Corruption.

[Dean Winchester]

Raphael dashed up the rusted stairway, ignoring the aching pain in his wounded leg. He and his ilk had been taught to block out pain, to the extreme, so they could prove to be the finest fighting machines. Yet blocking, this pain, was difficult - the flesh, of his leg and shoulder, were ripped and these wounds screamed with pain. He felt the wet and sticky blood coating his sweaty flesh and he smiled at the sensation. It had been a long time since he had been wounded, like this. Mathias was proving to be a fine source of entertainment! Let this battle continue as long as possible! The building, they were now fighting in, looked to be like an abandoned school. Raphael emerged into a deserted classroom. Look there - dozens of tiny little desks were strewn across the filthy floor. The blackboard, ahead of him, was dusty and cracked with age. The windows, of the classroom, were cracked and broken - a couple were missing glass completely. The rain fell onto the filthy floor and the wind whistled through the holes in the glass. Children had once sat in this classroom - they had hoped and dreamed for a bright future, tothe sweet and gentle tune of a woman's voice. Raphael could practically see them now, these long ago phantoms of innocence - all swept away by the burning tides of war. As Mathias emerged into the room, he would find it empty. Raphael would come up, behind him, and would attempt a deadly cut to his back. Then, with a malicious grin, he would reach for the man's wet hair and entangle it within his right hand. " I could've cut your throat then. But where would the enjoyment be, in that? I'm starting to have a little fun. Amazing, isn't it? Hold onto your sword, my dear Mathias, you'll be needing it. "

He would try to slam Mathias' head against the brick wall: One, two, three times. If Raphael succeeded - the man's blood would be splattered against the bricks and he'd be in a world of hurt. If Raphael didn't suceed he would leap backwards and grab the man by the throat. Raphael would try to hurl him right out of one of those broken windows and he'd follow - breaking through the glass and landing on the small balcony just outside.

Mathias was shocked to see himself caught off guard. He attempted make a forward roll to evade Raphael's attack, but it was too late for him to fully evade Raphael and therefore he felt his opponent's blade slashing his back diagonally, leaving a scar that began on his left shoulder and ended on his lower back, above his hip.

The attack made Mathias' lose balance. He accidentally dropped his blade, and was consequently attacked yet again. Mathias felt Raphael's hand grasping his hair for this time his opponent opted to attempt to crash Mathias' skull against the brick wall, but Mathias prevented this by placing his his hands on the wall and pushing himself towards Raphael. He then turned around and removed Raphael's hand with his right hand and rolled down towards his blade, landing on his knees after grabbing his weapon and quickly aiming it towards his enemy.

Mathias had eluded death's call by only an inch this time and he thought that Raphael was simply too close to kill him, perhaps too close. Having endured Raphael's relentless assault, Mathias rapidly rose to his feet and stood firmly before Raphael. Clearly annoyed by Raphael's taunts, Mathias gave a cold stare to his opponent but could not avoid smiling, after all, he was still alive.

"By my soul, you almost had me, my little assassin. I underestimated you, yet that is a mistake I won't repeat, I can assure you that."

Mathias inhaled and exhaled as he felt the warm blood on his back mixing with the water and staining his ruined black jacket. Mathias closed his eyes as he concentrated all his mind into his target. As soon as he opened them, Mathias dashed towards Raphael, quickly tightening the grip of his blade and lifting it above his right shoulder as he placed his left hand before him.

Mathias then jumped, rushing down to strike Raphael's shoulder with the hilt of his sword. If successful, Mathias would follow up by striking Raphael's abdomen with his right knee, he would then duck to gain momentum and finally come rushing up performing an upward swing that would slash Raphael's face, one that would probably leave a deep vertical slash on the very center of eye, starting from Raphael's left cheek and ending only an inch above his eyebrow.
​

 

[Toxic Variations]

