Post by Melvin on Sept 30, 2018 14:24:01 GMT -5
(Solo/training thread for Melvin's first consumption. Because there's never anything quite like the first time. Training for SP.)
The endless sea of silver trees was home to thousands of Hollows, beasts of the most instinctive nature that lived and thrived on the flesh and blood of anything they crossed, even their own kin. It was a savage place, where strength and intelligence ruled all. A creature could thrive through deception or wit, or the sheer strength and unwavering will to shatter everyone else in their path. One way or another, they needed to claim dominance, to prove their superiority, feed, evolve, become more than they were before through the suffering and sacrifice of others. A cold and brutal lifestyle that hardened anyone into a proper monster. That is why it was so strange for a creature like Melvin to exist among their blood. Something so painfully oblivious and dull, having barely any strength to his name. He was at the very bottom of the food chain and had a disposition that defied all nature of how their kind was intended to be.
....Yet somehow he was still alive. The newborn Hollow had only arrived a few days ago. After being chained up for longer than he could remember, he was finally free. But despite that freedom, he was in even more danger than he had been in that ring. Back there, the only thing to worry about was fighting people, weak and feeble Humans of all things! They were fodder to him, with only a rare few posing a threat to him. But here? In this dark realm of silver, he was at the very bottom. His power was pathetic, barely above a spiritually adapted Human. Yet the power of monsters that could easily raze entire cities lingered just a few miles away in any direction. Their spiritual power was overwhelming, so dense that even someone as inexperienced as the newcomer could understand the scope of it.
Despite that, he was excited. Melvin knew this feeling well. It wasn't his first time starting from the bottom. That was how he always lived. Even as a boy when he fought out in the streets, he could never do much at first. He knew the pain of defeat, being crushed against unwinnable odds. Looking down someone that could kill you without even breaking a sweat. Again he met that feeling in the ring as a novice, taking hit after hit, breaking himself down against a superior foe until he crumbled. But unlike most people, he loved that feeling. Despite becoming a savage beast, his feelings were untarnished. It was just a new frontier. A third start at the bottom of a new chain. The third struggle for survival, and a third time he'd need to adapt, to evolve, and to climb the ranks of power once again.
It made his blood boil with excitement. The prospect of what he was going to go through. The looming danger, the adrenaline, the fury of monsters, unlike anything he ever knew as a man. He wanted it. To live that struggle, to suffer, then prosper, to go through the agony and reach euphoria at the end of it all. And that was one thing that set him apart from the rest. Where they fought to conquer, to devour and grow for their own survival. Melvin didn't have that line of thinking. His goal wasn't to reach the top but to have as much fun as he could climbing as high as his arms could muster, pushing the boundary of his body until it cracked and bent. Until his blood pooled beneath him and he couldn't force a single drop of power left from his core. That was life.
To live it fully, that was his only goal. The young Hollow had been reclusive his first few nights there. Years of fighting in that arena, tied down and powerless in the realm of mortals. He'd have been easy chow for anything he came across. But with time, his strength returned to him. More than that, he felt different...A presence in the new place he found himself in. Of course, many dangers lingered in it, thousands upon thousands of creatures that wanted to and could easily end his life. But there was something else...The air around him, it had a strange property to it, an energy that invigorated his body. It made him feel a sense of power, even if the faintest bit. It was as if the entire realm was laced with energy that melded with his body, allowing it to reach the true potential it was made for.
Spiritual power...Melvin had been completely oblivious to it for the most part, but he started to understand it quickly. That is what he had been drawing into his being. He came to realize it was like the blood in his veins, the source of the newfound power he experienced on Earth. With the few days he spent in the Menos Forest, his body absorbed it from all around him, allowing the first traces of his power to grow. On top of that, he came to understand just what he needed to do before he even tried to do it. This power that coursed through him...The feeling in the air, the pressure from every direction. The giant towers of black walking in the distance. It was all made of the same thing. He'd watched beasts devour each other from a distance, and the purpose was crystal clear.
They didn't devour just for food. They did it for the energy. The energy that made up their bodies, that they'd devour to fuel and grow their potential. That was how it worked. It wasn't something he figured out by intelligence, but a feeling in the core of his soul. He was never a smart guy, and this was a lot to figure out in such a short time lingering in the forest. what drove the answers into his mind was instinct. The emptiness in his stomach that was unlike any normal hunger. The euphoria he felt from breathing the air around him. His natural calling to fight and grow. His instincts were sharper than ever. Even without the smarts to figure it all out, his body knew what to do, it knew what it wanted, no...What it needed. It was time to start his climb and hunt, to devour and grow like the thousands of other beasts around him!
