Portam Inferni: Wild Beast Hell [Mission]

A man clad in all black walked towards the bridge that led towards the floating super prison known as Portam Inferni. His every step seemed to be mimicked by the crashing waves, the churning ocean, and the faint screams of either men or sea gulls could be heard as the wind blew. The man's black coat swayed in the wind as he walked, and he wore a sheriff's duster that was pulled over his eyes to mask his face. It drooped on the right side as a small golden earring. The man had on steel semi-spheres that had the symbol of Houshangakure, and on hands were black gloves with steel studs on each knuckle. As he came to the entrance he looked up a bit, and an expression of boredom was seen. A guard at the entrance stopped him, and examined the man.

"You Vaughn?"

The man looked up, showing his face. It had a pronounced chin, with deep brownish red eyes. The guard then knocked on the gate and it slowly opened.

"Your mission: Eliminate at most 7 prisoners in Level II. Are you ready?"

Vaughn looked up, and spoke, his voice low, bored, and had no emotion.

"Yea..."

Word Count: 200

The doors gate opened and Vaughn walked through it. He looked up and saw the roof of Portam Inferni. It looked quite serene, though it was entirely made of gun-metal steel, and looked a bit like an industrial factory. Perhaps it was because Vaughn was used to huge stacks of billowing smoke, and a sort of "hell on earth" type of beauty.

Vaughn shook his head, as he was just about to start day dreaming. He needed to finish this mission, and get home. He hadn't eaten in a few hours, and soon he was going to get hungry. He did not want to fight when he was hungry. He walked around to the door of the elevator and pushed it. The sound of metal gears grinding and a chain being pulled exploded loudly. Vaughn sneered a bit as the noise annoyed him. As the elevator came up, the sounds of screaming could be heard. Vaughn looked up and saw a sign, written in a sort of blood red with creepy letters on it.

WELCOME TO PORTAM INFERNI

Word Count: 178

The elevator doors creaked opened, and Vaughn could see a dark liquid run between the doors. It looked like blood, obviously some unlucky prisoner was either crushed by the elevator, or was killed near it. It didn't matter. It really never mattered. All that mattered was the next pay, the next summon to kill. It was the life of a ninja after all.

The elevator shuddered and the old gears creaked as the door closed and slowly the elevator descended into hell. He had already been in this prison before, and had already executed prisoners in Level I: Crimson Hell. Vaughn had not read his mission well, all he knew was that he needed to again kill on Level II: Beast Hell. His last mission was interesting, as Crimson Hell really didn't define the place well. More like "Spike-y Hell" or "Shredding Hell" or something like it. Whatever, he thought, this beast hell shouldn't be much more different. As the elevator passed the first level he heard a scream and something breaking, probably a bone. Another ninja was "cleaning" Level I.

As he descended the light began to get dimmer and less natural, and more artificial and almost sanitary. It was a bit unnerving. Soon the elevator stopped with a sickening screech, and a light glowed above the door. In white letters read:



Word Count: 227

The door's slowly opened and Vaughn stepped out. He looked around. He was in a dimly lit maze, with buzzing and flickering sanitary light that had the bare minimum amount of light for someone to see. The walls all had splashes of dried blood on it. This hell had some sort of horrid torture, but Vaughn did not feel he needed to care. His head snapped left as he heard the sound of something hissing, and he swore he saw the tail of something slither around the corner.

What the hell? Never mind, let's get to the mission..

Vaughn began to walk around the maze. The dim light and claustrophobic area was a bit unnerving. Vaughn could not lie to himself. This prison was bat-shit crazy. He heard the sound of someone running, and chains clanking around the corner. It was obvious a prisoner. Vaughn took out a kunai and waited. Soon the footsteps and chains sounded close and Vaughn sprung out, surprising a running prisoner. Vaughn grabbed the guy by the collar and slammed him to the wall. Vaughn kneed him in the kidney's and head butted him.

