Grimm Reaper

Cold, that was all that Ozwald could feel after having himself freed from the inky black liquid that seemed to almost be alive, squirming to pull players under the water. Ozwald held on to his dearly beloved like his life depended on it, this was already the second time that the inky sludge had almost pulled him under its surface, and that was one of the most terrifying things he had ever experienced, the closest that Ozwald had come to his life both in this game and in the real world coming to an end. Ozwald walked with Valentine and Aquan following them to another group who was calling for Players to band together and leave Nimbus in order to climb to higher ground and he completely agreed with that notion. He followed along the two men accompanying him leaving the woman who saved him behind, not knowing if she would be joining the trio.

Ozwald sat stoically listening to everything that Freyd had to say about his encounter with Chase. Ozwald absently scratches at Ryoto, the reptilian bird who sat in his lap, as his face grew darker and darker. This didn't sound like Chase at all, the Chase that he knew was someone who while being awkward, was a nice man at heart. What Freyd was saying was something that Ozwald just couldn't make himself believe. When Freyd was finished with his story Ozwlad sat there staring at the table but a few moments more before he stood up, his chair sliding against the floor with a screech and his familiar falling startled to the floor. Ozwald couldn't listen more, he had to at the very least go confront Chase, and he had to ho do that now. Chase was the first person to help him within Aincrad, and he had been nicer than most, he couldn't wait for the guild to act, he had to confront him himself. As the chair finally fell to the floor Ozwald walked away, not a single word spoken even after the doors had closed behind himself and his scurrying familiar. 

Ozwald smiled, he liked making people laugh, whether it was because of something he said or something he did, on purpose or not, laughter was one of his favorite sounds, and Aquan's was definitely one to be happy about. "Oh I didn't know, interesting." Ozwald was surprised to hear that another man here in Aincrad was gay as well, Looking at Aquan in a new light, he couldn't see any reason why no guy would be after him, he was tall, he was handsome, and he definitely looked classy. Ozwald shook his head slightly, admiring other men's looks was probably something that his lover would frown upon, and he didn't want to make that a habit by any means. Ozwald chuckled again at the mention of a familiar. Aquan probably couldn't tell because the hood mostly covered him, but Ryoto was currently laying completely across Ozwald's shoulders. 

With a slight whistle Ozwald called for the reptilian bird to get up and land on his outstretched forearm. Leaving a few white feathers in the air, the white chicken like creature landed on Ozwald's forearm cocking its head curiously. "Aquan this is Ryoto." Ozwald gestured towards the bird, it was the size of a cat, with the body of a more raptor like chicken covered in white feathers, a toothy beak coming out of its face with a long scaly green lizards tail. Ryoto was a cockatrice and to Ozwald he was the most adorable creature ever, Valentine tended to disagree though. "Ryoto meat Aquan."

Ozwald smiled, the smile on his face was as always what defined him most, a smile full of warmth and love for everything around him. Ozwald was smiling so brightly right now due to the fact that his newfound friend enjoyed the gift that he had given to him. "I have to say, I have always been a bit of a [censored]." Ozwald joked around, but it wasn't really inaccurate he had had his fair share of lovers. "I am sure any girl would be lucky to have you." Ozwald said what everyone always said when people can't find someone, but he meant it Aquan was definitely a catch that was for sure he seemed sweet and smart. "I joined Firm Anima hmmm, maybe a week before getting with Valentine, maybe a month ago. I joined because Raidou, the guild leader, said he would hook me up with some free loot if I did." Ozwald was being honest in answering Aquan's questions, not holding anything back. "But I never meant to join a guild, I honestly wanted to make my own. Still kind of do." That dream hadn't died, but for now he was happy where he was.

Seeing Chase so hyped up was an odd sight, he was normally fairly blank in expression and normally didn't have much outward expression when it came to these things. Ozwald came up to join Chase, launching the strongest attack he had at the stunned dragon, watching as his punch caused it to explode into blue crystals that combined with the ash and soot in the air creating a cascade of greys blues and blacks falling all around the battlefield. 

