making a strange deep humming sound not common for most bats.

Strife had turned to face Xei and was watching the bat defend itself. It seemed almost like it was under some spell as it wasn't letting down or showing any sign of fatigue. Strife held his hand out, palm facing down, and put out one finger and curled the rest into a tight fist. The bat soon stopped attacking and had now swooped onto the demons finger and clutched it tightly with it's little claws.

"Hmm....Strange." Strife said looking at the bat when it grabbed successfuly onto his finger.

He turned his attention back to Xei who was looking very furious as he slowly worked out the truth behind Cole's vanishing act. It wouldn't take long before he found out the real truth and the whereabouts of Cole.

"Did I kill him? Don't be follish human, he's just.........Pre-ocupied....At the momment." The knight laughed afterwards as at this momment only he knew the truth.

What was he talking about, pre-ocupied? .. so there was someting odd about this.. and as for human! .. his dear mother was a elf befor she died and he resented being called a human!
His anger grew with every thought his anger grew, he wanted to kill him! kill him for inprisoning his only friend and that stupid bat he would stick it down the demons thought when he killed him.

Without relising it Xei lifted his sword and pointed it at the fersome demon
"i will kill you! kill u for every thing!"
then snapping out of the trance "first where is he?"keeping his shaking arm level with ese.

circling hs foe once more and thinking about it all even i need a new sword just look at it its rusty and pefetick ill just have to rely on skill ... for now anyway.he was look ng for weaknesses on the demon

Strife roared out loud causing the ground to shake and small rocks to crumble from the nearby hill. As he did this he stretched his arms and formed two great metallic covered fists. Finally a chance to see what powers he had now.

"You will regret your actions." Growled the demon.

Strife held right arm out to the side and suddenly a demonic spear appeared in his grasp. Its blade was a fine, well sharpend silver like material. Its wooden handle was very strong and would take alot to break, it was a tough wood possibly from the great Yew Tree. The demon took some practice stabs in the air around Xei at lightning speeds, he was truely a master of this weapon and knew exactly what he was doing.

"Ahh, just how I remember you." Strife whispered but loud enough for Xei to hear.

Strife grabbed the lower end of the spear with his other hand and stepped back into a battle stance ready to lundge at Xei when he needed to. Just before this battle begun Strife stoof up and looked at the blade, suddenly his eyes turned upwards like he was smiling but all you could see was his eyes.

"FLAME BLADE!" The demon roared.

And with these words the blade of the spear burst into flames. A thick whirlwind of fire had coated the blade which was now burning hot and glowing orange. The flames lapped and licked at the air as they were caught in the wind. Strife stubbed the wooden end of the spear into the ground and held it just below the flame, now it was a burning torch stuck in the ground.

"Lets see what humans are capable of." Strife thought to himself deep inside his warped black mind.

All:
Cool, gentle winds lift once more and blow across the grassless lands, bringing with them dried leaves and debris from more forgiving lands. A swirl of leaves and little white feathers blow across the two lone figures and dance slowly around them as if teasing them.

Strife:
Being more sensitive to the presence of those who have intents opposing yours, you feel that there is something more to this wind than what you can see. The wind swirls around your blade and the flames seem to lessen in their might.

Xei:
You notice nothing unusual about the wind other than the feathers that seem to have no source.

Strifes eyes suddenly diverted to his spears head which was slowly losing its power. He soon began to look around the area as he knew that something was wrong. Something out there was trying to give Xei a chance or survival, either way he was going to test his powers with or without the flameing blade.

The dead leaves and feathers began to whisp around the two fighters in a cool almost soothing wind, as it blew it caught the tattered under-robes of Strifes armour revealing small parts of dead rotted flesh. Flakes of skin blew eligantly in the breeze as they were torn from the body of this strange demon.

Strife suddenly looked up and across the lands to the mountain in the distance, a small white speck stood on a ridge. It was impossible to make out what it was but Strife was confident in the guess that it was that being who had caused this wind. Strife smirked in his shadowd helmet and pulled the spear from the ground and got ready to lundge again.

"Try and stop this one!" Strife dived forward cutting through feathers and leaves as he charged towards his target.

Strife charged at Xei with such force that huges waves of dust were shooting up behind him and causing clouds of smoke. Even though Strife was focused on Xei he always had a constant watch on the white speck on the hill. What was it and why was it trying to stop him?

Strife was going to show Xei exactly why his chosen weapon is the spear.

(God damn it !! i just did my best post ever and it disapeared!! :banghead: )

The wind blew past Xei the feathers and leaves flying past his head, the cool refrleshed him and calmed him down. A feather rubbed along his face, its soft touch bringing a strange hope they look like angel feathers he thought as one hovered infront of his face as if it was talking to him, he grabed it and held it in his left hand keeping its softness close to him. His hair blowing in the wind it felt like a dream...

Quite as sudden as the wind the demon had a spear, waking xei up from his dream, it was a good spear and he would have it by the end the demon roared some words though the wind conciled them it sounded like "flame blade" and just confurm this the spear lit with wild flame and then the flames nearly vanished, the wind blew extra hard and there was no flame visible by his eyes and they were good.