The only question was where to start..Or even where -not- to start. Melvin could go anywhere really. Every direction leads to something. The tiny little critters hiding in the trees, the goliaths in black casting silhouettes in the distance, the dozens of creatures of every shape and size on the ground. Just what to choose...He was like a kid in a candy store, surrounded by his favorite treats...Only instead of candy, it was a lot of bloody life-threatening fights. He'd end up with his teeth falling out either way, so it wasn't that much different! His senses were a tiny bit better than the average newbie thankfully, and with enough concentration, he picked up on a signature that seemed just the right size for him. They couldn't have been much stronger than himself, so they'd be the perfect thing to test himself against in this new world!
Thus the great Melvin's first quest began! The journey mankind had faced time and time again since the dawn of life itself! The long struggle to find the morning's lunch...Or..afternoon? He took a look around, seeing nothing but darkness. Only shreds of moonlight cut through the canopy of silver. was it always like this? Thinking back, it certainly hasn't changed in what must have been days. Was it just always perpetual night or something of the sort? Questions for another day! It didn't really matter what the answer was anyway. So long as he got what he was after. His eyes searched ahead, the shadowy images of creatures both far and near scattered between the trees. This place sure was a jungle, except the wildlife was even more dangerous But it was a jungle he was part of now, and a place he'd learn to call home...At least until something better came along.
Melvin not-so-stealthily crept through the underbrush. He saw numerous creatures with their eyes peeled, looking for food just as he was, trying to gauge an easy target and him...Well, being pretty short by Hollow standards and definitely a novice, he had a good idea that more than a few might find him a nice opportunity for brunch. But that was fine. If they came to him, it'd save him the trouble. If nothing else he had confidence in his ability! At least to survive. He didn't need to be the strongest boy around. He just needed the tenacity to keep going where most couldn't, and that was his specialty. The man turned beast had always fought with the odds against him! It was just a repeat on the process he'd gone through so many times before. So when that presence dawned close-by, he'd be ready for it.
That was a good thing because that time was in about thirty seconds from when his little walk began. He barely had time to recognize the sound of something shooting through the air!. The new Hollow came to a stop just in time to focus. He turned his gaze to see a large spinning blade coming right for him! Or what looked like a blade anyway. It was all white, just like the mask that covered his face. Was it made of bone? There wasn't much time to figure it out! He moved, the giant edge narrowly missing him and crashing into the tree behind him! It cut clean through it, severing the silver in two and then turning back around like a boomerang. Following it, his eyes brought him to his assailant! It was a Hollow no doubt, one that saw the opportunity of a meal with the newcomer in their territory.
The creature was large, much more than Melvin. Green skin, thick musculature, it was a plain old behemoth compared to the bite-sized creature Melvin turned out to be. Their mask was denser, covering their entire face. The large blade wasn't just a blade at all, but an edge boomerang that came right back to the creature that threw it. Their hand grasped it firmly, turning their eyes on its newest prey. A predatory growl spilled from the beast. There wasn't any semblance of thought from it, just the blinding hunger most of their kin followed. A need to feed, to consume, grow, and prosper It looked like quite the tough customer! Especially for a lone creature's first encounter. But that was always the case in his life. It was a lot like his first boxing match back when he was alive. Fighting someone nearly twice his size with twice the experience. To be young again...
"Jeez, tall dark and ugly. I didn't know we had a date planned for tonight. You could take me out to dinner first before you try throwing your bone at me though!" Melvin was the same as ever though...Really it had only been four years since then. Mentally he wasn't the fastest ager either. He smiled and laughed at the attempt on his life. A second later and he'd have got his head chopped off his just now! But he acted like it was all in good fun! The leaner purple-skinned Hollow kept his eyes fully focused on the newcomer, disregarding his old target for the moment. He raised his fists and focused. He'd always fought hand-to-hand before, so fighting something with an actual weapon, let alone such a strange one would be a new experience for him! His arms and legs tensed, muscles ready to throw down. The only question was how would this monster strike next?
It was quiet, a kind of really awkward quiet for that next moment. Despite the fact there were probably dozens of battles being waged at any time in a mile radius around this place, it was all rendered silent. The feeling of tension, the stillness before a confrontation rolled in. It was exhilarating, the rush right before a battle kicked off. He knew the feeling well and loved it. Just thinking about driving his fist into that giant freak's face made him happy. There was no malicious or predatory intent coming off from the newborn, which could easily be mistaken for weakness. Instead, there was something else..A fire, a desire to fight not for food, but the fight itself. He wanted to suffer, to bleed, break his bones and crush the creature before him! There was the dull sound of a single foot sliding across the ground, then a fearsome war cry.
The Hollow threw their uniquely curved blade a second time, the sharp edge coming right for Melvin! But it didn't stop there. While the weapon honed in from the right, slicing the air as sit moved, the beast itself leaped from their perch, charging forward in a berserk and bloodthirsty mania. The predatory intent from them was overwhelming, at least to a newcomer that had only been in one life or death brawl before. Even then that brawl was against a demi-Hollow. This was a full-fledged creature that had a least a little experience on the hunt. They movements synced perfectly with the incoming projectile, curving their path so they'd be in a perfect position to lunge at the exact moment the blade would hit. Seconds ticked down, the beast's sharp claws digging into the forest's dirty. A shrill cry echoed from its maw as it jumped, bringing its clawed hand forward from the left while their blade came in from the right.
