List

The objective of this mission is to hunt down the renegade, number 30 - Ajax. It's a male Claymore who abandoned organisation and broke one of the rules - killed a human, no more information is needed for you.

He was lately seen in the region called "Gorgon Swamp", probably he is hiding there. The place is known for high density of yoma population, so be extremely careful. You can kill yoma, but you will not be rewarded by them. Your main objective is to hunt down Ajax and bring back his head.

There is no time limit to this mission. Reinforcement will be sent if we lose contact with you in 3 days time.

Godspeed.

Status :
Claymore sword.
Torch with ignition device
Pair of daggers (close combat)
Pair of daggers (thrown only)
Cloak



OCC : One person mission only, first person to post here will be having this individual mission.

Time arriving at the swamp : 3 PM (3 hours before it gets dark). The entrance of swamp. While arriving you will feel 3 places with great yoki gathering - on south, south-east and west from you.

Arc was shocked by the fact he was chosen for this mission simple because he knows a little bit about the target from a previous encounter. "However what is done is done. So now which way should I head now? I guess I will start the yoki that feel closest which is too the south-east." Arc thought as he began cautiously heading into the swamp in the direction of south-east tapping random bits of ground with his claymore to check the terrain for sinkholes any other type of hazard that the swamp maybe inclined to provide.

OCC : Damn you Kenjmg, geting into sink-hole was my idea of what was supposed to happen at the very beginning of this mission :D.

Note 1 : Player went south-east

Arc went into the swamp. While going through swamps, he noticed a lot of natural traps, some place which looked "safe to step" at beginning were actually another muddy trap. Surely, he will remember this mission for his whole life, never before he went to suck stinky and full of bugs location...also his shoes became muddy already, despite trying to go around the least muddy track.

While travelling he noticed some kind of body in swamp, half sinked. Upon more closer investigation, he noticed that this body was of yoma, with a sword wound, someone pierced his heart area.

Travelling so far, Arc hoped to locate some yoki. He felt 3 places with yoki - more south-east, south or west. It's too far to determine from whom that yoki comes from.

OCC: I thought it was standard to watch out for sinkholes in areas like swamps, marshes, and bogs. My character is over cautious when it is only his life on the line.

"Hmmm... look like someone with sword skill enough to injure or maybe even kill a yoma came through. It could possible be a target I guess I will continue cautiously through the swamp in the southeast direction." Arc thought after noticing a sword wound in the heart region. Arc continued to go cautiously through the swamp testing the ground as he goes in a southeast direction.

OCC : Yeah, I actually wanted to caught something on those "basic" stuff :)

While travelling, the density of trees grew. Arc encountered another yoma's body, this time it was shot by bow. The arrows aren't well made, the endings are made out of sharpaned hastily rocks.

The yoki moved. One is still going further southeast, the south one is more on west of Arc now, the west one is pretty much about 300~400 meters behind Arc and it's getting slowly closer.

When Arc realized he was being followed he decide to get rid of the being first. It decide to come follow me most likely. "So I better head back to the nearby location I found to be more advantageous for me to fight in. If I am going to fight might as well make sure I have as much of an edge as possible." Arc back tracked a bit and waited in a location in which he found a big sinkhole. He then position himself so that the sinkhole was between himself and the yoki that was following him. Arc prepared himself for a battle as he waited for the entity to approach.

Arc chose the most advantageous place for fight. Around him there was mostly swamp and pitfalls, but the ground he was standing on was the only one completely solid.

The yoki which fallowed him was just an average yoma. He seemed to think that Arc haven't noticed him yet, but it was just Arc who didn't bother to let the yoma feel insecure.

The two other yoki seemed to approach themselves. They both were going south from Arc.

Arc then decide to wait for the being to arrive even if it was an average yoma it better to get rid of it quickly. But that is going take sometime. Arc mark where the sinkhole was around him and kept the only direction which he could leave in mind. Arc then called out to yoma following him, "I know your there why don't you come out!" Arc then waited for the yoma to responded while only keeping a slight eye on the two yoki's heading south.

