karikitdemonrp

[karikitdemonrp]

Core grinned at Hawks' praise. "It's what we would do when I was younger, so the idea just sorta came naturally I guess." He informed, not wanting to take full credit for the idea.

Once in the training area, the two set their bottled waters aside to have during breaks then went out onto the court on opposite sides and faced one another. They each took a ready stance and waited for a moment, watching to see who would make the first move.

Ultimately it was Core who made the first strike, using his quirk to send a projectile towards Kari, who blocked it quickly using Kirishima's hardening quirk to protect herself. She then rushed forward, a bright orange flame forming in her palms as she activated one of Flo's quirks and sent what looked like a fire ball in the shape of a small sparrow towards Core.

The teen managed to narrowly dodge the "bird" only for it to circle back and nail the teen in the back. It dissipated upon impact but it made Core stumble. Core chuckled. "Haven't seen Tiny Phoenix in a while. Can't believe you managed that."

"Flo taught me. Haven't gotten it down perfectly yet but I could manage that much." Kari giggled and rushed forward, her shadow now moving up her legs to form a weapon in her hands. It looked like a big sledge hammer.

Core moved to keep his distance, knowing the light hindered Kari's reach with the shadows. He began to send small projectiles towards Kari, keeping her at a distance as well. Kari didn't dodge much and only kept Kirishima's hardening quirk active while she thought of a plan, keeping her eyes on Core the whole time. Eventually Kari thought of something and deactivated Shade's quirk and activated one of Beats' quirk, wind manipulation. She smirked and sent out blades of wind to confuse Core and counter his projectiles, then used the same quirk to provide herself with a sort of speed boost as she ran up to her cousin.

Core widened his eyes slightly, a bit taken aback by Kari's boost in speed. The child punched Core square in the gut, not hard enough to cause serious damage but enough to cause Core to fall forward from the force. Kari smirked then sent a gust of wind upwards and sent Core flying in the air. She then stopped the air so Core would come falling down, but she caught him again with the wind before he hit the ground. Core wheezed then began to laugh.

"I yield, I yeild!" He said while laughing and moving into a sitting position while still in the air. "Geez, I underestimated you Kari." He said as he caught his footing and stood up straight. "That was a good first match, but seriously using Flo's move brought me back. How long did it take you to get that good at it?"

Kari smiled and stretched, walking with Core to get a drink of water. "It took me a few weeks I think. The hardest part was controlling it from a distance to be able to have it come back like that. The easy part was the shape honestly." She informed and Core laughed.

"Flo had a hard time with the shape if I remember correctly. Not a lot of trouble, it was a matter of getting it to look right for her. But I think she got the "control from a distance" part pretty easy. It was a struggle regardless since its still pretty complicated but you did a good job. Can't wait to see what other moves you've got. Have you come up with and of your own?"

Kari shook her head and took a breath after having a drink. "Not yet, but I might think of something of my own at some point." She grinned, taking a moment to relax from the match.

"Sure, that wouldn’t be a problem," Hawks replied with an easy grin, giving Kari a reassuring squeeze as they walked. "Sounds like a solid plan, Core. We’ll keep it fun but focused—no need to get too intense." He guided them toward a small kitchenette just off the hallway, opening the fridge and pulling out a couple of cold water bottles handing one to Kari and the other to Core.

Leading the way toward one of the training areas, Hawks glanced back at them. "I like that you’ve got some structure in mind, Core. Best two out of three, some creative thinking—it’s all great practice. Just remember: no matter how much you want to win, don’t break the furniture. Or each other," he joked, shooting them a playful wink.

When they arrived at the training ground, a spacious room equipped with durable floors and padded walls, Hawks gestured them forward. "Alright, future pro heroes, this is your stage. Let’s see what you’ve got." He leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed and one crimson wing draped slightly out to the side. "I’ll step in if needed, but otherwise? Go for it. Show me how much you’ve grown."

He gave Kari an encouraging nod. "And Kari? Remember—you’ve got nothing to prove, kiddo. Just have fun and let your quirks shine."

[karikitdemonrp]

Kari sniffled and looked at Adam, tears falling from her eyes as she listened to him. "I know it’s not on me." She muttered softly, moving to try and relax a bit. "But... But I might be the only person alive to be able to help things get better... maybe not fix things, fuck I can't even fix what happened to Heaven and Hell... But I can still help figure out an antidote or whatever... I can still help the people who are alive... well... you know what I mean..." Kari gestured vaguely to the room around her. "And here I am... Sitting here while people suffer and die..." Tears welled up again as she took a moment to breathe.

"I know it's not on me, that it's not my fault... But I can still do something to help... But I'm not doing anything!" Kari felt herself getting frustrated as she hugged herself. "I-- I wanna help but I can't do anything right now and it sucks!" The child hiccuped. "I couldn't even find Moxxie at all and saw some angle sacrifice himself because I was stupid enough to keep pushing, I don't even know if Moxxie is alive!" Kari tried to calm down, but she was beating herself up for things she couldn't fully control and things she might've been able to change, probably not but it still ate at her.