"Try and stop this one!" This time xei heard clearly, the demon charged, spear point down, he was in for a fight- and he welcomed it, his sword out ready his stance changed and waited for the charge. The demon was close, he was running to fast but xei had no chance to move so he stode there, and the smell was first to hit him, rotting fleash and sweat mixed not good but not as bad as orks.

At the the very last moment he said,"Ok.." and xei slashed up in an arc, smashing the spear aside and knoking it off balance, demon taken by the suprise attack slamed into xei oach !! He flew backwards takeing the demon with him, he roled and got up he was weezing and his head bleeding from the knock of the spears handle but he still attacked.

he slashed down on the demon bouncing of the armour with a numbed arm and amied a lunge to the thoat, if successful he would spit down his neck...

(Best post yet B) much better than the vanershing one!)

The battle froze as Strife lay on the floor shocked at what had just happened, and Xei stood poised to strike. The atmosphere of the area was rather morbid as this battle wasn't going to end without some form of bloodshed. Xei was already bleeding but that wasn't enough for the sadistic monster.

Strife could see the fury building inside of Xei, he was normal human Xei had a strange power about him that Strife could feel in the air...It was almost.....Demonic....Strife noticed how Xei was aiming for his throat, he couldn't just let the human kill him so easily.

Xei launched his blade downwards at Strifes throat which was not protected by any form of armour and even if it was the tattered remains he had wouldn't protect him.

"This better still work." Strife thought to himself as he braced for the cold steel blade.

As fast as the blade had left it's starting posistion it had hit Strifes throat and pierced right through it crashing into the ground under him. Strife's eyes opened in a furious shock but they soon closed as he fell limp on the floor....This battle was over.

The winds lifted feathers again which floated around softly in the air again, it still wasn't clear where the feathers had come from. A sickening silence drenched the battlefield, all this was about to change.

"FIRE BALL!" Roared Strife as he fired a huge ball of fire at Xei.

Being at point blank range there was no way Xei could dodge it so he was blasted back a few feet and brought crashing to the ground. The blade remained in Strifes throat, but not for long. Strife began to laugh and slowly raised from laying on the floor, as he did his very being phased through the sword almost ghost like. Strife touched his throat and then laughed. Both fighters were now unarmed and had changed posistions.

"How can you expect to defeat a ghost with a mortal weapon?" Strife laughed as he noticed the two had swapped places.

What the hell just happened!? He had drived the sword right through the demons thoat, feeling it hit the spine and carving through the bone and he remembered smileing, smiling that special smile when killing is compleat.
but know he was on the ground, putting the fire out quicly and standing up.

A gost what in hell, he cant be... can he? he was frightneed this this was true he was he could fire as much fireballs at him and xei could do nothing but run.

His head hurt and he was finding it very hard to breath, and now blood and smoke added to the smell of sweat and flesh. I could heal so he could fight better in combat which i do not wont to do with a demon..... ok. Waving his hand, as if giving a warning he began to heal, the blood stopped coming from the cut in his head, he straightened up and he was able to breath again. all in all he felt happer.

Now he would focus on the matter at hand .So Xei got up and looked around for help or a escape rout, he found no help but every where was an escape rout ... the only problen he was in a baronless wastland.

so he faced his enemy.

The demon watched the human feebaly attempt at healing himself. Xei put his hand infront of himself and waved it, the blood from his head slowly dried up and turned a dark mucky colour and then proceeded to fade away as if it were never there in the first place. Xei then some how managed to pull himself upright again and his breathing returned to normal.

Strife knew straight away that Xei wasn't going to give up. Xei scanned the area for something which wasn't obvious to Strife. The demonic being stood there and quickly ran his eyes across the ground looking for his spear, but to his dismay and somewhat sick delight the only way to get to the spear was to go through Xei, Strife wasn't about to let such a chance to cause damage pass away so easily.

However, he had noticed that there was a large number of escape routes for the human to take and this was also something Strife wasn't going to allow to happen. He had to think hard, he knew it would be an easy task to just chase him if he took a run for it but that wouldn't be as fun as trapping him in one space and forcing him to fight.

"Here's a new trick for you to enjoy.....Fire Ring." Strife said with a sick pleasure in his voice.

Suddenly huge walls of flame surrounded the two warriors. The new inferno that Strife had plundged them into had no escape, the only way out was to kill the other person. Strife's spear and Xei's sword were banished the outside of the wall, the only thing these two had were their fists and anything else they could use.

oh great trapped in this fire ring he was left facing the demon. He would have to fight dirty to survive.. maby if we beat each over in to a plup we would both give up and leave. No thats what humans would do not a demon but he sences someone eles, someone good, that would help him in need. So it was decided he was to last intill help, it might be a fools hope but it was a strange one, he new someone was out there.

A quick glance around showed a branch quite big, he could hold it in one hand,but big enough to kill and quite rotten. He walked to it quickly and shached it up.. its good enough ..xei thought it would last, hopefuly.

Xei would use his 'Great agility'to dodge his attacks and then strike using hit and runs with the banch it would tire the demon and make his fredom of this fire ring.
All was left to do was hope the plan worked, it all depended on his enemy.