" That must've hurt. You needn't worry, Mathias, I'll be sure to put you out of your misery soon enough. As for your question earlier: About my believing in Heaven. You misunderstood. I believe in nothing - in the end. Humm. After I slice you open and pull out your intestines, inch by inch, I'll cut out your heart and feed it to the birds. Have you ever seen a pack of vultures pecking at a carcass? You're mutilated corpse will be the first course - I'll save your heart and your brain for the second and third. " Raphael took a step back and drew the tip of his tongue, across his blade ( which was splattered with Mathias' blood. ), and then he smiled coldly. " Vengeance interrupted. Only one of us can be the victor this night. " The young man steadied himself and took a leap backwards, a simple backflip, which landed him on both feet with a soft thud. He was silent now. Enough with the constant conversation between them. The silence was heavy. A moment pased and Raphael might have avoided Mathias' next attack, had it not been for a rustling in the corner. His attention was drawn to a small, white dove - which had flown through the window and was now perched on one of those tiny desks. Time seemed to stand still as Raphael stared at it, amazed and then Mathias' attack came. The man's knee slammed into Raphael's stomach and he fell forward, gaping, his breath stolen by the sharp blow to his torso. Mathias' blade swung up and cut right through the flesh of his face and through his left eye and Raphael? He saw a world drenched in red. The jelly like material, of the sliced eye, fell down his face and splattered on the floor. The blood followed, flowing from the wounded socket and down his face.

That was it. Things were now going to take a drastic and dangerous turn. Never had he lost his sense of strength, dominance, power. Right hand was pressed against his face and fingers could not stop the blood from flowing. The right eye, wide and filled with fury, was fixated on the form of Mathias. An inhuman screech, a furious roar, left Raphael. It was, as if right then, he had fallen into a pit of insanity - if he hadn't been there, already that is. The stench of blood and the bitter spit of being so wounded, made him roar aloud. " Damn you!!!! "


Raphael would completely lose it and the battle would become all the more gruesome. He would slash repeatedly at his enemy - at every weak point he could manage - Mathias' left leg, his right, and then both shoulders, as well as his chest. Raphael would reach foward, with his free hand, and stab his fingers into the wound on the man's shoulder and dig them in with great force, snarling as the blood spurted and bubbled. He would then tumble through one of those broken windows and they'd keep fighting - ascending up those rickety stairs to the roof of the building itself. The rain was falling harder now and it stung at his open wounds. Raphael was breathing hard, wasn't he? The truth was, he had lost alot of blood. A chuckle left him, as they stood there , atop the roof, blades trembling and pointing towards one another. That left eye of his gazed up into the heavens and then it moved back towards his heaving opponent. " You know, that hurt. "

Wet strands of hair swished back and forth against a cold, pale visage. Raphael was walking towards Mathias, his right hand was free and his left clutched at his blade. The voice was darker, less playful, a poetic mingling of secretive emotion and empathy? No, it couldn't be. The tip of his blade drug against the wet brick and stone, scratching against it as the young man extended that right hand, fingers outstretched. " What was it like? Holding your son? Did you tell him you loved him? Just once? ... What was it like? " Clasping the hilt of his sword with both hands, he would dash forward and slice Mathias' face on the right side. Raphael's blade would cut down his cheek all the way to his throat. It would be an angry wound. The force of Raphael's slash would knock the man backwards and he was close to falling off the edge of the roof . Raphael reached out, with his right hand, and pulled him back. He would hurl Mathias towards the center of the roof, so that such a thing would not happen again. Wouldn't it have been easier, on the monster, to let the man fall? Amazing he had caught the other and saved his life. " We're not done just yet. "

 

[Kenpachi]

Imraldis smiled as his fellow Agent followed him into the elevator.
Leaning over, he pressed the '4' button and the rusty elevator shuddered, the doors closed, and they began to move.
"The location of the Rebel we seek-" he began, before breaking off and looking at Spectre for a moment.
Changing tact, he instead said;
"The location of your documents is with my target, very probably on the move now. He will stop at one of his apartments to stock up on weapons and the like, and then in all probability move to one of the secret Rebel Bases."
Smiling slightly, he added, "but we can cut him off. We are heading now to the junction of Mayfair Avenue and Charity Court. His route will take him through there."

 

[Soul Saver]

Spectre gave a cautious nod to Imraldis.
"I see. And no doubt, failure is unacceptable.
They used some sort of new knockout agent, not one that agents are vaccinated against. This hideout should be searched thoroughly, as is protocol. Perhaps there is some residual trace in my blood, too.
Hmm. No time for that now, though. We'll need a helicopter or VTOL aircraft if we're going to catch up. Call for one, if you will."
The maintenance elevator reached the ground floor, and the agents stepped out.