"This isn't fair..." Kari whispered, just barely able to be heard.

Adam stepped back from the window, leveling a calm, steady hand as he magicked up a gleaming, celestial javelin. He aimed down at the hellhound, its maw still dripping with blood as it sniffed the air for another target. “Don’t take this personally, Fluffy,” he muttered, as he let the missile fly.

Crack! The javelin flew true, a flash of divine energy arcing through the creature’s skull. It crumpled mid-lunge, its body twitching briefly before going still. Adam smirked, as he blew imaginary smoke from his finger. “Boom! Beats! One down, 50 million to go,” he said, turning to Kari with a grin. “What can I say? I’ve still got it. Pretty sure I just made the world 0.00000002% safer.”

His expression softened as he caught sight of her curled up on the bed, shaking. He walked over, crouching down so they were eye level, his cocky demeanor dropping as he spoke gently. “Hey, kid. This—” he gestured to the chaos outside, his voice losing its usual sarcasm, “—this isn’t on you. It’s a train wreck, yeah, but it’s not one you caused. You didn’t pull the lever that sent this world to Hell. You hear me?”

Adam placed a hand on the edge of the bed, his tone still calm but firm. “You’re doing more than most would. You’re still standing, still trying. I know it feels like everything’s falling apart, but you’re not alone in this. We’ll figure it out, one step at a time. You got a guardian angel. Maybe the last one, so just like that fucking Disney movie: You ain’t never had a friend like me.”

[karikitdemonrp]

Kari happily held onto Hawks, hugging him firmly but not super tight. "I'd like some water please." She chirped then looked at Core who nodded.

"Water would be nice please." He said with a soft sigh then looked at Kari who just happily clung to Hawks and chuckled, glad she had someone she was so close to and who she trusted so much.

The two walked through security, Kari clearly a bit nervous since she wasn't exactly used to it while Core wasn't as nervous. Not quite as at ease as Hawks but not as nervous as Kari.

Once inside Kari became more and more excited to spar, wanting to let loose and have fun with her many quirks while Core felt a wave of nostalgia, getting closer and closer to where he and Kari would be sparring.

"The game plan," Core hummed in thought. "Uh, honestly I was thinking you'd supervise me and Kari while we spar in the sparing area or whatever it's called and that would be it. Maybe best two outta three or something kinda like how I was used to back when I sparred with my cousins back before everything happened." He informed, thinking of how sparring used to go back then. "If I remember correctly it worked sort of similar to a simulation of a real fight or something, stopping short of causing actual damage. If one person couldn't make a move to get out of a situation they lost that round. It kept us on our toes, pushed us to think outside the box so we had the skills to either protect ourselves or to become great hero's when we got older if we wanted to become hero's. But it also helped us learn about our quirks quickly too which was really helpful." He looked up at Hawks with a slight grin. "That ok?" He asked nervously, hoping that they were able to do what he suggested.

Hawks touched down smoothly as the car pulled to a stop, his wings folding neatly behind him. "Glad to see you two are still in good spirits," he said with a smirk, placing an arm around Kari as she bounded toward him. "C’mon, let’s get you checked in. Wouldn’t want to skip the boring part and give the security folks something to do."

As they walked toward the entrance, Hawks kept Kari close, his hand lightly on her shoulder while glancing at Core. "So, future pro heroes, any last-minute needs before we hit the training grounds? Water? Snacks? A pep talk? You know, something inspirational about how ‘heroes rise through struggle’ or whatever they always put on posters?"

He grinned down at Kari and gave her shoulder a squeeze. "Or maybe you’re already hyped enough to take me on and show me what you’ve got, huh?"

Hawks held the door open for them, guiding them through the security check with an ease that spoke to how often he did this kind of thing. "This place is all set up for quirks, so you’re in good hands. But remember—no blowing up the training ground. I’m looking at you, kid," he teased, his golden eyes twinkling as he ruffled Kari’s hair affectionately. "Now, what’s the game plan once we’re inside?"

[karikitdemonrp]

Kari laughed and moved to roll down the window and lean out it to watch Hawks, a wide smile on her face. "You cheater!" She laughed childishly then moved back into the car and rolled up the window.

Core chuckled and watched Hawks from the window then looked at Kari. "You really care about him, huh?"

Kari nodded. "Yeh. He's the reason I'm still alive... He's the reason I've been able to heal physically and mentally... He's the reason we're mending things." The child giggled softly and moved to lean onto Core. "I'm sorry all this happened... But I'm excited to get to know you now and I hope we can keep getting closer." She informed happily and let out a content sigh.

Core moved to pat Kari's head, eventually giving her forehead a kiss. "I'm sorry everything happened the way it did too. If I could I'd change it... But I'm also looking forward to getting to know you more." He sighed kindly. "And I hope, when we are both full fledged pro hero's, to work close with you and your agency." The teen smiled.

"I can't wait to see how bright you shine when you're a hero." Core said with a grin, looking out the window as Hawks did more tricks. "And I bet Hawks agrees with me on that."

