Urban

An offshoot of the Wilderness comprised of cities and densely populated areas, often with more modern structures and more industrialization. Its counterpart is Rural.

## Two Swords Clash: London, England

*Hiroshi is training 12 students basic martial art skills*

Hiroshi: Punch, punch, front-snap kick, right hook, punch \*feels something\* What is that? I felt it...somewhere before...hmmm.

Outside his academy front, he sees a young man staring directly staring at him intently, observing every movement he is making. After a while, he silently appears to slip off into the crowd, but the eyes he saw seemed familiar... as if they were the eyes of a shapeshifter wearing a form... He struggles to brush off the thought, and decides to end class early.

Hiroshi: Stop.

*students stop*

hiroshi: You did very well today. You are dismissed. \*bows towards his students\*

*Students bow back, gather their stuff and leave.*

Hiroshi: \*looks back outside\* Who are you?

From the roof above him, the man drops down, this time a clear view of his eyes, most definitely the eyes of a Echo Shapeshifter.

"No one really... except..."

The man unexpectedly swings a katana, one hidden in his clothing with the skill of an expert.

"I'm the man who is out for your blood." The man growls.

Hiroshi: Then you'll be wasting your time, because Earth has no blood. \*starts mildly shaking the Earth\* I have never seen a shapeshifter this far from Echo. I can see it in your eyes, you are descent from Echo.

"Ahhh... you haven't lost your sharp sight. I certainly heard much of you... Earth Slayer Hiroshi." Hiroshi pauses, surprised that this person knows his name, which only Phoenix would know...

The man changes form, becoming a man in a black jumpsuit with a white cloak, a grey mask with a blue circle, and long grey-brown hair.

"You are correct, I am from Echo. I have been hunting you and Phoenix for quite some time."

Hiroshi: You would have to have a justified reason to do this. So tell me, what did we do to you?

"Less talking. More dying." The man suddenly stabs at Hiroshi's head, while also stabbing at his side with a dagger, the strikes almost snake like, the mark of an assasin's quick and agile strikes.

Hiroshi: \*absorbs the metal and is covered with it\* You cannot kill me what comes from the Earth \*his hand turns int a sword and slashes at the man\*

The man quickly flips backward, and he draws two weapons, a red and black katana. The sight of them both sends chills down Hiroshi's spine, and he becomes angry, already suspecting what they are, and wondering how he got his hands on them.

Hiroshi: How in the world did you recieve Dark and Fire Slayer? \*continues to slash at he man\*

"How do you think? I found the stupid little kid, barely alive, and finished your sloppy job. I interogatted him, and discovered there were more lovely swords like his... so I searched and found the old woman, and slit the harpy's throat too. I know everything about you, including what you did to the boy. In exchange for killing him, I even told him I would kill all of you for him."

He easily blocks every sword stroke of Hiroshi, with a skill to match his own. "The name you seek? People on the streets call me Wildcard! Because it doesn't matter who gets in my way, I'll cut ya up!" He strikes at Hiroshi with a burst of fire, and a wave of darkness.

Hiroshi: \*blockwith and Earth block\* I will not be beaten by a hired thug. \*bushes the block at Wildcard\*

Wildcard seems to get hit, but out of no where, a stab from Dark Slayer impales him in the shoulder, slipping through the faint kinks in Hiroshi's armor of steel. Just as quickly as he was there, he disappears and jumps back, onto the earth block.

"Cept you see I am no hired thug. I'm acting of my own conciousness. That consciousness tells me that Earth Slayer of yours is mighty appealing. Besides what I said about the kid, which I meant, I'm also interested in collecting that sword of yours. I bet you talk big, but perhaps... you're just a bigger coward than I!" He chuckles, and throws a fire bomb at Hiroshi's feet.

Hiroshi: \*forms a metal dome over the bomb before it explodes\* If I am a coward, how come I haven't ran away yet? You do not know the meaning of the word. \*launches himself at Wildcard an impales him in the shoulder and lifts him up\* What have you got to say to yourself now?

"...Is this how you felt as you so eagerly impaled your own disciple...?" He chuckles darkly. "Oh no, not just once... not just twice... wasn't it... four different times?" He asks mockingly.

Hiroshi feels his anger at this man grow ever moment, and decides he wants to unmask this coward for who he really is.

Hiroshi: A true coward hides behind a mask. \*unmasks the man only to be surprised to look at the his true face\* You...

The young face of his former student stares down at him, a almost lifeless expression and look in his eyes. "...Hello again, Earth Slayer. So how does it feel? Knowing you've impaled me yet again? Do you get a sense of pleasure out of it? After all, it was you who made the first and last blows... both of which nearly killed me..."

Hiroshi can only stare at him in shock, wondering how he could have survived alone all of this time, and if this is just another trick.

Hiroshi: I guess I taught you well. You have survived all these years by yourself and managed to find your way here. You must've spent a lifetime trying to find me, I almost feel loved.

Suddenly, a vicious snarl rips through Kado's mouth, and he violently stabs Hiroshi in the chest with Dark Slayer. His eyes burn crimson red, and strange black and red markings scrawl about his body.

It occurs to Hiroshi that Kado's appearance is wrong. He knows from experience that it has at least ten years since he last saw Kado, who was no more than 15 years old. Yet his face does not seem to have the vissage of a young adult... but his prior 15 year old face. It suddenly dawns on him the only possible reason for this appearance. Extreme mental trauma.

Kado rips himself free of Hiroshi's blade, and lands in the street, dripping blood, his face contorted into a wild expression of rage. His hands grasp his swords so tight they appear pale white, and is breathing deeply, each breath cutting off into a snarl, and Hiroshi isn't reminded of a proud warrior coming to challenge him, but a savage beast with the sole purpose of slaughter.

Hiroshi: Your mind is just as clouded as your face. Instead of living a new life, you instead waste it on killing us. You were a fool when I trained you, but have become a bigger fool now. No wonder I denounced you as my apprentice.

Kado leaps over to him, and begins to slash and hack at him violently, determined to injure the man that caused him such pain for so long in his life.

"The only fool was you! Fire Slayer was far wiser than you ever were! You know nothing about what I went through because of you! I said that I killed her, but that was a lie! Before you launched your attack, after you sealed my power, Fire Slayer released her seal and nursed me back to health when I escaped from you! She didn't look at me as just another threat, she cared about me, and saved me! She in the end... was more of a master to me than you ever will be!" He roars.

He manages to get a cut on Hiroshi's side, drawing a thick stream of blood.

Hiroshi: \*the leaves of the Earthcircle around him, some of the leaves touch his wounds and he is healed\* If it weren't for me you would've died the day we nearly killed you. You only saw confornt in Fire Slayer because she was the only one who didn't betray you. You are fool for letting me get to you that much. A lesson I thought you, let your emotions pass by you, like a stone in a flowing river. You failed at doing so. I may have betryed you, but doesn't mean your training was for nothing. Look where it's gotten you now.

Kado silently glares at him, a dark aura about him is growing stronger every minute that passes, as if it was being fed by his wrath.

He points Dark Slayer at Hiroshi. "You were simply unlucky your sword didn't dig deep enough into my chest to kill me. No training could ever prepare anyone for what you put me though. Even to this day, the only memories I have of you now is the sweat and bruises of your training, and the bite of your treacherous sword. The howling fear I felt as I was hunted down like a wild animal. The pain of every footstep, of every breath, heartbeat... it all echoes in my brain and soul like a ceaseless war drum... beating me contiously, relentlessly... in my sleep, all I feel is the same memory over... and over... and over... again and again..."

He gives his old master a look of cold hate. "The only thing left of that boy ten years ago... is the wild animal still hurting and crying out in pain... broken, and never to heal."

Hiroshi: But aren't you proud? If we hadn't have put you through all that, would have turned out the same way you are now? It was to stengthen you for a cruel world that lied ahead. You have a responsibility, do you not? They could've healed your heart but instead you pushed them aside and put them in harms way to try asnd find me. They put their faith in a broken child. If have proven to be just as worst as me...son! \*smirks\*

*Hiroshi is shot from behind by a bazooka*

Soldier 1: I can't believe I am shooting a bazooka even after I lost my arm.

Soldier 2: Mane, suck it up. Your still alive aren't ya' \*shoot his bazooka at Hiroshi\*

Hiroshi: \*is breathing hard\* W-what? Whooo...w-whoooo are t-they...?

Soldier 2:\*is imitating Batman\* We're your worst nightmare, old man.

Soldier 1: Eh, more or less \*shoots at Hiroshi again\*

Suddenly, a swift cut of a sword cuts both bazookas like they were butter, and a figure jumps up and spin kicks both soldiers into the nearest building, dislocating their shoulders and cracking their jaws from his kick.

Hiroshi looks at the figure, and realizes that Kado is gone, and only what looks to be a child blackened by thick darkness stands. The child turns toward Hiroshi, and he sees solid red eyes, with dark red markings in the style of the Shadow covering its body. He suddenly remembers this child as the one they had found when they first took in Kado, and he can't help but remember raising the frail weak child, and secretly having had great joy in watching the child grow up and become strong, even hoping that he might even inherit his sword one day.

He looks at the child, and suddenly realizes the depths of the damage done to him, and senses that the Kado he had seen before was merely a shell, a shell protecting the fractured mind left behind ten years ago, and realizes that if anything is close to Kado's true self, it might be this.

Soldier 2: \*is in pain but manages to pick up another bazooka\* Say hello...to ma' friend...\*is aiming at Neo Kado\*

Hiroshi: \*block comes from beneath the bazooka and has it poiting upwards\*

Soldier 2: \*fires on accident and the shot hits Big Ben.\*

*The hour hand on Big Ben falls off*

Soldier 1: Oh God, did you just shoot Big Be?

Soldier 2: I didn't mean to shoot it!

Soldier 1: Tell that to The Pope! Thanks to you they'll cancel BBC America! Looks like im gonna have to say god bye to Doctor Who.

Soldier 2: Still can't believe that happened. \*is slammed back into the building by the block\*

Soldier 1: That is what you get when you fuck with Britain.

The other soldier notices Kado silently walking toward him, walking almost in a zombie stumble, but definitely moving toward him aggressively.

Soldier 1: Well, looks like we're gonna die...finally. It was nice knowing you Gilles.

Soldier 2: \*is still buried under the block\* Fuck you, Pratt.

Kado silently executes the soldier, and with blood still splattered on his face, turns towards Earth Slayer. In a blinding motion, he sends a thick wave of darkness at Hiroshi, and the wave smashes him into a brick building, causing a section of the wall to collapse into the street.

Hiroshi: \*is surrounded by floating rocks and dust\* It's time to put and end to you. If I created you I can destroy you. \*fires multiple large rocks at Neo Kado\*

Kado knocks some aside with his hand, and the rest he slices into harmless pebbles, and before Earth Slayer can blink, jumps over to him and slashes at him with Dark Slayer once more.

Kid,who was just returning from training in the dragon realm,saw all the junk that was happening there."Just great! Why does everywhere I go involve a fight?" He then noticed Kato ad got some weird vibes from him."I'll make sure to steer clear of that guy." He stretched before dropping his back pack."Now let's see the spoils of my training." He said before rocketing at Hiroshi at speeds close to Mach 15 and landing multiple Megaton proportion blows on all of his pressure points before going back to his orgin spot.

Hiroshi: \*blocks most of them with his blocks\* And who might you be?

Kado suddenly rushes Hiroshi with blinding speed, and quickly grabs Hiroshi's face. Spinning wildly, he suddenly throws Hiroshi towards a skyscraper, flying after him with wings of pure darkness. As he approaches the skyscraper, Kado suddenly slams into him, sending both into the building, tumbling, crashing, and tearing through walls and alarmed business workers, causing various screams as the two tumble out the other side, Kado landing on the skyscraper's side and then gliding after Hiroshi, who is forced to fall all the way down.

Hiroshi: \*controls the glass windows on the building and turn them into glass shards and starts shooting at Kado as they fall\*

Kado only seems to fly straight at Hiroshi, the glass slipping right through him, and Hiroshi realizes he's gone intangible, and curses the capabilities of the Dark Slayer under his breath.

Kid,still trying to keep his distance from Kado at the moment,inhales sharply."Roar of The Fire Dragon!" He says shooting the large blast of fire towards Hiroshi's back and forcing him towards Kado.

Hiroshi: \*sees the blast at the corner and of his eye and blocks it with a glass shard shield which explodes upon impact\*

Kado flaps his wings, and a massive barrage of shadow bolts begin streaking at Hiroshi, flying like missles straight for him. Hiroshi finds this odd, as he knows that Kado should only have two levels of power... but this is almost a level five ability of Dark Slayer...

Hiroshi: Too much time on his hands. \*dives straight toward the ground below, while causing most of the metal support on the skyscraper to pull apart blocking Kado's way. The skyscraper starts coming down.\*

*People from inside the skyscraper starts panicing as well as the people below*

Suddenly a vast darkness begins to seep from Kado, growing thicker and thicker, until it appears as if night itself is being summoned. The people falling suddenly come to a stop as they fall into the shadows, somehow suspended as if in syrup. The darkness grows and solidifies, slowly taking the form of a vaguely humanoid skeleton with two large horns sprouting from its forehead. The building's top collapses onto the skeleton, where it begins dissolving on contact, causing more people to sink into the darkness, being protected by the thick shadows. Once the majority of the people are captured within, they suddenly are grabbed by shadow hands, and taken outside of the form a whole block away, where they quickly set them down, and return to the form.

Hiroshi stares in absolute horror as the black wings sprout from the back of the skeleton, and it easily breaks free of the building's foundations, and swats the rest of the building away from it. He'd only heard legends of this power, a power only used once before, by the first Dark Phoenix, Hadari. At the same time, he is struck dumb, there should be no way that Kado could be using *this*power. They sealed his spirit's power!

*...Or perhaps... something more than just a mental break down occurred... perhaps it isn't just a case of having split personalities... but a fractured soul?*

The massive skeleton rises up, red patterns dancing about its form, glowing red eyes occuping its eye sockets. The creature lets out a vicious roar, one that signifies that the elder of the Phoenix, the oldest and most maleviolent of them all has risen once more... the return of the Dark Phoenix.

Hiroshi: You are truly my son. \*smirks\* But sadly you can no longer live. \*before he hits the ground, the ground comes up and pushes him back up above the skyscraper\*

"....." From within, Kado feels pain. But he no longer cares. It's the same as all the rest of the pain... nothing worth living for exists that can cull it. He swings his gigantic blade at the pillar of earth upon which the sole object of his hatred stands... the blade's dark fire cuts through the earth like paper, and devastates the many buildings behind them. But who cares for drones of ants that would only sting him anyway?

Hiroshi: Yes! Embrace the hatred you feel! Come at me! Become the weapon we forged! Become...DARK PHOENIX!

Almost instantaneously Kid's fist was sunken into Hiroshi's face."Super Dragon Fist! Explode!" He yelled,,causing an explosion of nuclear proportions of golden light with a roar of a Dragon in the back ground.He then moved quickly to escape Kado's sight.

Hiroshi: \*turns into dust. The dust blows all the wat to the top of Big Ben. The dust reassembles back into Hiroshi\*

The skeleton suddenly appears to turn towards Kid, and for a brief moment, there is a silent tension. With a sudden roar, it swings its sword in his direction, sending a blast wave into the buildings he stands on, before in the same motion turning towards Hiroshi and swinging two of its black swords at him, moving so fast he realizes he will have to use that form to avoid getting hit.

Kid sees the wave coming and just barely dodges it,by side back fipping.While in mid air,he ignites his feets and spins like a top,lobbing fire balls towards Hiroshi.He then speeds to another location close to Big Ben and concentrates his energy,a gigantic fiery aura surrounding him.

Hiroshi: \*block the fireballs with metal squares\* Time for your final lesson, Kado. \*raises his hands in the air. The entire London area is being lifted from the Earth itself and into mid-air\*

The skeleton suddenly flickers in intensity, and it grows six more arms, which each begin to charge black spheres of energy. From the skeleton outward, a area of darkness begins spreading around the city, taking out all of the lights as it goes, leaving the areas behind in pure darkness. As it approaches Hiroshi, he begins feeling a sick feeling of nausea, one that becomes almost paralyzing as it passes over him, making it even difficult to hold up his sword. He suddenly feels his control over the city cease, as the shadows completely surround the city, and force it to come to a stop, neither falling nor rising. The skeleton then fashions six more swords out of the surrounding darkness, and forms a pair of legs, and begins charging at Hiroshi, at a rate too fast for Hiroshi to possibly move out of the way, and the range of the construct's range tells him he won't get out of range of any of his swords in time either.

Hiroshi: \*sees the hour-hand on the ground and lifts it up and blocks the six-armed skeleton\* I will not be killed so quickly. Element of Earth come to me, lend me your blessings, so that I may vanquish all that oppose you and me. \*rocks and metals from all over London form a armor on Hiroshi\* You forget boy, I control the very thing God himself created. Those whowere brought from the dust, will return to dust. \*draws Earth Slayer\*

*"You fail to comprehend... that in the beginning... only darkness existed... before the Earth was even first born, there was only an empty void. Your words are petty, in comparison to the power of Darkness, the power of the Void, where all life and existence was born."*

A woman's voice slowly says in Hiroshi's mind.

The clock hand dissolves into shadow, and the blades slice into Hiroshi's construct's shoulders and chest.

Hiroshi: AAAGGGGRHHH! \*lifts one hand in the air and Big Ben itself rises into the air. Hiroshi throws it at Kado\*

It passes right through the skeleton, and disappears behind it with a rush of energy, and then reappears above Hiroshi, and slams down on top of him.

Kid sees Big Ben Also coming towards him and he breaks concentration for a moment to en coating his fist with his Soul Dragon's hand before leaping towards the clock and blasting through it,before once again trying to concentrate in mid air.

Hiroshi: \*is falling toward the Earth\* Good job Kado....this lesson is over....\*hits the ground but doesn't seem to be there\*

The city begins to shudder, as the darkness begins to retract, and slowly lets the city lower, until it gradually returns to the security of the earth once more. As the city begins to erupt into chaos, the skeleton begins to collapse, until Neo Kado is set back on the ground. He hears the approach of heavily armed men, and quietly turns to face them, turning into shadow to deny them the first move, even as they start shooting at him.

He quietly walks toward them, and as they flinch backwards, he silently walks through them, and begins sprinting off towards the city border, only one prey left in his mind. He dodges and jumps over police cars, and knocks aside anyone who gets in his way, and quickly manages to leave the city before they can close off the city, and is already out into the wilds. Once he has gained significant distance, he pauses, and begins feeling around, eventually picking up a disturbance in the earth below, thanks to the darkness. He has found his prey again. He then silently runs off in the disturbance's direction, not looking back at the city in chaos behind him.

The darkness will have its hunt. It will have its prey.

Hiroshi emerges outside his secluded bunker, but worried. Even though he has traveled a great distance, it still feels as though Kado's presence has not abated at all. Nervously, he decides to seal himself inside the bunker, just to be safe.

"You know he is going to find you right?" Kid says,appearing behind Hiroshi."I have learned with Determination,Instinct,and enough hatred for someone.You can do anything." Kid sees the suprised look on Hiroshi's face and smiles."What exactly did you think I was doing when I was manifesting my energy for an attack? Or looking into the future and leading Kado here?" He smiles."Its not the first one either." Outside in front of Kado,there is the Aurora Boreialis,but it was different in the sky there was a track of red energy that was meant to guide Kado to the bunker.

Hiroshi: T-this...cannot..be...

Suddenly, an earsplitting roar deafens them, as a massive molten dragon explodes through the hill in front of them, igniting everything in its path on fire, and as it rampages towards them, they feel their skin start to burn from the intensive heat. Hiroshi recognizes it as the legendary Fire-Earth dragon Hitomara, a being he encountered once before that could strangely defy his control over its metal body with the sheer intensity of its heat, its terrible wrath legendary on Echo. ...Which means this must be Kado as well... but how he could have faced Hitomara without dying is beyond him. Not that it matters, the more pressing matter is getting inside the bunker before Kado uses its almost mantle level temperatures to burn him alive.

"You know the good thing about being who I am?" Kid says to him,a cocky grin on his face."I am extremely immune to heat so no matter how hot it gets it will never effect me.YOU on the other hand cannot and will die certainly when the dragon comes around.You might be thinking,'I GOT TO GET INTO THAT BUNKER!' but thats not such a great idea either,because then you have to deal with me.Both choices are equally as bad." Kid says heating his body everything around him to thousands of degree's,hotter than the surface of a blue star.

Hirshi: \*turns to dust and blows off past Kid and Kado\* This...isn't...over...\*blows off into the wind\*

Kado suddenly returns to normal, and stares off after him.

"...You taught me many things, master! You taught me to be unshakable, and to never allow anyone to uproot me from my cause! ...It's true... that my sword is a sword of Chaos! Do you know why?! Because I'm going to tear down the order of this world! Children, innocents... families, they're uprooted, just because they're different, and forced to live their lives as tools, or be killed or treated like animals, locked in a cage! This order, SHOULD COME DOWN! And I also know this, master! Phoenix's true goals... isn't about killing off the Elementals... it's about destroying Humanity and claiming 'God's Blessing' in their place! Am I wrong?

No matter who wins, we're both on the side of Chaos! Are we not?! Come back here, and let's have our final lesson! Don't turn your back on me!" He yells after him, his voice full of passion, a voice he had only ever addressed Hiroshi with.

"...This isn't about my hatred anymore! ...This is about my cause, against yours! You know your honor demands you respect our clashing of ideals! Face me!" Kado yells. He points his spare Katana at Hiroshi's fleeing form.

"***COWARD!***"

Hiroshi: There is is such thing as a coward and a smart man. Blind you are and blind you always *shall*be. \*disappears into the wind\*

Kid sees the whole thing unfold in front of him,a little confused about whats happening but still interested.He shakes his head and begins to stand up straight after Hiroshi dissappears."Welp my work here is done." He says teleporting his bag and skateboard that he left to him,leaping on the skate board and rolling off."I aint very good with all this emotional junk."

Kado silently stares off into the horizon, contemplating the memories beginning to surface. Not just of the fight, but of his past, and wonders just what could have been. His thoughts begin to turn toward the destruction within the city, but he knows he would only cause more trouble to try and aid them.

There is still the Echo World Summit to deal with, after all. He closes his eyes.

*"Azula... I'm ready to come back." "I understand. ...Do you want to talk?" "...No... I don't know if I'll ever be read to talk about this..."*

He disappears, just as the lone white figure watching him smiles.

"So... our little bird is starting to spread his wings.... how long before he takes flight to join the flock...?" She chuckles to herself, as Kado disappears from sight.

"So then... I suppose we'll just sit back and await the return of Dark Phoenix, shall we, Hiroshi?" She smirks at the dust that is hovering by her. "He'll see it our way in due time."

Hiroshi: He is becoming everything we wanted him to be. He will either acknowldge are work or deny it by pity Earth-standard morals. What he chooses will be crucial for us.

She looks back where Kado had stood, and a strange look of concern crosses her face for a moment. "Did you sense it, Hiroshi? ...There was a third fragment to his mind... Besides the one just now and that... 'Neo'... what do you suppose that other one is...?" She pauses, and then gets a playful smile. "Or were you too stuck in memory lane to notice it?" She teases.

Hiroshi: You can say that, but whatever those 2 others are, they clearly have more power than Kado could ever possess. We must be fully aware of them.

"Yes... but for now, I suppose the others will want to hear about our dear Dark's return to the world... I do believe there is an apprentice who would be... very anxious to learn of this turn of events." She disappears into a flash of light.

### Afterwards

*Ontop of London's rooftops, a portal emerges out of thin air, with two figures walking through it and the portal closing behind them. One of the figures looks around.*

Daikeim: So, this place remind you of somewhere?

Elaonore: \*is struck with horror\* Oh my God...\*sees the entire London area completely decimated. Buildings are shattered all over the base of the grown, tons of people are dead and buried under debris. Helicopters hover over skies, medics are down there helping injured survivors\*

Daikeim: I... I didn't mean... \*Is unable to say anything as he just stands there seeing Elaonore in this state\*

Elaonore: \*sees her mother with heavy debris untop of her legs\* Mother! \*flies down toward her mother\*

Mother: \*sees Elaonore\* Elaonore...It's you...all these years...

Elaonore: It's ok, Mother. I'm here. \*looks like she's about to cry\*

Mother: \*yelps in pain\* My legs...I'm not sure if I can make it...

Elaonore: \*has a determined look on here face. She uses the winds itself to lift the debris off her mother and throws it into the distance\* Are you ok now?

Mother: \*her legs are bleeding and is badly bruised\* It's better than nothing, right? \*barely smiles\*

Elaonore: Mother..\*hugs her mother\*

*Daikeim flies down and looks at Elaonore's Mother. He then rips the Soul Stone off of his medallion and hands it to her. He then sits down and stays quiet, the Soul Stone shines bright and an energy covers Elaonore's Mother, slowly healing her.*

Daikeim: \*Begins talking in Murr God Dialect\* (May the clock rewind... Heal the damage that has been done, for you still have purpose in this world. May the Soul Stone's energy mend your body.)

Mother: \*wounds are alright, as if they were never injured to begin with\* My legs...there all better. \*has an simle of relief\*

Elaonore: \*looks at Daikeim and gives him a tearful smile\*

Daikeim: It's nothing... I always try to help. \*He gives a small smile towards both Elaonore and her Mother\*

Mother: Elaonore, you and your friend must help the rest, I will provide supplies for you.

Elaonore: Yes Mother. Let's help the rest Daikeim.

*Both tended to the thousand, if not million injured survivors all day. After a while they finally healed everyone.*

Elaonore: Whew, we did it. Everyone's better now. Thank you for your help Daikeim.

Daikeim: No problem, it's nice to help a friend. Look, I need to apologize for the thing at the start... It must of been hard seeing London like that... \*Daikeim looks down to the floor\*

Elaonore: \*puts her hands on his right cheek and lifts Daikeim's head up and smiles\* It's ok. Atleast you got us here to save all these people. They may have abandoned me but I will not abandon them. Thank you for giving me this chance to save them.

Daikeim: No problem... \*Daikeim smiles once again, but it's more noticeable\*

Mother: I can't thank you enough for helping us. I'ts near nighttime and we have a long way to go home.

Elaonore: No need mother \*teleports to a one-story house in a green field with a huge garden of crops behind the house\*

Mother: Whew, an old lady can get use to that. \*walks into the house and there is an old man sitting down at the kitchen table reading the latest news\*

Father: \*is reading a article called 'Battle at Big Ben'\* Damn monsters...

Mother: Honey, look who's home.

Father: What is it woman? \*turns around and sees Elaonore walk through the door\*

Elaonore: \*is a bit hesitant\* ...Hello, Father...

Father: \*has a disgustful look on his face\*...You gotta be kiddin' me. \*gets up and walks into another room\*

Elaonore: \*has a disdained look on her face\*

Mother: I know. He still hast gotten over his hate for the '*monsters*'. Don't let that bother you, hon.

Daikeim: \*He looks around the house\* It's a lovely place you have here... \*He also takes notice of which room the Father went in\* Umm, you don't mind me looking around, do you?

Mother: Not at all. If you plan on sleeping we only have 3 rooms, One is the master bedroom, the other is the bathroom, and the other is Elaonore's room.

Daikeim: Ok, thank you. \*He goes around the house looking at the rooms, finally going into the room the Father is in. Daikeim just starts looking around.\* Y'know... When someone hasn't seen their daughter in years, they'd be thrilled to see them again...

Father: \*takes out a cigarette\* That *thing* out there ain't my daughter. \*smokes the cigarette\* It be better if she had died the last time I saw here face. \*exahles smoke\*

Daikeim: You're ungrateful, it's because of her that your wife is still alive. It's because of her that half of London isn't 6ft under. So listen up, I want you to treat your daughter with the respect she deserves. It's sickening, the way you treat her now... You used to care for her, and what if she's a Mythos? You still loved her before that incident, so what changed?

Father: The fact that she was a monster the whole time. Those entire 15 years since if raised her, I had housed a freak in my house. Those are the very words I would here from a 'monster lover' like yourself. I rather my wife die any other way than to do die at the hands of a mytho-freak. \*exhales smoke\*

Daikeim: ...\*Sighs and goes Half Dragon and walks to the Father\* A 'monster lover' like myself... Fair enough... But... \*He grabs the Father by the shirt and picks him up with one hand\* You ever call Elaonore a freak or monster... I will kill you... \*He lets go\*

Father: \*fixes his shirt\* If you love her so much, you can go have her. It's not like I'm going to take her back. Besides, this is my house and I will not be threatened by a scaly mishap like you.

Daikeim: Hehe... You oughta meet my friend Drake, you two would get along just fine... \*He exits his Half Dragon form, he then turns away from the Father and walks towards the door\* Just hear me out... Elaonore is a great person, Mythos or not... If your wife loves her despite her being a Mythos, then surely you can try to adapt... After all, that's one of the things humans are best known for... Am I right? \*He opens the door and leaves the room, closing it afterwards\*

*Mother and Elaonore are having tea while joyfully conversing*

Elaonore: \*looks at Daikeim and greets him with a smile\* Daikeim, you're just in time. I was just telling my mother what i've been doing since I was taken.

Mother: It is pretty intriguing. And you say there is an enormous town full with marketing?

Elaonore: Yes, if you and father were there you two would be very rich. No other farmers can crop like you and father can.

Mother: \*is flattered\* Oh stop. Daikeim is it? Do come sit with us. Elaonore made you a cup of tea too.

Daiekim: Thank you. \*He walks over and sits down, he then takes a sip of tea\* This tea tastes amazing, thanks Elaonore.

Elaonore: It's a special tea me and my mother made when I was but a little girl. We used lots of the herbs we used outback. Tea would always keep me calm.

Mother: Now Daikeim, tell me about you.

Daikeim: Umm, what would you like to know?

Mother: Oh,absolutely everything you feel comfortable telling me about. I llke to know what boys my daughter brings home.

Elaonore: Mom, I never brought home any boys. They follow me home all the time.

Mother: Then we should've reported them sooner. I will not have more than one boy stalking my daughter.

Elaonore: \*snickers\* It's too late now. Its beyond over with.

Mother: But go ahead, Daikeim.

Daikeim: Well... Ok, my name is Daikeim Omakkas. I am 18 years of age and used to live in a paradise called Arcadia, I am also a demi-god. Because of that... \*Daikeim goes in his Half Dragon form briefly\* I'll say I had a... Harsh upbringing, since I was born during a war, when I grew up, I watched a second war happen... And it was here where I met one of my closest friends; Drake. Me and him ended a war... But was banished from there because of it. So I ended up on Earth, I'd later go to a place called Fantasy where I would find out it's one of my favorite places... And here I am now. Sorry for that brief explanation, most of my history isn't worth saying.

Mother: Oh, I understand. So your one of those extraterrestrials? I always wondered if they were real, look like you proved it.

Father: Great. Now I got a fuckin' alien in my house. Just fuckin' great.

Mother: Oh, don't mind him. He's a bit of a grump. But I'm glad my daughter found someone as helpful as you. You did a great service for us today. We couldn't thank you enough.

Daikeim: Don't worry about it, you all are great people. I'd never forgive myself if I didn't help. \*He takes another sip of tea\* And I'm glad I could meet you, including him over there.

Father: A fuckin' dragon from space.

Mother: Well you two must be sleepy. Sadly we only have 2 bedrooms, unless you want to sleep in the bathtub.

Daikeim: Ummm, no bathroom please.

Mother: Ok, you share room with Elaonore. Sadly, she only has one bed and we dont really have alot of covers, so make due with what you have ok?

Elaonore: Yes mother. \*goes into her room\*

Mother: Goodnight.\*goes into the master bedroom\*

*Daikeim walks into Elaonore's room and sits down and leans his back against a wall, he then only grows his wings and they go around Daikeim.*

Daikiem: Elaonore, your parents are awesome... That's the first time I've seen humans been kind to me, it's a nice feeling...

Elaonore: I haven't felt that feeling before in a long time. I still thank you for taking me back to London. I know you didn't expect for it to end up like this, but we saved countless lives that could've been lost.

Daikeim: You're welcome... Hehe, we're like little heroes. To think that we're healing humans, I wonder what the Mythos would think of us...\*Daikeim looks up to the ceiling\* I miss seeing Fantasy's moon... And the little blue lights that would come out from the grass. \*Daikeim hums a tune\*

Elaonore: I do too. We can head for home tomorrow morning. \*looks at all here drawings on the wall. Drawings of love and peace through the world\* Still a dreamer, but I know today that that dream will come true. All It takes is one person to make a difference. \*gets in bed\*

Daikeim: Hey... I wanna ask you something, what do you think your life would be like if your powers never showed?

Elaonore: I never truly thought about that. I know I wouldn't have the same problem I have with my father \*snickers\* But both my parents would have died and I would be left alone at the age of 15. I would no doubt move on and later apply all that i have been taught by my parents and possibly still do what i have always done at Fantasy, only a bit out of synch. But I do know I would have had a chance at winning a Nobel Peace Prize. \*mildly smiles\*

Daikeim: So either way, you'd still be your amazing self, and I know that you'd still look beauti-- \*Daikeim quickly shuts up and looks at his Soul Stone\*

Elaonore: I have a question for you. \*sits up\* What would your life be if you haven't been exiled?

Daikeim: Hm... Well, the war mainly caused it... So if the war didn't happen, I wouldn't of met Drake. I'd probably went on without knowing what it would be like to... 'Fit in', and I wouldn't know the beauty of other worlds... Like Fantasy for example, I'm guessing my life would be much more boring... So in a way, I'm glad I got exiled, I've never felt so free. I know how people are and how they would react to certain things, and how to help. If I never got exiled, I would be completely different. It's kinda scary if you go into these kinds of things.

Elaonore: I know. It always comes back to question starter 'What if'. And in all honesty, I am too glad that you are here. You helped in many ways than one and even went to try and save Jumbo, even after he attacked your friend. You are just as an astonishing person as I am.

Daikeim: Thank you... For everything Elaonore. For taken me and Drake in, risking your life in the Dragon Realm, letting us live among the Mythos... You're an angel. \*Daikeim once again has a small smile\*

Elaonore: \*laughs a little bit\* I'm not an angel. I'm a sylph. But I understood what you meant. And you're a true knight-in-shining-armor. Always there when your needed or not and even if you don't succeed, you never come home empty-handed.

Daikeim: I'm like that because of you and the Mythos, you guys never seem to give up... So why should I? Like I said, you people are inspiring. \*Daikeim looks at the drawings on the wall\* ...Love and peace, heh, that sums you up in three words.

Elaonore: \*chuckles\* Look at us. Throwing complements at one another when we should be going to bed. Come on now. \*pats the side of the bed with space left for one more\*

Daikeim: Oh, yeah. \*He chuckles and walks over to the empty side of the bed and gets in\*

Elaonore: Sorry if there's not enough room. Here. \*gives Daikeim part of the cover\* I still hope you can sleep well.

Daikeim: Thanks, and I'll sleep fine. Goodnight Elaonore.

Elaonore: Goodnight Daikeim. \*both go to sleep\*

*A few hours later*

*Daikeim wakes up and yawns, he then sits up and looks around him.*

Elaonore: \*is still asleep, but is gently holding onto Daikeim's arm and has her forehead gently planted on Daikeim's shoulder. A tear streams from her eye\*

Daikeim: Poor girl, must be a nightmare... \*He wipes the tear away\* I wonder what it is...

*Hovering can be heard from outside and lights, motors, and other numerous sounds can be heard and seen from outside aswell*

Elaonore: \*clutches Daikeim's arm tighter and closes her eyes tighter\*

Daikeim: The hell could be doing that... \*He growls\* Unsung... \*He looks at Elaonore and gently shakes her\* Elaonore, wake up!

Elaonore: \*wakes up with a startle\* What is it? \*hear the noises outside\*...They're here!

*Soldiers wearing black and red bust through the door and throw smoke bombs into the house.*

Daikeim: Elaonore, stay here... I promise I won't let them hurt you. \*Daikeim goes into his Half Dragon form and leaves the room, when the smoke clears, the soldiers can see Daikeim wielding a blade. Daikeim points the blade at them.\* Leave now... I will not let you touch her!

Soldier: Don't think she's going to be the only one who gets hurt.

*2 soldiers shoot at Daikeim with shotguns*

*Daikeim swipes his hand in the air, causing a energy barrier to emerge and deflect the bullets back at the two soldiers. Daikeim then sprints at some soldiers at slices them in half, he then grabs one of the soldier's gun and fires at the rest in the house.*

Soldier: Commence ariel assualt.

Flyer: Roger that. Aim all available firepower at the house. \*fires their railguns at the house tearing it up.

*The helicopter is then beginning to spin out of control and lands on the ground safely,same happens with the other helicopters.*

Daikeim: Heh... Fair play Elaonore... Now. \*Daikeim walks out of the house and sees soldiers...\* Hm... Counting 50... Time to test this out...

*The fliers get out the helicopters and and unattach their railguns from their helicopters. 2 soldiers are holding each railgun and fire at Daikeim.*

*Daikeim stops the bullets with both of his hands and drops them. Daikeim gains a dark grey aura and grey eye coloruing, he then looks at the soldiers and walks towards them. The soldiers continue firing the railguns but the bullets have no effect on Daikeim. Daikeim then stops walking and aims both hands at both of the soldiers and fires two small beams, they pierce the soldiers hearts. Killing them instantly, Daikeim slams his hand down onto the floor, causing a massive shockwave which destroys any vehicles and aircraft.*

Daikeim: Final chance... Stand down or pay the price...

Elaonore: \*appears next to Daikeim\* There is not need for that. You've beaten them.

Mother: \*comes outside in her night gown\* What's going on here?

Elaonore: Unsung came and attacked the house. Are you ok, mother?

Mother: Ofcourse, even after I woke up, i saw bullet holes all around my bed and numerous holes in my roof.

Elaonore: \*chuckles\*

*A shot can be heard from behind and the bullet casing falls on the ground in blood.*

Daikeim: The hell? \*Daikeim notices blood on his shirt, he then spits out a bit of blood\* ...Who the hell. \*Daikeim turns around\*

Father: \*is holding a smoking shot gun\* I gotta another round with your name on it. \*shoots Daikeim again through is stomach\*

Soldier: \*come from behind Daikeim and hits him in th back of the legs with the back of his shotgun, then sticks him in the arm with a needle, then hits him in the back of the head, causing to fall unconscious\*

Elaonore: NO! DAIKEIM! \*is grabbed by a soldier and has a collar put on her. She is then being drag away from her parents once again. Has flashback of the exact same thing happening. She stretches her arm out for help toward her parents. Her mother tries to reach it but her father is holding her mother back."

Father: \*turns his head away from her in shame once agains and carries Elaonore's mother back inside the house and shuts the door behind them\*

Elaonore: \* single tear streams from her eye and is put into the back of a van along with an unconscious Daikeim\*

*Several minutes later.*

*Daikeim suddenly wakes up and breaths heavily. Slowly looking around then to see the wounds.*

Daikeim: That bastard... If I ever see him again... Where am I... Where's Elaonore.

Elaonore: \*Is siting in a corner of the van all curled up with tears streaming down her face uncontrollably\*

Daikeim: Elaonore... \*He slowly crawls towards her and sits besides her, he then holds one of her hands\* Listen... I promise on my life, that I will get you out of here... I don't want you reliving past events. \*He tries to make a smile, he gets his other hand and tries to softly wipe the tears off of Elaonore's face.\*

Elaonore: \*hugs Daikeim and cries in his chest\*

Daikeim: \*He puts his arms around Elaonore and hugs back. He then looks to the end of the van\* There should be a way to get out, right? The doors... I have an idea.

*The van stops and the dorrs open. The soldiers get in and drag both Daikeim and Elaonore out and are taken inside the facility. There thay can see mutated Mythos inside gel-capsules. The put him in front of a man wearing a doctor mask and red circular glasses, the man also seems to be a bit hunched over.*

Soldier: Where to, Dr. Drekavas?

Dr.Drekavas: \*looks at Daikeim\* Take that one to Test Chamber 1A. Take the other to Test Chamber 2B. I belive we found what we are looking for.

*The soldiers drag the two to their designated chambers. Elaonore reaches for Daikeims hand but he is too far and is taken inside Test Chamber 2B.*

*Daikeim looks at the soldiers and smirks, he then begin laughing.*

Daikeim: I feel sorry for you... You guys have to work for a hunchback... Also, he needs to learn a difference between a Mythos and me... \*He laughs again\*

Soldier: We know. We were told by the caller of that property that you were a 'dragon from space'. Besides, that hunchback is the scariest thing you'll find here. \*takes him inside Test Chamber 1A. They strap him down on an examination table, then leave\*

Daikeim: Scariest thing? Sure... \*He looks around\* Guess I'm waiting for the hunchback... Actually... \*He looks at the straps and sighs\* They can't even tie a human down with these.

*The straps some how strap on to him tighter. A doctor wearing bandages over his mouth and head, but still has a little hair flowing from the back. He appears to be taller and thiner than Dr. Drekavas.*

Dr.Jerek: \*goes over to examine some futuristic surgical tools\* Do you prefer to be awake or sleep?

Daikeim: Hehe... Awake so I can see the regret in your eyes...

Dr.Jerek:\*is still looking at his tools\* If you noticed, I have glasses, actually. \*puts on his circular red glasses\* Now i'm wearing glasses. Any questions before we proceed?

Daikeim: Elaonore... What do you guys want with her...

Dr.Jerel: It's a new project we're putting into play. Project: Unisung. She will be our solution to the Mytho problem. This world is heading int to Solution Era. Man can no longer handle the Mytho threat and they seek an answer. Every agency is coming up with their own Final Solution. For us...its the girl.

Daikeim: Are you serious, humans can no longer handle the Mythos? I've witnessed humans who have no problem with the Mythos. I've seen the Mythos HELP the humans! Why are you so hesitant to work with them... Or is that just how it is? Simply because you can't comprehend them and what they're capable of... Because you're scared.

Dr.Jerek: I admit, we are scared. Here we see them as...Cryptids. You know unknown animals. Like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster. We want to know what their capabilities are so we can possibly use it for human use. \*picks up some scissors and puts it on a tool tray several inches away from Daikeim\*

Daikeim: Well... Glad to see you're honest... \*He sighs\* This is gonna hurt...

Dr.Jerek: Your a strong guy...\*picks up a surgical knife\* You'll no doubt get through this...\*stabs Daikeim and starts cutting him open\*

*5 days later*

*A portal emerges ontop of London's roofs, a figure walks out and the portal closes.*

Drake: Right... Now where could them two be... Hm, Elaonore must have parents... \*He jumps down into the streets, he then walks around calling out for Elaonore's parents\* HELLO!? THE HELL ARE!?

Mother: \*Bumps into Drake on accident\* My apologizes, young man. \*walks past him\*

Drake: ...Right, why does Daikeim hang out with these people... \*He turns to looks at the woman\* Hey, umm. Can you help me? I'm looking for two people, one has brown hair, blue eyes and dragon wings... And the other is his girlfriend or something.

Mother: \*stops\* You mean...Daikeim and...Elaonore?

Drake: Yeah, have you seen them? They were supposed to come back a couple of days ago... Do you have any idea where they are?

Mother:...Unsung...took them...I dont know where Unsung is...but they took them...

Drake: Unsung... How did this happen!?

Mother: My husband...that's what happened.

Drake: ...Where is he.

Mother: I don't know...he left this morning...Please...find my daughter...

Drake: Don't worry, I will... \*He creates a portal and steps through, the portal closes afterwards\*

*Back at Unsung*

Dr.Jerek: \*comes in Test Chamber 1A with a DVD and a DVD Player in his hands\*

Daikeim: ...What's on that CD.

Dr.Jerek: As you know we needed your friend to complete our project. And as you know we have conducted our expirements. \*puts the DVD in the DVD player. It shows Elaonore undergoing experimentation and undergoing mutations with each experiment. She screams in pain and asks for them to stop. She is reverted back to normal with a stick of a needle after every mutation. She was surgically cut open and they stuck tubes within her to extract tissue.\*

Daikeim: No... Why... \*He tries to get out of the straps\*

Dr.Jerek: Sadly, it does not stop there. \*the video goes to today only about 3 hours ago. The dark figure and a dark elf adolescent appear into the room when no one but Elaonore is in it\*

Evoh Vemel: Why are we here, old man?

Voice: We've come to use this sylphs air and wind manipulation to our advantage. The Gods will be no more soon and i must gather the newer ones.

Evoh Vemel: And why am I not chosen to take your place?

Voice: You know why. Extract piece of her hair and a piece of her skin. I will be back. I am going to see what is this Project: Unisung is all about. \*disappears\*

Evoh Vemel: \*scoffs\* what joy is there in that? \*looks back at a weakened and dreary Elaonore and smiles\* My aren't you a beauty. \*touches her face and then looks at her body\* And an even more beautiful body. This sort of fun I can definitely crave. \* He rips her cloths of and violates her body her. Elaonore yelps in pain and this makes Evoh more motivated. After Evoh is done...\*

Voice: \*returns and sees a naked-weeping Elaonore and Evoh with a pleased look on his face\* This is not your we supposed to do. I asked of you to get a string of her hair and a piece of her skin. Instead you indulged your sexual urges on here.

Evoh Vemel: what's the point in doing this, if I dont get anything out of it?

Voice: And you ask why you are not fit to be a god. Come. I guess your child will make a better heir than you. \*both are surrounded by a dark aura and disappear. The DVD ends\*

*Daikeim roars loud enough for it to be heard throughout the facility. He then breaks the straps and rips off the collar. He gains a golden aura and his eyes have a golden trail. He grabs Dr. Jerek's neck and snaps it, killing him. He then roars again, causing the facility to shake. He then tracks Elaonore's energy signature and walks to where she is.*

Daikeim: Them two will die... Everyone here... The other Doctor... \*He growls once again, he reaches where Elaonore is\*

Elaonore: \*is laying on a table her back with covers over her naked body. Her skin is pale and she is looking blankly up at the ceiling light. She is breathing slowly but heavily and tears seem to be streaming endlessly down her face.\*

Daikeim: No... \*He walks up to Elaonore and looks at her, he sheds a few tears\* I can't believe they done this... \*Daikeim sits her up and wraps the covers around her body, he then picks her up and carries her on his back and walks out of the room.\* I'll kill every one of them... Life is too good for them..

Elaonore: \*speaks in a weak and cold voice\*...Daikeim...Don't kill them....they don't know what they do...Please...Home is all we need...

*Daikeim stops walking and says with a voice filled with guilt, anger and despair.*

Daikeim: ...They don't know what they do? No Elaonore, they knew that they did... How can you forgive them... \*A tear drops before Daikeim slowly starts walking\* Let's just get you home...

Elaonore: \*wipes Daikeim's tear away and manages to crack a small smile\* I remember that you told me it was ok to cry, but I never understood why you continued to wipe away my tears.

Daikeim: Because you looked cute when you smile... \*Daikeim starts walking at normal speed\* Elaonore... I never mean't to hurt you... It's because of me that you're like this...

Elaonore: \*smile fades\*...Daikeim...there is no mistake that you wanted to make me happy...I know more bad than good happened...and I can see why you blame yourself...but don't...please..don't...\*holds on to him tighter and shuts her eyes hard and her tears are streaming faster\*

Daikeim: Elaonore... Do you know why I'm like this towards you? Why you're the one that matters most? Why I go out of my way to make you happy?

Elaonore: \*thinks for a little while\* No...Im not really sure...I always asumed that you were only trying to cheer me up...due to the fact that my life wasnt all that cheerful after I was taken...

Daikeim: \*Chuckles\* It's because I love you...

Elaonore: \*is some what confused and shocked\* ...W-what...?

Daikeim: I love you Elaonore, you're a sweet, amazing and outstanding girl... You have no idea what'd I do just to see you smile... \*Daikeim has a small smile\*

*Meanwhile back in London, two figures step out of a portal and it closes.*

Drake: Aaaaand I'm back again, alright then. We should be able to find it easier if I go by air and you go by floor. If either of us find it, we'll signal eachother, got it? \*Drake goes into his Aura Dragon form and hovers\*

Jonas: \*sniffs the air\* Found them. There up 350 miles up north from here.

Drake: Awesome, meet you there. \*He starts to fly North\*

Jonas: Damn buses. Never around when you need them. \*starts walking\*

*Back at the facility.*

Elaonore: I...I...Never thought you saw me like that before.....\*has flashbacks of all Daikeim's previous actions leading up to right now\*...You...love me...? \*looks like her eyes are gonna explode with tears of joy\*

*Daikeim smiles as they start to reach the exit of the facility.*

Daikeim: Don't worry, we're almost out... \*He notices that Elaonore's about to burst with tears of joy, so he quickly sits Elaonore down against a wall, kisses her head and takes off his Soul Stone medallion and gives it to her\*

Elaonore: \*is crying tears of joy. She hugs Daikeim while still holding on to his Soul Stone tightly. Her head is lying on his chest\*

Daikeim: \*He hugs her back and then carries her on his back again\* Hehe, you can hug me 'til death once we get back ok? \*They exit the facility and Daikeim closes his eyes and focuses on Fantasy, Elaonore and Daikeim glow gold and teleports to Fantasy\*

*Meanwhile, Drake manages to reach the facility and waits for Jonas.*

Jonas: \*finally arrives\* Damn twigs. Ok finally made it. Wish there was a detour to this place. This better be worth it.

Drake: You said it yourself, sickest minds is science, so let's show 'em their minds. \*He takes out his Shadow Pistol and sword and walks towards the facility\*

Jonas: \*pulls out a Blu cigarette and smokes it\* Well let's do it. \*follows right behind Drake\* This better not be some ambush shit or I swear.

Drake: I have no idea what happens when we open these doors, all I know is that Daikeim and Elaonore should be here... \*He puts C4 on the main doors leading into the facility and steps back and presses a detonator. The C4 explodes and Drake walks into the facility\*

Jonas: Should? \*walks in behind Drake\*

Drake: It's a win win situation here Jonas, we either rescue them two, or kill a bunch of sadistic people... Speaking of... Where the hell is everyone? \*He looks around he sees two signs, one saying "Test Chamber 1A" and another saying "Test Chamber 2B"\* Should we split up here and check the rooms?

Jonas: Sure thing. I got 2B. \*heads into Test Chamber 2B\*

Drake: Ok. \*Drake goes towards and enters Test Chamber 1A and looks around, he then sees Dr. Jerek's corpse, the broken straps and a destroyed collar\* Well... This is starting to scream Daikeim... Ok, table, tools... \*He sees the DVD player\* Hm? \*He presses play and watch\* That's Elaonore, wow... Yeah, Jonas was right. They're fucked up. \*He takes the CD\* Still wondering where the guards are. \*He exits the Test Chamber and moves towards 2B\*

Jonas: \*looks around and sees blood and empty needles\* This is one messed up room, man. \*walks around and steps in something and sniffs\* Is that..\*looks at the bottom of his shoe and sees a milk-like substance on it\* Ugh...just ugh. \*wipes his shoe on the floor\* Fell sorry for the poor sucker who was in here.

Drake: Well... \*He enters 2B\* These sick bastards recorded it... \*He hands Jonas the CD\* A whole three hours of it... It's of Elaonore, that would explain why in 1A, there's a dead person, broken straps and a destroyed collar. Looks like we were a little late. \*He sighs\*

Jonas: \*looks at the DVD\* Wha..? OH MY GOD! Holy Fucking Fucker Fuck! I am done good golly! That's the worst thing I ever seen on a DVD in my life.

Drake: Yeah... Well then... Atleast there's more of a reason to kill these assholes... Where ever the hell they are. \*He shots his Shadow Pistol into the air, hoping to gather some attention\*

Jonas: \*sniffs the air\* I can smell them. We gotta go down a little bit further. There in some ginormous laboratory. \*walks down a few corridors\*

Drake: Ok then... \*He follows Jonas, he opens his HCS and scrolls down the list of weapons he has, he then takes out an anti-material rifle. He then shakes his head to try and forget the DVD\* Ugh... Yeah, that'd scar anyone... That reminds me, do you have a girlfriend? \*He laughs\*

Jonas: Yea, i do. You?

Drake: ...Fuck you man, anyways, how close are we now?

Jonas: We're here.

*Both enter a enormous laboratory/auditorium filled with dead soldiers and doctors.*

Drake: Hooooly shit... \*He sighs\* Dammit, we missed out on a bloodbath. Wait, what could of done this, you managed to smell them. \*He prepares his gun and aims around\*

Jonas: \*sniffs the air\* I dont smell blood, just air....hmmm.

Drake: What do you mean, just air? One, how the hell can you smell air. Two, HOW IS THERE NO SCENT OF BLOOD WHEN THERE'S A CLEAR SIGHT OF DEATH!?

Jonas: \*takes helmets of the soldiers and looks at their faces\* Suffocation or lack of oxygen.

Drake: ...That's not good, well... For people who need oxygen to survive. \*He walks around\* Hm... Well since we're here, we might aswell gather any private information we can. \*Drake opens his HSC and starts taking scientists notes, samples and more\*

Jonas: \*looks up files on the computer and sees one that says "Project: Unisung"\* Hmmmm....\*opens it and reads some of it\* Awwww shiiit.

Drake: What do you mean, aww shit? \*He walks over and reads the file\* Oh... Shit.

Jonas: We gotta get out of here man. \*feels a breese\* Right now! \*makes a run toward the door but it shuts once he gets to it\* Crap, Crap, Crap, Crap, Crap. Probably should've brought Ammo. \*wind can be heard\*

Drake: I don't see why you're worried, you're immortal, right? \*He charges up the rifle and fires at the door, but to no avail\* Well fuck.

Jonas: I don't wanna stick around to see if a Werepyre can die by lack of oxygen. \*winds blows again\* Quick, find something sharp.

Drake: Fine fine. \*Drake gets out his knife and hands it to Jonas\* This better work man...

Jonas: It should. \*wedges the knife in between the door and starts moving it around\*

*A darkness starts to take form*

Drake: The hell... Uhh Jonas... We have company. \*Drake goes over to Jonas and helps him with the door\*

*The darkness takes the form of Elaonore, but with black skin, red eyes and black and red hair.*

Drake: \*He turns around and sees Dark Elaonore\* Well... Ok then, let's just be lucky that Daikeim wasn't here to see this. \*Drake smirks\* Bring it bitch, because I'mma beat the darkness out of your fucking body!

Unisung: \*disappears and reappears in front of Drake's face, she places her hands on the side of his face and her lips are about to touch his, but instead starts sucking the oxygen out of Drake\*

Jonas: \*throws the knife at Unisung and she backs away from Drake\*

Drake: Thanks. Right then! \*He charges at Unisung and grabs one of her arm and pulls her towards Drake, he then punches Unisung in the face and lets go. Causing her to be sent flying\* Sorry sweetie, I don't date red-heads.

Jonas: Man you suck. Red-Heads are hot.

Unisung: \*turns into a void and starts sucking away all the oxygen\*

Jonas: \*is finding it really hard to breathe\*

Drake: Personal preference! \*Drake goes into his Half Dragon form and flies towards the door and punches it, blasting it open\* GO!

Jonas: \*runs out the door, but Unisung is sucking the oxygen from the entire facility through the air vents\*

Drake: This girl is getting on my nerves... \*Drake gets out his Shadow Pistol and fires at Unisung, causing her to stop\* Tsk tsk, animal abuse? You should learn better...

Unisung: \*turns into a void that starts to suck up everything in the facility. Bodys,computers, papers the walls of the facility itself. Everything\*

Jonas: \*still unable to breathe\* Thanks...alot...smart one...

Drake: Oh shit... \*Drake flies away from Unisung and grabs Jonas' arm and speeds through the facility, finally exiting through the way they came in\* I don't see you doing anything other than suffocating...\*He lets go of Jonas\* Right now, we need to decide what to do with that thing...

*The facility has been torn apart, but the Unisung turns into a giant black tornado still sucking up all the oxygen and the trees surrounding the facility*

Jonas: \*catches his breathe\* Dang, this is hard. We gotta keep it away from London.

Drake: No shit... \*He looks at the tornado\* How the hell do we even stop it?

Jonas: I've got an idea, but your gonna have to stall it until I get back. And no I am not runnin' off and leavin' you here to die. I'll be right back. \*runs off back towards London\*

Drake: Stall a tornado... Sure man, why not... \*Drake flies away from London and fires fireballs at the tornado\* HEY! COME GET ME!

*Back at a liqour store in London*

Jonas: \*puts a case of liqour on a counter and puts 12 bucks on the counter too\*

Drake: This is getting boring! \*He's just flying around the tornado\*

*Debris is being flung at Drake*

Jonas: \*putting gasoline into each bottle of liqour\*

Drake: Shit shit shit! \*He gets his Shadow Pistol and shoots the debris to pieces\*

Jonas: \*is taking the bus back toward the forest\*

Drake: \*Is doing an impression of Jonas while shooting the debris\* Stall a tornado Drake, I'll be back Drake... Sure, take your time Jonas... I'm not doing nothing.

Jonas: Glad you aint', now get down here.

Drake: About time! \*He flies down\* So, what's the plan fluffy?

Jonas: \*tears off a piece of Drake's shirt and shoves it into a bottle. Lights a Blu cigarette and lighs the cloth and throws it into the tornado\*

Unisung: \*is hit with the bottle and is on fire. The tornado disappears and the debris falls all over the place\*

Drake: Molotov cocktails... Nice. \*Looks at his shirt\* ...If anyone asks, we kill 'em.

Jonas: That sounds awesome. \*smirks\*

*Unisung is consumed by the fire and blows away.*

Drake: Finally... But I got a feeling that's not the only one... \*He falls down on his back\* I need a drink... \*He stays quiet for a minute\* Hey Jonas... Does the M.C.C.P do mercenary work with people other than the Mythos... Because if it's against other companies and such... I'm totally down to do some work...

Jonas: Yea...what do you think I am? And I wouldn't drink those if I were you...

Drake: Awesome ... I'll be around. \*Drake gets up, throws a communicator to Jonas and walks to London\* Contact me when I can start... As for me, I got a man to find.

*In an underground Unsung cryo-chambers*

Computer: Project: Unisung has failed releasing Project: Neo.

*A man with black and red hair and blue eyes wakes up from inside his chamber and breaks out of it*

Man: Now, It is my time to demand a change. \*looks up into the sunlight crack in the roof\*

*Meanwhile in London, Drake is searching around.*

Drake: Where is that bastard... Where would he be...

