#IC. ♞ ━━ « ruthlessness is necessary »

[warriorslantern]

@inmiasma || from { x }

"It's true, look at you."

The shadow waved a claw at the celestial, gesturing at all of him. Still, he kept some distance from Nezha. It was not out of niceness. Nor a respect for personal space. Not the other's anyway. It was so his own, the nasty little thing inside his chest did not like the god.

This was something he would have to look into later.

Lugu could feel it tightening around his core as if trying to remain as small as possible. It had never done this before. Still, while he was here—

"Can't you assign this to another? At least some of it? It doesn't make sense to keep the load purely on yourself." He hummed, leaning against the wall while keeping an ear out. "Well, I suppose that's your choice though."

"...."

"I have a request for you. There's some knowledge I am trying to acquire, and I need to check Heaven's library for it."

"Name your price, and I'll consider it."

[warriorslantern]

@6em4k || from { x }

The warrior's silhouette spreads over one of the nearby walls, a purr rising from his throat as he spoke. "Yes, indeed. It might be different in your world."

"But in mine, demons do not exactly have hearts. Their energy, their life magic, is settled in their chest." The shadow shifts to another wall, tapping a claw to his chin. "It forms the very same shape of the magic we took from the kid. You can do many things with it."

"Suck it dry with a seal, grind it to power for 'medicine', or a faster option..." He emerges from the wall, fangs bared in a grin.

"Eating it."

[warriorslantern]

@townofcadence || from { x }

"Aw, what's with the face?" the ebony simian hummed, slipping from the shadows.

"Just wanted to say hello to my second favorite person, and you treat me like a bad omen!" A smirk pulled at his lips as he stepped a little closer. "I'm so hurt, bud."

Stopping for a moment, he tilts to the side a little as if remembering something. "Oh, I saw a shopkeeper or something of the like when I was looking for lil you." Behind him, his long tail flicked back and forth. He should have bothered the fella sooner but he'd been busy for a bit. But hey! He found his latest toy easily enough.

Easy was, in fact, not the correct statement.

"He seemed fun."

[warriorslantern]

[Muse: Six Ear Macaque] [AU: Reluctant Hero] "Hm? Oh I-" A pause in speech as he needed a moment to register what he was looking at before continuing," Wasn't expecting someone to be up here yet and certainly not another me. Thought you were Mk coming up here, what brings you up here on flower fruit mountain or is this just a passing through type of deal?"

The warrior paused, taking in the sight of the other. His tail twitched once behind him before stilling. For a moment, there was silence. But then a low note left him, growing as the seconds passed. Laughter. It did not last too long, just enough.

He lifted a claw, wiping underneath his good eye with a finishing chuckle. "Never thought I'd get to meet another me," was the hum as he tilted his head. "Guess I must be real lucky."

He cleared his throat, muscles popping as he straightened up. "Nah, just passing through. Don't worry."

[warriorslantern]

"...is it done?"

The serpent demon drew back at his tone, he had waited long enough for them to arrive. Their hesitation didn't do them any favors. His head turned, magenta eyes settling onto them and the box they held between their claws. But they were not handing it over, despite their trembling.

"...I...my reward..."

He clicked his tongue, slipping from the shadows and landing on the ground not far from the demon. "Give me the box, and you will have your gold." He lifted a claw, staring down at them.

"I want double," they stammered, pathetic in their attempts to hold this over him. "This took a lot of work to get." The warrior sighed, head falling to the side a little.

"How disappointing," he mused. "I thought you would be smarter than the rest."

He watched as the shadows impaled through the demon, as blood split across the ground. He picked up the fallen box, having no care for their garbled cries. Claws smoothly opened the wooden container, taking a look inside. Sitting upon soft velvet was a mask, colored golden and red. He snapped it shut, humming.

"Have your meal," he cooed to his shadows, leaving the facility.

[warriorslantern]

@townofcadence from { x }

"Oh, it's quite the contrary."

The ebony simian stalked closer, before simply circling around the other. Fangs come into view as the other grins at him, sharp and deadly. The warrior and his passenger were aching for something to eat. Normally he didn't target humans, they didn't give too much energy. Not like yaoguai. Still, anything was better than nothing.

Besides, he didn't want to have his tag-along taking over him instead.

He supposed he should've had more tact, but hungry had it's way of controlling you.

"You're lost, Buttercup. Anyone with half a mind can see that. You've lost your way and you don't belong here." He crept a little closer, tail swaying behind him.

"You'll be gobbled up by other yaoguai."

[warriorslantern]

@siixkiing || from { x }

"Ohoho, come on, Monkey King. Bothering you is one of my favorite things!"

He plucked a jar from the top of the fridge, tossing into the air and catching it. The shadow stared at the king as he did, contemplating.

Before chucking it at him and running into the shadows.

[warriorslantern]

starter for @dxwnxdusk

The night was beautiful and silent, just as he liked it. His claws scrounged around in the open chest of his latest meal for a moment. Now where did it go? It should not be too difficult. Perhaps he struck too deeply, and sent it out?

If he fucking had to scrouge around this area for it, he was going to be pissed.