Bending down Ozwald picked up the ruby that dropped disappearing on contact and notifying him that he had managed to find the ninth and final gem. Ozwald was relieved beyond anything, that was the last one, the suspense was over, they would very soon be seeing exactly what the castle had to offer them. "You ready for the castle?" Ozwald asked Chase knowing full well that the man would be ready to take on anything.

The dragon was distracted, it was facing completely away from Ozwald having its full attention on the currently sitting down blue haired man in front of it. Ozwald took this as his final chance to go in and do some damage to the dragon before joining Chase on the ground. Ozwald ran at the dragon rolling forward and coming up in a crouch, he swept his leg around in a full circle pulling the dragons hind legs out from underneath it. With his back legs no longer giving support, the red dragon fell over onto its side a loud thud penetrating the air rumbling down the mountain, ash and soot launching into the air falling around the basin like black and grey snow falling around the two individuals who would now be killing the red dragon. This was it, with the dragon on the floor Chase couldn't miss and it would fall, and they could finally call this fight finished.

"I just hate the flying, at least you have a sword, I have my fist the reach on it is horrendous" Ozwald complained as he decided to use a different strategy. Running up to the dragon Ozwald crouched low, bringing his foot around in a fast sweeping kick that in theory would have knocked the dragon onto the ground. The theory however was not what came to fruition, Ozwald watched as the dragon just hopped into the air, not only avoiding his attack but also flying away once again towards Chase. Ozwald was beginning to wonder if they would be able to kill Smaug, so far with the way it was going they would die of exhaustion before they would slay the beast. "At least this is the last one." Ozwald called out mostly to reassure himself. This was the final dragon, once it was dead the pair would be able to open the castle on the next floor and finish with these god forsaken dragons.

Ozwald was very glad to hear that Aquan would be interested in the book "Yeah, I wouldn't have expected it either, not really something you see very often in games like this, but I am glad" Ozwald said before handing the book to aquan to take with him, Ozwald was mostly done with it anyways, and he was always glad to share his hobbies with his friends. "Yeah, Chase was the first person I met when I started actually going out on quests and he has helped me out a lot, he may seem rude and standoffish at first, but he is a nice guy when you get to know him." Ozwald was a personal fan of Chase, he would definitely not have gotten as far as he had in such a short of time without him. Ozwald was now doing the same for Aquan and he was glad for it. 

Ozwald was only slightly surprised by the question that Aquan had asked, it wasn't too surprising seeing that Aquan knew Valentine though. "Me and Val, I think just a few weeks now. But it feels like a lot longer." Ozwald's eyes lit up a little when talking about valentine, he would never had expected to find someone in this world, and Valentine was an amazing guy, even if they were very different people

Ozwald was glad to see that someone else other than him was looking into all of the ways that this game world differs from the way that the real world works. "Oh, if you are into things like that than I may have a book you would be interested in."  Ozwald pulled the book that he was reading earlier out of his inventory. "It is a boring read, but it is about how the different monsters on the island evolved on the different floors specific ecosystems, It is probably just lore and doesn't actually exist, but it is interesting if it is something you like." Ozwald knew that most people didn't have such a fascination with those things as he did, but the way that Aquan seemed to be so analytical made him think he might share a small part of that passion. "Chase? Oh he has some rocky history with the guild. I don't think he likes them very much. But he is a consultant not a member." Ozwald didn't know the actual beef Chase had with Firm Anima, but he knew more than some people.