It took a bit but eventually the car stopped and the two got out, now back at where Core was picked up for their day of fun and relaxation, for the most part. Core stretched up while Kari was just excitedly bouncing a bit, unable to contain her energy since she hadn't been able to practice her quirks like this in years. It was oddly nostalgic.

Hawks leaned casually against the car for a moment, watching them settle in. "Glad you’re both hyped for this," he said, his trademark grin widening. Then, with a playful gleam in his eye, he added, “But as the adult here, I make no promises about holding back. Gotta keep you on your toes, after all.”

He stuck out his tongue at them with a mischievous laugh before launching himself into the air, wings spreading wide as he took off. The wind from his ascent ruffled their hair through the car window, and his voice carried back, “See you at the finish line!”

Above them, Hawks weaved effortlessly through the sky, keeping pace with the car while performing a few playful loops and dives to entertain himself. He couldn’t help but glance down now and then, smirking as he caught glimpses of Kari and Core through the windows. This is what they need, he thought. A little levity after all that heavy stuff.

[karikitdemonrp]

Kari chirped happily while Core gave a grin. "We'll do our best not to go too far." Core said happily. He was clearly glad to be able to have this chance to show Kari and Hawks how strong he is and Kari was happy to be able to practice her quirks.

"I'll be sure not to go too far either. No more than three quirks and not too much force either!" She giggled, clearly excited. Core chuckled at Kari's enthusiasm.

"It'll be like old times when I trained with the others here." He sighed softly, fondly remembering the good memories from when he was younger, glancing at Kari's old home behind him. "Though, not exactly the same." He said then looked down at Kari and ruffled her hair. "I look forward to seeing what you can do." He hummed with a grin, noticing the car pull up and opening the door so Kari could hop in first, which she did and buckled up with Core scooching in next to her and buckling up.

Hawks chuckled softly, giving Kari's head a gentle pat. "You two sure don’t run out of energy, huh? But yeah, that works for me. I’d have to drop Core off there anyway, so we might as well save some time and head over. You can let off some steam, get in some practice, and then we’ll grab some takeout afterward. Sound good?"

He stood up and stretched his wings briefly, glancing down at them with a grin. "But no going too hard, alright? Sparring’s great, but I’d rather not explain any broken bones or bruises when we get back. Deal?”

Looking at Core, Hawks added, “I’ll make sure everything’s set up for you two. Just promise me you’ll keep it controlled. I trust you, but supervision’s not just for show. Sound fair?” He gave Kari a wink and a playful smirk. “And hey, if you impress me, maybe I’ll show you a trick or two while we’re there.”

[karikitdemonrp]

Kari gave a heavy sigh, releasing as much of the negative emotions as she could then looked up and gave Hawks a smile, putting her hand on his.

Core gave a small hum, smiling at Hawks a bit while trying to cope with all that had happened.

"I think it's too early for dinner." He muttered softly then looked at Kari in thought. "What do you think? Should we go play more games at the arcade or do something else?"

Kari thought for a bit. "Honestly... I wanna let off some steam and practice some quirks if thats ok." She chirped and looked up at Hawks. "Can we do that? I mean, back where we picked up Core they had stuff to do that. Maybe Core and I could spar with supervision or something?" She asked innocently.

"If we can make it work I'm okay with that, as long as we have someone to supervision us incase something happens." Core informed with a smile. "I don't wanna hurt you anymore, ya know?"

Kari listened to Core and gave a nod. "I know you don't." She giggled and looked back up at Hawks, hoping that they could get this to work.

Hawks nodded, his expression soft as he pulled out his phone to call for the car. While it rang, he rested a hand on Kari’s shoulder, giving her a comforting squeeze, and offered a reassuring smile to Core. “You both did good today. This wasn’t easy, but you faced it head-on. That’s brave—both of you.”

Once the call connected, he arranged for the car to pick them up. Hanging up, he turned his attention back to the two. “Alright, the car will be here in about fifteen minutes. Gives you a bit of time to collect yourselves.”

He crouched slightly so he could look at both of them. “Now, here’s the big question: what’s the plan? Do you want to grab some dinner, or is it too early for that? If you’re not hungry yet, we can figure out something else. Totally up to you.”

Hawks kept his tone light, trying to help them transition from the heavy emotions of the visit. “And if you’ve got a place in mind, I’m all ears. My treat—whatever you’re in the mood for.”

[karikitdemonrp]

Kari widened her eyes at the screams, trotting over to the window swiftly to see if there was anyway she could help only to feel sick at what she saw. She could feel her body screaming at her to move, to save them. Memories flashed in her mind of her friends dying and she moved to hug herself. She couldn't save them. She couldn't.

"I..." Kari's voice was trembling as she shakily moved to close the window, trying to muffle the sound outside. Her eyes wide with terror. "I'll go a-and..." She took a breath. "And start boarding up the windows. There should be supplies somewhere. You make sure there are no holes anywhere. Top to bottom make sure this place is sealed off." She chirped, trying to steal her nerves but it was clear she was panicking, and the noise outside from the people dying wasn't helping at all.