Melvin hadn't dealt with anything like that before. A two-sided attack? Boxing was always a straightforward affair between fists. All these elements were foreign to him. How to deal with weapons or blades, fending off such a pattern. Yet the unfamiliarness and danger of it all just made him even more excited. As he'd always done, he'd follow his instincts to the letter. The pressure increased as the two got closer, the whizzing blade approaching his neck and the beast on his side. The newborn shifted his feet, waiting for just the right moment. His smaller body did have one advantage. He ducked down, the blade narrowly missing him and flying overhead. At the same time, he braced his shoulder in the direction of the hollow, meeting the impact of their charge head-on!
The larger beast crashed right into him, their claws sinking into his flesh and cutting his skin apart. The purple flesh was covered in several lacerations, crimson blood dripping down and peppering the grounds beneath their feet. Melvin skidded back from the impact, his feet leaving twin trails in the ground, putting all his strength into pausing that momentum. In that same span of time, the attacker grabbed their uniquely crafted blade from the air, arming themselves once more and preparing for the continued assault. They were quick and powerful, acting on refined animalistic instinct like that of a hunter out for prey. With the large bone-forged blade, they lunged right back toward their target, this time holding the weapon themselves and poising it to strike a lethal blow against their smaller prey!
Melvin tensed up, coming to a stp and staring at the creature charging him. They were strong and fast, holding a fair edge on both fronts.s But the one thing he noticed about them was their aggression. He was no slouch on the offensive either, but this focused purely on the offensive with little regard for their defensive. That heavy focus would be his opening. The newbie smiled as they got closer, the jagged blade forged in bone poised to slash at his neck. Rather than run or defend, he chose the road less traveled and pushed himself forward! He headed right into the jaws of death without pause, something sure to confuse most savage beasts. They wouldn't expect their prey to charge them rather than flee, especially with the gap of strength and experience between them. But his unconventionalism was part of his many strengths!
The smaller Hollow ducked under the blade, the sharp edge craving through his scalp a little and leaving another bleeding wound on his flesh. He pushed through it though, getting closer and closer to his attacker with a grin. The distance between them vanished, their matching movements bringing them face-to-face. "If you're so hungry!" He stepped forward, bringing his arm into position. "Lunch is on me!" He laughed as he spoke, bringing his body upward with the momentum he carried. His fist went flying right for the larger beast's mask, carrying all of the strength and power of his signature punch! It hit dead-on, his knuckles pressed against the white skeletal structure and bringing their charge to a halt! There was a brief silence before the force of the punch rolled in. Such a small creature looked weak and feeble, yet when it connected?
The larger Hollow was lifted off of the ground by an immense amount of pure Despite their size,e Melvin still had one heck of an uppercut! It didn't just lift his prey, it sent them flying back, cracking their masks and leaving a small wave of kinetic pressure in their wake! The dust was thrown about, the beast flying back a dozen feet before they could claw at the forest floor, bringing themselves to a halt. A sliver of green blood fell from their face, the mask cracked by the unexpectedly fearsome impact. The smaller of the two landed back on his feet, feeling the heat and pressure of the first good punch he'd given in a long time! Boy was it something! His heart pumped with adrenaline, fist beat red from striking such a hard surface. He loved that feeling more than anything else! The rush of a battle and the recoil of his own strength!
He didn't want to waste this opportunity though. The adrenaline started to flow, the heat, the rush, it was just like back home. He loved it. Melvin tightened his fists, staring at the other Hollow as it got back to its feet and readied its blade. The difference was where the attacker was fighting for food and survival, its prey fought out of pure passion for the fight itself. The battle itself was their goal, and they were finally getting pumped up! A dull wind rolled over the forest, the silvery tree swaying in the brief pause of motion between them. It felt like gravity itself was growing heavier, the real battle moments from unfolding. They'd had their little introduction, but now was where things truly mattered, where resolve would be tested!
Melvin stepped forward and began walking. Heat built up around his fits, traces of steam spilling over from the raw energy in his arms. Something happened when he became a Hollow. His power had always been in his fists and arms. They always shined above anything else. His brains, speed, none of it compared to just what his fists could do. And now? That property was truer than ever. He could feel it, the energy coursing through each hand. The power in each was heavy, carrying a physical presence to it. Even as a newborn they showcased incredible potential even against a more seasoned Hollow. Those slow steps picked up, inching into a run, then a full-on sprint! The other stood fully, bracing themselves and their weapon for the next clash of fist and steel.