Ozwald was once again upset that he had to stare upwards at the man he was talking to, why did every single person he had to encounter have to be a giant. Either way Ozwald didn't let that show through, keeping up his warm and cheery smile. "I have nothing to do today so I don't mind helping a friend out." Ozwald truly didn't mind, Aquan seemed like a nice and proper fellow, so spending the day with him would be a nice way to spend it. Watching the giant of a man climb the tree Ozwald was surprised to see how agile and spry he was. "Most days I'm out leveling with Chase or Valentine, you caught me on a lazy day." Ozwald's voice was always chipper and that didn't change while talking to Aquan. "How about you, what's the daily life of Aquan like?" Ozwald asked, making small talk because there was nothing that he could do to help the lower leveled adventurer on this specific quest, just glad to be providing him so modicum of company on one of the more boring quests that the game had. Ozwald had been in his place a few weeks ago, Chase had caught him right after he finished his first quest, helping him with almost all of his quests after that, and Ozwald was glad he could do the same for this newcomer.

The dragon was surprisingly fast, and the heat that radiated off of its body made it very hard to look at the beast, that on top of the fact that it could fly made these dragons the absolute worst thing that Ozwald had faced so far. Ozwald watched as Chase's blade was once again dodged and the dragon flew off to the side of the pair. There was no time like the present to try and attack the dragon, he was low enough in the air that Ozwald could theoretically get a punch off if it didn't speed away before that happened. Ozwald ran to the dragon, completely ready to give the dragon a taste of knuckle sandwich that it would not soon forget. Sadly the dragon didn't care about Ozwald at all in the slightest, acting as if he was an ant on the floor the dragon flew towards Chase bringing him out of Ozwald's short reach.

Making his way from the estate that he shared with Valentine Ozwald found himself at the teleport gate on the fourth floor. Calling out the name of the town of beginnings Ozwald was teleported directly to the town square of the first floor. quickly picking Aquan out of the crowd based on what he knew about the man which was mainly just that he was tall and blonde. Deciding now would be a perfect time to practice his stealth Ozwald tried to blend into the crowd that was around the town square before reaching Aquan. Sadly the man seemed to spot him before he got close enough to spook him. "Hello Aquan right?" Ozwald asked his british accent as strong as it always was. Facing the much taller man Ozwald got flustered, he was not only bad around people, he was much worse around people who could easily dwarf and overpower him. 

Ozwald was just lounging around at home with Valentine a nice long book in his hands, something about the species variations of the birds on some fictional island within the game, not an interesting find for anyone that wasn't Ozwald, but he seemed to be completely and lawfully attached to the book. The ding of the system was the only thing that could bring Ozwald away from how finches beaks would evolve to adapt differences depending on what level of the forest they lived on. Ozwald read the message from Aquan, he knew him, but not incredibly well only meeting him through Valentine. Putting away his book Ozwald stood looking over at his sleeping lover "I should leave him a note" Ozwald thought to himself before doing just that.

With all of that being settled Ozwald responded to the message very simply. 
Where are you?
Ozwald knew based on his level that the first floor was most likely, but making sure was the best idea.

The sight before him, if they were not in combat in a very serious game, would have been a very hilarious sight to see. Chase trying to hold down the dragon while it was flailing was funny to watch. This was Ozwald's chance though, he ran up to the dragon once again preparing to punch it in its red snout. Right as Ozwald got into a punching range, which was an admittedly very short range, the dragon reared back spreading its wings knocking both Chase and Ozwald away before backing away, this time noty entering the air. "I am going to strangle Kayaba if i make it out of this." Ozwald said surprisingly deadpan for the amount of anger that the small dragon was creating inside of the small man. Ozwald was about ready to kill the next thing that came into his sight and the dragon was definitely going to be that thing.

Ozwald couldn't help but laugh along with Are, his familiar was by far the most dense creature that Ozwald had ever met, and he liked it that way just fine. Standing up Ozwald met his familiar taking the stick out of its toothed beak. Ozwald brought his hand back, to any onlooker it was very obvious what Ozwald was about to do, Ozwald brought his hand back forward throwing the stick as far as he could. The cockatrice on the ground immediately sped after the quickly flying stick. "That should keep him distracted for a few minutes." Ozwald said sitting back down next to the fire. "What was it that you were going to say?" Ozwald asked wanting to hear what his mentor was going to say before the spectacle of his incredibly stupid bird interrupted their conversation. The chill in the air only got worse, but Ozwald was used to it, he did after all live on the fourth floor.

