Thread: Bounty Hunters Part II: The New Era

Jakku walked out.
He was standing taller now, although he winced whilst walking slightly.
He'd allowed his hair to grow longer, out of no need to crop it.

Shimo followed, hands in pockets.
She'd gone through a growth spurt, and was now ten years old.
As well as being taller, she'd modified her weapons, and cast aside her parka. She wore baggy jeans and a vest top, making the seals on her shoulders and arms more easily accessible.
Her blue eyes were turning more grey by the day.

Grey looked the same.
He'd managed to keep his hair and appearance similar, although his magic arm now glowed faintly at all times, inscribed with new runes.
He also had modified his revolver, and wore it at his hip.

"You're all looking good." Yatsuri pointed out as she noticed Schwarz and Lovo as well, Schwarz hadn't changed much except for his hair getting longer and Lovo's hair had not only gotten lonver but he also had a scar on his rigtht eye.

"Are you all well rested?" Michael asked the group. "I've prepared clothes and transport for you."

"Yeah, aged" Stephanie whispered, practicing her weather skills and shooting a bolt of lightening from her palm, hitting a target. She knew if a year had passed, there's no way Kate was waiting for her anymore, no contact or anything, she could be married by now with a child on the way. "If she's happy, then that all that matters" Stephanie added but didn't really believe that herself as she shot another bolt of lightening with flames inside at the target.

"Stephanie a year passed inside of the diorama." Sakura pointed out, she having been reading the rest of the group's mind. "Out here it's only been two weeks."

"That was a great year" Tye smirked as he looked down at his body. He hadn't really thought about how he changed in there, especially not aesthetically. Tye now had his hair even more shaggy then it previously would, his silver locks of hair were still almost flat to his head as they were covered by his hat, but they were slightly longer, with his bangs covering about half his face and the rest of his hair following suit. He wore a lightweight jacket with a hood that was bright white with grey accents, the sleeves were rolled-up to his elbows.

The rolled-up sleeves revealed a side effect of his new powers, a black tattoo-like line which followed his veins on both his inner forearms. This was due to the acidic levels of Tye's blood sky-rocketing, his blood actually appeared black when still in his body before oxidation, his techniques had manifested in his arms and thus you can actually see the venomous energy on the surface.

Tye smiled as he looked at his friends, "We did it...we worked hard...and we did it" He whispered to himself. But it's not over yet...

"Oh... Well you can see how I got confused by that" Stephanie commentesd, even with her skills, sometimes certain things just ended up surprising her. But it still didn't mean Kate hadn't moved on, she wasn't able to get in contact with her for a while now.

"Aw c'mon Steph, grow some balls, in a manner of speaking, and call her. You gotta get with that," said Brine with a smile. "Seriously though, you want it, go get it!"

"So are we ready to leave?" asked Jeremy to Michael and the woman.

Jakku smiled grimly.
"You yearn to much for a battle."
He spoke slowly, sheathing his shinai.
"However, I agree this must be done."

"Come on Jakku, don't be a downer, we are as ready as we'll ever be" Tye said in a more cheery tone. That doesn't mean there is still no risk... He thought to himself. We could walk out there and never come ba... "We have to stay optimistic at least" Tye cut off his train of thought with his words.

Jakku chuckled.
"Ready your weapons, won't be long."
He said, stretching slightly.

Stephanie looked up, staring at Brine for a moment. "And tell her what? To wait for me? I can't do that, nor can I drag her into this, I did it once and it almost killed her, I can't do it again" Stephanie responded, she remembered that day still, Kate's life in the balance as some bad guys tried to kill her to get to her, she just couldn't let it happen again.,

Tye looked down at the hook blades that hung at his waist, "I don't exactly have much to prepare" He laughed.

"Yes, tell her that." Klay nodded his head as he looked at Stephanie and smiled. He stuck his arm out and clenched his fist before putting it close to his chest. "Tell her to wait for you cause when you see her next time you would've saved the world.' he grinned confidently before turning to Yatsuri and Kevin. "Let's do this." he nodded his head.

Sakura looked down at the floor for a moment before raising her head. "All right everyone, I'd like to wish you all good luck." Sakura stated.

"Finally we'll get a chance to play." came Abyss's voice from inside of Sakura's head.

"Yeah.' Sakura nodded her head, one of her eyes turning Amber coloured. "We will." she stated, her voice having now turned into a combination between her and Abyss's.

"Let's do this guys...for Tink." Klay nodded his head, remembering how Tink had given up his life to try and stop Skye from destroying their ship, though it had failed anyway. "Jeremy remember that the Four Beast Style still tires you out, while it's not a skill it works as if it was one so you will have to use more energy for that as well as your normal skill."

"He'll do fine Klay." Lovo nodded his head and crossed his arms.

"All right then everyone." Yatsuri looked at the Slayers and smiled. "I want to tell you all that I'm sorry for having to drag you into all of this, after all I should've dealt with me myself but sadly I cannot interfere in things of fate." she pointed out before clapping her hands together and smiling warmly at the Slayers. "Now all I have to tell you is to do your best and that this is the last strive."

***

The group had been taken to the East Continent and to where Babylon stood. Klay looked up at the tower along with Sakura as the group and Kevin approached it. Everything seemed to be barren though there were still a lot of blood stains from the battle that had taken place two weeks prior. Schwarz looked up, feeling a lot of weight fall down on him and the rest of the team. 'TIme to end this dad."

"All of their power is gathering around the tower, it feels like a weight is falling over my shoulders." Klay stated simply. He was now wearing a white coloured long sleeved jacket that he wore zipped up along with a pair of black jeans and a fingerless glove on his right hand.

"Well obviously." Sakura nodded her head. She turned towards the entrance of the tower, seeing a pair of rock golems standing at the entrance, they stood at the sides almost as if beckoning for the Slayers to pass. "Looks like they've been waiting."

"Black Shadow's going to try to stall so obviously they're going to make us go one on one floor to floor." Schwarz smirked. "Of course if we all fought against each one together we'll waist too much power so we have no choice, teleportation will also be unavailable when we enter I suppose." he scratched the back of his head. "But it's better this way in a way."

"Yeah, guess I could do that" Stephanie said managing a smile, she would win the last battle, she had to so she could reunite with Kate, she remained quiet but followed the others waiting for that battle.

"Of course, I love the slow painstaking way" Tye said sarcastically as he strode at the back of the group.