Nightmare Supremacy

Dust frowns as he looks up at the door again. It is still closed and locked. Just as Nightmare left it about three hours ago, Dust glances at the small clock on his laptop, three and a half hours actually.

Things had been... weird. Well weirder. Dust had honestly thought his life had already hit the limit of weird shit but than he aparently freed a god.

Which. Is a thing he can do?! Somehow? Dust isn't even sure how he did that. Sure he knows his magic is... explosive but he never thought it was strong enough to affect divine magic!

The type of magic that is usually only affected by other divine magic.

Dust sighs as he looks up from the forums he had been stalking. Still no changes.

Ever since the kidnaping the guys had been very tense about Dust leaving his home. And Dust will admit, at first it was nice. He had wanted to lay in bed rolled up in blankets and not do anything. After that was the whole thing with Error and making a small altar for him. It had been nice to just not worry about going out or doing things for a bit.

Now it is mostly annoying.

He wants to go out and get his own things, wants to go out and scout some haunted places and do some jobs. Not have to discuss with four different people about the risks and if he can handle it.

Dust groans as he closes the laptop before stretching out.

"Is something wrong?" Horror sounds calm from where he floats.

Dust sighs "They have been gone for a while."

Horror hums as he glances at the door "True. Unlike Killer to want to stay out so long."

Which is putting it mildly. Killer had been... clingier than usual since the whole cult thing. Dust... can't really find it in himself to mind too much.

Dust crosses his legs "It is weird."

A snort from the kitchen "They are all weird."

Horror shoots Error a disapproving glance while Dust frowns at him "Yeah... but this is weird for them. They don't stay out longer than they need to." None of them had liked the idea of staying out a lot. Nightmare had even started talking to him about looking for better houses and more space. Dust had just reminded Nightmare that he did not have the money for that and if they wanted to move Dust would have to work a whole lot more.

Error tilts his skull at him, turning it just a tat too far for it to look normal, "Well. If it is so strange why not go look for them?"

Ash gasps "No! Dust is remaining home and safe!"

Error continues to tilt his skull, going much futher than is possible "Wasn't he kidnaped from his home? Or the basement at that?"

Ash glares as Dust groans "Okay. Enough." he rises from the couch and grabs his shoes. He hops on one foot as he puts one on and does the same for the other.

"Dust?!" Ash sounds panicked.

Dust walks towards the door "I am going to look for them-"

"Finally some action!" Error pushes himself off the table and floats over to his side.

Ash glares at the god before looking at Dust with big eyes "Dust. Please. Lets just wait."

Dsut shakes his skull as he frowns. He can't explain it, but something is wrong. He is sure. He looks back at his brother "I need to check." Ash frowns before unhappily moving aside.

Dust unlocks his apartment and leads the small group out before locking it again.

They make their way down quickly and follow the sidewalk. It is fine. They just went to get groceries. That is only a fifteen minute walk away. Dust will just go there, probably meet them on the way, and then they will yell at him and rush him back home.

It is fine...

His soul spins uneasily and he rushes his steps.

It is fine.

They make it all the way to the store without seeing anyone of the shopping crew. Dust frowns as he looks around and Horror offers that they are maybe still inside.

Dust doubts it but still searches the store, after finding no one he goes to the little help area and asks if they saw his friends. Two skeletons.

The clerk mentions they saw someone like that a while ago.

Dust leaves the store as he glances around. Officially uneasy.

Error hums as he stands with his hands in his pockets "Seems like your instincts were right priest. Something is amiss."

Dust ignores the title as he tries to feel out with his magic. It isn't stuff he has tried in a while, usually he only uses it to pinpoint ghosts in a more secure area. Now he is looking all around him.

Horror and Ash both give pings back to him. Near him and both very active.

Error, surprisingly, also pings. It feels different than the normal spirit pings but it is there.

There are smaller pings. Traces of weak spirits all around the old city.

A larger one. One that is much stronger, even if it isn't quite the one for the presence of a spirit.

Dust doesn't say a word as he turns around and starts walking. It is away from the direction of the apartment. Why would Killer go that way? Unless... unless he didn't want to lead someone, or something, back.

They rush down the different streets when they see the first marks. Slashes with burned bricks and concrete. All around the street they just walked into.

Dust breaks out into a run as he continues after the stronger signal of a familiar energy and-

A loud groan of pain. Dust doesn't think as he turns the corner and thrusts out his hands. His magic doesn't have a shape or curse to guide it but it reacts well enough. A wave of it pushes outwards and hits the strange cloaked person.

Dust really is starting to dislike cloaked people.

"Dusty?! What are you doing here?!" Killer sounds panicked as his being flickers slightly.

Dust frowns "What am I doing here?! You guys took forever." He continues moving closer all while keeping an eye on the other person. Who just, seems to be watching them?

Creepy fucker.

Killer groans again as his form, and the bulleye soul, both flicker madly. Dust frowns as he reaches out with a bit of mana in his hand. Maybe just a quick boost over just the slow refill.

"Stop that."

Dust frowns as he glances back to the figure. He slowly raises a brow and reaches his hand closer to Killer.

"Civilian stop."

Dust manages to get right by Killer and it is just a want before it happens. A small spark and Killer's vision gets stronger and brighter. His soul becomes stable once more and he is no longer breathing heavily.

A loud sigh "Foolish mortal. Don't interfere with the punishment."

Dust frowns "What are you even talking about?"

"It is a guardian. Something that the gods of the afterlife, you mortals often call it heaven and hell, send to restore order." Error sounds downright bored as he leans against the wall.

The guardian freezes and turns to Error. Then it backs away as they just stare at Error. Dust figures it is horror but he can't see their face.