Ozwald saw the dragon at the same time as Chase, but he knew that he was better off letting the blue haired man react first. "Nah, I think this is someone's lost pet." Ozwald chuckled a bit, the joke wasn't at all funny but that wasn't what mattered it was still a joke. Despite the fact that this was just someone's dearly beloved pet Ozwald decided that he would join Chase in his attack, running up through the soot and Ash to punch it, just like the brawler that he was. Reaching the dragon it took off into the air, making it very much impossible for the punch man to do what he did best against it, which was punch. "Come on! Why do things have to fly" Ozwald shouted in anger at the fact that once again he was thwarted not by any lack of skill, but instead by a lack of wings.

Ozwald wasn't too terribly surprised by the statement that Are had made, the thought of the killer just killing them all had passed through his mind, but in his mind that was better than having to choose. "Well," Ozwald started taking a brief pause to collect his thoughts before continuing on. "I know that I would not be able to kill Valentine, that isn't the man that I am, but then blatantly telling the man the innocent man, who is probably someone's family, someone who is loved as much as I love Valentine that I want him dead. That wouldn't be possible either, and that is if the killer keeps his word, which I have no way of knowing." Ozwald explained most of his thoughts in one long drawn out sentence flowing out fairly fast and simplistically. "So I figured if I offer myself up, he kills me and then maybe leaves, or he kills us all which was already something he may have done anyway." Finishing up his sentence Ozwald looked out into the forest to see a small reptilian bird running out of it carrying not food, but rather a foot long stick. 

Ozwald was fine with it just being a normal battle with a fire breathing dragon, it would definitely be a lot worse if that dragon also lived inside of the lava. Upon cresting the mountain top Ozwald could in fact see why Chase had said there would probably be no structures. The top of the mountain was just a basin with a small lip around the edge that would be very easy to slide down if one fell off of the tiny lip that acted as the only place to stand before reaching the basin. "Well I guess there isn't anywhere to go except down." Ozwald said hopping down onto the slope of the basin, standing in such a way that it looked like he was surfing down the ashy slope without a surfboard. "The dragon has to be hiding down here somewhere." Ozwald called out from the bottom of the basin, waiting for Chase to join him.

Ozwald nodded at the remark that Are had made first, he wouldn't say that he was necessarily a patient man, but he was also by no means impatient so he figured that that problem would be very easily solved. Ozwald wasn't expecting the scenario that his new mentor had asked him to answer, it was a fairly staple test on a man's morality. Were they willing to kill to save a stranger's life? It seemed like a fairly simple question, but the answer wasn't so simple, killing someone you loved was one of the hardest things imaginable and letting someone else die for that decision was almost as hard. Looking away from Are's penetrating gaze Ozwald thought long and hard about the question before responding with an answer that he wasn't sure was right, if there even was a right answer in the situation. "I would ask them to take my life instead." Ozwald knew that he could neither take a loved ones life, nor he could he watch an innocent person's life be taken away for no reason at all, so this was the best solution.

In his usual attire for adventure the man that Ozwald saw before him was absolutely stunning, he looked like a guardian angel sent down to protect Ozwald, despite the slight difference in power. Ozwald listened intently as Valentine explained the questline to him, it was good to be prepared and to know what you were getting into before you took it on. It sounded as the though the duo could handle this quest on their own so long as they were careful. "That sounds doable." Ozwald nodded not commenting on the lack of spear, he knew that Val had dropped those skills. "Let's get going then." He said again before heading out with the other man to the teleport gate finding its home on the fourth floor. Calling out the name of the eighth floor's settlement Ozwald and company were consumed by a flash of blue light before finding themselves in the settlement four floors above their home,