The distance closed, the smaller Hollow in range. The larger brought their blade down like a scythe, aiming to sever their foes head then and there. Things moved in slow motion for Melvin though. His eyes followed the blade, arcing his body to just narrowly avoid it. The sharp edge scraped over his ear, cutting it and spraying crimson across the boned edge. It didn't stop him in the slightest though. In fact, the pain of these light wounds just kept pushing him further! It was a stimulant fr him, both his energy and predatory instinct. It grew, flaring at that decisive moment. This behemoth in front of him would have the honor of being the first true meal he'd devour in this new form! Time froze completely in the second before the onslaught. The blade continued to move past him and the eyes of the two beasts met. In that decisive moment, the battle was over.
The smaller Hollow's fist came forward at top speeds, launched right for the larger beast's chest. The wind twisted and turned around it, sparks of lightning crackling along the ridges of each knuckle from the intensity of his own spirit igniting his spiritual pressure. It roared out to its fullest, lightly cracking the grounds beneath him. The fire was unlike that of any normal Hollow, almost human in nature. A sense of resolve foreign to any native beast of the forest. His smile broadened, the strike moving in slow motion until it connected. An explosion of kinetic pressure split through the larger beast's body, winding it and taking the energy out of their step. It was just as fearsome as the first punch, but unlike the other, it was just the opener.
The next moments were an absolute overwhelming beating for the larger beast. The first punch was quickly followed by another just as fearsome! then another! And another! A complete barrage of strikes peppered their larger frame, each leaving dents in the creature's body, pushing them back and cracking bones with each impact. Despite their size and frail appearance, the small fry had far more kick to his strength than most average Hollows. The larger was completely stunned by the constant assault, their body breaking down hit after hit, blood spilling from their mask! To a human it might even look like a blur, a flash of color crashing against the beast dozens of times a second. Or maybe that was just how Melvin liked to imagine it.
The newborn Hollow pulled his arm back for one final punch, the whole combo all in the span of a few seconds. The heat and steam spilling from his arm spiked into a visible stream of heat, pouring out around him and warming up the air. That'd be the finisher. The scythe-like blade came back around, trying to carve him, but it was too late! The fist bolted forward, a slight jump carrying it even higher. It poised right for the large Hollow's face! It connected with a sickening impact, a small wave of kinetic energy dispersing from the point of impact. The mask cracked further, blood spilling from it. The impact took time to fully take effect, sinking deeper and deeper into the creature's skeletal skull. Finally, they were knocked off, flying several feet into the air and landing right on their back in an unconscious heap!
Their last action wasn't without purpose though. At the same time, the larger beasts went flying, their blade carved right into Melvin's shoulders, leaving a deep gash and spilling his purple blood across the forest floor. All that did is excite him more, rouse his appetite, and bring about a mighty laugh from his throat. Maybe this new life as a monster wouldn't be that bad! His wounds weren't too severe, just a handful of cuts, scrapes, and gashes. He hadn't lost too much blood and for the first time? A meal presented itself in front of him! All-in-all things went well, even if he didn't get to go after his initial target. Steam rolled off of his fist, still, a tad bit uncomfortable from the extreme heat. He didn't understand where that brief boon in strength came from, but it seemed almost natural. He had no complaints about it.
Melvin walked up to his knocked out attacker. He could feel it welling up in his stomach...A primal hunger, a desire to feed on the beast's flesh and entrails. It was strange to him. He'd felt traces of it up until now, but with prey right in front of him...It was an overwhelming feeling, like a drug he'd never used before, but was still addicted to anyway. It was primal, an all-consuming presence in his very soul. "Ha! Nice try, but you picked the wrong freakshow to scope out. Thanks for lunch though!" He laughed to himself again, approaching the fallen beast. Given how much larger they were than himself, he'd definitely have enough food to last him a good while!
The small fry picked up the giant creature, bringing them over his shoulder awkwardly given their size. He looked around for a good place to sit down and savor his victory. His eyes settled on a large hollow tree not too far off! That looked perfect. With their lunch in grasps, he walked over to the large opening in it, keeping his senses honed for any other interlopers, but if there were any? He had plenty of energy to spare. In fact, his wounds just made him more energized, wanting more of that kind of intensity. It was an amazing feeling, the feeling of his own blood spilling and the absolute attention of a creature that wanted nothing more than to kill him. It greatly exceeded the feeling he had even in the ring, though those memories were slowly fading anyway.
Melvin reached the tree, lurking away inside the hollow silver and setting his first haul down inside. There was just barely enough room for the both of them, but that'd get better once he started digging in! He leaned back against the bark on the inside, giving a quick glance around the interior. A few small insect-like Hollows lingered there, but none that were remotely a threat. Maybe he could snatch a few of them when he was done for dessert. But for now? He grabbed the fallen Hollow's arm, bringing it up to his face. He'd never eaten anything this massive before, but this was a good place to start! "itt-...What is it...Ittadakimorysu whatever!" With another chuckle to himself, he inched forward, opening his maws. His razor sharp teeth dripped with saliva, every fiber of his being commanding him to feast, consume, devour!
So he did.
