[attr="class","taliscroll"]

Dantalion wasn't one to ignore an invitation from the Voice of the World, even if it was for something he had little care for. His commune had never really celebrated Christmas, they had a spiritual tradition around this time of year and he had heard of Christmas before but it was never something that he had thought about too much. Either way, he wasn't going to turn down an event and the possibility of not only getting some kind of reward but also maybe finding new monsters and demons to hunt, something that was rapidly turning into an actually fun hobby for him.
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It helped that hunting made him stronger which drew him closer to being able to follow his goal. So that was how he had ended up in the Draco Islands, somewhere that was obviously having some... Issues if the surrounding weather was anything to go by. Frozen lakes near scorching deserts, snow piling up next to sand, it all seemed awfully disjointed. He gave a shrug and started to move deeper into the islands, noticing the presents that were falling from the sky and the creatures that were scurrying around, best to stay on guard then.
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He was already wearing his armour so that was fine, the black plate covering his body kept him at a reasonable temperature, the cloak and hood built into it keeping the sun or snow off his head and the clawed fingertips helped him climb rock faces. He drew closer to the location of one of the falling presents and then noticed another individual nearby, a person at that, which meant they were a sinner but could be reasoned with. Dantalion moved closer and raised a hand so as not to seem too threatening. "Hello there, friend! Are you also taking part in the event here?" He said, keeping his voice low so as not to draw too much attention and keeping an easy smile on his face.

[attr="class","talitag"]
Tristan Wu

[attr="class","taliscroll"]

The Knight spent a few moments watching the other man for some sign of threat but he didn't see any. With that he gave a small nod. "Of course, a burden shared is a burden halved, we'll fight together. My name is Dantalion, though I usually go by Tali, have you been here for long after the Fall?" He asked plainly with a quirked eyebrow before turning and beginning to move head. He kept his steps measured and slow so as not to alert any foes to his arrival. There were already marks that creatures had been moving through here and sure enough after not too long they'd reach the first set of fallen presents.
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A large box had crashed down into the snow, sending a burst of frost around its impact site. There were several horrid little goblin-like creatures around it wearing patchwork green and red clothing and small hats with spiked baubles on them. Tali crouched nearby and waved for the other guy to come over. "Group of enemies, don't seem too powerful. What kind of fighter are you?" He asked, knowing that the sinners here had been blessed with power just like he had and that knowledge was the key to victory.
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The small creatures were skittering around the box, cackling to each other and attempting to either cut or pull the box open but they weren't having any luck. They also didn't seem to have noticed the two people nearby just yet which worked to Tali's design just perfectly. He was already mentally running through which weapon to summon for this purpose but he needed to know how Tristan fought before he actually committed.

[attr="class","talitag"]
Tristan Wu

[attr="class","taliscroll"]

So it would seem like his companion hadn't been in this new world for long, though that thought led to more troubling ideas. Was it taking time to judge people and decide where they were supposed to go? After all there had been others here longer than Dantalion had been. Or, more worryingly, were people committing sins and being banished down here to be cleansed by those that remained? He pursed his lips for a moment and shook his head to clear those thoughts, there were more pressing matters at hand anyway. Namely the slaying of monsters.
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"That's fine, I probably won't need you to do much. Once the fireworks start I need you to distract and herd anyone that attempts to escape out of the smoke. Try not to enter it yourself, I'm not sure of your uh..." He paused for a moment to think of the right word that wouldn't be seen as digging too deep or insulting, "...Statistics but if you're newer here you're likely weaker than I am so the smoke might affect you quite negatively. Most importantly, stay safe and stay alive." He gave Tristan a firm smile and then took a deep breath.
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Holding out his right hand, sparks of blue light appeared and summoned a gleaming silver warbow into his hand that had a string of azure light. At the same time a cold blue fire ignited in his right eye and a crosshair appeared through his left iris. With a flick of the wrist, the bow snapped in half and became two shortswords. He then stood up and activated one of the abilities of his armour, turning him [Hidden] and he stalked forwards, right into the middle of the enemy group.
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After a second of shaking himself out he pulled the pin on a grenade at his waist which immediately detonated into a massive pall of smoke fifteen meters across. The goblins immediately started screeching as they were blinded and choked by it and then Dantalion went on the move, his shortswords flicked out, impaling one through the throat and across another's face before he kicked the first one off his swords and went on the move to find more. He wasn't at all affected by the [Fog of War] after all.
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Apocalypse King Armour can grant [Hidden] if Tali's [MAGI](75) is higher than their [WIL](Probably not 75).
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Rampage summoned, allows two basic attacks, due to [SPD], at [PWR]-1 which is C damage per hit.
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Victory unleashes [Fog of War] covering an area of [MAGI]/5 meters and lowering [SPD] by 30% while in it, reduces sight to 5 meters due to lower [WIL] than Tali's [MAGI]. Probably lower still as each rank in difference reduces by a further meter.

