'TOBIO!'
The cry sounded as if it was a mile away, rolling down a long tunnel before scattering into mere echoes. Ikuse's mind felt foggy, like it had just gotten done wading through a puddle of silk. Forcing his way through fuzz and detritus. And when it finally get kick back into gear, he honestly wished it hadn't. Pain blossomed along his nerve endings, sparks of consciousness like many painful lashes striking across him with the glee of an all too eager sadist. Starting from his chest, the searing agony tore through every last one of his mental defenses to slam home the fact that he was still very much mortal. Still very much human, despite the power of a Longinus.
Despite every breathe feeling like he'd just gotten done inhaling pulverized glass, microscopic shards tearing through his inner walling. That and the sudden jolt that followed after every chest movement told him than enough.
'At least a few broken ribs.'
It was a familiar feeling, you couldn't fight high class beings without becoming accustomed to a few life threatening injuries. Punctured lungs, ruptured heart or even a cracked skull, none of that was new too him. Pain was an old friend, he'd gone through much worse just to save the people he cared about...but that was the problem, wasn't it?
As much as he wanted to pretend, these people he was fighting for had nothing but sneer and spit at his mere presence. Even if some of their attitude had changed under the careful managing of their heir, Suzaku. Sure, maybe the rest of the Principal Clans were innocent in all this but again, none of them were 'his' people. None of them were worth the pain he was going through, nor was there some grand cause worth dying for.
In this moment of clarity, he could admit this entire situation was purely about pride and greed. Here he was stuck between two separate mountains each pea-cocking to show who was better, to show who could truly do whatever they wanted in this world. This wasn't about righting a wrong or even bettering an aspect of life.
'I'm fine.'
Ikuse spat out a glob of spit, it coming out far too red for his liking before slowly rising to his hands and knees. Forcing his body to move in ways that caused new lines of pain to come tearing out from the abyss. He could take this much at least, at least the monster hadn't seen fight to double tap him to finish the job. A mercy or pity, he didn't know nor care.
"Sit there and catch your breath." It was like he was right back in those intermediary martial arts lessons, after being winded from a rather rough sparing session or showcasing. Not kind in the slightest, holding more of the sense this wasn't anything new. That this monster had seen all this before. "I have a promise to fulfill."
"W-" Even now, he could feel something hard and searing hot poking clear through spots it really shouldn't but nonetheless, that pit of chill instantly extinguished that rising flame in a sudden wave. Coughing up yet another mouthful of ichor, the mercenary still gathered the strength to continue. "W-wait! W-what…"
Energy sapped from him, the air leaving him far too quickly to continue and the rest of his sentence was more of a wheeze than anything else. But he knew that was enough, this monster could easily tell what he meant to say.
"I told them what would happen if they sent their people here." The Heavenly Demon shook his head with a false, rueful expression present. Strands of inky darkness blurring in and out of reality for a just an instance before that detail was forcibly 'erased' from the consciousness of all present. Moving past the collapse combatant, his path was obvious. "I gave them more than enough leeway, more than enough face. But it seems they still chose to push this matter further than it needed to go."
"W-wait!" The young man wheezed and tried to reach out a single hand to clutch desperately at the flowing robes, stamina slowly filling his body once more as spears of shadows stabbed deeply within himself. Stabbing clear through his bones and forcing them back in place with sickening crunch. Not exactly healing but it would be enough to make Lavinia's job a bit easier. Providing his lungs enough room to actually breath. "You don't need to do this! You're strong! We get it, these people...they don't deserve to die because they're-"
"Pawns." The Heavenly Demon didn't even look back, arms folded behind his back as he strolled towards the nearest unconscious priest. "You are right, I am strong...but the same people that sent them to die also knew that. Knew that they didn't have a chance but still, they sent them here to die. Their leaders didn't care about their futures, of what could've been. Who knows, maybe one of these people could've sired a Child of Destiny and ruled this world while riding on their coat tails. But they still did this."
"You might ask, why?" His foot blurred forward, a sickening pop and a sudden explosion of organs splattered against the nearby trees. Not even a drop of blood splashed against his pristine robes, no evidence that he was the very thing that had snuffed out a life so casually. It was easy, like swatting a fly, and just as easily, he continued on deeper into the forest. The sound of wet pops following him as his monologue continued. "Why would they risk their own people like this? Greed as you can guess it, but also pride. Pride in the idea that they can't allow someone to come onto 'their' property and do whatever they wanted. If they were to roll over without a fight, that would make them look weak to their peers and enemies. Opening themselves up to more attacks as the outside world perceived them as weak."
"And as you know," Another sickening pop, his figure gone from Ikuse's swimming vision but that voice still sounded clearly within his own ear as if they were being whispered in. His shoulders flinched painfully under every gruesome end. As for why he hadn't been afforded the same treatment, he didn't know. But he would be sure to make this monster regret that particular decision, let it monologue. Even if the knowledge that he was trading away lives just to be provided a few more moments to recover. "I am not without pride as well. I can't turn back either, I've given my word and said my piece. To go against my own word would be like opening myself up to every upstart trying to prove themselves. They would all die of course, but constantly dealing with the vengeful relatives for the next couple decades doesn't sound ideal. If it means squashing a few bugs now to avoid the nest, then so be it. After all, a wise god once said, ruthlessness is mercy upon ourselves"
"Then let me show you how ruthless I can be!"
Now somewhat stitched back together, Ikuse launched to his feet. Vision darkening around the edges as he blurred forward. Blades of darkness clawing through the air, pulling him forward beyond the capabilities of a mere mortal That massive ebony blade in hand as he swung, cleaving through nearby tree trunks and appearing above the exposed nape. Time slowed, energy crackling along his entire body. More tendrils spiked out from the side to further propel his arms down, aiming to severe the neck of this monster before it could have to chance to crush yet another person to paste.
With the blade said to be have slain monster, cut through magic and bring the mighty down low, he knew all he needed was just a single good hit. One solid slash to end this fight before it ended. The stars aligned for just this moment and it was almost as if the world itself guided his hand forward, realigning his body to provide himself the most optimal position to cut. A form honed by years of practice and sparing.
Ikuse would win, he could feel that truth etched itself deep within his bones. That's just how his lie had always been. Face off against a powerful foe, get smacked down and they monologues long enough for him figure a way out, before he slashed out with the intent to end a conflict in a single unexpected shot.
A head would go flying, another tyrant slain and he would be able to go back home to his loved ones. A great way to end this little side mission and he didn't even need to use his-
'TOBIO!!'
But it was too late. Only now, did he finally realize his closest partner had been screaming at the back of his mind. Slamming their head into that mental barrier to no avail.
"You Children of Destiny are always so predictable." Like a leaf in the breeze, the Heavenly Demon weaved between the slash. Slipping in close until the were nearly nose to nose, a firm hand latching itself on his wrist before another palm slammed onto his shoulder. A dark premonition filled him in that moment and before he could even try shaking himself free, a sickening pop deafened the air. Before the sound of skin tearing, muscles pulling and meaty plop landing on the ground between them.
In a daze, his eyes fell down and noticed something strange. A human arm still twitching on the ground….but shouldn't those be attached to bodies? Where was it? Why was it getting covered in that stupid red liquid? Someone should really clean that, it made studying the limb difficult.
'Oh.' Ikuse tried to reach down to pick it up, but for some reason, his arm wouldn't respond. Looking at it, he found out why. The place where his limb should've been was replaced by a roughly torn stump. Bleeding heavily, he could only watch dumbly as his lifeblood was rapidly pumped out. 'That's not good.'