Chapter CCCXLI: Initiating… ~Multehx

Explosions rocked the forest. The sound of clashing metal became most obvious to the ears of those animals still about these parts. Abruptly, a green being burst from the brush, running as fast as inhumanly possible. Moments later, walking at a determined pace, a gargantuan metallic monstrosity emerged, shoving aside a tree that was in his was as easy as casually possible.

"Stop running, old coward," it said cooly.

The aged demon took no heed of these words. He stopped at the base of a tall tree, crouching down as far as he could then rocketing into the air and landing deftly upon one of the upper branches, far above the tops of the other trees. Wasting no time, he pulled a bulging grey sack from a fiery black vortex that appeared at his fingers in mid-air. Rummaging through it, he removed several items and flung them haphazardly to the ground. This was followed by a hail of more such objects, each clattering down upon the rest and settling to the forest floor.

The Twilighter murmured some strange language as he waved his hand about in a circle, claws facing down to the heap below. A strange, metallic blue glow seemed to surround his hand, and, similarly, the heap of metal below. Still pulsing with this glow, the pieces of armor lifted from the ground, moving speedily about and connecting to their appropriate partners. Metallic boots upon the ground, from them formed a leg, connected to another and ending in an opposite boot. Their waists followed, quickly pursued by torsos, necks, and topped off by helmets for heads. In each of their hands was some sort of similarly alloy based weapons of old.

They all stood motionless as the forest shook with thunderous crashes. They remained at attention as the crashing grew nearer. A tree was uprooted and thrown aside as the metallic titan lumbered onto the site. As it drew nearer, it became quite obvious how large it was, as it towered almost an entire five feet above the tops of their helmets. Now, they assumed battle ready poses, apparently guarding the large arbor formation behind them. The intruder also stopped. They both observed each other over a deadly silence.

Acting boldly, a knightly animation wielding a broadsword lunged for its foe, brandishing its blade in the traditional Zornhut, or "Rage Guard", position. The taller being scoffed, slowly raising a hand, palm open. As the knight swung its weapon down to strike, the metallic palm clanged sharply as it stopped the blade in its tracks, the fingers closing around it. Nearly instantly, with a sound akin to a mixture of a slurping and a hiss of steam, the blade seemed to loose its solid shape, being pulled into its hand. The weaponless knight landed, looking shocked at his empty hands.

Nonth didn't hesitate to viciously grab the Mechna Knight's helmet, squeezing with enough pressure to crumple it between his fingers. Then, with the same odd sound, the knight was pulled head first into the same hand that claimed his blade. Seeing this, two more sprung to the offensive: one wielding a gleaming silver lance, the other a massive double sided battle-axe. Nonth simply snickered, raising his arm in defence. The axe cut into the metal of his arm and the lance skewered it to about its halfway point. The same sound emanated as the arm pulled the weapons into it without a moment's hesitation.

Before they could land, the former axe wielder received a crushing facial grab, pinning his back to the tree. In similar fashion to his predecessor, his helmet was reduced to nothing before he endured the same fate. The other had a chance to land and attempt to flee. This was brutally ended as Nonth's fist crashed through its back and out the front of its breastplate. It didn't even have time to recoil before it shattered into pieces and those fragments were pulled with a vacuum-like force onto the arm and being absorbed into it.

The demon swallowed hard as the survivor walked over to the base of the tree and drew back its hand. Seemingly molding from the metal that comprised it, the same ornate battle-axe as before, forming in its clenched fist.

"Come down, Malachi." he boomed, swinging the axe forward. As it crashed deeply into the tree trunk, he added, "Time to play is at an end, old fool."

With a startled yell, Malachai crashed to the ground on his back. He groaned in pain, but wasted no time throwing himself into a backward roll; well timed, as a metal fist crashed into the earth where he had been seated, sending dirt up wildly. The aged demon leapt to his feet from the roll, drawing his oddly adorned sword in the process. Moving swiftly, faster than the robot could account for, the demonic swordsman hacked an inch into the side of his foe's waist. The robot hesitated and then kneed the demon away.

Nonth growled in annoyance as Malachai flew head over heels, but managed to rebound off a tree and shoot over him, slicing over a shoulder as he went. The robot grasped its shoulder, growling still. It took him a moment to spin about, and by the time he had, Malachai had leapt again, preparing to mount another assault. The armor on the robot's breastplate began to grow odd "bumpy" formations that quickly became the pointed triangular shape of arrowheads. These shot off with remarkable speed, several slicing over the demon's shoulders and arms.

Malachai yelled in pain, releasing his hold on his sword. As it clattered to the ground, Nonth was there, waiting with open arms as the demon crashed into him. Instantly, the robot threw his arms around his prey, tightening with tremendous force. The demon cried in agony and his aged bones could be heard groaning under the stress. This continued for several minutes, until finally the demon slumped over limply, too exhausted and in agony to struggle.

Several things happened at this. Nonth's firm hands took hold of either of either of Malachai's shoulders as he turned him about and held him out as if for examination. The metal surface of his front began to distort and moved away, revealing his hollow interior. Snickering, he abruptly pulled the demon in close again, not stopping like before but shoving his prey into his new prison. Instantly, several wires and chords snaked around the demons limbs and neck, cutting off all movement. Several also appeared to attach to various areas of his flesh as a strange sound like the "scuttling" of millions of tiny legs moving together made its appearance. The metal of the robot's front slid back into place, completing him again and cutting off all sound from within him.

Folding its arms, the robot turned back in the direction it had come from. "Objective: complete," it smirked cruelly. "Estimated break down time: one hour. His age will prove a grand help in that. Though...I still must say...things don't taste right to me since I had something as good as that lizard's spear." He thought for a moment and then shrugged. "I put a control band on it. They're going nowhere. When I'm through with all, I'll slay him and savor that thing's taste. Next target: …decided."

It sneered again, marching off back into the woods.