The yoma, quite irritated by the fact that his "genious" hiding place wasn't so perfect afterall, did the most righteous thing he could do...in his opinion. That would be...mindlessly running in Arc's direction with all his fangs and claws shown....now it crossed Arc mind that this thing never seen Claymore nor it seems to see any difference between him and human. Quite extraordinary..pitifully extraordinary.

The two yoki's met about 1 kilometre from Arc direction.

"Oh what lucky creature it took the one path that would result in him have chance of attacking me with out falling into a sinkhole. It seem those two yoki have made an encounter I guess I should hurry up then." Arc thought as he prepared to side step and attack which unless dodge just the right way would result in the yoma to at least fall into the sinkhole. to his left which was a safe direction as long as he doesn't take more then two steps in that direction. And then attack with a slash around midsection height which unless, dodge just the right way would result in the yoma to at least fall into the sinkhole.

The Yoma, as Arc predicted, was just plainly lucky. But not completely. Arc just stood there when Yoma's leg stuck deeply in swamp. He tried to pull it off but Arc already had his hand on his sword.

The only thing Yoma could say was "Oh shit" when getting cut in half.

The yoki's got seperated, it seems one of them is runing away.

"Well I guess I should go then." Arc thought as he cautiously took the only safe route, then headed south in the direction of the target that was running away from the other yoki. "That one has a little higher probability of being Ajax however, if it is only a weaker opponent then at least I won't be delayed as long." Arc's analysis of the situation was brief but, decided his course he was going to head in the direction of the one running away. Continuing the journey using his claymore to check the ground.

- Arc -

Arc went fallowing the yoki...

...900 meters..the feeling of yoki is strong.. they might be battling

...800 meters..one of the yoki is clearly overwhelming another

...600 meters .. There are some fallen trees on the way - Just what happened ?

...400 meters - The trees where cut off clean - on swamp there are many footprints, but they cannot be identyficated

..300 meters - there is some fire..the feeling of yoki is extremely strong.

..200 meters - Arc feels he heard the clang of steel. The noise is incredible

.. 100 meter - Arc can see it

- Ajax -

Nothing works on that bastard, but the situation is far from hopeless. He wasn't hit..although Ajax knew that if he was hit by that bastard, that would be instant death. He stopped wondering how this bastard got his hands on such weapon - surely not from the swamps here.



He was on complete disadvantage. While he needed to be careful to not fall into one of the pitfalls, his enemy ignored them completely. It was like swamp was actually helping him and not restrain his movements.

"No wonder, they smell both like some animal died on them few years ago" murmured Ajax to himself. But that wasn't really time to laugh at the situation.

So who was he....no point thinking about that - He has some few tricks up his sleeve. And in worse case, he will use his ability - that would of course work easily on yoma on claymore but...

...It might not work on awakened being

"Hmmm... Looks like there is quite a battle going on. At the moment my target is being overwhelmed by the mysterious opponent. I should just observe what going on for now and join in latter if I have too." Arc thought as he watched from a fair distance away. Then chuckled an interesting idea he had as he watched situation unfold, "If the situation was different I would have gone to Ajax's aid right away."

- Ajax -

For that technique to work, Ajax most of his remaining yoki...damn, he can't awaken now. It would be just to lame of him, just after getting free from chains.

The vessels around Ajax eyes appeared - his eyes pupils became concentrated on his target.



"Control all the movements"

- Awakened -

That Claymore who stepped into his turf was getting too annoying - was he single digit ? Doesn't matter - he was number 10 before he awoke, he won't be beaten so easily.

Something strange is happening.....

Then..when did he appear right next to me !?

The only thing he could see is Ajax hitting his opponent with claymore in his hard-shell body, making him fly few meters backwards.

- Arc -

What Arc saw was simply riddicolous. Ajax murmured something to himself and then walked towards the awakened being. The monster just let him come close to him and then it was almost like he allowed him to hit his body as hard as Ajax could. What's more, the awakened being was quite in shock..Ajax used that oportunity to flee..

...it wasn't unwise for Ajax to retreat - Arc felt that this hit Ajax delivered was strong, he hit directly in abdomen - that should had cut his opponent in half, but he seemed to not take any damage at all, only the shock one.