(1 class 8 Hollow devoured for 50 CTP, 30 paragraphs total. )
The endless sea of silver trees was home to thousands of Hollows, beasts of the most instinctive nature that lived and thrived on the flesh and blood of anything they crossed, even their own kin. It was a savage place, where strength and intelligence ruled all. A creature could thrive through deception or wit, or the sheer strength and unwavering will to shatter everyone else in their path. One way or another, they needed to claim dominance, to prove their superiority, feed, evolve, become more than they were before through the suffering and sacrifice of others. A cold and brutal lifestyle that hardened anyone into a proper monster. That is why it was so strange for a creature like Melvin to exist among their blood. Something so painfully oblivious and dull, having barely any strength to his name. He was at the very bottom of the food chain and had a disposition that defied all nature of how their kind was intended to be.
....Yet somehow he was still alive. The newborn Hollow had only arrived a few days ago. After being chained up for longer than he could remember, he was finally free. But despite that freedom, he was in even more danger than he had been in that ring. Back there, the only thing to worry about was fighting people, weak and feeble Humans of all things! They were fodder to him, with only a rare few posing a threat to him. But here? In this dark realm of silver, he was at the very bottom. His power was pathetic, barely above a spiritually adapted Human. Yet the power of monsters that could easily raze entire cities lingered just a few miles away in any direction. Their spiritual power was overwhelming, so dense that even someone as inexperienced as the newcomer could understand the scope of it.
Despite that, he was excited. Melvin knew this feeling well. It wasn't his first time starting from the bottom. That was how he always lived. Even as a boy when he fought out in the streets, he could never do much at first. He knew the pain of defeat, being crushed against unwinnable odds. Looking down someone that could kill you without even breaking a sweat. Again he met that feeling in the ring as a novice, taking hit after hit, breaking himself down against a superior foe until he crumbled. But unlike most people, he loved that feeling. Despite becoming a savage beast, his feelings were untarnished. It was just a new frontier. A third start at the bottom of a new chain. The third struggle for survival, and a third time he'd need to adapt, to evolve, and to climb the ranks of power once again.
It made his blood boil with excitement. The prospect of what he was going to go through. The looming danger, the adrenaline, the fury of monsters, unlike anything he ever knew as a man. He wanted it. To live that struggle, to suffer, then prosper, to go through the agony and reach euphoria at the end of it all. And that was one thing that set him apart from the rest. Where they fought to conquer, to devour and grow for their own survival. Melvin didn't have that line of thinking. His goal wasn't to reach the top but to have as much fun as he could climbing as high as his arms could muster, pushing the boundary of his body until it cracked and bent. Until his blood pooled beneath him and he couldn't force a single drop of power left from his core. That was life.
To live it fully, that was his only goal. The young Hollow had been reclusive his first few nights there. Years of fighting in that arena, tied down and powerless in the realm of mortals. He'd have been easy chow for anything he came across. But with time, his strength returned to him. More than that, he felt different...A presence in the new place he found himself in. Of course, many dangers lingered in it, thousands upon thousands of creatures that wanted to and could easily end his life. But there was something else...The air around him, it had a strange property to it, an energy that invigorated his body. It made him feel a sense of power, even if the faintest bit. It was as if the entire realm was laced with energy that melded with his body, allowing it to reach the true potential it was made for.
Spiritual power...Melvin had been completely oblivious to it for the most part, but he started to understand it quickly. That is what he had been drawing into his being. He came to realize it was like the blood in his veins, the source of the newfound power he experienced on Earth. With the few days he spent in the Menos Forest, his body absorbed it from all around him, allowing the first traces of his power to grow. On top of that, he came to understand just what he needed to do before he even tried to do it. This power that coursed through him...The feeling in the air, the pressure from every direction. The giant towers of black walking in the distance. It was all made of the same thing. He'd watched beasts devour each other from a distance, and the purpose was crystal clear.
They didn't devour just for food. They did it for the energy. The energy that made up their bodies, that they'd devour to fuel and grow their potential. That was how it worked. It wasn't something he figured out by intelligence, but a feeling in the core of his soul. He was never a smart guy, and this was a lot to figure out in such a short time lingering in the forest. what drove the answers into his mind was instinct. The emptiness in his stomach that was unlike any normal hunger. The euphoria he felt from breathing the air around him. His natural calling to fight and grow. His instincts were sharper than ever. Even without the smarts to figure it all out, his body knew what to do, it knew what it wanted, no...What it needed. It was time to start his climb and hunt, to devour and grow like the thousands of other beasts around him!
The only question was where to start..Or even where -not- to start. Melvin could go anywhere really. Every direction leads to something. The tiny little critters hiding in the trees, the goliaths in black casting silhouettes in the distance, the dozens of creatures of every shape and size on the ground. Just what to choose...He was like a kid in a candy store, surrounded by his favorite treats...Only instead of candy, it was a lot of bloody life-threatening fights. He'd end up with his teeth falling out either way, so it wasn't that much different! His senses were a tiny bit better than the average newbie thankfully, and with enough concentration, he picked up on a signature that seemed just the right size for him. They couldn't have been much stronger than himself, so they'd be the perfect thing to test himself against in this new world!