 

[Dean Winchester]

" That must've hurt. You needn't worry, Mathias, I'll be sure to put you out of your misery soon enough. As for your question earlier: About my believing in Heaven. You misunderstood. I believe in nothing - in the end. Humm. After I slice you open and pull out your intestines, inch by inch, I'll cut out your heart and feed it to the birds. Have you ever seen a pack of vultures pecking at a carcass? You're mutilated corpse will be the first course - I'll save your heart and your brain for the second and third. " Raphael took a step back and drew the tip of his tongue, across his blade ( which was splattered with Mathias' blood. ), and then he smiled coldly. " Vengeance interrupted. Only one of us can be the victor this night. " The young man steadied himself and took a leap backwards, a simple backflip, which landed him on both feet with a soft thud. He was silent now. Enough with the constant conversation between them. The silence was heavy. A moment pased and Raphael might have avoided Mathias' next attack, had it not been for a rustling in the corner. His attention was drawn to a small, white dove - which had flown through the window and was now perched on one of those tiny desks. Time seemed to stand still as Raphael stared at it, amazed and then Mathias' attack came. The man's knee slammed into Raphael's stomach and he fell forward, gaping, his breath stolen by the sharp blow to his torso. Mathias' blade swung up and cut right through the flesh of his face and through his left eye and Raphael? He saw a world drenched in red. The jelly like material, of the sliced eye, fell down his face and splattered on the floor. The blood followed, flowing from the wounded socket and down his face.

That was it. Things were now going to take a drastic and dangerous turn. Never had he lost his sense of strength, dominance, power. Right hand was pressed against his face and fingers could not stop the blood from flowing. The right eye, wide and filled with fury, was fixated on the form of Mathias. An inhuman screech, a furious roar, left Raphael. It was, as if right then, he had fallen into a pit of insanity - if he hadn't been there, already that is. The stench of blood and the bitter spit of being so wounded, made him roar aloud. " Damn you!!!! "


Raphael would completely lose it and the battle would become all the more gruesome. He would slash repeatedly at his enemy - at every weak point he could manage - Mathias' left leg, his right, and then both shoulders, as well as his chest. Raphael would reach foward, with his free hand, and stab his fingers into the wound on the man's shoulder and dig them in with great force, snarling as the blood spurted and bubbled. He would then tumble through one of those broken windows and they'd keep fighting - ascending up those rickety stairs to the roof of the building itself. The rain was falling harder now and it stung at his open wounds. Raphael was breathing hard, wasn't he? The truth was, he had lost alot of blood. A chuckle left him, as they stood there , atop the roof, blades trembling and pointing towards one another. That left eye of his gazed up into the heavens and then it moved back towards his heaving opponent. " You know, that hurt. "

Wet strands of hair swished back and forth against a cold, pale visage. Raphael was walking towards Mathias, his right hand was free and his left clutched at his blade. The voice was darker, less playful, a poetic mingling of secretive emotion and empathy? No, it couldn't be. The tip of his blade drug against the wet brick and stone, scratching against it as the young man extended that right hand, fingers outstretched. " What was it like? Holding your son? Did you tell him you loved him? Just once? ... What was it like? " Clasping the hilt of his sword with both hands, he would dash forward and slice Mathias' face on the right side. Raphael's blade would cut down his cheek all the way to his throat. It would be an angry wound. The force of Raphael's slash would knock the man backwards and he was close to falling off the edge of the roof . Raphael reached out, with his right hand, and pulled him back. He would hurl Mathias towards the center of the roof, so that such a thing would not happen again. Wouldn't it have been easier, on the monster, to let the man fall? Amazing he had caught the other and saved his life. " We're not done just yet. "

"You aren't smiling anymore, are you?" Mathias taunted Raphael as he stared at the wounded agent. Blood poured from Raphael's eye, now replaced by a gruesome scar that rendered his eye useless. He had wounded him, and very badly, Mathias could see his nemesis' blood splattered all over his sword, dripping from the tip and staining the floor. A grim smile was shown on Mathias' face as it widened by the second, followed up by a maniacal laughter. "Simply ironic, how your ego seemed to have become your greatest flaw. Now you'll have that scar reminding you constantly that you were inches away from falling by my sword. Now, let us continue" Mathias bent his knees and leaped forward to shorten the distance, then he sprinted straight to Raphael. As he saw how Raphael unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks, Mathias could not do anything more than just countering with a flurry of sword swings, their swords clashing constantly as Mathias successfully parried most of his attacks, except for one. As he deflected Raphael's sword, he left his wounded shoulder open to Raphael's offensive.

