In Search of a Weapon

Decent weapon manufacturers in the Fringe were few and far between. It was like searching for a needle in a haystack. However, he remembered an old man who forged weaponry. Tsuzen just hoped he was still alive. As he reached the shop, he heaved a sigh of relief as he found the shop open and ready for business. He stepped into the shop.

"Oh! Tsuzen! It's been a while! I haven't seen you in years. Last time I saw you, you had a policeman running after you!" The shopkeeper laughed. "Still stealing for a living?" He added with a smirk.

"Nah. I stopped a while ago. Remember? Anyways, today isn't just a pleasure visit. I've got some things to tell you and a matter you have to help me with."

With that thought, Tsuzen explained everything.

"Hm. So basically what you're saying, is that you want a weapon so you don't feel so weak. That's kind of selfish, don't you think? Hahaha! But a man with wings? That's a bit of a stretch. Are you sure those were real?"

"I'm pretty sure. When I asked him about them, he responded in a completely natural manner. And can you believe it? He blew somebody straight out the door!"

"So you want one of my weapons."

"Pretty much. You still owe me for the time you set the roofs of the nearby houses on fire and I distracted the guards, remember? You wouldn't be here right now if I wasn't there."

"Haha! Good times. Very well. Here, take this."

With that, the shopkeeper handed over a basic wooden crossbow with a bayonet on the end.

Just as Tsuzen was walking out the door, he was stopped by the shopkeeper.

"Wait! You forgot the bolts! Would you like regular, poison, or stun?"

"I'll take them all."

With that, Tsuzen walked out the door.

"Time to test this out."

Gilgamesh had flown across the skies of the busier area. He'd learned quite a bit by watching from the shadows. Now he searched the less populated areas. It seemed there was no real consideration of territorial boundaries. The Winged King assumed it to mean these were all shared lands. Still, he would make sure his new home, Verina's house, would remain their own.

Though... I guess I should get used to calling her my Queen.

There was a familiar scent in the winds that snapped his attention back to focus. There weren't many scents he'd had the opportunity to separate and isolate. It could only mean it was one of the people that were in the home of his Queen. It was not hers. Nor was it the one he'd sworn to kill. That narrowed down the options greatly. He'd sniffed this one up close. There was only one other he'd had that opportunity to do.

The suspicious one...

Tucking his wings back behind, Gilgamesh entered a bullet dive, racing towards the ground. He spiraled as he did so in order to increase his velocity. As his target came into sight, the Winged King flipped forward, planting his feet towards the ground and simultaneously emitted the force of the velocity to the ground. This effect, while eliminating his own momentum, sent out a destructive shockwave in a complete, ground level circle. He remained afloat using his wings, with his arms crossed, staring at the man he'd met before.

You... You interfered with my business and asked many questions about me. Now... you'll answer my questions. Why are you trying to learn about me?

Tsuzen stared at Gilgamesh, who was now in front of him.

"Um... I asked questions about you because I noticed your... strange characteristics, at least by my standards. Anyone in my position would ask questions, if not aloud."

Where did this guy even come from? Wasn't he flying off in the distance? Tsuzen reached for his stun bolts.

Gilgamesh remained afloat, a subconscious notion to display the difference between them. His brow frowned and he tilted his head slightly to the right. With his eyes half closed, and a smug expression on his face, the next question came without thought.

"In your position"? And exactly what is your position? Who are you supposed to be to think you can question me?

Without making any noticeable movements whatsoever, the Winged King drifted closer towards the man.

I mean really... Since I've come here, only my Queen seems to have the same understanding as I do. You have to give in order to receive. The rest of you? It just seems like you're looking for an excuse to be killed. Like a pig with an injured leg wandering into a pack of wolves...

Gilgamesh ceased his approach at a point where his wingspan trapped the man whenever they fanned forward. He remained above ground, leveled so his waist was even with his potential prey. He was not intentionally demonstrating his dominance by looking down on him.

"Tch. This guy really is dangerous!"

