IC:
Kazer felt sick. He had slain yet another person under Daxam's control. "Why you stupid son of a--" He cringed at the pain.
"Ah-ah-ah! Is that how you talk to your master? You're such a foolish sack of life."
"You're not my master, moron. And as soon as I figure out a way to break your control--"
"There is no way. You know what I said back then..."
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"Wh...what do you mean, Raikage?" Kazer forced out.
"Exactly what I said," the Raikage replied. "Your friend, Daxam, has been taken over by the Darkness he was attempting to control." Kazer gasped. The Raikage adjusted his hat and continued, "As you know, Daxam--one of our most promising Jonin, and a possible choice for the next Raikage--was experimenting with techniques that allowed control over darkness-related forces. Three weeks ago, he developed one: the Oblivion's Maw Jutsu. Two days ago, he used it against an enemy..."
"Yes?"
"The Jutsu creates a pool of darkness, then sends out countless tentacles that stab the opponent and draw them in. In practice, when the opponent was drawn in, they reappeared as soon as the technique ended. However..." The Raikage sighed deeply, as if continuing would give him physical pain. "...When he used it in the field, and the opponent was sucked in...we heard ear-breaking screams of terror and pain...we thought nothing of it. When the technique ended, the foe did not appear. We asked Daxam what happened, and he said...'He has been destroyed. Yet another pathetic soul lost to darkness. What does it matter? He was our enemy. Plus, if he was not able to survive, it means that he was not strong enough.'...I give you my word, Kazer, that that was what I heard him say. I dislike bringing you pain, but..."
"How can it be true?" Kazer yelled. "This is impossible! Daxam had such a strong will! There's no way--I..."
"Kazer," the Raikage spoke up. "Afterwards, we had him confined to quarters. When we checked on him, he was still experimenting with darkness. When we checked back 5 hours ago, he had black energies swirling aroundhim, and the next thing we knew...it compressed around him, and we looked into his eyes...we saw nothing. He raised a hand, and nearly killed those present. We haven't seen him since then."
Kazer was still in disbelief from the Raikage's revelation. He opened his house door and stepped in, and Daxam appeared. "...Daxam? Was...the Raikage's story...true?"
Daxam smirked and replied, "Yes. I am a shell for the darkness, and loving it!"
Kazer was startled by his friends new voice. "But then...how...I'm reporting you to the ANBU!"
Daxam lashed out and grabbed Kazer's neck, then added, "I don't think so. You should be wondering why I'm here. I came to ask you to join me. Your power level is equal to this one...fantasticly high. What is your reply?"
Kazer bit the hand around his neck, fell to the ground , and shouted, "Back off!"
Daxam chuckled, "I see. Well then, I suppose I'll need to take a page from the book of one of my servants. Perhaps you've heard of Orochimaru's cursed seal techniques?"
Daxam lunged and drove his fingernails into Kazer's neck, then extended them, and darkness flooded into Kazer's shoulder. "WHAT'RE YOU DOING?!?!" Kazer choked as Daxam retracted, and he looked at the scars. the marks joined together, and formed a long, black string, with six red squiggles coming out of it, three on each side."What....what-what..."
"I said, it's a cursed seal. So much power locked inside of it. Can you control it? Or would you rather be rid of it? I'll make you a deal: Train for as long as you want; improve your skills and become stronger. If you want, use the curse. If you don't, then don't. You can come and join me whenever you want. However, if you don't want to join me, then, once you feel you are strong enough, come to Otogakure. I will be waiting, with a series of challenges. If you can overcome them all, I will remove the seal, and allow this body to retrieve it's original soul. I, the darkness, will recede. However, if you lose one of my challenges...your body will become my slave as well. I may not be able to remove your spirit, but at least I can claim your physical powers. Until then, Kazer Reizan..." With that, Daxam dissapeared, and Kazer struggled to stand.
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"I DID report you, you know."
"What did they say?"
"To become stronger than you could ever be."
"And you failed. Now then..." Kazer's hand waved before him, and several portals appeared before him, each one showing a different person.
"Soki! Jikamari! And...Ariake? She looks...different."
"Perhaps you are not the only one who is in the grasp of a powerful force. Now then...I'm giving you a choice. Which one of your friends do you want your body to slay first?"