The black water that was pooling on the ground was now enough to completely fall into, walking in the inky substance was like trying to walk through honey, not that Ozwald knew what that was like. Ozwald's dark black hair had already matted to his head, the normally poofy and messy style completely flat at this point dripping inky black water into his eyes. Ozwald was in Valentine's arms, but it wasn't like the rain from hell cared at all about that, it was still slowly crawling up the legs of anyone who stood still for more than a few seconds. This was the case of the pair that was standing in each other's arms, the black inky liquid slowly crawled to their hips trying to pull them into the water, slowly gaining headway. Noticing this Ozwald pushed his beloved Valentine away, The substances hold not breaking at all before the liquid completely pulled Ozwald under the water.

Ozwald thought this was his last moment in Aincrad, but feeling someone slice through the sludge that was holding him down renewed his vigor. He struggled until his head flew above the water gasping for air that was not full of inky black liquid.

Ozwald was glad to hear that they were almost there, as soon as they killed this dragon they would have all of the gemstones necessary to get into the castle on the floor above them. Listening to Chase's story about the phoenix Ozwald could really tell that Chase had been around these floors plenty of times, he was glad to be around someone so knowledgeable. "When have I ever not been ready?" Ozwald asked in a light manner, he knew that much like with the other dragons he would not be the one doing all of the damage, but rather Chase would kill them in one or two hits and Ozwald might be able to steal the kill for some loot. "Do you think it lives inside the lava, or on a structure nearby?" Ozwald asked his companion his insight, because fighting a dragon that was diving in and out of lava seemed like a pain.

Ozwald smiled, it was sweet that Valentine wanted to help protect him, despite the fact that he had a decent lead on him in levels. Giving his lover another quick peck on the cheek Ozwald stood up from the warm lap that he was on stretching and yawning, it would take a little bit more time for him to fully be awake, but he would be fine after getting changed. "Well them, that sounds like my kind of date." Ozwald replied walking off to his own bedroom to gather the gear that he would be wearing, leaving the mask behind in a secret compartment of his nightstand.

Not much time later Ozwald made his way downstairs carrying his bundle of feathers named Ryoto in his arms while he walked. "Well you are the one who knows what this is all about, give me the run down while we start heading out?" Ozwald asked ready to leave as soon as Valentine was ready.

it was a good thing that the two thirds of his mask that was left covered most of his face because he was definitely embarrassed by the fact that Are heard his mutterings and even complimented him ever so slightly along with that. Ozwald unwrapped the food that he had prepared for the two of them, dividing it up evenly before going to town on it himself, he had skipped breakfast out of nervousness. Ozwald nodded along with everything that Are was saying, all of it made perfect sense to Ozwald and were all things that he didn't have much skill in himself. Ozwald was ready to learn from his new teacher, and would do anything that it takes to do so. "Okay, so what's first?" Ozwald asked finishing his food and setting his plate down as well. Picking the bottom third of the mask up Ozwald slotted it back into place, a feint click could be heard to denote that it was firmly attached.

Ozwald cursed himself mentally, he had tried something ambitious and it had not only lost him the match, but it had also not worked out in his favor. Ozwald knew that he didn't have the skills required to beat the man before him, but he was hoping he would be able to show more skill than what he had shown off right there and the tingling lingering in his wrist and chest proved that. "Let's see if your food strategy worked out." Ozwald stated looking towards the fire where the tin foiled food was laying in a pile of still smoldering coals. Ozwald let Are take the lead and walked behind him sitting besides the fire before talking again "I will do better next time." Ozwald didn't speak loudly really talking to himself more than to anyone else, but still uttering the words out loud. Ozwald's mask was seemingly made out of three iron plates, most would suspect that this was a stylistic choice, but each piece could be taken off separately allowing Ozwald to show more or less of his face if he wished. taking off the bottom portion revealed Ozwald's mouth and would allow him to eat and talk with less of a muffled voice.