Father: \*is holding a basket filled with vegetables and bumps into Drake\* Hey watch it you. \*walks past him\*

Drake: \*Turns back and grabs onto the father's shoulder\* You wanna say that to my face, fucking moron. If I weren't already looking for a guy, you'd be dead.

Father: Lucky that guy is. \*yanks his shoulder away and continues walking\*

Drake: God you're fucking infuriating... Wait, do you know a guy named Diakeim?

Father: No. Should I?

Drake: What about a girl named Elaonore?

Father: Sadly, Yes.

Drake: Good! \*He knees the father in the gut\* Idiot, Daikeim was with Elaonore when they arrived. This also means that you sent them two to the Unsung facility... \*He aims the Shadow Pistol directly at the father's head\* And I don't care how many people are here, I'd be more than happy to but a bullet between your eyes... Oh, by the way, name's Drake.

Father: \*swings his basket at the gun knocking it out of Drake's hand and pulls out his shotgun from his basket and aims it at Drake\* Oh, by the way, I don't care.

Drake: Heheh... Hahaha. I can't kill you if I wanted, Elaonore and Daikeim would kill me... \*Drake reached out for his gun, which flies into his hand\* Besides, you're human, so it'd be a bit cruel to kill you... Anyways, see ya'. \*Drake makes a portal and steps through it, with it closing afterwards\*

Father: God, I hate space. \*puts his shotgun back in his basket and walks on his way\*

## Reckon Day

*Omega, Mu, Epsilon, Gamma, and Alpha are helping build the Big Ben back up.*

Omega: Never liked Europe...

Mu: Hey, it's been 20 years, lighten up. Times may have changed. \*Smiles\*

Epsilon: There is only a 14% chance of that, Mu. But I get where you are coming from.

Omega: Stop being an ass to these people.

Gamma: They don't have any food in this part of town...

Alpha: Okay, lets go get lunch guys.

Gamma: REALLY?! \*Goes and hugs Alpha awkwordly.\* Can we get burgers?!

Mu: Ewww, meat...

Epsilon: We should eat hea-

Gamma: Don't say that word!

Omega: Pointless children's fights. Lets just go.

Gamma: Okay 'Grumpy' of the 7 dwarves.

Omega: My height doesn't matter. I can still punch your face in.

Alpha: Guys. Stop. Seriously.

*They enter a McDonalds for cheesebugers and a salad.*

*Alex exits the line at McDonald's with a large tray filled with food and drink. He walks past the entrance of the place as a group, apparently well armed individuals enter. He glances at them quickly before taking a cubicle at a nearby window, and digging into his meal.*

Alpha: 9 cheeseburgers and 1 side salad, 10 large fries, and 14 beers.

Casheer: No beers sir.

Omega: \*Picks up Casheer\* You sure about that punk?

Casheer: \*Touches panic button, police approach\*

Alpha, Mu, Epsilon, and Gamma: \*Sigh\* You ruined another meal, now lets go...

Alex: with his mouth full\* Man, you really (slurp) have an attitude problem, buddy(nom,nom). You ever try therapy?

Omega: You little! \*Throws apunch that is blocked by alpha. Alex notices that Alpha in sinking his shooes farther and farther into the ground because of Omega's streanth.\*

Police: Hands up Monster!

Omega: Grrr... \*Stops hitting Alpha.\* Your turn punks. \*Kills all the police in 5 minutes, hitting the dead bodies over and over.\*

Gamma: Can I have at LEAST 3 large fries?

Cook: \*nods head, eyes wide\*

Alpha: \*Over comm\* Computer, activate ship and hover near our location.

Computer: Yessir.

As the other customers rush out of the building, Alex stares at the pile of bodies on the ground and let's out a sigh. He stands up.

Alex: I wish for all of our sakes that you hadn't done that. Now my lunch is ruined...

Omega: \*Lifts Alex from his shirt collar\* What, punk?

Alpha: Put him down. \*sigh\*...

Omega: Punk, awnser me.

Mu: Just awnser him so we can go please? \*Sadly smiles\*

Alex: I'm sorry. I think you misunderstood me. What I meant to say was ***boost.***

Alex's necklace glows briefly before disappearing. A four pronged seal appears on his hand, one of the points extended further than the others a Alex swings his  legs back and smashes them into the angry man's chest. Omega is sent back into the adjacent cubicle.

*Omega cracks his knuckles as the rest of the team eats fries and sits down to watch.*

Omega: You ass. Your turn to be mocked!

*Omega punches 2 ribs in and then goes in for 3 kicks, kick-snaping 4 of Alex's tendons, disabling him.*

Omega: Lets hear that Power Rangers saying while you can't move shithead.

Alex: \*wheeze\* A month ago... \*wheeze\* That might have been the case. Now...

In one fluid motion, Alex kicks Omega's feet out from under him, stands and throws him by his foot into the kitchen, where the sizzling sounds suddenly get louder.

Alex:...Not so much. \*picks up soda\* (slurp) I feel better all of a sudden.

Alex looks at the man's apparent allies.

Alex: Anyone else want a go?

Omega: I... Ain't... Done... Shit!!!!!

*Omega punches Alex's skull in, then rips him into sheets of Alex Paper.*

*the pieces of Alex disappear suddenly, As Alex sits among the hooligans allies.*

*Alex: is he always this angry? (Slurp) how you doin'?  He says, winking at the female amongst them before jumping back to the floor. Looking at his hand, Alex looks surprised.*

*Alex: wow, I've already used two seals. Two! You should feel proud of yourself...not.*

Omega: Mu is Epsilon's girl, and my friend!

*Omega picks Alex up, and breaks his back and skull on his knee.*

OMega: Come back from THAT. \*Unloads a round of grenades into Alex's stomach\*

Alex: coughs up smoke. Ugh. That was just plain rude, you ass! Let's see how you like explosions...\*Raises hand\* ***Burst.*** A large wave of energy hits Omega square in the chest sending him flying out of the restaurant at a strange angle. Standing once again, Alex wipes the ash from his lips. looks at his hand as the third prong of his seal was used up. Now I have a bit of a headache...

Creeek...

*Omega bursts through the roof, slamming down on Alex.*

Omega: You have terrible reflexes ass. \*He watches the big fourth prong go away.\* Heh, you're out of lives punk. Put in anouther quarter, maybe that'll help.

Alex: says the guy who's about to shine like the spring festival...\*opens hands, revealing a single shining pin\* oh, and... I don't  need a quarter to win this fight. But you'll need a new life in a sec... \*A grenade goes off, setting the others on his belt off and lifting Omega off the ground. Taking advantage of the opening, Alex begins a speedy assault on The man that takes them half a mile away from the restaurant. As the attacks go on, Alex becomes more aggressive and subsequently more coordinated with his strikes, injuring Omega further than he would have, otherwise.

After about 5 blocks, Omega fell to the floor, bruised in multiple locations. Alex, wheezing again, took a while to catch his breath before throwing Omega his pin back."It's not a quarter but... who cares...Game Over. And, just a tip: don't think just because you have tactics that your arrogant as s won't get handed to you by a kid that knows what he's doing..." Alex then begins the walk(zombie shuffle) back to the fast food joint.

Omega: Heh... You need to be trained. I know a guy if your interested. Names Alpha, one of the guys watching... He'd train ya. Gets up, and walks back to the McD's.

Alex: Why not... got nothing better to do.I just hope there are girls there...

Mu: I'm the only girl...

Alex: Oh...(Sigh)

Epsilon: And you hit on her? You'll need an oxygen tank in space.

Alpha: Yea, I'll train you.

Gamma: You have one first thing to do: Get us some lunch. Omega can't and I buy "too much"...

*M.C.C.P workers come and overwhelm Mu, Epsilon and Alpha. Leaving Omega, Gamma, and Alex beaten and near death...*

Omega: \*Stands up\* RAWWWWWWWWWWWWW! \*Punches ground, nocking over Big Ben 3 miles away.\* Those are my BREATHERAN!!!! YOU CANNOT TAKE THEM!!!!!!!!!!!

*Omega jumps onto the ship, ripping a hole into it. Then is overwhelmed and taken as well, leaving Gamma and Alex.*

Gamma: Anyone wanna tell me what person can give THAT much of a headache?

Alex: No idea...but he's your friend, you tell me.\* Barely getting to his feet, Alex turns to Gamma. \*Can you move?

Gamma: I have a sheild. You may be hurt, but I only have a migrane. Helps me be conservative of energy.

*Gamma disables the sheild and puts his hands into his pockets.*

Gamma: Well... Can you run fast, fly or shizz? Our ship got destroyed and the other guys are a dot in the sky with a smoke signal.

Alex: I can run fast "and shizz", but I need a minute to heal... two fights in a row drained me pretty well.

Gamma: Here...

*Gamma heals Alex and restores the 4 prongs.*

Gamma: If all four prongs are used and you die, do you STILL come back?

Alex is shocked that Gamma could reset his seals, but begins to laugh when he asks if he'll die.

Alex: Die? As far as I know, I cant die. These powers are still new to me, but I dont think they're tied to my life energy.\*shows gamma his hand\* These prongs are seals that constantly draw in and store energy. When I use one, I can either absorb that energy or fire it. The downside is that the extra power only amplifies my current state; it doesnt restore me first. A moment ago, using the final seal would have been barely enough to bring me back to normal. Thanks to you, I think I may have found a new limit. \*smirks\* So where am I running to?

Gamma: Well, this'll be difficult to explain... Basically I'll put my sheild around us like a mouse's wheel. Then you'll run and I'll bounce around and we'll follow the smoke trail. Sound good?

*Gamma puts the sheild up.*

*Alex: Alright. I hope your stomach can handle it...*

*Alex activates two of his seals and begins to run faster than he was ever capable of before. He tries his best to avoid stepping on Gamma as he goes.*

*Everytime Alex ran out of seals, Gamma would re do them, and they'd run faster. And faster. And Gamma now has a black eye. But, they are at the compound Outpost 17B of M.C.C.P organization.*

Gamma: MAN! This place is g-a-u-r-d-e-d! We SURE they'll be hurt in there?

Omega: \*from inside\* GET THIS NEEDLE OUT OF ME!!

Gamma: ...

Alex has stopped speaking some time ago. His aura is coming off of him in waves of black and red. As they traveled further, and Alex's limits were broken, he began to require the aid of his seals less and less. Standing near the gates, Alex finally spoke.

Alex: Lets bust through. Right at their front door...

Gamma: Alex.... Have you gone cra cra? That's a 9 inch steel gate with LASER CANNONS. My sheilds can only do so much... I think they are invincible but YOU arn't! We need like, a plan? That the word?

Alex: *A strange look crossed his face as his previously aggressive visage was replaced with a much softer, calmer expression. The seal on his hand disappeared, returning to its necklace form.*Okay, what do you have in mind?

Gamma: I'm the LAZY guy. Normally Epsilon or Alpha would plan stuff...

Alex: Plan B then. Shield up! \*grabs Gamma and jumps over the gates. as the guards fire on them Alex uses th shield surrounding Gamma to block. He makes sure to avoid the turret fire as he and Gamma somehow manage to take out the guards and make it to the entrance. Alex blows a hole in it with one of Gammas grenades and they make it inside.

Alex: Wow. All of that without using a seal. Huh.

Gamma: Huf... Puf... That... Was... Un... called... For... Just let me catch my breath... I wish Omega would've been here, he could just walk in, walk out with all of us plus some, then blow it up without a sheild....

*An explosion on the other end happens, and the team comes out. They are followed by a green-haired girl with flower katanas that are being thrown.*

Omega: I can't carry all of them @$#%heads!

Dont worry about that right now...wait, who's that? Alex said upon noticing the addition to the group.

Ameno Uzumi: I'm not supposed to let you get away! If you'd be so kind as to come back?

Omega: Hell no!

*Omega hands the rest of the group to Alex and Gamma. He then charges Ameno, hitting her spine and breaking her arms.*

Omega: She'll be crippled, but alive.

Gamma: Dude...

Alex: Pick her up. We can't leave her like that. It's not right. Better yet... \*throws Epsilon to the ground; Walks over and gently lifts Ameno into his arms\* Ill take her. You deal with the guns outside so we can leave.

Epsilon: That's... Jonas'... Girl.....

*Alpha and Gamma help carry Mu and Epsilon while Omega fights.*

Omega: We shouldn't help her.

Jonas: Actually. \*rams into Alex making him drop Ameno and catches her\* I got 'er.

Alex: Im getting-pretty fed up with you thick headed bully types. So unless you have a damn good reason for me to hand that girl over to the hairy hillbilly, you and I are gonna-

Jonas- Im Jonas the fuckin werepyre, and this darlin here is my girlfriend. So I suggest you all get outta here quick as possible young blood. 'Fore I put you all in cages...Wont be no'n gentle bout it neither.

Omega: I hate people in your line of work. I hate you. i hate that girl. SO GO FUCK YOURSELF!

*Omega punches Jonas into little peices before calling the ship.*

 Alpha: Remind me not to piss him off...

Alex: Whatever. Let's get the heck out of here before **I**decide to break something...

## The Neo Seeker

*A portal appears in an entrance of a underground lab, a figure then walks out and looks around.*

Drake: Hmm... Something fascinating, well this is gonna be a boring ass mission. \*He opens the doors to the lab and he searches around\*

*A note is on the ground.*

Drake: \*Picks it up and starts to read it\*

Jides' Notes:*"The vessel is almost ready. I must require the samples of body tissue and blood from the patient in Test Chamber 1A and the power will surpass that of Weapon Draconis. Hopefully this boy has much potential as I am making it turn out to be. The time for true change starts now."*

Drake: Daikeim... Shit. First the Ealonore clone now him, hehe... True change? The Admin was right, he's a mad man... \*Drake puts the note in his pocket and continues walking throughout the lab\*

*Glass,broken boxes an numerous papers are all over the place and numerous creaking can be heard from the rusted walls too.*

Drake: Well... The fuck happened here? There must be a reason why this place got abandoned in the first place... Must be pretty recent as well since this guy knows about Daikeim... \*He goes around collecting anything of worth\*

*A folder with numerous notes anatomy schematics.*

Drake: Mine. \*He picks it up and opens it, closing it afterwards\* ...Instant regret. \*He puts the in the HSC and continues exploring the lab\*

*There is a DVD sticking out of some broken glass.*

Drake: ...This isn't gonna be good... \*He picks up the CD and finds a CD player, he puts it in and presses "play"\*

Dr.Drekavas: For many years now...we had a dream of change....into a better being....this is why we have the theory of evolution and for years people believed it was true....but the evidence you see today are not the missing links to human evolution...but instead skeletal remains of common apes and ancient men who have died of sickness and/or bad weather...Man refuses to belive that....they still believe in change....I don't know what it may be...but I will find it...and once I do...the dream will be complete...and the last song this world will hear will be Unsung...

Drake: A mad man with a hopeless dream... \*He takes the CD out and stores it\* So... Where the hell is that "fascinating" object!?

*There is a chamber door that says "Lab of Failures"*

Drake: This'll be interesting... \*He walks up to the door and opens it, he then walks through\*

*Shows tubes of water with misshapen figures of Zane and Daikeim in every single one of them.*

Drake: Hoooooooooly shit... \*Drake gets a camera out of his HSC and goes down the chamber, taking pictures along the way.\* This is all kinds of disturbing, I'm gonna blow this place sky high before I go back...

*At the end of the lab lies a broken chamber pod labeled "Project: Neo"*

Drake: Well... That explains why this place is abandoned... \*He takes one last picture before putting the camera away\* Neo... That doesn't sound good... But regardless, I got what I came for. \*He starts setting down explosives around the tubes as he walks out the chamber\*

*a rumbling can be felt from above*

Drake: But first... \*He finishes filling the lab with bombs and exits to see what's causing the rumbling\*

*Above all of London a black and red light can be seen. The skies go dark and red lightning flashes. London is then being lifted from the ground and into the stormy sky.*

Drake: The fuck...? \*He goes into his Aura dragon form and flies up to London\*

*All of London panics as the thunder gets louder.*

Drake: Ugh... Humans are so easily scared, it's only a floating city... \*He lands and looks up\* Hmmm, guessing that the thing causing this is the Project...

*Debris is floating up into the air as lightning strikes the floating London. The winds whisper 'Change'.*

Drake: Change? Ok... Who the fuck are you? 'Cause I'm sure wind doesn't talk...

*The light takes form of an adult with black and red hair coming over his forehead with the eyes of that of Daikeim. He wears a black, high-collared, leather coat that has a red interior and red lining. The coat has an X-shaped strap across the top and has red techno-lining designs on the back. He also wears black pants with red geometrical patterns which glow. And finally is wearing button-strap combat gloves with red lining. He has his arms folded like a badass.*

Drake: So... Project: Neo. Looks threatening enough but... Why don't you prove it?

*With just a mere thought sends Drake flying to the park*

Drake: Oh your mother FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCKEEEERR! \*He lands against a tree, when he gets up. He sees the OMEGA team, Jonas and a dying Ammo\* Thank me later you two... \*He opens his spell book and aims his hand at Ammo, a ritual ring appears underneath her. And in a matter of seconds, Ammo is bad to full health with no damage, he does the same with Jonas\*

Omega: What sent you here? Big fying guy in the sky? HRRRRRRRRRAAAAHHH!!!!

*Omega jumps up to punch Neo, but gets sent through the city of London, to the ground below...*

Gamma: Shit... Can we just go and pretend this never happened? \*Starts sheild up over the 3 wounded of his team.\*

Omega: I ain't done!!!!

*Omega Punches Neo before Jonas and Drake, breaking the shirt.*

*Project: Neo* *is unaffected and take Omega's arm and crushes it with one hand,then grabs his face and cracks His helmet and let him fall to the ground below.*

Drake: Ugh... Moron. Jonas, with me. \*He goes into his Half Dragon form\* The rest of you metal faces, if you wanna join us in beating this bastard down, be my guest. Just don't get in my way, either that or make sure the dumb one doesn't die from that fall. \*He looks at Jonas and points to Ammo\* Two things, nice girl you got here and do you think she'll be able to help?

Jonas: It never stopped her before, no has it?

*The figure lands on a tall stick debris coming from the ground and looks up into the hectic sky.*

Ameno: I'll stick to healing. Be safe Joney! \*Half hugs, then flies off to help Omega\*

Gamma: I'm like, the only fighter... \*Puts personal sheilds around all of them.\* Sigh, you owe me pizza after this...

*All three go in for an attack.*

Omega: THEY FORGOT ME!!!!!!!!!!!

*Omega jumps upward, landing on Project: Neo, then holding Project: Neo up as a punching bag for the others.*

Drake: Heh... \*He covers his hands in explosive energy and flies up to Project: Neo and punches him in the gut, sending Omega and Project: Neo to be pushed back\* ...Hmph

*The figure frees himself from Omega's grasp and grabs his face and punches him hard enough to penetrate his armor and incinerates him from the inside.*

Omega: That... Tickled...

*Gamma heals Omega in full from his station, then Omega continues to hit the figure. He eventually hits the figure hard enough for a groan of pain.*

Omega: Suck it dirtbag \*kicks figure to Jonas\*

Jonas: Aw crap! I wasn't ready for that! \* is smacked back Omega by the figure and both fall to the ground\*

*The figure looks at little blood coming from the corner of his mouth and wipes it of and rubs it against his fingers.*

Drake: \*Looks at Jonas, Omega and the figure and sighs\* Right... \*He looks at Project: Neo and smirks\* Guess it's just you and me! \*He flies at Project: Neo and kicks the side of his head, sending him flying. Drake then sprints and Project: Neo and slams both his fists downwards on him, crashing him down into the floor\*

Omega: Alright, you called for it... HHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

*Omega and the figure start a real fight, with multible punches and kicks, many hits and even more misses. They seem to be at a stale mate, so this leavs Jonas to help Drake.*

Jonas: \*sees a bazooka\* Awwww snap, yes! \*gets the bazooka and aims carefully and fires at the figure and gets a direct hit\* Bomm-shaka-laka!

*The smoke clear and the figure is completely unaffected*

Jonas: Aw crap.

*The figure's eyes shine and and two quick flash beams of light shoot Jonas in the chest*

Jonas:....Ow...\*falls over\*

Drake: \*Sees the fight\* Oh for god's sake... \*He stomps Project: Neo's head into the ground and walks over and looks at the figure\* Hey shitface, I appreciate the fact that you're not with us. Because that allows me to crack some more skulls. But I don't appreciate piercing my friend's chest with lasers, so I'm sorry. \*He flies at the figure and punches him in the gut, he then grabs the figure's arms and throws him too the floor\* So, what's your name? If you have one?

Gamma: Scary people with laser eyes have NAMES?! Every monster movie EVER is wrong! I mean seriously wrong!

*The figure shoots his Alpha Beam and it makes a direct shot into Drake's eyes. He grabs Drake's head and factures his skull with one hand. He then puts one finger on the center of his forehead and quick streaks of light piece Drake through his heart and blood spills from Drake's body. The figure drops Drake.*

"You ask who I am...I am Drekavas, The Neo Seeker..."

Drake: \*Coughs up blood and gets up, only seeing through one eye\* That's... Nice. Hehe... I'll tell you about me now... \*Drake's aura darkens to a dark grey\* My name is Drake Ryunexo of the Ryunexo mercenary group... Also known as the Soul of Revival. \*He smirks, also showing a dragon-like fang while doing so\* And I'll give you something... Drekavas, you already kicked my ass pretty easily... \*Drake's aura enlarges, Drake then begins laughing\* But, now this changes! \*He growls\* I'm gonna send you and your toy down to hell and back! \*He roars, causing a shockwave that can be felt all across London\*

Omega: Hey! This g-

Gamma: Just walk away... Just walk away from the scary monster people... \*Gamma picks up Jonas and loads everyone on the ship, then they fly to outer space, leaving Gamma and Omega so Jonas can be healed.\*

Omega: Ready Gamma?

Gamma: Let's go die. For the team!

Omega and Gamma: HOO-RAH! \*Run and join the fight, Gamma holding Project: Neo back while Dragon-Drake and Omega try to kill Drekavas.\*

Drekavas: \*grabs Gamma's head and throws him at Omega and Drake and shoots him with his Alpha Beam\*

Drake: \*Steps in the way and deflects the beam with his hand\* That your best!? \*He flies at Drekavas and charges a dark energy ball and fires it directly at Drekavas' face. Drake then teleports behind him and grabs the back of his neck and repeatedly punches him in the spine and back, Drake then fires a blast into his back, sending his crashing into some buildings\*

*Omega catches Gamma, and the pull out popccorn.*

Gamma: This is very interesting. \*Puts sheild around Drake, so that Drake can hit OUT but Drekavas cant hit IN.

Drekavas: \*reappears infront of Drake and puts his hands on the shield and it breaks like glass. The glass swirl around into razors and strike Drake's wings off\* Do you know understand my purpose in all this? A change is arriving. Change cannot be stopped. It keeps repeating the process. A process that can't be broken.

Drake: Too bad you won't be there to see it... \*Drake punches through Drekavas' chest and fires a beam into his face, Drake then pulls his hand out and smiles evilly. Drake then grabs Drekavas by hims and and dislocates them, then Drake laughs once more and creates a dome around Drekavas and slowly shrinks it. Crushing him in the process\*

Gamma: S. C. A. R. Fucking Y. Scary... Remind me not to piss Drake off...

Omega: Will do...

*Red lightning strikes the dome and Drekavas releases himself in the process.*

Drekavas: \*seems after the damage dealt by Drake, seems not to bother him\* Interesting enough. You don't understand. *I*will be the one to bring forth that change. And that change will be Unsung. Man for ages believed in evolution, because they believed they changed into something better. I soon relized this to be false through thorough study of "proof". All of them proved to be hoaxes. But metamorphosis for instance was a true change. From one thing to the next. Man are afraid because their not strong enough, their too fragile and create mechanisms that can kill them easily. I wish to change that. To make it where they can be near unstoppable.\*gestures at himself\* Like me.

Drake: Getting... Real tired... Of your shit. So do me a favor... \*Drake appears infront of Drekavas and uses his tail to strangle Drekavas, Drake then unsheathes his sword and slashes him\* AND SHUT THE FUCK UP!

Gamma: Drevie [Drekavas] better be quiet...

*Omega rips Drekavas' head off, slowly hearing him scream in pain and agony.*

Omega: That satisfying enough? Just get him in an unbreakable cell at M.C.C.P or something...

Drekavas: \*laughs and he regrows a new head and the Omega has explodes. Cuts Drake's tail off with his hand\* You've gotta love Demonic Physiology. \*puts his hand forward and a streak of light passes Drekavas' hand. Once he grabs the light, it turns into the Draconia blade, hybridized with Zane's blade\*

Drake: My fucking tail and wings... \*Drake aims his sword at Drekavas\* You'll pay! \*He gets in a stance and glares at Drekavas\*

Drekavas: \*Sighs\* If you must.

*Drake roars and flies at intense speeds towards Drekavas, preparing his blade for the final strike. Just as Drake swings his sword at Drekavas, Drekavas charges his sword with Alpha Energy and slices across Drake's chest in an instant. Causing Drake to instantly fall to the ground in fatigue, making him unconscious.*

Drekavas: Too bad you don't live up to the warrior you think you are...

Omega: MY MOTHERFUCKING HAND! YOU BLEW OFF MY H-

*\*WOOSH\* The Ship comes, dropping off Alpha and Jonas.*

Alpha: I got the parts to help Omega!

*Alpha rushes at full speed, stopping the blood loss and putting together a hand made of metal.*

Alpha: It should carry the same streangh as your real hand, and it can withstand air, water, and fire. It also has a personal up-down sheild. You should be in fighting shape!

Omega: ... ... .... ARG THIS FUCKING HURTS! Fine, lets go.

*Alpha picks up Drake and they escape on the ship...*

Drekavas: \*watches them leave\* The world must be destroyed, and from the ashes it will arise anew. For this is the true meaning of change. \*disappears and London slowly returns back to Earth\*

## The Offer

Alex trained inside of a London Dojo, attempting to increase his strength and test his already enhanced limits.

*A figure wearing a dark one-strap hooded robe is standing behind Alex*

Alex: How long do you want to stand there without saying something?

Figure: Hard to believe you still train after all that has transpired here recently.

Alex: The stronger I get, the less I have to fight. And they say the meek shall inherit the earth? Please. I don't care about ambiance, as long as I can get better. Now what do you want?

Figure: I'm here to lend you an offer. To help you hone your skills and help purge the world of life, death, Hell, pain, and responsibility.

Alex: \*begins a handstand\*I don't care about most of those things to begin with. But go on...

Figure: Do wonder why there is still violence today?

Alex- Because the strong assert their power on the weak. You don't need to be a genius to know that.

Figure: Of course. You see? You share our ideals. Now, if you join us, we can exact revenge on the very being we feared and killed us. God himself. And we will take his place on the throne.

Alex: And who is the "us" you're referring to?

Figure: There are more of 'us', more of 'you' \*points at Alex\*

Alex: You mean Nephalem?\*stops his exercise\* Where?

*Someone taps Alex from behind*

*Alex sweeps his arm back at the intruder, only to hit air.*

*Another figure is behind him only slightly taller*

Alex turns completely around. He sees multiple individuals standing before him.

Alex: \*turns to figure\* If I were to accept, what would you have me do?

Figure: We are searching for a way to obtain perfect unity of all oppositions, but we are being pursued by our parents. The angels and demons of God and Satan. We must hold them off until we have made our preparations complete. \*puts his hand out seeking him to join them\*

Alex: At least it sounds like you've got a plan.\*smirks\* And you just might have some answers to the questions I've wondered about.\*walks over and takes the figure's hand\* Okay. Let's see what you've got.

Figure: Enthusiasm. Let's see how well you can apply that to your new job.

*The figure behind Alex gives him a hooded robe*

Figure: This will hide you from your enemies, but in the event they spot you, don't hesitate to send them to a place beyond both Heaven and Hell.

Alex takes the cloak, draping it around himself.\* I don't think I'll have a problem with that. \*Pulls up his hood, obscuring his face from sight.\* How do I look?

Figure: Death to your enemies and a face to be remembered by all once we reveal our triumph.

Alex: A bit too poetic for my taste, but alright. What's next?

Figure: Now, you come with us. \*dark portal opens and everyone walks into it\*

## The Death of A.H.

*A.H. is sipping Coffe at his home in South Mars. He then hears a nock at the door and a package left. "Kill Prodigy" and an adress are on it.*

*A.H. crashes through prodigy's strip club in London.*

Prodigy: \*feels the crash\* There is too much going on here today. \*walks outside\*

A.H: [Brother: You will die. It's just a warning. Repent now!] \*Goes in for punch after punch\*

***BANG!***

Ameno Uzumi: Yea, he hired me, I don't think he'll die today! Sorry!

A.H: [ARG! Are you an idiot?!] \*Shoots shot gun into her abdomon, leg, and scrapes her head and chest.\*

*Elsewhere:*

Alpha: where do we drop you guys off? \*Looks at Ameno's seat\* Great, we're missing one guys.

Drake: \*Gets up and looks at the hatch in the floor, he forcefully opens it up and jumps down it. Slowly falling down to the floor, the second he lands. A crater is formed with Drake in the middle\* Ugh... \*His hand goes over his busted eye\* This still stings... Anyways. \*He looks around him and walks\* Going where ever this takes me...

Prodigy: \*dodges and blocks every punch A.H. throws at him\* Are you serious? I am trying to tart an honest buiseness here an you do this? Have you lost your mind?

A.H: [You have killed millions. Time for you to feel real pain.] \*punches Produgy's nose in\*

Omega: Dude! Calm down! \*Holds A.H back.\*

Jonas notices Ammo on the floor as A.H struggles to get free.

Jonas: \*limps over to Ammo\* It's alright...It's a good thing I got this \*pulls out his teleporter and picks up Amma and walks over to Drake\*...Looks like were gonna be gettin' a day off...\*smirks and teleports all 3 of them back to the M.C.C.P\*

Prodigy: \*wipes his nose\* Ever heard the term, "Forgive and Forget"? \*punches A.H. and twist it upon hit him\*

A.H: [You killed my city's my friends. You will die he-]

*In slo-mo: Omega rips A.H's head off,*Prodigy: He was mine!, *Omega throws the helmet to Epsilon...*

Epsilon: .... No ... No no NNNNOOOO!!!!!!!! That was our BROTHER! OUR BROTHER!

Mu: Why did you do that?! WHY?!

Alpha: Art... Art's dead... ART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gamma: Dude.... Dude that's like... Brutal man....

Omega: He... No... What... SHIT! NO! ART!!!!!

Prodigy: Good ridance. \*goes back inside the strip club\*

Omega: What did I just do.... Why...

Alpha: Mu, Epsilon, Gamma - on the ship. Omega isn't one of us...

*Omega falls to his knees, with A.H's helmet in his hands...*

Gamma: If he isn't one of us, I ain't one of us either. If that makes sense?

Alpha: Last chance. In, or out.

Gamma: \*walks over to Omega\* Out. Go fuck yourself Alpha.

*Mu, Epsilon, and Alpha get on the ship.*

Omega: Gamma, you should've gone with them... You just gave up your life...

Gamma: Dude, who was with me my first painful year at H.O.L.E? Was it even ONE of them? No. It was you. You stuck with me, I'm sticking with you. We're brothers, remember?

Omega: \*Stands up\* Yea... Heh, brothers man.

*The pair head out for donuts, being careful to take A.H's body to a mourge.*

## Noli Draconis

*Drake appears in a town, he takes a minute to glance around before entering one of the bars located there. He walks up to the counter and takes a set, he asks the bartender for any drink, moments later to receive a simple beer. He takes a second to sip before quietly laughing and then speaking loudly.*

Drake: So... What's all of your opinions on a Mytho?

*The bartender scoffs.*

Bartender: Worthless and pathetic, waste of space if you ask me... And everyone here.

Drake: Then tell me, you believe in aliens?

Bartender: Non-existent, can't be real...

Drake: \*Smirks\* You're not very opened minded, aren't you?

Bartender: \*Speaks in a more hostile voice\* If you want a drink here, you'll shut up. Or do you want one of these men to break your back and kick you out?

*Drake takes a second to look around the room, he then laughs again.*

Drake: Here's an idea, why don't you make me? You're a bartender, you should have a gun on you, right? If not, you're as worthless as the Mytho you insult.

Bartender: Ok, that's it! \*He grabs a Winchester rifle from under the counter and aims directly at Drake\* Get out! You're banned for life!

Drake: What's with the sudden hostility? I only asked for your opinion, and here's my opinion; you're a dumbass with a pathetic life.

*The bartender fires at Drake, catching everyone's attention. The place stays quiet before they can hear laughing coming from Drake, who has caught the bullet between his teeth. He bites down and crushes it.*

Drake: Nice try... \*He takes out his Shadow Pistol and loads an Ember bullet\* Y'know what one of these are? They're called an Ember bullet, think of it like phosphorous... But, the second it touches you, the bullet explodes and releases a fire hotter than the surface of the sun... This pretty much turns you to blood stained ash in under ten seconds. \*He aims it at the bartender, who is motionless due to fear\*

Bartender: W-What are you!?

Drake: \*Has a evil grin on his face\* You may call me... Red Cinere. \*He fires, he watches as the bartender screams in pain and is reduced to ash. He takes a sip of his beer, stands up and looks at everyone else\* So, as anyone would say... \*He aims his Shadow Pistol at everyone and fires\* Leave no witnesses.

*A minute later, Drake exits the bar, wiping off any ash that was on him. He then continues walking to a different town.*

Drake: That was fun, but I hope the next bar will have better company...

*Omega falls from the sky onto Drake, pushing his head into the path.*

Omega: Sorry to ruin the party. Thought you were selfish not inviting me.

*Drake throws Omega off of him and gets up, he looks at Omega and sighs.*

Drake: Great, one of the metal faces arrived... What do you want? I'm too busy entertaining myself. \*He puts his hands into his pockets\*

Omega: \*Grabs Drake's hair and points his head to the bar\* That, That was my FAVORITE bar. \*Pushes Drake to his knees. Then breaks his nose\*

Drake: ...It's still there, just that no one is alive. \*Drake gets up and places his hand over his nose and heals it, he then smirks\* If you're looking for a fight tin man... \*Drake then has a evil smile and cracks his knuckles\* Then bring it.

Omega: The Bartender had a wife - \*Punches Drakes head, giving a severe concussion\* - Two kids - \*Breaks Drake's spine\* - A dog - \*Breaks Drake's arm\* - 9 mortgages on the Bar and his house - \*Kicksnaps all of Drake's tendons, paralyzing him\* - and his parents died by the hand of a dragon at age 12. \*Kicks Drake's stomach, making him vomit blood\*

*Drake fades away in black fire and reappears fully healed in the air charging a massive fireball.*

Drake: Hmm, that was interesting... But that ain't gonna kill me that easily...

*Drake throws the fireball at Omega, causing him to get engulfed in black fire. When the smoke clears, Omega is sent flying into some more buildings, Drake then laughs once again and walks up to Omega and grabs his arm and tightens his grip, crushing his arm and armour. Drake then throws Omega aside and charges another fireball and blasts it directly into Omega's helmet, causing the visor to melt off.*

Drake: You're impressive for a golem... \*He places his foot on Omega's chest and presses down, keeping him in place. Drake then creates multiple energy blades and sticks them into Omega's feet and hands\* But, your survival depends on if this fight can entertain me. You manage to keep up, you live. Fuck up? And you ain't gonna live the same way ever again...

Omega: Sounds fair. Just one thing - Wrong. Arm. \*He rips from Drakes grasp, and takes his helmet off, exposing the metalic flesh substance. (Looks like a shiny human, like he is wet or something)\* Suck it. \*Punches Drake's skull in.\*

Drake: \*Has a evil smile and tribal markings appear on Drake's face, bones can be heard repairing themselves\* Next time, learn what a Cyanican can do... \*Drake goes into his Aura Dragon form, but it is now black. Drake wraps his tail around Omega's neck and tightens his grip, causing Omega to suffocate to near death. Drake's tail throws Omega into another building, this time causing it to collapse onto Omega\* Come on... I'm getting bored... Where's the rest of your little group of friends? They probably have a better chance at hurting me...

Omega: \*Pucks up building, throws it at Drake. Hides behind it running just as fast, and when Drake easily deflects it, Omega breaks his skull\* I. Hate. Regeneration.

Drake: \*His skull repairs itself\* That's too bad, also. You're boring me... \*Drake slams his fist into Omega's stomach, causing him to vomit into his helmet. Drake then flipkicks Omega away, Drake charges another black fireball and throws it at Omega. The moment the fireball burns out, Drake is infront of Omega and has another evil smile.\* So, you got yourself one cybernetic hand... How about a whole forearm? \*Drake summons a sword and kicks Omega to the floor and slices Omega's forearm off\* I win... \*Drake then walks away\*

Omega: Am I dead? You coward. You unhonorable COWARD! \*Picks up arm and slaps Drake with it\* You DO NOT FIGHT! You USE the abilities you DID NOT EARN to fight those who DID! \*Punches Drake's heart, pulling it out\* YOU MAKE ME SICK! \*Breaks Drake's skull\*

*Drake fades away in black fire and reappears fully healed.*

Drake: I'm unhonorable? You're the one fighting in a suit... \*He exits his Aura Dragon mode and gets in a Cyanic fighting stance\* Regardless, you've sealed your fate... \*Drake charges at Omega and sweepkicks him into the air, Drake then jumps above him and slams his heel down on Omega's chest, denting his armor and breaking a couple of ribs\* I did not say I would kill you, I said you won't live the same way again... And in the state you're in, I can see that happening.

*Drake grabs hold of Omega by the head and slam him down into the floor, Drake then keeps Omega's leg still and slams his forearm down. Breaking Omega's knee. Drake gets up and presses his foot down on Omega's chest and slowly crushes his chest. Drake notices a communicator on Omega's armour, he picks it up and gets it to work.*

Drake: If I were you, I'd follow this signal and help your friend out, he's in a shitty state. \*He looks at Omega and smirks\* I ain't heartless, but ruthless. \*He drops the communicator and goes into his Aura Dragon and flies to a different town\*

*A day passes, and Drake is seen exiting a town that has been set ablaze. Drake looks back and laughs, he then turns his head back and focuses on the forest ahead of him.*

Drake: Well... That was fun, but now I'm bored... \*Enteres the forest and begins playing around with a black fireball\* Hmm, maybe I'll find tinman's little group and end their lives... Or just break 'em... Soo many options...

A figure suddenly appears not far from Drake, and appeared to look at Drake, the figure comes closer and says "Hello there, My name is the Mirage of Void, You entered my line of vision, therefor I now have to have a conversation with you for some reason."

Drake: ...\*The fireball dissolves\* ...Sure. \*He continues walking\*

Mirage: Honestly you look like a black silhouette, Also, There's some people behind a strange wall talking about you. \*Mirage said as he followed\*

Drake: Coming from someone who looks like a phantom, also, what strange wall?

Mirage: The 4th wall, Also, One of them said something about marriage, You with... Angeli, Or something, I don't keep track of everything.

Drake: ...You're already annoying me, what do you want? And make it quick, I need to go get the blood off of my clothes...

Mirage: I can clearly tell that you're not annoyed, in a rush or stressed, therefor i will just delay the discussion as long as possible. \*Mirage says in a sarcastic tone.\*

Drake: Oh yay... \*Drake creates a fireball and bounces it between his hands\*

Mirage: Just pointing out, One of your friends just died. \*Mirage seemed to be quite aware of things he shouldn't be aware of, He suddenly claps his hands together and mutters something in an unknown language\* Rekh mih brel trok whu kerr. \*Mirage suddenly flashes purple as another version of him, a temporary clone, appears for a split second and then disappears elsewhere\*

Drake: ...Died? Who the hell cou-- ...Oh shit.

Mirage: Somebody named Elaonore.

Drake: Oh, nevermind then... \*Throws the fireball at a tree and continues walking, he gets his spellbook and starts reading spells from it\* Hmm, this'll be fun to use. The next town is gonna get reduced to ruins after this..

Mirage seemed to ignore him and began to mutter something suspicious.

Drake: \*Turns to look at Mirage\* The hell are you doing...

"Oh, Nothing at all, Just Machanerz Critah." Mirage said as he pointed at drake and surrounded drake in a bunch of runes and smoke, This was a mind control spell.

Drake: ...Using spells against a spellcaster? Hmph... \*Tribal markings appear all over Drake, he smirks as he swipes his hand through the air. Causing the runes and smoke to dissipate, he then aims his hand towards Mirage\* Well then, lets see who's the better spellcaster! Kaosuboru! \*A black sphere grows in Drake's open palm, it charges with dark energy. Drake then fires it at Mirage\*

Mirage: Oh whatever shall i do? I'm being attacked by a spellcaster murderer retard. \*Mirage snaps his finger and counterspells it, As it dissipates into nothing, He then continues with throwing a simple silence to remove Drake's magic abilities for a few seconds and then mirage proceeds to fire three orbs of energy that surround Drake.\*

Drake: Heh... Y'know, if you really want someone who matches your 'skill'. I know a group of people who'd be more than happy to play with you. \*Fades away in fire and appears behind Mirage and slams a white orb into his back, blasting him away\* Though I'll admit, your spells will be fun to learn...

Mirage suddenly turns around, And creates a really quick barrier that would sort of bounce Drake back as he appeared all the sudden, Mirage then proceeded with "I'd like you to try, Since it would take a few centuries for you to even understand the language."

Drake: \*He smirks once again\* Give me a few years and I'll be able to casts your spells. But I must say, you better have a different form of attacking. Because silencing me isn't gonna do much, let's go! \*Drake goes into his Aura Dragon form and allows his Aura to form off, acting like a clone of Drake. They charge at Mirage and grab him and slams him into the floor, Drake and his Aura clone jump back and sees what happens next\*

Mirage had created a clone from before that would appear whenever necessary, It appears in mid-charge, Grabs Drake's head, augments his strength to be able to counter his speed ten fold and proceeds to smash Drake's head into the ground, Mirage himself suddenly disappears and the clone of Drake suddenly appeared in another state of time and was also smashed into the ground, although faster.

Drake: ...Well, that was something. Regardless, this is boring me. And I'mma fuck off, see you later phantom. \*He smirks and fades away in fire\*

## A New War

Ameno and Jonas stare up into the sky, the unusual sight of the aurora borealis filling the sky both amazing and somewhat disturbing.

Jonas: Hm. Well dat ain't right.

An M.C.C.P. soldier runs up to them. "We just got news from command, apparently these lights are being caused by some sort of massive energy increase related to portals, which are causing an unknown army of what appear to be.... ninjas and elementals to appear, the majority of our forces are out matched and outnumbered, even with reinforcements!"

Jonas: Shoot, man. Then let the Myths handle this. I gotta do somethin' about Ameno. Tell Admin to release one of his other Weapons he has in his basement. I'm unavailable.

Suddenly a massive portal opens right next to them, and hundreds of black and red enemy troops erupt forth, each of them with a red bird emblem on their chest-plates. Their front line forces charge with energy shields, and they lock sight with Jonas, Ameno, and the soldier.

"C-crap! I don't wanna die!" The soldier yells as the army begins to form a large circle around the three, their rear side also erecting shields from their arms to avoid being flanked. After more than at least 500 hundred of these troops arrive, a single man with dark irises and white pupils emerges, wielding a strange sword.

"Well well well... if it isn't Jonas McVienel... I hear you're quite the big shot in M.C.C.P..." He chuckles. "A werepyre... thought I'd only see those in a bad fan fiction of Twilight."

Jonas: Man, everyone's a sucker for Twilight. But you don know that things gonna happen with Jacob and Bella's child. A bit pedophilic if you ask me.

The man chuckles. "Oh I know alright... say wolfly, you wouldn't happen to have seen a young man wearing a mask and eyes like mine now would ya?"

Jonas: Nah, don't believe I have.

The man covers his face with his hand. "How unfortunate. I was hoping he would accept our invitation. ...It seems the Dark Phoenix really is a traitor."

He looks up and sees Ameno. "Say now... who's this pretty little girl anyhow?" Jonas can tell from just looking in this man's eyes that while this man seems at ease and more or less carefree at the moment, his eyes hold a dangerous energy to them. The potential for him to become a threat seems high.

Jonas: This has a 'No touchin' policy'. If you are smart and not big asshole, you should respect the policy.

As if there was an unspoken signal, the troops surrounding them begin to move out, leaving the four standing there.

The man smiles, not reassuring Jonas. "Oh trust me little wolf. I don't care about touchin' nothing." He pauses, sniffing the air suddenly. "What is that scent I smell... seems... *familiar..."*

Jonas: Is it the guy yer lookin' fer?

The man looks back toward them. "No."

Before he can even blink, the man suddenly has Ameno unconscious in his grasp, standing before him as though he hadn't moved. "I just found an unbounded elemental!" He cackles.

He blocks Jonas's first attack with ease, his sword able to withstand Jonas's strength.

"Aww calm down there wolfy... it's only a measly Earth Elemental. They're not worth anyone's time..." He chuckles. Some of his men return, and erect a red barrier infront of Jonas, blocking him off from the man.

He sets Ameno down carefully, and looks at his men. "Prepare to summon the beast." They, nod, and begin some kind of spell.

Jonas angerly punches the barrier, but it refuses to give.

Jonas: Fine...just give me a moment. \*takes off his coat. His vision becomes sharply impared. His arms grow longer and he starts growing hair and his face changes ito that of a wolf. He gets taller, finally after the transformation is complete, he roars. In a few moments he braks the barrier in a single strike and in a even more few moments decapitates all of the soldiers and is know face to face with the man\* Warned you about the policy.

The man, unimpressed, suddenly stabs Ameno in the chest, and her body solidifies and turns to stone, then slowly crumbles into the sword, it beginning to take a green glow as it absorbs her. When finished, he brandishes the sword at Jonas.

"Look how beautiful her soul's glow is... would you like to see her power?" He suddenly creates a massive wall of earth and slams it into Jonas, sending him crashing into a wall, and he covers himself in an armor of metal and earth.

"Now what's the fuss? She was only an elemental... yet you're losing your head. But don't worry. She's alive."

"...But if you kill me, you will doom her soul to being trapped within the sword for eternity."

Jonas: \*is angry, but reverts back\* Fine...take her.

The man cackles. "Here's a little compensation prize!" He claps his hands together, and a massive mound of earth rises up behind him, slowly becoming the rough shape of a dragon's skeleton. Within it, something like molten lava begins to form, and the shape begins to turn metallic. The metal dragon skeleton's skull eyes begin to glow with a dark red light, and as it completely fills with lava, it let's out a monsterous roar.

"Say hello to my friend Hitomara... I'm sure you'll get quite acquainted with each other... with you in his stomach."

The man rushes off, and the dragon he called Hitomara suddenly rips apart the two buildings next to it by extending its wings, and it charges Jonas, maws opened to devour him.

Jonas: \*simply steps back and the dragons mouth hits the ground instead\* Missed.

The dragon's eyes flare, and suddenly Jonas is blown far back by a massive blast of hot air, one which nearly burns his skin, and everything in the blast radius has erupted into flames in seconds. The dragon lifts its head up and swallows the earth, and then spits it back out as a sphere of pure refined molten earth and minerals at him.

Jonas: \*dodges them with ease without even moving his feet\* Missed again.\*his skin begins healing but not fast\*

The dragon leaps over to him in a quick flurry of movement, and as it comes near him, he feels his whole body and everything else where it lands ignite from the intensity of its heat. It then breathes a stream of fire at Jonas's face.

Jonas: \*takes step out the way and the steam blows past his face\* Man, you are not a good mover, are ya?

*A jet flies over head and releases a metal capsule with glider wings. The capsule unscrews itself and a figure falls out of it. The figure takes flight and stops right above Hitomara.*

Jonas: \*looks at the figure\* What da?

The dragon suddenly dives into the earth, as it does so what could only can be described as a volcanic eruption blasts both Jonas and the figure away with an explosion of lava, gas, earth, and fire. The explosion continues for a good five minutes, and the radius continues to grow until it has decimated an entire city block. When it finally stops, there is a large mound with a huge pool of lava writhing to the surface.

Jonas: Rrrrggh! There is too much shit going on to begin with! \*is coughing due to the gas in the air\*

*The figure waits above for Hitomara.*

Suddenly the whole of the area surges, a violent movement that begins to cause earthquakes, tearing down multiple buildings around him, and large cracks rip across the ground, as a swelling in the ground begins to take a shape Jonas had only read about in books, and seen on television. A volcano.

The cone suddenly lets out a violent explosion that deafens him and begins to rain lava and ash on the area, the eruption bombarding the city's buildings with huge chunks of rock.

Jonas: Well guess wht? It keeps getting worse! \*jumps back while dodging a few rocks. Gets to higher ground and looks at all the lava\*

The volcano quiets, only to be ripped apart by yet another explosion, only from its side instead. A huge ravaging ball of fire, gas, ash, and magma rips out, and Hitomara flies out, even bigger than before, the blast slamming into the city and decimating several city blocks in mere moments, and blowing huge clouds of ash and gas into the rest. Hitomara himself slams into Jonas full force his unbelievably hot body once again burning Jonas, and sends him flying towards a skyscraper.

Jonas: \*is laying on his back inside the building, burning\* It's a good thing i took my coat off...

*the figure has a shin in a shape of a Pentagram, that shoots 5 sparks at Hitomara. The Pentagram symbol can be seen on Hitomara as waves of heat are fllowing into the figure. The lava starts to disappear the same with Hitomara.*

Jonas suddenly sees the light of Hitomara's eyes dim, and then its body suddenly violently explodes, sending metal shrapnel into the figure and Jonas's entire body, and raining even more lava and metal into the city.

Jonas: \*is in pain\* AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGHHHHH!!!

*The figure is hit too, but just simply removes it from his body. Boost at Mach 5 speed and grabs Jonas and flies off while avoiding molten metal rain.*

The man watches the figure leave. "So they have Jumbo as well huh...?" He holds a red crystal in his hand, a small metal band with a red light glows like fire in it. A small growl of anger ripples from the crystal.

"Ah shut up you scaly beast." He looks about at all of the destruction and smiles. "Ya didn't wipe it completely out, that's unfortunate. But..." He has a dark smile on his face now. "I still have this beautiful new sword..." He holds the sword up to the sky, admiring its soft green glow.

"Now now little lady... if you behave, I might let you take physical form for a while."

He sighs.

"Ah well. Tomorrow's a whole new day to destroy another city." He disappears into a portal, along with the various Phoenix troops, who leave to rest for the night.

Some time later, Another portal appears, this one a large gate that appears out of thin air. It opens, and Kalin runs out, wearing a white steel bracer on his left arm.

Kalin looks around, seeing the destruction left behind, and sighs.

"Dammit! Too late!" He says before absorbing the remnants of fire and lava he sees, before coughing in disgust. "What IS that? It smells like cigars, and... Burnt dog fur. Puppy, not you too..." Kalin opens another portal and runs into it, leaving the area quiet once again.

## The 2nd Day

*M.C.C.P are waiting around the world for the portals to re-open*

Soldier: \*peaks into his walkie-talkie\* Everything seems to be good here. We've set around basic perimeters and defenses around a few of the world's largest cities, out of the debris from smaller buildings. We also have hiding holes, to keep from enemy sight. The debris from yesterday will help us with stealth, with there being alot of junk and all. We're all set and ready.

The Administrator: Good. Prepare too shoot on sight.

Soldier: Yes sir.

Suddenly, a single red crystal appears out of a small portal in front of the soldier and the M.C.C.P. In three other cities, similar crystals are seen. From the red one, the Soldier swears he can hear a heartbeat. And around the crystal seems to be a metal band with a red light, similar in appearance to a mind control unit the M.C.C.P uses.

Soldier: I don't remember us subjecting a crystal for mind control. I can also hear a sound....like beating... Everyone step back.

*Everyone stands behind their debris defenses and wait to see what happens*

A sudden roar rips through the air as a wave of energy blasts forth from the red crystal, and suddenly it rises into the air, as it does, glass, metal, concrete, stone, dirt, all begin to fly toward the crystal at a violent rate, and some of the skyscrapers nearby begin to rumble ominously as their structural integrity begins to fail.

The other crystals begin to activate as well, one causing a massive flood out of nowhere, another creating a thunderstorm, and yet another begins drowning them out in darkness.

Soldier: Aw crap! We forgot to shoot on site. Well, we done screwed up. Everyone stand by. Get ready, it's almost about time.

*The soldiers hide out under the debris and under that debris are tunnels filled with people who lived in cities and suburban areas, all of them huddled together and panicking. Some want food, others are sick due to climate change, other have already died of it and are being used as part of defenses.*

The cloud of material around the red crystal suddenly condenses and turns red, and takes the form of a dragon skeleton, which begins to turn pure metal, and the soldier realizes that this is the same dragon that caused a volcanic eruption that they defeated... only apparently they *didn't.*

Soldier: Holy...crap. \*speaks in his walkie-talkie to Aero Force\* Concentrate all available firepower on that thing.

Pilot: Target locked and engaged.

*2 tint planes with 'Aero' written on the side in blue text fly from around the dragon and fire their missles and energy-based firepower at it.*

The dragon causes the ground to split open, rupturing open the tunnels below. It then launches the red crystal straight into a skyscraper, and they can see it tear through several more before it disappears into a neighborhood on the other side of the business section. The missiles hit the now inanimate dragon, but some miss and enter the crack below, detonating within the tunnels themselves.

*Explosions fill the tunnels and everyone in there dies and turn to ash. Screams can be hard mixed with the crackling of fire. One soldier makes it out severely burnt.*

Soldier: AAAAAAArrrrggghhhh! AAAAArr! UUAAARGGH! Send back now!

Pilot: Sorry. All personel around the world are occupied with the similar problem. There is not much help from The M.C.C.P due to recent attacks. And all the hybrids have escaped. There is nothing we can do.

Soldier: \*is breathing hard until he finally passes out\*

*Five sparks hit Hitomara and and heat waves start flowing into a familiar figure.*

In another city, a different crystal finishes gathering its energy, and the wind and lightning condenses into a massive wolf, which howls in rage and scatters the assembled forces with ease, knocking out the power as it chases after them, its howls sending gusts of wind tearing at houses and buildings.

*On the side on a collapsing building, a figure slides down watching the wolf before jumping off and landing beside the fallen troops, he takes a look around at the injured and sighs.*

Drake: Guys aren't worth much in battle, are you? Then again, I wouldn't want to fight that if I were you... \*He smirks\* Good thing I'm not you guys.

*Drake looks up to a damaged building near the raging wolf, with a snigger. Drake goes into his Aura Dragon form and flies up onto the roof of said house, fire surges around Drake's hand as it condenses into a big fireball. He fixes his arm onto the wolf's side and blasts the fireball into it.*

The wolf roars, jumping back from Drake, it lands with a mighty crash and sends asphalt flying into the air. It opens its mouth with a mighty howl, and discharges a massive lightning bolt straight at Drake, the electricity arcing as it goes, exploding cars and even a gas station as it flies at Drake.

Drake: This.. Is gonna hurt. \*Drake forms an X with his arms infront of him as the lightning bolt strikes Drake to shield himself, despite this. He is blasted back into a side of the building, as the smoke clears, Drake is seen with lightning shaped marks on his arms. Drake focuses his sight on the beast and growls\* Ok then... Might aswell not play around anymore!

*Drake sets himself ablaze and flies towards the wolf, charging another fireball. But grows in size the closer Drake gets to the beast, just before he collides. Drake slams the fireball against the beast's face, causing the fireball to explode on impact and sending the wolf crashing through a couple of buildings. Drake lands ontop of a roof and smirks.*

A massive burst of lightning erupts from the buildings, and suddenly the wolf appears in front of him, much closer and moving far too fast to dodge. The wolf grabs ahold of his arm, and begins to violently shake him, and then tosses him, tearing open his hand and damaging his bones. While Drake is still airborne, the wolf grows larger again and jumps on top of him, and begins mauling his chest with lightning claws, the strikes sending lightning coursing through his body, and after multiple rakes, it jumps off him, and lands a few yards away, and lets out a howl that sends lightning flowing through it and short circuits the city's power.

Drake: \*Gets up and looks at his hand and chest, he then growls once again\* Fine, you want to fight like an animal... \*Drake's voice changes\* Then a fight like an animal it shall be...

*Drake's eyes turn animalistic, he grows dragon fang, claws, black dragon wings and tail. His wounds slowly repairing themselves, Drake glares at the wolf and roars. Drake jumps into the air and creates a black fireball, he then flies down and slams the fireball against it's back, causing it to quickly collapse. Drake then lands infront and stares down the wolf as red lightning surges throughout Drake's hand.*

Drake: Roar again you son of a bitch... I dare you.

In response, a long wolf howl goes off, and the skies turn dark, and it starts raining, and thunder rumbles. In the distance, Drake can see a wall cloud approaching quickly.

The wolf springs up, and as quickly as lightning, jumps into the sky, and begins running straight up, and then races over towards the wall cloud. It comes to a stop at the edge of the cloud, and looks back at Drake. It then lets out a second, even more powerful howl, and from the clouds descend several massive tornadoes, the collective number more than enough to block the horizon, and they begin tearing straight for Drake, all the while wiping up trees, houses, buildings, cars, and Drake swears he sees a cow fly by. The massive winds slowly begin to tug at Drake as the massive wind storms approach menacingly.

Drake: Wind and lightning... Hmph.

*Tribal markings appear on Drake as he starts chanting, fire begins to envelope around Drake and form into a massive creature of it's own. A dragon condensed in fire lets out a massive roar powerful enough for the wolf to feel it, the dragon then flies up into the sky above the storm and looks down. Seeing the wolf behind the wall of chaos that travels through the city, the dragon flies straight down and lands perfectly. Sending out a massive shockwave that causes the storm to quickly dissipate, the dragon focuses it's eyes on the wolf and roars one more time before charging at the wolf behind the ruined skyscrapers. The dragon solidifies and bites hold onto one of the crumbling towers and smashes into the wolf.*

The wolf disperses in a massive gust of wind and blast of lightning, and Drake notices a glowing object falling rapidly towards the ground.