Xei stood there branched raised for swinging and followed his plan.
"come on then, u bast**d! "

(can i do that i didnt read that i couldnt anywhere(adds to the effect!)

Strife was ammused as he watched Xei hurry towards the branch without keeping an eye on the demon. It would of been so easy for Strife to of just lundged at Xei and taken him by surprise. Strife was feeling a strange power deep inside of him, this brought a scence of confusion to Strife as he wasn't sure whether or not this was a good thing.

He shook his head and the power had vanished, this meant that it wasn't meant to be there and brought a strange scence of fear to Strife but he wasn't going to let that on during the battle. Using his "Intimidate" skill he could hide his fear perfectly, he wasn't scared of Xei it was this strange power. If he was going to find the source of it then he was going to have to finish this battle quickly.

"Come on then, you bastard!" growled Xei as he rose his branch getting ready to swing.

Strife clenched a tight fist by his side drilling small nail marks into the palm of his hand, some pure black drops of dead blood dropped ran down Strife's fingures and dropped violently onto the ground below. There was no reason for doing this, it was merely the anticipation of the on coming battle.

The fire continued to rage around them as the heat within the ring rose higher and higher, a new smell had joint the already massing oders and that was the smell of burning flesh. Strife had backed himself to close to the flames and now they were lapping at the lower part of his back, for a ghost he took alot of damage before the battle had even started.

"Shall we begin then." Strife bowed his head to Xei in a sign of respect.

Strife had now clenched tight fists with both of his hands, he may have the ability to launch fire at Xei but he wanted a fair fight, well as fair as it could be.

Xei had expected to be dodging a fire ball right now but instead he was standing there ready and waiting, it seemed the demon was a peice of cheating filth like he would be. Xei saw him clenching his fists and blood droped from them on to the floor covered in leaves and feathers.

A new plan rised in his head he had noticed how close the demon was to the fire that he was actualy burning. He was about to charge then saw it he would be tricked into the fire.... Why not do the same, it wouldnt work.

xei walk forwards slowly, branch ready to strike what would he do? something surprising, he ran, he couldnt beleave what he was doing.
He swung, feinting left (obvious) and aimed right.

Strife stood there across the flaming hell he had taken them to. The stench of burning had become so strong now a thick black smog had gatherd above the ring and was soon going to slowly work its way down destroying all oxygen.

The two fighters looked as ready as ever both concocting their plans in their heads. It was only a matter of time before the first shot was taken, but by whom would it be? This was answered when Xei took of towards Strife wielding his mighty branch.

Xei ran forward with amazment in his eyes, possibly still shocked that he was fighting a demon. Xei took the easy option out and faked a left turn by swung the branch in a counter motion from the right. Some how Strife wasn't surprised and simply raised his arm, the branch crashed into his forearm causing sparks.

All that happened to the branch was it violently shook, a cruel darkness had filled Strifes eyes. When the battle had stopped for that brief momment Strife took a cheap shot and through his spare fist aimed directly at Xei's mid-section with devilish speed.

Xei saw the arm raised and was totaly off gaurd when a fist hurtled in to his chest.
He flew back 3 ft hiting the ground with a insulting thump.He cluched where his rib broken with his numbed hand from his attack. He caughed up some blood and crawled to the diguarded branch.

Xei stood up I wont give up, i wont give up! "Ahhh-ah!" Xei dieved at the demon, wildly and non-caring, he had no fear now just a rage and a fight for survival.

He saw a smile.

The speed of Xei's punches took Strife by surprise but still weren't fast enough to be of any worry, over the centuries he had come across far worse battles than this pathetic human who was launching punches at him. Strife could fight back at his fal force and probably destroy the human with ease. But that wasn't what Strife was here to do, he simply wanted to test the body he was in.

Strife came to the decision that he was going to fight back like a human would. The two men clashed in a violent frenzy of punches, kicks and blocks. Strife was taking cheap shots with the armoured plates on his forearms by smashing Xei in the head and face. A huge amount of rage was swarming within these two men and was erupting in such a secret battle. It was unlikely that anyone would ever know about this battle.

As the battle raged on as did the flames that surrounded them, occasionaly a spark would jump from the wall of flames and become lost inside the furious battle that raged on in the center of it all. The air was becoming thin as the black smog was making it's way down and choking the life out of everything it touched. A shortage of air wasn't going to stop this battle, this could go down litarlly to the last dieing breath.

All:
Though preoccupied entirely with one another, not all forget so easily. Unknown to the two fighters, for the fire blinds them of anything beyond the hot ring's edge, the white figure seen in the distance approaches closer. There is no hurry, and the distance between the figure and its destination is steadily closing. Casual thoughts fill the being's head. Of course, I do not favor him. I merely oppose his foe... Lists of arcane words tumble across its conciousness and it smiles, lips parting slightly. Yes, this one will do for now... None of the warriors sees the figure, nor can they possibly hear its thoughts, but it is possible they can feel its presence getting stronger.

Where once the stars were visible, dark clouds swallow them. Ominously, the clouds gather strength. The air smells of rain, and a small flash of lightning threatens the sky. The soft wind pushes against the faces of the two men again, small feathers and leaves teasing. A storm is coming.