Arc suppressed his yoki to the best of his abilities as he followed the retreating Ajax. Arc kept an eye on both Ajax and the awakened being that he just retreated from as he thought, "Both seem very bothersome opponents. The target is an manipulation type who seems to be able to use his yoki to either stun his opponent or alter his opponent perception so that it doesn't realize that he is getting close. Well the other seem like a very strong opponent with tough armor like skin that make it difficult to damage. In a directed battle I wouldn't stand a chance against that one. Well I guess I just got to deal with it and complete this mission." Arc remained cautious by testing the ground ahead of him with his claymore but, he moved as quickly as could while doing so. Following Ajax's trail hoping the awaken being wasn't following but knowing, that it will most likely will be following Ajax's trail like Arc was.

Arc fallowed Ajax trying to be careful but the AB was already doing the same. His agility was incredible, but that might just appear for Arc, because he seems to not even care about swamps pitfalls. His legs didn't get deep into mud for no reason.

Because Arc suppressed his yoki, the AB didn't notice him - but maybe it was mostly because AB wasn't looking for Arc. Both yoki's returned to the dense tree area of swamp, most disadvantageous for moving around, but most advantageous for hiding.

Behind Arc appeared two yoma's - they didn't notice him at all. They were probably searching for some remain's of the battle, but they were about to find nothing. It's hard to say whenever they could be trouble now or later or if any at all, but they seemed on the same level like the one Arc delt before - they had lived in swamps their whole life, killing people who went here and felt into swamp pits.

- Ajax -

Sharpening his latest invention, he was sure he could make a decisive move now. He also felt had a feeling he felt some yoki, but he was too concentrated on AB to concentrate on those - probably some minor Yoma, no big deal.

Arc ignored the two yoma's for now and continued following the yoki's of Ajax into the dense tree area with in the swamp. Be just as careful there as he was in the marshy parts of the swamp.

Quite bothersome path, not only swamp but also lot's of trees which restrained movements, clamped, put next to each other. It was a wild forest, even yoma had no reason to come here nor anything besides some small mammals and bugs were living here.

The AB just run away somewhere, seems he didn't care about the trees the same way he didn't care about swamp - he trampled everything it was on his way...

..moment when Arc dodged the arrow aimed at his head. The sound of swift made him instictevily dodge. He saw the archer.

"Nice job hiding your yoki, too bad your armour is so showing off and walking on swamps isn't one of the silent ones - but it takes upon the impact of fallen body" said Ajax with his bow prepared for another attack.

"Dang I walked right into a ambush. It was most like set up for Awaken Being but, it work just as well against me. It look like he doesn't reconize me but, that doesn't help unless I get close enought to use my special skill. Let's see what should I do now? Best way to counter long range combat is to quickly close the distance. Now how to do that?" Arc thought.

While he thought this he then quickly started performing a plan of action as he thought of it. Arc began by approach Ajax while attempting to dodge the arrows using trees and bushs for cover as much as he can. This is all an attempt to get in range of which Arc can use the throwing daggers, then throw one at Ajax when in range to set things up to allow Arc to get into range of his special skill shadow dance and that when the real fight begins.

Even Ajax with his great archery skill wouldn't be able to hit in such dense forest. It seems he wasn't really trying to hit Arc too, he was just shooting in his direction backing up a little by each shot.

Arc was getting closer and he could try to throw the dagger now, but the probability of hit would be low.

The AB seemed to be returning this way, but without the same haste like before - he seems to be searching for Ajax carefully know.

Arc deducted from Ajax actions that there wasn't much of killing intent in Ajax attacks - he was trying to buy time...

"It look like Ajaz is buying time I guess. Is he trying to cause me to be the target of the AB instead of him amd I should get him to talk. While trying to get closer." Arc thought as he asked "So Ajax, I was woundering what did you do to piss off that Awaken Being? It seems to be really obsessed with trying to find you judging from how much effort it putting in for searching for you." Arc has some other questions but this one had the highest probablity of surprising Ajax and getting him to start talking.

"Now if you would just stay out there for 2 minutes, I would show you something nice..Arc, was it ? Trust me, It will be a worth while show"

And with that, Arc noticed that there was some bottle under Ajax feets - at least he presumed there was by sound Ajax made by kicking it and spilling it's fillings on it. Ajax wasn't very trusting of Arc "Stay there for 2 minutes" since he still aimed his bow at him but he stopped shooting at least.

