Steel Titans & Towering Monsters [Aryll]

Traders went about the bustling streets of Kirigakure to sell their wares; exotic trinkets and precious baubles, some of which they claimed were prizes lifted from the defeated in Konoha, or perhaps even retrieved from mysterious lands that nobody even knew of. Fishermen prepared their boats and thrice checked their nets to ensure their equipment was in good working condition to ensure a bountiful catch; their days were long and grew ever more complicated with the storm that provided them safety, yet they could never frown about the situation given that fish always managed to turn up around the series of islands that formed Kirigakure. The Conqueror spent his most recent days looking over schematics and talking to a variety of architects for a design he had in mind. The architects did well at explaining their concerns over the complexities they would potentially face given the height of the design, and more importantly the pressure of the storm upon it. If this construction was done poorly then many lives would be at risk.

As it was now, Xyxer watched the platform that his new likeness would be erected on. It was somewhat larger than the previous one that was destroyed by Haru Hyuuga, but that was only natural when the man had more a claim on the world than ever before. His fingers continued to stretch and expand over the shrinking world and it was only a matter of time before he clenched it. Yet.. something had been awoken within the man when he sailed across the sea towards Konoha. Something that had been repressed. Its realisation was likely what brought about Xyxers constant visions of riding on a wave of thick blood. He desired a life that he could no longer have with the position he's taken. The ability to wander about like his brother without a care in the world, enjoying the wind blowing through your hair, the interactions with foreigners you never cared to meet again. Xyxer could no longer be a wanderer, his face was too well known. He could not be a friendly visitor, his reputation preceded him. Tales of cruelty that exceeded the capacity of most people, yet surely they were just stories. For these reasons, he had to be the invading force. No longer would he be on the defensive after his experiences in Old Kirigakure.. in Tengakure.

The shinobi that Xyxer had gotten to know proved themselves to be a worthy asset to him and his legacy. They could claim the entire world for him given a few more months, and then he could reign over it supreme venturing wherever he desired. He licked his lips at the thought, watching the ants go about their construction of the statue; only the legs were formed at this point, yet already they were notably on a larger scale than the previous one, made from a darker material. If he was to be a ruler to be both feared and respected, then this statue would have to convey the message.

She’d gone down this path before. Seen this statue. Bled for it. Now, she wondered if she cared at all. Her days in recent weeks had been filled with nothing but preparation and unease. She did not think that Xyxer would strike at all, much less from nowhere, but she felt as if she had trouble truly understanding him, now. She’d thought that she knew him, idolized him, even. Everything she’d done so far had been in an attempt to emulate him. The steel titans she crafted to carry her into battle were made to emulate his towering, powerful persona. The blades she wielded were a homage to Samehada and Tidebreaker. Even her very will to continue as a Shinobi came from him, his inspiration.

A pair of legs greeted her on the horizon, and with a twitch of a finger, Ludwig’s leg was pressed forwards, gradually heading towards the newly formed monument. Her brother had destroyed it, and now, it seemed, Xyxer had deemed it appropriate to construct another monument to his sins. The thought sickened Aryll, but the Hyuuga were always loyal to their village, so she’d held her tongue. Arriving at the monument, her steel automaton let the cargo it was carrying slip from its grip. Several large chunks of stone, all molded to fit the statue. The waist, and the stomach, up next.

She was done hauling for a bit, now. The sheer strength of her automaton had made her an asset in the construction. The builders actually couldn’t keep up, and all she was really doing was hauling cargo. She certainly wasn’t skilled enough to assist in the construction. Her craft was steel, not stone. She didn’t have the patience for stone, how you couldn’t just bend and heat it and shape it to your will. It was stubborn and brittle. Speaking of stubbornness, there was the blue-haired killer himself. Aryll caught sight of him through the open hatch, and loitered for a moment. She felt strange. Any other day, she’d go and speak to him. Today, however? She felt conflicted.

Eventually, she decided to see where they stood. They hadn’t spoken since Konoha, so it was going to have to happen eventually.
”I take it the glory of battle hasn’t gotten to your head?” She spoke down to him once she approached. ”I’m not sure even I could lift this when it’s done.”

Consumed by his own thoughts he almost didn't hear the feminine voice in that blended in with the rest of the noise that swirled throughout his head. Yet, this one was different to the others.. this was his protégé.. his weapon. The one that would exceed even himself. Aryll, the Hyuuga Heiress. The man turned his head towards the source of the voice only to be greeted by the exoskeleton of the girl rather than her dainty little wheelchair. Perhaps those days were behind them now.

Curling upwards his lips took on a grin when he saw her, her words held little weight yet her voice soothed him. No rage was laced in her words, yet perhaps she was just numb now.. like him. Could he truly create another person such as himself? Would it.. be right to do so? He remained standing in the same position, only turning his torso towards the girl. So much had unfolded between them over their last interaction.. it was exhilarating.

His left hand reached up towards his lips, idly scratching the corner while nodding, turning back towards the construction soon after, "The battle was glorious, no doubt about it. We'll no longer be the one hiding from the other villages and cowering, desperately hoping they won't invade. That's what they'll do when they hear of our exploits in Konohagakure. We can make something of our village. We can make Kirigakure the strongest village to ever stand." Xyxer spoke with conviction, genuinely seeing a new future. A different path from Old Kirigakure and Tengakure. One of hope and malleable destiny. He'd bend the very heavens to have his dream realized, even if they crashed down onto everyone around him.

