From the barren waste's of Naggaroth to Tokyo, Malekith's light green eyes caught the change of scenery immediately. His body forming like gathering black smoke as he peered out to the water. The scent of iron was heavy in the air seeming like it was almost visible. Malekith had caught word from an unknown source as to the outbreak of a hollow invasion. Which became apparent immediately as he glanced upon numbers of hollows that was comparable to a vermin tide. The bodies of unknown individuals peppered the docks. Contrary to what he had heard, the situation was a perhaps a bit more drastic than what he was told.

Another was present at the location, not someone familiar to Malekith but like it made a difference in most scenario's. The Individual was holding his own, however the sheer numbers would make his fight more about endurance and remaining steadfast rather than pure skill. Out of everything, Malekith did take interest to his aptitude with a sword.

Walking towards the direction of the individual, The Hollow's would notice Malekith's unnerving aura. It gave off no ill will but neither did it give off anything to be considered to be friendly. Malekith's aura was like a soulless shell, some Hollow would convulse and screech in pain simply for making the mistake of trying to detect his energy. Malekith however remained unfazed his movement fluid like a phantom.

Taking some of the heat off of the stranger the Hollow tide would start to divert numbers towards Malekith. A blade formed into his clutch as he cut down the verminous invaders. Some would be forced to a halt as Malekith grabbed them with his energy, leaving them to a simple end by his blade.

The air began to fill with the smell of blood, iron, and corpses as Zato bravely fought against the horde of Hollows that had made their way to the shores. It was unparalleled and otherwise unmitigated destruction of one of the villages closest to Zato's own, and the site of half-butchered bodies lining the shores was enough to make Zato's spirit churn inside of him. This was what he'd trained to stop, this what he'd been fighting for and yet.. What good was it if everytime he arrived somewhere the people he wanted to protect were already dead? Was he really that useless?

Thoughts for later, the time for pity would be after he'd stricken these wayward souls from this particular plane of existence and escorted them to the next one with haste. Another slash of his sword meant another body fading into dust and debauchery, another soul churned for the great unknown that Zato steered perilously away from. The sense of dread he got from his work here was palpable, and yet it was somehow still.. building. Almost pushing him over the edge of queasy discomfort as his brain began to pulsate with a rhythmic ache unlike anything he'd ever experienced. To call it a pain would be.. over the top. But it was noticable, as was the diversion of a few of his enemies towards a new entrant onto the field of battle.

Zato wasn't exactly in a position to reject this help given the numbers he was currently dealing with, and so he wouldn't. The largest of the Hollows still stood before him, blood and gore ordaining it's now wide grin as Zato braced his 3 swords for the assault. "Hey new guy.. Thanks for showing up just don't get in my way. If you need help just scream."

"Hey new guy.. Thanks for showing up just don't get in my way. If you need help just scream." The man would say.

Malekith simply took a small glimpse at the man, the only form of acknowledgement that he would get. Even as the Hollow tide assaulted the dock, Malekith remained the same. His movements eventually become more rigid and inhuman. His eyes glaring from his armour, the only proof of man being contained within at all. Yet the Hollow could barely push him back as he slowly marched into the shadow of Hollow present. The occasional claw would scrape across his armour leaving the unfazed Malekith to strike them down.

Eventually Malekith would hold out his hand, his stare present as a wave of Hollow were forced into place. Slowly leaning his head to the side Malekith would clench his hand into a fist. He would watch with a hidden pleasure as they were crushed, their screeches dissipating as they fade into black smoke.

"Vermin all the same" Malekith would say plainly. What was particularly unnerving about his statement wasn't so much the statement itself but rather the calming and friendly voice that accompanied it.

This new character who'd entered the fray didn't seem to be phased by the monsters they were facing, which came as a bit of a shock to Zato who'd been busting his ass to try and make headway through the muck and mayhem that had come to torment his village. Malekith seemed.. less phased by all of this, and much more capable of crushing these creatures with what appeared to be little more than a thought and want to do so. Zato grimaced, Blurring forwards as he slashed at the larger Hollow in front of him. "Perish with the rest.. Oni Giri!"

The hollow was slain as Zato intended, but he'd unfortunately been left with more questions than answers. Zato turned his nose and snarled, stepping towards the heavily armored man whilst equipped with only his blades, his confusion, and the stones to ask questions that were better left unanswered. "Hey thanks for the help ya big metal dummy, but who the heck are you anyway and how the hell did you just crush those creatures like they were nothing?! I can't even sense any Spirit Energy coming from you, you can't be that tough right? What the hecks your deal?"

"Hey thanks for the help ya big metal dummy, but who the heck are you anyway and how the hell did you just crush those creatures like they were nothing?! I can't even sense any Spirit Energy coming from you, you can't be that tough right? What the hecks your deal?" The man would question.

"Just simply helping out a friend from his dilemma." Malekith would say. His voice remained genuine and friendly however his body language did not. It was like something was terribly off, like he shouldn't exist and yet he does. Almost spine chilling.

"My own parents called me a Demon but truthfully I make claim to no such thing. Merely an observer to this era. Watching as the pure spirits of their world and walls fail to combat the impure vermin that attack ours."