Kari moved slowly at first, fear still gripping her. But eventually she was moving quicker and quicker, closing and boarding up windows as securely as she could. After that she began to set up traps that could be set off manually so that people didn't get hurt by traps that were set off automatically, and those that were set off automatically were pretty harmless all things considered. The more lethal automatic traps could be set up later if the need arose but now was not the time for those since they would be more complicated and require more stuff. The traps were fairly simple for the most part, mostly traps usually used for hunting like ropes that slung their targets up or some sharpened sticks woven into a net that would impale whoever was caught in it upon the trap being set off. The traps inside were mostly set up at the windows incase the boards failed and any infected demons or corrupted angels got in. Other than that the rest of the place had no traps for now.

Once Kari was done she curled up on her bed and covered her ears, whimpering softly and trembling. She moved to fold her wings around herself to provide a soft of protective hug while trying to silence the horrible sounds from outside.

"I can't... I can't save them... I can't save them..." She whimpered, starting to silently sob as she began to break. "Wh-why is this... H-ha-appening?"

Adam’s response was interrupted by the sudden sound of piercing screams from outside. He froze, head snapping toward the window. Peering through the glass, his expression darkened. “Hold that thought,” he muttered.

Through the window, he spotted two police officers firing at a hulking hellhound, its pitch-black fur matted with gore. Despite their best efforts, their bullets barely seemed to slow it down. Within seconds, the creature pounced, tearing into one officer while the other screamed in terror before being dragged down as well. The street quickly became a mess of chaos, blood, and desperate cries.

Adam pulled back from the window, his jaw tightening as he rubbed a hand down his face. “Yeah, no,” he said, turning to Kari. “We’re not going anywhere just yet. Flying lessons can wait—priority one is making sure this place doesn’t turn into a buffet for whatever’s out there.”

He grabbed a chair and jammed it under the doorknob for good measure. “We need to fortify this place, make sure no one and nothing gets in unless we want them to. That means boarding up windows, double-checking locks, and maybe setting up some traps if we can swing it. You with me?” He glanced at her, the usual sarcasm in his tone giving way to a rare note of seriousness.

“And for the love of everything, if you see something moving outside, don’t just go barreling out there. Let’s try not to get eaten today, yeah?”

[karikitdemonrp]

Kari listened to Adam and blinked. "I mean... I know the places are pretty much gone, given everything with the whole fabric of reality tearing apart... I just wanna help those who are in trouble now. Find an antidote or something to help the actual people, ya know." She muttered. Once Adam began listing off the symptoms she swiftly began to write them down.

When Adam told her if she began to feel sick and started showing symptoms to tell him, the child nodded. "I will... I'll make sure to tell you." The child gave a smile and sighed. "Right... Lets go looking for everyone and save whoever we can." The child informed and double checked her supplies, going to grab a bit extra since she would likely be using a lot of stuff to help others. She scratched her forehead a bit while packing up some medical kits and hissed, a bit of blood seeping through some openings in the bumps. Not a lot but enough to be noticeable.

"So itchy." The child grumbled. Once she was done packing she trotted over to Adam, unfolding her new wings and gulping a bit. "Guess I'm gonna learn how to fly, yeh?" She asked, gripping onto her bag of supplies, which included her metal bat she had for protection. "I mean... Gotta learn sometime, right?" She was still frazzled that she even had wings, but she was trying not to focus in that right now.

Adam rubbed his temples, letting out a low, frustrated groan. “Kari, Kari, Kari...you don’t get it. I think Heaven and Hell are gone. Not, like, temporarily out of order—gone. Obliterated, melted into this cosmic soup that's spilling into Earth. There’s no ‘fixing’ this, not unless the Big G himself decides to come down and play clean-up. And considering how long it’s been since anyone’s seen Him? Yeah, I wouldn’t hold your breath.”

He crossed his arms, leaning against the wall as he watched her scribble in her notebook. Despite his words, his tone softened a little as he added, “But I get it. You need to do something. It’s how you cope. And hey, maybe you’re right about the whole ‘mix of all three’ thing. You’re not like anyone I’ve met before, kid, so maybe you’re the curveball this mess wasn’t prepared for.”

When she asked about the symptoms, Adam shrugged. “I can’t say for sure. I’m immune—lucky me—but from what I saw, it starts like a fever. Demons and angels get sluggish, start sweating like they’re in a sauna, and then boom, they’re not themselves anymore. Angels’ halos crack, demons’ skin burns black…and that’s when you know it’s too late.”

He rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding her gaze. “But listen, you start getting a fever, or you feel off in any way, you tell me. No toughing it out, no hiding it. Promise me, Kari.” His voice carried an unusual edge of concern, even if his words were blunt. “I’m not letting this thing take you, too.”

[karikitdemonrp]

Kari took a deep breath and sighed, trying to keep calm. "Well... if thats the case... Maybe someone who isn't demon, angel, or even human could help. A mix of all three?" She suggested softly. "I mean... Maybe I'm part of that fix. I am... Or rather I've been told I could be the product of a long line of humans, demons, and angels getting together and so far at least the angel and human part are spot on and maybe the demon part too..." Kari held herself and took another breath.