The AB might have located them since he was rushing in their location.

"If you answer these three questions very quickly and too my satifaction before a minute and half I will stay put for too minutes. Why are you here? What up with the Awaken Being? And for what purpose do you need me to stand here?" Some of them were question just to get a read on Ajax's but, based on his answer Arc thought he could figure out what Ajax intensions are.

"Ehh.." Ajax signed and murmured something "And I fought those who doesn't talk are annoying" then he looked at Arc and replied "One : I am here because even thought I gained freedom, my life is still about killing yoma. Two : The awakened being is awakened being - he is pretty much pissed because someone else rules this territory. Three : So you won't disturb me

Then Ajax took something hidden in one of the trees - an arrow, carbon made probably, aiming at one of the trees.

The liquid which Ajax spilled mix with some of the swamp mud, making it red.

Tha AB was coming, his aura was incredibly strong now.

"I guess I will stay for it then go into hiding again if Ajax plan doesn't work. Better to let him deal with the problem instead of being in situation that result in him dealing with it himself. Let's see how this goes." Arc as he prepared to head to a better location after Ajax does whatever he is attempting to do.

- Awakened Being -

He was there. Someone with him - just a flea. That guy..he did it too him... he humilated him. HIM ! No one had ever done that.

He will learn why they called him "Chaos Sword" Bruno before he awakened..heh, now that he awakened, he had more power - that's what he always desired.

"Black..."

He had risen the sword-like weapon

"...Hole"

Hundreds of fast slashes which cut the trees like they were made out of paper, creating a vortex which was sucking everything inside.

A technique that no one escaped - he was about to learn about it.



-Ajax-

Can only trust that he will leave me alone and let me act. Need to concentrate..heh, now that reminded, it was her who named his technique so ridiculously.."Fate Changer" - what kind of lame name was that..but maybe it wasn't that far from truth.

"Control all the movements" whispered Ajax to himself "Control the flow" his eyes widener, his muscles grew "Minimize the chances of failure" his hair stood up, it was like air changed around him "Maximize the chance of success" His eyes changed, he was using extreme amount of yoki, but he wasn't awakening. "Foresee all your opponents moves, Perform all necessary counters"

He appeared - he trampled all the trees with his ridiculous technique again...

"Dispatch" with the last words, he shot the arrow.

- Arc -

The force with which he shot it, speed, accuracy - it was incredible. But it didn't hit the AB, but Arc kind of felt that Ajax wasn't aiming at AB to begin with.

The arrow lit with the pressure of hitting a dry hard tree. The tree started to burn, the wind from AB slashes was powerful enough to spread it.

The fire spread to the swamp mud, which was filled with the spilled fluid.

An explosion ! - The burst of flame came at Arc - he instinctively jumped backward to avoid getting burned - he was prepared for an attack but not for fire..but he still didn't get hit by it.

Ajax moved towards AB. The AB was nowhere to be seen or felt. The fire was still there, spreading.

"This is bad the attack of the Awaken Being amplified the effect of Ajax attack to form a fire storm in the swamp. Dang I also lost track of the Awaken Being but, it also seems that Ajax did as well. I don't think this will be the time to jump in yet. I also need to keep an eye on the target Ajax. This such a bothersome mission." Arc thought as he tried to keep the target Ajax's insight while trying to find a safer location to be and find out where the awaken being disappeared too.

- Arc -

Upon trying to keep the track of Ajax, Arc learnt a very valuable lesson - visibility in burning forest is almost zero. It's not like the fire bothered him that much, he could move fast enough and carefully enough to avoid getting ignited , but the smoke and lack of fresh air made it really difficult to concentrate on anything - Arc doubted that Ajax was in any better position..although Ajax was pretty confident of himself...

...the yoki appeared again. The AB wasn't so far from him - no, he was just next to him but it seems he was in even worse situation than him. His eyes (or eye) wasn't getting with smoke very well - seems the AB was unable too see anything nor it was concentrating on yoki reading, since he would probably sense Arc from such short distance. It seems he was rather confused, that would explain why his yoki suddenly disappeared.