"Sorry man, but for your crimes you need to-" a terrified look from the prisoner and the sound of that same hiss behind him caused Vaughn to stop. He looked left and saw a huge snake-monster! He was about 15 ft tall, with crazy-looking eyes and a huge open maw that was salivating. Vaughn's eyes widened, and the screams from the prisoner caused him to think quickly. Vaughn grabbed the man by the shirt and hurled him towards the beast. The beast grabbed the man and ripped him in half, and began to devour him, and during that time Vaughn slipped away. As the beast finished its meal it sauntered away, in search of a next one.

Vaughn held his breath as the beast both walked and slithered away. He then took in a deep breath, and beads of sweat began to form on his forehead. Just what the hell was that thing!? Why was it roaming the prison!? A slight flash if light next to him gave him his answer. It was a sign that read Level II: Beast Hell

Great, this level had to be more literal...

Vaughn sighed heavily. The only good thing about what just happened was that he had one less prisoner to take care of. And perhaps, he could use these beasts to his advantage. Vaughn continued to walk through the maze, moving with caution. It was a few minutes of endless exploring before Vaughn heard the voices of two people. Vaughn crouched low, able to blend in a bit since he was wearing all black. As looked over, and was correct. Two prisoners were talking casually, and both were armed with some metal pipe. Vaughn could have easily taken them out, but the fight would most likely be quite loud, and would cause beasts to converge on the disturbance. Vaughn then began to think of a plan, when he heard odd foot steps, and a sort of low growl near him.

It was something next to the wall behind him. Vaughn climbed it and peered over. He saw a medium sized beast, about 5 ft in height, yet had a seven foot long body for head to tail, and stood up on its hind-legs. In fact it resembled a velociraptor. It was croaking, and tasting the air, looking for its next meal. This is when Vaughn had his idea. He went back near the corner where the two prisoners were talking, and flattened against it. He then knocked on the wall, loud enough for both the prisoners and the beast to hear. Vaughn then quickly climbed over the wall in front of him and jumped down. He heard the footsteps of both the beast and the prisoners, and soon the sound of screaming and flesh being teared. Four more to go.

Vaughn's continued exploration of the maze took a bit of time. The beasts had started to explore more ravenously, as the continued sound and smell of both blood and death had attracted them. It was good that Vaughn had not shed blood, it seemed that was how these beasts hunted. He deduced this by observing them. Every time a beast happened upon a fresh kill, or blood splatter, they would go close and either taste it or smell it. They would then rush off, and if the blood was not from a dead body a scream would be heard soon after.

Vaughn took out a kunai and kept it ready. He had come in with a few close calls with beasts, and a stab to the eye or face might deter them. He walked with more caution and tried to keep silent. He did not want to fight these beasts. When he turned a corner he bumped into another man, and both he and Vaughn looked at each other. It was a few seconds before they both realized what had happened. The prisoner was about to scream, but Vaughn impaled the kunai in the man's throat, using his other hand to clamp down on his mouth to muffle the scream. Vaughn twisted the kunai, killing the man, but leaving a profuse amount of blood on the kunai. Vaughn turned around and left the corpse. Three more to go. He was about to get lost in his thoughts when the sound of a beast approaching caused him to look at his kunai, and the blood on it, and look to see the trail of blood that was from it.

Vaughn began to sprint, looking for a group of prisoners to throw. As he ran the blood began to drip across the floor. He was not really thinking, all he really needed to do was discard the kunai. But he really wasn't thinking. These beasts and this maze put him on edge. He could hear the sound if a beast doing some sort of call, and it sounded like the velociraptor one. He croaked loudly, and all across the level other calls could be heard. The beasts had found the body, and soon would be on the trail. Soon they would be on his trail

He quickly turned the corner and at the far end he saw three prisoners walking together, each armed with a weapon. Perfect. Vaughn charged chakra throughout his body and threw it as hard as he could, able to plant the bloody kunai in the wall. The blood splashed on the wall as it hit, and also made a slight ringing sound. This sound caused the prisoners to stop, and examined the kunai. After a few minutes the prisoners were swarmed by the pack of beasts. Vaughn breathed a sigh of relief, but heard something drip. He looked at his cuff, and could see it stained red with blood. A sound of a growl behind him caused him to lurch, and he turned around, and was met with a pair of yellow eyes.