Ah, there it was—

!!!

"Back off, this is mine."

His claw wrapped tight around it, ripping it out as he snapped his head around. His fangs were barred, the shadows springing to life around his feet. Claws like black tar emerged, tearing at the grass.

The forest had been a perfect hunting ground, away from the city. From prying eyes. He was not moving from these grounds, he always dropped prey to hunt here.

[warriorslantern]

"Don't you know you shouldn't come into alleyways?"

Blood stuck to his claws and a bit on his front. The rest of the mess lay on the ground beside the dumpster. He had no intentions of finishing off the rest of the body. All that mattered was the simple triangle-shaped object settled in his claws. It sputtered but still pulsed with the life magic he needed. The core would do well enough.

Not like its previous owner needed it anymore with the hole in their chest.

[warriorslantern]

@ryouscared || from { x }

His lips twitched, delight filling his chest from the look sent his way. The warrior giggled, not yet shifting from a silhouette to the physical world. "A grumpy one, I see," he hummed, the shadow across the wall stretching its arms over its head. "That's not too bad I suppose." The occupant inside his chest was slumbering for now, sated.

Joy, now he could have fun.

"I go by many names, you can select either Macaque or Lugu if you'd like."

He shifted up the wall, visage stretching across horizontally. "But that's not important for the moment. Are you lost, Spitfire?" He lifted a claw to tap at his chin, head tilting. "I mean, of course you are, you smell quite different than a normal occupant."

[warriorslantern]

"Despite the thousands of questions I have in my head right now, I'm going to bite my tongue." || from tongbi wooo ||

"You intrude in my territory and think you would have the right to ask questions?" he tsked softly, shaking his head. "People have no respect anymore."

His silhouette stretched across the wall, spreading onto another one as it shook its head. He wouldn't leave the in-between, not yet. Playing with his food for a little while would be alright. It had been a long time since someone had dared to bother him. But the tightening of the thing around his core reminded him of the cost of losing this one.

Sigh. You let one go and you're never forgiven for it.

A large claw, wrapped in ribbons of writhing darkness burst from the shadows collected in one of the corners. It makes a swipe for the intruder, the shadow humming from his spot on the wall as he watched.

"You really shouldn't have come in here, ya know?"

[warriorslantern]

starter for @hismentor

They gave him a good run, and he will allow them to have that praise. It was not often someone spurred excitement from him during his hunts. Not since it had become easy. They were a speedy thing, tearing themselves through the undergrowth. His clones gave pursuit, keeping tabs on the prey.

He had spent far too long scoping them out to lose them.

The shadow was not trailing behind like other hunts, he was chasing after them. Adrenaline flooded him, filling that excitement to a boiling point.

Where he finally stopped playing this game. He was hungry, they were hungry. It used to be simple, just to keep the thing sated. But then he got addicted to it. Perhaps it made this unspeakable act easier. Removed the guilt and left him only with the need to fill his feelings and his magic. His shadows hissed in anticipation.

He struck, the cudgel shooting from the shadows to impale the prey's leg. Their cry ripped through the trees, the bird had gone long silent. "It's just you and me," he cooed, watching their impact with the ground. "I must say, you have given me a good chase. Not many do that."

He moved forward, each step greeted by hungry shadows clinging to him. They hissed with glee when he finally stopped before the crawling demon. It truly was no effort to keep them down, but he supposed he should give them something of a gift.

Lugu knelt down, striking out not a moment after. For both of their sakes, he would ensure this death was quick. The demon did not even have time to scream, coughing up blood from the fist bursting into their chest. Bones gave way easily like chalk crumbling beneath the force. Gore sprayed onto the ebony simian, and his claw reached down.

There.

Something wet and hard, pulsing weakly against his fingertips. He was far more delicate now. His nails scraped over tissue clinging to the object, cutting them from it. His mouth filled with saliva, he wanted to tear it out, but that would risk damage to the precious gift inside. He couldn't risk it with it connected.

Finally, finally, it was free. His shadows thrashed with their anticipation, their impatience. He stilled them with a snarl, trying to focus as he removed it from the concaved chest. His tongue darted over his lips.

"Perfect..." he murmured, brushing his thumb over the carved surface. The core fluttered against his touch, the hard surface almost breathing against his palm.

[warriorslantern]

Definitely has killed a person or two.

Make a assumption about my muse and see how they react! Anything goes!

Interesting, a grey face finally showed itself to him. The shadow crossed his arms over his chest, humming as he rested his shoulder against the wall. He'll entertain this line of questioning. Or commentary was a better word. He was bored, and this was a nice change of pace. Still, he could always just eat them if things grew stale.

"Heh, one or two? Aren't you generous?" He shook his head, chuckling. "It's certainly over double digits." Far more than that.

[warriorslantern]

"....Well aren't you a fucking mess and a half."

Claws scratched jagged lines through the lid of the dumpster beside the shadow. The single light illuminating the alleyway began to flicker. His head turned to settle his gaze onto the owner of the voice. Dark blood spread along the side of his shirt, stemming from a large slice into his back. Still, the simian straightened, fully facing the stranger.