Thus the great Melvin's first quest began! The journey mankind had faced time and time again since the dawn of life itself! The long struggle to find the morning's lunch...Or..afternoon? He took a look around, seeing nothing but darkness. Only shreds of moonlight cut through the canopy of silver. was it always like this? Thinking back, it certainly hasn't changed in what must have been days. Was it just always perpetual night or something of the sort? Questions for another day! It didn't really matter what the answer was anyway. So long as he got what he was after. His eyes searched ahead, the shadowy images of creatures both far and near scattered between the trees. This place sure was a jungle, except the wildlife was even more dangerous But it was a jungle he was part of now, and a place he'd learn to call home...At least until something better came along.
Melvin not-so-stealthily crept through the underbrush. He saw numerous creatures with their eyes peeled, looking for food just as he was, trying to gauge an easy target and him...Well, being pretty short by Hollow standards and definitely a novice, he had a good idea that more than a few might find him a nice opportunity for brunch. But that was fine. If they came to him, it'd save him the trouble. If nothing else he had confidence in his ability! At least to survive. He didn't need to be the strongest boy around. He just needed the tenacity to keep going where most couldn't, and that was his specialty. The man turned beast had always fought with the odds against him! It was just a repeat on the process he'd gone through so many times before. So when that presence dawned close-by, he'd be ready for it.
That was a good thing because that time was in about thirty seconds from when his little walk began. He barely had time to recognize the sound of something shooting through the air!. The new Hollow came to a stop just in time to focus. He turned his gaze to see a large spinning blade coming right for him! Or what looked like a blade anyway. It was all white, just like the mask that covered his face. Was it made of bone? There wasn't much time to figure it out! He moved, the giant edge narrowly missing him and crashing into the tree behind him! It cut clean through it, severing the silver in two and then turning back around like a boomerang. Following it, his eyes brought him to his assailant! It was a Hollow no doubt, one that saw the opportunity of a meal with the newcomer in their territory.
The creature was large, much more than Melvin. Green skin, thick musculature, it was a plain old behemoth compared to the bite-sized creature Melvin turned out to be. Their mask was denser, covering their entire face. The large blade wasn't just a blade at all, but an edge boomerang that came right back to the creature that threw it. Their hand grasped it firmly, turning their eyes on its newest prey. A predatory growl spilled from the beast. There wasn't any semblance of thought from it, just the blinding hunger most of their kin followed. A need to feed, to consume, grow, and prosper It looked like quite the tough customer! Especially for a lone creature's first encounter. But that was always the case in his life. It was a lot like his first boxing match back when he was alive. Fighting someone nearly twice his size with twice the experience. To be young again...
"Jeez, tall dark and ugly. I didn't know we had a date planned for tonight. You could take me out to dinner first before you try throwing your bone at me though!" Melvin was the same as ever though...Really it had only been four years since then. Mentally he wasn't the fastest ager either. He smiled and laughed at the attempt on his life. A second later and he'd have got his head chopped off his just now! But he acted like it was all in good fun! The leaner purple-skinned Hollow kept his eyes fully focused on the newcomer, disregarding his old target for the moment. He raised his fists and focused. He'd always fought hand-to-hand before, so fighting something with an actual weapon, let alone such a strange one would be a new experience for him! His arms and legs tensed, muscles ready to throw down. The only question was how would this monster strike next?
It was quiet, a kind of really awkward quiet for that next moment. Despite the fact there were probably dozens of battles being waged at any time in a mile radius around this place, it was all rendered silent. The feeling of tension, the stillness before a confrontation rolled in. It was exhilarating, the rush right before a battle kicked off. He knew the feeling well and loved it. Just thinking about driving his fist into that giant freak's face made him happy. There was no malicious or predatory intent coming off from the newborn, which could easily be mistaken for weakness. Instead, there was something else..A fire, a desire to fight not for food, but the fight itself. He wanted to suffer, to bleed, break his bones and crush the creature before him! There was the dull sound of a single foot sliding across the ground, then a fearsome war cry.
The Hollow threw their uniquely curved blade a second time, the sharp edge coming right for Melvin! But it didn't stop there. While the weapon honed in from the right, slicing the air as sit moved, the beast itself leaped from their perch, charging forward in a berserk and bloodthirsty mania. The predatory intent from them was overwhelming, at least to a newcomer that had only been in one life or death brawl before. Even then that brawl was against a demi-Hollow. This was a full-fledged creature that had a least a little experience on the hunt. They movements synced perfectly with the incoming projectile, curving their path so they'd be in a perfect position to lunge at the exact moment the blade would hit. Seconds ticked down, the beast's sharp claws digging into the forest's dirty. A shrill cry echoed from its maw as it jumped, bringing its clawed hand forward from the left while their blade came in from the right.