The husk before her curled its features into a grin, and it made Aryll’s stomach churn. Now, when she looked at him, what she saw was just a hollow form, devoid of any humanity. She couldn’t fathom an existence such as his. What she felt for Xyxer now, she did not know. Disgust? Hate? Pity? It was hard to say. All she knew was that she did not believe that smile was genuine. She couldn’t, not anymore. She’d seen beneath the mask, just a glimpse, but enough that she was no longer able to see him as anything other than the beast who’d tried to take her life.

And what of that beast? That bubbling, frothing monster that was no doubt a tailed beast of the legends? What did that make Xyxer, who would harber such a monster of his own free will? Was he even the one in control? Or was that beast the one at the reigns, using his body as a skin suit to serve his own needs?

The husk acknowledged her, and uttered something that seemed genuine. Pride. She knew that feeling well. She was the heiress to the Hyuuga, after all. Pride flowed through her blood like life itself.

”That’s awfully idealistic, for you.” She noted. She twitched a finger, and Ludwig lowered himself into a crouching position, making it easier for them to speak. ”I wonder how many more families will be torn apart to achieve your goal?” She posited. ”How many more lives we’ll destroy in the pursuit of power?”

The puppet lowered itself down towards his level, giving a better view of the manipulator within. It seemed almost ironic that the girl overcame her disability by getting into something more powerful than she was capable of being before.. Did the Hyuuga techniques still work through the usage of that puppet he wondered. A wide and varied clan from what Xyxer recalled of his spars with Haru, yet he saw little of their usage during their last encounter. She just hasn't had the time to implement them, clearly.

Her words came from her lips like odorless poison, yet the intent was there. She seemed to believe he had regret about what he'd done to her family, blissfully unaware on what he'd done to far less fortunate households. On the path he walked there was no room left for mercy and raw friendship. Things were not clear cut and people abused one another to their own advantage.. yet he'd done something different for the Hyuuga. He granted Haru a power he was incapable of unlocking alone. His own gain from the event was minimal, and the revelation to the heiress removed any possible notion of such a thing.

"If we do not learn from our past we can not move on from it, Aryll. Kirigakure was sunk beneath the very waves that once lapped against its shorts, Konohagakure once swam in all of its misery when Sameonna drowned them. Konoha has reason to be loyal since I extended a hand of mercy to them rather than brandishing my fury. I can do something different now, and you can either stand with me in this endeavor or be consumed by your emotions. There's no place for emotion as a shinobi, Aryll, you should know that by now." Xyxer explained to the girl, his eyes moving back towards the construction that was unfolding. A great statue it wo0uld be, but how long until it was unceremoniously deconstructed once more.. People loved to rebel against perceived tyrants.

Of course, Aryll had made use of some of the Hyuuga’s tricks in her design. By far her most useful was the chakra dome ability, based on a favorite technique of Haru’s, in fact. He gave her a speech on the subject of power and misery, of mercy.

There was no place for emotion, not for Shinobi. That was what he said. Perhaps he had a shred of credibility left, after all. He was not wrong. It was Haru’s anger that had been his undoing. It was Konoha’s pride that led to the slaughter of their comrades and the subjugation of her people. It was her father’s grief that led him to take his own life. It was Haru’s ambition that got their grandparents killed.

Her white eyes closed hard, considering his words. He always knew how to tear apart her arguments. As a younger woman, she’d always found it so interesting. Now, it only frustrated her. Frustration, another emotion that clouded her judgement. She fixed the beret on her head, sighing.

”Why spare them at all, then? Surely you don’t believe that they love you unconditionally. Surely you don’t think they’ll remain at your side if given the chance to stick a knife in your back. Why keep them around at all?”

Aryll's words were well spoken, offering Xyxer resistance on his thoughts. It served him well to dissect his own ideology, to try and understand why he didn't want to replicate the actions of Sameonna. He could ensure they were all massacred if he simply gave the order, no threat of retaliation from them.. but the idea wasn't soothing to him. Another village, perhaps, but not Konohagakure. Not yet, at least.

"We will need them in the times to come, whether they come willingly as allies or dragged as meatshields to protect our own people. Their role will be decided by them, yet one way or another they will serve." Xyxer spoke callously, his thoughts on their shinobi seemingly betrayed to the girl, yet he'd started to appreciate their culture. It was something he intended to do with the rest of the shinobi world given the chance, to see if he could implement or test their ways.

Xyxer would continue speaking shortly afterwards, not giving the girl much room to respond, "I'm glad you're here, I'd appreciate it if you'd accompany me on a journey soon. I intend to go to the Summit, clear your schedule for the coming weeks and try to keep me alive, alright?" Xyxer said in a light, almost carefree tone, nodding his head to the girl before he left the scene, allowing her to return to her work should she wish.

[Exit]

Might claim WC later, nothing atm though.

”What of Kirigakure’s might? Why waste our time w-” Began Aryll, only to be cut off by Xyxer’s next statement. He didn’t seem very concerned with her criticism anymore. In fact, it seemed he’d had other motivations for carrying on this conversation at all. He wanted her to accompany him to the Kage summit? An odd choice, given their current circumstance. He didn’t really still trust her, did he?


Exhaling shortly in something between a scoff or an exclamation of surprise, she nodded dutifully. ”It will be an honor to travel at your side.” She lied. ”I’ll make the necessary arrangements.” Then he left her, and she went back to her work.






(Exit)
(TWC 981)
(+8 AP, 981 words towards another Geist)