[attr="class","talitag"]
Tristan Wu

[attr="class","taliscroll"]

No plan survived contact with the enemy, Dantalion knew that but he was hoping it'd be smaller reinforcements and not a boss. At the very least it seemed slow even if it did look completely crazed. He let out a hiss and sidestepped a blind swing of claws from one of the goblins before taking both of its arms off with a swing of one of his shortswords. He drifted through the fog like a vengeful spirit, flashes of black and the wicked glacier-blue fire in his eye being the only visible things in the drifting bank of smoke. He let another set of claws scratch harmlessly against his armour before stabbing out with the other shortsword to a reply of a cut-off screech.
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"Tristan! The boss is slow, fight but focus on dodging and keep it pinned down until I'm done here!" He called out, one of the creatures turning to face him through the fog and stepping forwards to swing at the sound. Dantalion's shadow however stretched outwards and the tip of a lance surged out of the dark and impaled through the Goblin before tossing it aside, the chains of a multi-headed whip lashing out afterwards to grab another and toss them aside. A figure stepped out of the dark at Tali's feet, fully armoured, midnight black and letting off streamers of ash and smouldering flame, a pair of burning red eyes in its face behind its full helm. With a nod it turned and moved off.
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Two more figures appeared, one of them more lightly armoured in thin leathers, a whipcord leanness to them that seemed to give off the idea of malnourishment or emaciation with eyes that sparkled like onyxes or obsidian in its head. They carried a rapier and a strange crossbow-like device and immediately moved off as well. The last figure was difficult to make out, enshrouded as it was in flowing burial silks and strips of cloth. It carried a massive reaping scythe on its shoulder which took a life immediately before it slid forwards, two ghostlights of pale green light flickering behind the veil that covered its face.
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The seals had broken and the Horsemen had came forth, now it was time to deal with these beasts as quickly as possible so that he could support his ally. Famine lashed out, stabbing one goblin and shooting another, leaving scouring black marks on their body that extended black veins through them as well as firing off a tripwire that swiftly turned invisible. Death had slid around and behind another, impaling it with a hissing blade that had appeared from its left forearm before sliding away.
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Outside the [Fog of War], Xanta Klauz stopped and looked around, sniffing the air. It couldn't see into the smoke but it could smell another enemy. Its wicked, spinning eyes both eerily snapped forwards onto Tristan's form and it let out a scream before rushing forwards to try and swing one massive, meaty fist into the tiny frail creature in front of it. It wasn't fast but it was powerful, so powerful! This puny bag of flesh couldn't hope to handle its strength!
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The Horsemen Cometh as One is now active, summoning Shades that carry Dantalion's other weapons and have set to work.
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Death carries [Despair] and [Quietus], the first dealing damage equal to [PWR], the second doing the same but increasing damage by 25% if their [DEF] is lower than Tali's [PWR]
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Famine carries [Strife] and [Decay], the first dealing [PWR]-2 Ranks on melee and [MAGI]-2 Ranks on ranged, both hits inflict bleed equal to the original damage dealt however. [Decay] sets up a tripwire that becomes invisible if [SPD] is lower than Tali's [PWR], if stepped on it deals [PWR]-2 Ranks in damage and if their [DEF] is lower than Tali's [PWR] they become bound to a three meter area around the tripwire.
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War carries [Fury] and [Ruin], [Fury] deals damage equal to PWR, as does [Ruin]. Deals extra damage based on rank differences between enemy [DEF] and Tali's [PWR] as well as inflicting E bleed on each hit, straight to [VIT].