Melvin hadn't dealt with anything like that before. A two-sided attack? Boxing was always a straightforward affair between fists. All these elements were foreign to him. How to deal with weapons or blades, fending off such a pattern. Yet the unfamiliarness and danger of it all just made him even more excited. As he'd always done, he'd follow his instincts to the letter. The pressure increased as the two got closer, the whizzing blade approaching his neck and the beast on his side. The newborn shifted his feet, waiting for just the right moment. His smaller body did have one advantage. He ducked down, the blade narrowly missing him and flying overhead. At the same time, he braced his shoulder in the direction of the hollow, meeting the impact of their charge head-on!
The larger beast crashed right into him, their claws sinking into his flesh and cutting his skin apart. The purple flesh was covered in several lacerations, crimson blood dripping down and peppering the grounds beneath their feet. Melvin skidded back from the impact, his feet leaving twin trails in the ground, putting all his strength into pausing that momentum. In that same span of time, the attacker grabbed their uniquely crafted blade from the air, arming themselves once more and preparing for the continued assault. They were quick and powerful, acting on refined animalistic instinct like that of a hunter out for prey. With the large bone-forged blade, they lunged right back toward their target, this time holding the weapon themselves and poising it to strike a lethal blow against their smaller prey!
Melvin tensed up, coming to a stp and staring at the creature charging him. They were strong and fast, holding a fair edge on both fronts.s But the one thing he noticed about them was their aggression. He was no slouch on the offensive either, but this focused purely on the offensive with little regard for their defensive. That heavy focus would be his opening. The newbie smiled as they got closer, the jagged blade forged in bone poised to slash at his neck. Rather than run or defend, he chose the road less traveled and pushed himself forward! He headed right into the jaws of death without pause, something sure to confuse most savage beasts. They wouldn't expect their prey to charge them rather than flee, especially with the gap of strength and experience between them. But his unconventionalism was part of his many strengths!
The smaller Hollow ducked under the blade, the sharp edge craving through his scalp a little and leaving another bleeding wound on his flesh. He pushed through it though, getting closer and closer to his attacker with a grin. The distance between them vanished, their matching movements bringing them face-to-face. "If you're so hungry!" He stepped forward, bringing his arm into position. "Lunch is on me!" He laughed as he spoke, bringing his body upward with the momentum he carried. His fist went flying right for the larger beast's mask, carrying all of the strength and power of his signature punch! It hit dead-on, his knuckles pressed against the white skeletal structure and bringing their charge to a halt! There was a brief silence before the force of the punch rolled in. Such a small creature looked weak and feeble, yet when it connected?
The larger Hollow was lifted off of the ground by an immense amount of pure Despite their size,e Melvin still had one heck of an uppercut! It didn't just lift his prey, it sent them flying back, cracking their masks and leaving a small wave of kinetic pressure in their wake! The dust was thrown about, the beast flying back a dozen feet before they could claw at the forest floor, bringing themselves to a halt. A sliver of green blood fell from their face, the mask cracked by the unexpectedly fearsome impact. The smaller of the two landed back on his feet, feeling the heat and pressure of the first good punch he'd given in a long time! Boy was it something! His heart pumped with adrenaline, fist beat red from striking such a hard surface. He loved that feeling more than anything else! The rush of a battle and the recoil of his own strength!
He didn't want to waste this opportunity though. The adrenaline started to flow, the heat, the rush, it was just like back home. He loved it. Melvin tightened his fists, staring at the other Hollow as it got back to its feet and readied its blade. The difference was where the attacker was fighting for food and survival, its prey fought out of pure passion for the fight itself. The battle itself was their goal, and they were finally getting pumped up! A dull wind rolled over the forest, the silvery tree swaying in the brief pause of motion between them. It felt like gravity itself was growing heavier, the real battle moments from unfolding. They'd had their little introduction, but now was where things truly mattered, where resolve would be tested!
Melvin stepped forward and began walking. Heat built up around his fits, traces of steam spilling over from the raw energy in his arms. Something happened when he became a Hollow. His power had always been in his fists and arms. They always shined above anything else. His brains, speed, none of it compared to just what his fists could do. And now? That property was truer than ever. He could feel it, the energy coursing through each hand. The power in each was heavy, carrying a physical presence to it. Even as a newborn they showcased incredible potential even against a more seasoned Hollow. Those slow steps picked up, inching into a run, then a full-on sprint! The other stood fully, bracing themselves and their weapon for the next clash of fist and steel.