Mathias felt his opponent's fingers digging through the wound, tearing through flesh and slightly injuring part of the muscle. His eyes widened in agony as he quickly grasped Raphael's wrist, slowly pulling his opponent's hand off his shoulder. Mathias breathed heavily as he struggled to completely remove Raphael's hand. Having it removed, Mathias released Raphael's wrist and leaped backwards, landing a few meters away from Raphael. Exhaustion was starting to affect his body, the amount of blood he had lost also weakened him, yet he had enough strength to continue, after all, both of them were seriously wounded. Seeing as Raphael approached, he could not avoid feeling deeply hurt the agent's cold words.
" What was it like? Holding your son? Did you tell him you loved him? Just once? ... What was it like?

Mathias suddenly lost control, plunging into insanity as his remorse was triggered by Raphael's questions. He not only hated Raphael for being responsible for the accident that nearly killed Jonathan, what truly bothered Mathias was the fact that he was also responsible for that accident. "SHUT UP! I'll swear I'll tear up the very soul from your dying body!" Enormously infuriated by Raphael's sarcastic questions, Mathias fell to his vilest instincts running as fast as he could to unleash a mindless assault, yet his reckless actions would nearly cost him his life. He suffered the consequences of his actions as he felt Raphael's blade slashing his face, leaving a scar that began above his left eyebrow, followed over his left cheek and ended under his jaw, really close to his throat. The attack however, did not affected Mathias' left eye directly and it was only temporarily blinded by the blood coming out from the scar. Raphael's nearly fatal blow knocked Mathias off to a deadly abyss, the man's life saved from a certain death because he was able to grab the edge.

Surprisingly, Mathias saw as Raphael pulled him up and saved his life. Still Raphael's action had a reasonable excuse, for Raphael hurled Mathias against the roof, the man crashing against the ceiling and landing violently on a desk, shattering it. Then there was silence, no movement, no sign of Mathias, only a wounded body covered by the debris of what was left of the old desk. The rain continued, the storm showed no signs to end, and a blinding lightning illuminated the dark room.

Shockingly, Mathias managed crawled out from under the rubble, standing up with much effort, his jaw dripping blood from a wound made by Raphael a few moments ago. The blood also fell straight to Mathias' lips, allowing him to have a taste of his own blood. The man then spit the blood on the floor and cleaned his mouth with his left hand, his right hand tightly clutching his sword.

"This battle will get us both killed... yet it is a small price to pay to ensure your demise...."

 

[Toxic Variations]

"You aren't smiling anymore, are you?" Mathias taunted Raphael as he stared at the wounded agent. Blood poured from Raphael's eye, now replaced by a gruesome scar that rendered his eye useless. He had wounded him, and very badly, Mathias could see his nemesis' blood splattered all over his sword, dripping from the tip and staining the floor. A grim smile was shown on Mathias' face as it widened by the second, followed up by a maniacal laughter. "Simply ironic, how your ego seemed to have become your greatest flaw. Now you'll have that scar reminding you constantly that you were inches away from falling by my sword. Now, let us continue" Mathias bent his knees and leaped forward to shorten the distance, then he sprinted straight to Raphael. As he saw how Raphael unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks, Mathias could not do anything more than just countering with a flurry of sword swings, their swords clashing constantly as Mathias successfully parried most of his attacks, except for one. As he deflected Raphael's sword, he left his wounded shoulder open to Raphael's offensive.