"If there's something I can do to help then I'll do it." She muttered, looking back at the TV. "A lot if lives are on the line so I'm willing to try anything." With that a plan formed in her head. "Well with those tears forming we can travel from one realm to another. So we can easily go and look for Moxxie and the scientists as well as any uninfected survivors and get them here. Anyone who isn't infected is welcome. I might not have the space but I'm hoping you're able to help with that, what being so powerful you transformed my whole home to help me with my nightmares." She said, trying her best to keep positive.

"So, find Moxxie and the scientists, save who we can... Uh... What are the symptoms of this thing anyway?" She asked, going to grab a pad of paper and pencil, the same one she had those rules and consequences written on, and turned to a clean page to write down the symptoms once she was told.

Adam crouched beside her, placing a steady hand on her shoulder. His grip was firm but not forceful, meant to ground her rather than restrain. “Kari, listen to me,” he said, his tone unusually gentle. “This isn’t on you. None of it. The world—no, the realms—are falling apart because Heaven and Hell can’t keep their crap together. You didn’t cause this, and I’m not about to let you take the blame for something that’s bigger than all of us.”

He picked up her vomit bag with a grimace, walking to the window. “As for sealing tears? Doesn’t look like it matters now anyway.” With a sharp motion, he tossed the bag out the window, ignoring the faint splat from below. “All the barriers are crumbling, like a dam with too many cracks. Heaven, Hell, Earth—it’s all merging into one chaotic mess.”

Adam turned back, glancing out the window as the sound of police sirens wailed past, red and blue lights flashing in the distance. “And if I had to guess? I think this whole thing’s bloodborne. Look at the patterns—first demons start dropping, then they turn, now the same thing’s happening to angels. It’s gotta be something in their essence, their very blood.”

He knelt down to meet Kari’s eyes, his voice steady but serious. “So, step one? We avoid contact with anyone showing signs, no matter how much it hurts. Step two? We figure out a plan—together. But for now, you need to breathe, okay? Just focus on one thing at a time.”

[karikitdemonrp]

Kari gulped then took a deep breath, her body shivering from the pressure. "I..." She sniffled softly. "I still don't know my abilities, I could barely manage to close the tear I was thrown through." She informed, starting to hyperventilate.

"I'm just a kid, I can't be saving three different dimensions like this! I'm only ten!" Kari began to panic again and moved to grip onto Adam's sleeve. "I... I'm so scared, everything is falling apart! Moxxie hasn't been found yet and for all we know him and the scientists in heaven and hell are all dead!" Kari began to cry. "I can't-- I don't know what to do! Why-- Why is this happening why is---" Then Kari thought of something.

"Hey... how... How is this disease or whatever spread? Is it through like... Being bit or is it airborne or what?" She asked, thinking of something, her panic subsiding a bit as this came to mind.

Adam sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as he glanced at Kari, his usual sarcasm dimmed by the gravity of the situation. “Look, kid, I’m no expert on this kinda thing. Angels like me aren’t exactly trained in dimensional collapse 101.” He crossed his arms, his gaze drifting to the chaotic images on the screen. “But if I had to guess—and I hate guessing—it’s like this: Heaven’s a wreck, Hell’s falling apart, and when two big gears in the cosmic machine grind to dust, Earth’s gonna be caught in the fallout.”

He gestured vaguely at the news broadcast. “See all that? I think the barriers between the realms are getting torn to shreds. Like, the lines that keep Heaven, Hell, and Earth separate are fraying, and now you’ve got pieces of both bleeding into your nice little mortal sandbox.”

Adam shifted his weight and frowned, his golden eyes flickering slightly. “And before you ask, no, I can’t call up anyone upstairs to confirm. Heaven’s got its own mess to deal with, and nobody’s answering the damn phone. Same for Hell. So, yeah… we’re flying blind here.”

He gave Kari a long look, his voice softening. “It’s a lot. I get it. But you don’t need to carry this whole thing on your own, alright? We’ll figure it out. First step—” he glanced at her wings, then her pale, determined face, “—don’t puke on me again.”

[karikitdemonrp]

Core looked at Hawks and blinked. "If it's okay I'd like to see the rest of my cousins." He muttered softly and sighed. Kari looked at Hawks and gave a small grin. There was pain hidden in her grin but she was trying her best to be a big girl and help Core. But being here still hurt.

It took a while, both cousins taking their time to talk and have some heartfelt moments. Both ended up crying quite a bit, Core more so than Kari but not by much. This was a very emotionally charged place for the two of them. Eventually, after about two hours, Core and Kari both decided it was time to go. They were outside where Boom and Beats were both killed. Kari and Core were both calming down from crying again both felt a sense of relief, of closure in a way.

The two stood up and went over to Hawks. "I think... I think we're ready to go." Core said softly with a raspy voice since he had cried so much, he wiped his eyes again while Kari nodded.

"Yeh... We're both done here." She chirped with a similarly raspy voice. She moved to cling to Hawks, seeking comfort while Core hugged himself a bit, still a bit emotionally overwhelmed from being here.