The beast croaked loudly, causing a painful ringing in Vaughn's ears, and the other pack was alerted to it. They all cocked their heads, and saw another meal there. They all began to rush at it, opening their mouths, ready to rip apart this meal. There was four of them, five including the one in front of the meal. Two ran across the hallway, while the other two jumped along the sides of the walls and kept pace. They were ready to flank and kill from all sides.

The beast in front of Vaughn lunged at him, ready to go for his neck. Vaughn then, in a quick burst of speed that was almost in an instant, grabed the beast by the neck and threw it towards the two running beasts. By the time the beasts were about five feet of Vaughn, the beast near Vaughn would have been thrown at them. The thrown beast crashed into the running ones, causing them all to topple and fall.

Vaughn grabbed the hilt on his cloth and whipped it, a surge of energy going through it and soon the cloth transformed into a blade. One of the beasts jumped from the side, aiming to take him down, but Vaughn saw this and side-steeped, hitting the beast square in the eye with his steel knuckle-stud, cause it to go inside and bleed. The beast screamed and Vaughn slashed the tendons in its legs, with speed and grace that caused the beast to buckle down.

Vaughn turned around just in time to block the pounce from the other beast. Vaughn had lifted up his blade in reflex and was able to block the killing-bite of the beast, however, the momentum caused him to fall and the beast to be on top of him. The beast tried to bite through the blade, all the while slashing and gouging Vaughn's legs with its enlarged toe-claw. Vaughn grunted and rolled backwards, forcing the beast to be on the ground and Vaughn to be in front. As it continued to try and bite through the blade Vaughn pushed down, sliced the beast's head in half. Vaughn looked up, and the other bets began to walk toward him slowly. Vaughn took a stance and waited, charging wind chakra in his palms, but suddenly the beasts' heads all went up, and ran away, the injured one hobbling away. Vaughn relaxed until a huge thud behind him nearly made him fall. He turned around and saw the huge snake creature, looking at him. Vaughn's eyes widened.

(Chakra: 225/240)

Spoiler:

The huge snake beast roared, keeping its balance by holding onto the tops of the walls. It was massive, 15 feet tall, covered in scales, and had huge teeth that jutted out of its mouth. It had a long tongue, a thick one that seemed to be covered in small spikes that curved towards the throat. Saliva dripped from its maw and made puddles, it's eyes we're huge and fixated upon Vaughn. It was green and black, the scales alternating colors almost making it blend in the darkness. It had huge claws, massive muscles, and a horrid stench.

"What the hell!"

Vaughn was about to lift his blade when the beast smacked him into the wall, forcing his blade out of his hand. The beast roared again and shot out its tongue, wrapping Vaughn in it, moving the tongue so the hooks would dig and slash into Vaughn. The beast then raised its tongue up and slammed Vaughn down, letting go of him. Vaughn tried to get up, but the beast grabbed him with his right hand, holding Vaughn's torso but letting his arms be free. The beast then squeezed, causing Vaughn to scream in pain. It then seemed to chuckle and looked directly at Vaughn, squeezing him again just to hear him scream, until he went limp. The beast then opened its mouth, ready to devour this man, until he heard something. He looked to see Vaughn doing handseals.

"You hungry? Eat this you son of a bitch, Wind Style: Gale Blast!"

Vaughn opened his palm, pulled back, and pushed forward release a devastating wind blast out of his hand, going into the beast's mouth, forcing its head back at such a fast pace that his upper jaw went back and broke, breaking the jaw, and killing the beast instantly. The beast's grip went limp and dropped Vaughn, who plummeted to the ground.

(Chakra: 195/240)

Spoiler:

The doors of the elevator creaked open, and out walked a man in black, scratched up, slashed, and bloodied. His clothes were torn, yet the man walked calmly with a bored looked on his face. A green cloth, stained with blood, was wrapped around his waist. The steel studs on his knuckles seemed to be dented, and also covered in blood. As he walked out the guards all sounded an alarm, and soon the main gate began to slowly open. As the man walked a guard stopped him.

"Toraberu, Vaughn: Mission well done. You did great. Your reward will be given shortly."

Vaughn nodded to him and continued walking, clutching his stomach. A pained expression washed across his face. He hadn't eaten for hours.

[END MISSION]