The heat from the battle and from the fire join to make Xei sweat, sweat fo much his cloths and armour stick to him like glue, but he didnt care the demon was fighting human, and so they were both hitting hard and fast blows the demon winning with ease. It was windy again, and the same feathers too, i wonder ?

His fists damaged from thick punching armour bled alot leaving marks where they hit. I'll have to fight dirty xei thought as another metal fist hit him square on the nose pushing him back and was rewarded by a quick kick by Xei. Aim dirty so he did.

"Haaaa !!"Xei shouted as he ploughed his thick leather boats in his foes groin, wait for the demon to double over and then uppercuted him in teh face. braking his fist in the helm but lifting the demon slightly of the ground. Wind hit him in the face cooling him for a few moments from the fires roaring heat.

Xei picked up the branch and ran at him full force. Xei was stopped by a punch kick combo by the demon, a punch to the face a kick to the chest lifting him 4 ft. and droping him on a small rock. he had just gained more broken bones, and started to get up. "I wont give up!"

Strife had let off his full power knowing it would be to much for the human. As they fought in their flaming prison Strife couldn't help but be side tracked by an odd power from outside the ring, it wasn't a good power or an evil power it was somewhere in between. Strife thought nothing of it and continued to rage this small war.

Neither man was going to give up and Strife wasn't going to be the first man to give in, he had battled far worse things in his life....And death....The battled raged on within the flaming ring. Strife had the upper hand, a quick punch and he had nailed Xei in the face knocking him back. However Xei managed to get a crafty kick at Strifes groin, even for a ghost it still hurts.

Strife doubled over and was hit with an uppercut causing him to stumble back a few steps, thanks to his old rusted armour his face wasn't damaged but it was still a shock. Strife re-gained his barings and growled furiously as both men came to an almost tiresome stop. Both gave a break to regain their breath.

"I wont give up!" Cried Xei as he ran at Strife again.

Strife saw this coming and grabbed Xei by the fist and hit him several times in the stomach with a visious punch one after the other, after releasing the dazed human Strife then stepped back and swung his leg round and nailed a huge spinning kick into the side of Xei's skull.

"We'll just see about that." Strife growled still with his foot imbedded into the side of Xeis head.

His head was spliting with pain but he new better, geting up and having an other quick breather, and quicly healing some bruses and cuts. He felt a bit better allready. Launching himself at strife in anouther struggeled fury punching in the head and then grabbing the helm, but was quikly thown of with a surtain ease that lift up a horse slaming xei into the ground.

The heat geting worse and the fires bigger and thicker as other things caught fire, the smoke now making the air nearly unbreathable, as xei tried to breath what was the left of the oxygen, he thought take off the gauntlets so he will. Returning to his feet.

Jumping on the the demon punching some more with his mangles hands, he tugged at the right gauntlet his working thingers slipped on the blood and with a few punches from strife, he fell backwards once more, but losening the iron fist just a bit.

Strife noticed that Xei seemingly had unlimited amounts of healing spells so this battle would never end. Knowing this he still continued to fight on but also growing weary of the whole thing, there was no reason for this battle and both of them knew this. Xei was clearly showing heart and determination by throwing himself into a losing battle. This heart of Xei's was starting to muster up some form of respect from deep within the demon.

Strife was starting to feel the heat, the shortage of oxygen didn't bother him, and after all he was a ghost and a complicated one at that. The flames roared and engulfed everything they touched, sooner or later Strife would be forced to let the walls down otherwise they would both burn to death, and another death is not what Strife was after. The demon wasn't about to add to the flames by using any form of magic as this was giving him a great opportunity to test the fall potential of this body.

"Interesting....He refuses to give up." Strife thought to himself in curiosity.

The demon had decided against his previous option of simply destroying the human, instead he was going to bring this battle to an end without any death involved in the conclusion. However, even though he was going to finish this battle soon he wasn't going to do it just yet. Instead he fired off some huge punches at Xei, catching him with some but just missing him with others.

"Game" Strife said.

His voice sounded strange, almost like there were two people saying it....Cole?

Huh..?! that voice, thet second voice it was,was... cole. foggeting the heat, the battle the wind and feathers. His head spining with curiosity. Xei backed off, "Cole? ... you're cole?" Thinking for a few seconds, did he take over cole or was it cole's will to turn to strife.

The demon looking just as confused as xei did, was just standing there so Xei lept on his seizing his chance and smashing continuosly in the head keeping the demons arms pinned with his legs. The only risitance was a surprised struggle. Strifes face was already covered with blood with a broken nose, the blood covering his eyes deming hime to see. Xei then smashing the brestplate with both hand. as if trying to smash his way in ,denting it and bending it so it would squive strife to death.

Xei quicly stood up stamping on strifes face twice cumpling the helm. Laughing evily as he did so, then backing up, he had done all this so quick and hard he had shocked strife. He had smashed ribed and face, pounding lungs and now he waited a responce and to leave.. hopfuly or will the demon get up..?