*Drake flies out of the dragon's chest as the dragon disburses into fire and fades away, Drake managed to catch the glowing object. As he land, he inspects the object and notices the metal band.*

Drake: Hmm.. They had these back at the M.C.C.P, pretty touch to get off aswell... \*Drake's fingers glows white and as he taps the band, it dissipates into dust. Drake places the object down and falls back onto some debris and breathes heavily, losing his aura and tribal markings\* Damn... That took way much energy than it should. \*He looks at the object with a puzzled expression\* What the hell are you anyways?

The object begins making a sound as though it were a heart, and with a crackle of electricity the wolf takes form again, but more on the lines of a real wolf's size.

*"I am the Elemental Terror Razorwind. I have been a captive elemental for a number of years, enslaved to the ones who have been attacking this world. They are Phoenix, an organization that once hunted elementals as beings that violate the natural order. There are three other such Terrors, all of them enslaved. Our old masters created us to be their ultimate weapon, but the time of their rule has long since ended.*

*Long have we four sought to be free from our imprisonment. I fear that if all four of us were summoned to battle, it will be a great task for your forces to defeat us. On that note, I wish to thank you. What is your name?"*The wolf speaks to Drake's surprise, the voice echoing and sounding purely artificial, but distinctly male. The voice arcs and hums with electric undertones, implying its electric nature further.

Drake: It talks... Well, he talks... My name is Drake Ryunexo. \*Drake looks up to the sky and sighs\* So... Three others under the control of an organization called Phoenix. I see why you guys are named Terrors, anyways... Do you know where I could find the other three?

*"I indeed sense the other three, though they are on the key compass directions. North, South, and West. As I said, I must thank you for releasing me from my chains. I must warn you that only one other of my fellow Terrors are in any way... friendly. Hitomara and Dimrune by nature are extremely violent, and would likely attack regardless of affiliation if given an opportunity."*The wolf opens its mouth, and what looks like a crystal shard comes out and floats into Drake's hand.

*"It is a shard of my living Core, the most powerful of elementals do not need anything but a simple vessel to contain their consciousness. It has it's great advantages... and its great flaws. If you need me, I will come. It is a small portion of my core, and I will hear your request should you speak to me. Caess is the Water/Ice member of the Four, if you seek to stop the rest of us, it would be possibly prudent to acquire her support as well."*

Drake: Caess is next... Ok, thank you Razorwind. This will be very helpful, oh and one more thing. Phoenix, do they have a base of operations?

Razorwind nods. *"Yes. I do know that Phoenix resides in a massive fortress complex called Yosai Fortress. It lies in Fantasy, however it is guarded by the same masters that created us, who are also imprisoned by Phoenix. To attempt to penetrate their defenses... I fear that it would be pretty much a suicide mission. It is at least as large as one of these human cities, if not maybe bigger, with many sections. I could not tell you what methods they use to protect themselves, nor how they create portals on such a scale. It does occur to me you have met one of them before though."*

Drake: \*Thinks for a minute\* The one with the mask, once and only in Fantasy... If Yosai Fortess is located in Fantasy, this will cause trouble. But for now, we need to free the rest of the Terrors... \*He stands up and looks at the sun before facing North, while still clenching hold of the shard\* North it is then. \*He starts walking\*

*In Shanghi, India*

Van Valer:\*waits near the Taj Mahal. Looks up into the sky and sees a glimmering green light that looks like green stands of light coming a loose\* I will be waiting for your arrival, dear ally.

*A raspy laughter can be heard in an echo*

The city remains awfully quiet where Hitomara had attacked, no sign of him has even registered for about two hours.

Pilot: We have no sight of it. We recommend all personnel to keep watchful eye out for any firebeast.

*All other soldiers check in to confirm*

The whole city suddenly undergoes a massive quake, and a ring of earth around the entire city suddenly collapses, revealing a massive seething lake of magma beneath the entire city.

Pilot: Nevermind, found it. Alright all Aero Force, get into formation.

*3 other planes appear bside each other*

Pilot: It's time to fire the Mephisto Canon.

*All of the planes are charging up red photon*

Pilot: Wait for it..

From behind the planes, they hear an explosion, and suddenly one of the planes is grabbed by a dragonic head made of stone and magma, and the beast begins violently shaking the plane, before tossing it into a skyscraper. They hear roaring, as more dragon heads begin to emerge from the magma lake.

Pilot: Alright. Let's get as far as we can away from that thing, then we circle back around. \*the get in a far enough distance from Hitomara, then circle back around\*

Pilot: Fire!

*All 4 of the planes fire the Mephisto Canon at Hitomara's head, only blowing up 3 of them*

More heads rise, and begin firing molten streams of metal at the planes, one of the beams slices through a plane's wing, and sends it spinning towards the ground.

Pilot: Well that's bull. We're gonna have to turn back around. We're heading back to base.

*The last 2 planes turn around and fly away.*

Hitomara's heads turn towards Jumbo, and make a menacing series of growls. Liquid metal flows out of their mouths, sizzling down into the streets below.

Jumbo: \*lands and looks at all the lava oozing across the streets. He spreads his wings and flaps the so hard it causes debris to fly into the lava, but the lava itself is no longer hot, but rather cool\*

A chuckle comes from the dragon's mouths. "You should not have brought your pet a second time. You have not even come close to comprehending the power of the Eternal Eruption." A strange voice echoes, clearly not dragonic in nature.

Jumbo: \*flies up to where he is face-to-face with Hitomara\*

The dragon's eyes are looking at him, but the gaze lacks any hint of actual awareness. Just like Jumbo, it is not acting of its own will. The dragon snaps at Jumbo, several other heads either biting as well or blasting at him with molten metal beams.

Jumbo: \*is unaffected as he continues to stay where he was\*

The dragon heads all curve away from him, curved back, as though how a snake would coil its head in preparation to strike, but more on the lines of caution. Small red glowing cracks begin to show on their stone bodies.

Jumbo: \*his control head-set has been burned off. Regains his thought\* The Before....\*looks at Hitomara\* You....join us...I can feel you are one of us...\*stops\* The Before control this one too...

The eyes of some of the heads seem to flicker between dull and suddenly alive, and one makes a faint statement before falling silent once more. "Beware.... red crystal...drain...you..." The head that spoke explodes, and the neck that had supported it crashes to the ground.

Jumbo: We cannot be drained, for we are one. \*sees the of shining light come from the crystal. flies up to it ad touches it with his hand, then grabs with his other hand and begins pulling\* Nothing will stop us...

The dragon's long earthen neck whips backward in attempt to move away from him, at the same time, the whole of the neck begins to crystalize, and the red crystals begin growing on Jumbo's hands and lower arms, drawn by Jumbo's power. The other dragon heads crystalize and begin shooting red crystals at him as well.

Jumbo: \*continues to pull, even though red crystals are being chucked at him\* Nothing will stop us! \*pulls harder\*

Jumbo can feel the red crystal itself begin to try and pull back, heating up intensely and even causing lava to begin rising within the hollow of the neck.

Jumbo: \*is pulling harder\* NOTHIIIIING!!!

The crystal finally gives way, and as it comes out, the dragon heads all give off a horrid scream, and collapse. The whole city itself seems to violently lurch with the crystal's removal. The crystal begins to violently flash red, as it lies helplessly in Jumbo's hand, despite the temperatures, the metal band remains firm around the crystal, not even melted an inch.

Jumbo: \*is breathing heavily, until he sees the metal band around the crystal\* Is this it? \*grabs hold of it and begins to pull it\*

As he pulls it off, it lets out a short energy pulse, likely signaling the removal of the device.

Gradually, Jumbo can feel an very old presence of a consciousness begin to stir in the crystal.

Jumbo: Ahhh...you live inside...this is your heart...bound by your oppressors...No longer will you be. \*puts the crystal on the ground, pins it down with his foot, then grabs the band with both hands. He pulls straight up, ripping the band completely off. Jumbo falls back and breathes slowly\*

The crystal begins to sink into the ground, warping the ground as it goes, and once a large mound has formed, begins to take Hitomara's previous shape, metal and lava take shape once more.

Hitomara's eyes burn into being, now full of vibrant and deadly energy.

*"Free... at last... free...! I shall ravage Phoenix with my vengeance...!"*Hitomara pauses, and looks down. *"Who are you...?"*The metal dragon's voice says in a bubbling, hissing sort of sound, mixed with a dragon's usual tone.

The dragon senses soldiers coming, and it idly smashes its tail against them, smashing them dead instantly.

Jumbo: \*gets up\* They call us Jumbo...You are free now as am I...It's time....\*is breathing excitedly\* Decades...DECADES...COME FORTH BROTHERS!!! \*flies off in an instant\*

Hitomara instead looks towards the North, where he senses Caess, and to the South where he senses Dimrune.

*"So that's the game they play..."*Hitomara growls, and suddenly takes flight, a wave of fire trailing after him as he soars into the air, flapping his giant wings, billowing his way to the North, where his fellow Terrors still wait for freedom.

## Overwhelmed

The soldiers all retreat up stairs, as massive floodwaters ravage the streets below, as the giant of ice and water slowly proceeds through the city. It stretches its hand towards the sky, and giant hail begins to slam into the buildings, crushing the roofs that still remain above water, and smashing holes into the tall buildings.

"D-damn, what are these things?! And four different monsters? Just who could be behind all of this?" One yells.

Another calls command. "We're getting our asses handed to us out here! What's the situation in the other cities?"

A figure appears behind one of the soldiers in a flash of light. "Pretty much the same as here, although not as damp...hold on." he said as a wave of water ascended the stairs towards the individuals grouped on the landing. The figure encased his arm in a black aura, and punched the wave as it reached them. The water splashed against the walls as the wave broke, and receded back down the stairs. The figure, Kalin, then opened a portal behind him as he turned to the soldiers. " Head back to base, and tell your boss to send me some backup, not more of you useless folk. One of those Mythos he still has locked up, and yes, he still has some. Also, tell him I intend to pay him back for that damn tranquilizer..."

Soldier: Yeah, uhhh sure..Thanks again.\*Enters the portal, which returns him to M.C.C.P. Headquarters \*

Kalin: Alright, then. Let's see what I'm up against...\*Runs up to the roof of the building, taking in the situation\* Oh, so someone's obviously let loose a fire elemental around here...

A giant wave of water crashes against the building, and from behind a building steps a massive humanoid made of ice, and flowing from it is the source of all of the water.

It turns, and its light blue eyes notice him.

Kalin: ...Or not. Hey big guy! I don't want to hurt ya, but you look like you may want to hurt me, so I'll act under the assumption that I'm right. \*The armor of his bracer expands covering his body in a white armor. He then draws Weiss, which morphs from a katana to a long sword.\* Come on, then. Let's fight! \*Charges a wave of light in his blade, and sweeping it through the air, sends a light energy slash at the giant.\*

Suddenly a mass of water appears out of nowhere, and it solidifies into ice, blocking the attack. The giant raises its hand, and needle thin shards of ice whip at Kalin's face at insane speeds, looking like mere beams of light they travel so fast.

Kalin expertly deflects most of the shards, although a few make it past, piercing him in the openings in his armor. Kalin subconsciously increases his temperature, melting the ice rapidly as he begins to heal.

Kalin charges at the elemental, propelling him self towards the barrier of ice with waves of fire. As he lands, he twirls before sending another two waves at the water being.

A wall of water rises up, and extinguishes the flames. The temperature of the region begins to drop significantly, and Kalin can soon see his own breath.

Kalin laughs. "Giving me the cold shoulder, eh? Sorry, but that won't work out quite how you imagined..." he said as the temperature in his immediate area shot up extremely quickly, evaporating the ice beneath him in a flash. As he fell from the platform, a pair of black wings with dark red feathers extended from his back. He then fired a black wave of energy at the being as he regained his balance.

The giant literally melts in a great rush of water, and disappears into the giant floodwaters below.

A large whip of water rises out of the waters, and with great force, slams into Kalin's chest and he feels his ribs snap under the force, and he is sent flying into multiple skyscrapers.

Recovering from the hit, Kalin flies towards the waters below, prepared to strike at it again, before stopping just short of the waters.

"Maybe... We don't have to fight, despite the fact that my next decision was to erase this entire city along with you. I think, this once, I can think with the heart and mind of a true spirit of valour..." As he finishes speaking, Kalin's wings disappear, and he falls into the waters beneath him. Suddenly, ripples of white light emanate from where he fell, as Kalin attempted to calm the spirit. "I hope this works," he thought as he floated through the water. "It's either this, or leveling this place."

He sees a strange crystal glowing blue in the water deep below him, a metal band around its surface with a red light blinking. His efforts to contact the spirit completely fail, an outside force easily casting aside Kalin's attempt to communicate.

Strange fish appear to be swimming in the water, with long sharp teeth. Piranhas. Their beady eyes fixate on him.

"Not a chance in hell that you're bitting me!" Kalin thought as he sent a wave of fire at the fish. With the added property of destruction from his dark energy, the fire managed to move through the water without being extinguished. The fish were incinerated almost instantly, with some avoiding the flame and charging toward him. Turning to the strange crystal near him, Kalin reached out with light, creating a construct of a gauntlet which grasped the gem. Kalin proceeded to swim away from the remaining fish, as the construct lined up with his arm to allow him to retrieve the gem.

Kalin begins to slow down, first slowly, then at an escalating rate. Everything seems heavier, until he can no longer move through the water at all, and he begins to sink, just as the water around him visibly begins to crystalize, becoming ice. The ice forms around the gauntlet of light and distorts it until it breaks apart, and the crystal freely moves away from him, just as all of the water turns into pure ice, entombing him in the ice. The ice literally freezes to the point where Kalin cannot even turn his head, and he quickly begins to loose oxygen.

For a few moments, the shell of ice begins to sink deeper and deeper into the ocean of water, when suddenly, Kalin unleashes a burst of darkness flame that shatters the ice block. After a moment taken to recover, Kalin envelops himself in light, and disappears, reappearing near the crystal. Gripping it in his hand, Kalin inspects the gem a bit more closely. Realizing that the metal band is of different origins than the crystal itself, Kalin closes his hand into a fist, and creates a small dark flame in his hand that destroys the band. "I wonder what that will do" he thought as he flew out of the water.

The crystal begins to hum with a tranquil soothing sound, and it flashes with blue light very slowly, and he can gradually feel a presence stir within the crystal, though very guarded and cautious towards him, the contact barely touching his mind, ready to retreat at the slightest threat.

"Oh? So have we all pulled ourselves together?" Kalin said with a gentle laugh. "Don't worry, I'm not trying to hurt you anymore. I would like to know abit about you, if that's alright." He said, as a warm, bright aura enveloped him.

The crystal drops out of Kalin's hand and falls into the water below, and the giant reforms, appearing feminine in appearance this time, a mix of surging water and chunks of ice. The waters around it recede and eventually vanish, though a section of it remains around her immediate proximity.

"I am Caess of the four Elemental Terrors of Echo. For many years now we have been imprisoned by ones who call themselves 'Phoenix.' The same group is behind this widescale attack on this world. The fact that I sense the others here as well tells me that Phoenix intends to cause massive chaos to this world."

" Straight to the point when you have a body, huh? Well, the attack is no surprise to me. The fact that you're from echo, on the other hand... I think I know what to do next." Landing on the building he arrived in, Kalin said, " Caess, was it? I am headed to Echo at the moment. If you'd like, I could take you back, as well," He said as he turned towards another horizon. "Or you could wait for...whatever that is."

Caess looks towards the South. "Not yet. One more remains a slave. We cannot leave without him. Our aid is necessary to stop Dimrune."

"I know that when you say "we", you mean you and the rest of the elemental giants club, but I can't stand to miss a real fight... I blame a former friend of mine for that. I can get you there pretty fast if you can shrink. In the meantime..." As Kalin speaks, two gateways open, one that leads to Echo, another shifting to multiple locations as Kalin attempts to find any remaining rampaging terrors. As he concentrates on the shifting portal, his shadow slips into the portal to Echo, as his left pupil goes completely black. Kalin closes his left eye, and turns back towards Caess. "So then, what do you say?"

Caess looks down on him. "Duck."

A massive roar fills the air, as a dragon standing taller than any single building in the city lands on the ground, magma pouring out of its skeletal structure, sending many buildings toppling from the strength of his landing. It turns towards them, giant glowing eyes glaring down at them.

"*Caess... who is this mongrel...? Shall I eat him?"*

Caess says calmly, "I would prefer you didn't."

"*Where is Razorwind?"*

"Somewhere to the east of us. I expect him and his companion to be arriving soon."

"You look familiar." Kalin said, looking up at the dragon with a smirk." I beat the crap out of you once. Well, not me; a friend. And... Not you either; another friend who looked like you. Either way, it is nice to meet you... And if you ever consider eating me, I'll spill your insides across half the planet..." he finished, a smile sharing room on his face with a dark expression.

The earth shakes and several more skyscrapers crack ominously, the ground splitting as Hitomara lets out a low growl.

"*If you ever refer to that little shapeshifter again, I promise you this. You. Will. Regret it."*Hitomara snarls, lava pouring down and out of his mouth, one of the streams falling near Kalin and making the temperature incredibly hot.

Caess edges away from Hitomara. "It would be most unwise to provoke Hitomara. I would not mention such things to him again. He is... easy to turn on even allies. A degree of respect is required when dealing with him."

Hitomara chomps at the side of a skyscraper, and chews it up effortlessly, then swallows it, the metal and glass quickly breaking down into more molten material.

Kali steps back himself, growing a pair of white wings, and floating upward towards Caess' shoulder, where he takes a seat." I'll just stay here, then. If ya' don't mind. So, I've only seen a small amount of Echo. What's it like there?

"One part of Echo is mostly within Reality, while the other half lies in Fantasy. The middle region is covered by vast mountains, which protected the East from the savage weather of the West. The east is covered by countless forests, swamps, and jungles. The world is more savage, but in a way, the life is still quite tranquil at times. ...Though beings like Hitomara like to have too much fun. Putting it one way."

Casess closes her eyes. "We have not been there for more than fifty years..."

"Well, look at it this way: The sooner you guy save your friend, the sooner you can go back home." Smiling, Kalin tapped her shoulder with his hand, causing ripples across the surface of her body. "And I'll tell you what: I still intend to head back over to Echo. The SHAPESHIFTER! is mixed up in some personal problems at the moment, so he could use a hand. So I guess, when this battle is over, I could take you, all of you, back home. Sound good?"

Hitomara growls, but does not let himself get baited, opting to smash another skyscraper with his tail instead, faint yells of surprise ring out from the soldiers in that area.

Caess looks at Hitomara. "Can you please stop wrecking things?"

"Is he always so much fun?" Kalin asks, the joy of watching the dragon rage around the city almost enough to remind him of Rose. "Um, I... I'm sorry, big guy. I won't mention that guy again." He said, his head bowed in apparent shame. "Hey, were there ever more than just the four of you?" Kalin asked Caess.

"There has always been the four of us. Our masters, the Elemental Warlords, and our creators, have been locked away for many years. The same organization that forced us into servitude also defeated our masters, who ravaged much of Echo and Earth at one time. If you met the one who defeated Hitomara, Dark Phoenix, then you already know the method by which the masters were sealed. The Eight Elemental Slayers. Two wielded by the Dark Phoenix, Kado of the Spiritwood Tribe."

*Drake glances at the destroyed city, taking notice of the dragon and the giant. Drake crates a wave of fire under him, 'surfing' ontop of it towards said city. He opens his hand and looks at the crystal, he then rolls his eyes and begins talking to it.*

Drake: So... Are them two the other Terrors?

A faint crack of lightning can be head, and Razorwind appears next to Drake. *"Yes. Hitomara, the Eternal Eruption, and Caessa, the Veiled Frost. It would appear a Mythos is on Caess's shoulder. Peculiar. She doesn't normally like to socialize with other beings. Though I suppose in these circumstances that can't be helped right now. I suppose that just leaves Dimrune, Terror of Death."*

Drake: \*Chuckles\* Terror of Death, sounds cuddly, makes ya' wanna hug him... Hmm, I wonder who the Mytho is. \*The wave speeds up\* So, Dimrune... How difficult will he be to stop? That's if these two won't attack me instantly...

*"That depends. Dimrune likes to use mental warfare to destroy his enemy's morale. He likes to deceive, to trick. To even have a chance of freeing him, we will have to get up close and personal, which is for us... a massive disadvantage. He can completely control light and darkness, to distort the senses to his will. He cannot be deceived, as he has full range of senses. If you lie in the light, he will know you are there. But if you hide in the darkness, you will be just as easily found. No matter where on the battlefield, he is capable of knowing and anticipating most attacks. There are few who can figure out his games."*

Drake: \*Sighs\* So pretty damn difficult, ok then... Besides, getting up close and personal is my kinda skill, it shouldn't be that hard for me. But I'll probably soon regret those words, so. \*They soon enter the city\* Let's get aquainted with your friends here, shall we?

Hitomara turns his head as they enter and lets out a growl, and they can hear his voice clearly from the distance.

*"Wonderful... another two legged mongrel. Hmmm... though I taste dragon's energy. Razorwind, you always seem to pick up the most interesting of characters to associate with..."*

*"Pretty intricate language coming from the mighty Hitomara."*Razorwind retorts.

*"And just when I was going to enjoy this reunion... now I want to bury you 70 feet under."*

Drake: \*Looks up at Hitomara and smirks\* That is one big bastard... Give me a minute Razorwind. \*He goes into his Half Dragon form and flies up to Hitomara, hovering only a couple of feet away\* So you must be Hitomara, nice to see another dragon around here with an attitude. the name's Drake, pleasure to meet you.

Hitomara looks at Drake and eyes him. He opens his mouth and blasts DK back with a powerful gust of hot air, blowing him away back towards Razorwind, who suppresses a chuckle.

Drake: \*Laughs\* Yep, attitude... So I was told there was Dimrune to deal with... Why are we waiting here? We are prepared right? Or are we waiting on another? 'Cause I see that Hitomara is all by himself, does he need company? \*Smriks\*

Hitomara lets out a growl, which in sync with it comes a small earthquake. *"We don't need help from the likes of some miniature dragon and a boy with an attitude problem. Come along if you wish, but I will not tolerate your tongue a second time."*Hitomara takes off, a blast of hot air smashes into them as his wings flap and he heads off towards the south, Razorwind races off in the air, and Caess begins to surge forth like a massive tidal wave.

Drake: Ok... Me, stop pissing him off, ok? Ok... \*He turns towards Razorwind and flies up to him, keeping the same speed as Razorwind\* Ok, so we're heading south?

Kalin leaps from Caess' shoulder, launching himself forward with a jet of flames beneath his feet to land on Drake's back for a moment. As he jumps again, Kalin yells "Not exactly, dragon boy!" Propelling himself with another burst of energy, Kalin appears suspended in mid air with his arms outstretched as he creates a gate. The gate takes the appearance of a giant door, which opens into a vortex of energy as the party approaches.

Drake: Ow... Anyways, \*He looks at the vortex\* going through there... You sure this'll take us there?

Suddenly a massive wall of ice rises up and covers up the vortex, and a symbol meaning 'sealed' appears in the ice.

Atop the pillar of ice, a tall woman with light grey complexion and long black hair, with glowing blue eyes stands, silently staring down on them.

"My apoloigizes... but I'm afraid you won't be fighting Dimrune today. You see..."

Nineteen other women, all the same as the original appear. "WE have buisness with you."

*Drake looks at the women, with a slight smirk on his face. He then speaks up, giving out a cocky and confident tone to his voice. Despite being a bit childish about the whole affair.*

Drake: Twenty skimpy dressed women are challenging a fight with us, how stupid could you be? I don't care how many of you there are, I'll take all of you out! \*He points to one of them and laughs\* Except you, I'll take you out... To dinner.

Hitomara, Razorwind, and Caess aren't so amused. "...That's Aoi... the Ice Slayer of Phoenix." They growl.

The main one looks down at Drake and Kalin. "I will give you one chance to leave... or suffer the consequences of your actions."

Drake: \*Sighs\* You people are no fun... Hmph. \*Drake's hands set ablaze\* So, a Phoenix member... This'll be fun, although... \*He reverts back to his Aura Dragon form\* Ok, ladies first. \*He smirks\*

Kalin: "So you've got one of those nifty swords, huh? As much as I'd like to take it from you, I don't think we have much time for that. Let's get this over with." \*Creates walls of darkness that separate everyone into groups; Razorwind and Drake with 10 of the copies, Hitomara with another 5, and Kalin and Caess with the remaining 5 bodies, one of which Kalin assumed to be the real one.

The one he assumes is the real one smiles with amusement. "I'm not that easy to corner... but since you are so gracious to allow me to recapture the Terrors... I shall."

Suddenly massive pillars of ice engulf Hitomara, Caess, and Razorwind, who all let out shrieks of terror.

Kalin and Drake move to melt the ice, but she tsks. "No you don't. Melt the ice and you will melt them as well."

The five he had trapped with Hitomara walk through the darkness to where Kalin is, cracks in their bodies. As they come out, they simply heal and disappear, leaving Drake and Kalin with an equal number of enemies.

"We aren't some random lunatics. We have the power and the will to crush this world. Your interference means nothing in comparison to the collective might of the Phoenix. Strike us down? So what? The swords will find new masters, and begin the cycle again. We truly are the Phoenix. You've made the wrong enemy. This is our justice. The justice that others would be too meek to take up for themselves. Justice... for all."

Drake: Ugh, you're already boring me with that shit talk just then... So, I got ten... You have ten, seems fair. \*Drake summons a sword out of fire and aims it towards one of the copies\* You first! \*Drake flies towards the copy and slams the handle of the sword against her neck, causing her to stop breathing for a moment. During this moment, Drake grabs a hold of her arm and impales her through her stomach. He then throws the copy towards the other copies\* Hmph, so much for a challenge...

The copy gets up, the hole still there, with water trinkling out of the body.

"You're right. So much for a challenge." It says emotionlessly. It draws its sword, and the temperature around Drake plummets. The ground beneath Drake's feet turns to ice, and it begins snowing, each time the snow touches the wound, it closes even more. On Kalin's side, the ground also freezes, and the same weather occurs.

"I promise you, a simple stab to the stomach won't even slow one of us down."

Drake: \*Laughs\* It wasn't meant to kill you...

*Drake sets himself ablaze, keeping him warming and melting the ice. Drake charges towards the copy and punches her in the gut, causing her to spit out blood. Drake then creates a fireball and blasts it against her back, Drake focuses his gaze on the other copies. He gains tribal marks all over his body as he begins chanting, his eyes now glowing white. The wounded copy gets sealed in a small dome no bigger than she is.*

Drake: So... Let's start.

* Kalin whistles in surprise at the sudden development \*

Kalin: Huh...so 10 to 1. Meh, those odds seem fair enough to me.

* A black substance falls from his eye, as multiple copies of Kalin appear from the shadows, 10 appearing for each clone of the Ice slayer, some brandishing swords, others engulfed in magic flames, and others still coated in more darkness. Kalin stretches out his arm, as the cursed blade, Masamune, appears in his hand\*

Kalin: You're not the only one here with power...\*charges a dark flame at the tip of his sword, and sweeps outwards towards his opponent\*

The ice on the ground rises up and blocks the dark flame, and a massive gale of razor sharp ice blasts Kalin and his clones, many of the clones being ripped to shreds by the bombardment, leaving only nine total clones and Kalin himself standing. The air temperature beings to plummet every passing second.

On Drake's end, despite the fact he heated up with fire, the fire's warmth fails and dies, replaced by a savage cold that despite any magic he uses, simply is blown away by the harsh winter cold. The nine draw their swords, and the cold only strengthens. He starts feeling a sensation as though razor sharp blades were coursing through his body, serious burning can be felt all over him.

Drake: Mother... Fuckers. Too cold, to do anything...Too much pain... Ok, time to get primal... \*Drake's aura and eye colour changes to a dark gray, the nine senses the dark energy manifesting, growing, taking control of Drake. His eyes turn animalistic, he gains sharpened teeth and claws, he focus his glare at the nine and growls. Sounding demonic in the process, his sword changes shape and gains a black aura around it aswell. He then tightens his grip on the handle and slowly walks towards them.\*

Kalin: \*senses a surge of dark energy nearby and smirks\* I guess somebody just let loose. Well, there isn't much to worry about here, except her\*looks towards Caess\* oh well.\*looks towards Aoi while moving towards Caess\* Hey, you don't mind if I get comfortable myself, do you? \*Hits Caess' frozen body, causing her to shatter. He grabs her crystal and places it into his pocket.\* Sorry about that. You're safer in there than you are out here. Now then...This is the first time I'm using this against a worthy opponent, so I hope you feel proud of yourself.\*suddenly, 5 of Kalin's copies return to shadows, and they proceed to envelop him, until there is no distinction between the darkness and its master. Kalin opens both of his eyes, which glow with an unnatural red. The shadows that appear as his hands are sharpened at the ends, and Kalin's hair has a black spiked style to it. Gripping his blade tightly, he turns to the remaining clones, emitting a low growl from his featureless face as a signal for them to leave. Refocusing on the enemy, Kalin gets into a crouched position, preparing to strike.

She points at his pocket. "I rather am proud of myself. Proud that you just blatantly ignored what I just told you and *killed*Caess. I told you that if you tried to melt the ice, you would also melt them. Perhaps you should have also considered the possibility that would apply to *shattering*the ice. Don't believe me? Look? That is what your powers bring you! Death!"

He looks, and his pocket is absolutely drenched, and he empties out his pockets in a panic to see Caess's crystal dull and lifeless, very slowly melting in his hand.

"But... tell me... you probably have lost someone else too... look what you've accomplished. Nothing but the extermination of those you care for and protect. A meaningless existence wouldn't you say? She was freewalf with his blade. After being split, and unable to repair itself, the clone fell to pieces. Kalin immediately extended his arm, which literally stretched out to grab hold of another clone like a whip. Dragging it into range, he decapitated it with a roar. The third and fourth, he grabbed with both arms, smashed them together, tossed them into the air, and slashed them both with Masamune before blasting them to dust with a wave of darkness. \*

* Kalin did all of this in an instant, moving like the shadows he had fused with. As he landed he turned, and launched himself at the lone slayer, prepared to finish their battle

She smirks, and easily side steps Kalin, easily grabbing the remnant of Caess's crystal from Kalin's hand. As he turns to attack her, her eyes glow and Caess's crystal begins to grow and slowly return to a glow.

On Drake's end, he suddenly sees his clones disappear.

She smiles. "I was never here... and we've already won this fight. Dimrune has been extracted in advance, and now I have possession of Caess once more." She straps a metal band onto Caess's crystal, and a red light appears on it. She suddenly billows away into snow, along with Caess's crystal. "Your weakness... is the inability to recognize the powers of your enemies. Nor their weaknesses. Against us... you stand no chance. I foresee that you shall likely bare witness to the deaths of everything that matters to you. And just like today... it will be your fault." Her voice disappears into the wind, and Hitomara and Razorwind are freed from the ice.

*"Drake... are you alright?"*Razorwind asks.

*Drake lowers two fingers, causing the walls of darkness to fade away. As he looks back, he sees two of the three Terrors, he looks towards Kalin speaking with a more feral tone.*

Drake: Caess, what happened to her?

Kalin: \*he lets out another growl\* *Gone...* \*He returns to normal\* and Dimrune as well... Aghhhh! \*slashes the giant seal with masamune, causing it to fall apart\* It was a trick! It was obvious, and yet I still fell for it!

Razorwind looks at Kalin. *"It is unfortunate. It would have been safer to avoid a confrontation with Aoi. But you could not have known the formidible powess of Phoenix. You haven't encountered them before. ...Unless you count Dark Phoenix. But he operates differently, as I'm sure you came to know from your time with him. Do not blame yourself. We should have advised you against confronting her. We should have informed you more of the organization. You came without any intel, that isn't your fault. I assume most would assume in that situation that Aoi really was there. So do not blame yourself. We will have other chances. Phoenix will not likely hold back any weapon in their arsenal if it means eliminating a threat such as you. Dimrune and Caess WILL be deployed again. They are too useful to them not to."*

Hitomara looks at Razorwind. *"You certainly like to talk a lot, don't you?"*

Kalin: I'm sure you meant that to be encouraging, but I am not sure whether or not another fight is something I want. \*Wipes the black substance from his eye\* But I guess I may have no choice. I made a promise to take you guys home; all of you. If I have to fight to do it, then I will. I just have to get stronger first. \*Opens a smaller portal for himself\* Go wherever you need to prepare for what comes next. I will do the same. Good luck to you. \*enters the portal\*

Drake: \*Opens a portal of his own, he then turns to look at Hitomara and Razorwind\* Razrowind, Phoenix's headquaters is in Fantasy... Correct?

Razorwind lets out a soft growl. *"Yes. But what do you intend to do? Storm the fortress? Suicide. We don't even know where in Fantasy it is."*

Drake: I'll just trace that girl's energy signature, simple as... As for everything else, yeah... I know... \*He sighs\* If you ever find someone named Daikeim, tell him the news... \*He turns towards the portal and steps through, with the portal closing afterwards\*

Razorwind lets out a deep sigh. "*This will not end well..."*

Hitomara growls. "*So be it. A fool is a fool."*

## Osaka, Japan: Countdown to Chaos

*Hiroshi and Naomi appear in Osaka. The atmosphere appears to be green from the toxicity that was exposed to the air from the attack by Phoenix. The town seems to have been evacuated due to the toxicity. City buildings appear to be only half-destroyed and still falling aparte.*

Hiroshi: \*sniffs the air\* The air *reeks*of poison.

Naomi wrinkles her nose. "Do you suppose igniting the fumes would do any good?"

Hiroshi: I would presume so. It is only best we dont light a spark or anything like that.

She frowns. "Think it will cause us any health issues?"

Hiroshi: Please, The earth is my air. We should have no problems.

Naomi sighs. "Do you think we will run into Kado?"

Hiroshi: Hopefully. But if *we*dont, the others will.

Naomi clutches her chest. "...Don't worry master... I won't let him get in your way."

Hiroshi: No. I wont let him get in *your* way. Your mind has been abit offset on the the plan and more on the boy. Listen, if you do not wish to fight him, you do not have too. You already pained by his turn to darkness. Don't hurt yourself even further by fighting him, when you know you could never hurt him.

"I have to do this. I have to... or I'll never be able to live with it... it's because of the past that I have to do this. To protect my memories of him... I can't let him sink any lower."

Hiroshi: You do what you must. It will be your own doing, if you once again receive a broken heart.

"It's better... than to live with regrets of not stopping him... just because I'm afraid."

Hiroshi: Being afraid is ok. It shows that you want to live, but are you willing to show how much you value your life?

"I don't care. I don't care if I die. You don't really care anyway Master. Torrent and Kado were always your favorites. If I died it would be of no consequence to you."

Hiroshi: I value all my students. But I only value those who do not look down upon themselves. Besides, I feel more comfortable around those two because they were boys and im not really used to training girls. The only thing that separates you fropm those two, is that you are gentle. The other two are far too violent. You only seek to right your wrongs instead of continuing to do so. You may not be like the rest of us, but what's wrong with being unique? Jusr remembered you are still loved and valued by me and by Phoenix. Remember that.

Naomi looks at the sunrise slowly appearing over the ocean. "...It's beautiful isn't it? Even though the air is polluted, at least the glory of the sun isn't touched."

Hiroshi: \*looks at the Sun carefually and sees green strands of light coming aloose. The Sun also appears to be getting darker as in more sunspots\* Unusual.

Suddenly a group of five people appear at the coastline, and when Hiroshi sees a familiar masked figure, he looks over to warn Naomi not to engage, but she has already long charged out of earshot towards the group.

He realizes that she wouldn't know about Kado's current appearance... and would be at a very dangerous disadvantage.

Hiroshi: \*summons a rock block to block her path\* Stop child. Not yet.

Kado whips his head toward the noise, and sees the block.

"Guys. Search the rest of the city. I got this section covered."

He charges towards the block of stone, flickering with shadows.

*The block slams itself into Kado and into the water*

Gobble: HAHA! He got powned by a rock.

Kado rushes out of the rock, a pure shadow. He sees Naomi and stops in front of her, his shadow form rippling.

"...Who are you?" He looks at her Slayer. "...I see you have a Fire type. Are you supposed to be some sort of replacement for the old Fire Slayer?" His eyes narrow.

"...Who are you people?" The girl in turn asks.

"We are agents of Azure. We've come to put an end to you and the rest of Phoenix."

The two regard each other, circling until both strike at once, their swords clashing, Kado drawn two normal katanas.

"...I don't care who you are, I won't let you interfere with my master!" She growls.

"So Master Hiroshi is here then? I figured that attack was his. You shouldn't give away your position, old man!" He yells.

The two clash, neither gaining an advantage.

Gobble: Awww snap. This is so coool. I wonder what we do now.

*A large pillar of earth come from beneath them and hoist them up above Osaka*

Gobble: Aw crap. I didn't se that coming.

Seco: None of us did. \*looks over the edge and sees the entire city\* We're approximately 450 feet above ground level.

Gobble: What are we doing up here then?

Hiroshi: \*is floating on a singel pile of earth\* Cause I brought you here.

Gobble: Aw cool. I'ts an old man. What's up, old man?

Seco: Are you one of them? One of Phoenix?

Hiroshi: Yes I am. And you must be Kado's underlings.

Gobble: Not really underlings, more like captives that have yet to be given their freedom for that other place.

Hiroshi: Well then, let me be the first to welcome you home. But sadly it's under quarantine. And infestation called 'humanity' has torn up this home. So we're here to take care of the problem. \*lands on the pillar\*

Gobble: Oh, wel thanks man. Here I wanna give ya' somethin' for your hard work. \*puts something in Hiroshi's hand and pullsa ring out and runs back\*

Hiroshi: \*opens his hand and sees a grenade, that immediately blows up in his face\*

Hiroshi looks up from a rooftop below them. "Is that all the best you can do?"

Gobble: No, you just dropped your tip.

Hiroshi: \*looks down at another grenade and it bows up in his face\* Amusing...Your really amusing.

Gobble: \*bows\* Why thank you. I try my best everyday.\*grins\*

Hiroshi: \*is irritated. Summons shards made of glass and they turn into razors and launches them\*

Begin to fire at the glass shards. The glass shards disappear, but stalagmites come from from under them.

Gobble: \* jumps up and is balancing on a stalagmite\* Oh thank god. My balls nearly died.

Hiroshi: \*appears infront off Seco\*

Seco: \*swings his rifle at the side oh Hiroshi's head\*

Hiroshi: \*is unaffected and takes the rifle, breaks it in half and smacks Seco's ears with the broken halves\*

Seco: \*puts his hands over his ears\* ARGH!

Hiroshi: \*punches Seco in the face and stomps on the ground and a dull-headed stalagmite comes out from the ground and his Seco directly in the face, knocking him off and over the edge\*

Seco: \*hits the water\*

Down below, it looks as though the girl has struck Kado with an explosion, and he appears to lie helpless. She gets too close however, and Kado grabs her arm and throws her into a building. He gets up, though his mask appears to be cracked and beginning to crumble.

"Who are you?! Why didn't that kill you?!" She gasps, getting back to her feet. *Such reflexes and skill... how could he be that good?*

A red katana slips out of his sleeves, and into his grasp. She distinctly remembers the sword.

"I would think you would have already heard of me. After all, I was a former member of the organization..." He draws the red blade of Fire Slayer.

"Wait... no that can't be... you're....?!" She gasps.

"I am the Dark Phoenix. My name is Kado. And I will destroy every last one of Phoenix."

"...So it was all true then..." She starts crying. "Everything they told me... you really have fallen into darkness... it's all true...!" She sobs, and Kado gets an irritated air.

"I don't know what you're rambling about. Either get out of my way and tell me where Hiroshi is or stop acting like a sniveling child. This is war, not a sob story." He says coldly. He sheathes his sword, much to Hiroshi's surprise.

"I'm not going to attack someone who doesn't have the guts to strike back. Where is he?"

"..." She remains silent.

*Meanwhile, Avalia and Gobble are firing at Hiroshi who is blocking the shots with pebble after pebble.*

Hiroshi: \*summons a rock wall and sends it moving towards them.

*Avalia and Gobble climbe over the wall, but Hiroshi sends wave of moving earth towards them. Gobble jumps over, but Avalia is sent over the edge, but she grabs side of the pillar.*

Gobble: Good job guy. Your really having us move. Best work out I had in ages. \*starts stretching\*

Hiroshi: The 'workout' hasn't even started. \*gestures Gobble to fight him\*

Gobble: Sure thing, old man. \*sprints toward Hiroshi\*

She stands up. "...Just stop Kado. Give up on this whole revenge thing. Is power really that important to you...? ...We're trying to *save the world*from the sins of the people! It's not too late to turn back...! You can join us, you can help us!"

Kado closes his eyes. A heavy sigh of anger comes from behind his mask. "Revenge...? Power...? Don't talk like you know me. You must be delusional like the rest. Saving the world from sin? ...Who are you people to talk...? Who are you people to judge... you're part of the problem."

She gets a defiant look. "No! We're fixing everything! No more suffering! The world will be made pure of sin!"

She pauses, tears streaming down her face. "And I do know you... don't you remember anything...?"

"I don't know you. All I know is you're some girl who clearly has just been told a bunch of empty lies until she blindly accepted them." He hears Hiroshi's battle.

"So that's where he is. I'm done wasting my time here. I have to put an end to all of this." He turns and walks away towards the noise.

"...Don't you turn your back on me... not... not... *NOT AGAIN!"*She roars, and charges him with her sword. Kado wheels around and grabs it with his hand, a trinkle of blood runs down it, but he manages to stop it with only a slight cut.

"You're going to have to do a lot better than that. Don't waste any more of my time. I don't want to fight someone who doesn't have a true motive. Hiroshi and the others I know have a set clear mind. They know what they want. ...You do not. You will not beat me. Whoever you are, this is pointless. I'm going to fight him. Do not get in my way."

She suddenly strikes him in the face, breaking his mask effortlessly and slams him into the wall.

*Meanwhile*

Gobble: \*slides across the ground on his back, severly bruised\* Ow, ow,ow,ow,ow,ow.

Hiroshi: There is no stopping Phoenix.

Gobble: We're not stopping...We're stalling....I think...

Hiroshi: \*stomps on the ground and Gobble is immediately thrown over the edge and into the water\* Foolish. \*disappears\*

Kado struggles out of the wall, Naomi about to make an attack when she sees his face and freezes again. Though years had passed, she could guess him to be... almost the same face. Though she knew better. There had been many years between his betrayal and now. His eyes remain black and emotionless as before, not even a hint of recognition in his face.

*I have no choice... I really do have to end it... he doesn't see me at all. ...Is he really that far gone?*

She feels her tails grow out, and her ears change, as well as an increase of power and speed. *If I can just nail him before he can react I...*

"...You... you... you've got to be kidding me... ...This has to be a joke.... right...?" Kado coughs, leaning against Fire Slayer as a support, until he stands upright, a floored expression on his face.

The look in his eyes. Realization. Remembrance. Recollection. She can clearly see it in his eyes.

He stumbles backwards. "No... this is..." He studies her with an expression of either denial or awe.

"...T-t-those damn ears... those tails... are you... ...N-N-Naomi?!" He stammers.

"K-Kado?" She whispers in shock and awe. "Is it... really the real you...?"

Kado closes his eyes. "...Naomi... so it is you. It... has been a long time. ...But there is no other me. I have to stop Phoenix, Naomi. They're not saving the world, Naomi. They're going to destroy everything. The men. The women. The children. All of them. They don't care about families or innocents. They'll kill them all."

Naomi takes a step back. "No, you're wrong, we're doing this for the good of all-"

Kado sighs. "Did White tell you this?"

"What do you mean-"

"She's been lying to you. About everything. I didn't choose to leave Phoenix. You were kept in the dark. You need to hear the truth. The real truth."

"I...." She trails off.

"They tried to have me killed, Naomi. If it wasn't for Fire Slayer, I would have died that day."

"But they said-"

"...That I killed her? No. She saved me from death. She raised me back to health, and taught me all she could, before sending me off to the city. For a while, it really was about revenge. But things have changed. I'm not doing this for revenge. One of the things most important to me that I learned while in exile was that the strong oppress the weak. Ever since then, I've made it my goal to end that cycle. And now that path has lead me back here Naomi. Phoenix will kill everyone, children, human, Mythos, anyone they can to get what they want. They don't care about who is innocent or guilty. They just want to destroy humanity. Naomi... please... I know you have a kind heart... let's not do this. I have to stop them. This is how it has to be. Please..."

She looks at him with a sad look, her whole body trembling. "I..." Her ears fold, confusion tearing her apart, he could feel it.

He walks up to her and embraces her, the warm feeling shocking Naomi, she could feel his sincerity and compassion. He was still the same person she knew before... perhaps colder... but his heart at the bottom of it all... was still there. She drops her sword.

Oliv and Jason manage to drag the three out of the water. "Alright, now who needs CPR, or are we all good here?" He says in a gruff voice.

Kado senses Hiroshi coming, and he turns his head to face him. A slight aura of shadow envelops him instinctively.

"Nice to see you again, Master. ...Leave her out of this. If you seek to draw blood, only draw it from me. I'm your enemy."

She looks down from Hiroshi. "...Is what he said true...? Are you really going to wipe them all out...? Even the people who didn't do anything wrong?" She trembles. "Tell me the truth, master!" She yells.

Hiroshi: If one suffers, all suffers. Man's heart, no matter how good they turn out to be have a seed of darkness within their hearts. They have spread that seed down from generation to generation and ore trees of evil grow from those seeds, constantly growing form the ever exceeding evil. Man has done too many wrongs to right, but that's nothing Phoenix can't fix.

Kado narrows his eyes. "Two wrongs don't make a right, Hiroshi. An evil brings an evil. You have no idea what your actions will bring. I will not allow you all to destroy the future."

Naomi clings to Kado. "...I'm sorry master... but that isn't right. To judge everyone for something they never did and might never do... I can't accept that... ...I don't want to be lied to anymore." She closes her eyes, and Kado suddenly buckles, and Hiroshi can see the seal controlling part of Kado's Dark Slayer and the seals preventing him from using the Fire Slayer both fail at once, and a surge of power erupts from Kado, a golden aura mixed with a stronger black aura emerges.

"...You... what is this feeling...?" Kado can feel the new energy flowing through him. He flexes his hand, and a thick layer of shadow covers it.

"...Is this part of my sword's power...?" He looks toward Hiroshi.

"Master. Let us take the battle else where. The only person you need fight is me. I don't want to worry about collateral damage when I should be dedicating my energy to fighting you. And I know you would rather I give it my all in a fight than be distracted. No interference, no sly tricks. Honor on honor, cause against cause. I fight for justice, and you fight for yours. Though since I'm on the subject, will you consider standing down? Or will you not see my reason? Bloodshed is the last resort of a true warrior."

Hiroshi: A warrior lives to shed blood, boy. It's where the blood comes from that counts. Besides, what's wrong with fighting here? It seems like a good setting to me. \*teleports them both to the other side of Osaka\* It isn't much but it will do. \*pulls out Earth Slayer and points it at Kado\* It is time for your final lesson, on what it truly means to be a warrior.

He draws Fire Slayer and Dark Slayer, and Hiroshi notices for the first time its new appearance, how much lively and fully of energy it seems.

Kado smiles. "That last battle of ours... I want to thank you, Master. I thought everything I knew was set. I thought I knew myself. It caused me a great deal of pain... but in the end... I've rediscovered myself. ...One last thing. Is what you're fighting for... is it what you truly believe in? Is this cause what you truly believe is right?"

Hiroshi: Im this world, there is not right and wrong, well atleast we refuse to see what is right and what is wrong. I never questioned the destiny of Phoenix, the family I was born into. There is no true way to find out who you are truly mean't to be. But today, we're going to see who's going to live to find that out. \*gets in stance\*

Kado smiles. "I respect you for that. I'm still proud to call you my master." He shifts into stance as well. "After all, I learned to fight for what I believed in.... I learned everything, all the best from you. May the best man win... Master Hiroshi."

A quiet wind blows.

Hiroshi: \*positions his feet and sprints towards Kado\*

When he strikes at Kado, Kado's first strike is light and nimble, quickly deflecting Hiroshi's blade, and then immediately following up with a second strike pushing just past the blade and pushing it up so a block would be ineffective, and aims narrowly at the armpit area. In his second movement, Kado's other sword comes in for a attack more directly at Hiroshi's chest. As he moves out of the way in time, he estimates that Kado's fighting style is still dual swords, but a bit more calculated and savage, probably a style picked up from a rough life on the streets.

Hiroshi: \*maneuvers backward in a dance-like motion only getting mildy hurt\*

Kado's swords hum with a vibrant energy, they seem to want to be let loose in full, not held back. Kado bullrushes Hiroshi and smashes into his chest with his elbow, and breaks Hiroshi's footing, suddenly coming in with violent powerful strokes, one traveling along the ground and making a small split appear in the ground then just shyly missing his chest.

Hiroshi: \*hits Kado in the face with the handle, breaking his nose, then elbows him in his neck, causing him to stagger back. He hits the ground with Earth slayer and giant stalagmites stikle out of the ground\*

Kado goes transparent and jumps back, and slashes the stalagmites with Dark Slayer, the blade cutting through the stone like butter. He smiles, and the shadows crawl all over his body, and seem to gain a solid form, rippling with energy. He clutches Fire Slayer tighter, and an aura of flames ignites the armor of shadows. He raises the sword at Hiroshi, and a ripple of energy travels down the blade until it is let loose in a condensed explosion right on Hiroshi.

Hiroshi: \*puts up a metal barrier and blocks the explosion. He stabs the metal barrier multiple times sending metal spike shards at Kado\*

Kado frowns, and raises his hand. A aura of shadow surrounds the spikes and they suddenly reverse direction, and go straight through the metal and tear out on Hiroshi's side, the attack catching him off guard and several spike embed deep in his body before he manages to dodge the others.

Hiroshi: \*absorbs the metal spikes that pierced him and it heals his wounds\*

Kado extends his arm and hand towards Hiroshi, and a shadow hand extends from his reaching hand and straight at Hiroshi's throat, which then whips him up into the air and tosses him, while Kado sends another explosion straight up at Hiroshi, it detonating right in front of Hiroshi and sends him smashing into a building.

*The building starts to bend and begins to take bodily form. The building fires a sharpened iron bam at Kado and also fires glass and metal shards at Kado aswell\**

Kado manages to dodge most of the projectiles, though a shard or two manages to cut him, he winces at the contact, and moves out of the way.

"Heh, Earth Phoenix Mode huh? You know what they say, the bigger they are the harder they fall. But that's too cliche as it is... tch!" A sudden pain comes over him, and he feels a sense of pure anger building.

*Oh no, not you... not right now... GO AWAY! I don't need you!*He growls.

Kado dodges another attack from Hiroshi, and notes all of the pollution in the air. *I wonder how much of that is flammable... if there's enough... maybe I could blast him right out.*

He begins charging his Slayers, while watching for any sign of Hiroshi's next attack.

*Hiroshi emerges from the building with armor made of earth and steel, with glass formed in shapes of ancient markings that are glowing green. Behind him are evenly cut glowing glass shards floating in lineament in a form of wings. He is also wearing a metal mask with glowing green glass lenses.*

Hiroshi: Well boy. It has been an honor ighting you, but Phoenix destiny is clear, whether your with us or not. We will triumph. \*throws Earth Slayer at Kado. The Slayer spins and becomes a whirlwinds of leaves.\*

*A spinning whirlwind of rapid slicing* *comes in between Kado and Earth Slayer, deflecting it into the air.*

Hiroshi: \*catches Earth Slayer\* What the-- \*looks down at a figure wearing a long-tailed leather coat\*

Kado jumps away from the figure, his swords raised in a defensive manner, shadow armor thicker and the fire even stronger. "Who are you?" Two red marks can be seen on his left cheek.

*The figure partially turns his head towards Kado with hard light-brown eyes.*

"The guy who just saved you ass." \*looks back at Hiroshi "Now get back\*. \*snaps his fingers and a single flame is lit on his thumb. He lift his hand in the air and blows the flame, causing fire to spread into the sky\*

*The sky literally explodes into fields of fire, consuming Hiroshi.*

Hiroshi: \*is being cosumed by the numerous explosions\* AAAAAAARRRGGGGGHHHH!

*After awhile the skies are clear buy smoky. Hiroshi falls down on the building. He continues to crash down until he hits the first floor and everything else just falls untop of him*

Kado growls. "Excuse me? What makes you think that *a bunch of fucking leaves is a threat to me?! And who the hell are you?*I was handling myself just fine. What makes you think I *needed your help?!"*

*A chibi demon pops up in Kado's face*

"Hey man, don't be given shit to the boy! That thing was going straight for your neck! You were gonna be the new Sleepin' Hollow it if it weren't for him, so stop poutin' like a bitch!"

*A chibi female angel pops up*

"I must agree with him on this one. You could be a little bit grateful"

"A little bit?!"

"Guys, its ok. I didn't do this for thanks anyway. It's hard to know when I'm doing the right or wrong thing. I tend to make alot of mistakes anyway." \*turns all the way to look at Kado\* My name is Demgel, The Son of Good and Evil"

*The demon is still in Kado's face*

"So you better respect that, you masked piece of--!" \*is pushed out the way by the angel

"sorry about him. He rages alot. My name is Leg and that...red blob thing is Med."

"And you better respect that too!"

Kado's face darkens with recollection, as well as anger at the demon getting in his face. The red markings on his face now have an ominous red glow.

"...Demgel...? As in Demgel of the Sedition...?" The name does not seem to ease his guard, perhaps only making him more guarded.

Demgel: Yea, of the the Sedition. A name given by the authorities. We'rea group of Mythos who are being hunted by the M.C.C.P and deal with world threats and other world threats. Right now I don't know where everyone else is.

Med: Psh. It's not like we needed them anyway.

Kado sighs with irritation. "Not to be rude, but I seriously didn't need help. I may not be as powerful as someone like you, but I can hold my own just fine." One of the marks slides and disappears, the other one now dull colored, and he starts to walk towards the building where Hiroshi fell.

Demgel: It's fine. It's not like I'm wanted anyway.

Leg: That's not true. Your wanted by us.

Demgel: It's not the same by being wanted by an actual person. Besides, I'm not even sure what I'm capable off. I have all this power, but it still not enough. Atleast, not enough on a Nephalem standard.

Med: If Nephalem's have one.

Suddenly the ground heaves as the Earth Phoenix Mode activates again, and it towers high above them defiantly. "It will take a lot more than that to stop me."

Kado looks up at him, and then turns toward Demgel. "Say... that fire trick... do me a favor... do that at me... that is... if you can make it as powerful as last time." He points his red sword at Demgel. "Unless that was a one time gig. In that case, I'd be disappointed."

Demgel: Since your actually asking for my help, sure. \*snaps his finger and a small white flame appears. He blows the fire at Kado\*

Kado straightens his arm and the sword seems to absorb the fire with a howl as though the fire itself was screaming. Afterwards, it glows with a fierce red glow.

Suddenly a stone fist smashes Kado, and at first Demgel is surprised, but Kado simply slips right out and dusts himself off, then jumps onto the arm, his figure blackened and rippling as he rushes up the arm.

Hiroshi: Come at m, boy!

*the fist turns to rubble then reassembles above Kado and swat him to the ground*

Demgel: \*cuts the fist in half through the wrist\*

Kado lands nimbly on his feet, and wings made of fire laced with dark fire edges appear, and he soars up and lands on the giant's shoulder, and stabs straight into the stone, sending a heavily concentrated blast straight into the structure of the giant, blowing it to pieces and sending Hiroshi soaring, landing with a violent tumble and rolling for several feet, landing on his head, chest, legs, and back multiple times before skidding to a stop. Kado lands on the ground, with the debris falling all around him.

He then looks to where Hiroshi landed and rushes off towards his direction, determined to close the gap as quickly as possible.

Hiroshi: \*brings forth several spiked-balls of steel and sends them toward Kado\*

Kado leaps over them and keeps going, launching fireballs at him.

*The spikes extend towards Kado read to impale him but all of a sudden their cut in halves befre they can even touch him*

Hiroshi: \*is astonished by this sight, but does not get distracted as he easily fling the fireball over his head and into a nearby tower\*

Kado creates a whip of Dark Fire and whips Hiroshi with it, the tendril restricting Hiroshi and then tossing over towards Kado, who creates a massive searing wall of fire that races towards Hiroshi just as he is racing towards it, both move too fast to avoid each other and Hiroshi slams right into the wall of fire, the fires setting him ablaze.

Hiroshi: \*is coughing and kneels on one knee and touches the ground. Silver coats his skin and heals his wounds. He gets up, stretches, then summons 2 steel shard razors and has one trace Kado and the other trace Demgel\*

Kado glances at them, then sighs.

"You're too careless, Master. The shadows lie everywhere. And you should know fully well how formidable the power of shadow is..."

Suddenly the shadows of the shards rise up and become blacker than night, and violently impale Hiroshi in the lungs, and he can feel them rip into his chest cavity and expand, tearing at the entirety of his vital organs and blood vessels, blood gushing out of his body at an alarming rate.

Hirshi: \*is breathing for quite heavily and collapses\* you also forgot something too. The flesh is dust. And dust is of Earth...\*stretches forth his hand and Kado body begins turning into solid rock ever so slowly\* That that has been risen from dust...will return to the ground from whence it came...\*coughs up blood\* The shadows are *everywhere*, but the earth is *everything*...

The small pieces of rock tremble and fall through him, leaving a transparent version of Kado instead. He silently walks forward, and Hiroshi's leg buckles, as though something had forcefully bended his knees.

"And out of that void, what man later called darkness... God gave rise to the oceans... and then to the shores and the land. A mere infant the earth is compared to the power of Darkness. It's why many fear darkness. Because it is the true origin. One who masters Shadow can control and see many things.

Violence is not my way. Regrettably it is necessary." Hiroshi suddenly feels a sense of paralysis take hold over him as Kado comes close.

He raises his sword in an execution style, still flickering and shifting in his shadow form. "You're probably the greatest influence on my life, Hiroshi. Without everything you taught me... I would never have had the will to survive, to bring people together for a common cause and bring our justice to the world. We have a long way to go, and it will be hard. But... I just wish you could be there to see that future. I'm sorry you don't respect my dream. I doubt you're even proud of me for following the path I believe in.

Torrent had all of the talent... I was just the fool who could never please you." He closes his eyes and sighs. "Do you have anything left to say to me?" He opens his eyes again, staring down at Hiroshi who is still immobile.