//thought I'd time skip to when Kari and Core were done to get things moving along ^^

Hawks watched quietly, his expression calm but compassionate as Core spoke to the outlines of his cousins. He could hear the sincerity and pain in Core’s voice, and it was clear how much this moment meant to him. Kari’s small hug around his leg brought a faint smile to his face, and he gently ruffled her hair in response, offering silent support.

As Core finished speaking and wiped his tears, Hawks gave him a moment to collect himself before speaking. His voice was soft, low enough to maintain the solemnity of the moment. "You’re doing good, Core. Sometimes the hardest battles aren’t the ones with our quirks but the ones with ourselves. Facing all this? It’s no small thing. I know it doesn’t make the guilt go away, but owning up to it and working to make things better? That’s what being a hero is all about."

He glanced between Core and Kari, his wings flexing slightly before folding back into place. "If you two are ready, I can call for our ride. Or if there’s more you need to say or do, take your time. This is your moment—no rush." He gave a small grin, though it was subdued out of respect for the weight of the visit. "I’m here for as long as you need me."

[karikitdemonrp]

Kari widened her eyes in horror as she watched the news play out. Her feathered wings puffing out in unison with her hair bristling violently.

"W-what-- how---" Kari became frantic. "What's going on out there?! How can this be fixed?!" She chirped, her voice not hiding how panicked she was getting. "We gotta find a way to fix this! All three realms are pretty much on the line now and everyone's lives are at risk!" The child felt a heavy weight pile onto her shoulders and she began to feel sick from the pressure.

Not long after she spoke, the child rushed to get a bag and threw up from the pressure. After her stomach was emptied, plus a bit of dry heaving, Kari managed to collect herself for a moment, washing her mouth out and washing her face. She let out a heavy breath, trying to think of a plan.

Adam let out a dry chuckle, gesturing toward the TV as he grabbed the remote and flicked it on. The screen immediately lit up with chaotic footage: cities crumbling under the weight of rampaging monsters, angels descending from rifts in the sky, and terrified humans running for their lives. News anchors frantically tried to make sense of the apocalyptic events, their voices barely masking their panic.

"Well, kid," Adam said, leaning against the wall and folding his arms as the golden glow of his eyes flickered faintly, "looks like the whole world's decided to join in the fun. Monsters tearing up downtown, angels playing judge, jury, and executioner, and demons popping out like they're at a carnival. It's a full-blown Hell-on-Earth situation." He grinned wryly. "Pun totally intended."

He tilted his head, his tone dripping with sarcasm as he added, "Guess that means I'm staying with you for a while. Not that Heaven's picking up my calls anyway. Who knew Earth was gonna be the vacation spot of the century, huh?"

He nodded toward her wings, his expression softening just a fraction. "You might wanna get used to those. Looks like we're gonna need every edge we can get." Adam said as he flopped down on the couch and put his feet up on the table. “Got any popcorn?”

[karikitdemonrp]

Core sniffled and looked up at Hawks, giving a small smile. "Thank you so much. I really appreciate it." He muttered then looked down at Kari then at where he killed his cousin.

"Kite... I... I never wanted to kill you, or anyone..." He muttered softly. "I never wanted any of this. I know I've said it already but I'm so sorry. I really am. I'm getting stronger with my quirk to become a hero one day a-and I'll do my best to make sure no one goes through what we did." His voice, while cracking and filled with sorrow and regret, held a determination in it that said Core would definitely make sure what he said came true.

Kari smiled at her older cousin, happy he was getting through this. She looked at Hawks and her smile grew. She was happy the hero was there. The child chirped and went to Hawks and hugged his leg, needing a bit of comfort herself.

After a moment Core let out a heavy sigh and moved to walk on, Kari moving to follow when she noticed. Flo and Fino were next. When Core saw the outlines and shivered, kneeling down like he did when he saw his uncle and Kitearo's outlines.

"... Flo... Fino..." He started, his voice shaking. "You two put up a really good fight. You kept me busy for a while... I'm... very sorry about... how things ended up and about cutting your heads off..." The teen shivered at the memory. "You two made an amazing team... You both... all of you would've made great heros." Core sniffled and rubbed some tears from his eyes, feeling a heavy pain in his heart as he spoke. He really did care about his cousins and really did regret killing them. "I... I'm working hard to get stronger to be a hero too one day. That way I can stop things like this from happening again, as best as I can." He muttered, his voice again carrying that determination when he spoke about becoming a hero.

Hawks leaned against the doorway, keeping a respectful distance as Kari and Core revisited the painful memories and shared moments of healing. His sharp eyes softened as he watched them navigate their emotions, letting them have the space they needed to process everything.

He adjusted his wings slightly, the familiar rustle a quiet comfort as he observed the way Kari gently supported Core. It made him proud to see her stepping up like this, handling such a heavy situation with maturity beyond her years.

When Core stood and wiped his eyes, Hawks gave a small smile and pushed off from the doorframe, walking over but still keeping a bit of space. "You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for, Core. Both of you are," he said softly, his usual teasing tone replaced by sincerity. "Coming back here, facing all this… not everyone could do that. But here you are."