Tsuzen muttered to himself. Although he had managed to grab his stun bolt, he really couldn't move his hand without drawing attention to himself. So he lowered his arm, slipping the bolt into his sleeve. He began scouting out options. Escaping would be hard and required dropping and rolling. Even so, the entire surrounding area was coated in splashes of red and yellow. No green could be seen until the end of the alley. Appeasement would be difficult as well. Tsuzen could tell that one wrong word could lead to his death. This along with the fact that Tsuzen was bad at close quarters combat led to a very dangerous situation. He had to be very careful in playing his cards.

"Okay then, what would you like me to do?"

Tsuzen said this with the best he could render of a helpful smile.

You can kneel, for starters. Then finish answering my questions. This is a sign that you've realized the difference between us... isn't it, pig?

Gilgamesh was being blatantly insulting. He held his tongue, as well as his hand, since Verina had welcomed this man as a guest in her home. Still, he didn't like being disrespected. He especially didn't like being disrespected by someone he'd perceived to be lower on the food chain than himself. He continued with his subtle, and not so subtle, insults. This man would feel the same disrespect he'd shown.

It's funny. You're not so demanding when it's only you and I. Are you only "brave" when you feel protected? Or maybe it's something else... Maybe you're only show this so called "bravery" of yours and attempt to be in control when those around you are docile. That's it... isn't it? I'm not docile at all right now. As a matter of fact, I feel like hunting. So it would be a good idea for you to grovel before me. Beg for my forgiveness. Beg me not to do what's natural as a consequence of your disrespect. Grovel and beg... pig. The wolf is hungry...

Tsuzen could feel his rage boiling.

"You. You have just called me a coward and weak. And you wish for me to place myself lower than you. Are you completely sure you wish to insult my honor?"

In one swift moment, Tsuzen grabbed his crossbow, loaded it, planted his finger on the trigger, and aimed for the heart.

"I don't fancy myself as too bad of a marksman myself. So come, prove your own worth."

"Place yourself lower than me"? That would suggest we were ever even... Learn your place... pig.

Gilgamesh finally uncrosses his arms. He focused on the force that always tried to bound him to the ground. It was this force he was most adept at manipulating. He did it often to save his energy when flying, to reach increased speeds, and overall improve his agility while hunting. Extending his left arm to his right, the Winged King made a waving gesture. He amplified the force only enough to knock the man off his feet and send him to the nearby wall. He then held his arm over the man's had and reflected the force again, this time downward. As the force was constant, so was the reflection, pinning the man to the ground.

You're lucky I only kill to feed or in self-defense. This is your weakness...

He amplified the force he was emitting in order to press the man closer to the ground.

...and this is my strength. I don't know how you've survived this long, but there's two rules of the world you should learn now. The weak either become strong or feed the strong, and nothing is gained without first being given. You only gave your name. So you only received mine. You gave me disrespect, and now I have returned the gift. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed your gift.

Gilgamesh began to flap his wings harder, rising into the air.

Only give what you're prepared to receive. Next time, I won't be so kind...

With that, he cast his gaze towards the sky. Releasing the pressure that had been suppressing Tsuzen Shimekiri, yet still denying the force to pull him down, Gilgamesh continued his continued his personal mission to learn of his new territory, flying into the distance.

"If you think I won't take revenge for what you just said, you're in for a sorry surprise..."

Seeing Gilgamesh fly off, Tsuzen decided to follow him to avenge this defeat, keeping his poison bolts loaded in his crossbow. This time, he decided to mask his scent, which had given him off last time, with a bottle of cologne he had stolen from his exploits in younger years. Stopping by the weapons shop one more time, he got a box of matches, signal flare, a katana, 3 thunder-imbued magic bolts and 2 high explosive bolts, as well as 3 smoke canisters.

He then set off, being careful to stay downwind to hide his scent even further, hid under cover to hide from direct line of sight, and asked townspeople where a big, flying bird had gone whenever he lost direction. Still, running wasn't as fast as flying, and Gilgamesh was mostly out of sight. Still, Tsuzen continued onwards, using his skills as a survivalist and thief to move swiftly, avoid detection, and most of all, stay alive.