[attr="class","talitag"]
Tristan Wu

[attr="class","taliscroll"]

The tide was turning, now they just had to seal the deal. The [Fog of War] had faded now and with a last scissoring flash of blades the goblins had also been taken out, leaving only Dantalion and his three phantoms standing around him. He took a deep breath and rolled his shoulders for a moment, watching the boss and seeing how Tristan was doing. He was at least holding his own which was good though it might be time to start wrapping this up.
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At least that was Tali's thought until a trio of larger goblins, Christmas Hobgoblins if you will, came out of the treeline towards them. With a soft sigh and a frown, Dantalion gave a nod to the phantoms who turned and charged towards the Hobgoblins, brandishing their weapons and getting ready to deal with this new threat. Dantalion himself flourished his shortswords and charged towards Xanta Klauz, head down and will focused.
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The other Horsemen hit the Hobgoblins like a train, War slammed his lance straight into the first one's chest and pulled the trigger, a horrendous blast of pellets blowing it off the lance-shotgun before the chain-whip caught its body and swung it around to splatter it against a tree. Famine stabbed and shot a second before dancing around it, letting the poison and bleed build up inside it as it screeched and tried to stab the Horseman. Death simply changed the scythe's form and unleashed a screaming spirit-shell, the glowing bullet striking the Hobgoblin in the chest before detonating and blowing it away. With their jobs done, the three then bowed and faded away.
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Xanta Klauz was furious at its gift of pain being rejected! This little rat was going to be getting some serious coal when Christmas came around! With a deep bellowing roar the huge man swung another punch at Tristan with its free arm before lifting both arms over its head. It was time to show this twerp what happened when you messed with the spirit of Christmas! Xanta swung both arms down to slam them into the ground and try and generate a shockwave to pulp Tristan.
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Tali saw it coming and leaped around Tristan before activating [Pillar of Strength] and crossing the blades of Rampage, eating the shockwave for his ally. "On the offensive now, Tristan, together we can put on the hurt." He grunted after blocking the shockwave, his feet dragging furrows through the ground before he shook himself off and got moving again.
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Pillar of Strength causes Tali's DEF to count as one rank higher for an instance of damage, combined with his Armour's DEF+1 Rank, allows him to block even two counts of the Slam to protect himself and Tristan.
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[Fog of War] ends and [The Horsemen Cometh as One] ended as well.

[attr="class","talitag"]
Tristan Wu

[attr="class","taliscroll"]

An opening, exactly what Dantalion needed and the very thing that his stalwart companion had just given him. He was worried that he might have to play too defensive, ready to absorb blows and deflect strikes for Tristan but as the floating road of concrete appeared Tali realised he shouldn't have worried so much. The beast immediately let out a roar and turned around to track Tristan, attempting to swing its fists at him but instead smashing through concrete behind him, sending out clouds of gritty dust and giving Dantalion an opportunity to step back.
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At that moment the damage over time effects from Strife finished their work on one of the hobgoblins behind him, causing it to choke to death clawing at its own blackened flesh. Taking that energy he focused it into the weapon in his hand and mentally opened the arsenal of the apocalypse he had been granted, swapping Rampage over to Despair. With a flare of light the glow in his eye faded from piercing blue to a wicked pale corpselight and the twin swords in his hand flickered and extended outwards, connecting together before manifesting into a massive scythe, over six feet in length. The curved blade glinted cruelly as he swung it around and slammed it down, the tip biting into the snow and the ground beneath.
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"Good work, Tristan, keep it distracted." He snarled out, though the beast before him barely noticed, it was far too focused on attempting to catch the annoying flying pest dancing around it and easily dodging all of its strikes! Dantalion let out a low breath and activated one of his abilities, a series of glowing runic circles appearing around the extended sniper barrel of Despair, glowing with the same will-o-wisp luminescence in his eye. He pulled the trigger on his weapon and a screaming round of spectral energy leaped out, dancing through the runic circles and swelling in size with each one before slamming straight into the monster's back as it attempted to leap up to swat Tristan out of the air. There was a flash and then a gaping wound was punched through it, causing Xanta to stumble and then slump forwards onto its face.
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Dantalion nodded and then lifted Despair onto his shoulder. "Kill confirmed." He muttered to himself before waving up to Tristan. "A fine hunt my friend!" Just then another system message appeared telling them the mission was nearing completion, they simply had to write a letter for Santa. Tali frowned slightly, he didn't exactly believe in Santa but if this world said he was real... Perhaps he was a monster that needed killed, demons took every shape and form after all. However any weapon to continue the fight was a good one. "What are you thinking of asking for?" He called out before finding a tree stump to sit on and think about it.
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Despair bullets deal MAGI+1 Rank in damage, Tali's MAGI is currently B, enhanced to A and then Kill Strike adds an additional +20% damage onto it. This is well over A damage compared to E DEF and D VIT, should easily be a one-shot kill.
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Weapon swap was accomplished due to passive allowing a weapon swap on kill confirmation.

[attr="class","talitag"]
Tristan Wu