Horror floats closer to his fellow spirit "Where are Nightmare and Cross?"

Killer shrugs "No idea. We were on our way back when this magic bullshit happened. I was searching for them when mister asshole showed up and started blasting me with this white as fuck light."

Dust frowns as he glances at the other. Divine magic then?

Error sighs "You know. When I said others would come looking for me I expected. I dunno. People who actually know their shit? Who are a threat?" he sighs as he snaps his fingers and... the other person just... falls apart. There is no scream or crying. Just a silent turning to dust.

Error hums as he turns "Lets find those idiots."

Dust stares at the back of the god before giving a slow nod. Is this just because Dust is his priest? Or is this because Nightmare and him go way back?

Why... why does it bother him? To think a god who wanted to do nothing suddenly is willing to help? He should be happy and relieved...

They continue walking but Error is seemingly much more efficient at sensing where Nightmare and Cross are. Dust frowns as it feels complicated again. He should be happy, he should he relieved Error can find them quicker.

He isn't.

They turn around a corner and come across a scene where Cross slams into a wall as Nightmare uses his usually hidden tendrils to stop arrows.

Dust manages to get to Cross's side as Cross just lays out cold against the wall. Shit. Guess even Cross isn't strong enough to withstand a direct hit to the skull from a brick wall.

"You will stop resisting and come with us to answer for your crimes." one of those guardians, or maybe warriors is a better name, holds up a long spear aimed at Nightmare.

Nightmare glances back at them before glaring at the people in front of him. "Actually. I think i will resist a bit more." Nightmare uses a swipe of his tendril to disbalance quite a few people.

Dust takes the time to rush to Cross's side and put an arm over his shoulder as he tries to pull him upright. Dust groans "Fuck Cross what are you made of? Solid steel over bones?" it takes a lot of effort but he manages to stands upright and pull Cross up with him. His legs shake.

Horror and Killer both float nearby as they check Cross. Ash keeps glancing around nervously as more people come near.

Dust groans but starts to move away from the alleyway. This is a mess. What the fuck is even his life and-

"Halt civilian."

Dust groans "Oh for fucks sake." he glares as the cloaked figure aims a spear.

"It is unsafe. you are not meant to be here."

Dust is this close to hitting his own skull against the wall and joining Cross in time out. "Yeah. I am wokring on that. We are on our way away." He pulls Cross a bit higher.

The warrior guy aims the spear and motions towards a even further away street "That way."

Then Error shouts "Hey! hands of my priest!"

The warrior guy pauses and seems to fully focus in on him.

Oh for fucks sake Error! WHY?!

Dust gulps as he glances to the side "Not sure what he means... I will just... drag my friend away and leave you all to your jobs and get out of your way."

The spear is now aimed at him. There is a loud hiss as Killer tackles the guard from the side. Both of them falling as the warrior person groans and Killer starts stabbing the guy with his knife.

"Don't you fucking dare to aim that shit at Dusty!"

Dust sees the other take out a small knife with golden light. It happens before Dust can say a word as Killer's form gets slashed and he flickers madly again. Dust can feel the other's energy levels deplete quickly.

Horror is the one who reacts fast enough. He grabs Killer and pulls him back wtih him. Killer flickers madly but Horror gets him back to their side.

The person of before gets up and raises his spear again.

Dust curses his inability to fight. He knows how to deal with spirits but... he doesn't have a weapon. He still doesn't. Kilelr is hurt and Cross hasn't moved. Neither Horror nor Ash are strong enough to gain a physical form for long enough to do anything.

Damnit why couldn't he had been strong enough to at least drag Cross away and-

A hand grabs the other's shoulder and the guy with the spear goes flying as Nightmare stands before them. His face is unlike anything Dsut has ever seen before.

It is a snarl. Those eyes seem to be burning as he stares the others down.

Error groans as he rips more chains apart "Stop that. It isn't going to work and is annoying." he waves a hand and the chains seem to melt into liquid gold which drip to the street.

One of the cloaked figures slams his staff against the ground. A goldne light ring appears and tiny stars appear in the air around them. These sharpen and aim right towards their group.

Nightmare glances back at them, the little bolts of light are launched in their direction. Nightmare spreads out his arms for a moment before bringing them together. His tendrils move and... flatten. The ends seem to sharpen into individual points as more and more split into tiny seperate sharp sheets. the black thins out and becomes a dark grey which reflects ever little light of the bolts.

The... the newly made wings flare out for a moment before curving inwards, around Nightmare himself but forming a shield.

Ever bolt hits the wings but get pulverised at contact.

Nightmare remains standing before the wings flare out again. Spread wide and proud as he stands before the others. Then Nightmare launches himself and rushes the other quickly and- slices the other right through the middle. Into two seperate parts. The upper part slowly slides off the lower part before both just fall to the ground with a loud thud.

Nightmare lets the wing which is not marked with blood flick it off. Drops of the red liquid splash against the ground in a curious pattern.

Nightmare looks downright bored "I don't approve of those who threaten what is mine."

A darker chuckle "Have to agree with him on that." and the last two cloacked people are turned into dust which fall to the ground. Error huffs as he looks annoyed at the dirt covering his feet.

Dust blinks before looking at Nightmare "That... was awesome." it is out in the world before he can stop it.

Nightmare blinks as he looks back at him for a moment. A smile on his face "They are rather... obvious." There is a tension on his face. His smile seems forced.

Dust frowns as his eyes follow the curve of the large wings. There... there is gold on them... Gold drops that slowly drip down and...

Oh...

Nightmare groans as he grabs a shoulder and kneels on the ground.