A furious growl emerged from the helmet as Strife struggled to get to one knee; this surprise attack had taken Strife by storm and knocked the breath right out of him. His vision was blurred due to the blood that had sprayed across his eyes and face, it was his own blood mixed with the blood of the human. Strife closed his eyes tightly in the hope that he might be able to clear his vision. The demon was shaky on one knee and wasn't sure if he had enough strength to climb to his feet again. Being such a noble demon he wasn't going to just let Xei get away with this.

Strife rested one hand on his knee and clutched his ribs with the other one, he knew he was injured and it would take a long time to heal but at least he could say he did as much damage to Xei. The monster staggered to his feet and arched backwards a bit as he tried to regain his balance, Xei stood across the way with a sick smile on his face. However, that sense of confusion of hearing Cole's voice again was still evident in Xei's mind. Strife knew why it was there but couldn't work out why it happened then.

As Strife had become so damaged from that little onslaught the fires that surrounded the two had dimmed a bit, still impossible to get out but it was possible to see out through them. Thick embers fell from tree's that had been caught by the flames and Xei's once sturdy tree based weapon was now a roaring mass of ash on the floor to the side of him. Strife knew that now the only way to get this over with was to find the last bit of dark energy within him and unleash a hellish attack unto Xei one last time.

"Very.......G....G....Good." Strife muttered as he removed his hand from his stomach to find it coated in a thick sheet of black blood which dripped onto the floor.

Strife’s injuries were obvious; a huge tattered rib bone had pierced through his flesh and had torn through his armour as well. The tip was caked in the same blood his hand was, this was an injury which would involve pain to fix. Strife could feel that it was no longer attached to anything and the only reason it was still there was it had become jarred in his armor. He reached down and gripped it tightly, he then began to pull it slowly, the sickening cracking and tearing of skin and bone could be heard as the bone made its painful journey out of Strife. As the bone made its last few inches out of the stomach a large amount of black blood poured out in a huge gush onto the floor but soon stopped and dried into a solid scab, yet another scar to add to his collection.

He stood their wielding nothing but his former rib bone and black heart full of rage. Strife through the bone into the flames, a scream was heard from the flames as if the bone was alive. Blood ran slowly from his helmet, what damage had been done would never be known, Strife was growling from inside the helmet as he was ready to launch his last attack. Strife clenched a weak looking fist and bent down in a kind of running tackle position. The anger in his eyes was obvious now as the fire burnt through the blood and starring straight at Xei.

"Game......OVER!" Strife roared as he shot off towards Xei.

He brought the newly clenched fist smashing into Xei's stomach, the sound of bone shattering made it's presence known, Strife then blasted off huge demonic punches, Xei had no hope of defending himself and just got knocked around by the demon. Strife brought both his fists back and roared, the suddenly erupted into flames and he then continued, faster than before, to lay into Xei roaring as he went. The energy being drained from him and blood still running from his face, both men were becoming weaker by the moment.

After that final onslaught Xei collapsed to the floor while Strife fell back to one knee clutching his stomach and panting behind his helmet. Both men had gone deadly silent and the dieing sounds of the flames were all that was left as they began to fade away until all that was left was the smoking remains of all that once was.

"He is stronger than I thought." Strife thought to himself.

"You shouldn't underestimate people so much." Responded a familiar voice, it was Cole's voice.

Strife managed to get back to his feet somehow, very staggered though. Xei was laying flat out on the floor bleeding, if he stayed this way for to long he would die. Strife took it upon himself to get him somewhere safer, he did so by lifting the human up and carrying him over his shoulder. Neither would last longer than a few hours unless Strife could find somewhere to heal them both. He began to stagger off across the burning and blooded battlefield. That same strange presence from earlier in the battle had become a lot stronger, perhaps if Strife could find it then it could help them.

It may of been the loss of blood to Strife that made him this way but no matter what it was, Strife had found some small amount of respect for the human.

Xei stared up at the dark sky, the floor was still lit by the flames. He was caught off guard by the fury of the charge, he thought the demon would of been to injured to fight but instead he was beaten laying on the ground on hand on his broken stomach the other still the feather. "im'.......dying.." he thought as he lay there stairing at the sky, confused, in pain and tired.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw the demon kneeling and cluching his stomach, and getting up slowly, staggered but stayed up.He walked towards Xei and he wandered if he would finish him off but instead he picked xei up. It was very painful when he was picked up and put on the demons shoulders. but he was now feeling gratitued to him, but still confused to why he was saveing him.
"why are u doing this?" He thought before he passed out. In to the world of dreams.

It was a struggle to keep himself up right and Xei on his shoulders, but Strife bore with it and carried on. He was walking and as far as he knew they were lost and there was no one to help. Strife continued to walk across the dead wasteland, vision becoming blurry with every step. There was clearly no hope or chance that Strife would make it to the nearest able bodied people who could help, and it was unlikely that anybody would want to help a demon.

"I've...Got to do....Something." Strife muttered to himself as he staggered on.

As he worked his away onwards he could slowly feel the blood from Xei running down his back like small crimson streams, even for a demon this was slightly disturbing, Strifes breathing picked up and became deeper as he stumbled around like some drunk after hours. He couldn't bare the pain anymore, he stopped in his tracks scanned the area for some form of shelter all he could see was a very unstable looking boulder resting over the edge of a hill.