He glanced at Kari and then back to Core. "Take the time you need. I’m right here if you need me, but this is your moment. You’ve already taken the hardest steps—coming here and facing what happened. That’s not small, not by a long shot." He tilted his head slightly, his signature grin faint but steady. "If there's anything you want to say to them, now’s your chance. I’ve got all the time in the world for you two."

[karikitdemonrp]

Kari looked up at Adam and forced herself to stand up. "It didn't go well. I should've used that doll to open a portal to Moxxie but I didn't. I don't know where I ended up but I didn't find him or the scientists. No I didn't bring back any souvenirs unless you count me sprouting wings I guess." She chirped and unfolded her new wings, the shimmering red blood now mostly dried up by now but still giving off a slight shimmer regardless.

She blinked then turned to Adam and tilted her head. "Why? What's on the news?" She asked and walked towards the angel. She will go into detail about her first visit to hell later. Right now Kari had a bad feeling about what was going on.

From above, Adam leaned casually on the rail overlooking Kari’s beaten form as she stumbled into their apartment, his face a perfect mask of sarcastic indifference. His gaze drifted to the golden blood smeared across her clothes and the faint shimmer of the freshly sprouted wings she tried so hard to tuck away.

"Well, well, well," he drawled, pushing himself upright. "Look who decided to drop in. Literally." His tone dripped with mock cheerfulness as he descended the stairs slowly, eyes flicking between the stains on her clothes and her exhausted expression. "So, uh… how’d it go down there, kiddo? Save the day? Find Moxxie? Bring back a nice little souvenir?…Um, you should come up and watch the news."

[karikitdemonrp]

Kari felt a sharp pain seer through her back as she hit the brick wall. The child gasped and fought for breath as she was hurtled into the wall with such force. She managed to catch her breath and look around with a groan. "N-no. I-I gotta--! I gotta get back! She managed with a hiss and took a step only to crumple down to her hands and knees. She whimpered only to feel something oddly soft yet wet curl around her. She looked to see a pair of blood stained white wings that had a blue ting. She widened her eyes in shock and kept her eyes locked on these wings as she moved them.

Up. Down. Curl in. Uncurl. Flap. Every command the wings followed and Kari gulped, moving to try and hide them as best as she could. Hitting the wall must have weakened her skin enough for her new wings to break free a bit early. Then again she wasn't fully aware of these changes until just now do it was a sudden shock to her system.

That was when the child realized. The tear in reality was still open. Hell was still accessible to her. It was dangerous if people saw let alone having infected demons and corrupted angels starting to pour through. She whimpered and took a breath, moving to try and close the tear with her abilities. It took a bit since the child wasn't used to these new abilities but eventually the tear was closed, at least for now. She sighed heavily and decided to go home and try to think of something or pass out. Sprouting a pair of wings, having other worldly abilities you never knew you had manifest out of no where, and being thrown throw dimensions takes a lot out of a person apparently.

She eventually managed to drag herself through the front door of her makeshift home and sighed. "I'm back." She managed weakly. "And I got a new pair of wings and I guess I can close tears in reality or something... I dunno..." She whimpered and moved to fall onto her bed, holding back tears since she was disappointed she couldn't find Moxxie or the scientists.

Tic’s voice rang out one final time as Kari slipped deeper into the Greed Ring.

"Run, kid. And don’t look back."

His tone carried both a grim resignation and fierce resolve. Moments later, a muffled prayer escaped his lips, almost too soft to hear amidst the chaos. His words carried a power that made the air thrum with energy:

"May my light guide those left in darkness, and may this sacrifice not be in vain."

Then came a sickening sound, the crack of his flaming blade plunging into his own chest. In an instant, the battlefield exploded with searing light. Kari barely managed to duck behind cover as the shockwave hit, decimating a horde of infected demons and corrupted angels and leveling what little structure was left around Tic’s position.

The explosion destabilized the entire Ring. The ground beneath Kari’s feet began to tilt unnaturally, accompanied by groaning metal and cracking stone. An otherworldly, high-pitched whine built in intensity, followed by a sudden pop. Kari’s entire body was crushed by an invisible force, every inch of her feeling squeezed, twisted, and distorted all at once. She barely had time to scream before being hurled violently through a tear in reality.

The next thing she knew, she slammed against a brick wall with enough force to knock the wind out of her. Kari crumpled to the ground in a daze, coughing and gasping for air. She blinked through blurry vision to find herself back on Earth, only a few blocks from her apartment.

[karikitdemonrp]

Kari gave a tiny giggle when Hawks ruffled her hair then looked up at Core, who was relaxing a bit when Hawks spoke.

It took a while, a bit over an hour, to get to Kari's childhood home. But they eventually got there and Core simply stood infront of the place, frowning a bit. "I... Never thought I'd be able to come back on my own terms." He muttered softly, looking down. Kari blinked, seeing Core's slight hesitation. So, she nudged him gently and took a few steps forward, towards the old door.