During the start of his conversation Malekith hadn't once made eye contact with the stranger. Only with a fast twitch did his unblinking eyes look into the strangers soul.

"I am Malekith"

Zato wasn’t exactly an expert in body language but this armored mountain of muscle was about as unnerving as one could possibly be. He frowned, keeping his hands clenched firmly on his blades as the man spoke of being an ally of some form, a friend more specifically. Zato did his best to ignore the increasingly dark and foreboding aura that poured forth from this man, choosing to instead focus on his words and actions thus far. His actions had been valiant, there was a good chance his assistance on this matter had saved lives and it had certainly saved Zato some trouble but that didn’t make him any less..

Strange.. “I can’t speak for your parents or really anything you just said, but you’re a strange duck Malekith. My name is Zato, I’m the protector of this coast line though I live a few villages over.. I’d heard some of these monsters were carving a path through the islands and some even made it into the cities here but.. I have to be honest, I’m always a bit surprised when any kind of back up comes.”

Zato smirked, stepping forward with his swords hanging lazily at his side as he eyed the big bastard slowly. “So are you a warrior then or something else entirely?”

“I can’t speak for your parents or really anything you just said, but you’re a strange duck Malekith. My name is Zato, I’m the protector of this coast line though I live a few villages over.. I’d heard some of these monsters were carving a path through the islands and some even made it into the cities here but.. I have to be honest, I’m always a bit surprised when any kind of back up comes.” Zato would say, before smirking and stepping forward.

“So are you a warrior then or something else entirely?”

"I wouldn't lie but I had heard of your battle with the Hollow from a voice. I must say I'm more surprised others hadn't come. Sure they're easy to deal with one on one but swarms can cause.. collateral."

Malekith claimed he was surprised but really who could tell. Either his friendly voice told truth or his body language claimed lies.

With stiff twitching motions he would correct his posture, which would change his movements back to fluid normal motions.

"Some have claimed me to be a warrior, and with a title like that who am I disagree?"

Strangely, Malekith would begin to shadow Zato's body language.

"What of you Zato, protector of the coast. Do you claim a warrior spirit?"

Zato simply couldn't get past the forboding feeling he got speaking to this man, the obnoxious and unnecessary sense of unease was something he struggled mightily to cope with throughout the conversation and this mans voice seemed.. Almost separate from his person, it was a disembodied call through the murky abyss, even if what it said appeared to be.. fine? "Heard it from a voice or from the screams of those who met their ends here eh? I didn't take you for a man with a 6th sense but I suppose anything is possible these days."

As Zato did his best to straighten his posture and reflect on the bodies of those who'd fallen to this particular onslaught, the mans willingness to be called a warrior was.. admirable, he supposed? It was around this time that the man began to mirror Zato's mannerisms, a borderline taunt as far as he was concerned. "I.. consider myself a swordsman first, a protector second, and a warrior if that's what I must be. I will become the greatest swordsman the world has ever known if that's what it takes to protect these people.."

Zato raised his blade towards the man, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. "I don't know why, but I still don't know if I can trust you tin-man."

"Heard it from a voice or from the screams of those who met their ends here eh? I didn't take you for a man with a 6th sense but I suppose anything is possible these days." Zato would say, trying to straighten his posture and reflecting on the bodies still peppered along the docks.

Malekith would copy.

"I.. consider myself a swordsman first, a protector second, and a warrior if that's what I must be. I will become the greatest swordsman the world has ever known if that's what it takes to protect these people.." Zato would say raising his blade towards Malekith.

"I don't know why, but I still don't know if I can trust you tin-man."

Malekith would follow raising his blade in perfect mirror to Zato.

"Trust can only be built on blind faith. You cannot control another, in which case they also have some capacity to betray you. Respect is very much similar in this regard. It however holds the fault of requiring either too much faith or to little. Which then leads to a trust built on both individuals purest affirmation of their capacities. Capacities that can and will fail."

Malekith would now stop mirroring Zato, planting his feet firmly and holding his sword to his side.

"I did help you, but I didn't have to friend.."

Malekith's words upon saying this line remained as calm and friendly are ever. His next sentence however took a dark tone, reflecting more closer to his body language.

"I must only assume that our human nature leads to everything being this way, I would prefer only benefit."

The man continued to speak in riddles and limericks and seemed hellbent on doing what he could to make Zato as uneasy as he possibly could. The way the man mimmicked Zato's habits and actions was enough to keep Zato on edge, and frankly made him wanna hit the guy which, hey, there's an idea..

"I don't know what the hell you're trying to say tin-man but you're right. You didn't have to help me. I don't know what way you're referring to, but I don't exactly like how you're holding that blade so.."

Zato smirked, lazily chomping down on a blade between his teeth as his Reiatsu began to burst forth from his body. "I think it's about time we peeled back that goofy tin can you're wearing so I can figure out what the hells going on in that head of yours. Fall to pieces.. Oni Giri!"

As Zato said this, he blurred forwards with his blades forming a full cross-slash as he went through the tin man and came out the other side with his blades still drawn. He turned quickly, curious to see if his attack had landed, and to see if he had any hope of parrying any offensive that might be yet to come.