Mathias felt his opponent's fingers digging through the wound, tearing through flesh and slightly injuring part of the muscle. His eyes widened in agony as he quickly grasped Raphael's wrist, slowly pulling his opponent's hand off his shoulder. Mathias breathed heavily as he struggled to completely remove Raphael's hand. Having it removed, Mathias released Raphael's wrist and leaped backwards, landing a few meters away from Raphael. Exhaustion was starting to affect his body, the amount of blood he had lost also weakened him, yet he had enough strength to continue, after all, both of them were seriously wounded. Seeing as Raphael approached, he could not avoid feeling deeply hurt the agent's cold words.
" What was it like? Holding your son? Did you tell him you loved him? Just once? ... What was it like?

Mathias suddenly lost control, plunging into insanity as his remorse was triggered by Raphael's questions. He not only hated Raphael for being responsible for the accident that nearly killed Jonathan, what truly bothered Mathias was the fact that he was also responsible for that accident. "SHUT UP! I'll swear I'll tear up the very soul from your dying body!" Enormously infuriated by Raphael's sarcastic questions, Mathias fell to his vilest instincts running as fast as he could to unleash a mindless assault, yet his reckless actions would nearly cost him his life. He suffered the consequences of his actions as he felt Raphael's blade slashing his face, leaving a scar that began above his left eyebrow, followed over his left cheek and ended under his jaw, really close to his throat. The attack however, did not affected Mathias' left eye directly and it was only temporarily blinded by the blood coming out from the scar. Raphael's nearly fatal blow knocked Mathias off to a deadly abyss, the man's life saved from a certain death because he was able to grab the edge.

Surprisingly, Mathias saw as Raphael pulled him up and saved his life. Still Raphael's action had a reasonable excuse, for Raphael hurled Mathias against the roof, the man crashing against the ceiling and landing violently on a desk, shattering it. Then there was silence, no movement, no sign of Mathias, only a wounded body covered by the debris of what was left of the old desk. The rain continued, the storm showed no signs to end, and a blinding lightning illuminated the dark room.

Shockingly, Mathias managed crawled out from under the rubble, standing up with much effort, his jaw dripping blood from a wound made by Raphael a few moments ago. The blood also fell straight to Mathias' lips, allowing him to have a taste of his own blood. The man then spit the blood on the floor and cleaned his mouth with his left hand, his right hand tightly clutching his sword.

"This battle will get us both killed... yet it is a small price to pay to ensure your demise...."

" Smiling? No, of course not. You just tore my eye in half, idiot. " Raphael sighed as he was yelled at. True, true enough. You stupid fool. What do I care for scars? They're only as great as the men who make them. What are you? A miserable, writhing coward - whimpering and teary eyed over his ignorant child. Oh? Are you angry with me, Mathias? Do you hate me? Tear away - by all means, have a go. I wish you all the best of luck finding a soul to rip. " Raphael blinked his good eye and reached up, with his free hand, to touch the wounded socket. The wounded eye could no longer see and yes, part of it seemed to be missing. It hurt beyond words and Raphael, relishing this pain, merely smiled with a bitterness quite palpable. He truly didn't mean what he said before. The words were spoke, in an attempt, to make Mathias all the more enraged. " Listen to me, Mathias. After you have killed me - what then? You should know, better then anyone, the power of the Ministry. You will find the other battles, much more difficult, then this one. Seraphim, Michael -- I'm nothing compared to them. " Would that come as a surprise to the man? " I'm the weakest link in this unholy trinity and look at you -- " That blood red eye postively gleamed with malevolent pleasure - " -- an inch away from collapsing. " Raphael knelt and rested on his right knee. He was weary! What strength he had was slowly leaking away, from him, in these streams of blood.

" You said you left the Ministry because you thought it better to be the puppeteer rather than the puppet. Was that true? Or merely a lie in disguise? What exactly happened in your past? " He smirked as he watched the man watching him. " I find it amazing you managed it. You must know leaving is an impossibility. It doesn't matter how rich or poor you are - all that matters is this. " Raphael's index finger pointed to the side of his temple - " Thought. When did your loyalty die, Mathias Salazar? " A pity, Raphael wasn't going to get the answer he sought. He chuckled as Mathias spoke. A small price to pay, eh? Raphael slowly stood. He was silent for the longest time. Something changed in his face - there looked to be a shadow which swept across it, disturbing the blood streaked features." Perhaps. " Raphael dashed towards Mathias, blade in both hands and he aimed a vicious thrust at the man's chest and then a quick upward swing, which would allow him to bring the sword, back down, in a vertical chop to the man's head - in an attempt, to cut into it and shatter the fragile skull. However, he missed, and hurt himself, all the more, in the progress. The other man was simply far too quick.