"Didn't anyone teach you not to frequent darkened alleys?" The words dripped from his maw like poison. Hunger gnawed at him, taking chunks from his magic in a pathetic attempt to sate it. The thing inside his chest was wasting no time trying to leave its cage.

It was a situation he was about to address with his kill on the other side of the dumpster. Was, before someone decided to bother him. The body of the victim wasn't hidden, he hadn't had time to do anything with it before his unexpected guest had arrived. An arm lay from the corner, in full view.

The Six-eared Macaque looked at her, his tail lashing. "Run along, can't you see I'm busy?"

[warriorslantern]

Yuebei Xing is gnawing on an acorn, trying to get it to open. However, she's struggling, as she's still very little. Noticing the other monkey, she decides to look up at him and pause with what she's doing. She doesn't know who he is and it confuses her a bit, but she isn't scared. ( Truly, she's the bravest out of her and her siblings! ) Instead, she simply just tilts her head a little as she watches him for a bit with genuine curiosity. But then she gets an idea. The little monkey climbs up a nearby tree and climbs onto a branch until she's right above the other monkey- then she proceeds to carefully place the acorn on his head. Succes!

Mount Huaguo had always been a lure that Macaque couldn't escape. His fur itched with the memories burned into it. If he stood still for too long he could still smell the smoke. Of course, he couldn't really. The mountain had healed long ago. He had settled onto the grounds, tail swaying as he wandered. There was no rhyme or reason to his path. Despite his efforts to keep moving, it did nothing to halt old memories.

For just a moment, he finally allowed himself to pause. The tree gave him shelter from the sun, another obstacle in this new life. How ironic that the thing he used to lounge beneath punished him for standing within its gaze. The shadow wasn't welcome in its warmth anymore. Drowsiness was only the best outcome.

His thoughts were interrupted by the scratch of small claws along the bark behind him. He stood still, waiting to see if it was a threat.

Yet, he found himself confused as something settled onto his head. Slowly he lowered his head, allowing the object to fall from it and into his hand. Golden hues identify it as an acorn. There were little marks along its surface. He looked up, gaze settling onto the culprit. He found himself pausing. A cub? No, that wasn't the right word. He never officially thought of a word for the young ones. They were simply young.

Eh, fuck it. He's calling them that. Who's going to tell him otherwise?

He shifted to face her more, offering the acorn that rested in his open palm. "Does this belong to you, little one?" For once, there was no mask. No bared teeth. The onyx simian's voice was low, like a light breeze blowing through the trees.

For once, when the parasite shifted in his chest, excited...he smothered it with his magic. It was surprised by the viciousness of the action. Yet nothing was portrayed in his gaze or body.

[warriorslantern]

Brutus, Brutus, Brutus, Brutus! He is silent as the king turns and walks away. The onyx simian stares at his back, letting the other move away from him. His tail twitches once behind him.

Brutus, Brutus, Brutus, Brutus! The king stops moving, and the shadow can now see his side profile as he looks at one of the younger members of the troop. He watches as the young chestnut-colored monkey grabs onto the ruler's hand, holding it close to their breast. “My king,” they say with awe and love, and it…

Brutus, Brutus, Brutus, Brutus! It makes him fucking sick.

Brutus, Brutus, Brutus, Brutus! He thinks back to the weight in his pocket, handed to him by a smiling face surrounded in the darkness given by their hood. How their fingers brushed over his hands longer than they should have. “Take your destiny.” They uttered, commanded him to take what was rightfully his.

My name is Brutus and my name means heavy He stands at a cliff, and the choice to go back is getting further, and further away. He can forget about this, and go back to how things were. Was this what he truly wanted? Could he just settle with being a simple being to not be grand?

So with a heavy heart No. He will not.

I'll guide this dagger into the heart of my enemy The king does not expect his betrayal, the artifact works perfectly. Too perfectly. It only solidifies that what he is doing must be right. If the king is weak enough to be taken down…he should not be the leader, the grandfather of the troop.

My whole life, you were a teacher and friend to me Golden ichor coats his hands, and bared teeth do nothing to stop the giggle that spills from his lips. But he tastes the salt amongst the copper of the blood. This must be done, it is for the best. He is the best.

“Please know my actions are not motivated only by envy,” the words slip from him as he stares down at the other. He lifts his stained hands, droplets of the blood of a god falling to the ground that opens up for them.

“I, too, have a destiny,” he murmurs, he does. He DOES. It’s his turn now, he’s earned it. He DESERVES THIS.

This death will be art It will, it WILL be. The king will be gone and it will be only himself to take his rightful place. He will finish what they started and bring greatness to their people. Can the brainless one not see this? That this is how it must be?

The people will speak of this day from near and afar He will be a legend. He will get to have a slice of the spoils. No one will forget this, no one will ever be able to.

This event will be history, and I'll be great too He will get everything he deserves and this event will be seared into the mind of every being on this damnable mountain.

“I don't want what you have,” He trails his hands over his face, smearing the blood across his tear-stained cheeks. His words become guttural, a scream that bursts from his chest and very being. He rips his hands down, features shifting to mirror the king before him. “I want to be you!”