Hiroshi: Are you kidding? I could never be prouder...\*smiles\* torrent was smart but violence controlled his actions. He was unsteady. Unbalanced. Like you, but you corrected your error and did better than you have before. Like how I tought you....I proud to call you my...\*slowly lifts his hand up\* son...\*falls on his face\* It does not matter what I think. It is what you think. Your belief. I may be just as big a paw \*cough,cough\* as you were. But now...where I'll end up being is unknown...Promise that you will take care of the girl...She does not deserve to fight and die by those she thought as family...just like you didn't deserve it...

Kado nods. "I would never let her come to harm. That I promise. I don't know about where you may go. That isn't for me to decide. But I can always hope that if and when you are judged, you are judged fairly. I'm sorry it had to come to this."

Hiroshi: Funny thing is..it never had to at all...\*closes his eyes and awaits Death\*

Kado closes his eyes and cutting off his emotions from overwhelming him, finishes it with a stroke to the neck with Dark Slayer, using its energies to dull the pain that would otherwise result from the strike, and Hiroshi simply goes without any pain. As the blood pools, Kado kneels on the ground with a blank desolate look on his face, hidden from view by his hair, which blows in a faint wind.

"...Be free of the pain of life... my master." He says softly. He sheathes his sword, and then takes hold of Earth Slayer, and gently puts it into its sheath, carefully wiping the blood off the sword of his master.

Demgel: \*appears next to him\* I could've blessed him, you know. Send him to a place he probably didn't deserve.

Kado doesn't look at him, just holds his master's sword. "Even though we are granted powers beyond imagining... it isn't our place to undermine the divine. It's too easy to play god. In reality no one should try. Without such limitations, we then allow ourselves to answer to no one. As much as that would be comforting... I would rather trust in a fair afterlife than cheat the dead. He did wrong... he made mistakes... but so does all who fights. So does all who call themselves warriors and soldiers."

He takes off his white robe, revealing his jumpsuit and the absolutely startling amount of weapons strapped to him. On his back, near the shoulders, are 8 places for swords to be secured. He puts Fire Slayer and Dark Slayer on them, and with more reverence places Earth Slayer in one as well.

Demgel: Are you gonna be ok,man?

Kado puts his white robe back on, covering his weapons.

"No. I generally never have that much luck." A few dozen soldiers wearing white armor with blue trim arrive.

Demgel: No such thing as 'luck'. Only miracles. \*takes few steps and loks up at the Sun and sees greens strands of light coming aloose and there appear to be more and more sunspots all over the Sun. Narrows his eyes and begins to walk away\*

Kado looks at the men. "Take his body and prepare it for burial." The men hesisate. "But isn't that....?"

"*Just. Do it."*

"...Yes sir."

"Off to somewhere then?"

Demgel: Yea. Nomad goes where a nomad is called to.

"In other words, nowhere. Very well then." He turns and takes out a spare mask and places it over his face. He then starts walking back where Naomi and the others are.

Gobble: Dude, we just saw the whole thing from here! It was all \*making sound effects\* and we were all like 'Whaaaaaaat' and then the other part was 'Holy Shit!'

"....There are no winners in battle. ...Only losers." He says quietly.

Gobble: Wow man. You just brought a new meaning to 'Winning isn't everything'. Man, I swear: Honor is overrated.

Kado makes a rather dark growl. "You know something....? You should really learn to watch your mouth."

He looks at the others. "How are you all doing?"

Avalia: We're all good. \*looks over to an unconscious Seco\* Seco's been out for quite a while now. His nose is broken and his back is shattered as well...

Gobble: The old man took it pretty hard I suppose. How 'bout the other old man? Is he dead?

Oliv examines Seco and begins treating his back with some kind of magic.

Naomi looks at Kado, who remains silent.

Eventually a sword slides into view, the sword Hiroshi had wielded, Earth Slayer.

Gobble: If you were gonna be all gloomy because you done killed him, why do it anyway?

"I doubt you'd understand. Like you said. You think honor is overrated. That alone proves you would never understand. It had to be done."

He pauses. "They were my family. They weren't just some random people I grew up with knowing. They were real people to me. ...Some of them were like my brothers, some my sisters... and some like parents. ...Old bonds can wither, but they will always still have a hold on your heart. ...If you even have one."

He turns and jumps onto a building rooftop and sits down, Naomi follows him.

Gobble: If he thought f them as family, why killl 'em at all? He's only lying to himself even more. The White chick definitely needs to die.

Avalia: It's far more complex than that.

Gobble: Yea, whatever. I wonder how much longer the old man is gonna be out.

Avalia notices blue flames burning on Gobble's hair, though he seems not to feel or notice it.

Avalia: Uuuuuuuuu...Ehhm....Aggghhh....aw dang \*walks toward Seco and Oliv\*

Gobble: \*is sweating\* Man, why do i feel so hot? \*touches his head and flinches back\* OW! What da fuck? Is my head on fire? *Real* mature, douchebag. \*runs to the water and jumps in\*

When his head is out of the water, the fire is still there, and he notices it isn't actually burning. Naomi looks over at him and winks.

Oliv looks up at Avalia. "It'll take me a bit, but I should be able to heal him, nose and all. Probably about fifteen minutes."

Avalia: That's good. Thank you, Oliv.

Gobble: \*comes out of the water\* Looks like I'm the new Johnny Test. \*sits on the ground soaking wet\*

Naomi laughs.

Kado looks towards the West. "I expect the others will arrive on Earth any moment now."

*Back at India*

Van Valeric: \*looks at the Sun\* Your time is almost come, ally. And the world will be void of all evil, and weary will perish beneath your thirst for decimation. No cannot stop what is about to come.

*Freedooomm...Awaits meeeee.....So much chaos...Chaos...without me....is a sin...The Universe...will be my playground once again...*

## The Echo of War

Jonas takes down yet another crimson soldier, but more just keeps coming. They had burst out of the various underground networks under the cities, completely catching the defense off guard, and in as great or greater numbers than the first attack on day one. Some of their swords crackle with elemental energy, and he has to be careful, as a rather pesky lightning one had been eluding him quite well, stinging him repeatedly the past couple of minutes.

Jonas: Admin. They came from up under us. I dont think we can keep this up any longer. Every other agency has their hands full with guy like these.

The Administrator: No, no. It's ok. Hold you position. Let them come. We have an answer to the problem.

Jonas: Sure thing, Admin. \*punches another crimson sldier in the face\*

Suddenly from the rear of the enemy lines, Jonas can hear shooting, and he can't tell for sure, but it appears as though a group of armored men with insiginas he's never seen before have come up from behind the crimson enemies and flanked them, the sneak attack thinning out the rear guard of the enemy quickly. They appear to be similarly equipped as the crimson ones, but they clearly appear to be enemies, as the crimson soldiers are returning attacks.

Jonas: \*is confused\* Sooooo. Am I supposed to fight both of dese guys?

The crimson soldiers begin to retreat, sealing their entrances as they fall back into the ground, the few that don't are either captured or killed by the white soldiers. They notice the M.C.C.P. soldiers and Jonas, and tense up, seemingly more nervous than hostile, their energy shields held in front of them.

One of them speaks. "We're not your enemy. We're here under orders to assist in fighting the soldiers of Phoenix, the organization behind this invasion. You can ask for verification from those representatives and that president about it. We'd prefer it if you didn't shoot us in the back."

A shadowy form appears behind the white armored soldiers, and a masked man appears, one a few of the soldiers, and a very particular man recognize from the infiltration incident.

Jonas: Wait. Aren't you the guy who saved the uder' guys ass from me that one night when the facility was goin' to shit?

"You have a good memory. Not that it matters." He silently scans the ranks of the M.C.C.P. soldiers, regarding them with caution.

Jonas: Help us you say. You can start by clening up the dead guys. We're going to see if there are more flushing out the people. \*headset\* Hello? Status.

Soldiers: \*is shoot at the crimson soldiers\* Fighting for our lives at the moment. Might at the call you back. \*smacks one with the butt of his gun and continues shooting\*

Jonas: Hmm. We could come in on both sides and outnumber that way, but I don't know if more will come.

The masked man takes out a katana with a brown handle and blade, and stabs it into the ground where the crimson enemy had retreated, and he feels the ground lurch as a large section of the street collapses, the tunnels below collapsing on the enemy, with their shrieks of alarm signalling the attack had worked. He silently sheathes the sword turns back to Jonas.

"They won't be coming out that way again."

Jonas: Ummmm...Ok. Thanks....So are you guys helpin' us screw up the red guys?

"Yes. This is just our first platoon. We have plenty more on the way. If you see any particular Slayer wielders like me who stand out, let me know. I defeated the Earth Slayer Hiroshi recently, and I now wield his sword. If you see one with a water or air one, let me know immediately. They're the biggest threats to Earth right now."

He looks over at a particular man with metallic hands. "You can stop glaring at me now. Getting rather annoying."

Jonas: Sure thing. That shouldn't be so hard to find. \*turns toward his soldiers\* You heard him. Tell the others who aren't occupied what to look out for.

*Soldiers do what their told*

Jonas: Shouldn't be too hard.

Suddenly the ground rips open and Ripjaw emerges, chuckling. "Well well well! If it isn't little ol' mutt and the traitor!" He cackles again, and points a sword glowing green at Jonas.

"I've seemed to have lost my favorite pet dragon... know where I can find the metal bastard?"

Jonas: \*looks at Ripjaw\* Oh. Its you. Woopdeedo. Nice sword you got pointin' at ma' face there.

"I know, isn't it though? After all, it is infused with the power of that little elemental you seemed to care so much about... opps... hit a sore spot, didn't I?"

Kado's eyes narrow when he hears this, but says nothing.

Jonas: \*closes his eyes and opens them again\* Dumbass.

"Hmm. I don't believe an ass can be dumb. Unless they have brains... oh, do you refer to the animal then?" He says mockingly.

Jonas: If that animal is holdin' a sword up in ma' face, then yea.

"Well, I do believe this animal sent you packing to the infirmary before... how sad that little wolfy got all torn up."

Jonas: Dude, that was yesterday. So what? You don't think it's happened before?

Kado looks at Jonas. "Why are you not trying to kill this asshole? Didn't he say something about someone you cared about or something being trapped in that sword?"

Jonas: Yea. I know.

"Well the situation is that if he kills me, well, his girl gets to be a sword for all eternity, I'd imagine at least."

Kado narrows his eyes. "So one of these guys then... must be an old timer from the old days of Phoenix with that attitude." He reaches into his sleeves and pulls out his swords, a black and red one, then looks at Jonas.

"I don't believe I introduced myself. I'm Kado, former leader of Azure, and I think this guy needs his face introduced to his ass."

Jonas: Easy. Just put a mirror in front his face and there it is.

Ripjaw chuckles as Kado charges, and just as he is about to strike at Ripjaw, he erects a wall of stone infront of Kado, and Kado just sighs.

He slashes the block and the two swords clash.

Jonas: \*watches and takes out a Blu cigarette and begins to smoke\*

Suddenly Ameno appears in front of him and stabs at him with an sharpened arm of Earth, saying nothing.

Jonas: \*is dodging while smoking while backing up at the same time\* Come' on, babe. We can work dis out.

Her face is emotionless, a blank slate, and she continues attacking.

"Fraid she can't hear you, I pretty much wiped the girl clean of anything unnecessary, you know, emotions... thoughts... personality... who needs a sword that talks?"

Jonas: Apparently Sonic needs one. \*takes the earth arm away from Ameno and breaks it in half and smacks her with both halves\*

Kado suddenly disarms Ripjaw, and the sword lands far away, Ameno's image crumbles and disappears, and Kado continues his attacks on Ripjaw.

Jonas: \*picks up the sword and looks at it for a while then closes it. Kisses the sword and walks toward Kado and Ripjaw with it\*

Suddenly large stone spikes erupt from the hilt, stabbing his entire hand holding the sword.

Jonas: \*ignores it and continues walking\*

Kado knocks Ripjaw off his feet with a rope of shadow, and swings him into a building, Ripjaw letting out a curse of frustration.

Jonas: \*is standing next to Kado\* Hold. \*looks at the sword one last time and walks up to Ripjaw\*

"What exactly are you doing?" Kado asks.

Jonas: Lettin' it go. \*holds the sword out to Ripjaw\*

Ripjaw chuckles violently before grabbing it and lifing up a pillar of earth and flinging it at Jonas, but Kado impales it with Earth Slayer, and absorbs it.

Ripjaw pales. "Not... *the original...*but if you have the Earth Slayer.... *why you little **runt**."*

He slings more stones at Kado, but Kado either absorbs or cuts the attacks in half, and then proceeds to start jabbing him with precise jabs to the throat, which makes him cough up blood, before Kado suddenly lobs off Ripjaw's arm holding Ameno's sword, Ripjaw letting out an animalistic howl of pain as he does so.

Kado looks back at Jonas. "I am more or less projecting, but I don't think your heart has the leisure of just letting things go."

Jonas: \*shrugs\* Eh, more or less.

*A soldiers tackles Ripjaw from behind and sticks him with a needle with pinkish fluid in it*

Soldier: I got'em!

Jonas: Alright keep'em down! \*runs over and begins releasing all his rage and fury out into every punch and kick. he is attacking Ripjaw so hard that blood and teeth fly out left from right\*

Soldier: Holy crap, I think I see some dents in his face.

Jonas: Give me your gun...

Soldier: \*tosses him the gun\*

Jonas: Stand'em up...

Soldier: \*stands Ripjaw\*

Jonas: \*is beating Ripjaw over the head with the butt of the gun furiously\*

Soldier: I think I can see more dents...and pieces...

Suddenly Ripjaw grabs the butt of the gun, and rips it out of Jonas's grip, and smashes him as if it were a baseball bat.

*"Hee hee hee...!"*Ripjaw gurgles slightly. He closes the distance between them swiftly, and begins battering Jonas with violent kicks and punches, each strike feeling more like Jonas was being hit by a boulder than a fist or foot.

Soldier: \*comes behind Ripjaw with a large piece of debris and knocks him over the head with it and proceeds to beat him with it then looks at Kado\* Don't just stand there like the retards who passed the robbed man. Help us! \*continues to beat Ripjaw with his giant piece of debris\*

Kado silently looks at Ripjaw, and then throws a shuriken at him, and he promptly ducks and kicks the soldier in the spleen, then charges at Kado, who simply stands there and lets him come to him.

Jonas: \*rams into Ripjaw from the side knocking him down\* Take Ameno and go. \*pats his elbow, jumps into mid-air and lands on top of Ripjaw's neck and begins to beat his face\*

Kado watches Jonas beat Ripjaw. "And that is why you just don't charge your enemy head on. I keep telling them that."

Jonas: Told him he was a retard. He just wouldn't listen. \*continues to beat\* Too busy laughin' like a' freakin' maniac.

Ripjaw suddenly headbutts Jonas, launching him into the air. "I *AM a maniac!*And proud of it!"

Jonas: Yea, and I'm the guy who doesn't give a shit and I'm proud of that to.\*flies back toward the ground and lands on Ripjaw with his elbow in his face\* Hello'

Ripjaw rolls out of the way and rolls right into Kado, who grabs him by the arm and flings him over his shoulder, and jumps up after him and begins slashing him in the face and stomach. As Ripjaw falls, Kado stabs him in the heart and twists the sword as he pulls out, ripping the still beating organ out of Ripjaw's chest and sending it into a sewer drain pipe.

Kado looks at Jonas. "So who's this Admin I've heard about?"

Jonas: It's pronounced "The Admin." and he's the due you do not wanna be fuckin'. Especially when all this shit is goin' down.

Kado looks as though he's going to say something, but three crimson lines run down his right cheek and his expression changes to something more sinister. "*I could take him."*A different voice says in a darker version of Kado's voice, laughing from what it sounds like.

Jonas: Okay, that sounds beautiful. If you wanna fuck with The Admin. you can. Just don't expect anyone to jump in and save ya'.

One of the soldiers recognizes the red marks from a news cast about the London Incident.

Soldier: Hey...your that...guy we saw..back at London..you we're fighting and old guy right?

A dangerous smirk crosses Kado's face. "*That's right. What's it to ya?"*A glint of red is in his eyes.

Soldier: Just wanted to thank you for getting us ready for all the death this shitstorm has brought upon us.

He looks like he is going to say something, but he loses balance and the red marks disappear, and Kado groans. "Damn it... why'd he come out...?" His voice is back to normal, but he suddenly goes ridged.

"...Tell your troops to get to high ground, Jonas."

Jonas: You heard 'em. Get to higher ground.

*Soldiers get up and make their way to a new location*

Kado stabs Earth Slayer into the ground, and the soldiers nearest to Jonas and Kado are lifted up along with them by a massive pillar of earth, which rises above the tops of the skyscrapers, where they behold a mind numbing sight. A endless wave of water is racing towards them, stretching from both ends of the horizon.

Jonas: No one told us a tsunami was comin'.

Soldier: Anything we can do sir?

Jonas: Can't fight water. Unless you just pound your fist into it.

Kado frowns. He sticks his sword back into the ground, and veins come into view as a massive wall of stone begins to rise in front of the city to meet the oncoming wave. It finishes just as the wall of water slams into it, barely enough to hold it back, and it races on away from the city, and Kado collapses, sweating heavily.

"I... managed to stop it... damn though... master must have been truly strong... if he could lift so much more land than that..." He pants heavily.

He looks out over all the water, and sighs. "...At least I managed to move it away from this city... not sure what will happen to others though..."

Jonas: Yea, but somethings got to give. It wont hold forever.

Jonas notices a figure rising up from the water's edge near the dam, a woman. She appears to be looking at them, with an aquamarine colored sword in hand.

Jonas: I think she's yours, buddy. Go get 'er.

Suddenly the air heats up as a black haired girl lands next to Kado, with a blazing aura of golden fire around her body, with fox ears and five tails.

"Sorry I'm late, Kado." She says quietly.

The girl on the water seems to take a step back, surprised.

Jonas: Where did the little girl come from? She yer' sister?

Kado sighs, and puts on his mask. "Do I LOOK like I have fox ears to you? She was the Fire Slayer's apprentice at one point, and if I didn't get Fire Slayer, it would have gone to her."

The fox girl looks at Jonas. "I recently left the organization after Kado told me the truth about the organization. I always believed what we were doing was bringing salvation to the Earth."

They look back at the water, and the girl approaches in mid air, walking on what looks like a faint puddle of water. She stops a few good few feet away, hovering in air.

"...Kado... and Naomi... For a deserter for most of their life, I didn't doubt you would arrive. To hear that Master Hiroshi lost to the likes of you disappoints me. But what disappoints me more is the fact that you betrayed us, Naomi." She frowns. "Come back to us now and White will forgive your momentary lapse in judgement."

Soldier: What should we do, sir?

Jonas: I don't know. I feel so out of place right now.

Kado looks at Jonas for a moment, and then Jonas feels a sensation as though someone's thoughts are tapping against his own, trying to grab his attention.

Jonas: \*looks at Kado\* You need something?

*"Give me a hand here and tell me what capabilities you have. I need to weigh my options here. ...I'm not very familiar with Toma in comparison to the other members of Phoenix."*His voice echoes in Jonas's mind, as an additional mind seems to link them somehow.

Jonas: Well i got claw reaction, supernatural condition, enhanced bite, immortality, and regenerative healing factor. And that's only the ones i can remember.

Kado frowns. *"Think you can distract her? I need time to see how she fights..."*

Jonas: Fine. I'm already beat up anyway. \*takes one step and disappears\*

Kado looks at Toma, and draws his katanas.

Naomi looks at her as well, a slight air of hesitation in her eyes. "Toma, we don't have to fight... there are other ways of carrying out justice!"

Toma looks at her. "Like what? Ask them to change their ways? So naive."

*Jonas dahses past Toma and knocks her over the head*

Jonas: How 'bout start and uprising. Sounds like a good place to start with human rehabilitation.\*dashes past Toma and knocks upside her head again\*

With his second strike, he goes right through her, her form turning into water. As he leaves the space where her body stands, she creates a whip of water and lashes it around his neck, and flings him toward the ground.

"There have been plenty of uprisings. Like the uprising that gave rise to Hitler. Or the communist revolution of China. Or the Russian Revolution, which lead to the conflicts known as the Cold War, Vietnam, the Cuban Crisis, and need I not point out the Korean War? Humanity had their chance. Now... it's time for Mythos to get their cut in life. Able to stand free and able to live their *own*lives in a society that accepts them for who them am, not mindless tools.

You have no rights. No freedom. No future. Except this. Violence. Death. And Hate. All feed, bred, and grown by humanity." She says quietly.

Jonas: \*lands on his feet\* Sadly, I have no right to think. Your talking to a Myth who saves humans lives for a job.

She raises her sword to the sky, and massive clouds begin to form at a violent rate.

"A job, or slavery? You only say that because you have no choice. But tell me something. If you had the chance, would you really want to have to live your life by the sword? Would you really risk every day with the possibility that that lover of yours might die?"

Jonas: Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do, right? Also, I recommend you ask yourself the same question.

Toma looks at Jonas. "I would gladly die for this cause. Humanity throughout the ages has caused suffering for no other reason than self gain. Not just Mythos, but also themselves. They justify hatred and violence on mere differences such as race. We didn't have a choice in the matter, why should we suffer for it? This is my call. To put an end to humanity's ruthless crimes once and for all. Time and time again they have been given a chance to change, but willingly remained true to their nature. All beings should be free to live. The animals should be free to live in the wilds, free and without imprisonment in bars. Humans should accept others and not care if they are different, and promote their own freedom of self. Mythos should be free to use their powers how they see fit, to benefit others and live in the pursuit of happiness."

A dark look comes over her face. "No one should have to be a slave. I knew the answer to the question I asked you when I was a young girl. That is my answer. I am a soldier, fighting for the day of salvation. Your cause will not stand against the might of the righteous."

Jonas: I'm doing this i'm givin' mankind another chance. Hopefully after all this is over, they'll learn something. I guess you can say we're both soldiers. You can be Captain America and I can be The Winter Soldier. Sound good?

A drop of rain splats onto Jonas's shoulder, and strangely stings. He looks at it to see a small hole dripping with blood. Toma silently stares at him for a moment.

"There is no such things as heroes. Only winners, and losers. No villains, and no heroes. Ally and foe. Freind and enemy." She sheathes her sword. "You... are my enemy."

Jonas: So you wanna be Aqua Lady or somethin'? Besides we dont have to be enemies...We can talk about our feelings. I'll start. Mhm. So how are you doin', Aqua Lady?

The sky begins to darken with rainclouds, and drips of rain begin to fall around them. Each time one hits Jonas, it stings like fire.

"I think not."

Jonas: Well you don't have to be like that. But I must say, it feels like a 'sauna' in here. Get it? Progressive? Love those guys next to the Geico commercials.

She suddenly rushes him, incredibly fast and deadly as she closes the gap in almost no time, and begins laying on him various brutal martial arts moves that are quick and agile, fluid and graceful. And deadly.

Jonas: \*is blocking and dodging most of her attacks\* Duck,duck,duck,duck,duck,duck,goose. \*flicks here forehead.

As his finger makes contact with her head, he feels a burning in his arm, and visibly it looks as though the arm is suffering necrosis.

Jonas: Hm. \*sarcasm\* Oh ma' gosh it burns, make it' stop.

## The One Behind the Curtain

Toma breaks out of the rubble, panting. Every bone in her body still screams from the pain. She sees the werepyre get back onto his feet. *Great. He's already kicking again. But Kado isn't... if I could just get a moment's rest... I'd probably be able to finish him. But then there's the damn mutt. Arrghh. I guess I'll just wait.*

Jonas sees the enemy manage their way out of the skyscraper, and is considering attacking when he hears a panicked voice on the radio.

"SIR! Emergency! We're under attack, but I have NO IDEA what's hitting us! It's just a flash of light and then, 'BAM'! Dead! All of em! The only reason I'm alive-"

"*Is because you were a coward."*A voice says coldly, before the man's screams ring out as a sickening crunch echoes from the other side, and then silence except blood drips. The radio turns off with a click.

Jonas: Whoa. I just heard the evil in her voice. Ya' know her?

Toma looks down at Jonas. "Yes. Sadly for you. What's even more sad for you is that I'm not foolish to stick around and get caught in her attacks. Bye." Toma disappears in a reverse rainfall.

Suddenly Jonas hears a soft footstep behind him, and turns to almost instantly be blinded by a searing white light in front of him.

Jonas: \*shields his face with his ahnds\* Ah! AH, MY eyes! It BUUUUUURRRNS! NOOOOOOOO! \*over dramatically falls over\*

Jonas's yelling makes Kado wake up, and he struggles to his feet. "Ow my head... why are you yelling like that?" He groans.

Jonas: Because it hurts, man! Ooooowwww. Why does itve to be so briiiiight?!

Kado takes one look at the light and growls. "*White...*" He growls.

The light fades to reveal White smirking playfully. "Kado," She replies simply.

"*White...!"*Kado growls again, tightening his grip on his swords.

"Annnnd let's not start that dumb cliche." She says as she kicks him in the face straight into a building.

Kado stumbles out of the wrecked wall. "Damn it... so fast!"

White yawns. "Honestly Kado I couldn't go any slower probably."

Jonas: \*is crawling around with his eyes closed\* Where is everbody? Don't ya' see a blind manhere?

He feels a tap on his forehead and his vision returns just in time to be kicked into a building as well.

"Hope that helps." White says, then moves her head to the right to dodge a stab from Kado effortlessly. She proceeds to merely adjust her head or simply step back to evade every single one, and then without effort flicks his forehead and he becomes acquainted with the wall again. When he gets up, a thin line of blood oozes from the spot she flicked.

"Not to offend you (not that I care), but I'm more interested in taking that mutt to the pound than fighting you."

Jonas: \*lands on her cerebral cortex\* Man dude, I hate it when people treat me as if i'm an animal. Everyone knows when you mess with an animal you tend to loose a limbo or two...or three...maybe even four...and a screwed up face for the fun of it.

As soon as his feet touch her body, she whips out from under him and roundhouse kicks him straight into Kado, who had just gotten ready to charge.

"ARRGH!" Kado yells. "Hey, would you mind getting off me?!"

Jonas: not my fault this crazy white bitch rounhoused kicked me into you! \*gets up\* gotta plan to take this bitch down?

"Does 'not die' sound like a good one to you?"

Jonas: You know? I'm getting real sick and tired of hearing that answer.

"Well sorry I only met her one time, and that was right before she ordered my execution!"

White looks at Kado. "Actually you've met me before. Many times."

He turns and glares at her. "I'm sure I have, haven't forgotten you're a shapeshifter too."

"That is not what I meant."

Kado blinks, confused.

"Forget it. Another time."

Kado growls. "NO, we settle this NOW!"

White appears next to him in less than a second. "Not interested." She suddenly shoves Jonas's head down a manhole and swats Kado a few feet away from her as he tries to punch her face.

Jonas: \*gets his head out the manhole and his head hits the back of White's head and trips her, while he maneuvers unto his feet\*

She makes an agile flip onto her feet, and looks completely unfazed. He thinks for a moment he can see large scales on her face.

Jonas: \*is disgusted\* Ugh. look like one of them reptilaian alien thingies I see all over the Interwebs.

The scales disappear. "You shouldn't insult a lady's appearance."

She sighs and holds out a finger, and stops Kado's blade with it. Not a scratch. "You're going to have to be a bit more creative than that..." He stabs at her again, but she merely sidesteps him, and dodges various martial arts moves.

"Sloppy. Slow. Sloppy again. Timing off by five seconds. You hit like a toddler." Are among the many passive remarks she says as she dodges or is unaffected by any of them. Finally she forms her hand into a claw formation and rakes Kado's face with it, causing large gashes in his face.

"AGGGHH!" He crumbles to the ground, holding his face. His blood drips from her hand, and looks toward Jonas.

Jonas: \*helps up Kado up\* Come on man. What happneed to 'not dying' being apart of plan? I'm guessing you just threw that out into the wind.

"So pathetic. Is this really all you have Kado? You turn your back on us just because of *one little test*and spout nonsense about equality between humans and Mythos and justice? Has these past years really been nothing but a game to you? If you were really wanting to defeat us this whole time, you should have trained til your knuckles bleed and nothing else. But instead you play hero and try to change a system that has been broken from the very start. A system that only fools have tried to change. Guess what Kado? They all died, crushed underneath the cruel engine that is the world.

You should have never have come here. I'm not surprised that you could have managed to sway Naomi over to yourself... you're both fools. Fools die great together in pairs. I'm not surprised Hiroshi lost to you. His heart was not in the right place. But did you seriously think... for one moment? ONE MOMENT, that you could BEAT ME?! With that pathetic strength? That measly will?! You will never be strong enough. *Never.*Now go play hero somewhere else while I burn this world to the ground and make it anew."

She spits on the ground, and begins walking away, while Kado furiously clutches his face, deep in pain. "*Damn... you....!"*

Jonas: Yea, yea. You can curse her later, but now wee need to go. All personnel, move and clear out.

*Soldieir run away*

Kado tries to move out away from Jonas to keep fighting, but fails. "Damn it all... she has to go down damn it!"

Jonas: I thought the plan was to 'not die'. Man you suck at following plans.

Jonas and Kado make it a couple of blocks before Azure soldiers show up. "Sir! Are you alright? Get him some medical treatment for that wound!" They bark orders around, and a healer walks up to him and begins treating and healing his face, though he has to hold in grunts of pain.

One of them approaches Jonas. "What happened back there?"

Jonas: Some white bitch came over and decided to hand this dude's ass to'em. I say she did pretty good with that.

Suddenly an explosion rips apart the buildings from far away all the way to the closest buildings behind them, and after the dust settles, White stands there, her finger pointed in their direction.

"Did I actually say that you were allowed to leave, wolf boy?"

Jonas: I don't know. You sure didn't say anything about keepin' me.

In the blink of an eye, she is right over him, her sword baring down on his head ready to impale him. Just as the blade touches his skin, she leans in and says, "Heh, lucky devil."

Suddenly she breaks away from him and flips backwards just as a woman with black hair slams her fist into the ground where White was a moment ago, the impact strong enough to lift the ground Jonas is standing on and make him lose balance.

*Am I too late to join the fun?*The woman's voice rings in their ears.

Kado blinks in surprise. "I thought you were at the south front."

*The south front crumbled so quickly I barely was needed. Thought my help would be better served here.*

Jonas: Man dude, did you bang all these chicks or what? Because for all I know, she's pissed at you for not givin' her child support.

Kado sighs. "You have a wonderful way with words. Azula is a longtime friend. White is the true definition of 'almighty bitch'."

White smiles. "Didn't your mother ever tell you to watch your language? Someone needs their mouth washed out."

Azula glares at White. *You won't touch him again. **EVER.***

"And how's that?"

White's eyes widen in surprise as Azula manages to ram a punch into her gut, and send her flying into a tall building. She lands on the wall, and the whole thing cracks and crumbles.

*I will completely. Utterly. Destroy you.*

"Well, have fun with that darling. I very much doubt you can."

Jonas: Actually, I think I'm getting a somewhat of a lesbo vibe from the white bitch.

The two charge each other, and the two exchange blows, White is faster and stronger, but Azula seems to hold her own. White fires a beam of light at Azula, but she deflects it with a shield of darkness, then makes a spear of lightning and jabs at her. White ducks back and trips Azula with a sweep of her leg, and Azula rolls back to her feet.

White suddenly flies up into the air with dragonic wings, and Azula silently snarls.

*Come back here!*

Azula takes a deep breath, then has a silver glow. *Mythologic Adaption.*She suddenly sprouts six silver wings, and rockets up after White. White is waiting for this, and begins rapid firing spheres of condensed light, which when Azula dodges, rains down on Jonas and the others like bombs, exploding with violent force.

Jonas: \*is dodging the raining lights as much as he can\* Crap Crap Crap Crap Crap Crap!

Azula charges a sphere of energy, which becomes a shield dome over them, protecting them from the rain of death. She then fires lightning bolts at White, who gracefully flies out of the way each time.

"Ah, such effortless strength! You really are something else Azula!" White laughs.

*Shut up you wretch!*

White creates a spear of light and throws it at Azula, who manages to dodge, but the spear sails onward and it impacts into a section of the city and causes a massive explosion.

Azula flies at White and tackles her, the two spiraling down toward the ground, throwing punches and kicks.

Jonas: So guy. You do ya' think is gonna win this one?

"Azula. She's never lost. Never. I have faith in her. She will win." Kado says without question.

Jonas: I know why you only said that because she's on our side. Also, you say that because you hate the white chick.

"People tell me that I'm a great leader. ...No. I'm not. Without her, I'd still be lost in those streets, stealing food from corrupt street markets. I would be fighting tooth and nail, without a reason to fight. Without her... I couldn't be the person I am now. She's made me who I am. ...That's why. I trust her. I believe in her.... ....And I love her. ...She won't lose. ...She can't."

Jonas: Well, I hope you two can live you lives in peace and all that other happy shit after all this.

Azula suddenly drop kicks White into the ground, shaking the ground violently. She lands, panting.

*And... take. That.*

"No thank you." White says, getting up and dusting herself off.

Azula begins punching White in the face repeatedly, drawing blood a few times.

*Why... won't... you... just... DIE?!*

After countless punches, White suddenly raises a hand and says, "Stop." And Azula stops, a fearful expression on her face as she obeys the command.

White dusts herself off again, and straightens her clothing. "Well now... that was certainly exhilarating... but enough is enough."

*I'm not finished yet!!!*Azula yells. She throws another punch, but White grabs her fist and repeats herself. "Stop." And once again, she freezes, only this time she doesn't move.

"That's better."

Jonas: Hey guy. you didn't tell me your chick was the white chick's bitch.

White looks at Azula. "I think it's time to end this game. Don't you?"

*No... what's happening....?! Why... why can't I move?!*

"I've been meaning to collect for a while now... but there were too many complications... I had hoped to do this while no one was watching... but now time is against me... *and I need all of my weapons available... for phase two."*

A dangerous light gleams in her eyes.

Kado growls. "What have you done with her? Stop it now!"

"I'm afraid it's too late for that." She turns towards Azula again. "I think it's time we began in earnest... now... *Awaken... Zeta 'A' 290!"*

Azula begins to let out a horrid scream, as her body glows golden and six massive angelic wings rips forth from her back and black armor begins to form around her body, and six additional arms grow from her shoulders, all jet black metal.

As the metal armor begins to cover her face, she falls over, her dimming eyes meeting with Kado's.

Kado has a petrified look on his face, as he hears:

"I'm... so... sorr- so... sorry... *f-for-forgive... I...I-I love..."*

She goes silent, as her eyes dim and the faceplate finishes forming over her face.

As Kado drops on to his knees in shock, White grabs her by the hair, and a dark smile grows over her face.

"And now... everything is ready. *All members of Phoenix. There's been a change of plans. Evacuate and await further orders at Yosai. ...And the Spearhead has been aqquired."*

As she and Azula begin to disappear, Kado rushes White. "NO! *I WON'T LET YOU TAKE HER!!!"*He screams. Suddenly Azula punches him in the gut, and he is sent flying, and lands in a crumbled heap. Azula and White finish disappearing, leaving Kado breaking down in insane sobs of grief.

"*DAMN IT! DAMN IT DAMN IT DAMN IT!"*He screams. His men stand in terrified shock.

One of them turns on his radio. "...All members of Azure. There's been... an unfortunate incident. ...Leader Azula... *has been lost.*"

Jonas: Well shit, dude. Looks like both of us lost our chicks. But don't worry, we're bound to get them back soon.

Suddenly a heavy pulse of electromagnetic energy ripples from Kado, and electricity from the city begins arcing into him.

A surge of power bellows from him, knocking them all back, and a voice echoes:

*This world... all it does... is take... no matter what... it's always about someone else. Take take take take take take! No one ever really was concerned about me or how I felt. Everyone... looked at me... as a savior... a hero... a leader... but I didn't want that... I never wanted that! All I wanted really... was to be happy... as long as I was by her side... ...the rest of that didn't matter. It didn't matter what they took...*

*But now... ...now... ...there's nothing. ...Nothing left. ...why should it be about anyone else.... why... why...*

*.........I'm tired of the world taking from me... ...everything... ...so now...*

***I'll take everything from the world.***

Jonas looks up at the center of the blast, to find Kado standing, with pale gold eyes and red markings covering his body, his hair much longer down to his waist and partially covering his eyes. Surrounding him are strange tendrils of red light that flicker with strange red markings as well, ending in sharp blades. The look in his eyes reminds Jonas extremely of many Mythos he's fought in the past, empty and almost lifeless. But also a deep, burning anger. His form flickers with what looks like red lightning.

Jonas: Hey guy! I know how that's like! Everything was taken away fro me too, ya know? I lost my life, man! My rents left me and I had to live on the streets for centuries!I've spent the rest of my centuries in a capsule! Only being woken up to go out into the field of war! It was a meaningless life, man! Up until Ameno came! Then them Phoenix bastards took her away from me and I couldn't do shit about it! But that doesn't mean I have givin' up! We all have a responsiblity in life! It all depends iwe're strong enough to take it! And right now you aint bein' a team player'!

One of the Azure agents pulls him back as one of the tendrils nearly stabs him. "Careful! ...This is really, *really bad.*We're going to need a suppression team to handle him..."

Jonas: Here! Take this! \*pulls out a collar and throws it to the Azure agent\*

As Oliv and her men arrive, Kado suddenly collapses onto a knee and holds his face in agony. After he stops, he gets back up and looks up at them again.

"Kado! What's wrong? Are you hurt?"

*Only from the selfishness of others.*

He flinches, as a crack runs down his cheek to the middle of his chest, a golden light flickering through it.

"...*I guess it's not a complete union... tch!"*His eyes glare at them. He slowly turns and begins to walk away, the energy around him fading to a slight black aura.

Oliv tries to charge after him. "Explain yourself, what's going on here?!" She yells, but one of the tendrils smacks her back, and she lands in a flip on her feet.

"*I'm done serving others, done with their hatred, done with struggling every day of my life. For no purpose. For no gain. For no happiness. I'm done with you sheep constantly begging for me to help you. You want help? Help your fucking selves for once. You all have no backbone. That's why the Mythos takes orders from the humans and enslaves their own. Because they don't have the guts to stand up for themselves. Especially not you."*He growls at Jonas.

"*If you want to have a new leader, Oliv, might as well nominate yourself."*Kado walks off again.

Jonas: Tsk. you sound like like a blue haired kid I knew.

Gobble: Hey Jonas! \*waves\*

Jonas: \*looks over his shoulder\* Hey Turkey! What's up?

Goble: nothin' much at all. Just becam captives of another plan of Fantasy and shit, but nothing too too bad.

Jonas: Good good. Hey where's your ol' man?

Gobble: you know...sleepin'. Ol people be gettin' tired way too easily these days.

Jonas: Yea, I hear that. Tell him I said 'howdy'

Gobble: Sure thing, man.

Oliv looks about, then sighs. "We have so much work to do..." She takes her radio out. "All members of Azure, begin rendezvous to our coordinates. We've lost very important members of our family today... and we still have no idea what the future will hold tomorrow. We will relay all information in coordination with the humans, and act accordingly. I just hope we will make it through tomorrow..." She turns her radio off. She notices the sword of Ameno in Jonas's hand.

"That a Slayer?"

Jonas: Hmm. \*looks down at the Slayer\* Huh, will ya' look at that? It is.

Oliv reaches a hand out to it. "Is it that person you mentioned that was taken away from you? May I see?"

Jonas: Sure thing. Better in your hands than the other guy's. \*tosses her the Slayer\*

She looks the blade over carefully, before letting out a sigh of disgust. "These seal designs are crude and barbaric... not at all like the quality of Phoenix's. Let me take a crack at the seals." Her hand begins glowing as she runs her hand along the blade.

Gobble: \*peaks over her shoulder\* Cool...

After a minute, her hand clenches into a fist, and she begins to pull on some kind of green orb, with seven similarly colored strings of energy attached to it. After a violent tug, the strings break and the orb descends towards the ground, growing into the form of Ameno.

"It's done. She's no longer bound by the blade." The sword cracks and crumbles in her hand.

Jonas: \*looks at Ameno\* R-really? I-i it really her? \*slowly moves toward her\*

Oliv nods. "Yes. It is. Can you do me a favor? I need to speak with the President and or the representatives, can you find someone who can arrange a meeting tonight?"

Jonas: \*falls to his knees and hugs Ameno\* I-I can convince The Admin. to scheduale a meeting...I can sure try...

"I understand if you need some time with her, but understand that we are both an organization and a nation. The sooner we establish the situation, the better."

Gobble: Whoa Jonas. You didn't tell me you had a chick. \*whispers\* Did you finally get laid?

Jonas: Don't you have another dimension to go back to?

Gobble: \*backs off\* Well I'm sorry, man. Im just bein' happy for ya.

Oliv sighs. "You're a handful, Gobble. ...I cannot believe that's your nickname."

Gobble: You should. When it comes to someone like me, the name just fits. \*winks at Oliv\*

"Uh huh. Let me know when you get in contact with him." She walks off, and starts talking to various other squad leaders.

Gobble: See ya' , Jonas \*follows the rest&

Jonas: \*continues hold hold Ameno\*

Kado runs. He leaps from windowsill to windowsill, light post to light post, anything to get away. *From the pain. From the memories.*

*Who am I... I don't know anymore... ...I don't know anything...*

*Not... ...not without her...*

Jonas: \*talks to himself\* I hope yer endin' can be as happy as mine, guy.

Kado finds a operating train, and while it moves past him, he jumps onto one of the cars, letting it take him away, where ever it might be going.

*Where doesn't make a difference... hell is still hell...*

Ameno: \*Opens eyes\* WHere.... In the.... HELL am I?

Jonas: You here, with me. And not in the hands of some crazy-cookoo-bastard guy.

Oliv sighs. "First Kado resigned, then Azula was corrupted... now Kado has abandoned us... this is really a rough patch... I'm not sure what to think right now. I just hope Kado will come to his senses..."

Avalia: \*walks up to Oliv" Oliv, what all happened?

Gobble: Our captor of martyrdom finally pussied out of his job.

Oliv gives him a look that pretty much says, 'I'm going to order a nuclear strike on your ass'.

"To answer your question Avalia... it really wasn't Kado's dream, Azure that is. It was Azula's. He was the one who could fight if given direction, and could win. She was the one with the dream. She dreamed of a future of happiness, justice, and order. Kado was desperate for something to hold on to, and resolved to help her. He fought because that's what she fought for. When he fought... he was fighting the battles Azula couldn't. And she gave him the drive to succeed. ...From the very beginning... she was his rock, his very foundation. For him, she meant everything. And now she's gone... turned into the very thing he fought to defeat. An instrument of hatred. ...with her gone... there's pretty much nothing left in his heart."

She sighs. "I very much doubt anyone could appeal to his heart now. I don't think anyone can reach him where his heart has crumbled."

Avalia: \*has a saddened look on her face\* So much is happening. What if we loose everyone?

Gobble: Then we live underground for the rest our lives, duh.

Oliv looks at Avalia. "Cheer up. Azure has suffered many adversities before. This war is just another one to add to the heap. We will make it through this, not matter the cost."

Avalia: Then we'll be standing by you, no matter the cost.

Gobble: \*confused\* We?

Avalia: \*slaps him ober the head\*

Gobble: \*rubs the back of his head\* Yes we.

"I thank you. We will decide our next move after discussing with the leaders of the humans the current situation. In the mean time, I would suggest not speaking to any M.C.C.P. officials if you can avoid it. We don't need fights to break out right now."

Gobble: Sort of hard. No doubt The Admin. will just destroy us after the whole invasion thing is over. He's a douchebag like that. Mythos are still Mythos. Whether they help humanity or not.

"I'm afraid invading Echo is going to be a much different ballgame than he realizes, Gobble. You see, you only were able to access Echo that time because we left our rifts wide open. Since your attack, we sealed off any and all rifts large enough to detect. The only way to access it now would be from being teleported there by a being with the specific knowledge of how to travel to it without instant transportion, or..." She breaks off. "Never mind, it was destroyed many years ago. It would never be possible."

Gobble: Well, I'm glad you got that covered. But I keep an open mind if I were you. The Admin. is one skivin' bastard.

Avalia: I have to agree with Gobble. The Administrator is one scary dude.

"I fear no one. Even if he is to be feared, the only true fear I will feel is that of the judgement day."

Gobble: Which will be brought to you by The Admin.

Oliv sighs. "Well you're certainly shiting your pants. That MUST require some degree of effort to get that result..."

She looks over at Jonas. "How are you feeling right now?"

Jonas: Like all of Jesus' bitches when they found out he rose from the dead.

"I see then. Don't forget about my request now. We're going to start relief efforts. I have a feeling that we ground troopers will be little more than cannon fodder in the days to come, if the enemy hasn't given up yet."

She signals her men to investigate the area.

Jonas: you hear all that, Admin?

The Administrator: No.

Jonas: Lie.

The Administrator: Keep your mouth shut and it won't half to be.

Oliv looks at Jonas, and then winks. She suddenly jumps into the air and gracefully transforms into a eagle, and flies off, a storm of feathers blowing in the wind as she jets off into the sky.

Jonas: \*watches her leave\* Yea...that's exactly what I'll do...

Ameno: Alright. What's next? I think I can fight again...

Jonas: \*sigh\* Well, that's all we're gonna be doin' today, apparently. \*hugs Ameno tighter\* I'm just really glad yer' back...

Ameno: \*Hugs back\* I know, hun. I know. Lets just get the job done, okay?

Jonas: Ok... \*gets up and begins to walk toward their next destination\*

## Unstable

Oliv appears outside the building where the President and Representatives were said to be meeting, turning to normal and noticing the security watching her.

"Excuse me, I need to speak with the President on some urgent matters."

Guard: Do you have any approval by anyone from The World Council or any one associated with the Branches?

"I am General Oliv of the forces of Azure. I *must*speak with him."

Guard: fine. But we're going to have to escort you. \*takes the lead while the other stays behind Oliv\*

She allows them to escort her, but she remains tense on the off chance they are trying to trick her. Her years on the streets taught her to never trust anyone in politics. *Anyone.*

*The guards take her through several hallway turns and finally they make it to two big double-doors. They open the doors and let her in. All there is, is the President staring out his window.*

Guard: Mr. President. There is someone who request to speak with you.

The President: \*turns from the window and looks at her\* Oh, come in, come in. Please take a seat.

Oliv takes a seat opposite of him. "Thank you for allowing me to speak with you. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Oliv Walker, 1st General of Azure."

The President: \*nods\* Honored. I assume you are here under the circumstances of the war.

"Yes... I am pleased to tell you that in our battle this day we defeated many of the enemy with little casualties, and even managed to defeat Hiroshi, the Trimaster of Earth, the battle of which occured at Okasa, Japan. ...However... something else happened... during an engagement with Toma, the Trimaster of Water."

The President: I had gotten reports of a flood occurring in one of our major cities.

"Yes. It was her power, but it was stopped after a strange plague of darkness occurred... and mere moments later that incident came another. All of the members of Phoenix, even their foot soldiers started disappearing left and right. ...then their leader showed up... and.... ...I think it's better if you saw for yourself."

She takes her hand to the side of her head and when she pulls her head back she has a sort of memory storage unit in her hand. It flares to life and begins replaying the battle against White, and to the President's surprise, shows Azula's corruption and Kado going insane with grief, then deserting.

Oliv bows her head. "...That is the situation, sir. ...No leader... in the middle of a war... on top of the crisis back at home... I'm afraid that the situation has become poor, for both of us." She takes the device, and slides it along the side of her head, and when she moves her hand down, the device is gone.

The President: \*sigh\* I always thought the man was strong, but there is only a motivation that drives men's hearts. He's obviously lost his. He is right though. God is punishing us for our sins, but we must take our punishment like men and endure. Even if it's too hard to move forward.

"To come so far... and after all of this... it seems too cruel. ...I just wish I could understand how to reach him... .....but I digress. We were told that something was coming soon... I'm worried. It feels like Phoenix is up to something even bigger than before. I don't know what.... but did you hear what she said when she did that to Azula...? ...She said 'Spearhead.' That concerns me. I almost wonder if Azula ties into everything somehow."

The President: She might. But we have to be on aware. We must brace ourselves for the blow that is to come and hope that we can still walk away from this alive.

Oliv closes her eyes. "A question, if I may. What do you think of Mythos? We know that your people show little regard for the treatment of Mythos, but what of the man who leads the people? I'm not talking political bull right now. I'm talking person to person. What do you think of us?"

The President: My fellow man wants me to hate them for leveling our past generations and our great nation. But I look at them and I see them surviving, not destroying. In many ways they are like us. their capable of so much more. and I believe it or not, but I believe that Myths are the ones who deserve this planet, not the human race. We have fallen too far from the grace of God and the Myths grow larger in numbers and their hatred is unrivaled. It's only a matter of time before we die out.

"...I see. But does your political beliefs reflect that? Or are you like all of the other two faced bastards?" She seems to speak from some sort of previous experience.

The President: Believe me, I used to be two-faced myself. Not everything can be about politics, right? Days like that become fairly confusing.

Oliv sighs. "I will report in if I get any news. However, I feel as though going forward beyond whatever end this war has, as though nothing will have come from this. Man will still oppress the Mythos. And we will be caught in the middle. I trust you need not an explanation of what our organization stands for."

The President: I don't mind if you educated me a little. What's wrong with a little bit of new knowledge, right?

"Azure stands for equality and justice between the races. We judge individuals by their actions, not where they come from or what they are. Mythos are treated like humans, and humans like Mythos. All are given fair justice. We try to help the ones who have lost their way, and give them new purpose. We fight the hatred with compassion, rather than swords and guns.

This has been our philosophy for years. Since our start five years ago, we have endured and overcome many trials. We have fought many battles and many wars, and fought to promote our belief in the better nature of all who live. That is why Azure originally attacked the M.C.C.P. in that small attack a month ago. Because the ideology of this world and it's peoples clash so violently with our own... we felt the desire to right the wrong we felt was been done. Even after this war, President, without change in the system, I'm afraid that Azure cannot ignore or overlook what we feel is a heinous crime in this world."

The President: I see. Sounds like everything I wish the world could be. Then i wouldn't be in such af tug-of war with myself and my nation.

"Azure was a mere band of street rats once. We wished a lot too. We never imagined our actions would accomplish anything. We just lived our lives trying to change the world, one step at a time. Whatever it took. Wishes can come true. But you have to have the will to see them become reality. While it is good to have opinions and wishes, what good are wishes and opinions for those who never act upon it? While it's true the world is cruel, I've noticed that those who fight for what they believe will always have a better chance of getting it. Waiting for change or simply wishful thinking will never accomplish anything."

The President: Believe me, we fought hard for the good of this nation, but we somehow find ourselves short. Our work turns to be in vain as generations beyond generations undermined what we had to go through to make this nation great.

"And yet you don't fight back?" She responds.

The Presidnet: \*gets up from his chair\* Oh believe me. We fight back. But sometimes you can only fight for so long. We have enough fight left in us. I just wonder how long we can last.

"That isn't what I meant. If you're willing to fight, then why are Myth's being oppressed? Or have you given up the fight there? It is pointless to have ideals if you aren't willing to fight for them, President. Sometimes a *leader*must make choices his people will not approve of."

The President: Same with Abraham Lincoln. In the end he was killed by his people. Besides, I know it will not change anything, because this is the will of God.

Oliv closes her eyes. "Coward." She stands up. "Enough of this. I've wasted enough time. I have an operation to oversee. And a future you've left to rot to save." She begins to walk to the door.

The President: You cannot save a doomed race. I don't intend to save anyone. Just to keep my people alive and well and hope that the Myths can make it home.

Oliv opens the door, and looks at the President. "You're the ones killing them off..." She says in a low voice, before closing the door behind her, and ignoring the guards, sees herself out of the building.

She has always hated politicians. After all... they're what made her the way she is...

The President: She's gone now, Obi.

*A shadowed figure falls from the ceiling and lands on The President's desk*

The President: I hope your taking advantage of this invasion>

Figure: Ooooohhh, sure thing. Mr. Strigg. So many have come to us. After this hullabaloowe can reside and grow. Hopefully we can recover quicker than the rest...They'll be in safe hands. the hands of The Party. Everyone loves parties. \*laughs\* But mmm. Depending if the rest of the underworld took a large blow, we can strike them hard and be rid of The Under Empire.\*laughs\*

The President: Then keep doing your job. Keep your people safe and i'll be with you momentarily.

Figure: Sure thing Mr. Prez. \*leaps over the President and jumps out the window\* WHOOOOOOOO!!!

The President: That man never believed in doors.

## Paris, France: The Rising

The Administrator: \*radio\* We've recieve reports that a beast with enormous wings about 8 feet and appeared to have a beak has been sighted. jumbo is around here. Scower the area and find Jumbo.

Aria: I'm already on it. I'll get him, don't worry. \*cuts the communication, and proceeds to pick up a ton of bags, from various storefronts in the area. Instead of her usual outfit, she is wearing a gray, form-fitting dress, with a brown belt, and knee high boots.\* I don't think I've looked for him in this shop.Oh, a cafe! I definitely didn't look for a monster in there...

The Administrator: Do not get distracted. The world is already being leveled out by the invaders. Keep you mind focused.

Aria: A little late for that, don't you think? How are you even still connected?\*sigh\* okay, let's see...\*Her irises turn to slits as she listens for any sign of mythos activity\*

*A Serpent comes from under the Eiffel Tower and scales up the tower.*

Aria: And there we are. I guess it's time to work. \* leaps onto the roof of the cafe, and runs towards the Eiffel Tower. When she gets close enough, she leaps from the roof of the building, sending herself flying at the giant snake\*

*A CRAzy leaps right over her.*

CRAzy: Mytho detected. \*slams its feel into the Serpent's neck, causing the the beams to bend\*

Serpent: \*hisses in pain and turns head around and bites the CRAzy's side\*

CRAzy: \*Double Ax Handles the Serpent in the eye causing it to let go. Grabs on to one of the beams and swings back up and plans its feet in the Serpents face into the tower\*

Skana: \*Wakes up on ledge of Effle Tower\* People, people, settle down. Someone want to tell me what happened out here? \*Pulls out Cronos\* And, fine lass, please do not wear skirts above men below.

Serpent: \*coilds back around and gobbles the CRAzy\*

CRAzy: \*opens up the Serpent's mouth and shoots a fireball in its mouth. It jumps unto another beam.\*

Serpent: \*chokes and coughs out smoke\*

Aria:\*looks up at Skana\* Hey! Don't judge my choice of fashion.\*knows full well she isn't wearing underwear\* Who do you think you are, anyway? I mean, seriously, *sleeping on the Eiffel Tower?*\*Leaps across the beams, being careful not to get crushed by either the robot, or the snake\*

Skana: Skana. I am Skana, young lass. And I have no home out of MCCP. Sightseeing is my hobby. \*Flies over to Aria\*

Aria: Awww, you called me young...wait, you're with MCCP, too? They take anybody these days.

Skana: Ah, so you must be Aria. I heard you were coming. The Admin warned you would eat me. \*sheaths sword\* But, lass, why are you here?

Aria: Uh...Eh?\*gestures towards the CRAzy\* EEH?\*Gestures to the giant serpent,leaping as it's tail smashes into a nearby beam\* EEEEHHHH!?\*Gestures at all of the insanity occuring on the side of the *freakin' Eiffel Tower\**

Skana: Don't not worry.

*Skana pulls out Cronos and slices the serpent' head off.*

Skana: Would you like coffee?

CRAzy: \*leaps off the Eiffel Tower and lands on the nearest cafe\* Mytho has been destroyed. Scowering the area. \*walks off, looking for more Mytho activity\*

Skana: \*Touches earpeice\* Yessir. Be there soon sir. Yessir. Got a job. See ya 'round Aria.

## So Long

**Albany, New York.**

*A black phoenix flies through the sky, blowing air at the water below.*

Ameno: \*stops drivng the boat for a second\* Skana?

Skana: Hey... \*Looks at Jonas\* Been a while, no?

Jonas: You ain't French, ya' dumbass. You .are. Asian. Know. your. place.

Skana: You racist -

Ameno: Skana...

Skana: Fine.

Cronos: - bastard.

Jonas: Thank you. So i'm guessing you came back to see Ameno?

Skana: Yes and no. \*Transforms to Human Form\* I was told by a not-so-reliable source that around here is a serpent whose scales are worth millions each. And my Sanctuary is in some bad debt.

Ameno: Oh no! Can't we help him Joney?

Skana: That is-

Ameno: No, no, we can help.

Cronos: Unnecessary?

Jonas: If she wants to help, let her. I'll be right behind her. Besides, The Admin. hasn't given us any new orders, so I can assume we're all good here.

Skana: Fine. But you get stabbed \*Points to Jonas\* Don't expect your weak-

Ameno: SKANA! We have to get going, don't we?

Skana: Fine.

Cronos: -ass regeneration to save your sorry behind because mines better, sad face, I like Ameno, and you better back off. Right?

Skana: grumble grumble...

Ameno: What was that?

Skana: Nothing.

Jonas: Where to then?

Skana: Should be around here, but more... Underneath us...

Ameno: Okay. \*Jumps into water\*

Skana: ***BAKA!*** Idiot! Common, we gotta -

Cronos: Is that the Serpent?

*A 400-foot serpent with teeth as large as Jonas comes out of the water with Ameno in it's tail.*

Skana: ... Pray to Uzumi... \*draws Cronos and flies towards the Serpent\* DROP FLOWER!

Serpent: \*tail whips Skana into a building\*

Jonas: Bye. Set go. \*is instantly untop of the serpants head and stabs it in the eye with its hand, but his hand begins to burn\*

Skana: Idiot. I'm 500 pounds. If he can fling me, no shit he can fling you. \*stabs the serpent's other eye with Cronos\*

Jonas: Man dude, you must have gain some since you left, cause I'm still' 162. \*smirks\*

Serpent: \*spins and launches Skana and Jonas off. Smells the air with its toungue, hisses, and slithers at Jonas and has him in its jaw\*

Cronos: Time to REALLY fight?

Skana: Yea. \*Turns into phoenix form, making Cronos into it's beak\* I bet you can't do THIS at 162. \*Flyies at the speed of lifht, cutting off the tail of the serpent and catching Ameno in his claws. Skana then puts Ameno down in the boat\* We got this. \*wink\*

Ameno: O-Okay...