The distance closed, the smaller Hollow in range. The larger brought their blade down like a scythe, aiming to sever their foes head then and there. Things moved in slow motion for Melvin though. His eyes followed the blade, arcing his body to just narrowly avoid it. The sharp edge scraped over his ear, cutting it and spraying crimson across the boned edge. It didn't stop him in the slightest though. In fact, the pain of these light wounds just kept pushing him further! It was a stimulant fr him, both his energy and predatory instinct. It grew, flaring at that decisive moment. This behemoth in front of him would have the honor of being the first true meal he'd devour in this new form! Time froze completely in the second before the onslaught. The blade continued to move past him and the eyes of the two beasts met. In that decisive moment, the battle was over.
The smaller Hollow's fist came forward at top speeds, launched right for the larger beast's chest. The wind twisted and turned around it, sparks of lightning crackling along the ridges of each knuckle from the intensity of his own spirit igniting his spiritual pressure. It roared out to its fullest, lightly cracking the grounds beneath him. The fire was unlike that of any normal Hollow, almost human in nature. A sense of resolve foreign to any native beast of the forest. His smile broadened, the strike moving in slow motion until it connected. An explosion of kinetic pressure split through the larger beast's body, winding it and taking the energy out of their step. It was just as fearsome as the first punch, but unlike the other, it was just the opener.
The next moments were an absolute overwhelming beating for the larger beast. The first punch was quickly followed by another just as fearsome! then another! And another! A complete barrage of strikes peppered their larger frame, each leaving dents in the creature's body, pushing them back and cracking bones with each impact. Despite their size and frail appearance, the small fry had far more kick to his strength than most average Hollows. The larger was completely stunned by the constant assault, their body breaking down hit after hit, blood spilling from their mask! To a human it might even look like a blur, a flash of color crashing against the beast dozens of times a second. Or maybe that was just how Melvin liked to imagine it.
The newborn Hollow pulled his arm back for one final punch, the whole combo all in the span of a few seconds. The heat and steam spilling from his arm spiked into a visible stream of heat, pouring out around him and warming up the air. That'd be the finisher. The scythe-like blade came back around, trying to carve him, but it was too late! The fist bolted forward, a slight jump carrying it even higher. It poised right for the large Hollow's face! It connected with a sickening impact, a small wave of kinetic energy dispersing from the point of impact. The mask cracked further, blood spilling from it. The impact took time to fully take effect, sinking deeper and deeper into the creature's skeletal skull. Finally, they were knocked off, flying several feet into the air and landing right on their back in an unconscious heap!
Their last action wasn't without purpose though. At the same time, the larger beasts went flying, their blade carved right into Melvin's shoulders, leaving a deep gash and spilling his purple blood across the forest floor. All that did is excite him more, rouse his appetite, and bring about a mighty laugh from his throat. Maybe this new life as a monster wouldn't be that bad! His wounds weren't too severe, just a handful of cuts, scrapes, and gashes. He hadn't lost too much blood and for the first time? A meal presented itself in front of him! All-in-all things went well, even if he didn't get to go after his initial target. Steam rolled off of his fist, still, a tad bit uncomfortable from the extreme heat. He didn't understand where that brief boon in strength came from, but it seemed almost natural. He had no complaints about it.
Melvin walked up to his knocked out attacker. He could feel it welling up in his stomach...A primal hunger, a desire to feed on the beast's flesh and entrails. It was strange to him. He'd felt traces of it up until now, but with prey right in front of him...It was an overwhelming feeling, like a drug he'd never used before, but was still addicted to anyway. It was primal, an all-consuming presence in his very soul. "Ha! Nice try, but you picked the wrong freakshow to scope out. Thanks for lunch though!" He laughed to himself again, approaching the fallen beast. Given how much larger they were than himself, he'd definitely have enough food to last him a good while!
The small fry picked up the giant creature, bringing them over his shoulder awkwardly given their size. He looked around for a good place to sit down and savor his victory. His eyes settled on a large hollow tree not too far off! That looked perfect. With their lunch in grasps, he walked over to the large opening in it, keeping his senses honed for any other interlopers, but if there were any? He had plenty of energy to spare. In fact, his wounds just made him more energized, wanting more of that kind of intensity. It was an amazing feeling, the feeling of his own blood spilling and the absolute attention of a creature that wanted nothing more than to kill him. It greatly exceeded the feeling he had even in the ring, though those memories were slowly fading anyway.
Melvin reached the tree, lurking away inside the hollow silver and setting his first haul down inside. There was just barely enough room for the both of them, but that'd get better once he started digging in! He leaned back against the bark on the inside, giving a quick glance around the interior. A few small insect-like Hollows lingered there, but none that were remotely a threat. Maybe he could snatch a few of them when he was done for dessert. But for now? He grabbed the fallen Hollow's arm, bringing it up to his face. He'd never eaten anything this massive before, but this was a good place to start! "itt-...What is it...Ittadakimorysu whatever!" With another chuckle to himself, he inched forward, opening his maws. His razor sharp teeth dripped with saliva, every fiber of his being commanding him to feast, consume, devour!
So he did.
(1 class 8 Hollow devoured for 50 CTP, 30 paragraphs total. )