"C'mon, I'm right here with ya." She chirped and Core took a breath, eventually moving to follow Kari. The two went inside and Core was hit with a wave of grief. He caused a lot of this damage, the rest caused by lack of upkeep. His legs felt weak but he kept going. Kari moved and gently grabbed Core's hand, seeing the teen was having trouble. She was sure to be gentle and trying her best just to be there for her cousin.

"I... I'm so sorry..." Core managed with a cracking voice as he saw the outline of his uncle, Kari's father. "I never... ever... wanted to do this."

Kari nodded. "I know..." She whispered softly, trying to reassure Core. The two approached where Lynx Himura was slain and Core was quick to notice the now dead rose that Kari had put there. "Oh, we should've brought new flowers." Kari muttered.

Core looked at Kari and tilted his head slightly. "Have you... been here before?"

"Yeh, on the anniversary of when they died. It's been a bit so the roses are probably all dead by now." Kari informed as casually as possible to try and play it off as no big deal, but there was a hint of sorrow in her voice.

Core looked down and frowned. "I wish I was stronger that day." He muttered. "Just a bit so I could've held myself back or something."

Kari looked at Core, a hint of pain flashing in her eyes. "I... I know..." She muttered softly again, not knowing what else to say. Eventually Core straightened himself from kneeling down and the two headed towards the hall where Core killed Kitearo. They knelt down once they reached the place Kitearo was slain and Core began to break.

"Kite..." He muttered softly. "I'm so sorry..." He muttered while Kari stood near by. "I never wanted any of this... I... You were one of my best friends... I'm so sorry." Core began to tear up a bit as he remembered how things turned out. "I guess that was why you held back..." He muttered with a bitter sweet grin. "Because we were so close... you didn't wanna hurt me." Core's voice cracked a bit as tears began to fall down his face.

Kari frowned. "You and Kite were friends?" She asked and Core looked at the child and gave a grin.

"Yea... We were only about a year apart so my dad would bring me over every so often and the two of us would play together. After we got our quirks we would train in the courtyard too." He informed and gave a slight chuckle at the fond memories. "We would argue a bit over if my psychokinesis and his earth manipulation were the same thing when we didn't know any better since we could both lift rocks with our minds. But we learned more about our quirks quickly so those didn't last very long." Core laughed a bit and Kari smiled slightly.

"Didn't Maica bring you over at all?" She asked

"No." Core was quick to answer which kind of caught Kari off guard. "Not while Aunt Mikomi was still alive. Mother almost never came around until after then. Sure she stopped by on special occasions like birthdays or holidays with the occasional visit if Aunt Mikomi wasn't around. But aside from that, Mother stayed far away." Core looked back down at where Kitearo's body once lay. "Mother hated Aunt Mikomi with a passion. I never knew why. But then again, I was never given a straight answer when I asked." He sighed then stood up and wiped his eyes a bit.

Hawks stood, slipping his wallet back into his pocket before following behind Kari and Core. He glanced between them, taking note of their nervous but determined expressions. “Alright, team,” he said with a small grin. “Let’s make this visit count. You’ve both got this.”

He ruffled Kari’s hair playfully as they reached the door. “Remember, you’re not doing this alone, okay? We’re in it together.” Then he turned to Core, his tone softening slightly. “And hey, it’s okay to be nervous. Just be yourself—say what you need to say, and let the rest fall into place.”

Holding the door open for them, he gestured outward. “Now, let’s stretch those legs while we can. We’ve got a little bit of a journey ahead, but it’s nothing we can’t handle.” He adjusted his jacket as they stepped out, already mentally mapping the best route to get them to Kari’s old home.

[karikitdemonrp]

Kari staggered back in surprise when Tic was attack. "I---" She gulped, gripping her bat tighter, wanting to help. But Tic was right, she wasn't ready for a fight like this. Though fighting for her life wasn't something new to her, this was a different level. It was more intense than what she was used to.

The child looked at where Tic's wing was viciously ripped from his body and clenched her teeth and rushed deeper into the greed ring, swiftly hiding behind some rubble to avoid being seen by the infected. She did her best to calm her breathing, deciding to use a more stealthy approach rather than rushing in.

"Moxxie and Adam right." She whispered to herself. "Things here a really bad... Heaven might not be any better off... I gotta find Moxxie and those scientists quickly." She shivered and looked around, rushing to hide behind another pile of rubble when the coast was clear. The destruction felt similar to her home since things were falling apart back home as well, but things weren't this bad. She felt swful for the demons having to go through this and hoped she could find an antidote quickly.

“Damn it, kid!” Tic yelled over his shoulder, his voice strained but commanding. “I don’t know who the hell ‘Moxxie’ is, but I do know you’re about to get yourself killed if you don’t run!” He said as he tried to hold her

and then staggered forward as claws tore into his back, and a guttural scream erupted from him as one of his pristine white wings was ripped clean off. His glowing form dimmed slightly as he twisted, pulling a flaming blade from his side to fend off his attacker. The angel snarled, his once calm demeanor replaced by raw fury as he slashed at the other angel attacking behind him.

His attacker roared, lunging again, but Tic blocked the strike with his blade, the clash sending sparks flying. “Go! I’ll hold them off! You’re not ready for this kind of fight!”