Skana: \*Flies back at the serpent, going for the mouth.\* Swallow THIS. \*Throws blade after blade into the Serpent's mouth\*

Serpent: \*chokes on the blade\*

Jonas: \*reaches for its nostril and pulls it downward, causing the serpent to be tugged along\*

Skana: Show off. Now seriously, I think it's dead. Lets get the scales into the boat and go sell 'em. \*Flies to the nearest scale and rips it off\* Not dead, not dead!

Serpent: \*coils back around and and swallows Skana whole\*

Jonas: Holy shit...

*Cronos comes out of the top of the serpent's head, killing it.*

Skana: I need a bath... And we probably could've started with that... \*Jumps into water to wash himself\*

Jonas: \*only puts his arm in the water\*

Ameno: That's funny...

Skana: \*Spits\* Yea, sure.

Jonas: Welp, you got what ya' cam for. Watch ya' plan on doin' now?

Skana: I PLAN on selling the scales on the black market, so we need to harvest the scales... Well, I only need one. Lets leave it so I have a fall-back plan. Lets start heading for the Monastery.

Jonas: \*looks at him confused\* We? And why do you need a fall-back plan?

Skana: First, WE need to go because I left on a bad note. And the fall-back plan has money stored up just in case.

Jonas: Just in case for what? The Apocalypse? dude, 9 times out of 10, they'll be too busy about surviving than money.

Skana: Just in case I need to lay low for a while. These monks ain't... Traditional...

Ameno: I'll keep the bird running for when you two come out.

Jonas: I'm still not sre on the concept of *we.* *We* only agreed to help you with the scales, not this Monestary shit.

Ameno: Common Joney. I'm going whether you are or not. I'd rather you come...

Jonas: Hmmmm...\*sigh\*Fine, I'll tag long.

## Lost Way

Kado sits on top of the train, silently listening to the rumble of the train as it rolls on the tracks. A gloomy day overall, and he thinks he can smell the rain come.

*My head hurts... I can't think... ...Who am I...? ...Does it even matter anymore? ...I have... nothing left...*

He hears the train come to a slow stop.

*I guess.... I need another ride then... still too close...*

Once the train stops, people run off in a hurry. After everyone leaves a man wearing a black leather coat, holding a scythe along his shoulders walks off.

Med: I still can't believe there's and active train down here. You figured after all that crap happening up there, the surface would've crumbled by now. \*looks at Kado\* Hey look, it's the Ungrateful One. Oh Ungrateful One, aren't you not glad that our paths have crossed once again?

I can feel that he is hurting deeply. Like he's feeling all since of purpose in his life. It's so sad.

Med: He must've been very ungrateful about his life then,if he sees he has no purpose than to be ungrateful. Sucks to be you, guy.

Kado suddenly whips his head up toward them and leaps back, his face filled with both confusion and fear.

"*Keep away from me!!! Who are you?!"*He snarls.

Med: Wow. I cannot believe he forgot us that easily, after all we did to save his ass.

Demgel: Yea, basically what this guy said. I'm the guy who helped or atleast semi-helped you take down that guy was flingin' rocks and shit at you.

"Go away."

Demgel: Hold up. \*turns around and has a conversation with Med and Leg\*

Kado's eyes gain a faint gleam of red, and he starts getting antsy.

*A trick. Going to attack us.*

*Must react. Fight.*

*Flight.*

*Fight!*

*FLIGHT!*

Kado suddenly bolts off the top of the train, running towards the distant ruined buildings, seeking to hide in the many alleys and corridors created by the ruins.

Med: Oh looky there. He was so ungrateful he didn't say goodbye. WELL SCREW YOU TOO, UNGRATEFUL ONE!

Leg: Demgel, we have to go after him. Believe it or not, he needs help.

Demgel: Alright. \*jumps on top of the train, bolts off and follows after Kado\*

Kado's eyes glow fully red.

*He follows. Going to kill us. Fight. Fight. Fight! FIGHT!*

Kado's next footstep creates massive cracks in the ground, causing two large earthen cubes to rise up and attempt to crush him between them.

He then leaps up into one of the buildings, and runs into one of the more intact sections, trying to hide.

Med: \*looks at the cubes\* Ah mother fucker.

Demgel: \*wall jumps on the ear cubes and makes it to one of the buildings\*

Med: Where to now, Sherlock.

Demgel: Shhh. hold up...\*listens intently for Kado\* He's close by. \*runs toward where h hears Kado\*

Demgel eventually stops, when suddenly the ground shifts into a steel fist and gives him a wicked uppercut that slams him into the ceiling, while Kado's body swirls out of the ground, causing cave ins in the corridor as he runs.

Demgel: \*licks the blood streaming from his mouth and his eyes turn red. He takes another route to get to Kado\*

When he turns the corner and sees Demgel, he doesn't stop, instead speeds up and a pair of shadow hands appear and draw two of Kado's Slayers, while one of his normal hands draws Dark Slayer, and in his spare hand he charges a sphere of dark fire.

He first blasts Demgel with a shot of dark fire, while then using the explosion to stab and slash at him with the three swords.

Demgel: \*almost at blinding speed blocks the two swords with his hands and the third with his knee. He maneuvers around and spin-kicks him in his pelvic area\*

Kado crashes through a wall and drops down towards the streets below. Just as Demgel goes to get him, a burst of fire blasts him back as a massive multicolored flaming bird-no, a Phoenix erupts into being whose heat is so strong it burns him, even from that distance. The bird begins firing huge blasts of fire at the supporting structure where Demgel stands, making it start to crumble and fall. It lets out a shrill screech of rage.

*The rocks some how levitate in the air and entraps the Phoenix in a sphere like cage. Demgel is seen with black wings with a red outline and red eyes.*

Med: Well, I'll be damned. It's Satan's Pet.

Suddenly a blast rips apart the rocks, before they reform into a metal armored giant connected with a fiery interior, in the style of a samurai. It starts lobbing fireballs with giant boulders at great speed, the first one slamming into Demgel and the rest simply piling on top of him. It then rushes the pile and kicks it, sending both Demgel and the boulders flying up high into the air.

*No one wants to help me. Everyone just wants to use me. I won't be used anymore!!!*

Demgel: \*takes the boulders and they form into spears of netherstone and they all impale the Phoenix and once they all do, they explode with fiery force.

Kado falls from the explosion, but lands with great force on the ground, still somewhat uninjured. He forms many countless rocks and chunks of earth and makes them into solid steel, and launches them at Demgel, each of them coated with a thick aura of darkness that streak at him like homing missiles.

*Keep away from me! I don't need you or your help! Play god with someone else's life!*

Demgel: I am no God. \*stops him with just his finger and Phoenix disappears only leaving Kado instead\*

Leg: Just tell us what troubles you, honey.

Kado snarls, and begins to breath unsteadily, red energy flickering about his form and his figure blackening, Demgel can sense massive Negative energies beginning to concentrate around him, rage, pain, suffering. *Loss.*

Suddenly a wall of energy forces Demgel back as Neo completely takes over, and Demgel looks up after coming to a stop to see six red streams of Negative energy, almost snakelike in form.

*Kill... Kill... Kill everything.... ...that hurts.... ...make it stop...*

Demgel: Hm. Well never get anywhere unless we can open up to him.

Med: Do we hit him harder?

Demgel: I don't know...

Suddenly he draws Dark Slayer and blasts him with a massive wave of darkness, while the red streams of energy lash out at Demgel, one comes close to impaling him and he can practically feel the hatred burning within it.

*They've taken everything away... ...time to take it back! ...And burn them! Crush them! Leave them to die!*

Demgel: \*is unaffected and slaps Dark Slayer out of his hands\* Stop poking me and speak words. You ain't no Hulk, man.

Leg: We're only trying to help you. You can only trust us. Well, everyone excluding Med.

*Fuck-you!*

Neo begins angrily punching him in frustration, screaming furiously.

*Die! Die! Die! Die! Fuck you and just die!*

Demgel: \*is unaffected\* You know we can do this all day, and it will won't change anything.

The next punch is incredibly weak, and then Neo collapses onto the ground, beginning to sob uncontrollably, gradually changing form into a helpless looking girl. Demgel can feel Kado's consciousness lingering, but it is simply too clouded with pain to respond to him.

Med: Whoa, talk about transgender.

Leg: \*punches Med's arm\*

Med: Owww!

Leg: Stop it! \*touches the girls head\* What's the matter, honey? You can always tell an angel.

The voice that comes from her is incredibly broken sounding, between a rasp and a choke from all of the crying. "...Broken.... everything feels..... broken.... ....like broken glass....... .....everything hurts.... .....I just want it to stop...." She breaks down into more sobs.

Leg: \*looks sad\* Aww, I don't like seeing others cry. Like I said, you still have us.

".......I.....have....no one.... ....I have..... nothing.... ...nothing left.... nothing worth.... fighting for..... to live....why.... ...why did this happen to me.... why can't I.... just be happy... ...I just want to.... hold onto something...." Demgel feels Kado slipping.

Demgel: I know how that is. Wanting to feel happiness. I constantly ask myself, what is my purpose? Am I just doomed to take happiness away from others and not belong anywhere. What am I to do? You see. Your purpose and your fate lies in the hands in God. And if you put your life in his hands, he'll guide you to happiness. It may be a tad bit harder for me, but it can definately work for you.

The girl seems to collapse into a silent slumber, unresponsive, as Kado's consciousnesses quiets to a soft murmur of intelligible thoughts and memories, occasionally crying in her sleep.

Med: Sooooooo....what now?

Demgel: \*picks the girl up\* We take her with us.

Med: Ofcourse. We just can't leave her for dead, can we?

Demgel: No...not this one anyway. \*walks of among the shattered buildings a burnt debris\*

The girl makes a low moan and eventually stirs, feeling soft grass. ".....Where.......?" Blank gold eyes open up slowly.

Med: Oh shit! Dude, look at her eyes!

Leg: Med, how rude! They look beautiful.

Demgel: \*is taken back by her eyes\*

Med: I know right!

Leg: How are you feeling, honey?

The girl tries to move her head, but seems too frail to do so. "......"

Demgel notices this seems to be a different soul than that of actual Kado, and now that he thinks on it, there was another one present controlling Kado's actions as well, though more darker, while this one seems very light, but very weak in comparison, while the dark one was incredibly powerful.

Demgel: Your someone else, aren't you?

The girl makes an effort to speak, but gives up and listlessly nods.

Demgel: It's alright. You don't have to be shy around us.

The girl coughs weakly. "...Who....?"

Demgel: Us. My name is Demgel. The red, pudgy one is Med, and the angel lady over there is Leg.

Leg: What's your name, dear?

"...Name.......?" The phrase seems to confuse her.

Demgel: Yea, you know. What people call you.

The girl's expression alone seems to point out she doesn't know her name, or doesn't have one.

"...I haven't been called anything before..." She makes an attempt to sit up, and manages to do so. She looks at her hand as though she had never seen it before.

"...I don't even... know who.... or what... I am...."

Demgel: Hey, its alright. I know how that's like not knowing who you are. I just woke up about some weeks ago and I don't remember anything. Even my own name. Well, i gotta call you something.

"....You're not going to.... call me the name of a body part are you....?"

Leg: \*laughs\* I like her. She's so adorable when she jokes.

Demgel: Hmmm. \*he sees a card blow away into the wind. He gets up and catches the card once it touches the ground. He looks at the card and it's and Ace Card\* Hm. How about Ace?

Med: Man dude, that's a boy's name.

Demgel: So is Terry, but that somehow worked for the eldest McGinnis. What do you say?

The girl blinks slowly, and makes an attempt to stand up but stumbles and falls back down. She slowly tries again, and manages to stand, though extremely wobbly to the point Demgel swears a slight breeze could blow her over. She looks up at Demgel, and she now has pupils, and the golden eyes seem more alive now.

"A-Ace....?" She stutters.

Demgel: Yea, Ace. You like it?

She nods vigorously.

Demgel: Ok then, Ace. you hang with us until this war thing blows over. \*stretches forth his hand towards Ace\*

She slowly reaches for his hand and takes a hold of it, just by feeling her touch he can feel how weak physically she is, he could probably severely hurt her by mere accident.

Demgel: Looks liek you gonna have to still close to us. Your abit too fragile.

Med: Sort of like an uncooked spaghetti noodle.

Leg: Med!

"What's.... S-Spa-ghe-tti?"

Demgel: Basically, ummm. Noodles or like strings you can eat. I'll probably show if I find the given resources.

Ace slowly reaches down to her stomach and puts her hand on it, after which a slow growl emits from it. "My stomach hurts...."

Demgel: Must be hungry then. Here. \*takes a Snickers bar out of his coat pocket and tosses it to her\* Eat up.

Ace looks at the Snickers bar with great curiosity, until Demgel has to help her figure it out and open it, then she slowly proceeds to eat little portions at a time.

"Where are we going?" She says with a mouthful of Snickers.

Demgel: Away from here. Let's get going.

Med: As long as the wind don't blow you over. \*laughs\*

Leg: Med! Be quiet!

She continues to slowly eat the candy as she walks after him, though very unsteady on her feet.

She curiously looks at Med and Leg, then at Demgel. "...Do you fight with your other selves?"

Demgel: Nah. Just these two.

Ace blinks. "You don't fight one another? ...Even though you're different...?"

Demgel: They fight. Sort of. But not alot. If it weren't for me being here, they would actually fight alot more often.

Ace head gradually lowers, and she stops eating, just silently walking with them. "....I see....."

Demgel: Besides, they only fight because they wants what's best for me. They want me to feel happy. and with them being a devil and an angel, they have a different view of what happiness is. Even if they are different, ehave one goal: To protect me. Sort of like how my goal is right now.

"You're trying to protect someone? ...Who?"

Demgel: She's walking right behind me.

"......." She slowly stops, and Leg sees the slightly blank look in Ace's eyes has returned. "....But.... ....Shield is dying... ....no one can protect me now..." The blank look becomes almost sad. "....I.... ...I'm not even meant to exist...."

Leg: Oh don't say that, dear. We're all here for a reason. Tell yourself, if you werne't even supposed to exist, why are you even here? Everything in and on this world has a purpose, it all depends if you have a guide.

Med: Hail Satan!

Leg: NO! \*beats Med down\* NO! NO! Don't listen to him he's a devil. I mean God. He tells us that we are here to serve him and if we serve him, then we already have a purpose. He has a plan for you, Ace. Though you may not see it now, trust God and he will show you.

She gets sadder and sits and curls up into a ball. "...You don't understand... we're dying.... ...We're going to disappear.... ...forever."

Demgel: You not going to disappear, if you keep saying you are. There is power in words. and the more you say it, the more likely it will happen. Stop worrying about dying and just live. you anna say you lived a good life don't you?

Med: Half-life.

Ace starts crying. "Shield... Shield is dying... ...you don't understand.... ........you're trying to protect him by protecting me.... ...but he's already dying... ...he's been dying since *her*...."

Demgel: Then let me help him. Stop saying he's dying and let me help him.

"......But how do I do that.....? ...I... ...I don't even know myself.... ....I'm just a fragment of Origin..."

Demgel: Hmmm. I got. I can enter your mind and try to save him.

"...You will....? ...But why are you helping him? ...Origin is the real one.... we're just... his fragments... ...we don't have a right to exist.... ...we're borrowed minds.... bodies... ....souls..."

A voice rings out. "*Damn it Ace, just up and be useful for once! If you want to cry like a baby then fine! That's all you've ever been useful for! Cry cry cry cry cry cry cry! So annoying! Just kill the damn bastard and then fight me!"*

Demgel: \*has a stern look on his face\* Well screw you completely. \*touches Ace's forhead and he is instantly in Kado's mental mind\*

Med: Cool, now where Mindnaughts.

Demgel quickly spots Ace, who is curled up next to a tree in the middle of a snowfield, seemingly sleeping. Further away from her almost in a circular effect, the area appears to crumble into some sort of void, across the void he can see what looks like a cityscape, where red and yellow lightning flash.

Med: Man, screw Mindnaughts, this is feakin' meta-Inception....

Demgel: Let's get going then. This isn't anything new. \*walks toward the cityscape\*

Med: Technically it is. i mean how many minds do you enter each day? None.

As they get closer, they see a small dark figure get knocked down and slammed into the ground just on the edge of the city, though Demgel can't see where the being that struck the dark one down is.

Med: Oh shit! It's the fall of Lucifer all over the again!

Demgel: \*goes up to the dark one\*

Neo rips a boulder on top of him off himself, then looks up at Demgel and bitterly cackles. "Oh look, it's Gloomy Nephalem, Stinky Demon, and Angel Breath! Come to join the party ehh?"

Med: Worst insult EVER! Man dude, you really need some work on that, man.

Neo laughs, then whips his head forward as a clap of thunder roars, and the scene becomes a pure white flat field, and ahead of them Kado lies on the ground, with a strange humanoid shape that is barely visible from all the white holding up a sword execution style, readying to impale Kado in the heart.

Demgel: Yep, you were right Med. This is defiately super meta-Inception.

Med: You mean I *am*right.

Demgel: Sure fine whatever. \*full sprints towards Kado\*

As soon as he gets close, the being waves its hand and Kado's form sinks into the ground, while it introduces Demgel to the painful sensation of getting its foot planted square in his face, knocking him back towards Neo.

"Oh hey, you're back." Neo cackles.

Demgel: \*manuevers back on his feet and cartwheel kicks Neo in the face, then kicks hi in the knee cap dislocating it, then buts him in headlock ith a blade point at his neck\*

Med: Ohhhhhh snap. He's got youuuuu, soooon! Ohhhhh.

Demgel: Where is he?

Neo looks at him with irritation. "Ummmm.... dumbass, why don't you ask Origin that? Oh, and by the way, Origin is about to introduce your head to your ass. I'd dodge, just a suggestion. Though I would like to see that."

Demgel: \*trips him makinghim flip over in mid-air then drop kicks him in the back forcing to slam on the ground8

Med: Well, he sure introduced *your ass*to the grouuuuund! Oooohhhhh!

A whip of yellow energy lashes around Demgel's waist. Neo looks at Demgel with a slightly pissed off expression. "Ok, before I say goodbye: I just told you that Origin was coming. Second of all, you're an asshole. And three, keep that shit up and good look fighting Origin on your own. Ok then. Goodbye asshole."

The whip suddenly pulls Demgel towards Origin, which deliverers a massive spin kick straight to Demgel's stomach, and smashes him into the white ground below.

"*So you are the Nephalem I sensed. Annoying beings you are... don't you know that it's the job of spirits to keep balance, not you mini gods strutting about the place?*"

Yellow lightning flickers about its form, briefly illuminating its barely visible form for a moment.

*"I am Origin. I am the Original, TRUE Kado. I am taking back what's mine."*

Med: Your gonna take back a little girls body that happens to be weaker than a twig? Noooot the best move in the world, guy; just sayin'

Demgel: \*gets up\* What's your purpose for taking his body?

*"Body? Hmmph. Forgetting the bigger picture. All that I am is a mere will. I was stripped of all emotion, all memories, devoid of sensation and body, devoid of thought and soul. Neo... Shield... Ace.... as worthless as calling broken pieces of glass a name. I'm simply putting back the pieces. Their souls belong to me. Their minds belong to me. The body they share... is mine. What right do you have to deny me my right to exist? It is my right, and mine alone. I will devour and destroy anyone who gets in my way. That is my purpose. Leave and I will let you off with a warning once I make my return to the world."*

Demgel: There are some people who still have a right to live. If their so broken, why not give them ther own bodies? Cast them out of this one?

"*Only together do they make me who I am. Without them I am nothing more than a bare consciousness struggling in the void. You know what happens to wills without a soul who pass on? Nothing. We just disappear. A soul fragments, it creates new wills to replace the one central will. Two souls unite, both are destroyed and a new singularity is born. Only the strongest wills survive... I believe that's what you could call that apparition that attacked the world in Darkness not long ago. A will devoid of a soul to call its own. Were it not for my original intent to preserve my being, my shattered self would have developed into three separate new beings, with their own body. They're nothing more than jigsaw puzzles meant to be refitted back to their complete form. Stop wasting my time. I have the only right to exist... they're just fragments of me. They aren't like you or I..."*

Demgel: Neither are Myths or humans. Myths were never supposed to exist, but here they are. *You*were never supposed to exist, neither was I and since were existing anyway, why stop someone else from existing too?

Origin begins to descend to the ground silently. "Because if I allow them to exist, I have to disappear. There is no place for me without my original soul. I cannot see heaven. Or hell. No one would even care if I passed on... they don't even know I'm gone. I will not accept this fate. To fade away. It's every man for themself.... I choose myself."

He lands, each footstep connecting with the ground discharges a massive pulse of energy, which changes the enviornment into a vast lava field with slabs of cooled rock and open pools of lava. Neo appears and lands next to him.

"Hello again, asshole. I assume you got your face introduced to your ass by now? No? Too bad. Anyway.... mind not beating me up for no reason this time, General Patton?"

Med: Hey man, you we're being an asshole to us first. you didn't think he was gonna be an asshole back?

Neo sighs. "Urrrrggghhh. Point taken. ...Ya didn't need to hit me though...."

He looks up at Origin, who begins violently sparking with yellow lightning. "Oh that's lovely. Heads up, beware if he shoots lighting at you. They're his version of Spirit Hands. He gets a direct hit on your chest and he'll eat your soul. I had a close call not long ago."

Demgel: \*dodges two so far by tilting his head\*

Neo draws Dark Slayer and slashes at Origin, who flickers and appears an inch out of the way, before he fires a concentrated blast of yellow lighting at Demgel.

Demgel: \*draws forth Death's Scythe and slashes the lighting bolt in half, then sprints towards Origin and slashes at him\*

Origin sidesteps and creates an energy blast that knocks him dangerously close to the edge of the nearest lava pool.

Demgel: \*the lava behind him rises and it slams into Origin\*

Origin easily manipulates the lava into flowing around him, then begins firing shots of high speed chunks at Demgel, all shooting bullet speed.

Demgel: \*cuts all the bullets in half\*

Origin creates a yellow energy chain with a scythe on the end, and while the lava continues to pelt Demgel, he begins to swing the scythe in an arc, the blade quickly gathering speed, and then swings it at Demgel with great force.

Demgel: \*jumps back and has his scythe entangled with Origin's\*

Origin suddenly yanks on the chain hard, launching Demgel forward, while he creates a energy sword with his spare hand and brings it down on Demgel's shoulder, the blade biting into his bone with ease, the flesh around it is seared, and Demgel's arm is made momentarily numb, then Origin blasts Demgel back even farther, throwing him into lava.

*"This is my world. My mind. My soul. No one else's. Begone and be forgotten."*

Demgel: Easier said than done. \*does a spin attack launching lava everywhere and frees him from the blade\*

Origin sighs. "*I have no time for this."*He suddenly launches himself at Neo, who barely manages to dodge his first attack, and right as he is about to get struck by the second hit, Origin disappears, and for a moment Neo looks confused, before swearing violently.

"*BASTARD! He's going for Ace!"*

Demgel: How are we going after him?

Neo grabs Demgel. "*Ya damn got brain rot?! Get to Ace before he does!"*Neo phases through shadows dragging Demgel with him multiple times, until the snowy field Ace still sleeps in comes into view, with Origin already bringing his sword down to execute the sleeping spirit.

But before he can do so, Kado appears in front of Ace and takes the blow meant for her, the blade tearing into his whole right side and draining him of spiritual power, his body lies on the ground, literally looking like broken porcelain. Origin's form begins to take on a more solid appearance, becoming a ghostly, slightly older looking version of Kado with dark yellow eyes. A yellow aura surrounds him, with yellow lightning flickering about him.

He points to Ace's throat. "And now she's next."

*The scythe turns into a spear and extends. It impales Origin and pins him to the tree.*

Leg: \*teleports to Ace and touches her face and teleport her next to Demgel and Neo\*

Med: What's good, asshole?

Demgel notices that Ace hasn't even budged or done anything other than sleep and breathe, making him wonder what is with her. Neo sighs with irritation. "Sleep sleep sleep sleep... all she does is sleep. I've *never*understood it. Sometimes I wonder if she's just a damn doll. Never could get close enough cause of damn Shield getting in my way if I so much as tapped the neutral ground to try and get to her side...."

Origin growls, before ripping the spear out of his chest, and a yellow shield erects around him in all directions. "Troublesome brat... what's it to you if they live or die? You don't even know the damn fool to begin with!"

Demgel: I see someone who needs help, and I'm obligated to help them. \*scythe turns into a buzzsaw and begins shredding Origin\*

Origin's eyes flash, and the buzzsaw barely nicks Origin before Demgel is violently repelled, and lands within an altered version of the cityscape he saw.

Origin growls. "Nice try. But I believe it's time to step up my game here... now... *get out."*Demgel suddenly finds himself in the real world, as Origin rises up from the ground, transparent but very much in control of Kado's body.

"Confused? That's the power of a Mediator. In otherwords, I control and command the other spirits of this body. I'm basically the Alpha of the pack. And in my body, that includes you I'm afraid. If I don't like someone in my body, I can eject them. Now... to business."

Origin creates two energy swords, one blue and one red in color.

"En Garde." Their blades clash roughly at the same speed.

Demgel: \*slashes at him at mach speed\*

Origin jumps over the attack, and lands perfectly on the blade, slashing at Demgel's face.

*Slow Motion*

Demgel: \*duchs back to where the tip of the blade nearly touches his face. Then he moves his scythe from under Origin and swings it back around and swings at his head\*

Origin ducks, and sinks into the ground before appearing in Demgel's shadow and stabbing Demgel's side, before moving back out of range.

Demgel: \*uses his shadow and stabs him in the with his scythe\*

Origin hisses, but then chuckles. "You know, this is a shared body. Gonna make clean up a b\*tch for ya later." He fires a blast of negative energy at Demgel.

-Kado's Soul

Neo sighs. "Why am I stuck babysitting what's essentially a damn doll?! ...I bet with Shield gone I could kill her and take over this damn body... ...but I know that damn Demgel would be right on my ass before I could say 'cheeseburger'. ...Damn it 5x5, you and your Earth food memories! Why did Azula have to show him those anyway?!"

He glares down at Ace's still sleeping form, which he's forced to have on his lap with Med and Leg supervising him.

Leg: She looks so peaceful when she sleeps.

Med: Meh.

Demgel: \*gets knocked back\* I need to think of something else. \*looks at his two emblems\*

Origin begins firing more and more negative bursts, faster and faster, trying to keep Demgel on the defensive.

Demgel: \*twirls his scythe, deflecting the bursts and uses one of his emblems as it shines it fires crosses of light at Origin\*

Origin manages to dodge, but barely. He begins shooting yellow lightning at Demgel in response.

"Forgot... should have expected as much. Damn Nephelim..."

-Kado's Soul

Neo silently looks at Ace, and watches Med and Leg out of the corner of his eye. *If that bastard does kill Origin... he'll still have to restore Shield. While he's doing that.... I could probably get away with Ace and devour her before these two notice.... then I won't get in trouble with Shield. In fact Shield would probably protect me in that scenario... wouldn't want one of his precious pieces dying...*

*Well... I'd probably have to devour her while running from these two actually... I wonder if they actually have any teeth to their bite?*

*Med and Leg are right next to his face*

Med: Man dude, you *really*need to learn how to whisper.

Neo sighs. "Weeeeeellllll fuck. I suppose this is the part when you decide to beat the shit out of me, right? I'll make it easier for ya." He holds his hands up behind his head. "Arrest me, officer."

Leg: I am not going to do such a thing.

Med: But I will! \*summons a giant neversword and impales Neo against the tree with it\* And it gets better! \*snaps his fingers and razor blades pop out of the edges and they begins to rotate\*

*"Stop."*A quiet voice says from below Leg and Med, and the nethersword suddenly crumbles into snow, and the wound in Neo's body closes. Leg and Med look down to see Ace's eyes slightly open, a blank soulless pair of golden irises. She silently gets to her feet, walking up to Neo and to their surprise, shoves him away from the tree, which she hugs gently, a blue aura surrounds it and the damage done is reversed. Once this is done, she rests up against a uplifted root as her bed and the trunk her pillow, and her eyes begin to close again, until she falls asleep again, not before she mutters,

*"Leave..."*

Neo blinks in surprise. "...She never talks. Never wakes up. Why now?" He looks at the tree. Even though she restored it, it still looks wilted and nearly dead regardless.

"....You don't suppose... ...nah." Neo walks off, away from both Med, Leg, and Ace, sitting down on the very edge of the snowy field. "Oh, you guys, I'd take her seriously and leave her alone. If she can turn that pretty sword of yours into snow, I'm pretty sure she could do plenty to rearrange your face. ...And don't hit the tree again. ...You'll probably make her angry." He calls out to Leg and Med.

"...Though she might like you more, Leg. Might be able to get her to talk or something."

Leg: \*looks at Med with anger\*

Med: I had to pin him down somwhere.

Leg: \*punches Med in the face\*

Med: \*falls over in pain\* Owwww.

Leg: \*flies up to Ace and watches over her\* You sleep well now. Demy will do something to help you.

Origin dodges another volley of the crosses of light. "Don't tell me you're going to start shouting that old line, 'the power of Jesus compels you', right? I ain't no demon."

Irritated, Origin suddenly creates many countless pillars of solid rock beneath them, sending them high into the air, the only footholds are the many pillars he created.

"Let's make this more interesting." He makes his energy weapons disappear, and readies into a martial arts stance, the horse. "Come on. Show me what ya got."

Demgel: \*gets into a Judo fighting stance\*

Origin suddenly launches himself forward at Demgel with iron chains and delivers a painful spin kick to the side of the head, followed up by a flurry of jabs and half inch punches to his stomach. He lashes Demgel with the chains like a whip, then lashes them around Demgel's throat and throws him into the side of a pillar, which begins falling from the impact.

Demgel: \*jumps out from the impact and head butts Origin in the face\*

Origin flips backward and lands on the side of a pillar, using the quickdraw style to unleash a massive explosion from Fire Slayer, decimating everything in front of Origin's swordstroke.

Demgel: \*moves out of the way and launches himself at Origin and kicks him in the gut then roundhouse kicks him in the face sending him flying into a pillar\*

Origin finds himself stuck in the pillar. "Well of all the ridiculous... ...well... ...no more mister nice guy..." Origin extends his hand towards Demgel, and his arm begins sparking with negative energy. "We'll see how you like this..." He suddenly fires a jolt of pure negative energy, which strikes Demgel on the head, sparking some of his more painful memories to well up uncontrollably.

Demgel: \*has his hand on his head as he almost looses his balance\*

Origin blasts Demgel again. "Not so tough now, are ya?! You should really learn to mind your own damn business!" \*Blasts him again\*

Demgel: \*flalls down trying to hold on to the pillars. closes his eyes and focuses, until the point he gets back up and begins to make his way toward Origin\*

Origin begins to flicker, as darkness begins seeping from him in a vast wave, almost a flood.

Demgel: \*begins to run toward Origin\*

Suddenly a large shockwave emits from Origin, as the entire area is encased in darkness.

*"Know Fear... Hatred... Pain..."*

A ring of 10 Origin's appear around Demgel, and begin firing Negative Energy at Demgel at rapid speed.

Demgel: \*his mind can't handle it any more. his eyes turn to light blue and his emblem shines and finally an explosion of light blows all the negativity away and in the midst of the light there is a figure with wings can be seen from. The light clears and it only leaves Demgel and Origin\*

"Grrrrrr.... damn it."

Origin begins to shadow warp, trying to get some distance from Demgel, not sure of his next move.

Demgel: \*shoots a beam of light from his finger and it as it hits origin, he finds it that he cannot move\*

"*D-Damn...! ...You-You bassstard!"*His eyes light up with fury and a twinge of fear.

Demgel: \*slowly walks up to him\* You said you wanted me to know fear.Pain. Hatred...right?

"*Grrrrrr...!"*Origin desperately tries to move. "*You want to kill me eh? Got news for you. You kill me, there's no hope for Kado. You'll damn him to never be Kado again. The REAL Kado. Not the sniveling brat broken like glass. I promise you this much. You kill me? You'll doom him. It's only a matter of time. You don't know what I know, Demgel. Kill me? ...Kado will die. Not right away. But I guarrentee they'll tear him apart. Neo, Ace, Phoenix... it WILL destroy him. My control would be a kindness compared to his fate in store."*

He laughs cruelly. *"He'll curse you for it."*

Demgel: \*just blankly looks at him then slightly leans forward and whispers\* Does it look like I give a damn?..\*takes his emblem and shoves shoves his fist into his chest\*

Origin begins crumbling at the strike point. "*Remember what I said... ...you have no one to blame but yourself for what will happen..."*

Demgel: There are so many thing I blame myself for already...\*a light shines from inside Origin's chest and it glows brighter and brighter until the light consumes them both. the pillars crumble and the light takes the shape of a cross\*

Kado's Soul-

Neo looks about. "Does the air seem lighter?" The area suddenly shakes violently for a moment, before quieting down again.

"....Ah... I think that asshole actually managed to beat Origin. Hmm. Wonder what he did to him. Might want to hurry back to fix Shield before I don't know... he dies? Though if he wants, he could take his merry time and let that happen *so I can take over this body real quick...*"

He looks at Leg and Med. "I'm *KIDDING."*He sighs. "I'm joking, don't stick another sword in me, Ace will get annoyed again."

Med: Man dude, I can give less a fuck about what Ms. Hangover here thinks.

A white smoke breifly turns into a hand and shoves Med off the side of the snowy plain, his scream fades away as he falls into the nothingness below, and then progressively louder as he emerges from the sky and slams into the ground face first.

Neo sighs. "And that proves my point. Perhaps next time she will elect to turn you into a Snowcone."

Med: I atleast be once spicy snowcone.

Demgel: \*falls into nothingness as he is uncnscious\*

Leg: \*appears and takes Demgel to the tree they are waiting by and lays him up against it\* That must've taken alot out of him. Atleast he can rest peacfully now.

Med: Now we can be one happy family! I heard it all before, woman. \*plants his face back into the ground\*

Neo thinks for a moment. "Well I guess the body is mine for the moment... Ace is still sleeping and Shield is still broken pottery. Finally I get a lucky break!"

Leg: \*looks at the emblem\* We could bless Shield too.

Med: \*groans\* i don't wanna bless people.

Leg: Med!

Med: Imma demon, woman. What do you expect?

Neo sighs, then gets up and starts walking over to Med. "Come on and shut up." When Med defies being dragged, Neo kicks him in the groin. "Let's go!" He drags him over to Leg, Demgel, and Ace.

"So what's this whole business about blessings then?" He kicks a struggling Med in the groin again. "Stay down and answer, and if you get up again Med, I will do what you tried to do to me, but it won't be your chest I do it at."

He narrows his eyes. "Oh and if that involves me and or Ace being evicted, then fuck no."

Leg: It works for many things. Blessing works on anything of wicked nature or someone broken. It makes them whole or it purifies them of all wickedness. We can use this emblem to fix Shield.

"...Would that heal him spiritually? Cause ya know, we're kinda his negative and positive souls, would that evict us or force us to become one with Shield or something?"

Leg: Ofcourse. It's a cross after all.

Neo's eyes dangerously narrow. Suddenly three red energy hands grab Leg, Med, and Demgel and lift them up away from Shield.

"Letme tell ya something. I'm fine with Shield hanging around. In fact in some cases it's better to have him around. But. And this is a very BIG but. BUT. I am NOT ok being a part of him. I ain't stupid, and I ain't dumb. But if you think I'm going to give up my own existence, then hell f\*cking no. Maybe Ace would be ok with it. I wouldn't know. But she doesn't even have a real consciousness yet. She's like a toddler or an infant. But me? I have my own memories. I am my own person. Some dipleg Angel and horny Devil is not going to just strip me of who I am, just cause they feel like it!

You can fix him alright. Do anything in the way of healing. BUT, you are NOT going to take everything away from me! I've put up with too much shit! Kado did fine on his own without us! You do that shit to me, or at least try, and I'll kick you out and kill you, Angel or not!" He roars.

Med: You almost fell for it, if it weren't for follow-up questions. But good luck, by all means, Lord Satan would looooove , loooove. lovey-lovey-lovey-love to see you.

Leg: But have you ever stopped thinking about yourself and think about the others. Whether you mean something to them or not, your part of a whole and a whole means self-family.

"A. Demon. Shut up. I'd gladly kill you and your little lord as well. B. I *have*thought of others. *WE*thought of others all the time. You think that this operation is a one man job? Bullshit. Whenever Kado needed strength to fight the injustice he saw, he drew upon my wrath and slaughtered his enemies. When he was on his last stand, I came to his aid. When he was on the brink of death, Ace sheltered his mind, taking the blow for him. We've been there for him ever since our birth. He knew, he KNOWS that. He would probably kill Demgel over this shit. He turned down Van Valeric's offer to seperate us for a reason. He wants us around."

Leg: Then don't you feel wanted for that?

Ace's head stirs, and a strange look is in Neo's eye. "*You know what I hate?"*Three voices speak as one, Neo's, Ace's, and Shield's.

"*I hate people who keep going on about what they want for me, and they never think, never ask if that's what I want for my life. I don't want some divine intervention to solve my problems. It's why God doesn't just fix everything directly, am I right, Angel? If you don't learn to fix it yourself, then you haven't really lived. If I don't learn to live with my problems, it just makes me weaker."*

Neo blinks. "What the honest fuck was that?"

Leg: Speaking her mind and God gives you that choice. god gives us all a choice. Like how Demy risked his life to help you guys. By all means he didn't have too, you never asked and he barely know you, but he did anyway. It was his choice and that's what he wanted. You guys are obligated to do the same. To choose.

Med: That was touching right there, mane.

"How about we let Shield answer that one? He's the boss. Heal him, but no funny business."

Leg: You can always trust an angel. Where is he?

Neo points at Shield's broken form.

Leg: \*flies over and stretches forth her hands over Shield and he begins to glow with divine light\*

Med: Man, I wish i had some sunglasses.

Neo watches her suspiciously.

Leg: \*the glow glows abit brighter as slowly Shield starts to come together he also begins to float in mid-air\*

Med: \*looks at his imaginary watch\* Anytime now.

Neo smacks him with the now spare red energy hand. "I could just devour you."

Med: You can try, but it wont work.

"Ok then, SHUT UP AND LET HER FOCUS!" A band of negative energy comes towards Med's mouth and stitches it shut.

Leg: \*continues to piece Shield together as she is almost done\* Just a little while longer.

Neo begins using Med as target practice for knifes out of boredom.

Med: \*licks the band out of boredom\* Taste like candy.

Leg: Finished. \*the glow fades away and Shield slowly lands back down\*

To their surprise, a strange kind of armor suddenly surrounds Shield and he immediately gets up and heads toward Neo.

"Hey hey hey! Wait! Nooooooo! Do NOT do it again! I was helping! You saw! We all saw!"

Shield kicks Neo high into the air, all the way over the cityscape and out of sight, while Neo screams, "Nooooooooooooooooot agaaaaaaaaaaaiiinnnnnnn!"

Shield then looks at Demgel and puts a hand on his forehead, and a faint grey glow comes around Shield as Demgel wakes up, filled with energy again.

"Let's discuss matters elsewhere." Shield indicates the city in the distance.

Demgel: Damn...did you really have to wake me up?

Med: I know right, we were having that awesome moment together.

"From what I'll gather you're the boss of this outfit, and secondly I wasn't in the mood to carry you."

Demgel: we didn't have to speak privately neither. \*gets up\* What is this about Neo?

Shield flies over to the city, a grey aura surrounding Med, Leg, and Demgel and they are carried over onto the rooftop of a skyscraper.

"Well since you asked. The angel wanted to bless me apparently, which would make Ace and Neo become a part of me. I'd rather they didn't. Nor would I like them separate from me. I've gotten rather used to the two, even if it does come with its issues. I also wanted to thank you. But I am afraid if you really want to help us, you'll have to speak with Kado as a whole... on the outside. We are collectively Kado. Not singularly. I am just as much Kado as Neo or Ace, but individually we are different. ...Kado himself... ...is still likely lost. ...He can tell you better than I can. But I just wanted to say, thank you for freeing us from Origin. ...What did you do to him anyway?"

Shield looks over toward Ace's plane, a scattered collection of snowy plains that is featureless except for Ace's tree. On the other side of the city, a landbridge links up to the city from Neo's realm, a dense jungle.

Demgel: does it matter what happened to him? He's gone now right?

"....yes. Gone. He was the Kado before us. The one broken by the grief, the fear, the pain, the hate... ...of betrayal. Life's cruelty. Wanting to live, but denied. Denied by the ones he loved. And now there is only us left. Origin is gone. ...Just like Us. In time, We might be consumed by the same monsters he was... ...you'll understand when you speak with him. With Us."

Demgel: \*exits Kado's mentality and is back in Reality\* I heard you want to explain something to me.

He looks over at Demgel, almost blank, empty eyes staring at him. "...I'm sorry about earlier. ...I... ...was lost. ...In more ways than one. ...I still am. ...Forgive me for my actions."

Demgel: Hey ma, no problem. you needed help and i'm obligated to do so.

Kado sighs. "....I can't go back. ...Not after what I did. ...Nor do I want to... ...yet I feel guilty about it.... ...probably because of..." He breaks off, a momentary breakdown consumes him and he just silently weeps with his head in his hands. After about a minute, he sighs and sits up. "....sorry..." He thinks for a moment.

"...I should probably explain... ...why all of this happened in the first place. I mean, you got involved in my personal problems... I feel it would only be fitting to explain myself."

Demgel: You don't have to if you don't want to, man. I just wanted to help out of my on free will.

"No... no... it's fine. ...I lost someone very important to me today... ...she meant everything to me. She was my rock when I could no longer stand... ...she was my hope for the future, the reason I could hold my sword. ...Because she was there with me. ...And now... ...the world has gone and taken her away from me too. ...I don't know if I have the strength to carry on without her with me.

...These invaders... ...they're my family as well. ...Noriko, Torrent, ...Master Hiroshi... ...it's so hard. I tried to hold on to the notion I was fighting for what's right but... ...now I feel as though I don't even know what I was fighting for all these years. ....I feel lost... ...just like seven years ago. ...Heck... it feels like nothing has changed... I'm back where I started. ...with nothing."

Demgel: i know how that's like. I had a family once in the M.C.C.P, when my mother and father didn't want me. I loved my family and with them I felt like nothing else mattered, up until an explosion happened and I was taken away from my family and I also lost my memory of that family. Now, I found a new family even though i'm not that uaint with them yet, I'll get there. The Universe started fromnothing, but look around at the night sky. Billion and billions of stars and galaxies. Galaxies are made of many stars, like how a family needs members, whether related or close. They will forever stay together and there are billion of glaxies out their, meaning billions of families that can never break apart. you will find anther family soon. the key is that life is a circle. It keeps going round. It only depends if you move along with it or you get stuck.

"...I see. ...I need your advice on something. ...I want you to look at what happened to ... ... ...her. ...The enemy.... ...did something to her. I don't know what happened but... ...I just thought you might know more about it... ...you'll see what I mean."

Demgel: Ok, show me then.

Kado opens his mind to Demgel, and with great reluctance shows Demgel the battle with White, all the way down to when she had taken command of Azula and caused the strange transformation, though Demgel is able to feel the strange sensations Kado had felt at the same time, and realizes the wings weren't just for show, and watches to the end of the memories, which interesting to him, involves Kado's vision beginning to show heavy 'static', right up to waking up to the present conversation.

Demgel: I guess after you saw her turn and leave, you basically lost it?

"...Yes... ...that's probably what happened... ...If I was stronger... ...I could have..." He threatens to breakdown again, but regains himself. "...Do you... have any idea what that... transformation.... that... energy... I felt... do you have any idea what sort of power that was?"

Demgel: It was like that of an angel. n arch-angel in fact. Tossed in with some mechanics and stuff. But definitely arch-angel.

Kado appears half shocked half horrified. "A-a-a what?! ...Azula... an Arch Angel? ...That... doesn't make sense... how could... Phoenix possibly get an Arch-Angel to side with them? What they're doing is wrong... it isn't possible..."

Kado thinks for a moment, his head suddenly hurting. Having forgotten to cut off his mind from Demgel, Demgel sees it as a distortion in Kado's memories, involving a great multitude of memories. Many of them childhood.

Demgel: Oh crap,uhmmmmm. Hey dude, not now. You said you needed my advice. What is it that needs to be advised?

Kado manages to control himself. "S-sorry... ...I just wanted to know if you knew what that was... that happened to Azula. But are you sure about Arch-Angel? Is that even possible? Aren't Arch Angels supposed to be the ultimate angelic champions or something?"

Demgel: There are also higher ranks of arch angel. I am most definately sure it is an arch angel. I don't know how that adds up, I just know what i've sensed.

"...If that's true... ...then I absolutely... ...positively cannot let Phoenix stand..." He pauses for a moment. "...Why can't I remember it? ...There was a fortress Phoenix headquarters in, I know it for sure... but I can't remember! ...Why?!" He grabs his head in frustration.

"I need more answers... ...to be able to control an Archangel... ....wait... is that it...? *No."*

Demgel: \*is still confused\* Youuuuu still good, bro? Cause you knooowww. I meaaaan I can always come back if your havin' a moment.

When Kado looks at him, there is blood red eyes. "I remember. In the long battles against the Eight Elemental Warlords, our people of Chinmoku thought *desperately*of ways to kill the Warlords. They were like gods. ...In their desperation, they developed a theoretical weapon so powerful it would be something only a god could hope to use. ...That being said... ...supposedly they destroyed any trace of this 'mythical weapon'. ...But... White mentioned in that memory... a Spearhead. ...And a long time ago, she said she found the 'Engine' to rival gods... ...Demgel... I think Phoenix has a MUCH bigger plan than simply flushing Humanity down a drain. ...I think White has that weapon... 'The Spear of God.'"

Demgel: Holy shit...It sounds pretty damn cool.

"...If you count a weapon capable of destroying all matter and souls on this world in an instant cool, then yes. ...Hold on..." Kado sniffs the air. "*Demgel... don't react, but we're surrounded. I smell at least fifty.*" He mutters. "*Phoenix. ...How'd I guess?"*

Demgel: Maybe because you know the guys for one. Don't worry. I'm sure we can take 'em. Power of Two.

Around them, fifty black and white cloaked figures appear, each holding a white or black sword.

"White and black swords? ...Light and Dark Slayers? ...Great..." He draws his own, while two shadowy arms ripple from his back and one grabs Earth Slayer, while the other grabs Fire Slayer.

He suddenly whips a chain out from his sleeves and flings it at a White figure, hoping to ensnare it but instead just barely misses as it side steps with ease.

"You'll be coming with us, the both of you."

Demgel: I don't see that happening. \*draws forth Death's Scythe\*

A White cloak suddenly attacks him, the clash of their blades strong enough to push Demgel back significantly.

"Well that's great... WOAH!" Kado yelps as a Black cloak engages him and nearly stabs him, but Kado manages to deflect the blow.

Demgel: \*does Death's Whirlwind and everyone backs up\*

Several fire light and dark blasts at them, Kado absorbs the dark attacks but is forced to dodge the light attacks.

"Great, I get to fight people who can counter my dark powers. Hmmmm..." He suddenly points at some with Fire Slayer, and lets off a massive explosion which sends some of them flying. Kado gets a big grin on his face. "Awesome."

Demgel: That was so cool.

Kado frowns. "Too bad that didn't clear them out. Hmm." He looks at Demgel's shadow, and suddenly gets an idea. He without warning stabs the shadow, which to Demgel's surprise hurts as if Kado had jabbed a needle in him. He pulls back and it forms into a shadowy armored figure, which immediately dives at the Slayers, taking on ten all at once, not caring at all when it is stabbed or sliced.

"....I've got to use that more often!"

Demgel: That's my shadow too....Even more cool!

Kado takes a breath, then charges into the fray and begins fighting pretty well against five of the swordsmen, while more engage Demgel.

Demgel: \*does some fancy attacks with his scythe\*

Eventually they come down to two, a black and white, and they look at each other, and silently nod. They impale their swords into the ground, and a portal starts to open behind them.

"...They're summoning something." Kado growls.

Demgel: More of them, maybe?

A black and white crystal begins to emerge, and all the color in Kado's face drains. "Oh shit."

Demgel: Oh shit? Why 'Oh shit'?

"...That's Dimrune." The crystal suddenly begins pulling both light and darkness towards it, the effect eventually forming a vague outline of a humanoid shape, and the crystal disappears into the form, and red eyes begin to glow faintly in the humanoid's head.

"Weep before the might of Dimrune! Cower! Surrender and we might spare- ARRRRGGGHHH!" The being suddenly impales the two with tendrils of energy, and they turn to dust.

Demgel: Betrayal. So cool.

Dimrune suddenly attacks with the tendrils, and Kado leaps out of the way. "Damn it, why did it have to be Dimerune?!"

Demgel: I like his name and all, but who is this.....guy...thing?

"Dimrune is basically one of the 'weapons' created by the Elemental Warlords on our world Echo. Apparently Phoenix got their hands on them. ...Which I find interesting cause they wouldn't normally serve people like Phoenix. Ever."

He dodges another series of attacks from Dimrune.

Demgel: Hmmm. You have plan or anything?

Dimrune starts bombarding them with bolts of shadow, which Kado manages to absorb fairly easily. "...The only way they could control them is probably mind control. That said, it would have to be on the crystal, it's his soul's container. Don't break it though, you'd kill him."

Demgel: I won't. My scythe should do the trick. As long as I only cut the band. Where is the crystal?

"It should be in the center of that figure. But you'll have to be careful. That thing's got massive range."

Demgel: Ok then. Cover me! \*runs toward Dimrune\*

Kado fires a series of shots at Dimrune, who dodges quite well. He claws at Demgel with his shadowy claws.

Demgel: \*ducks his head back from his claws\*

Dimrune lurches back as soon as it sees Demgel swing his scythe, easily dodging the attack and returns fire with a beam of light and dark energy, blasting him into a tree.

Demgel: \*reverts the beam back at Dimerune\*

Dimrune nimbly dodges, emitting a powerful blinding light.

Demgel: \*splits the light two ways with his hand. Kicks his scythe in the air and as it is about to hit the ground, he door-stomp kicks it at Dimerune. The scythe turns into a spear ad impales him in his crystal\*

Dimrune lets out a violent howl, and the figure begins to dissipate, leaving a black and white crystal which begins to fall.

Demgel:: \*picks up the crystal and looks at it\* Cool. \*tosses it over to kado\*

*"Toss me again, and I will bury you in the Abyss."*A dark voice growls.

Demgel: Sort of hard to do when your a mineral. What now, man?

Kado looks at Dimrune. "I don't know. I heard from some guy named Van Valeric that some god of destruction is planning to attack or something, but I don't know when or where or whatever."

Dimrune suddenly chuckles. "*Oh yes, that. I heard White talking about that subject once... she said she couldn't wait to trap the little fish and spear them dead... ...interesting analogy."*

Demgel: \*eyes narrow\* Did you say Van Valeric?

He looks at Demgel's expression. "Errrrr.... ....yes? ....You know him?"

Demgel: \*has his lips tucked in and slowly nods his head\* Mmmhmmm.....Sure do...Suuuure do...

"Ooooookay then... I'll clarify that I only met him once, and he just freed my sword's spirit and mentioned the whole god of destruction thing and left. ...You seem angry... ...did he do something to you?"

Demgel: Yea....he's done lots of things....not to me, but my family too and countless others through time...you take care of yourself, Kado....\*walks off with his scythe along his shoulders\*

Kado looks after him for a moment. "Hey Demgel. Thanks for the help. I owe you one." After he sees Demgel walk off, he sighs.

"Annnnnnd alone again. Great. Awesome. Perfect. Lovely. Fantastic. .............Now what am I going to do..." He rubs his forehead, before taking out his old mask and looking at it. He throws it away after a moment, and starts making a new one, one with a 'A' with an 'X' on the forehead. He puts it on after a moment.

"...No use sticking around... might as well get going."

"*You do realize I'm here as well."*

"Yes, but you are very poor company."

"*Don't get cheeky with me. I'll bury you in the-"*

"The Abyss, I get it. Shut up."

"*This is going to be a looooooooong trip."*

Demgel: Hey Kado, hold up. \*runs back\* Also, take this. \*takes of one of his emblems, one with and upsidedown cross with the Star of David in the center\*

Kado blinks behind his mask, the movement the only indication of surprise. "What? Oh, what's this thing?"

Demgel: This is the Emblem of Sinner and Saint. This allows you to go to places on the plain of earth and Downation, it can take you as far as Heaven and hell itself. So if you want to go somewhere, just thin it and the door will open to you.

Kado gingerly takes it. "...But why give this to me?"

Demgel: Hey, we're friends right?

"...Yeah... thanks man. See you around then." He smiles faintly behind his mask.

Demgel: Se your around, man. Sweet mask too. \*walks off again\*

Kado watches him go, then stares at the Emblem and quietly pockets it. *Why would he give me something so powerful....? Where'd he get such a thing anyway?*

Demgel: \*yells back\* I fought the Devil for it! Besides, I think you need it more than I do!

*Annnnnnnnnd he can cosmically hear my private thoughts. O JOY!*

## Isolated

Kado appears within a remote city on Earth, quickly moving to the shadows and into the alleys. He comes to a remote building that is labeled abandoned, and smiles faintly behind his mask. He enters, and begins looking throughout the building carefully. He discovers a hidden basement with various things like computers and electronics, and he can't help but laugh softly.

*Ah, a nice little hideaway. Man people like secrets. But when they can't keep the bills, they're such great treasure troves for a simple guy looking to build a base.*

He quickly teleports back to his old Azure residence, and takes as many things as he deems worth bringing over, including a power generator. He then hooks up the power to the building, and turns the basement lights on, smiling as the place comes to life. Though it will take some time to inspect the computers for any useful data they may have, the potential for a base of operations seems good. After running a few tests to make sure power is working correctly, he turns everything off and conceals the power generator within a wall, and then locks up and hides the basement again using Earth Slayer to make it as though the basement never existed. Sighing, Kado walks up the building to the roof, quietly watching the city dwellers.

*I'll have to take a look around town sometime and see what the place is like... for now I'll try to relax a bit before tomorrow.*

*A few hours later, Kado wakes up to find to guys standing above him*

Kado irritably looks up at them with irritation. "Can I help you with something?" He sighs. His form twinges and becomes undetectably transparent.

Mam: Yea, we were gonna ask you the same thing, buddy.

Man 2: We're just up here to say your not supposed to be up here.

"I'd hate to point this out, but it's never a wise move to confront a masked man. You punks from a gang or something?"

Man: Uhhh yea. We rightfully owned the building though, legally too. Besides, for all we know you could be gettin' ready for Halloween.

"I was part of a gang once. We didn't call ourselves that, that's what they called us at least.... ....used to kill punks like you everyday." He lets that sink in for a minute, then adjusts his head to look at them better.

"You say 'owned', right? If you not the owners any more, perhaps you'd like it off your hands?"

Man: Nah. This building is for business purposes. Not to mention our boss runs this place, so your gonna have to take it up with him.

"I see then. I'll wait to talk to your boss then. If you would be so kind as to leave, that would be nice." His arms fold behind his head and into his sleeves, a very relaxed but subtle method of reaching for his guns, knowing they might become necessary, and silently pulls them out of their hidden holsters, but makes no effort to draw them. Not yet.

Man 2: You don't understand. You need to leave. Notice that we are asking kindly.

Kado silently stands up, and walks past the two men, stopping long enough to rap one of their heads with a fully exposed silenced semi automatic pistol, pausing long enough to let them hear the 'click' of him cocking it, then firing it past his ear into a nearby building. He then walks to the other side of the roof and stands on the edge over an alley.

"In the future, don't stand over someone like that, you make excellent shooting targets that way. Especially when you're dealing with someone trained in military grade firearms. I'll be back later...." He jumps off, and when they look for him on that side, he's vanished.

Man: Man dude, he almost tore your ear off.

Man 2: I know, right? I knew he was gonna do that too, but my reaction time wasn't good enough.

Man: Yeah. you can say that again. \*both of them turn and leave\*

Kado appears from the top of another building, further away. "Well, that was annoying."

Voice: I know right.

*A shot can be heard and Kado looks down to see there's blood exiting from under his abdominal area and as he slowly turns around he sees a man with an red oni mask on. The man punches him in the face and renders Kado unconscious*

*A few hours later Kado wakes up to find himself in chains. Not only that, he's in a dark cell with limited light coming from the eye hole*

*Nothing I wouldn't expect. Heh, if it was pitch black I still wouldn't be concerned. Neo.*

*What?*

*Mind telling me the situation?*

*Some guys took you here, didn't pay too much attention. 'Ace'- interesting name that Demgel guy came up with- is still sleeping, same as always.*

*I see. Well I suppose we just humor whoever these people are for the moment...*

voice: These people are savages...all of them are humans kidnapping myths...and bringing them here so they can beat the hell out of us for their amusement and courage. \*spits\* More like red courage. Heard of people like that...just never thought they'd come for me.

Kado silently looks about the cell, his eyes able to see clearly even in the dark.

*There is a small slit of light coming from beside him, but this light is only artificial. He can see a small glimpse of the other person on the other side.*

Kado looks at him, but says nothing in response.

Voice: It sucks...how people like that who rip you away from your life and think so lowly of you. Believe me when I say the people here HATE us. Just HATE us. The fact that I see the same people everyday yelling, "Kill that freak, kill that freak!" just proves it

"That's brilliant. Remind me to care never...." He says irritably.

Voice: I know....I wouldn't expect you to...our lives are meaningless....even to our own kind....Just why...why do we exist...is it for this exact purpose...to empower mankind,just by being the tool for that demolishing empowerment?

"Atrocity isn't anything new. You have to learn to expect such things. In the end they will get whatever fate they deserve. One who lives by the sword dies by the sword."

Voice: Not these people. These people are......I'd kill myself if all humanity was like them. In this place, it feels just like that....

"Ugggh... talk about something else. Who are you anyway?"

Voice: Another man who's waiting to meet his...I don't have that kind of fight left in me.....I just wish I could tell my family how much I loved them one last time....

Kado sighs. "A single memory is worth more than a thousand words. No point in regrets. Even if you do die, they will always have your memory."

*The is a mechanical sound that sounds like it alleviating from the other cell. Sunlight shines from withing the other cell. as people can heard cheering and shouting.*

Voice: I wish that were true...