"This will have to do." He groaned as he began his trek towards it.

Strife began to think to himself as he walked, what had made him save the human? He could of left him to die in the wasteland but instead he took him with him. Maybe the goodness of Cole had got to Strife making him feel guilty; this was unlikely but still a possible reason. Once reaching the shelter Strife lowered his arm and Xei fell on the floor with a hard thud and curled up into a blooded ball. Strife however fell against a rock and sat there with his back against it eyes closed and resting.

"What’s happening to me?" Strife asked himself with concern.

"You pushed yourself to far to early." Responded the voice in his head.

Strife opened his eyes and sat there gazing at the blooded body of Xei, looking at it he wasn't in that bad condition it was mainly smears of blood more than gashes.

Xei talked,"I can heal us....?" his voice weezey but soft like a gentle wind.Slowy getting up he raised his hand. mumbling a spell he did the best he could,a least most wounds closed and bruses healed but bones did not repair. He did the spell next on him self and the same happened. He started to rise but slipped balk and finaly got a bit of stength. He had not noticed the demon looking at him,but helped him up by grabbing a arm and heaving him up.

"lets go befor some animal finishes us both off.."And they both started walking in some direction to home (where ever that is ..? >.< ). Xei found it the time to question strife, even though he was low on strength, he thought the time was adiquate.

"Did u realy kill cole ?" but he thought it was very likely

"And why did u save me?" "I am very grateful but curious to it.."

And he said all this not taking his eyes off the demon or his new friend.

Strife walked along wielding his spear and his newly found bat perched on his shoulder, it was eyeing Xei's neck, being a bat it was simply its nature to seek out possible food sources. Its night shade tinted wings were wrapped tightly around its body, so much so that its legs could be seen pressed against the skin of its wings. It had become very attached to Strife since they first encountered each other.

Xei questioned Strife about the death of Cole; all the demon could do was smirk behind his tattered helmet. As they walked along Strife ran the facts by him in his head, he himself wasn't to sure whether or not Cole was dead. The voice of Cole was still there but that was all of him as far as Strife new. Strife always looked forward never down at Xei as they walked. Even as he spoke to him he kept his eyes ahead, but he still knew that Xei was staring at him.

"Did I kill him? No......I am him, his darker side that he tried to escape his whole life. He had a choice of either taking Belthazor or becoming me and after he chose to share the body with Belthazor I decided it was my time to take over and banish them both.....And what a better way than to take this body and completely bring it back to what it should be." Strife knew this would anger Xei but he wasn't all to bothered.

Soon after he had finished talking Strife shrugged his shoulder and then nodded forward, the bat seemed to know what to do and took off at extreme speeds into the distance. Where it was going only Strife and the bat knew, Xei was just left to guess or make up his own story about where it was going.

All:
Fat drops of rain finally escape the dark clouds above, slowly at first. But within a short period of time the fall grows heavier, and soon the rain has become a downpour. Falling steadily with only a mild breeze, the first rain in ages washes over the Land of the Dead. The white figure watches the ring of fire diminishes, even though the fighters have fled it's circle.

Its attention returns to the two, the demon-like ghost and the strange half-elf that lacks any Elven traits. What a unique pair... It watches as the curious spectral being carries the Human Paredhel away from their battle and leaves him to rest by a hill. Both are injured, and neither is capable of healing on the level required to repair their damaged bodies.

The being first intended only to aid the Paredhel, but now sees that the ghost's other half is still playing beneath the surface. For now, since the battle is over, the figure decides to send aid to the pair without coming close. It will be another time in the near future, before it will interfere more than that. There is much more to come of them down the road, and then interference will be necessary. But not now. The figure waves his hand, sending a breeze to greet the two. On the breeze, feathers are carried along, bright white in contrast to the darkness and death of this land. The figure disappears back into the unknown from which it came...

Strife & Xei:
From seemingly nowhere the strange wind chooses again to encircle you, but it is different this time. The wind carries with it the scent of magic, and when it touches you, you can feel your bones and open wounds begin repair. Quickly, your bodies are whole again, though your energy and mana are still low. But you will live with no lasting damage. Already the rain loses its strength, though not before soaking your clothes and turning the ground muddy.

A angry and curious Xei was please to see rain, he still felt hot and swear he had burns. The rain soaked them though cooling yet annoying, they kept walking the ground already muddy, stuck to their boots nd feet sticking in the ground was plainly anoying. as they stumbled and swayed. the wind krept up suddenly, the feathers balk .... "the same wind" but it was different his wounds hurting and his bones broken, fixed "it must be a powerful person Xei thought" as he stoped limpind to admire his fixed body.

He felt much better fitter but still fatigued. He was stiff and needed rest. "So who do u recon that is ?" He questioned strife. and then his thaoughts strayed balk to befor the wind and rain, about the bat, and what stife said about cole, his fist tenced but he eased slowly he mus still be alive, and anyway killing his new friend would be only killing cole any way and as for the bat it was proberly just looking for a safe place like the village Xei new of between the grasslands and the city.

He keeped on walking mentaly thanking the person who healed them.