" . . . " He couldn't honestly do anymore, his body had lost too much blood. The part of roof, they were standing on, was rotting wood. Surely, at any moment, it might cave in. Infact, it was caving in right underneath Mathias' feet. Raphael would push him to the side, out of harm's way, just as it collapsed in a shower of water and splintered wood. If you looked for him, you wouldn't find him - at first. He could be found, dangling from the edge of that ruined building. Raphael's left hand clutched the side, bloody fingers clutching the wet edge. He smirked coldly as he thought of the questions that might be asked: Why? Why did he do that? He was such a monster, afterall! But maybe - just maybe, it was because he held a shred of respect for the older man. Raphael's grip was slipping - " Don't try it. I accept no help from a sworn enemy. " That cold, playful grin remained fixated on his lips. Raphael's blade had fallen into the water below and soon he'd join it - " It was fun. When we meet again - I'll be sure to defeat you quickly. Till then -- " A mischevious wink and the young man had fallen and thus he disappeared into the darkness and the sound of his body, hitting the water, would remain in his wake. The black liquid would be stained pink with his blood.

 

[Dean Winchester]

" Smiling? No, of course not. You just tore my eye in half, idiot. " Raphael sighed as he was yelled at. True, true enough. You stupid fool. What do I care for scars? They're only as great as the men who make them. What are you? A miserable, writhing coward - whimpering and teary eyed over his ignorant child. Oh? Are you angry with me, Mathias? Do you hate me? Tear away - by all means, have a go. I wish you all the best of luck finding a soul to rip. " Raphael blinked his good eye and reached up, with his free hand, to touch the wounded socket. The wounded eye could no longer see and yes, part of it seemed to be missing. It hurt beyond words and Raphael, relishing this pain, merely smiled with a bitterness quite palpable. He truly didn't mean what he said before. The words were spoke, in an attempt, to make Mathias all the more enraged. " Listen to me, Mathias. After you have killed me - what then? You should know, better then anyone, the power of the Ministry. You will find the other battles, much more difficult, then this one. Seraphim, Michael -- I'm nothing compared to them. " Would that come as a surprise to the man? " I'm the weakest link in this unholy trinity and look at you -- " That blood red eye postively gleamed with malevolent pleasure - " -- an inch away from collapsing. " Raphael knelt and rested on his right knee. He was weary! What strength he had was slowly leaking away, from him, in these streams of blood.

Standing still before his nemesis, Mathias sunk deeply in his own mind, clearly giving some thought to what Raphael had said. Whether he liked it or not, there was some truth spoken by Raphael. Although he had left the Ministry because he had little trust for the Party and that he knew that soon the whole government would collapse once Civil War arouses, the fact that his son fell to such a vegetative state due to the Ministry had ignited Mathias' hatred against The Ministry. Mathias sighed, slowly loosening the grip he had on the hilt of his sword and lowering his weapon. He remained staring at the cold, blood stained, floor, gazing upon his bloodied reflection. "Raphael...." Mathias slowly closed his eyes, inhaled and exhaled, then he took some time to set his eyes on his rival, brother, and nemesis. "There's some truth in your words, brother. I have sinned, and a great sin it is. For I have shielded my true intentions against the Ministry with this carefully orchestrated lie. Yes, indeed what aroused my anger against the Ministry was failure. Failure as a father, failure as a man of family, failure as a teacher to guide my son's path. My own failure fueled this rage and, unable to release myself from vengeance's hunger, I was easily intoxicated by its poisonous blood thirst. In the end, I am no better than you...for I have allowed this nightmare to live for, perhaps, too long..." Mathias had found out the truth realizing that his true enemy might not be the Ministry, but himself. Raphael, Seraphim and Michael, those three were only the elements that lit the fuse of his flaming anger, feeding his remorseless wishes. Mathias remained silent, as if he were expecting Raphael take any action.