*Something shuts and all that can be heard are a few cracks and moaning and after few more minutes of the same sounds, a gong tings and everyone roars. The light in the other cell goes out.*

Kado just shakes his head, closing his eyes and prefering not to listen to the arena.

*I wouldn't doubt we'll be chosen at some point.*

*Can I have a turn?*

*No. If they want sport, they'll be disappointed. I fight for a cause. If they want a blood sport, only their blood will spill.*

*An earthquake can be felt from above*

Kado grunts. "Well great, let's hope whatever that is breaks this place down."

*Another set of eyes peep through Kado's cell*

Man: So. What's your name or nickname? If you don't have a name or nickname, one will be given to you.

"I don't think it really matters, naked ape. But if you want a name to scream when you all die, there are those who have called me Dark Phoenix. Though I doubt a naked ape like you could care less about my name. Is that all or do you have some other reason for poking that buggy eye infested with maggots in my direction?"

Man: Man. Youmust be one dumb myth. Can't really see well out of that ther' slit can ya'? Maybe I'll come by later after everyone's put their bid on ya' and fix that slit. \*disappears\*

"*Sure, bid all you want. On which one of you dies first."*Neo chuckles darkly.

## A Glance at the Past

Kado emerges in an alley some distance away, and watches to see if Segura comes out. When he does, he grunts irritably.

"Stubborn... we won't be here long, I have a friend to pick up, and then I'll be make a trip to my home world to pay my respects to my master. "

With that, he peeks out of the alley and sees the assembled Azure forces making their preparations to return home. With an agitated sigh, he steps out and approaches, not caring for any of the gasps of the soldiers, as they are shocked to see him.

"Sir! You're back! Kado, are you back among us?!"

He silently ignores them, and walks up to the center, where Oliv and Naomi, among a few dozen ranked officers stand, talking.

"Oliv." He says quietly, and the organization hushes to dead silence.

"Kado.... you have returned?" She asks cautiously.

"No. I came for Naomi. And no one else." He looks at Naomi, his gaze softening upon looking at the Yokai hybrid.

"I thought you might like to see our master one last time. After that, I'd like to take you with me to somewhere I can keep you safe."

Naomi is speechless.

Segura: We got get goin' before the boss knows we went off. He doesn't trust the night.

Kado looks over over at Segura. "....Keep talking and I'll stuff you in a black hole. And trust me. You'd wish I wasn't joking." He turns back to Naomi, who looks a bit hesitant.

"Come on, I promised Master Hiroshi I'd look after you." He smiles faintly.

Oliv steps up to him. "Kado. Please reconsider."

Kado barely looks at her. "No." He says flatly. "It's over, Oliv. Consider yourself the leader of Azure. It's time you went home."

Oliv dips her head, seemingly disappointed. "I see. Very well. Men, we'll be leaving now." The various soldiers begin to fade, disappearing back to Echo, and Kado and Naomi begin to walk towards Segura.

Kado smirks on his way back. "Segura, just so you know, the night is more or less my realm. If anything were to happen, it would be a big mistake on whoever came across us to challenge me." He looks over at Naomi. "You can relax and show him your true form, Naomi."

She sighs, and five black fox tails appear, and a pair of fox ears grow on her head.

"My name is Naomi. ....I'm a former member of Phoenix, like Kado. ....We're close friends since we were kids." She says quietly, nervous in Segura's presence.

Segura: You look like some chick I would see from a anime roleplay. I can take that back if that's insulting. Name's Segura. \*looks back at Kado\* you do know you didn't get full permission to bring her to The Slums, right?

Kado looks at him with slight irritation. "I realize that. I'm taking her with me to the site where my Master is buried. After that I'll be dropping her off in a secure location until I *do*get permission. Understand though I am loathing of the concept of leaving her unprotected any longer than nessisary, and permission or not, I will not allow her to remain so for long. White has taken enough from me. I'm not giving her an oppertunity to take something else."

He opens another portal, while Naomi looks confused. "Anime roleplay....?" She asks, confused.

Segura: Yea. What about it?

".....What is that?" She asks, genuine confusion on her face.

Kado looks at Segura. "Honestly man, don't ever expect me or any of my friends to know what t.v. or any of that nonsense is. We didn't exactly grow up in a world of prosperity."

Segura: Neither did we. Specially with that T.V. stuff. I know what it is, but I never watched anything much less had one.

Kado sighs. "Let's just go." He enters the portal, with Naomi close behind.

Segura: \*enters behind them\*

## A Familiar Stranger

In a quiet alley, Inga Kankei silently appears, sweeping her hat off in a swift movement, her clothing as a witch disappears in a wave of dark fire, and her hair becomes blonde while her eyes dark brown. Her clothing becomes that of the average young adult, and with her modifications complete, quietly steps out into the city she appeared in.

"How many years has it been since I was last in this area...? It's been a long time..." She says to herself quietly, looking around for somewhere to eat and learn the news.

*I have..... about 560.89 in currency... ....it'll last me a while. I won't be needing any grocery shopping at least.*

*In the city, there appears to be nearly no one on the streets and as she listens closely can hear what sounds like yelling in unison.*

*Chaos huh? Well, this time it does **not**seem to be caused by me.*

Inga quietly walks toward the ruckus out of boredom.

*There she sees human protestors chanting at a line of M.C.C.P soldiers with a CRAzy behind them. The have signs saying 'Myths are Like Us' and 'Humans + Myths = Better World'.*

Commander: \*speaks in a megaphone\* There is no need for any form of escelation. We are not hear to capture anyone, we are only patrolling for any mythological creature activity.

Protestor: Don't lie to us! We know why you're here, you're here, you racist bastards!

*A few others are pushing the soldiers and yelling their chants in their faces.*

Commander: We are not here for you or any myth. We are only keeping watch. Any form of violence against us, will be responded with brutalization.

Protestor: Oh now you wanna treat us like the 'trash', huh? All 'cause we're standing up for them! All 'cause their different! When are people like you gonna stop judgin'! We're destroying this world! *You* are destroying this world! And if you can't see who the *real* enemy here, then we'll show you! \*picks up a stone and throws it at a soldier\*

*A few others join in while still chanting.*

Inga watches for a few moments, before smiling with a quiet laugh. "Oh, this nonsense again. So things haven't changed in the last hundred years I've been gone..." With a shrug, she walks on, keeping a watchful eye on the M.C.C.P. soldiers and the CRAzy as she walks by the protest.

Commander: You have 2 minutes to cease or yo will be dealt with as inhumanely as possible.

*The protestors shout 'Fuck you' in unison and continue to throw stones at them.*

Commander: Welp, they ain't yieldin'. So, soldier draw for your sticks.

*The soldiers draw forth their taser nightsticks to their sides.*

Commander: Hold.

Inga continues walking past and towards another street, no longer caring for the spectacle.

Commander: Now.

*The soldiers go towards the protestors and begin to beat them down and tase them. The Commander shoots whoever is trying to escape and after 2 minutes of beating every single protestor to death, the begin to check the bodies. The Commander walks among the dead, bloody bodies and stops at a woman playing dead with a dead man laying on top of her. He steps on her arm, breaking it and the lady yells in pain. The Commander puts bullet in her.*

Commander: Form back into the line.

Soldier: Commander. \*has a baby wrapped in cloth in his arm\* One of the protestors had a baby. What should we do with it.

Commander: Let me see.\*takes the baby into his arms\* Awww, look how adorable it is.

Baby: \*just looks around in curiosity\*

Commander: It's so cute I can just eat it. But since I can't, Heads up. \*tosses the baby into the air\*

CRAzy: \*eats the baby\*

*The head of the dead baby falls into the Commander's hand.*'To reach Heaven, you must be innocent. But once we grow, we loose that innocence. We spare those who still have it so that it won't be too late. This is for the best." *Tosses the baby's head to the CRAzy and it eats the head.*'Form back into the line."

*The soldiers form into the line and the CRAzy burn the bodies with flame-throwers from under it's wrists.*

The soldiers feel a strange presence in the air.

Commander: Well now, just as soon as we burn bodies only then does a myth decide to make itself known. Everyone. Form a circle.

*The soldiers form a circle around the CRAzy with their assault rifles out.*

"Mondai no hanran..." A woman's voice says as the CRAzy suddenly detonates, not a single molecule left. In front of the soldiers, a figure appears wreathed in emerald flames, it takes them a moment to realize the figure inside the fire is in the shape of a witch.

Commander: I expected witches to have a annoying-old laugh and face covered in warts. And if i'm not mistaken is supposed t be ridding a broom. Just sayin'

"Oh, look, it's a nine year old, oh I'm sorry, did I break your little toy?" She chuckles, the fire disappearing to reveal the witch, she has a rather oversized witch hat, with a white hood and cloak, as well as some sort of armor, and holds a ivory staff in her hand. Her hair is pink, and she had emerald eyes.

She taps her staff against the ground, and a strange blue light flies from her, hovering between the woman and the soldiers before suddenly exploding, in the aftermath, the crowd that was killed is somehow back to life, stunned. With another tap, she whisks them away to another location in the city.

She gives the soldiers a coy smile. "Now... who shall be my prey?"

Commander: Prey on this. Arise!

*A metal hand comes up from under Inga and swats her to the ground and her back aches. Another CRAzy unearths itself from the ground. It holds Inga in its grasp.*

Commander: Sorry it's not cooked properly, but I know you'll improvise.

An orb appears next to her, and suddenly the witch trades places with the Commander, and Inga claps her hands twice, and the CRAzy crushes the Commander into a bloody mess before becoming completely deassembled. She flashes a small smile at the soldiers.

"Oh, hello boys... ...would you like to run now?"

*The soldiers look at each other ,shrug, then drop their guns and walk off.*

Inga watches them for a moment, then starts shooting plasma bursts from her staff at their heads, picking them off one by one. "I'm not sure this is an acceptable definition of 'running'."

She finishes off all but one of them, then pretends to miss.

*I'll let him get away, a chase is always better than a slaughter.*

She disappears in a wave of emerald fire.

*The Admin.'s Office*

Soldier: Sir, we've encountered something that might--*will*catch your attention.

The Administrator: Nothing isn't that captivating to me anymore. Go ahead and send it throgh.

*The Admin. sees the entire thing on videos, from Inga's intervention to her 'sparing' the soldiers.*

The Administrator: Hm....and here, I thought all the witches died during the Trials. I appreciate you sending this to me. You will be taken care of once your back to base.

Soldier: Yes sir.

Elsewhere, Inga secretly observes the crowd she saved earlier, observing the energy of their souls, as well as hoping to find information on anything useful to her.

Protestor: There is nothing we can possibly say than 'Thanks'.

Inga quietly looks down on them from the building she stands on, staff in hand.

"That isn't something the Witch of Causality expects to hear everyday... ...do not thank me. The Mythological Creature Containment Program will likely hunt you down once they realize I have revealed myself. I am a bringer of misfortune, not a savior. Only to spite them did I even bother to give you another life. Consider what I will do now merely another means of hounding the M.C.C.P. There is nowhere on this Earth they will not likely find you... but..."

An emerald glow forms around her, as she draws upon her magic.

*Everyone is amazed*

She taps her staff, and a massive magic circle appears, encompassing the entire crowd, before emerald flames begin to rise up.

"If you have loved ones, I suggest you inform me of them now, lest you will not see them again. I will be... ....relocating you to somewhere the M.C.C.P. will not find you."

*Few of them raise their hand*

"Tell me names, basic geographic locations, appearances, and do it quickly..." She says with a slight annoyed sigh.

Protestor: Actually, we can't leave. Our family is with the Junkyosha Party.

*The others flip over their signs to reveal the Blessing of Martyrdom*

Protestor: There is no such thing as 'safe' anymore. We have all but to to live now. We live to show others than there can be compromise for both sides. They have all but to listen. No matter how useless it may seem. We choose to stay here, miss. Sorry if we were wasting your time.

"I do not care for the ideology of prey. Well, even lesser prey than the stock I hunt, but regardless. This is not about what others refer to as ethics and morality. Rather, this is the desire of the predator to elude the poacher who hunts her. I'm not giving you a choice. I'm sending you away because your being alive and the M.C.C.P. finding you is a threat I cannot ignore. If you try to flee and return home, I will kill you. I do not miss unless I am playing with my prey. In this case, I will do no such thing." Inga says in a flat tone.

"I don't care about your men vs myths theatrics. You can save them for some other person, one who cares."

Protester: They won't find us. We've been in the sewers for some decades and they still have never found us. Please, just let us go home. As far as I know, they'll be more interested in finding*you* than us.

"You fail to understand," She says as the emerald flames grow stronger. "In the interest of finding me, they will hunt down the witnesses of me. That's you. No matter how slim, there is always a chance. And no matter how slim, I must eliminate all potential factors of a threat."

Protestors: No need. They've got hybrids that could find you, but where we live, we are invisible. Like we were in real life. You can come with us if you want and hideout until they loose interest in finding you. We have plenty of room.

"I have a power that nullifies the power of a being that could destroy the whole of this world in one move. I do not fear their pathetic hybrids." She points her staff at them as the emerald flames become hostile in their energy.

"If I were you... I would start running...." She says as she begins shooting shots at them, not caring if she hits or misses. "I'll just clean the mess I made up then," She says coldly.

The people stay the ground without making a move to run Protestor: If you have the power tat you say you have, why worry about them at all? Listen, if you want us to leave, we will leave, but we will not run any longer. We have done so our entire lives out of fear. Even now, we see there is nothing to fear. \*the protestors turn and leave through the back alleys of the city\*

Inga watches them go in annoyance.

"Not worth hunting..." She mutters, then continues on, changing back to her disguise as she leaves the city, making her way to the next one.

"I wonder..." She thinks about a location that was very dear to her once. "I wonder if they still remain..."

The Administrator: \*is digging through a file cabinet\* Witch, witch, witch, witch, witch. Up, here it is. \*reads through the file\* Hyperhuman. Casualty Manipulation, big problem. Unknown whereabouts? Hm. No don't wanting to revisit home. Who would after 10 years of being gone from the Earth. No doubt either lived in Echo. \*throws the file on his desk and speaks over the intercom\* Weapon Ketsueki menasu, report to my office.

Inga reaches the next town, and immediately seeks out a restaurant to eat at, entering a McDonalds and quickly places her order once she is at the counter, then waits for her food to be given to her so she can leave and eat somewhere private.

Inga's order is ready and she receives the receipt, then Inga promptly takes the bagged food and leaves, leaving to go to a nearby park and sets her bag down next to her, eating slowly and enjoying the meal, and sits back and watches the local residents as they walk. When she is done, she throws the bag in a nearby trashcan, then sits on the park bench for a while, deciding to unwind before she wanders again.

There next to a tree, Igna can see a man wearing a black-leather jacket, with his face completely covered with bandages except for his right eye.

She decides to ignore him, closing her eyes and taking a hair brush out of a bag and detangles her hair, though she doesn't need to keep her eyes open to know what he's up to now... ...she would know exactly when he made a move.

Before Igna knows it, the man is no longer there, nor is his presence.

Inga opens her eyes, and wastes no time leaving the area, once out of sight, she changes her appearance to have black hair and blue eyes, changing her face and clothing to look different.

As she travels, she comes across a small white house, and stops, looking at it. It is rundown and abandoned, part of it has collapsed.

"So, they're not here anymore... ...I must go..." Inga continues walking on, not giving the house where she was born a second glance. She soon arrives within the capital, and heads to one of her old hideaways, one which had not been discovered since she left it.

Igna feels a tap on her shoulder and as she turns around she is face to face with a shirtless man with gray, wind-swept hair and stubbed beard, hazel green eyes, mutliples scars and bites along his body, and his waist down is that of a CRAzy. 'Can I help you?'

She instinctively grabs her switchblade and pulls it out, backing away quickly into the shadows of the room.

The man grabs Inga's wrist and squeezes it making her drop the switchblade. 'There is no need to be frightened. I asked a simple question.' Let's go of her wrist.

She swipes it up again and slips through a hidden passageway the man didn't notice existed in the shadows, and slips out into the streets, mingling with the crowd as soon as she can.

*....Exima.... ...If he doesn't know who I am, then it's a miracle. ...One I'll not take for granted.*

Exima: Hm...\*heads back to where Igna's old hideaway is\*

After a while, Inga stops after finding another secluded area to rest.

A knock comes at the door.

The Administrator: Comes in A mane wearing the standard leather suit and jacket comes in, has red, wild hair flowing behind his back. 'You called for me, sir?'

The Administrator: Yes, someone who we tried to pursue from years past has re-surfaced. I want you to bring her in anyway you can.

'Yes sir. Anything else?' The Administrator: Nothing else comes to mind. carry on. 'Yes sir.'

After a few hours, Inga quietly gets up from her sleep, and already is well on her way out of the area, as a thought of another place to investigate comes into her mind.

As Inga walks into the city she sees a news reporters and cameramen and common city-folk who are raisings signs saying 'Praise Be to Exima!' and 'God Bless the 2nd Savior!'. Exima walks out form the crowd who contiues to follow him and ask questions, when it is clear he has no interest in talking or has said what needed to be saved.

Inga notices him and quickly attempts to slip out of sight before he can notice her presence.

Igna then bumps into the bandaged face man who only just stares down at her for a moment then walks past her towards Exiam's direction.

Inga quickly manipulates the vision and memory of all civilians so that she never came down this way, nor do they see her Blink several city blocks into a hidden alley. She adds a bow to her hair, so she can feign to mess with it while in actually be able to draw upon her witch hat at a moment's notice. After sweeping the nearest abandoned building for signs of activity, which there is none, she quickly hides inside the dark building, her enhanced vision allowing her to see clearly.

In the city, some M.C.C.P soldiers are looking for Inga's whereabouts.

While inside, she places a distortion spell that will trick the senses of any present into seeing nothing of significance, and locks herself in the attic, where she begins to incant a complicated spell to teleport her to Echo, building a sub version within her spell to allow her to quickly switch to merely teleporting a great distance away.

'She's around here, I can smell something off. I can feel it too. Search around abit more.' The soldiers investigate near the area Inga is.

*I really don't have time for this... if they are this determined to find me, then they have no understanding of the reasons I evade them.*

"There is no human who can bear the weight of this power..." She mutters.

Exima: I think we can bear enough. Inga turns and sees Exima and the badaged face man behind her.

Exima: So you've returned to fill in the gaps of home. Don't understand why if you knew the risk. So why is it you continue to evade prying eyes, when you supposedly know they would want to find you?

Inga quietly looks at him, discarding her disguise, revealing her pink hair and eyes. She wears very simple jeans and a shirt, a appearance very much deceptive to Inga's true power.

"I came here out of curiosity to see what the world I was born in had become. Risks are a moot point to me. There is very little if anything that can threaten me, Exima. I run because I know and understand consequences. I am not one to lie. I kill, or rather, subject the souls of Mythos for my own purposes, so I am not truly one to judge. But what most fail to understand about my power is it is a double edged sword. Only a fool would want my power. If one knew the depths of what this power entails, they would respect my isolation."

A orb of light appears next to her, coming to rest in her hand and warps into the shape of a tiny fairy. She stares at it quietly, before looking back to Exima.

"What is Causality?" She asks simply.

Exima: Causality derives Cause and when there's a Cause, there's an effect. But most people would put that as a Life-changing calamity.

"The power to wield Causality is something not even you could handle. By rule of nature, in order to use it, you would have to first understand every. Single. Possible. Outcome. Do you know what that means?"

She cuts him off.

"It means, I know what you, or anyone is going to say before they say it. What attacks will be used in situation A or B. I can see just by looking at a random woman on the street, how she will die. All of her deaths. Every conversation she makes. I can see how throwing a can of soda will cause a accident and kill twelve people in a car crash.

Imagine for a moment, Exima, what that means."

Exima: You don't think I've known? I've spent my life studying those possibilities and how to surpass those who think they can win over me. There is things we can handle and things we can't. It only matters if we put in the effort to do so.

Inga shakes her head. "I'm not talking about your limited vision, Exima. You see what you want to see, not the full picture. ...How old were you? Five, wasn't it? Ah yes... it was five. They died then, your parents, didn't they?" She says with a faint smile.

Exima: It was. My parents died riding a boat across the Hudson Bay. But the boat blew up and it was assumed that a Myth is what killed them. I know there was a possibility that they lived, as in never going on that boat. But I don't live in that possibility and I cannot wish for anything that cannot come true.

She makes a hollow, but still mocking laugh. "And again... you could never handle my power. Not because it would be too difficult... ....but because you could not face the truth. Causality may be the power to control cause and effect, but the sight does not lie. And the truth I have seen would crush your so called indomitable spirit, if you saw it for your own eyes."

A change in her eyes becomes apparent, a slight twinge of emotion. Fear.

"Do you even know how my power was discovered?" She asks, her voice sounds off.

Exima: No In this world, There is no such thing as truth. Reason is, you cant destroy my will. Maybe in some other life, but not in this one. I know in comparison to you, I am blind, but I will see another way. I always have. But I see that your power is a responsibility you must control for your sake. There is only two people you can trust in this world: God and yourself. Who else could you trust with your power? Who else do you know could handle it? As for how you were discovered for your power, you must not have had control of it and they caught notice of you.

Inga gives him a quiet look. "I was on top of a tall skyscraper, when two boys from my school noticed me, they were bullies, they couldn't stand me protecting a girl they were bullying, so they decided to push me off the top. When I landed... ...it was as if I had been laying there the whole time. As if I never fell. But an hour later... ...I fell into a ten month coma, and after that... I was bedridden and frail for an additional six. My body has never actually recovered from that." Exima notes her figure is unusually thin for her age.

Exima: I see. So your power came up as a last resort to save your life? Or did it come after the fall? And how do you wind up on a skyscraper?

Inga sighs. "I don't know. It might have been just right before the fall... ...maybe it happened as soon as I hit the ground.... ...but from the moment I hit the ground... ....everything was just different. We were vacationing, sight seeing. My family and I."

She eyes the two with a look.

"What are you going abandoned her smile by this point, a cold harsh frown on her face.

Exima: \*folds his arms\* So far, only to talk. Something about you sparks my memories as when I was a soldier, close to retiring. The only question is: What are you going to do now?

Before Inga can answer everything begins to shake and crashing and people screaming in fear ensue.

Exima: Face. Take us outside.

*The man whips his coat tail over them and their in the city. Everyone is running and buildings just begin to collapse.*

Exima: \*sniffs the air\* Serpent.

*A roar can be heard coming from the sky and a vague figure is place in front of the Sun.*

Inga looks at it impartially, without a hint of concern or interest.

*The figure descends upon the ground and as the dust clears stands Jumbo*

Jumbo: YOOOOUUUU!!

Exima: You...

Jumbo: \*furiously roars and the Serpent unearths behind him\*

Inga closes her eyes, turns and walks away, disinterested.

Jumbo: \*pentagram shine's and five spark flares shoot out from the vertices of the pentagram\*

Exima: \*is ready for the impact but as he looks at flares, he notices they are too spaced out for them to be going towards him. He then turns around and pulls Inga back from behind her neck and sparks close in on themselves and a fiery explosion ensues.\*

Jumbo: Gah! \*stretches forth his arm and the Serpent slithers towards them with it's fangs showing\*

The serpent dives it's head into the ground, but Exima jumps over it and skates along it's back and slides one he reaches the tail. He clings his feet onto a skyscraper and begins to skate up the side of it and makes it to the top. Once he sets Inga down the Serpent coils around the building and towers over the two and Jumbo over towering it. The Serpent goes in for a head dive again, but the man with the bandaged face comes and warps Inga off the skyscraper and back to the ground, where they can see the Serpent dive straight down through the skyscraper.

Man: I think you've seen enough.

Inga continues walking off after being brought back to the ground.

"Mankind is destroying themselves. Everyday you tighten your own noose. Your violence," She says as the sounds of the fighting continue. "Is your own demise. I will not side in this conflict.... ....it is pointless. I already understand how it ends."

Man: You speak as if I'm one of them. If you know how it ends, enjoy gathering mythic souls while you can.

"You don't get it..." She says, then after a while, stops and turns to look toward the fight.

*The Serpent is limp and Exima comes out of its mouth, but Jumbo dive bombs him as soon as he sees him.*

Suddenly Jumbo's fist crashes to a halt from some sort of repelling force, which sends him flying into the sky, but also sends Exima crashing into the street.

Jumbo: \*stops himself and flies back towards Exima at top speed and dive bombs him again\* YOU! WHO ARE THE WORST AMONGST THE BEFORE! YOU WHO WISH TO BRING AN END TO US ALL! \*begins to punch Exima's face in with bone-crushing blows\* WITHOUT YOU THE BEFORE HAVE NO STRENGTH! WITHOUT YOU, THE BEFORE CANNOT STAND AGAINST US! YOU MUST BE GONE! \*makes the final blow\*

Exima: \*blocks it and slowly stands up\* You....you gather them...you are they Big Brother...you can make and army of myths in a second just by thinking...you bring them to light...you bring them out in the open to destroy us...you are the one that must begone...

A hand is placed on each of their chests, and a yin and yang symbol appears and flares on each of them, before they are violently repulsed again. When the two manage to get up from the force of the strike, Inga stands in the epiccenter. When the two try to charge each other again, Inga slams her staff down, and a massive yin yang symbol appears on the ground, repelling the two again, and they find they cannot cross it. Inga once again stands in the middle.

"Perhaps something has not been made clear to the two of you." She says quietly. "Do you two know what the Yin Yang is?"

Exima: It is duality. Balance. Foolish it is for those to believe there is a middle road in all of this.

"It is you who is foolish. No one can truly command the power of Causality, if they do not accept all possible outcomes, and acknowledge them." She looks at the two.

"Your minds are closed. Ignorant. You cannot see what is obvious. Jumbo. For every human you kill, you will incite another's wrath. For every Myth you kill Exima, another human will pay the price. There is no victory for either of you."

"And even if you destroyed humanity... ...even if you destroyed the Myths... ...there are older, more powerful forces that exist in this universe. ...Or rather... ...that exist *beyond* this one. ...You will play right into their hands."

Jumbo: I will not let those of ''higher power'' determine my fate! Victory will belong to one of us! It might as well be mankind!

Exima: Fool. You cannot change what has already been set. Left and Right. Good and Evil. Light and Darkness. Yin and Yang. Positive and Negative. God and Satan. Heaven and Hell...Man and Myth/ Where in there, do you hear anything about balance?

"I believe that you haven't understood the events of the Mythzonian then. You have pushed your 'favor' with *him* too far. Even the favorite child is not above reprimanding. Humans have earned the ire of the divine, Exima. You, Jumbo, and all of those who fight in the name of hatred will one day soon be smited for your arrogance.

You who live a life of misinformation and misunderstanding... ...have no rights to claim your deserving of anything. As for those, you clearly haven't heard of 'middle', 'neutral', Shadow and Grey. In fact, Earth could be considered the middle of the heavens and hell. They have everything to do with each other. Humans are weaker than Myths, and Myths are stronger, but Humans are adaptable, else they would have been extinguished.

Exima. Perhaps it is you who are the destroyer of myths, and Jumbo who is the destroyer of men, but if you are representative of the two opposing forces.... ....then I am your balance. The equalizer. I level the playing field. You shall not decide your conflict here. I shall make balance for where there is none... ...after all... ...of any humans that live, I am perhaps one of the few who see the middle road and know where it leads. To a better future than anything either of you could make alone."

It gradually occurs to Exima that Inga's face is familiar, but not for the fact she has been wanted by the M.C.C.P.

She looks over at Jumbo.

"Begone. Return to the realm beyond this one. Your violence is useless in my presence."

Jumbo: You presence means nothing to me! \*the pentagram on his chest glows and 5 spark flares shoots of of his chest and hit Inga, who now has a pentagram symbol on her chest. A red-colored energy flows out of her to Jumbo and Jumbo is shocked by what he's feeling\* You...took my brothers...YOU TALK OF BALANCE WHEN YOU ARE AS GUILTY OF THE SAME SIN AS THE BEFORE?!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHGGGGGGG!!! \*the pentagram grows so large that yin yang symbol breaks\* You lie to postpone what cannot be delayed. This is what *I* think of *your* balance! \*glows with an ominous multi-colored light and releases and it engulfs the city in a magnificent array of light\*

*Once everything clears, there is nothing more than a dusty plane with barely a scrap of debris left. Not even Jumbo is there.*

Inga glows with a silver light, and suddenly everything is reversed back to just before Jumbo unleashes, the light, and to both Exima's and Jumbo's amazement, they are aware of the occurrence, and then Inga forcibly shuts down the glow, and bares her staff at him, upon doing so, Jumbo is forced to his knees by an overwhelming force, and an oppressive aura fills the air.

"You cannot overcome me." She says flatly. The pentagram has been effortlessly dispelled.

"Balance does not take a side. It chooses its own path, one neither side can see, due to their polarized views. You have no right to judge me. For have you not killed men, women, and children in the name of your so called justice? Exima has also killed men, women, and children, in the name of his justice. Does that make either of you right? In the end, you only seek mindless revenge. But then, so do I. My power requires energy I do not possess. Myths are my viable option. But men are also my enemy. For they seek the power I wield, ignorant of its consequences. If the Agencies that hunt me left me alone, I would leave Myths alone.

But at the end of the day... none of us can judge another here. Jumbo. You may throw the first stone, if you yourself have never killed the innocent. So may you, Exima, if you have not killed a Myth that hasn't killed a man. You can throw the stone if you haven't killed children.

Let me answer for you... ...you can't. Because you both kill senselessly. But neither can I. Let me repeat myself... ...return to Fantasy, Jumbo. Your power cannot prevail against me."

Jumbo: Then why is there the existence of those far stronger than you...? \*stands to his feet\*

"Because for as mighty as my power is, there are beings that literally exist outside of the realm of logic. They don't need a reason to do something. They just can. They can literally break the rules of reality, the laws of science, of everything. As powerful as I am, my power is still bound by logic. The beings I spoke of? Theirs, are not.

Unless you have the power to exist out of time, space, even logic, then I would heed my words. ...Exima. Your power is your weakness. You believe your power can do anything. But... it still requires events to transpire. Even if you wished it, you could not undo my power. If I decided to kill you... ...no matter how hard you struggled... ...not even your mighty will could stop me from undoing any action you take. Even with this, there are things greater than I. I am no perfect being. Whatever lurks out there... ...no man could defeat. No myth. But maybe...."

She laughs. "A childish thought, much like your own, wouldn't you agree, Exima? After all, you're working on a childish presumption that your parents are dead, that it was myths that killed them, or that they still aren't alive. Childish, isn't it? Just like my own thoughts just now... man and Myth... could never be. ...Not with you blowhards."

After a moment, she looks at Exima. "We've met before, you know. Your brother... ...he asked you to spare me. Isn't that so? Or have you forgotten?"

Exima: I remember...I spared you...I didn't want to, but he convinced me...My power...it is not my weakness...I can never die truly...just like the rest of you myths...you can't die...you only remain...nothing can kill you...nothing can...You speak to me like I was the cause of all this...My life...my childhood...was ruined..I was born during the start of the war, I had to grow up quickly and I had to be prepared for what I had to face and booooy did I see somethings...It's only childish, cause you don't know the story of it...What you think my be perceived as childish, maybe important to someone else...

Jumbo: Same...I was once human...until the Dragon Worshipers took me and changed me into this. I fled from them into the sky. I was then captured and thrown into my prison and i could not come out...all because..I was no longer human...My hatred for my former kind grew and grew as I was the only...who could communicate while the other could not until after 20 years of talking to myself, that I began to hear others...There lythose 'powerful' than us, but there are also those more hateful than us. We're just the only ones you see and hear.

Inga looks toward Jumbo. "Your kind do not need you to avenge them. They need you in their homeland, now more than ever. The ones who bear the crimson bird of flame are preparing to march upon Fantasy. They will need their defender again. Leave now, or I will make you leave."

Jumbo:......\*raises his fist and pounds the ground, breaking the yin yang symbol once again. He spreads his wings and flies off\*

Inga looks at Exima for a moment, a strange look in her eyes. She suddenly tosses a picture at Exima.

"When we meet again..." She begins to fade away in green fire. "I expect you'll have some questions for me." She disappears, and Exima looks at the picture, to see that it is his family, before his parents had died.

Exima: \*touches the photo of the picture and a single tear falls on it\* Why did you have to leave us...?

Inga appears in a far off town, resuming her disguise.

"Enjoy the gift... ...next time I'll have you work for your answers," She mutters with a smile.

Exima: \*touches Obi on the picture \*.....I'm sorry, brother....

The faintest of sensations crawls on the back of Exima's neck, but the after effect feels as though someone was walking over his own grave.

Exima:....Go ahead and show yourself. I know you're already there. Or can pass me up and you coming by doesn't mean anything.

"I never thought I'd see the day when the great and mighty Exima would cry, how endearing..." Exima hears a voice behind him speak up, and the person he sees behind him is a male figure wrapped in a black cloak, and a black hood obscuring his face. The figure appears to be casually leaning against the nearest building.

Exima: We all cry...even you...Hadari. You have to strike the right nerve. If you come here to mock on being human then it is fruitless and timeless.

The figure tilts his head to one side. "You remember me then...? Well, that's a surprise. I just find it interesting how you have no qualms killing a little boy, yet weep for your own family."

The figure lifts up his hood, revealing his face, which has not at all changed since Exima had last seen the shapeshifter, towards the end of the war, the face also reminding him of Kado.

Exima:\*slightly twitches\* Hm. I'm not one to forget. Who could forget the war anyway? Besides, myths are myths...not matter how young they are...you know me...or atleast you should.

"Ah yes... ...you met my.... ....insert how many greats, grandson... ....hmmm, did you know it's been roughly a hundred to two hundred years for the people of Echo since the war? Well, it has. I've seen many generations go by now... ...oh, and another thing... ...did you hear that I died?" He says, nonchalantly.

Exima: It's almost like hearing *myself* die.

"Well, I did, rather, in some circles, one could call me still dead, either that or a ghost. ...A ghost that can touch you just as well as any living person could... ...or a spirit, depending on how you look at it. In case you are wondering how I managed to get myself killed, blame my lovely ex wife. She always was as deadly as she was beautiful..." He sighs.

Exima: Heh. Always hated her.

"How much do you know about what happened to us, my old group? I've not been too terribly caught up with events of late. It's kind of hard to keep up with things when you've been dead and trapped in another realm for a number of years."

Exima: All you need to know. They came. And they *nearly* conquered.

"If you refer to the group that dangles from our coattails, no. I mean the group I came with. Do you know what happened to us after we defeated the Elementals, gave you a fighting chance against the Myths from Fantasy?"

Exima: No. I was far away from there at the time. In the Gobi Desert to be precise, on my way to China after our squadron got separated and me and my brother were the only ones who made it away.

"Then I shall enlighten you. After we pushed back the enemy and defeated their eight mighty lords, protected your towns and your cities, we were betrayed. Stabbed in the back, by your kind. I never expected to be treated with respect from your people, only for my efforts to have been at least acknowledged. Were it not for our efforts, this world would have been nothing but a burned, shriveled husk."

The Myth seems to angrily throw his hood over his head, once covered, his voice is darker and rings with a sense of older, more potent power.

"Not that I should have expected that from men.

Exima: You also shouldn't have expected us to be wiped out. With or without you, mankind would've prevailed. Do you have any flesh on you by any chance?

"You did not fight them for seventy years since you were born, Exima. I did. I know my enemy far more than you did. And explain what you mean by that."

Exima: Seventy-five actually. Oh wait. You skipped the extra five, which I had to experience *myself*. So I guess we're even. And I mean do you have flesh. Skin, bone, muscle. Stuff like that.

"Not at the moment. I might have made a body if I knew I was going to bump into my favorite sparring partner."

Exima: But what is it your precisely here for? Honestly it couldn't be to check up on me for current events.

"Ulterior motives. Of varying degrees. Old business, new business. Mainly to do with Admonition."

Exima: \*grumbles at the mention of it\*

"Oh, yes, I remember you threw a tantrum about that, did you not? If I truly have any business, it is to ask that you leave it alone. More specifically, leave my great great- -screw that, that takes too long, grandson alone. He won't live much longer anyway."

Exima: Which one?

"Does it matter? Even if he lives through the siege, he will literally fall apart any day now."

Exima: you say that as if you're certain. Words are a powerful thing. And you must learn to wield them to your advantage otherwise they turn on you.

"Well, I say it as if I know it will happen. When one is born with three souls, there is a violent imbalance. Eventually, one has to grow stronger, and when they grow stronger, the balance becomes broken completely. When that happens... the boy will be no more."

Exima: Sounds great. If only gore were involved in that.

"Hmmph. Having your soul ripped to shreds as you fade from existence is pain of its own, one worse than any physical injury. Anyway... do as I ask. And another thing...."

The figure decks him in the face, sending him into a wall, but he just laughs. "I believe we haven't had a proper brawl since the war... ...tell you what, do a good job, and I may give you a helping hand with the pink haired witch. ...Undoubtedly there's probably questions you'll need answering."

Exima: I already got my answer. It's my fists! \*comes out of the building at top speed and punches Hadari square in between his eyes, sending him crashing into a building.\*

When the smoke clears, Hadari stands on his feet, his eyes gleaming. "What was that? You're hitting like a pussy!" He cackles like a maniac, before charging. The two proceed to fight for almost hours.

*5 hours later*

*Exima and Hadari circle each other slowly.*

Exima: So what type of brawl is this? What are we playing for?

Hadari smirks, holding up what looks like a photograph, but the image is on the otherside of the paper.

"I've got a present if you can last a few more hours."

Exima: Sure thing. \*dashes around Hadari and elbows him in the arm knocking into a building and leaving a huge bruise on his arm\*

When he emerges from the dust, he appears dashing towards Exima... ...running with his hands. Before Exima can react, Hadari begins whaling on him with powerful kicks to the face, then abruptly flips back up onto his feet and chops Exima hard in the throat, cackling with savage glee.

Exima: \*elbows Hadai in the gut leaving a massive purple bruise, then brings his head up and knocks him in the face,breaking his nose. Grabs his face and slams it on his shoulder, then judo flips Hadari on his back\* Laugh it up while you can. You won't be after I put you down.

Hadari grabs Exima's arm and hurls him into a building, which falls on top of Exima.

"Heh heh, you're going to have to hit A LOT harder than that! It's like I'm getting punched by a baby! Kukyo was a tougher challenge than this!"

Exima: Then she must have been an bug. \*cracks his neck\*

"Well, if that bug could eat a whole world..." Hadari laughs, the damage done to him disappearing.

"Anyway, I've had my fun. Remember what I asked, Exima. I shouldn't have to tell you the difference between me 'just playing' and me being serious."

Exima: If a bug can swallow an entire world and my only myth sparring-partner fights and say's he's not even serious, than that means I can take a piss again. \*looks up into the sky,then breathes. He then walks out of the city\*

The myth watches Exima go for a while, then disappears back into the shadows. Later, Exima feels a sensation as though a hand had put a picture of a little girl with pink hair, and an eerily familiar woman in his hand.

Exima: .....What.....But.....She......\*realizes\* She was supposed to be......\*skates off in a haste\*

Inga meanwhile has taken up residence in a obscure hotel, with access to the news on a tv in her room, taking time to relax and eat a few snacks.

News: Today in Phenix City, we had two unexpected surprises today, by renouned humanitarian activist and anti-myth promoter, Exima, who is most noted for the free-for-all arena, The Mythzonian. We had interviewed him this morning and this is what he had to say.

Exima: The world changes ever so fast. It's hard to process so many thing we do not know. Somethings happen one at a time, while some happen all at once and it affects us greatly. But man will strive, like how I have strived from the turn that destroyed my arena. My pride. But it did not destroy my morale. Though what I will do now is uncertain, but one thing is never going to change. I will kill every myth I come upon. Whether on Earth or in those countless dimensions they all hide in, like worms in the dirt avoiding the rays of the Sun.

News: Not so long after this interview, Jumbo, The Big Brother from Downation, who has been on a terror spree across the globe rallying armies of numerous mythological creatures, has hit our dear city with a enormous serpent paving throughout streets, but Exima brought the serpent down and is no more. The M.C.C.P have come by to clear it out.

Inga sighs. "Why do they cheer when there is nothing to cheer for...?"

Before Inga knows it, M.C.C.P soldiers bust through her door and her window and have their guns pointed her. "Freeze! Put your hands up! You are to come with us quietly or we will take you in by forceful means. But we already know how this is going to turn out."

"You lack the capacity. And are you sure you want me to raise my hands?" She says with a smug smile.

"Not if we have you brutalized first." A CRAzy tears the roof off and stares down at her, waiting for Inga to make a move. "Hopefully, you don't have raise your hands, if you give yourself in."

"You know, I was actually more worried about the ceiling, but now it's gone. Thanks for that."

She suddenly leaps high into the air, inhumanly high, above even the CRAzy's head, and is already bounding acroeke this easy on yourself and submit.

Inga quietly teleports behind the CRAzy and vaporizes it with a touch, then boredly looks at Ayakashi.

"What do you take me for? A harmless little girl?" She says coolly. "Many have suffered the consequnce of underestimating me. My advice is that you submit and pray I don't erase you from time itself. It's a rather painful process, I assure you."

Ayakashi: I wasn't aware you could erase spirits, but whatever. Every objective is a threat. *You* are a threat and should be treated as such, but right now you are assuming like a little girl. Just come with us quietly, please and not harm shall be done to you.

"There will never be a day where I am made a weapon for someone else's problems. That is the lie of all lies. I know what your people do. They experiment and do anything to get power, power they do not understand. Or perhaps the Agencies forgot what happens when you experiment with powers that should never be tampered with? The eight elemental beings that besieged this world were created because of such ill mannered tampering."

Ayakashi: We need them for the purpose of saving mankind from the myths, who grow stronger and more Earth-shattering every-waking moment. We are willing to make sacrifices on our own accord so that mankind's safety is assured.

Inga reaches into the air, and seems to pull on something, when she does, emerald flames engulfs her, and reveals her true form, along with her witch clothing. A ring of billowing emerald flames surrounds her.

"Humanity's greatest threat is the Agencies themselves. I will kill you for your idiocy.... ....and spare you from the day of reckoning." She summons her staff.

Ayakashi: It's about *who handles* the gun. As long as we hold the trigger, our target will always be you.

"I'm afraid you are rather deaf... ...you never held the gun to begin with."

She suddenly begins to levitate, soaring high in a matter of seconds, though she leaves her staff on the ground standing straight up, flying up to cloud level, and places her palms together.

"Terra: Grand Impact."

Suddenly the staff glows, and sends a beam into the sky, and suddenly an absolutely behemoth sized magic circle encompasses all of Phenix City, and the whole of the city begins to violent shake with the force of a magnitude 10 earthquake.

Ayakashi: Delta Overide 130 Respawn.

the CRAzy instantly reappears behind Ayakashi

Ayakashi: CRAzy. Get me up there.

CRAzy: \*picks up Ayakashi and throws him into the sky\*

Almost immediately, he is bombarded by thousands of meteors, smashing him back to the ground painfully, and Inga seems to glide away with ease.

"Now then... leave now or...." A massive swarm strikes the city below, destroying several city blocks. "I will destroy this city, and then teach your 'Agency' a more proper lesson. It's your choice, be responsible for the death of millions, or leave now and live to fight another day."

Ayakashi: Then what was the point of you coming here, if you knew the risks. I think you came here on purpose just so you have a good reason to "get rid" of us. You came here for revenge. We came here to protect this city. *You* are the one responsible for the deaths of millions, but it's not like you give a damn. You have the trigger, it's your choice. Either way, it won't be on us. You're the one with the means to kill us. But let me tell you this...you destroying this city and the other Agencies are only gonna make things. What's gonna be hell for us for only a day, will be hell for you for eternity. Pull the trigger and make it worse for yourself, or come with us and you won't be harmed. Either way. Take your time.

She suddenly moves faster than he can blink and delivers a punch straight to his stomach that sends him crashing into the city below, decimating a skyscraper as she lands, which lands on top of several houses and businesses.

"I came here to revisit my roots. And to confirm something. I just happened to come across an old enemy and decided to return the favor for past crimes against me. I don't care about risk. Risk is for you who are bound by rules of logic. I am not. I make mine own."

Ayakashi: You stumbled, but you didn't tread lightly. You could've made it out without anyone noticing you. Your carelessness is the reason I'm here now. Risk are also for fool who have no regard for their life. And you just to a big one. You say you make your own rules. Your own logic. Well mind you, that you've proven that you sucked at that. You stumbled upon your enemy, yet your enemy didn't see you, then you decided to make yourself known and now we pursue you. You pulled the trigger once and see where we are. Let's see where you'll end up when you pull it twice.

"Well, if you think I'm careless, you're a fool. Hit me." She says quietly.

Ayakashi: Your ignorance won't save you. You know well why you did what you did. To usurped your power. To strike fear into us. You didn't do it for the people we killed. You simply do it just show us what were in for. If you were so worried of no one recognizing you or just avoiding any attention, you would've stuck to hiding your face. Which you did, mind you. But you threw that away, plus you let one soldier live just to know that you were here and now you threaten to destroy this city so that we don't pursue you, when you could've adverted this the whole time. Proven to me once again, you have no logic. Your just a fool convincing yourself that your not.

Inga says, nothing, but stabs herself in the heart with her own switch blade, but she doesn't react, in fact, no blood even come from her. Suddenly, he feels a horrible pain from his chest, as blood gushes out.

Ayakashi: \*simply looks at the blood coming from his chest\* You still try to show me your power....Fine....go ahead.....you're just proving how low you are in comparison to every other myth human on this planet....

"You do not understand anything. It is you who are low. Because somehow you believe that what you're doing is right. Not that I ever understood that. Right... wrong... ...what if I told you that regardless of what happens, the only thing the Agencies will accomplish is the destruction of Earth and all human life? Even if humans somehow survived, the world would be forever beyond repair and livable. Humanity would wither away. Your cause is worthless. You are worthless. The Administrator, is worthless.

This discussion is over. You are not protectors. You are the destroyers, not the Myths. Or maybe it's a mutual role?"

"You are naive." She begins walking away on air, turning her back to him. She stops after a moment.

"...I wanted to see if my mother was alive still. ...The house she lived in was destroyed by a CRAzy. So yes... perhaps what little emotion I have left somewhere in this withered heart of mine lashes out against the ones who took away the only being who ever loved me.

And perhaps, I'm still looking for whatever ties I may have. After all... ...everyone needs something worth living for..." With that, she continues on.

Ayakashi: You have something to live for, but us weapons don't. We live for humanity, but that's really not our choice. Your lucky to have someone that loved you...most of didn't....your human....we're myths...our lives aren't as decent as yours....in this world....your gonna have to do without certain things your used to....you knew you mother wouldn't live forever....and you can't live life....holding on to someone's hand....you've reached the point...were you gotta have to take the walk yourself...you have to be self-reliant....other wise you're not gonna make it long....ERM!

Inga walks on, ignoring him, her image literally fading as she walks.

Ayakashi: CRAzy....take us to base.

*The CRAzy picks him up and begins to make it's way out of the city.*

Inga observes his movements for a time just outside of the M.C.C.P. base, then quietly departs to Peoria, Illinois, though she makes no effort to bare her disguise once she arrives, though she keeps out of sight, invisible.

*I sense that HE will come here...*

*Exima is walking through the streets, as everyone around him just simply stares at him as he makes his way to the hospital.*

Inga notices him, and decides to let him wander, but keeps him within her line of sight.

*Exima enters the hospital, and takes the elevator to one of the floors. He walks by a few rooms until he reaches a room labeled '2B'. He looks into the empty room for a moment and remembers the birth of both him and his, resting in their mothers arms while their father is resting next to her.*

Exima: \*smiles\*

After a while, Inga makes her aura strong enough for Exima to pick up, then retreats to a obscure part of the town, where she becomes visible and waits to see if he will come.

Exima: \*follows the trail and makes to Inga is\*

"I see you found me well enough. Reminiscing?" She asks.

Exima: You're not the only one with a home to remember.

"...." Something about what he said causes her eyes to narrow by a mere fraction of an inch.

"You have questions, do you not?" She asks.

Exima: Only one: How?

"You speak vague enough to kill a Neanderthal's brain. I'm working on the assumption that this is about your mother. Simple. She was not on the boat. She was left behind by accident."

Exima: No. She was on the boat. She survived the explosion. My father and mother left with each other and stayed that way. Nothing could've separated them. If she was left behind, she would've came back. And 'm willing to bet you're the reason why they had to leave us. \*eyes narrows slightly\*

"Oh? Little ol' me?" She says with her small smile. The smile doesn't appear to have any actual sign of emotion behind it.

Exima: You know, the world sees me as a gift. Places beyond this on see me as a curse. I guess the real person for both the honor and the blame is you. But that doesn't bother you the slightest.

Inga looks at him, the smile going away quickly. "I see, so you're looking for excuses. Justification."

She closes her eyes. "Your mother moving on with her life and having me is no fault of mine. That is something I cannot control. You are merely looking for someone else to blame for your problems. What a child you are. Whatever actions you take are your own. The only one in control of your own actions is yourself, Exima. You earned both the honor and the blame. You have not grown up at all, big brother."

Exima: And you know better, for you still cling on to our mother like an infant who still requires our milk. I only blame you for lunging me into such an awful world before I could decide a fate for myself...

"I had nothing to do with what you became. There was always a chance for you to turn away from what path you take. You just convinced yourself otherwise. Is this remorse I sense for the actions of the past? Perhaps you regret taking the lives of the Myths?"

Exima: The only remorse I have is for our family.

"...Then your remorse is in the wrong place. Though the signs indicate that mother is dead. Killed by a CRAzy."

Exima: No. Mother didn't live that long. She wasn't like us. She was just another woman, just like the rest. And like the rest, age brings them to dust.

"...It makes sense, I guess. I couldn't sense her affect on Causality anymore... I guess she really did... ...you still don't know everything, do you?"

Exima: No one can truly know *everything*. My question was answered. What we do know is up for us to decide.

"So, you don't know the truth about the incident after all," She says without care. She stands up. "I expected more out of my own brother, but it would seem he was already dead when I met him."

Exima: ....I know more than you think I do.

"So, were you aware that it was *my* birth that caused the explosion?" She says, looking back at him.

Exima: \*sighs\* ......Yes.

Inga closes her eyes. "Then you should know your cause on a personal level holds no value. Yet if you insist on your mindless behavior, I'll have you put in your place."

She takes a book out to Exima. "Read it well." She begins to walk off. "I have one more course of business before I leave this wretched dump behind."

Exima: Why come back if it was so wretched?

"....Because there was once a tiny ember of life in my heart, fueled by a little girl's desire to be with her family." She disappears.

Exima: There's no tighter bond than family...that's one thing makes us siblings. \*looks at the book\*

It appears to be some kind of journal.

Exima: \*opens up and reads into it\* Hm...hmmmm....Interesting...but why would I need to know this? ......I got nothing better to do with myself, so. \*skates off into the city\*

Sometime afterwards, he is approached by a scientist. "Excuse me sir, are you Exima?" The man asks warmly.

Exima: Yes I am. What is it you want of me?

"I'm with the Department of Mythological Phenomena. I heard rumors in the community of a person by the name of Inga Kankei. I heard she was a form of superhuman, and since you were in the area I'd thought I'd ask if you knew anything about her?"

"If you don't wish to talk, I'll be on my way, good sir."

Exima: I know of her, but she is beyond your reach. Then again, they say the sky is the limit; yet, we surpassed the sky. You'll see her around I'm sure.

"I appreciate your input. The Department thanks you." He walks on.

## Alice's Mission

A teenage-looking female with red hair and crystaline blue eyes stands in the shadows, with a striped strapless tight black and white tank top, skinny blue jeans, and a black vest, as well as black fingerless gloves on hands that hold onto a black handgun with a surpressor on the stock. She looks around the corner at the large warehouse storing the weaponry she needs to sabotage. "Shit," she says in a wisper, "They amped up security..." She rests her head in the corner she hides in. "How am I gonna do this...?" she asks herself.

A voice behind her softly says, "Can I help you with something?"

The teen turns to the voice and points her gun in that direction. "Who's there?!"she wispers into the darkness.

A woman in a cyan colored cloak, with a hood obscuring her face stands behind her.

"I asked if you needed any help, not if I wanted a gun to my face," The woman says calmly.

"Well, I don't thank you. Go home and mind your own buisness lady." the teen replies and she runs off into the darkness around the corner, climbing a tree and getting on the unsurvailanced and unsupervised roof of the complex. Then the teen disapears into an air vent, coming out in the main armory. She comes in between patrols, making sure nobody is there as she loads a sack and her pockets with handguns.

A security camera notices her and sets off an alarm.

"Shit!" she yells. The teen slings her sack onto her back, and runs for the hallway, throwing a grenade in behind her. Once in the hall, she shoots the guards and throws a grenade down the south end, as she takes the north.

A group of guards trap her as she runs, and they appear ready to fire, when suddenly they are encased in ice then explode in a shower of snow, the woman from before standing in the midst. She indicates the right hall.

The young lass takes her advice and runs to the right, only to find more guards that she shoots down, beginning to run out of ammo.

On occasion, when she gets in a bad situation where she would have gotten shot, a ice pillar blocks the bullets, and she soon finds herself outside of the warehouse.

As soon as she's a few blocks away, she spots her Humvee, a black turrent-mounted auto-piloted machine with and advanced A.I. unit. She loads the weapons she brought back into the trunk and jumps to the roof, getting in the turrent seat. "You might wanna hop in, Lady." she says to the darkness of night around her. "We'll be going a ways."

The woman appears in a seat, appearing in a shower of snow and ice.

"I have time to spare, now that my superior is actually doing his work again."

The young lady speaks to the car, 'Reload', and she is put into the driver's seat as a wheel and pedals form and the turrent folds into the back seats, concealed entirely. "I have a few questions for you," she says to her guest. "First off: who are you?"

"Just a person with knowledge and in the interest to help those not as fortunate."

"Not what; Who." the teen says as she drives to an abandoned warehouse in the edge of town. She parks and turns to the lady.

"My name is not important, nor is it wise to know it. Know only I mean no harm to you."

"It's important to me. And I can't die anyways. So just tell me damn you," She starts to ballence her gun on her hand by the barrel.

"If you mean to threaten me, I assure you cannot harm me. It was not my intention to stay, merely assist and move on. Why do you want to know my name anyway? It is of no value to anyone."

"It's of value to me. I wish to know who saved me." She stops and puts the gun away as she exits the car."

"You're a stubborn one. Fine. Tsurara."

"Thank you for your assistance, Tsurara. It was helpful. I'm Alice." Alice holds out a hand to shake.

"The last person I shook hands with turned to crystal. I'd rather not see if it happens again."

Alice drops her hand. She walks over to a small garage and opens the door, exposing four motorcycles. "Take one, and a few handguns. We are going to a place where you need to keep your powers hidden, and your identity."

"And where may such a place be that I would *want* to go to?" The woman asks, not moving.

"Joyride into the black market. Blow shit up. They have your kind as products. People buy others with your powers. Downtown theres a black market fair tonight. If we hurry, I can still set the charges before setup begins."

"Sounds like something not too interesting." She says dully. "And with me, they should be the ones afraid.. ...not the other way around."

"Fine. Leave." She starts the motor.

Tsurara disappears in a cloud of snowflakes.

## The Reason Belying Power

Arkyle sighs as he walks through the now deserted city, having had to help with the revival and evacuation of the citizens after breaking Lucia out of the form that appeared to be a combination of her Desire and Nosferatu forms. Needless to say, he was tired. not nearly as he should have been, but tired none the less. This also meant that he was more irritable and had, after having Lucia rushed to get her brainwaves scanned, shrugged off any attempts from anyone wanting to take a stroll with him. In truth, he was serveying the area for any additional damages while venting stress.

*Damn, if I hadn't lost track of her while investigating, we wouldn't have had to resort to a mass revival... Huh, really should've listened to the Prince rather than the Queen on that one... Still, for that type of murderer to get away with something like that... I wonder if there's a mole in the force or maybe... No, her trail would have been nearly, if not completely invisible, not blatant and out in the open like that, after all she's a master of leaving no evidence behind when she wants to not be found.*

A booming voice echoes inside of Arkyle's head, it's origin unknown. "Who's trail?" it says, the voice sounding male. In reality, the owner of the voice stood on the roof near Ark. He stands in a black trenchcoat, open in the front to reveal a plain white tee. His black jeans sway back and forth in the wind, while his shoes seem older-style converse. A black cloth is over his eyes, wrapping around his grey-haired head. "I cannot speak or see, so I hope you do not mind this conversation inside your head."

"If you don't know her from that, you are unaffiliated," he says, "Meaning that person is of no importance to you."

"Well, fuck you too. I could just read your mind, you know."

"And then I'd have a reason to arrest you for invasion of privacy. Just because you can doesn't mean you should or will be allowed to."

"If you could arrest me..."

"Please don't tempt me, I'm really not in the mood to mess around with anyone. If you really have nothing better to do with your time, be on your way."

"I can see you. I know your powers. I *dare* you to try *me."* Kenji Goro Yomato says.

"Just leave, I know where you are as well," Ark sighs, "I'd rather not fight right now, but if you keep trying my patience, you'll regret it, even if you think you know my abilities."

Goro's body disappears. "Lets play a game of hide and seek."

"I'd rather not, go away," deadpans Ark, continuing on his walk.

Goro appears in front of Ark, blocking the path. "Now, you need to calm down mister."

Ark takes a different route. "I am calm, go away."

"Your mind shows anger, and that you are annoyed at my pressence. Maybe you could put words into action for once in you life, Arkyle." Once again, Goro blocks his path.

"No, I'm annoyed in general, you're more of an added thorn," he returns, this time taking the skies. "If you would kindly stop harassing me and be on your way, that would be amazing."

"Oh, I'm just stalling until Jokes gets back. Then I'll kill you and your little princess." He disappears. "So if you want to fight, it's the only way to get me to shut up. Now, lets play hide and seek..."

Ark finds himself in a metallic cage high in the air, no weapons or armour, and he is above lava. In actuality, he is surrounded in a bubble of lava.

Ark shakes his head. "Is the universe trying to give me a migraine?" He flashes with red light for a breif instant, shattering the cage, and allows himself to fall into the lava, only to absorb it into himself. He snaps his fingers and Famfrit rematerializes on his arms, while Annihilatus reappears at his side. "Suppress Crest, Ignition Crest, activate."