Arc thought, "The awaken being is right here. Luckly it seems to be confused let's see if I can take advantage of it." Arc project used his shadow dance to make himself appear infront of the Awaken Being and said right behind it, "What your looking for is that way?" Arc had his shadow pointing in the direction where Ajax was. Then Arc is going to now attempt to escape the swamp firestorm that had occurred heading in the direction that would allow him to escape the fire the fastest. "I wounder if the awaken being would head in that direction I had my shadow point? Though Ajax is in that direction it goes right into the heart of the firestorm as well, so even if it survive the blaze it will be badly burned at least. Well, I guess I should get out of here now before I am extra crispy too." Arc thought as he went to attempt leaving. Though by using only his yoki senses to try and keep track of what Ajax and awaken being were doing.

- Bruno -

He heard the voice of someone unfamiliar.."What your looking for is that way?" - Was that a question..no, the fire ruined his sight, he can't see..he only hears. And that part is scary.

He is scared...so he will fight. He goes into direction of the voice and attacks it.

- Arc -

The awakened being reacted to his voice and jumped into his direction, he walked like he was about to fall down - probably he was somewhat injured in the fire. He brought his giant sword and swung him towards him...

..Arc knew there was no stoppong it when the sword just crushed one of the burning trees and was about to crash on him.

"Dang I thought the sound if exactly behind him would make it seem that I was in front. Maybe he has a third ear or moves his head constantly to get exact location. Well, it was worth a try but, it is going to cause me problems. Though this will cause more harm to the awaken being in the long run if it thrash around like that. If I manage to get out of here if I am lucky that is one problem down." Arc thought as he attempted to circle around to try both avoiding the falling burning tree and the awaken being attacks. Unfortunately this route also brings him a little closer to heart of the firestorm before leading him out of the fire.

The manevour was successful. The Awakened Being seemed right confused - he seems to lost track of Arc again. Arc had the initiative now..

From the direction of in between the heart of the firestorm and the awaken being but some distance away between both he threw one of his throwing daggers at it back and began to run away from the heart of the firestorm and on the course passed the left side of the of the awaken being.

The AB felt the dagger and thought that it was Arc behind him, so he run down in that direction.

Arc escaped the fire trap, he looked a little..black. After getting himself some fresh air, he noticed Ajax yoki, he too was outside the burning forest, but on the other side. His yoki wasn't moving, he was probably waiting for something...

"I guess I will circle around to find out what Ajax is up too." Arc thought as he began to circle around the fire to where Ajax is well suppressing his yoki.

Upon moving carefully around Arc saw Ajax in the swamp, next to the forest. He was setting something up, he put some sticks to the swamp pitfalls and was spreading some white solid substance resembling salt around him. He himself made a mask around his face.

Although the AB was nowhere to be found, it seems Ajax was not taking any chances..or maybe it was a trap made against Arc...

"Only one way to find out what is going on but, in order to do it with little risk to my self I need to get within range of the shadow dance. I still don't know the full extent of his abilities but, it seems to be a manipulation type skill. So let try to get into range without Ajax noticing" Arc thought as he got closer to the Ajax well cautiously going through the swamp using both the fog and any object Arc find for cover, checking the ground for natural trap. Slowly trying to get within his range to begin his plan. But as approach Arc will just watch and listen.

With getting closer, unnoticed, Arc noticed that those sticks weren't the only thing Ajax had - all of them had been connected with string, thin enough to be barely seen in such dark. Each of the stick had some kind of pouch with something inside...

...now Arc noticed that Ajax had been caring some bag around with him - that's probably where he keeps all those things he uses for traps. The bag was lied down, just next to him. Right now Ajax was probably searching for a place to hide it...

Arc decided to stop and watch and wait before proceeding. "I want to find out the safe route into the trap web. I could always wait for him to close to one of his traps and activate it to see what it does using the one remaining throwing dagger. That would be interesting to find out." Arc thought as he only continued a little further to better vantage point with some good cover. Arc may still be out of range of shadow dance but from here he can see the area in which Ajax is in with low chances of being notice. Arc waited to see what Ajax does next before deciding on his next move.