" You said you left the Ministry because you thought it better to be the puppeteer rather than the puppet. Was that true? Or merely a lie in disguise? What exactly happened in your past? " He smirked as he watched the man watching him. " I find it amazing you managed it. You must know leaving is an impossibility. It doesn't matter how rich or poor you are - all that matters is this. " Raphael's index finger pointed to the side of his temple - " Thought. When did your loyalty die, Mathias Salazar? " A pity, Raphael wasn't going to get the answer he sought. He chuckled as Mathias spoke. A small price to pay, eh? Raphael slowly stood. He was silent for the longest time. Something changed in his face - there looked to be a shadow which swept across it, disturbing the blood streaked features." Perhaps. " Raphael dashed towards Mathias, blade in both hands and he aimed a vicious thrust at the man's chest and then a quick upward swing, which would allow him to bring the sword, back down, in a vertical chop to the man's head - in an attempt, to cut into it and shatter the fragile skull. However, he missed, and hurt himself, all the more, in the progress. The other man was simply far too quick.

"Loyalty...." Mathias smirked and he nodded, negating the fact of being disloyal. "My loyalty was never truly with the Ministry, but with the people. I realized my mistake. I am, too, responsible for this madness, this vile drama that was brought to life years ago. Am I seeking redemption? Perhaps...yet I doubt that the Lord would forgive my sin and lock the Gates of Heaven before me, denying me entry..." Mathias had barely eluded Raphael's assault, and hurt himself more in the process. His muscles ached, his whole body splattered with blood, his very soul worn down by the battle, it was only a matter of time for either of them to quit, yet none seemed to give into the sole idea of losing.

" . . . " He couldn't honestly do anymore, his body had lost too much blood. The part of roof, they were standing on, was rotting wood. Surely, at any moment, it might cave in. Infact, it was caving in right underneath Mathias' feet. Raphael would push him to the side, out of harm's way, just as it collapsed in a shower of water and splintered wood. If you looked for him, you wouldn't find him - at first. He could be found, dangling from the edge of that ruined building. Raphael's left hand clutched the side, bloody fingers clutching the wet edge. He smirked coldly as he thought of the questions that might be asked: Why? Why did he do that? He was such a monster, afterall! But maybe - just maybe, it was because he held a shred of respect for the older man. Raphael's grip was slipping - " Don't try it. I accept no help from a sworn enemy. " That cold, playful grin remained fixated on his lips. Raphael's blade had fallen into the water below and soon he'd join it - " It was fun. When we meet again - I'll be sure to defeat you quickly. Till then -- " A mischevious wink and the young man had fallen and thus he disappeared into the darkness and the sound of his body, hitting the water, would remain in his wake. The black liquid would be stained pink with his blood.

"Raphael!!!" Mathias had in vain tried to grab the man's hand to prevent his fall into oblivion. Staring at the abyss, Mathias closed his eyes and cursed his own fate, for he did not knew for sure if he had casted his rage upon an innocent man. His body lying on the floor, his right arm hanging from the edge after failing, yet again, to save the man who had saved his life twice in this battle. Mathias sighed as he pushed himself from the floor with his left hand and knelt before the hole made after part of the floor had collapsed. "The next time we meet..." He said as he brought his left hand to his chest and bowed his head as if he were praying "We will fight, not for glory, not for revenge, but for the sake of this world....the next time, it will be our last...." Mathias was barely able to stand, and after he smiled, he fell back against the floor, fainting due to the amount of blood he had lost.

 

[Serge68]

It was a most certainly a rough battle between the unlikely pair. No, rough didn't seem to do it justice. Their battle was gruesome and bloody.

But it was a beautiful one.

Raegan wasn't sure whether they were aware of it or not, but something had completely beautiful and new had been born within them.

Compassion, desperation, anger, loyalty.

All of these things had been truly born within them, and left exposed for the world to see.

Of course , seeing two well-trained agents duking it out in the streets was plenty entertaining as well. There should've been another agent coming along as well.