His eyes shift to indigo as he resummons his cloak. "Fine. Surge, Crush." Ark's aura flares outwards as Indigo and silver sparks.

No matter what he does to the cage, he can't seem to get out. Goro appears with Lucia held by the neck. She chokes, unable to use her powers. He flings her into the lava. "You want to be a hero? Save her. I put a mental barrier on everything but her healing abilities. You have little time. Figure out how to save her. Your powers have been dampered. You have no regeneration." The cage disappears.

"My powers are inhibited... Then the borrowed power will do. Surge Transfer." Ark passes his Aura to Lucia, using his cloak to shield her from the lava while he bears with any minor pain it causes him. He then forms a thin layer of scales over himself, insulating him from the heat before summoning several red platforms and pillars, using them to move Lucia out of harm's way.

Goro appears beside him as Lucia fades away, turning out only to be an illusion. "Now it's time to fight. I took all of your restrictions off."

"Again, I'd rather not," says Ark, aloof, "Threat aside, I have no reason to fight you. Just let me walk in peace and bugger off."

"I said, *now lets fight.* Therefore, we will fight." Ark suddenly feels extremely angry, as if he was forced to watch Lucia's death over and over.

Ark remains unphased by the generated emotion, his aura still indigo. "No, I don't think we will. I don't know if you realize it, but my will isn't something you can break with your illusions." Ark walks away, vanishing in a flash of red light.

## Cold to the Bone

Various ships begin arriving over Red Square, Russia. Most of them were similar to one another, each one black with a blue outer shell. Only one ship stood out, and was sporting some kind of cannon. Various soldiers were soon deployed into the street, either holding a gun or a stick, the latter of which was used to beat up the peoples the soldiers attacked.

A megaphone on each systematically turned on, and an echoing voice boomed out of each one.

Megaphone: Citizens of Red Square, you are to surrender to the might of the Legion of Phazon. If you do not comply, we will have to use more drastic force.

Soldier: So will we.

A battallion of M.C.C.P soldiers surround them, armed and read.

Soldier: If you havent heard, Earth is a Danger Zone. You don't leave now, you are about to see why.

Megaphone: So be it.

The Legion's troops begin firing at any armed enemy they see.

The Soldiers begin to shoot back with all their force. A hoverplane arrives and begins firing at their ship.

Three of the smaller ships move in the way of the fire the defend the larger one. Each one fires back. The large ship's cannon begins to charge, and fires down at a portion of Red Square, completely encasing it in strange looking ice.

Soldier: Clear the area!

The soldiers begin to spread about and evacuating the area

Cato watches from the large ship.

Cato: Hehehe... Look at them all. Each of them, running for the hills! Typhoon, Zero, secure the Kremlin.

*Cato only sees Zero as he looks at him.*"Typhoon had important matters to attend to, but no matter, I can do this myself." *Zero begins to walk out of the ship as he snatches a Phazon's weapon and begins to gun down anyone that opposes him, he takes a glance at the Kremlin and starts to call for Phazon soldiers to come to his side.*"Well then, how do you suggest we do this, I assume there will be a lot of forces waiting for us."

Phazon Captain: We've already bombarded the Kremlin from all directions, sir. Securing the building will be a piece of cake. We'll be having the Representative's head on a platter in no time.

"Now now... Let's not kill this Representative just yet, I feel like my general will want a small word with him." *Zero takes a glance at the Kremlin before chuckling.*"Such an odd looking building... Alright Phazons, storm the front and eliminate any opposition!" *Zero walks towards the entrance of the building and points forwards.*"Go!"

The soldiers charge towards the Kremlin and begin picking apart the remaining enemy soldiers. Within moments, the building is completely seized. Various captives, including the Representative, are brought outside and lined up on the square, each of them having their arms bound behind their backs and forced to kneel.

*Zero talks into a device on his right wrist and moments later, Dracorex walks out and looks at the captives, he gives them a cold stare before a sinister smile grows on his face. He turns towards the soldiers.*"I want every screen in the country to be on this, I also want the other Generals here and a microphone."

Cato arrives on the scene.

Cato: Alright, which one of these maggots is the representative of this droll acropolis?

A Phazon soldier drags the representative towards Cato as a large screen activates with Cato on it.

Equilatrium: You're in luck Dracorex, we've got most of this rock watching.

Cato: I'm sure you've comprised a speech for me, Dracorex.

"As always, I'm the one who's prepared." *Dracorex grabs the microphone and swings one arm out, gesturing a 'welcome'.*

"Welcome citizens that inhabit this planet, first of all, let me introduce myself... I am General Dracorex of the Legion of Phazon, an expansive, prosperous, successful and almighty empire which stands the test of time. We have arrived here in the country known as Russia, in it's capital, Moscow. And we have arrived on this planet to invite every single living man, woman and child to be part of this glorious empire, we can bring meaning to your lives and end all wars just like that. We can make this world thrive, but only as long as you join us, but as with everything, there are always some who detest the sight of change and will hold on with all their hopes and wills, such as this man here." *Dracorex notions to the Representative who seems to be pleading for his life.*"This... Man, detested our embrace, our hope for this world, so as we make if official."

Cato blasts a hole straight through the man's chest using his cannon, and then pushes the body to the ground.

"The country of Russia is now owned and controlled by the Legion of Phazon, and soon, so shall the world. So embrace, embrace in the Legion that our Emperor Phazrous has made!"

The screen shuts off.

Cato: Now, as a sign of my "goodwill", we will start the renovations of Red Square before our captives' eyes!

Suddenly, St. Basil's Cathedral is frozen in ice.

Cato: You may now execute them. Somebody get some builders, we need to reformat this dump in the name of Phazorus.

"Zero, do me the effort of executing them..."

*Zero nods and starts to kill off the captives, suddenly a bolt of lightning strikes down beside Dracorex, revealing Typhoon.*"Here, sir."

"Aaaah, Typhoon, it's good to see you... The status?"

"A few more samples and it should be ready."

"That's good news... So now Red Square should be called Blue Square now." *Dracorex then chuckles as he goes around Red Square, with Zero and Typhoon following him.*

Following the takeover, the Legion's insignia is sprawled across the ground. In the centre, a statue of Phazorus stands. The Kremlin's interior is redesigned, while the exterior is made much more fearsome. Outpost towers are also placed around the four corners of the square.

A soldier approaches Cato in his new quarters.

Soldier: The renovations are complete, sir. We are awaiting your next orders.

Cato: Begin the second phase of Operation: Takeover. I want these humans to know exactly who is in charge now.

Soldier: Yes sir.

Cato: And give Equilatrium the order to begin Operation: Frostwalk.

Soldier: Yes sir.

The soldier leaves as a mysterious figure appears onscreen.

Cato: Ah, October Vivaldi. I have a job for you.

October: What is it?

Cato: I want you to find out as much detail about this "M.C.C.P" as possible.

October: It shall be done.

Cato: Of course, seeing as you're one of the best spies AND one of the best bounty hunters we have under contract.

The screen switches off. Cato puts his feet on the table.

*Cato's feet then get pushed off by an unknown force, only to hear a chuckle right next to him, he then hears footsteps.*"Please don't put your feet on the furniture, at least have your boots cleaned beforehand before placing them where they shouldn't be." *Cato sees Dracorex walking in, holding two glasses of champane, he hands one glass to Cato while Typhoon decloaks, revealing that he pushed Cato's feet off. Dracorex takes a sip of the champane in his glass before glancing around him.*"So, anymore orders for us?"

Cato: Well, you're a General as well, you should be giving out orders and planning operations and objectives too.

"All that I would see fit is to advance forward, but I think we should have a small resting period... I'm letting the boys go off and have their own form of fun... Although, where is that lad... Yaridovich."

Cato: He is helping Equilatrium prepare Operation: Frostwalk.

"I see... And what of the other General?"

Cato: He is preoccupied with other matters.

"Hmm... Then that leaves us with no orders from the Emperor either..."

Cato: He appears to be rather... Pre-occupied...

"Oh? What would the Emperor be pre-occupied with?"

Cato: None of us actually know. The only ones whould would are the Emperor's Royal Guard.

*Dracorex lets out a sigh.*"That's quite a shame... You would assume that the Emperor would let us know on his actions, and not just some petty throwaways."

Cato: What the Emperor is doing is currently none of my concern. I am more interested with how Downation will be experiencing the "deep freeze".

"They're adapted, Cato, it wouldn't be the first time their land went through an ice age, they're called 'Mythos' for a reason."

Cato: Then I am glad to be the one putting them through another. Besides, this decadent world has had it's own share of frost periods.

"Don't get ahead of yourself Cato, we still have a lot of work to do. And from the intel I gathered, we're going to be the crossfire in a war." *Dracorex takes a swig of his champane and wanders off, he looks at Typhoon.*"Hmm, actually, Typhoon, go fetch your brother and meet me in one of the ships still here. We're going to pay a visit to a faction located on this planet."

*Typhoon nods but then tilts his head slightly.*"Wait, sir, what are you planning?"

*Dracorex stops and a sinister smile grows on his face.*"...A diplomatic agreement." *He then turns his head towards Cato.*"Now please drink the rest of the bottle, I don't want it going to waste. Oh, and if the Emperor asks of my personal objective here, tell him that I'm simply aiding our support. Now now, Typhoon, get going."

*Typhoon turns into a bolt of lightning and speeds off, with Dracorex walking off.*

Cato leans back and puts his feet back onto the table.

Cato: Ehh...

Cato picks up the bottle and looks at it, before putting in back down.

Cato: I know you are here, you can stop hiding.

???: Your senses do not betray you, General Legolias. As expected from Vexians like you and I.

A reptilian wearing black clothing and armour appears in the room, having remained camouflaged.

Cato: Megetzit Dracone... May I ask what exactly are you doing here?

Megetzit: Mmph... The Emperor sent me. He is pleased with your takeover of Red Square, and is aware of both the existence of this "Downation" place and the M.C.C.P, however, he wants the latter gone.

Cato: So, would you mind telling me was the Emperor is doing?

Megetzit: I'm afraid I can't. Not that I don't want to or that I was told to keep it a secret, merely that I myself do not know.

Cato: So why exactly did he send you?

Megetzit: He sent a few of the Legion's finest hunters here, myself included, to keep Red Square under Legion control.

*Meanwhile on a Phazon ship, Dracorex notices Typhoon returning with Zero.*"I found him, sir! Now let's get going!"

*As Typhoon and Zero get on the ship, Dracorex turns to look at them.*"Now boys, remember, this requires no hostilities yet... Just some simple manipulation and we can get this to work. The reason I'm bringing you two along is becaue I need bodyguards, ok?"

*When told, the two nod.*"Yes sir."

*Dracorex also calls for a small battalion of Phazon soldiers, who arrive right beside them.*"These will be just in case, also... Now pilot, take us to the location of the MCCP!" *With that said, the ship flies into the skies and makes it way to it's destination.*

## Making Loose Ends Meet

*On the borders of the Phazon occupied Red Square, Dracorex, the brothers get stopped at one of the entrances by a small group of Phazon soldiers.*"Please halt and identify yourselves!"

*Dracorex gives the soldier a slightly annoyed look.*"So even though you know who I am, you are still going to ask for identification?" *He sighs.*"Phazon General Dracorex, code is 8942. I am accompied here with my bodyguards and Commanders, Typhoon and Zero. I am here to speak with General Cato about very important matters." *Dracorex also notions towards the test tube.*"And this is a project, Cato needs to see of this."

*The guard seemingly reluctantly allows the group to enter Red Square, which has been transformed to resemble a massive fortress instead. Typhoon takes a look around.*"Huh... They really improved, didn't they? Then again, they did suspect they would be around for a while, so uhh, Sir? When are you planning on telling us why you did what you did?"

"When we have time." *Dracorex simply answers, he turns to look at the entrance of the fortress.*"Let's get this over with, boys." *The group then enters the main fortress that has Cato located within.*

*Arnak watches from afar as he sees the group enter the fortress, and turns into Yaridovich and heads down to the fortress.* "This should go well." *He approaches the guard and sighs.* "Phazon General Yaridovich, code is 8942. Now let me pass, I have important business to attend to."

*The guards let Arnak pass, as he enters, he realises that he's just in the courtyard for now. As he turns to look at his left he see the front of the azure coloured fortress, Arnak notices the gates on the fortress closing with guards outside.*

*Arnak approaches the Azure Fortress, very sure that Cato would be in there.* "Its much too over the top for no one of high authority to be in there."

*As he approaches, the guards move to the side and opens the gates, allowing Arnak to enter. He follows down the main corridors until he hears two people talking to one another.*

*Arnak takes his original form and turns invisible, and heads in the direction of where the voices are coming from.* "I could get some quite useful information from this..."

*He finally comes across a wide hall like office, with Cato standing behind a holographic projection of Russia on one end and Dracorex and the brothers on the other end, with the test tube hidden somewhere.*

"Yes, that's the information I recieved."

"I see... So General Yaridovich is dead, along with most of our bounty hunters and the Emperor had been murdered." *A deep sigh escapes Cato's throat as he smashes his hand against the table, his tone becomming harsh.*"How could this happen!? We upped our defences, doubled our men and yet they still perished?!"

"I guess our killer is more skilled and deadly than even the Emperor himself then, we'll need to sort out a few things now... Like who will be in line for the role of the Emperor now, since Phazorus never had children." *Dracorex responds.*

*After a brief moment of silence, Cato smirks.*"...I shall assume the role as Emperor, I've done nothing but be an asset to this fine empire, I don't see why anyone else would take the role."

*Dracorex's expression remains unphased.*"Emperor Cato, hmm... It does have a certain ring to it, doesn't it? Although, I do doubt that you are able to take control of an empire who just lost it's Emperor, their morale will be at an all time low and they won't perform as well as you suspect."

"Bah! They'll do as I say, I shall rise to power with ease now. I will be the new Emperor, I AM the new Emperor! I control the Legion, all shall temble under my boot!" *Cato boastfully claims.*"Now bow!"

*Despite the command, Dracorex nor the brothers bow, this in turn angers Cato, he commands it once more but with no avail.*

"Why aren't you bowing!? I SAID BO--"

"Oh please stop, it's getting rather grating... You're nothing but a puppet, my dear Cato." *Dracorex steps forwards.*"If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have a clue about what happened at the Phazon headquarters, you would still take orders from a dead Emperor."

"You dare talk down to me? I will have you killed, Dracorex, obey your Emperor now!"

"You are no Emperor, Cato, you are simply a fool trying to fill someone elses shoes... If I wanted to, I could kill you now."

*Arnak thinks to himself. "*It seems my little stunt caused quite a bit more than I thought..." *Arnak becomes visible and walks up to the group, seeming quite more aggresive towards Cato.* "I generally believe its best to end things quickly, so its for the best if I just take action now rather than hearing you people discuss things. I'll take this from here."

*Dracorex looks at Arnak and smirks as Typhoon and Zero slowly approaches him.*"No no, you two, hold back for now... If this creature would like to kill Cato, then let it, it will be an interesting outcome." *Dracorex takes a couple of steps back, with Typhoon and Zero standing beside him.*

*Cato looks at Arnak.*"So you dare challenge me?! So be it." *Without a few seconds passing, a torrent of energy blasts right into Arnak, smashing him against a wall, Cato then suddenly appears in front of Arnak and throws him through one of the many pillars decorating the hall.*

*Arnak gets up and laughs a bit.* "Do you want to know what I did with your petty emperor? Lets see, I recall mutilating him and consuming him, but befoe that, he was so kind enough to teach me how to do this." *Arnak teleported behind Cato and kicked him in the spine, causing him to fly straight through the wall. He then starts building up source energy, and sends a large blast in Cato's direction.*

*Cato manages to create a wall of energy and blocks the attack, he then flies towards Arnak and grabs him by the tail. He then proceeds to slam Arnak into the wall and floor multiple times, before holding him up and firing a blast of energy directly into Arnak's mouth.*

*Arnak creates a whole through his entire head, which causes the blast to go straight through, unharming Arnak, Arnak then creates spikes on his tail, which causes Cato to drop him. He grabs Cato's legs and digs his claws into him and slams him into the ground. He kicks him across the floor. "*You have to try harder than that. If you're going to be emperor, you'll have to be more of a challenge than your predecessor."

"SHUT IT YOU MUTATED FREAK!" *Cato shouts as he gets coated with energy and tackles into Arnak and smashes him against a wall, he then begins to vigorously beat Arnak for a solid minute or two before sending electricity throughout his entire body.*"YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A PEST!"

*Arnak completely resists the electricity and grabs Cato's face, and slams his head straight into the wall. He repeatedly smashes it into the wall, until it completely breaks through.* "You punch like a bitch." *He grabs his legs and swings him into another wall, and heads over to him. He grabs his head again, and begins smashing his face into the floor.* "Am I a pest now? Come on, answer me."

*Suddenly Arnak gets blasted away, smashing through more pillars as Cato becomes enraged, his energy becoming blood red as he fires a massive sphere of it at Arnak, once it collides, Arnak can feel his energy draining. But he barely has time to react as Cato speeds towards him and grabs his jaw in an attempt to snap if, all while Arnak's energy is still draining.*

*Arnak bites down into Cato's fingers, and bites them off, as well as swallowing them. He gains Cato's abilities and becomes immune to the effect of the energy drainage, and digs his claws into Catos stomach, and lifts him up.* "I want to see the terror in your eyes. You will not be surviving this exchange, I can tell you that." *Arnak then shoves his other claws into Cato's stomach, and twists his hand.*

*Despite the threat, Cato still attacks Arnak, but he can feel as the punches get weaker and weaker and weaker until the punches stop. Arnak can feel a sudden weight as Cato stops stuggling, dead.*

"Hmm, well that was a very amusing." *Dracorex says.*

*Arnak takes his claws out of him, and turns to Dracorex.* "Tell me, would you happen to be someone named Dracorex? If yes, your little pin needle friend mentioned you."

"Yes, I am Dracorex, you must be the creature that was made by the MCCP, correct?"

"Creature is somewhat of a derogatory term, don't you think? But yes, I am. Why exactly did you allow me to kill your emperor and this...thing?"

"The killing of the Emperor was your choice, I simply gave you the option. And Cato? Well I was already planning on killing him anyways." *He turns to look at the brothers.*"Take the project into the labs, I will be with you shortly." *The brothers do as he says, Dracorex then turns to look at Arnak.*"Do you have a name?"

"Arnak. I preferred to have been called an actual name in the MCCP rather than a code name."

"Arnak... What an interesting name, well, Arnak. You've been tasked to take out the Legion of Phazon, and your job is done, I'm only here because this place has a lab. And before you do ask, I would decline your offer to take me to the MCCP." *Dracorex begins to walk away.*"If you have anymore questions, then do make it quick."

"Why do you need a lab this badly? It seems a tad excessive to plan to kill a general just for a building with a lab in it."

"Well, my original lab had too much information, so I had it all destroyed before your little faction could gain any information. My reasonings for a lab are not for you to know, for now at least. You're an interesting person, Arnak, if we do cross paths again, they will be fun events. But do tell me this, the MCCP are always advancing in technology and their projects, how long do you think it will take before you become obsolete... And when that does happen, what do you think the MCCP will do to you? Remember, you're just another one of their projects, you won't last forever..." *Draorex begins walking away towards his lab.*

*Arnak remained silent and teleported out of the fortress, heading back to the MCCP base.* "I will never be obsolete. I will, become even stronger than anyone could possibly imagine, just you fucking wait."

## The Birthday

A few weeks have past, and Exima has watched as Inga's pregnant belly has grown once more tremendously, judging from her size, she will likely give birth in the next few days. It is now late at night, but Exima finds he is unable to sleep, something is in the air, tense and heavy. And cold. He looks at Inga and her sleeping children, by now the two babies have grown soft pink hair like their mother, with the same pink eyes.

As he watches her sleep, Exima begins to hear a strange whispering noise in the wind from the nearby window.

Exima: \*slowly makes it to the window and looks within between the blinds\*

The whispering is louder, and as he looks outside, he begins to see the source of the cold and agitating feeling: a thick mist is obscuring the window, but he knows it is more than that...

What is standing in front of him is a humanoid shaped entity, white in color.

*Outside... Exima...* The whispers appear to be male, but non threatening.

Exima: ...\*walks outside and looks around him slowly\*

The mist is waiting just outside the front door, and is solidifying into a solid figure, a armored being whose armor appears to be heavily worn with age, and styled to look similar to the head and body of a dragon. He can feel eyes looking at him from its dark eyeholes.

"*A trial comes for thee... tommorow will be a day of blood... prepare thy will. Regardless of how well you fight, death comes for thee, thy sister, and her brood. I repeat... death will come, and it is certain... ...but not who shall be visited...*

It pauses. *"This is the word of the Judge, believe for it is true... these events shall come to pass on the eve of the next sun. You have until then to prepare. ...Thy path closes in on thee, your future holds little promise. You must choose one or the other, you cannot walk toward the future while you still dwell in the past."*

Exima: The future is built upon the past. I've dwelled on the past while forging a future, not for myself but for others. If my time comes, I will accept it, but only if my God tells. And only Him.

*"The divine does not shine favor upon thee..."* The being disappears.

Exima: \*turns around and enters the house. He enters Inga's bedroom and looks down at her, her two children, and the other two that are on the way. He sits down in an armchair next to her bedside and looks up at the ceiling\*

He hears a tiny moan from Inga in her sleep.

Exima: \*sigh\* It's not easy...Living the life I had to live...What would I choose? The family I lost before or the family I have now...I don't know...It's been ripping me apart...The images of the past and of the future...All I want is to be happy...And for years...I felt like the fight was over...I could finally achieve it\*looks back over at her and the children\* But...I do know that, whatever I choose...It'll be for the better...Maybe...My happiness lies somewhere else...

Inga makes another moan, and her head shifts to face him, still asleep, though he sees what looks like a shadow of fear on her face, as though she is having a nightmare. In her sleep, she slowly begins clutching her belly, moaning now in what seems like terror or pain, maybe both.

*"No... ...don't hurt them... kill me... ...not.... not... them...."*

Exima: Inga...Inga wake up! \*shakes her mildy\*

With a horrid screech she comes to, a explosion nearly hits his head as her eyes open, and after a minute, she seems to calm down, only for silent tears to streak down her face, as she stares blankly at the wall, shaking, gasping and holding her swollen body.

Exima: Inga! \*puts his hands on her shoulders\* What's wrong?

She is unresponsive, trembling. "...Death... I saw it..." She says after the longest time.

Exima: Who did it come for? Me, you, or the kids?

"..." She continues shaking.

Exima: \*puts an arm around her shoulder and holds her arm\* I see it all the time too...Everyday in fact...For years. I would tell you not to be afraid...but I can't...It's all apart of being human...Afraid.

She lets out another moan. "They're kicking... it hurts..."

Exima: It won't be long until you deliver. You won't have to feel the kicking anymore.

The two babies still in the blankets begin to cry, and Inga has a weary face, but she nestles down among them and offers them a chance to feed, though she does so under the blankets, facing away from him.

Exima: \*slowly sits in the chair and looks at Inga for a moment, then looks away looking at the floor\*

"Exima... ...If I died, but my children lived... would you promise to look after them, and not seek revenge? Would you dedicate your life to them? Or would you continue the crusade you march?"

Exima: *My choice came sooner than I wanted....The world can do without me for a while...I finally have a chance at something I longed for years.I don't know how long it will last, but atleast I can't say I didn't know what it was like.* You and your children are my only concern now. For once...I want to be a man who doesn't have to kill out of reputation and hate. A man...Mother and father would want me to be.

"...You could never know how glad that makes them. ...And it... puts me at ease. ...Brother. When... ...he comes, I want to handle it... protect the children... I will... ...try to put an end to this four hundred year long feud..."

Exima: I...Alright...If this is what you want...I just don't want them to be as parentless as I was...Cause I don't know if you'll come back from that...

"...You can always settle down with a woman. Or if that doesn't suit your fancy..." She momentarily looks toward him. "...I can find their father."

Exima: You're a woman. That counts, doesn't it?

"...Exima, I'm talking about settling down, marrying a woman you like. Live a good life. If you can't handle that idea, then before... it all happens, I could locate the father. Then you could... I don't know, get him to raise them, keep an eye on them, I just..." She sighs.

"Be thinking about it at least..."

Exima: I have thought about it and I am staying. The thing about the woman thing is...I don't know any...

"...And this is why brother, you don't waste your life commiting genocide. I at least got out. Took a scenic route. Made some connections. I feel like I'm possibly more normal than you..."

She shrugs. "...These two eat a lot... ...You're greedy little ones, aren't you?" There is a slight coo to her voice as she addresses them.

Exima: \*smiles and caresses the child's hair\* I will be a better man if that's what you need from me. And I promise with all my strength, heart, and soul. I will take care of them.

The baby girl stops feeding and looks up at him with tiny round curious eyes.

Exima: \*holds her hand\* I'll take care of you.

She appears to now be trying to gum on his nearest finger.

Exima: Heheh. No no. \*takes his finger out of her hand\* You have a teething toy for that. \*hands her a circular teething toy\*

She makes a tiny whine.

Exima: Don't cry. you know you can't eat my finger.

She tries to grab his finger with a clumsy movement of her little arm.

Exima: \*slips his finger in her hand\*

He hears her giggle. Meanwhile Inga's little boy has finally stopped feeding, and she sighs with relief, readjusting her shirt and laying him down on the bed.

Exima: Is there anything else you need, Inga?

She puts a hand on her belly. "...Massage me... ...my back is aching..."

Exima: Alright. \*sits her up and begins to rub her back\*

She doesn't allow him to stop until after a long while, she falls asleep, her head coming to rest against his chest.

Exima: \*slowly rocks back and forth\* *Thank you, Almighty Father. For giving me a new life of fulfillment.*

She makes a tiny moan in her sleep. Looking at her, she has become more womanly in appearance, when he looks back at when he had first met her.

Exima: \*looks at her for a moment, his face stricken with saddness\* I sure am going to miss you when you're gone, sister...

"*...Don't........count me.....out....."*She murmurs in her sleep, as though responding to him.

Exima: \*strokes her hair\* You're a fighter. Even though I don't understand what you fight for. I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. Fight hard, Inga.

Her breath slowly starts getting heavier in her sleep, as though she is getting agitated.

Exima: \*sigh\*

He feels a strange wet sensation, around the time Inga seems to wake, and in great pain again, beginning to tremble.

Exima: Oh! \*gets up\* It's time.

By the time he has gotten up, she is already contorting in pain, howling. The baby is already nearly crowning.

Exima: \*gets on the end of the bed and slowly begins to pull the child out\*

A pink aura forms around Inga and flows into the child, all the while Inga's cries of pain steadily grow louder and louder.

Exima: Almost there! Just keep pushing!

"AGGGGGHHHHH!" Her screams are becoming hoarse.

Exima: \*pulls the baby out\* Got it.

Inga collapses into the bed, gasping and weak. Exima can feel a tension in the air building, and something tells him to look outside the window.

Exima: \*quickly wraps the child in some cloth and looks outside\*

Out over the city is a large glowing comet like object seemingly hovering, though it is also very high up. Eight more such objects are soaring away from it.

Exima: \*breathes steadily as he continues to watch\*

The others soar off into the horizon.

Exima: \*slowly backs away from the window slowly and shows her newborn baby\*

Inga seems distant. "...We need to leave..."

Exima: \*nods\* \*he bigns packing as much as he can and puts it in the car\*

"...Take them first, then me... it's almost time."

Exima: \*sighs sadly\* Ok...\*puts the kids in their carriers and puts them in the car, then returns and takes Inga in the car\* Ready?

"No one is ever ready when Death knocks..."

Exima: That I know. \*starts the car and they begin to drive off\*

They begin to hear a loud humming.

Exima: It must be those things.

"...Machines... they are charging..."

Exima: Charging for what?

"I cannot see."

Exima: Great. Where are we going?

".....!" She gasps hoarsely.

A violent oscillating noise begins as the nine satellites begin to shoot beams of red light at one another, upon doing so, a series of nine Anti Conceptual and Magic Circles burst into life over all of Earth, restricting all mythological phenomena to a significant low, while over the entirety of the region of America all conceptual and magical power in the region is completely disabled.

Inga lets out a howl of agony as red energy shocks her, and suddenly the vehicle dies, the energy wave containing a EMP. Above them in the sky is a massive red object that appears to be some sort of magic circle. It stretches from one end of the horizon to the next.

Exima: Damn! Inga, are you alright?

"....No... my powers are gone..." They don't have any more time to dwell on it, however, as a massive bolt of red lightning blasts the car and sends them all flying off the side of the road.

Exima: Ugghhh...\*opens the door and climbs out. He pulls the car back on its wheels and takes everyone out of the car\*

The babies are all crying horridly in fear, and Inga groans.

"Well now... looks like someone's fattened up since we last met... and now she has a bunch of squeelers." A voice says from nearby.

Exima: \*looks at the direction of the voice\*

A tall yellow cloaked figure stands close by, sparking with red lightning, his face obscured by a hood, save for his smiling mouth, which is giving them a sinister smile.

"The so called strongest human and the witch of causality... and the little pink haired piglets... wonder which of you I should kill first...?"

Exima: \*simply stars at the yellow cloaked stranger intensly\*

He lifts a hand, and the red lightning sparks violently from it.

Exima: \*turns towards Inga\* do you still plan on taking him by yourself?

"Hmmm? Oh, well, in that case..." In less than a second, he kicks Inga in the head, sending her flying for miles, each impact into the ground causes a massive crater, she finally lands with one great explosion of dust.

"Let's see you take me then!" He cackles with violent fury and amusement rolled into one, disappearing in a streak of red light.

Exima: INGA! INGAAA!!!

What follows is a mass of explosions of red lightning miles across, along with great earthquakes well over magnitude ten, all within seconds of each other, the unseen battle is colossal.

Exima: \*get's the carriers and tries to get the children out of the way\*

With an airy cackle, he hears thunder rumble as clouds form over him.

From a great distance, two figures appear hovering in the sky.

"*Stay put, Drake, and don't get closer."*

"Ok, I really don't understand you... Not that I exactly care enough to bother, but still." *Drake says in an annoyed tone as he looks down.*

Suddenly a great explosion of red lightning more than twenty miles across deafens them as it destroys the surrounding landscape.

*Drake's entire body tenses up and Drake covers his ears.*"Christ, I felt that..." *Drake looks at the location of the explosion then down at Exima.*"...Children, we need to get them away from here."

The Ancient looks at Drake. "*And what if I mentioned they were the Witch's offspring?"* He says as a dark cloud forms over Exima and the children.

"*Also that will be next to impossible with the Anti Magic Circle in effect..."*

*Drake looks at The Ancient, the anger in his face growing more apparent.*"I don't care, they're children, if I can help it, then I'll get them away from here."

"*Hmm. So you are impartial. I'm impressed... ...you've grown since you first came here. ...Be prepared to suffer the consequences of getting involved..."*Drake begins lowering, while The Ancient looks on at the battle.

*After a moment, Drake lands in front of the carriers, he looks at the battle then starts walking South before looking back at Exima.*"If you want you and your kids to be in as least damage as possible, I suggest you follow me."

Exima: \*lets out an angry grunt\* Fine.

*Drake grabs one of the carriers with his left hand and pulls it along while looking at the children.*"...This will take too long, how fast are you?"

Exima: 150-300 miles an hour.

The cloud above blasts them with red lightning, around the time a bust of red lightning from the fight sends Inga crashing next to them.

*Drake quickly jumps in the way of the lightning, blocking the blast hitting the children and Exima, but he gets smashed into the floor.*"Yep... That hurt..." *Drake stands up and tenses his body once more.*"Alright then, this'll take a lot more effort than I thought."

Suddenly a heavy 'BANG' shakes the whole area, followed by another. After a few minutes, the pattern of noises indicates the noises are actually footsteps... ...of something huge.

"Great..." *Drake quickly picks Igna up and carries her over his back, he looks at Exima.*"Pick up the children and get as far as you can, now!"

Exima: That's what I was doing. \*skates off with the children and within 3 seconds he's out of view\*

A blast of multicolored lightning gouges a canyon in front of Exima, as a massive swordstroke cuts down a hill, revealing a towering knight with a helm shaped like a falcon, Eien in the middle.

"You aren't going anywhere..."

Exima: Yes, I am. Up. \*jumps up and lands on the Eien\* And over. \*jumps off of Eien and over the canyon\*

Eien easily stabs Exima straight in the chest with a massive sword of lightning, the blade electrocuting him and the three children with lethal amounts of electricty. He then tosses them back straight at Inga.

Exima: \*lands on the ground and quickly inspects the children\*

"God dammit..." *Drake places Igna down beside Exima before looking at Eien, a small growl emitting from him as he unsheathes Kurai.*"I would say it's nice to see you... But in this condition, it's sickening."

"Get lost. This isn't your business."

"I'm afraid I can't... I'm protecting the children, and along with them two." *Drake's wings stretch out.*"Besides, we both know that I like getting into other people's businesses, thanks for that ability by the way."

The skies over all of Earth turn pure black, and red lightning begins to flash ominously.

"...*I will make you pay dearly if you do not get out of my way..."*

"Will you, Eien? I appreciate that you're giving me a chance... But." *Drake points Kurai towards Eien.*"I will not promise you that Kio will be back in your posession if you continue like this."

"...." A million bolts of red lightning begin to assault them.

*After a solid five seconds of being pelted, Drake manages to disperse the lighting away and instantly flies up, some of the lighting that Drake absorbed surges around him, the colour changing to a darker red.*"I don't want to fight someone from the Moonlight family, please, stand down." *Drake says, one of his eyes faintly glowing white.*

A black object the size of a car door promptly pelts him in the head, followed by another.

*The objects seemingly freeze before they touch Drake, they both hover around him.*"Alright then, lets see how effective this Eye is..."

Exima: \*sees the children are alright but are wailing. He looks over at Inga and puts her on his back, then skates the opposite way\*

The giant disappears, and suddenly Drake is assualted by a smaller one more his size dual wielding katanas, while Exima's head is kicked into the ground by a second.

"YOU WON'T GET AWAY!" They roar.

Exima: Watch me! \*grabs the giant's leg with his feet and trips it, then throws it into the distance.He jumps after it, grabs it's torso with his feet and lands on it once they hit the ground. He thens spins in a circle and dashes off.\*

He is punched in the face by a third, then a fourth, then a fifth, which knocks Inga and the children off him. The one who had first attacked Exima grabs Inga and flies off.

*Drake manages to dodge the attacks the first clone with relative ease before both of the shields slam into it, dazing it long enough for Drake to slice it straight down the middle. Drake then swipes his hand outwards, this causes a massive hand made of pure darkness to form and swat the rest of the clones into a mountainside.*"Alright, you two, go get him." *Suddenly a red figure and a black figure emerge from Drake and speed off in the direction of the one who took Igna.*

A strange golden light seems to smite the two figures before they get far, a vague figure standing at the impact site.

*Drake lightly growls as the two figures reappear beside Drake, he points to the children, the two figures nod and fly towards them. An energy dome forms around the red figure as he picks up the children and begins to run, with the black figure following him. Meanwhile Drake looks at the vague figure and flies towards them.*

The figure launches a yellow lightning bolt at him.

*Drake unsheathes Shizuka and absorbs the lightning with it, as Kurai sheathes itself. Drake lands not far from the figure, once he realises who the figure is, Drake's eyes narrow.*"You've reached a new low..."

The figure suddenly begins to sharpen and take form, sprouting eight golden angelic wings, in its hand is a golden staff with multiple rings dangling from it. It further twists and redefines, becoming female, as a massive magic circle, yellow in color, begins to form underneath her. The figure seems to swell double his height.

*Drake's wings stretch out as the glow in Drake's eye brightens slightly, he tightens his grip on Shizuka as he awaits the figure's next attack.*

The figure fully develops, turning into a being with long blond hair that trails down to her feet, with vacant blue eyes. The being's face is familiar, in two very vague ways. It reminds him of two different people at the same time, Noriko and the woman that was sealed in that chamber back at the palace. She lifts her staff, and a massive wall of chains blocks Exima's escape, turning into a complete dome.

She lowers it, then looks at him with her all too overwhelming familiar face, and those vacant, blank eyes...

"Noriko... And her... Must be who powered Noriko's Slayer." *Drake begins to walk forward towards her, looking around the area before looking directly at her.*"This isn't right..."

A bolt of lightning strikes at him.

*His body tenses up as Drake gets knocked to the floor, as the lightning surges around him. He stands back up and continues walking, his expression almost as blank at her's.*

He is suddenly swung at with the staff, the shaft smashing him in the stomach, and sends him hurtling across the field.

*Drake handsprings back up onto his feet and stops himself from going any further, Drake flaps his wings once and is sent flying straight towards her. Once he gets right past her, an energy dome forms around her as Drake lands. He turns to look at the woman, although his face shows next to no emotion, everything lies in the eyes. They're filled with sorrow and angst.*"Nori..."

The dome begins to get sucked into her, and she turns toward him and begins to raise her staff to the heavens...

*Drake quickly jumps towards her staff and forces it down, he then fires a non-lethal wave of energy which knocks her away from him.*

She has already recovered and is firing a shot of lightning at him from her staff.

*He swings Shizuka straight down, splitting the lightning in half and diverting it away from him, he then speeds straight towards her but slides right past her, evading any attacks she delivers.*

She kicks him in the back as he flies past.

*Drake quickly lands and turns to look at her.*"Just say something, Nori... It's not fun talking to myself."

She only continues looking at him with blank soulless eyes. She raises her hand toward the sky, and lightning begins to condense in it.

*In response, Drake sighs as he spins Shizuka around.*

A series of eight swords appears in the sky made of lightning, and they begin to circle him ominously.

*As Drake looks up, the shields around him seemingly form together and Drake slams it to the floor. This causes a black impenetrable dome to form around Drake, he closes his eyes and focuses.*

The eight swords clash all at once in a mighty lightning bolt whose flash illuminates the darkened earth from space.

*The lightning bolt surges through the dome and into Drake who in turn uses Shizuka to absorb the lightning into him, the dome begins to melt away and form back into a shield that hovers around Drake. Meanwhile Drake himself is surging with the lightning, he clenches his fist as his wings prepare to flap one more time.*"I'm so sorry, Nori, but..." *With one almighty flap of his wings, he is sent flying towards her, combined with the lightning Drake absorbed, his speed almost reaches light itself.* "SNAP OUT OF IT!" *The next time she sees Drake is right up and close, he condenses enough energy in his fist and punches her directly in the face, with the built up momentum, Drake pushes with the fist, this sends her flying for miles while Drake crashes to the floor.*

She seems to right herself rather easily after she lands, remaining silent...

Suddenly she lets out an animalistic howl, which deafens him, as suddenly her form violently dissipates into a enormous cloud of lightning of every color, then begins reforming into a large eagle of lightning, which lets out a shriek of blind fury, then at great speed rushes him with its claws.

*Drake quickly sheathes Shizuka unsheathes Kurai and flies up into the air, a pillar of black fire forms around Drake. Until a dragon-phoenix hybrid emerges and clashes claws with the lightning eagle, it roars before pushing it and the eagle away from each other.*

The eagle follows up with a massive burst of lightning condensed into the shape of a sword, which thrusts straight into the dragon's chest and begins pushing deeper in, the force surprisingly stronger than Drake thought.

*Despite the blade, the dragon lunges forwards and bites down on one of the eagle's wings, it then flies up to the top of the dome and with a flick of it's neck, the dragon throws the eagle down. The dragon then coats itself in fire and dives down directly onto the eagle, increasing to the force of the crash all ontop of the eagle.*

The eagle dissipates before he can hit it, and the rock magnetizes on him, forming an incredibly dense platting of rock and metal. The eagle reappears, soaring overhead and casting huge bolts of lightning down on his weighted down form.

*The dragon roar sends shockwaves hard enough to shatter the platting, it then flies up and swipes across the eagle's chest, a mixture of darkness and fire spreading across the eagle before the dragon lunges once more and drags the eagle down to the floor.*

Before he can get close, the eagle retorts with a massive cuncussive force of lightning and sound that disorients Drake and knocks him to the ground, lightning is now striking at him every other second by the hundreds.

*The shield that hovered around Drake slams itself to the floor, causing the same dome to form around the dragon. Within the dome, the dragon condenses a ball of darkness and fire between it's mouth for the entire duration, the second the dome melts, the dragon fires the ball directly into the eagle, causing a massive explosion that engulfs the surrounding area.*

The eagle counters with a ball of lightning, plasma, and magnetic force twice the other's size.

*The resulting explosion is enough to decimate the dragon, sending Drake crashing into the floor, as he stands up, Kurai flies right back into his sheath. He looks up at the eagle and sighs.*"This... Is going to hurt."

The eagle begins charging six spheres of lightning like the other one.

*Drake makes sure Shizuka and Kurai are in their sheathes, he then flies up to the same height as the eagle. His wings flapping slowly, his hands aren't clenched and there seems to be no hostile expressions or movement from him.*

It fires all six at him, not hesitating.

*Drake flickers like a flame as he seemingly teleports away from each one, the only noticable thing is a small white trail from Drake's eye that details his teleports. He suddenly appears in front of the eagle, he looks directly at it before he tilts his head to the left and chuckles before smiling.*"Nori, I know you like playing hide and seek, but I think I've found you now."

It flies away from him in a quick movement and fires a plasma beam which sets everything anywhere close to it on fire.

*Drake quickly flies back and manages to evade the beam, he then speeds towards the eagle and seemingly bounces off of it's back before flying off again.*"You're it! Catch me if you can!"

The eagle creates a volley of lightning bolts that change into the shape of miniature versions of itself, and launch them after him.

*Just as they get close to him, Drake folds his wings in and drops straight to the floor, with the eagles following him. When he gets close enough to the floor, he quickly spreads out his wings and speeds off in one direction. The sudden change causing the eagles to crash to the floor, he playfully laughs.*

Bullet sized lightning bolts begin raining down on him by the millions.

*Drake quickly flies up to avoid some of the bolts, but not all of them, as he flies over the eagle, a few actually pierce through his wings, causing him to drop onto the eagle. He still stretches out his wings so that he lands softly onto the back of it, Drake chuckles and seemingly pets the eagle.*"Thanks for catching me, Nori, but I have a feeling you won't want me on your back sooo..." *He rolls off the eagle and falls straight to the floor.*

The Eagle begins charging a sphere even more powerful than the others it has charged before.

Exima: I remember you...It was...The day lightning struck the world...You were the Thunderbird.

The eagle fires the sphere upon Drake and Exima.

"NORIKO, NO!" *Drake quickly sprints in front of Exima and takes the entire sphere, this causes him to roar in pain as there's too much lightning for him to absorb, the lightning arcs and surges around Drake until he almost collapses. He keeps himself up on one knee as he looks at Exima.*"I want to apologise for her... Owww... Fuck..." *Drake stands up and looks at the eagle, breathing heavily as he recovers.*

The eagle flies to the other end of the dome, and returns to its previous form, with an addition of bearing armor. It silently points its staff toward them.

Exima: No need. I could've taken it myself.

*Drake glances at Exima.*"Somehow I doubt that, but right now, I don't have time to complain... Just try to not engage in combat with her, got it?" *Drake looks at her and sighs before a small smile appears on his face.*"She'll be the death of me, I can tell..." *He seemingly flickers like a flame as he walks, causing him to cover more ground as he gets closer.*"Noriko, you can hear me, right?"

She doesn't attack, the staff still pointed at him, but there is a slight tense air to the being.

*His smile grows as he takes a few more steps until he stops, he closes his eyes for a moment before opening them again.*"You're just there... Barely... Don't worry, your Tankboy's here." *He says, lightly chuckling.*

The blank composure of her mouth breaks for a slight moment, as he hears the faintest of uneasy gasps, the first time he's heard even a tiny sliver of her voice in a long while, even though it is as tiny as a grain of sand and just as fleeting.

"Still as sweet as ever." *Drake looks at her as his voice grows warmer.*"Like the lemon cakes you couldn't get enough of, right?"

"*Rrrrrgh!"* He suddenly hears a wispy cry of pain, as the giant stumbles back and drops its staff, reeling. A brief line of gibberish from it can be heard.

Exima: Hmm? \*looks at the giant\* What the...

*Drake takes a couple of steps closer towards her.*"The Kanjo that's fused with Noriko, if you can hear me, please hold back attacking me for now. I'll let you beat me down afterwards, I promise." *Drake chuckles once more as he focuses.*"Noriko, do you remember when we tampered with Phoenix's breakfast?" *His expression becoming more joyful as he said that.*

Her form appears to violently distort as suddenly the hair on his hair stands up, as she lets out another howl.

*Drake doesn't respond, he still just stands there, looking at her.*"Worth a shot, wasn't it?"

The form's armor begins to violenty crack as it turns pure white.

*Drake begins to take steps back, but before he sprints off, he says one more thing.*"Noriko... If you can hear me, I'm sorry for not saving you. Please forgive me." *He then turns and sprints as far as he can away from her.*

A massive bolt of lightning erupts from her in all directions, deafening everyone in the dome, which many of the golden chains appear cracked, but not fully broken.

"Not long now... And we can get the kids away from here..." *He sighs.*"I hope we see each other again, Noriko..."

From the remnants of the explosion, a disfigured being of white static and electricity is seen. Its body is like shattered glass, constantly shifting and disjointed. Vissages of Noriko and Kaminari flash unevenly, vainly attempting to settle as one or the other. What was once majestic wings are withered disproportionate limbs, the torso and waist warped and twisted in inhuman ways, it is a most horrific and torturous sight to behold. Its aura is incredible dissonant in nature, a furious tide of rampaging emotions of barely understandable measure mixed in with memories broken and without order or meaning. Merely attempting to look at its soul is agonizing.

*Drake turns back to look at the soul, unsure of what to do now regarding it. He then hears the faint echoes of Eien's laugh, his expression snaps to a distant yet angered look, his eyes pulse red and black as the two figures of their respective colour appear beside him.*"...Go to her, retrieve her and what's needed... I think he's won... And take the shield." *The figures nod before the shield breaks into two, giving both of them one each before they begin flickering like flames and disappearing, meanwhile Drake examines the shattered soul.*"So that's the agony you're going through..."

Drake suddenly feels himself being sucked into Kurai as a seal forms over his chest.

"There's no getting out of this..." *Drake takes one last look at the soul before getting sucked into Kurai, when he awakens, he's looked at by Corruption and his aura.*"Oh... Hi."

Inga and Eien crash into a tall building in a nearby city, their clashes having already destroyed a whole city block. Eien and Inga collide fists in a large explosion of force which flattens yet another.

"I'll give her back! Just leave the rest of them alone! Leave us alone!" Inga yells as their clash continues.

"*You think take backsies will help you now?! You're going to die, and you better get used to it! I'll see you in hell!"*

Eien lets out a wave of lightning that obliterates several more city blocks, Inga thrown back and barely able to protect her final child in the womb amidst the chaos.

Eien continues his ferocious assault, Inga crashing into countless buildings. Finally after a long barrage, she smashes into a building, and does not get up, Eien landing nearby.

"Hmm. Weak. So this is what Inga Kankei comes down to when push comes to shove. When you have to rely on only the strength of your true self. You can't handle me. You can't handle any of us... your power as the Dread Witch is broken."

Inga is now struggling to her feet.

"You really are nothing more than a pathetic wrench. To think something so sickly could give life... ...sickening."

Eien backhands her to the ground, then repeatedly kicks her face, Inga howling with the pain. "You don't even deserve the life you have, let alone be responsible for the creation of whole new ones! You're not worthy of even existing!" He roars. He grabs her by the hair and pulls her up, then begins violently beating her.

"I couldn't care less about whatever repentance you ask for! You won't recieve any mercy! You'll come before the Father..." He kicks her violently in the stomach, and the most horrid, agonizing, inhuman cry of pain escapes Inga's lips as the kick crushes her womb, pelvis, legs, and ribcage from sheer force, and she spews up massive amounts of blood as she throws up, then is kicked flying across the whole of the city, crashing in a bloody heap, gasping and wheezing like a fish out of water, choking on her own blood, even as blood pours out of her womb. To add to the pain, the damage to her womb is so great, it is causing the baby inside to begin coming out of her, further tearing and damaging Inga's insides in the process.

Eien now stands before her, a murderous grin spreading across his face. "Yes... yes....! Scream like my own soul did after what you did to Kio! Scream like the ignorant pig you are! Death will come to you and your pathetic spawn!"

Her screams intensify as the baby crowns, then tears completely out of her, leaving her barely concious. The baby is limp, crushed from Eien's blow, save for the tinest mews of pain and agony, its life fast fading away, even as its own mother's lights begin to dim in her eyes...

Eien begins to cackle with the most reviled laugh, one that echoes amongst the ruined city, and across the whole countryside.

"But isn't it funny how some can be brought back from such a fate?"*A dark figure forms above of Igna, one of its arms covered with curved spikes and a demonic claw. From behind Igna, a red draconic looking figure flickers, slightly transparent.* "And I promise you,we'll make sure that you at least die from the inside, Eien..." *The voice of the red figure sounds like Drakes, albeit with the voice sounding like it's formed by fire alone.*

*The red figure picks up the dying Igna and the newborn, an aura forms around them before the two flicker like a flame and disappear. Corruption looks directly at Eien with almost a sense of pity floating around him.*"Now Drake would *love*to deal with you himself, but he's currently pre-occupied... So for now."

*Corruption and the Aura stand side by side, the shields hovering around them as they seem to examine Eien.*

A killing intent so powerful Drake's Aura is annihilated entirely blasts them, before either can even touch the two. Before Corruption can even move, Eien taps Corruption, and a seal forms over his chest, and he is sucked in.

"You've made a big mistake... ...Tankboy."

He begins to laugh in triumph as many thousands of souls begin to soar in the air from Inga's body.

"Yes... Kio.... soon you will live once again.... ....happy birthday...."

Eien finally grabs one particular soul gently.

"Finally... after so long, together at last..." Eien smiles gently.

A faint wispy voice answers him.

"It's good to see you too- -hey, where are you going?!" He yelps as the soul lifts up out of his hand and begins trailing down toward Inga and the child.

"....Kio?"

"*I just want... to move on...."*

"Kio? Kio! Wait! I prepared everything for you! I can give you the life you never had! Please! Wait! Don't leave me here alone!"

*"I'm... ...sorry... ...so... ...tired..."*

"NO!" Eien roars, as the soul sinks into the baby's chest, whose body had ceased to live but a few moments ago.

"NOO! KIO! GET BACK OUT HERE!"

The damage to the child is slowly undone, and her heartbeat begins anew, her eyes, open, revealing tiny blue eyes, which become a faded pink.

"....."

Throughout all of Earth, a murderous, insane aura begins to shake the very foundations of the world, as a violent storm surges to life across the entire globe, lightning of every possible color flashes every nano second, tornadoes whip to life, hurricanes rampage across the seas, earthquakes violently shake the ground, fire falls from the sky, blizzards rage in the north and south, the elements themselves are filled with fury as a single titanic roar of rage rips through the air. Even in the pocket dimension of Kurai, Drake can feel the intensity of a wrath nearly beyond comprehension.

"Woah... That's Eien alone... I guess he didn't win..." *Drake says as he stands up, he looks at Corruption and his Aura.*"...Yes, I fucked up, you two can scold me later. But for now, I'm wondering how to get out of here..."

A titanic blast of golden light suddenly erupts into space, the blast devastating the general region of Alabama as a whole. As Kurai is sent flying, someone grabs it, and Drake can sense The Ancient's presence.

*You look like you're in a pickle.*

"Oh hey there, nice of you to drop by and... Wait... FUCK! The children, that man, the Witch... Noriko... If you can, what state are they in, what just happened?!"

*The defiled Kanjo was withdrawn, the man and children are being protected by me, the Witch and the newborn are safe, I suspect the child's Causality activated. The blast seems to have disrupted the orbit of the satellites.*

"Oh thank God... How are you able to hold Kurai, I thought others can't wield Slayers unless..." *Drake simply shakes in head in slight confusion.*"Ok, so we're safe, right?"

*Allow me to put it this way. You owe me a hand. That depends on ones definition of safe. If by safe, you mean we're dealing with a being that can smash planets as a minor action to dust, then yes, we're safe.*

"Cheerful... So what's the plan of action?"

*Mainly wait for the brass...*

As if quelled, the elements cease to rage slowly as a green and gold light circles the planet. Soon red, blue, grey, white, silver and violets light combine with it and similarly circle the global as an aurora. Very faintly can one hear the notes of a lyre in the form of a melancholy tune.

In the center of the blast, a single golden glowing figure stands, looking down on the prone forms of Inga and her child. It is seen tenderly stroking the child's cheek, before flying off toward the only beings it can take its wrath upon: Exima and the children.

Only a mere second later, Exima sees a bolt of golden light flying straight at him.

Exima: \*dashes back\*

His face is grabbed a minute later, and in practically less than an instant they are in the midwest, and Exima is smashed into the ground headfirst with a titanic smash that can be heard for miles.

Exima: \*grabs the figures arm and slips himself out of the figure's grasp, then jumps off his back, pushing the figure forward as he lands on his feet\*

The thought to even carry out the grab hasn't even occurred yet when the figure flicks him with a finger and sends him smashing into the moon.

Exima: \*lands on his feet and instantly looks back at the Earth from the massive distance\*

In the next instant, he is being flying into the rings of Saturn, his chest collapsed from the impact form the kick.

Exima: \*lands on a rock and rubs his chest\*

The next blow decimates his entire right side to nothing, as he screams across the solar system and into the Oort Cloud, smashing through millions of icy comets and pluto like objects.

Exima: \*manages to jump from rock to rock until he lands on Pluto's surface\*

His feet don't even touch the ground, before he is propelled straight at the sun, it is growing bigger and bigger every half a second, he will crash in only five seconds straight into the sun...

*Exima spreads his arms out and the sun glows behind him into a bright white light that consumes him*

The being shoots a chain into the sun, ripping him out and burning alive, then sends him hurtling across the galaxy, as he flies he is being torn apart atom by atom by billions of slashes from an unseen force.

*Exima's atoms come together as he is radiating with light, the light shines bright until it dims with Exima no longer in sight.*

The atoms are erased before he can even will them to return, the light is erased from existence, Exima is frozen in place. The being stops attacking long enough for him to see it.

It is completely golden in color, with a strange elongated form. It has Eien's visage, but it is vague. Fairy like wings extend from its back and are quite long. It has multiple arms, each long and slender. A strange circle of light is behind it, and it has something on it that seems to compel Exima to look closer. Circling the being are symbols of Yin Yang, Creation, Destruction, Life, and Death. The being carries a staff like the one wielded by the female being Drake had fought. Its eyes are a solid red.

Kurai's runes glow as Drake sounds relieved. "Yes! My runes are working... He's gonna need help... Hey, you don't think you can get me out of here, right?"

*You are not going to get involved in that... you're barely in top shape from the last time you battled a being beyond your level. You need to return to the others at North... they're worried... ...particuarly that red head chimera.*

"Kana..." *After a moment, he sighs.*"Alright... Take me back."

*If you are worried about the situation, and if you believe me a coward or what have you, understand that my role specifically requires me to... ...stand idle. ...Unless certain circumstances are achieved. There is a chance I may have to scrap the rust off my blade...*

Drake can feel the being taking him far away from Earth.

"...And that's done." An ashen cloak figure dissolves into light carrying five forms, two wreathed in green light. "They owe me big time."

*Meanwhile*

Exima: *Lord...Lend me your strength. You made me into this for a reason. Help me do what I must and defend your children.*

He is smashed in the face by a foot.

Exima: \*ducks, then grabs his leg and swings him away\*

He phases through Eien and is rewarded with a blast of intense golden lightning that shocks him to his core.

Exima: \*deflects the lightning strike and punches Eien in the face hard enough to send him flying through the sky\*

His fist collides with a magic circle which converts his entire arm into pure uranium, which due to the force of Exima's impact with the circle, causes a massive nuclear explosion.

Exima: \*grabs hold of Eien's through and begins to shred his body with his CRAzy feet\*

Each strike only phases through Eien, who suddenly vanishes.

Exima: \*floats and waits for Eien\*

In a mere instant, Eien appears behind him and begins impaling him with blades of energy faster than the human eye can see.

Exima: \*spins around just in time and catches the blades in between his fingers\*

Exima's entire nervous system is completely disrupted by a massive pulse of electricity, everything stops working.

Exima: \*grabs hold of Eien with his CRAzy feet and sinks its clawed toes into his body\*

The claws don't even affect him, going right through Eien like he is made of air. Eien chops Exima's neck with shattering force.

Exima: \*coughs up some blood then twists his own neck to the side, creating a loud cracking sound\*

Eien is already light years away, sitting. His hand is pointed toward the starry space above him, a sphere of molten material forming above him, and an immense pull of gravity begins pulling Exima toward him.

Exima: \*hoists his body forward until his is spinning\*

The sphere continues to grow until it is well past the size of Earth, and then with a flick of Eien's wrist, sends the sphere barreling toward Exima at unimaginable speed, the whole of the planetoid completely fills Exima's vision as it pulls him in.

Exima: \*closes his eyes and lets himself be pulled in by the planet\*

He finds himself no longer accelerating toward the planet, but rather, fixed in place. A shadow looms over him from behind him.

Exima: \*turns himself around\*

An entire other planet is barreling on him, he is effectively pinned between the two. He can hear Eien begin to manically laugh.

Exima: \*sigh\* Forgive me, Lord...

Eien turns away as a massive explosion of debris, light, and heat erupts from the collision of the two planets, a massive insane grin on his face. "Oh man, you only lasted a minute! HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!"

*Before Eien knows it he sees an amazing ray of light shining in the shape of what looks like a cross. Exima is in the center of the light.*

Exima: \*seems abit shocked. He begins to slowly move his arms\*

*The light disappears as it leaves Exima glazed with divine light and white hair*

"Both of you cease and desist." A serene, if severe voice states.

Eien's only response is to snicker.

"Fine. Severance." A bell chimes and the space around Eien and Exima abruptly goes dark for a moment. In the next everything seems back to normal, aside from a distinct lack of life.

A very odd noise begins to permeate the entirety of the Milky Way.

"My work is *long* done, have fun."

"What work?" The being does not recall using Severance, and indeed Severance's effects have never been used. Eien's form has turned pure black and is shapeless. Eien's voice is also distorted.