Strife continued to walk on and ignored Xei's question. He wasn't ignoring him on purpose he was just trying to work things out himself. He found it odd how there was a strange presence that continuely helped them out whenever they were in trouble, first of all dimming the flames on his spear and secondly healing them just now.

The bones of the demon were still cracked and chipped, but the intial pain had stopped now and he could carry on. All the wounds and blood had vanished as if they were never there. Strife couldn't for the death of him work out what or who it was. As he pieced bits together he remembered the white figure he saw stood in the distance earlier.

The image of the white being burned in Strifes mind as he tried to work out what it was. Xei kept watching Strife as they walke along expecting an answer from the demon. It was time for Strife to answer Xei to satisfy the little human.

"Don't.....Look at me." Strife Growled.

He didn't really care if Xei was stareing at him, he just couldn't think of a plusible answer and so decided to make it sound like he was angry at Xei when really he was fine with him.

The answer from strife surprised Xei, he had expected him to know but proberly not, he took out a old piece of parchment and looked at it, it was a new map on old parchmentrough to the touch, it should of burn and was a little scorched but nothing serious.. he saw that the village was somewhere near by and looked for a road. And he found one about 50 yards in front "that must go to the village"

"Theres a road up ahead, about 50 yards... should we follow it?" but now not looking at strife but at his boots, walking quite fast." i still want to know who helped us and why didnt they come up to us?" the feather still in hand.

"I need sleep" his legs burning, his arms swinging uselesly at his sides if anyone where attack him he wouldnt be able to do anything but run. so he hoped no one would attack them then, while he waited for his answers.

Strife made no attempt to answer Xei's question and showed no sign of paying attention, he just continued to walk forward as if he knew where to go. Suddenly he stopped without any warning, Xei continued on a few steps before he realised and stopped. Strife held his hand out and out stretched his fingure and pointed into the distance. Xei squinted as he tried to see what was going on. A brief glimps of a black speck was seen and after a matter of seconds a very low pitched beating was heard and then the figure was revealed as Strifes bat that he sent off earlier. It was holding something in it's hook like feet, a bag of some sort.

The bat swooped along and launched the bag down to Strife who leapt from the ground, getting a height of nearly 5 feet from the floor he clutched the bag and crashed back to the ground in a puff of smoke. The bat swept off and circled a few times before bombing down to perch on Strifes shoulder again. The demon nodded to the bat and then looked at the bag, he opened the top and smirked behind his tattered old helmet. Xei stood in confusion as neither the bat or the demon made any sound. Strife held through the bag at Xei hitting him roughly in the chest, Xei barly managed to catch it.

"Drink it." Strife growled, it was becoming harder to tell what mood he was in.

It was now obvious that the bat had found a disgarded water casket and decided that it would help them out. Strife being dead already had no need for the water, and the bat had probably stopped off to get some water on the way there or on the way back. Strife set off again walking straight past Xei who was still slightly confused and just stared at the bag that he was gripping close to his chest.

Xei was so confused, he didnt know what to do, could he trust the demon and the bat or couldnt he. what choice did he have he was thirsty but this could be an alaborate plan set by the demon, but he must take the chance of water he put it to his dry broken lips, and took a sip, it didnt tast to bad, his mouth was feeling better as he wasnt so parched he drank again it tasted quite clean but still durty in some way or enother but he still drunk it thankfull for its resreshing tast "i shall keep most, it will be a long jonney.... i think" he want sure where they were.

He caught up with strife which was quite in front of him and keeped walking to the road, he would not ask any more questions.. it looked like Strife didnt like them so he would be quiet and think of things .. like the city and the village they were hopefuly heading for but he would follow strife to the end of the world intill they got back to it. "Thanks" thats all that was needed.

"Thans" Xei said as he caught up with Strife.

Strife did nothing but turn his head to Xei for a few seconds and then continue on walking the dusty road. It was a mystery to say what exactly was going on in the demons thoughts, if he had any, or what he was doing. He had said nothing of great detail for some time now, the two had been walking for hours it seemed and the sun had dimmed and was sinking into the distant horizon. The demon walked along side his new companion, Xei. As they walked Strife was suddenly taken by a strange headache, he growled slightly to himself and rubbed his temple gently but the pain continued. Then, without any warning, he was warped into a kind of day dream. He fell to the floor in a heap and everything went black.


Dream World

When he awoke again he was in a strange battlefield where man was fighting monster in some kind of holy war. He was standing far enough away from the battle on a large hill, he could see the battle but no one could see him for some reason. The red dusty battle ground was filled with the cries of agony and violence as weapons cracked into bone and blood curdling screams were heard from all around. The battle had seemingly just begun as the ranks and formations were still very tidy and only the front few lines had clashed forces. Strange black dragons spewed from the monster army launching waves of fire upon the men.

On one side of the battlefield from behind a ridge shone a huge black beam high into the sky forming clouds and thunder around everything, Strife felt a strange presence pulling him towards it. On the other side in the distance was a huge white light shining high in the sky forming white clouds everywhere, yet another strange power was pulling him. Strife stood high on the hill watching the battle wondering what to do. As he looked around he noticed that he himself had changed, where as before he had tattered armour now he was wearing new Adamantium Armour.