 

[Toxic Variations]

Raphael hit the water with a sickening splash. On his way down, he had suffered trauma to the head. A large, gaping gash, upon the side of his temple, bled freely. As he hit the water, he really had no thoughts of self. How could he? He had lost consciousness. It was quite possible he might die, right here, right now. Well, that would be just fine, wouldn't it? It made no difference to him - as he was afraid of nothing, no one. Then you see - Raphael had a dream. It was a strange one, filled with various images, and then lastly a vision of a warm, wild flower strewn field. Raphael was walking through the tall, blowing grasses. How lovely they were! He had known nothing save the cold corridors of the Ministry of Love.

Why was it he felt soo different? It was as if all hatred, bitterness, misery had left him. There was no longer the detachment, he suffered from, but a sublime understanding of what was true, pure, and important. His life had been wrong and all of it wasn't his fault - but most of it was. Still he wouldn't recall such a dream, oh no. It would fade and and that eye of his would open, just slightly, to gaze upon the darkness of the water around him. If he did not move his body, he would surely drown here. He must, by all means, make it back to the surface! But he was soo weak and the pain, in his head, wouldn't stop. Then the training, from his childhood, kicked in. Raphael would propel himself to the surface and break through the water, gasping and heaving as he did so. It was sheer luck that he regained consciousness, in time, to save himself. It seemed as if God, if there was one, was determined to keep him alive for some reason.

He shook violently, due to the low temperature of the water. Gradually he would make his way to the edge and clasp it with his right hand. Raphael would then pull himself up to the ledge and then the black wrought iron railing - which separated the street from the river beyond. He leaned against the railing and stayed there, for awhile. Finally he would move, climbing over it and then stumbling forward. Splatters of blood would hit, the cold concrete, as he slowly made his way to a nearby alley. There the young man would slump down the wall, sit, and lose all consciousness.

 

[Serge68]

((OOC: Attempts to revive... Oh, and sorry if I screwed up any facts or points. Sleep deprivation and all))

"What the hell dude!"

Raegan was having an inner argument with his other personaliy.

"Didn't I tell you that I had prepared everything?"

"Well yeah, but... Wait, seriously, you anticipated all of this?"

"Not everything..."

The ghost's voice lowered a bit. He sounded regretful, even sad. Was it the the gas that had gotten released?

"I... had not anticipated the gas. What I had thought was going to become a routine crackdown on rebels had become a slaughter... They will pay..."

He pasued to steady the body. Behind such a bizarre and difficult-to-obtain mask lay a torn young man. It was like being on the verge of tears, and on the brink of an insane rage at the same time.

"Ghost, try to calm yourself, i'm going to have a little chat with Matthias. You can take care of Raphael."

Said Raegan, nodding to his limp, bloodied body. By the look of it, he didn't have much time left. And that head trauma would prove to be fatal if left there for too long.

"Look, just try to calm your self Ghost, there's still some life that we can save."

It was a battle beyond brtual, it was downright gory. But Reagan was prepared as well. Both of the combatants were weakened, and on the verge of death. He had noted all possible exits beforehand.

The ghost had calmed himself, and had taken over, quickly ripping up discarded scraps of cloth that he had found lying around in the rubbish bins outside. There wasn't much time to check if they were clean though.

They were well-trained agents, and they could deal with the infections on their own. What mattered now was to stop the bleeding on the both of them. Raphael hit the drink, and Matthias was bleeding all over the place, meaning that the first makeshift tourniquet would go to him.

The major bleeding had stopped within a matter of moments, and any blood leaking from hi vitals had stopped as well.

"Listen, i'm not so sure if you're able to hear me, and I haven't much time... but tell Seraphim this once you get back: The cockroach still lives. He should know what it means"

Raegan had treated his wounds to the best of his ability. If he remained unconcious, then he'd take him back to one of his hideouts. But he still had Raphael to worry about.

It was interesting, to know that he personally would never expect such fighters to take up arms against each other.

All that mattered was fighting this government and making them pay for their crimes. And of course a... "Yeah it me..."

Said Raegan speaking out of an impossibly small walkie-talkie, concealed carefully around the hood of his cloak.

"It looks like Raphael took a bit of a spill, do be advised... Provide emergency medical assistance and soon as you find him, he's suffering from several lacerationss and severe head trauma..."

A woman's voice answered back. It was soft and warm and full life.

"Roger, copy that, Leena out..."

 

[Contra Fates]

This RP has ended.
Enjoy the new world in 'Before The Fall.'

Thread Closed.