Strife didn't have much time to work things out as he was being pulled towards the battle at extreme speeds, when he had stopped moving a huge orc with a hammer ran towards him screaming loudly. Strife ducked but the orc ran through him as if he wasn't there. As the demon rose to his feet he realised that he wasn't there, men and monster alike ran straight through him not noticing him at all. He slowly walked across the battle field. Bodies were flung everywhere, some in full form and others completely dismembered and spread everywhere. Blood stained everything it touched. The demon found this disturbing as he continued to walked around, but then it happened.

Strife saw a body he recognised lieing in a bloody heap on the ground by a large sword coated in blood. As Strife approached the body he felt a horrible burning inside him as if someone was setting fire to him from the inside. He was now right over the body, knowing he couldn't touch it or roll it over he had no way of finding out who it was. But then a large group of men wielding swords and shields charged over the body knocking it around.....The body beloned to......

Reality

Strife suddenly opened his eyes again and lashed out with one almighty punch, if Xei had been mere inches closer it would of taken his head clean off. The monster pulled himself to a sitting posistion and he held his face in his hands. He began to think the "dream" over in his head trying to work out if it was true or just a dream. He looked up and saw Xei looking concerned at him, and also shocked. As Strife looked down again he realised that he was coated in the armour he had in the dream. Strife forced himself to his feet and looked at Xei without saying a word. He roared and shook his head furiously, the thoughts of the body he saw wouldn't leave him.....But who was it that he saw?

"GET OUT!" Strife roared again to himself before turning and running off away from Xei who had decided he had to catch Strife.

Strife ran through the desert not knowing what to do or where to go, he was pankicking and swiping his claws at the air as he ran, as if he was trying to tear through the air to escape something.....What happened in that "dream" that had spooked Strife so badly?

in the far distance a small fire was burning brightly but at hearing the roar and seeing the to strangers a dwarf like fiuger quickly extingused with the minimum of smoke and begain to pack up he lifted the pack onto his back and stood framed againsed the horisen staring upon the two running figurs.

Xei saw the demon stumble and then fall growling as he went into a heap on the rough ground, Xei stood in horor.. he didnt know what to do he just stood there frightened, as the haep figeted and kicked out as if he was a child in a nightmear.
Xei stood back and watched wondering what would happen, he wondered if he should help or just go and get help.. just as he was going close, still too shocked, strife got up with the stongest punch xei had ever seen, flying just infront of him the air nearly nocked him back. It smashed into the ground.

"GET OUT!" strife sounded angry and annoyed. He ran and xei shocked momintarely stood then chased. He was confused, but would not abandon his friend... yet. He ran but the demon was faster, and so he pushed himself.. and dived...

The dive missed, it was too slow, Xei smacked his head on a rock, roled and got up. He stumbled, getting his footing and contiued the chase it was hard to catch a demon. He wait till he was right behind him which was even harder because he was moveing different ways and dived again. "Got it". as he smashed into the side of the demon, any longer and he would of lost him. Pinning him down not so much worry about the legs but the flailing arms could hurt. he shook the demon.

"Wake up you bastered! Wake up!!" he said as a loose hand smaked him in the face but he cept grip and controled the arm. he shook his friend once more and said the words more vilelantly.

Strifes eyes were wide open and looking straight at Xei who had some how managed to pin him down with little to no effort. The demon flung his arms around destroying the air and getting mere milimeters away from Xei's face, the human was risking everything to save the demon. The nerve racked demon began to calm down after awhile. Xei still continued to sit there holding the beast down until he was sure he was fully recovered from his ordeal. Those images in Strifes mind would never heal, they were to real to be a normal dream. Strife knew where they were from but refused to admit it to himself.

Xei had a tight grip of Strifes arms, this didn't last long when the demon had decided enough is enough. Strife simply over powered Xei and through him to one side with a tender growl, he wasn't trying to hurt Xei he was just getting him off. The demon sat up with his legs out stretched, even though he refused to think about it anymore part of him still tried to force the images back into his thoughts. This would be a burden Strife would have to carry for along time, he could tell already life wasn't going to be the same.

He pulled himself up again and then looked down at his new armour, he couldn't work out how or why it had changed. This was the armour from his past....The same armour he had in the dream....It was an improvment to the old tatty armour he was wearing before, now all he needed to do was replace the helmet. Where Xei had slapped him he had left a huge dent in the side of it, if he had connected with the demons flesh it he would of known about it. Xei looked around for somewhere to rest, all he could see was his bat fluttering around watching Strife with a scence of concern in it's eyes. But what caught Strifes attention was the figure in the distance who had put the fire out.

"Come." Strife growled sounding very demonic and different to last time, his voice had changed again and it was deeper and seemed as if it was designed to intimadate people.

Strife acted as if nothing had just happened and began to make his way, wielding his staff in his right hand. However, the burning feeling in his head still remained as a constant reminder of what he had saw. He rested his left palm on his left temple trying to ease the pain but it wasn't about to go. He continued to walk towards the figure in the distance not aware that Xei wasn't with him. Strife himself wasn't exactly with him either, he was very distant from reality as he tried to work things out.