"Haha, nice try. A void ability only works on those not of the void itself. Unfortunately, one such as you lacks the comprehension to understand what was done, even with *his* intervention to help you out." The feeling of no life vanishes soon afterwards, but the speaker doesn't seem bothered. "To be honest, the little game you are playing is about as entertaining as watching stags fight, just end him already before your lunacy passes the point of no return. It would be a waste of a perfectly good mind, even if the brilliance was kept."

Suddenly the entire region of space Eien and Exima are in begins to lighten, and intense heat fills the area.

"...This time, I didn't do that."

Eien turns toward the source, and sees a giant white star blazing not far away, looming closer every moment.

"...And why can't I...?" Eien frowns, then begins to cackle sporadically. "Oh I see. I guess I should have saw that coming."

He suddenly bolts, but a massive serpentine column of energy suddenly surrounds Exima and Eien.

Exima: Is there a reason for all of this? Cause granted, we can all just go home know and fight another time. Because right now, I don't know why this is all happening.

The huge serpentine form of energy condenses into a physical mass even larger than the star, when Exima looks back at it, he sees a gigantic white dragon's head, with the star in its mouth. The sheer density of its energy as well as its volume completely makes Eien's like a mere candle.

"Well, I tried. You kind of negated the thing I did to keep you out of trouble, well the actually helpful part. I'd pick a god and pray if I were you. And with that, I'm out. Peace, yellow, tried to save your bacon and you destroyed half of my effort." Eien gets the feeling the voice shrugged before it ceases abruptly.

Eien smirks, and a crazed expression in his face comes to life, his eyes burning. His form cracks and shimmers, and he bolts forth toward the dragon, who roars, unleashing a blinding white primal mass of energy that engulfs the whole of the solar system, sweeping Exima aside with a force unmatched toward Earth. The blast for a split second makes time freeze, before it resumes as normal, when the light clears, Exima lies unconscious in the middle of nowhere, for that matter, all ordinary people find themselves unconscious for a few minutes, before awakening with no knowledge of the days events. Not a trace of the battle, or the events that took place, are left behind. All that remains is a solitary white dragon, whose great span rivals the whole of the solar system.

"*All is connected, all is life, all is suffering. Let none remember and cultivate in the knowledge of this battle, and the fallen."*

It disappears, leaving the solar system back to its usual level of darkness, with a somber feeling in the air.

## Lost Light

He'd often wondered why everything mattered, Patrikolos did. To him the major ongoings of the world were simply a heated game of chess in which he was on no side. His objectives had always been clear and he really held no interest in the war raging between whatever two factions it was this time, he'd seen enough of these to know where things were going. In that regard you could call him more of an observer than a participant and he was fine with that, had been this morning, the day before and even years prior.

Now he walked down the dirty streets of a ruined city, its dying form drowned by the cold rain that fell from a melancholy sky. This was the last known base of Segment and he hoped that he didn't have to search for much longer, he didn't like being drenched one bit.

Elliot sits under an umbrella on the broken sidewalk, hacking into all of the data on Patrikolos in the world, being bored. He sets off his phone ringer, just to annoy him in the rain.

The database comes up as blank aside from his former occupation as a police chief. The phone rings, but Patrikolos ignores it.

"Such activity is rude," he says, not turning around.

Elliot doesn't look at him, going through all of his passwords and database information.

There is nothing on Patrikolos beyond the information on him as chief of the Lumina City Police Department, everything of note expunged from the system to such an extent his records are utterly blank and without retrievable info.

He shuts the computer, unsatisfied.

"That wasn't so hard, was it? I suspect you haven't realized that it is better to mind your own business, but it isn't my job to judge when my work is of a similar vein." He continues onward without sparing Elliott a glance. "Your wall is not technology, but the things that parallel it. You'll never find more than that, if your device is the only way you can access information."

Elliot glared at Patrikolos from under the umbrella.

"Your discontent is misplaced, expand your horizons and maybe some doors will open." By that point, Patrikolos has left Elliot's line of sight.

## No Tea Party Here

*Torem, Nerai, Naomi appear in an alley way.*

Obi: *Ok. The Rep's name is Amelia Butcher. She has been Rep for 3 years after her father had died of kidney failure. For shame. Like everyone else, she shares the common census of myths being the problem. And after that crap that happened in London...well yea. She was sort of a Neutral party when it came to the myth-man debate. Now she's having a tea party of hate with the other Reps. No doubt adding pressure of the global government. Buuuuut, since she wasn't like this before, we can still give her a chance. You can either convince her or kill her. Which ever doesn't matter.*

Torem: Ok. Some of M.C.C.P are around here. They're only keeping watch for right now.

Obi: Pfft. *The keeping watch over all of England! Get to it, ladies.*

Nerai only looks at the others. "...Strategy?"

Torem: She's at Birmingham Town Hall. The M.C.C.P don't wan to loose any Representatives, so security there will be tight. So what we do is Naomi makes  distraction, while I play as a victim. You head over to the roof tops and await there until everyone else is moving away or to the scene. If some of the soldiers are still there, take them down, and get in there. That should be easy pickings from there.

Naomi looks confused. "Distraction? How so?"

Obi: *Explosions! Duh!*

"O-Ok...."

Nerai is already climbing a building like a spider.

Torem: \*forms herself into a middle aged woman\* You think you got this?

"I... I think so? ...Just need to find something that looks like it would be easy to blow up..." She says as she walks off. Nerai is moving from rooftop to rooftop with incredible lightning speed, yet equal amounts stealth. Torem can hardly follow her.

Torem: It wont matter. We get in, then we get out. By the time they know it was a set up we would've been on our way to kill the next target.

Naomi takes her time finding a vantage point of the building and the surroundings, looking for the best place to create a diversion.

Torem: \*sigh\* \*she takes glass bottle off of the ground, rips off a piece fo her cloth and stuffs it into the bottle, then breaks the bottle on the edge of a trash can, then throw the rest of it in it\* Nevermind, got one.

A moment later a large explosion rattles the area to the far back side of the town hall.

*Everyone is completely caught off guard by the impact*

Torem: \*runs out from the alley\* Help! Help! Fire!

*The soldiers run towards the fire.*

Soldier: Stand back!

*People look on in confusion and shock*

Soldier: What happened here?

Torem: Some hooligan wearing a red mask threw one of those alcohol bombs and it almost hit me

Soldier: Come on! All units search my location, some terrorist just started commotion near my position! Sending you guys now! Get over here and scout the area before whoever did this gets away!

*The soldiers near the house, do leave while few others stay behind and continue to stand guard.*

In a gas station much further down, a large explosion rings out, a far more eye fetching display. There seem to be figures running from the blast in black.

Meanwhile, Nerai slips behind the remaining guards, sticking needles full of tranquilizer into their necks, before silently sneaking into the building.

*Two soldiers are inside guarding the office door*

Soldier 1: You know, I constantly ask myself: Why are we doing this?

Soldier 2: You know why.

Soldier 1: No. no I don't. There's no reason for us to do this for real. All because we're just brought up into this.

Soldier 2: Because no person in their right mind would sign up for this line of work?

Soldier 1: But are we not like everyone else?

Soldier 2: No. You wanna no why? Because we have no choice. The only reason we're are here is to do this.

Soldier 1: Well that's just a sucky-ass existence if you ask me. We're like other people, we have feelings.

Soldier 2: We're not like them. Reason is we are born from one person through scietific means. Everyone else is born naturally.

Soldier 1: Why are trying to break my spirits, bro? W-why are you so keen on destroy my spirits like this, man?

Soldier 2: I'm telling you the truth, man. We're just pawns. We have no life beyond the agency and we never will. Just be glad that even despite the fact we could die any moment of the day we atleast have a brothel at the agency.

Soldier 1: I guess...But don't you think that it's a little...weird? Cause we get it down with the girls, right?

Soldier 2: Riiight?

Soldier 1: And those chicks are from the same gene pool as we are, right?

Soldier 2: Right.

Soldier 1: So wouldn't that be...You know...

Sodlier 2: Best not to think about it like that. Ever. Just be glad you're getting some.

Soldier 1: Just sayin', man. It's weird thought.

Soldier 2: How did we get off to this conversation again?

Soldier 1: I don't know. If theres been any good thing The Admin's done for us, was giving us that brothel.

Two huge combat knifes impale them in the forehead from nowhere.

*The two soldier falls to the ground*

Amelia: \*is speaking on the phone while looking at the smoke out of the window\* Two explosions?! How the bloomin' hell pulled that off?! Terrorist? What get them and put them down for this! It is too early for anymore of these shinanigans to be happening! Take out those fires and take out whoever started them! \*hangs up and sits down at her desk\* We can't afford anymore finincial loss...Not since we have entire city that needs to be rebuilt...

A knife impales the phone to the desk, as the door opens, a grey haired woman with greyish eyes walks through, a gun pointed at her. The person has come in, silent as a ghost.

Amelia: \*is shocked and slowly raises her hands up\* W-w-w-ho are y-you...?

"Does it matter? You're going to die anyway. So I was told. Of course, I might let you live. It doesn't matter either way."

There is absolutely no warmth or misgivings in the person's eyes, a mere twitch could make the female shoot her.

She tosses two large boxes which unveil mounted machine gun turrets, which point at her and the window. She then jams the doors shut behind her. The gun is still pointed at her when she speaks again.

"Pacify me and tell me why you should live. Let's start with probably the most important issue of your life at present. The Act. Let's talk about that."

Amelia: The Act...So far I-I'm rather new to that...The others are pushing The President to sign it now as 'to quick to turn the gun'....They don't trust this new group and granted neither do I...Once we deal with those arseholes we strike the our ally from behind and afterwards subject them to human authority on reality grounds....Me...Idon't think it's a good idea...Seeing they are what we need to kill our enemies...Meaning they're abit more capable than we are at this point...But it is also a lack of honor...They maybe creatures...But they're giving us the chance to avenge the innocent...What very few there were...The Act is like the Decleration of Independence it's a history marker for humanity...And mythological creatures alike...With it...We could control those who comply with humanity and put those who dont down...Without having to take the heat from The President's moral perameters as he only postpones the situation...Not only that, it keeps from Agencies from busting their caps into myths willy-nilly like their hunting for game...

*Torem, information.*

"Do you really think things are that simple? I myself am just a gun, my senses, my orders to kill or spare you, and my trigger finger. Yet even I find your take suspect."

Torem: She is right about The President. He's been dodging the bullet for years and The Representatives have put him in a corner by pressuring him with The Act. He's been dwindling between sides knowing he can't fully satisfy on one side without the other having to pay for it. He fears that if he doesn't give the people what they want, then the nation will divide itself and a house divided can't stand. Either way, he might loose the entire continent. What comes next, I can't be all too sure, but I guess that's going to be up to us. Without these Reps. that'll take the pressure off him.

Amelia: There's nothing I can rely say...To convince you to let me live...But just know I've made this decision for my country...I'm new to this entire thing...I did this because my father thought I could do it...I just wanted to make him proud...

Torem: What she is saying about The Act is true. With this all myths must comply under an agency and if they don't they will be terminated if caught out of line. This also leaves them open for social segregation. It's like the Jim Crowe Laws of today. Just making things worse for the future.

*...Hmm. Didn't you say we could try and change her to 'our side'?*

Obi: *Yes. Entirely optional. Your guns seem persuasive enough already though.*

*Got anything more likely to avoid backstabbing? Like some sort of incriminating evidence? Something bad about this Act? Otherwise, I move to drastic action.*

Obi: *The only crime about The Act is the person who issued it to the HoR, and that was The Admin. It's no doubt that this dude alone makes the everyone in the entire world piss themselves into submission. No doubt even he has The Prez putty in his hand, aswell as the other Reps. The Reps. may be nailing at the Prez but The Admin. is the hammer. So the solution I see is if we take out the nails, there would be nothing to nail The President with, not only that, once their out of the way, we can sneak in our own canidates to fill in the empty seats as the Nations will definatley need one. Oh also, he's gonna nukes the world and every with on it with 3 giant fortresses. I even got the names! Ummm let's seee. We have The Father of Good Works, Black Event, oh and Total Status 3...Some weird-ass names thought up of by a weird-ass dude. The good news about them, is that they're not fully operational. Apparently their forts are being powered directly from their CRAzy machine. Any and all foreign energies that impact it will be circumvented and will be used as additional power for the forts. Plans maybe updated though, so i'll be standing by for that.*

Nerai seems to have grabbed paper and pencil, and has written the important information on the paper. She then silently shows it to Amelia.

"This Act of yours.... ...so confident it is the revolution you're *dying* for?"

Amelia: \*slowly reads\* What...What are they thinking...Who int their bloody minds would support this...I thought this would keep these...myths in line. to keep them from spreading hell... but this is just...Scorching the world just to get rid of a supposed 'infestation'...

"Implication suggests an 'Admin' of sorts. And your people as well. So? What say you now?"

Amelia: As Representative of the Nation of Europe, I must do what is best for them and our livelyhood as a whole. If this is what our world is coming to, then I no longer want to add to it.

"You no longer want to add to it? Still eager to die? Does your cowardice never cease? What would your father say?"

Amelia: My father...He would've told me never give in to wrong-doings of others...Don't let tragedy shape whoe you are so easily...But I already have...My father probably would've beaten the breaks off of me if he were still here...

"Hmm. I'm not interested in your death. Try to off yourself though, I may just drag you along with me. You know what they say right?"

Amelia: Right...

Obi: *I don't know what **they** say, but I know what the **fox** says! Ri-*

Torem: *No!*

Obi: *Bitch, did you just tell me 'No'?! Ok! Ok! Expect me when you get home! Expect me!*

Nerai mentally triggers a gunshot noise in their heads full blast. *IF you don't mind....*

"There is always a second chance. Think about that."

Amelia: I already have.

There's a knock on the door

Soldier: Representative Butcher, we need to get you out of here! There's been 2 causualties and we fear that whoever is behind this maybe a danger to your life!

Amelia: Stand down, I'm fine!

"...And it would be best to avoid discussing what happened here, or what you learned. This is the sort of thing assassinations happen over."

Amelia: Fine by me. You better get going now before they come busting down the door.

She has already disappeared.

Amelia: ...

The soldiers bust in through the double-doors and begin to inspect the office

Soldier: Alright Ma'am?

Amelia: You dumb blokes! I told you I was fine!

Soldier: Well *excuse* us, "Ma'am". It's not our fault that we gotta make sure you're alright.

Amelia: \*kicks the soldier in the crotch\*

Nerai has reappeared past all enemy defenses and is now sitting in normal clothes on a roof.

Obi: *Badassery achieved...*

*Torem and Naomi teleport to her position*

Torem: Not bad of job you did there.

"It was nothing. Just a job done."

Obi: *Not quite. You got 4 more guys to hack off. So where to next?*

*Take it away mad man.*

Obi: On to Africa then! Love that place.

Nerai doesn't comment, but is reading her graphic novel.

Obi: You know what to do Torem.

Torem: \*raises her hand and teleports them away\*

## No Outsiders Allowed

Torem: \*takes them to the vast Afrikan planes and their they see a heard of impala from the distance\*

Nerai looks up momentarily. "I hate teleporting." She says, returning to her novel.

Torem: It's the fastes way we can get around.

Obi: Oh...Oh shit, don't tell mee you guys are in the Savannah...

Torem: Yea we are, Obi. Representative Kavi is here.

Obi: Well what the fuck, he should be in South America, not in the god damn Savannah!

Torem: We'll hanlde him, Obi. What's got you sorry worried?

Obi: I know only one reason why someone in that high of a status who would come aaaalll the way out here and soil his fake-ass shoes on native land...

*Two armored vehicles and a limo stop near a hill covered in flora. The sky above them is filled with brown clouds and a bright sun whose outline cannot be seen. The light shines through the cracks of the sky.*

*A man wearing a light brown suit exits the limbo as A.R. soldiers stand at attention*

*Kavi: Stay here. I'll go myself.*

"Yes sir!"

*Kavi makes his way up the hill until he reaches the top until he sees someone sitting in a wheelchair*

Kavi: \*gets on his knees and clasp his hands together\* My king...You know why I have come to you...The minds tell me that foreigners have come for me...They want me dead...I seek your protection knwoing that my forces alone cannot fend them off...I need help from one who has Tribal Strength...

"Why shouldn't I let them kill you?You are just as much of an outsider as they are...Turning your back on your ancestors who have fought so that you can enjoy your luxeries., only to come back and grovel at our feet. You have abondoned your people's blessings for things so...Life rotting..."

Kavi: Please, My king! I'll give you anything! Better material and food for your tribes to feast off of, suitable clothing!

"We do not need your spoils. You've entangled our great nation in a conflict we wanted no part of..."

*The figure slowly stands up out of the wheelchair as the sunlight shines magnifcentley behind them. The figure turns around to be a slightly muscular, old, ethiopian female.*

"I will save your life, only so that you can get us out of this mess. That and I don't like anyone from soiling our sacred lands."

Kavi: Thank you, My king...

Torem: \*watches out, looking down at the nearest road\* Ok, this Rep. has better protection from one of the elders from around this area. Obi says she's not one for games, so me and Naomi distract her the best we can. Nerai, you try to get past her and kill Kavi.

"Then she will rather hate trying to deal with me. I love games, can't you tell?" She is already gone off into the grass.

Naomi sighs. "Please tell me she's just a normal lady..."

Torem: Doubt it, but granted you're not around normal people anyway.

*The two armored vehicles are seen coming down the road with the limo driving inbetween the two*

Torem: Get ready! I'm gonna teleport us onto the limo. that should get her attention, as well as the A.R. soldiers. That should be a good enough distraction for Nerai to kill Kavi.

Naomi sighs, but has her katana out.

*The old woman is sitting next to the Representative.* 'You know what to do, right?'

"I do, my king."

"You are doing Mother a great service."

"That is our purpose, my king. I couldn't be more honored dying for anyone else."

Torem: \*puts her right hand on Naomi's shoulder, then raises her left hand and they disappear\*

Upon appearing, Naomi instantly creates a thick fiery explosion which creates a massive amount of smoke.

Driver: Agh! I can't see! When did this fog come up?

"That's no fog." *Takes a walkie-talkie out from her satchel* "There here. Call your ground." *Opens the door and heads out to the top of the limo. She makes her wat to the very front above the driver seat and turns around.*

*Torem and Naomi are on the other side of the limo*

"You aren't allowed here."

Torem: We know, but we have a mission to do.

"Sadly, you won't complete it."

Naomi snaps a finger, and the entire fuel supply of the limo as well as the engine detonates, with the King right in the epiccenter.

*The old woman manages to move out the way just in time, but the limbo begins to loose control. She takes out her walkie-talkie.* "Keep driving. We'll make it." *Puts the walkie-talkie away.* "Your presence here is unwanted by Mother. Leave now or I will have to soil our lands with your blood."

Torem: No.

*The woman nods.* "Okay then..."

Torem: Besides by the way things look, you might not stand a chance.

"You myths would think that, wouldn't you? Do you know where you are?"

Torem: Who wouldn't?

"Then you should now that the situation, is more reversed than you think."

Torem: Keep telling yourself that. \*puts her hands on the hood of the limo and and black veins begin to advance toward the old woman\*

*Once the black veins are under her feet, black spikes pop out from under her, but she has alread jumped out of the way. She throws small sack at them and it combusts into sand, distracting them. She lands in front of them and knocks them both over.*

Torem: \*manages to grab Naomi and the back trunk of the car\*

*The old woman bust open the side window and pulls the Representative out. She runs towards the armored vehichle in front of them and jumps ofer to it.*

Torem: Naomi go! \*throws Naomi back onto the limo\*

*The limo begins to swerve to the side and the armored vehichle behind the limo closes in on it.*

*The old woman pulls out her walkie-talkie.* "Call it in."

*Along the road, the road bumps up. Then it bumps up again. Until it something jumps out from under the ground and into the air.*

*The old woman puts the Representative in the armored vehicle.* "Protect him with your life!"

"Yes, my king!" *Closes the hatch.*

*The old woman turns and looks back at Naomi*

Naomi fires a sudden burst directly into the woman's face, blinding her permanently from the scalding of her retinas, then Naomi fires a high powered plasma burst directly into the armored vehicle, melting anything it touches.

*Something lands right in front of the vehichle just in time to stop the plasma blast.*

"RAAAAAAAWWWRRRRR!"

*A CRAzy turns around at Naomi. This CRAzy was painted in yellow, green, and red.*

CRAzy: Mythos detected. Species: Shapeshifter-Yokai (Kitsune Class) \*looks at Torem\* and Second Gen. Identity Match. Searching Archive Files. Identity Verified. Alias: Weapon Blaque. Command: Capture. \*looks at Naomi\* Awaiting comman.

"Destroy them."

CRAzy: Command: Annihilate.

*The CRAzy raises its fist and slams it on the remaining front of the limo, sending it flying into the air.*

Torem: \*lets go, manages to grab Naomi by the neck and teleports on the second armored vehicle

*The CRAzy catches the limo in its mouth and it crushes it inbetween its teeth.*

"How much farther?"

"2 kilometers away, my king!"

"Good."

"RAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWRRRR!!"

A roar responds, as another CRAzy smashes into the other and tackles it, with a black clothed figure riding its head. They turn toward the armored vehicle and launch a missile at it.

*The old woman fires a shotgun round at it and it explodes but the force has the vehicle slightly curving*

Torem: Who the hell is that?

The figure leaps off the top of the CRAzy and drop kicks the armored vehicle, which flips multiple times before smashing down on the ground roof first, then charges the vehicle once they've landed.

*The old woman gets up from the ground and runs towards the flipped vehicle.*

The CRAzy comes up from behind the figure and back hands her towards Torem and Naomi on the second armored vechicle.

Torem: What the-Oh my Go-! \*gets hit by the figure and they both fall over the armored vehicle\*

*The CRAzy lifts up the armored vehicle and tears off the roof and takes the Representative out. It then carries the old woman in the other hand.*

"How are you?"

"Queezy, my king.."

"Get us there. Now."

*The CRAzy jumps a great distance away from the second armored vehicle*

Torem: \*works herself back up on the armored vehicle\* Why is it that whenever something or some is coming at it, it's always going for my face?

The moment the CRAzy jumps, the representative is decapitated by a steel rope that was attached to his neck, killing him instantly. The figure grunts as he disconnects it from a steel rod in the ground, then runs off.

*The CRAzy lands near a patch of scorched earth with strange-looking shields sticking up from the dirt. The sky above the patch is streamning with sun rays, breaking through the brown clouds*

The old woman looks at the Representative "....."

*The CRAzy lowers them both to the ground. The old woman makes her way towards him and picks him up. Her expression is emotionless. She then looks amongst the scorched graveyard.* "Your ancestors would be proud of you...The Cloudscape awaits you."

While that scene is going on, the figure has slipped away, and the CRAzy appears to have departed.

Torem: Hm...She got him. Let's go. \*teleports her and Naomi away\*

*The second armored vehicle makes it to where the old woman is. The CRAzy puts the old woman on top of the armored vehicle. The old woman and the CRAzy stare at each other for a second until the old woman nods at it. The CRAzy nods back and the armored vehicle drives off with the CRAzy following right beside it.*

It takes about an hour for Nerai to show up.

"You left me behind." She has a gooseegg on her forehead.

Torem: You leave without us, we leave with you.

"I was setting up plans. Also I was low on ammo, then I got knocked out by a stranger."

Torem: A stranger, huh?

"They were wearing black and some sort of Agency badge. I don't remember what one though."

Torem: ...Do you know what the badge looked liked?

"No. I didn't get a good look."

Torem: \*sigh\* Alright. We took out two Representatives. So that'll leave 3 left. We're going to Taiwan. Reprentative Yuga Komi is there.

"Objection... I need to restock. Rest. Worth ethic is admirable, running men into the ground is not. I don't have high stamina. Short bursts."

Torem: Fine. We'll just walk there until you have everything.

Nerai walks off.

Torem: Still doesn't bother to wait up. Come on, Naomi. \*walks after Nerai\*

Nerai looks back at them. "I need to visit my supplier in private."

Torem: Supply- Don't you just go to the ammo store for stuff like that? Or you don't have like a stash somewhere?

"...For military grade weaponry? No. You don't get that at a store. Besides. That's trackable. My source isn't. I've worked with them for years."

Torem: You don't have a stash of your own?

"No. It can be found. You aren't the best at this line of work are you?"

Torem: Guns aren't usually my thing. And I assume with someone of your skill, you wouldn't care if they tried to find you. They would die trying.

"Not an issue of skill. This is assassination. They will not sit idle while their Representatives drop like flies. If we leave a trail, they will track us down. Find the Party. *And destroy it.*" Nerai's neutral expression has evolved into a more aggravated look.

"Use your head. I assume you have one, and it isn't some fixture made to replace your old one after it got shot to oblivion by automatic rounds."

She walks off, her gait more agitated and aggressive.

Torem: .....\*she clenches her fist and her eyes narrow. She continues to walk after Nerai\*

Nerai pauses for a moment, before a roll of steam comes out of her legs and she blasts off at high speed out of sight. A note flutters to the ground in her place.

*Meet me at the nearest gunrange. In an hour. Try not to be late. I also recommend the Idiot's Guide to Assassination.*

Torem: \*rips the paper in four and continues walking\*

Naomi follows her. "Your face looks like a beet. You ok Torem?"

Torem: No...Just remembering when Obi assigned me door block duty. Alone...Starting to appreciate it.

"Oh you don't mean that!" Naomi tickles her neck with a tail.

Torem: Heheheh! Stop that! \*swats her tails away\*

"Nope!" More tails join in.

Torem: Hahahaha! Stop Naomi! We gotta keep going! And I don'y feel like-HAHAHAHAHA! Teleporting us there! HAHAAHAHAHAHAHA! \*falls over\*

"Better?" Naomi offers a hand.

Torem: \*is breathing heavily\* Abit..Whoo hehehe...\*takes her hand and helps herself up\* Thanks. \*ruffles Naomi's hair and continues walking\*

Naomi tucks her tails in and follows her along. When it is time to meet up, Nerai is seen practicing.

Torem: \*pats her shoulder\* We're here.

Torem is nearly knifed in the face. "...Don't startle me." Nerai is breathing rather heavily. She lowers the knife after a moment, then starts packing up her gear.

"I'm ready to begin."

Torem: \*raises her hand and they teleport away\*

## No Where Close To The Rising Sun

*The teleport to Taipei, Taiwan where they stond on top of one of the many buildings.*

Torem: Our next target is at Taipei 101. \*points at a tall tower\* The 2nd tallest building on Earth.

"Security is tight no doubt."

Torem: Abit too tight...There's a helicopter about four blocks from here. It belongs to the M.C.C.P. They might be on to us now.

"Plan?" Nerai asks. "Location of target?"

Torem: Our target should be on the 100th floor of that scaper. I can feel them...Two other weapons are up there with her...I already know one of them...

Nerai takes out a sniper rifle and looks through its scope, searching the windows.

Torem: Those windows are one way. Besides, we can't snipe her from here, they'll know. They know we are either her or on our way. The only plan I have is for me and Naomi to draw them out. While we have them distracted, you go for Komi. These two won't be easy to handle and who knows if there are more reinforcements with them.

Nerai loads a strange round of ammunition into her rifle.

"You like trouble, don't you?" She appears to be looking at the helicopter. "How about something with a bit more 'bang'?"

Torem: Something like what?

Nerai smiles faintly. "Tell me, how much do you like heights? And explosions?"

Torem: I have no problem with heights and I'm not too fond of anything that conducts fire.

"Then you're going to love this. We crash the helicopter into the building and sneak in from the rear and flank their defenses. It'll give you an advantage over the two."

Torem: That depends if they see it coming.

Nerai sighs. "I'm going to hijack the helicopter and drive their attention toward me while you get in. Once you're in, I'll create the distraction so they don't notice your presence in the panic."

Torem: Hmm. Even if one goes and investigate that should provide us less problems. This should be all good.

Nerai prepares her rifle, then begins aiming at the helicopter. "One free ride, coming up." She fires, and a steel cable shoots out of the rifle with a spike attached to the end and impales into the helicopter. Nerai then detaches the cord from the gun and begins climbing the rope.

"Don't get left behind!"

In Taipei

A woman is in an office, sitting at a desk with 20 M.C.C.P soldiers stationed throughout the entire room and Ayakashi and Arnak stand in front of her desk

Yuga: So. Let me understand this. You two are saying someone is out to get me?

Ayakashi: Yes Representative Komi. We believe that there's a hit list going on. All the Representatives are in danger and the assailants's next target is you. The confronted Representative Butcher, but she is alive. They did however did kill Representative Duma. This leaves you.

Yuga: And what do I have that they may want so badly as to kill me for it?

Ayakashi: Most of the worlds technologies both household and electronic do come from your Nation.

Yuga: Quiet right. So you are to ensure my safety?

Arnak has taken a more huminoid form, but leaving as much animalistic features as possible, but not enough to look inhuman. "But of course. We will make sure that you come out as fine as you woke up this morning. No scratches at all."

Yuga: And this was ordered by The Administrator, yes?

"Not exactly my words, but yes, he did. Now, its likely best that we get you to somewhere much safer than here."

Yuga: Do you have a means of transportation?

Ayakashi: Helicopter, ma'am. We have a limo just outside the city. It will take you to the Salt Flats where Napalm will be.

Yuga: The White Elephant? As my guard? Is it really that serious?

Ayakashi: Ineed, ma'am. We don't know how successful we'll be against the assailants. We have a Napalm as our contengency plan.

"Of course, I doubt that we'll be needing it. Im sure me and my...partner here, will be perfectly able to fight off these assassins."

Ayakashi: We are doing this just to be on the safe side, ma'am.

Yuga: Okay. We cannot have our system be over-turned by some pig-shits who want to make the world right! The world is far from broken. Far from being fixed. The only thing that can suffice us now is the end of these beasts! There are people in my nation who rever these creatures. These beings have completed my ancestors beliefs and ways of life. But they don't know is that the myths we made are none to good. Our mythologies were quite disasterous.

Ayakashi: Understood, ma'am.

Yuga: If there is ever to be a true change, those things must be gone! At any cost!

After Naomi and Torem are placed on top of the building, Nerai veers the helicopter toward the 100th floor...

Ayakashi: \*his ear twitches slightly\* Hmm?

*The soldiers begin to look around confusion over the sound*

Ayakashi: Do you here that?

Yuga: Yes. It's the helicopter, is it not?

Ayakashi: Yes but...Men! Arms up!

*The soldiers hold up their guns*

Arnak looked in the direction of the sound, raising his guard, turning his arm into a large blade.

Suddenly the building heaves as a large explosion erupts, helicopter blades rip through the walls as shrapnel goes flying.

Yuga Komi: \*screams while shouting in korean. She falls over the desk and tucks herself in\*

Soldier: OH MY GOD! WHAT IS THEIR PROBLEM?! WHAT ASSASSIN DOES THIS?!

Ayakashi: WE DIDN'T SAY ASSASSIN! WE SAID ASSAILANT! \*runs over to Yuga and drags her away from the helicopter blades

Soldier 2: I CAN ONLY THINK OF ONE THING CAN DO SOMETHING AS EQUALLY INSANE IN PURSUIT OF JUST ONE PERSON WHO HAPPENS TO BE IN CHARGE OF AN ELECTRONIC CONTRIBUTUION BUSSINESS!

Soldier: THE TERIMNATOR!?

Soldier 2: YEA EXACTLEY!

Ayakashi: WILL YOU QUIT YOUR REFERENCES AND GET HER OUT OF HERE! \*tosses Yuga over to the soldiers\*

Soldier: You got it, sir! Come on boys, let's move it out!

*Just as soon as they are about to exit through the door, a giant black hand bust through and bushes several of the soldiers into the blades and blood splatters all over the room*

Yuga: \*continues to ramble on in korean\*

*The black hand retacts and Torem and Naomi are seens standing there.*

Ayakashi: \*stands and looks at Torem in near shock\*

Torem: \*looks angrily at Ayakashi. She clenches her fist\*

Naomi lets out a blast of scalding hot fire from her mouth.

The scalding fire seems to reflect off an invisible shield, and ricochets back at Naomi. Arnak elbows Ayakashi. "Don't just stand there, jesus christ"

Ayakashi: I'll escort Representative Yuga to the Salt Flats. Stall them for me and when they grow tired, meet up with me. Shifter's Mist.

*A mist appears behind Ayakashi and Arnak. Ayakashi drags the Representative behind him and once they enter, the mist disappears*

Torem: \*eyes widen  and tries to make a dash for the mist\* Out of my way! \*throws a punch at Arnak with her Angel Arm\*

Arnak redirects the attack away from him, and uses her momentum against her, causing her to almost collide with Naomi. He starts charging up a blast of source energy.

Naomi flickers in a wave of heat and vanishes.

Torem: \*shoots a holy arrow at Arnak and a white blaze envelopes him\*

The energy Arnak was charging up forms into a shield, keeping Arnak safe. After the white blaze is gone, Arnak seems to have dissapeared.

Torem: \*pants\* We have to follow them!

Naomi doesn't respond.

Arnak appears next to Ayakashi, dusting himself off. "That should have bought us some time."

Ayakashi: Good job.

They are sitting in a subway train.

Ayakashi: This train will take us close enough to get outside of the city.

Yuga: \*Is breathing heavily while still speaking in korean\*

Ayakashi: Some entrance they made. Spooked her real good. It actually had me too to be honest.

A large knife suddenly pierces through the wall of the train and cuts off Ayakashi's ear.

Ayakashi: \*feels a slight inch of pain. He picks up his ear as it turns into blood and reattaches itself to its place\* They're here. I don't understand how though. You protect Yuga. I'll go up top and handle this. \*opens the hatch to the top of the train and closes it behind him\*

Arnak turns to the knife and it crumples up, falling apart. "Very well, try not to die." He turns to Yuga. "Same applies to you."

Suddenly an explosion far ahead goes off, and the train slams soon after into a pile of rubble from the collapsed section of the tunnel, killing countless people in mere second from the sheer force of the crash, Yuga is smashed so hard she is unconscious on impact.

Seconds later, another explosion seals them inside the tunnel system with a deafening bang.

Arnak growls and encases Yuga in a shield of psychic energy. He looks around, trying to listen for any unusual sounds.

*Ayakashi is above is above the smoking ground as people begin to clear out. He looks up only to see a giant black hand coming right on top of him. He rolls out of the way before the hand hits him. Ayakashi stands to he feet and Torem pulls herself to the ground.*

Ayakshi: The angel descends.

Torem: Feel honoroed. He gave up my wings just to come down here and kick your ass!

Ayakashi: Last time I remembered I clipped them myself.

Torem: You only plucked my feathers...Everything else just followed...

Ayakashi: All these years I wondered what happened to you.

Torem: Why? So one day you could find me and bring me back?! I'm not doing their work anymore...You know that...You *knew* that..

Ayakashi: And you *knew* that there was no escape. Even now.

Torem: Then it's about time I set myself free. \*her cross glows\* For good! \*rushes at Ayakashi.

Arnak finds his head getting shot by a high caliber sniper rifle round, but there is no sign of the attacker.

Naomi meanwhile flickers momentarily behind Ayakashi, knocking him down with a trip.

Ayakashi: \*back kicks Naomi, knocking her back\*

Torem: \*punches Ayakashi in the face, knocking him back\*

Ayakashi: \*wipes his face as he looks at Torem and then at Naomi and notices her ears and tails\* Yokai...

Torem: We'll send you back in pieces...

Ayakashi: \*looks down then at Torem\* And I will bring you back in chains. All of you. \*shifts his legging and gets into a stance. He pulls down the fore-end on his metallic sheathe and has his right hand close to his sword handles\*

Ayakashi's whole leg is burned severely by touching Naomi, who appears further away, having kicked a fire clone. Her hand is also on her hilt.

Ayakashi: \*seems to be unaffected by the fire\* Fireproof uniform. You have to have more tricks than to merely blow fire at me.

Torem: You looks like you can burn as easily as a twig. But if regular fire wont work, the flames of Hell might do the trick

Ayakashi: Even angels can go to Hell. You should know. You were born there.

Torem: \*angrily launches herself ready to punch him\*

Ayakashi: \*his blades pop up from the sheathe. He grabs both with one hand severes off Torems arm\*

Torem: GAAAAAH!

*Torem's arm lands behind him*

The scream is all the unseen sniper needs to fire a round of heavily ionized beams straight into Ayakashi's brain and damaging his motor functions.

Ayakashi: \*blocks the shot with the side of his katana\* You aren't gonna get me twice.

Torem: \*engages Ayakashi with her one good arm\*

*As they fight Torem manages to back him up near her arm. Ayakashi notices as he jumps out of the way right when Torem's decapitated arm sprout with large black spikes*

He is blown back by a random explosion straight into the spikes.

Ayakashi: \*is blow away by the sudden explosion but manages to keep his regain his footing\*

Torem: \*her arm regrows\*

As he regains it, a explosion causes rocks from the ceiling to cave in on him.

The rocks are split in into smaller rocks before they fall on Ayakashi

Ayakashi: \*runs towards Naomi and reaches his arm towards her neck\*

Torem: \*her hand extends and it slams him into the side of the tunnel\* Your fight is with me! \*her hand forms a spike in its palm and slams into him again\*

Naomi smashes a plasma barrier straight into Ayakashi, pinning him between Torem and the barrier while also burning him severely, the fire protection is useless due to the extreme heat.

Ayakashi: \*trying to block with his katanas. The increasing pressure is making him almost give out. He looks at the rocks around him and they launche themselves at Naomi and Torem distracting the both of them.\*

The hand rectract enough for him to slide out, his uniform smoking.

Ayakashi: \*looks at them and does a numbe rof hand signs\* Dark. Falling. Grave.

*Numerous of red-glowing blades appear of them and the instantly to fall on top of them.*

Naomi makes a plasma barrier which blocks them from hitting her and Torem.

Torem: \*slams her hands on the ground and black spikes rise up from under Ayakashi\*

Ayakashi: \*manages to back awya from the spikes with one of them barely grazing his forehead. He disappears in a mist\*

Arnak notices the bullet in time and quickly redirects its direction exactly back to where it came from, increasing its velocity to even higher than the velocity in which it was travelling to him. He turns the Psychic Shield around Yuga into a shield of Source Energy, and turns invisible.

For the longest time, things on his end turn eerily silent.

Arnak kneels to the ground, placing his hand on the floor of the train. His hand starts growing tendril like tissue that begins to crawl around the entire area, giving him vision of whats going on.

There is no sign of the sniper, but he noticed several sniper rifles on stands all pointed at his general direction. A red light flickers briefly on one, and it shoot a bullet at him.

Arnak quickly dodges the bullet, and charges up a Source blast, firing it at the stand that shot at him, he moves back to Yuga, staying invisible.

The barrier protecting Yuga suddenly flickers and dies.

Arnak growls and a piece of his flesh comes off, crawling up to Yuga. It starts expanding and creates a large shield of his own tissue that is black colored, with just large enough holes to breathe through.

The section of train begins to groan and shake violently.

"*Yeah....no, fuck this.*" Arnak grabs Yuga and teleports out of the tunnel.

It isn't long after he escapes that a missile smashes into him and explodes.

Arnak quickly recovers from the blast, he and Yuga being unaffected. "*Where the fuck is Ayakashi, how has he not beat those other two yet...?*" Arnak stays on guard, turning to the origin of the rocket. He snaps his fingers, and a mass amount of explosions occurs in the vicinity.

The explosion is disappated nearly as soon as it forms, merely a tiny 'poof' is all he hears.

Suddenly a glowing blade of energy rockets out of the cloud of smoke and makes a beeline for Yuga.

Arnak moves Yuga out of the way at the last second. He moves Yuga behind him, creating a thick wall of metal around her as well. "Have you finally decided to be physical?" He creates two Arm blades made of his own tissue.

Another blade is thrown squarely at him.

Arnak quickly dodges the blade. "*Guess I was wrong.*"

He hears the sound of a blade going through flesh, specifically, the heart.

Arnak growls. "*You've got to be fucking kidding...now im going to have the Admin on my ass for this*"

Ayakashi: \* pushes Yuga out of the way and gets stabbed instead\* GAAAAGH! Damn it! Leave Komi to me! You distract the rest! \*grabs Komi and runs through the mist with her\*

Torem: \*smashes her way through the tunnel until she sees Arnak\* YOU! WHERE IS HE?! WHERE IS THAT STRUNG-UP, BACK-STABBING MOTHER FUCKER?!

Arnak gives a large grin, laughing. "I think you'll find hes not the only one who stabs backs." Arnak teleports behind her, slashing at her back.

Torem: \*is infuriated. She grabs Arnak from behind and slams him down\* I won't ask you again!

Nerai is noticeably absent as Naomi joins Torem.

When Ayakashi appears, a furious Nerai is already there, with a hearty swing of another energy blade she slashes the two of them.

Ayakashi: \*ducks by doing a split and pushes down the fore-end of his sheathe\* Damn Arnak... He runs towards Nerai at inhumanly fast speed.

Once he closes the gap bewtween them, his twin katanas launch up into the air in front of Nerai's face. Ayakashi slide underneath her, then kicks her up and the blades come down pinning her down on the ground by her hands. Ayakashi continues to run away from her as he appears to be heading towards a  land that looks almost like a mirror.

Yuga: \*continues to ramble on in korean frantically\*

Ayakashi: *My God, won't she just shut up! What is she saying anyway?*

Yuga: (I accept God as my Lord and Savior, I accept God as my Lord and Savior, I accept God as my Lord and Savior!)

He does not get far until something like a wing crushes his bones and knocks him back and Yuga out of his arms.

Looking up, he sees an angelic being, but looking back, there is no sign of Nerai. A ring of holy fire cuts off escape.

Arnak kicks Torem away from him on the ground. He gets up and creates various spears of psychic energy, which fly towards the two.

Torem: \*takes her hand and blocks the spears. The hand then pushes Arnack against the blockage\*

Arnak bites her arm, and rips off a chunk of her flesh, consuming it. He pushes her away and grabs her throat, creating an Angel Arm, and slams her into the ground.

Torem: \*her arms turns into an Angel wing and smacks him off with with it\*

"Lets have this Angel fall!" Arnak grabs the wings and digs his claws into them, and starts pulling.

Torem: GAAAAH! \*pulls the winger foreward, pulling him closer to her. She begins to pound his face in with her other fist. He then grabs him by the neck and they both fly up out of the subway tunnel and into the open. Torem then slams Arnak to the ground and presses her arm against his neck\* Not again!

Arnak begins laughing as all of the injuries heal. He brings his hand up and shoves it into her stomach, impaling her. "Oh, I can say that you'll feel this pain again, and again, and again." He surges source energy into her, causing mass amounts of pain and internal damage.

Ayakashi: \*is laying on his back\* Representative Yuga...We're here...The Flats...

Yuga: Then where the hell is Napalm?

Aykashi: I don't know...

*A figure walks through the flames that surround them and makes it's way to them. Th figure is feminine in stature and is wearing white waste covering, white pants, a white strap across her breast, a torn white hood that is concealing her face and black arm wear, wiith white feathers sticking out of the sleeve. A military belt is wrapped around her waist. The belt holds grenades with orange liquid inside them.*

Yuga: Oh Thank God... \*crawls over to the woman\* Protect me please, Mistress! Only you can protect me from these monsters!

Napalm: \*simply looks down at Yuga then looks over at Ayakashi, then at Nerai\*

Torem: \*manages to stand to her feet Arnak's hand still inside of her. She spins around fast enough and then removes his hand, letting him go. She then grabs him with her giant hand slams him into the ground\*

Yuga is suddenly pulled back by an invisible force up into the air, and impaled in the chest by the angelic being's blade, who then throws her to the ground.

She then snaps her fingers and a shockwave repels Ayakashi and Napalm for miles.

Napalm: \*has already closed the gap between them before she can snap and is holding Nerai's fingers in a balled fist\*

Napalm looks back at the the dying Yuga who is bleeding out

Yuga: \*is coughing\* I..I accept.....\*dies\*

Ayakashi: \*his face is stricken with sadnesss\* No...No...We were so close..

Napalm: \*walks over to Yuga's dead body. She picks it up and slowly walks away until she is out of the flames of the fire\*

Ayakashi: ...D-did she just leave me here...No..No-no...She couldn't have just left me here...She couldn't have...Napalm! Napalm!....Oh my God...She really just left me hear....\*looks at Nerai\*

She levitates in the air, staring him down coldly as a ring of violet blades surround her.

Ayakashi: Shifter's Mist! \*tries to crawl through the mist\*

She flies down to him and four blades impale his hands and feet. She lifts her hand, a blade rises with its blade pointed at his head. Then...

"...A-A-A-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!" The blades violently disapate as what looks to him like a sort of siezure rakes the being's body, violently convolusing as her angelic power crumbles from her instability. Her hair seems to length and blacken.

Ayakashi: \*is afriad to struggle as he bears witness to the process\* Oh...Oooohh No....Were the Hell is Arnak....

"W-where am... who... what....am I doing here...?" Before he can react, she has stiffened, aside from sparse twitches.

Ayakashi: \*is confused\* Uhhhh....\*he turns into a swarm of bats and disappears into the mist\*

Arnak grabs her arm and twists it, digging his claws into her flesh. He hooks into her arm and throws her across the area, straight into a wall at full force.

Torem: \*gets up and fires ten holy arrows at Arnak\*

Arnak fires holy arrows of his own at Torem's, destroying them all. "This is going to end either with you dead, or you running away. Which do you prefer?"

Torem: \*blocks the arrows with force field\* I'm not leaving, nor dying until your partner is dead!

Arnak is struck by a rapid succession of explosions, along with some bolts of plasma.

Torem: \*her cross shines bright as she launches herself in the air and ground pounds Arnak in the road, causing a cross like explosion to envelope the two\*

After the explosion fades, a fairly sized hole seems to be in the ground, with Arnak gone.

Torem: \*is panting\*

After a few seconds, Arnak appears behind her and digs his claws into her shoulder, lifting her up and throwing her as far as possible.

A large pawed beast rakes Anak's chest clean open with ease, then tail slams him several feet away with ease. When he looks back, a flaming black fured five tailed kitsune stands infront of Torem.

Arnak stands up as his injuries heal. "Finally, a real nice challenge." Arnak snaps his fingers, and various explosions occur near Naomi.

She doesn't appear when the explosions fade away.

Arnak sprouts wings and flies up into the air, charging a source blast. "I suggest you don't attempt tricks, unless you want your friend to be obliterated." Arnak stays calm, almost waiting.

He is blindsided by a massive fireball.

Arnak grins as the fireball is reflected directly to the direction in which it came from, and he fires the source blast behind it. The source blast flies straight through the fireball and destroys it, heading straight towards the caster.

From above him, she tackles him to the ground, her large body crushes him like jelly, then leaps off and blasts him with ionized plasma.

To Naomi's surprise, the moment she lands on Arnak, she is stopped by some sort of invisible shield that soon sens her flying back up into the air at a higher velocity than she dropped. Arnak quickly flys down and lands on the ground, grabbing Torem.

Arnak feels an incredibly painful I burning sensation.

Arnak turns himself into a small leech like creature, and cralws inside of Torem through her mouth.

Torem: \*breathes out holy fire, burning the leech out of her mouth and breathes holy fire at Arnak's face, and breaks from his grasp. She gains some distance away from him\*

*They hear a mechanical roar in the distance, which catches their attention. They hear another roar coming from another direction.  Until a CRAzy lands several feet away from then, then another one lands several feet behind them.*

Torem: \*looks frustrated\* Damn it...Damn it!

*A CRAzy comes up from underneath Torem and Naomi.*

CRAzys: Mythos Detected. \*the third CRAzy pulls itself out of the ground and looks down at Torem and Naomi\*

Torem: \*pants. She looks at her cross and sees that it's light is dimming\* My powers are cencelled off...I don't have enough to get as all out of here...\*she looks at the CRAzys and Arnak\* ...Naomi, You have to find Nerai. I won't be able to get all of us out of here, but I can get you to where Nerai is. You guys head over to Australia. I'll meet you guys there when my powers are rejuvenated.

Arnak's wounds have healed and he quickly dissapears from the area.

A foot stamps into the ground next to Naomi and Torem.

"Australia? Hell of a way to run. Pushy pushy. I can manage." A woman's voice speaks.

Torem: Nerai? Is that you?

"Don't know a Nerai. Aracelis." Looking up at the woman, her face is nearly exactly the same, but she has long black hair, her clothing in tatters. "Your target's dead, but I only knew that because I woke up next to her."

Torem: I'm glad you made it. I can get you guys out of here alot quicker then. I can teleport you guys to Australia, but I won't be be able to go with you guys. Atleast not until I get everything back.

The woman picks Naomi and Torem up and runs with supersonic speed.

Ayakashi: \*comes out of the mist and falls on his side\* GAAAH! \*looks at the CRAzys but he doesn't see Torem, Naomi, or Aracelis\* Aaaah damn it!

Aracelis runs for the next two hours, before giving out, stopping to rest inside a barn, gasping heavily.

"Give me a moment..."

Torem: \*sits down on the ground and puts her right hand over her cross\* Thanks for getting us out of there.

"No..." Aracelis stiffens.

Torme: What?

She slumps over, silent.

Torem: \*gets up and looks at her\* She must be tired out from all that running. I hope that is the case.

To her surprise, her form seems to be changing, back into a familiar face.

Torem: Nerai? \*pokes her with her foot\*

She hears a small groan.

Torem: Huh, then she is just tired. Seems like almost everyone can change into a second person.

Nerai wearily opens her eyes a few moments later, her grey eyes blurry. "Where...."

Torem: I don't know really. You basically ran us all the way over to the middle of nowhere as far as I can tell.

"I did...?"

Torem: Yea, you did. *Technically* it was you.

"...I'm so confused..."

Torem: You were some chick with black hair for a moment

"..." She doesn't respond.

Torem: Still confused?

"...I need to rest a while."

Torem: Fine by me. I need to rest up too if I'm going to get my powers rejuvenated.

Nerai seems to have already fallen asleep. Naomi watches her with great curiosity.

Torem: So how are you holding up?

Naomi snuggles up next to her, still in her kitsune form.

Torem: Tired. I see. \*a shield surfaces from her back. She pulls it from behind her and look's at it.\* This Afrikaan shield should bring some good memories for Obi.

One of her tails brushes against Torem's face.

Torem: \*swats her tail away and continues to observe the shield\*

Naomi whines a little.

Torem: What's wrong with you?

She nuzzles up against her, ears down with puppy eyes.

Torem: What? Don't look at me like that.

She wags her tails.

Torem: \*puts the shield on her back and lays down on the ground, then begins to drift off to sleep\*

Naomi remains by Torem.

Torem: *I almost had him...Years of wanting to grush him under my thumb and he manages to get away from me...* \*tightens her fist\*

Naomi is now resting on Torem partially.

Torem: \*goes to sleep\*

When Torem next wakes up, Naomi is directly on her, like a warm fuzzy blanket.

Torem: Cozy, but I think I would prefer a blanket from something that *isn't* alive. \*removes Naomi off of her and stretches\*

Naomi yawns and stretches. Nerai seems out still.

Torem: \*pokes at Nerai with her foot\* Come on, Nerai. Get up. We need to get to our next target.

The only response is a groan.

Torem: Come on, chick. The quicker we do this, the quicker we can go home.

She merely rolls over, her eyes glazed. To Nerai's perspective, Torem's image flickers between her own and a lady with a katana, with blue-black hair, while Naomi looks like a girl with white hair and in a buisiness suit.

Torem: Nerai, if you don't get up we'll leave without. Cause I for one want to go home and take a whole week nap. As well as make it back for some grub. Thought I don't really need to eat, it feels fufilling.

"Who are....?" Nerai mumbles, delirious.

Torem: ...Torem? And this is Naomi...Are you feeling ok, chick?

"....Head... hurts..."

Torem: Uuuugggghh....I can try to fix that myself. \*looks at her cross\*

The cross seems to agitate her.

Torem: Hm. Usually that would work in most cases. We could bash your brains in until the headache goes away.

Naomi resumes normal form. "I don't think that will help..."

Torem: It's worth a try, right? I mean, I'm just saying.

"So I can hit you?" Naomi responds.

Torem: If you want to be devoured that is.

"You did say it was worth a try."

Torem: I don't have any problems. *She* does though.

"You don't? I could swear you had a tickle bug."

Torem: Only because my mid-section was exposed.

Nerai seems to be trying to get to her feet.

Torem: \*pulls her up by the arm\*

Nerai remains silent, her vision flickering violently, but the expression on her face is changing, as though she is reeling from something she's seen that they cannot.

Torem: Oh geez, don't tell me you're going DWOL on us.

"...." Suddenly she pulls out from Torem's grasp and runs off at high speed.

Torem: Oh what the hell, chick?! How are we supposed to get to Australia now?!

A honk goes off as a motorcycle's lights flash.

Torem: Is that a damn motor-cycle too? What is going on here? For real this turning into one of Obi's LSD trips!

## Oni Occupation cont.

*Ayakashi and Arnak arrive at a gas fumed city. The green gas fills the air of the city as the gas seeps through the sewage ducts. Osake seems to be abandoned*

"Well then. Seems this place has gone to...how do I put this...shit." Arnak walks over to one of the sewage ducks, tilting his head.

Ayakashi: The gas is stink from the sewage blocking in the systems below the city. It happened during the Phoenix Invasion.

"Thankfully I don't have to smell or breathe. I imagine these Oni are the cause of this stink and gas, yes?"

Ayakashi: No, but they have taken advantage of the cities state. It's completly empty. No form of human life her. \*lands on one of the roads and exits the helicopter\*

"Just taken advantage...? Then what caused this place to be abandoned, if not the Oni?"

Ayakshi: \*looks over at a huge jetty of rocks and metal\* Someone I was familiar with. A group of myths with elemtal capabilities arrived from another plane of existence and began to invade th Earth. One of them was combated here.

"I see. Are they still a threat...?"

Ayakshi: No doubt they still are. They retreated for the time being. Hasn't anyone told you? All agencies are currently on stand-by for their phase 2.

Arnak seems to growl, his body tensing up. "..No. No one told me, actually."

Ayakashi: Hm. That doesn't sound right. But nonetheless, let's investigate the surrounding area and see if we can find any trace of Oni.

"Of course." Arnak's foot seems to emit a medium sized mass of black tendrils, and Arnak soon gets an idea of the entirety of the surrounding area, as well as whats inhabiting it.

Ayakashi: If you cant detect them we might have to literally walk around the place and see if we can spot any. We could lure them out with our presence.

"No need, I know where they are. Follow me." The tendrils dissapear and Arnak begins to walk, and he notions for Ayakashi to follow.

Ayakashi: \*follows right behind Arnak\*

Arnak eventually leads them to an area with various Oni, and he stops Ayakashi. "Now, I got us to them, your turn for an idea."

Ayakashi: Step to your right.

Arnak squints and takes a step to his right, eying Ayakashi.

*Two giant hands come in between them and a gust of dust is in ther sight. The dust clears enough for them to see a a huge red-floating Oni mask*

Arnak grins and crosses his arms. "Guess they don't want us here."

*The Oni mask swings one of it's fist at Arnak*

Arnak dodges the fist and creates a psychic spear, launching it at the mask.

*The Oni mask blocks with it's other fist but there is a crunch sort of sound and the mask freezes*

Arnak turns to the source of the crunch, turning his arm into an organic blade.

The mask and the arm disappear to reveal a girl with a stab wound in her mid-section. She kneels down while covering her wound with her hand.

Ayakashi: \*is holding his blade with apparent blood on it\*

Arnak walks over to the girl and grabs her hair, pulling her back up. "You wouldnt have you be enduring this pain if you had just calmly approached."

*The girl spits in Arnak's face*

Arnak growls and throws her to the ground, jabbing the end of his blade into her wound, and wiped off her spit. "I suggest you change your fucking attitude before I rip your spine out."

Ayakashi: \*looks back and sees that the Oni are no longer there\* They're coming.

*The girl grabs Arnaks head and summons the Oni mask. She head puts him and throws him off of her*

Arnak growls and charges a source blast, firing it at the mask. He turns back to the girl, and grabs her, throwing her to Ayakashi.

Ayakashi: \*impales her through her wound again\*

*The girl is throwing up blood*

"Shall we kill this one or take them back?"

Ayakashi: Best we take this one back. She could give us some more intel. In a matter of fact, we'll hang on to her for right now. We need that information now.

Arnak walks up to Ayakashi and grabs the girl, forcing her to sit down. "You heard him, I suggest you start singing."

*The girl looks away from them.*

Ayakashi: If she won't sing the song we want here, we can haver her play a different tune. \*steps on the girls leg, completley breaking it\*

*The girl screams in agaony*

Arnak kneels down and opens his mouth, a purple haze emitting from it. Covers the girls head and enters her mouth, burning her insides causing searing pain.

*The girl is still screaming in agonizing pain*

Arnak closes his mouth and the haze goes away. "Now, are you ready to sing a song that we'd all like to hear?"

*The girl is breathing heavily*

Ayakashi: Give her a moment.

Arnak stands up, growling.

The girl looks at Ayakashi and after a while, her eyes open. 'The...Ph-phantom...Fox...'

Ayakashi: Tell us where the rest of the Oni are coming from.

*The girl tries to get to her feet.*

Arnak walks over to her and helps her up.

*The girl holds on to Arnak the best she can as she points down a roadway*

"Thank you for your...cooperation." Arnak picks her up, and begins to walk down the roadway.

*As the walk for several minutes, they make it to a trail  filled a with a ominous gray sandstorm*

Ayakashi: I can hear them. Their laughter. It lies beyond this trail. This. Is where they're coming from.

"Then I do believe its time to smoke out the ants from their mound."

Ayakashi: There might be a whole ton of them on the other side, but there's a reason not alot of them were able to get through. This storm. They can get lost in it. That's why only some can manage to get through at a time. We need to be cautious if we're going to get to all of them.

"Then lets use the storm to our advantage. I can create invisible psychic barriers to keep the sandstorm at bay. We can lead them into this area, and then I can get rid of the barriers. Ill be able to sense where they are, plus I have natural thermal sight. Finding them in the storm won't be a problem. Sound good?"

Ayakashi: Demons don't produce heat. Besides, they're not dumb. We're going to literally go through the storm and destory whoevfer is on the other side.

"So much for attempting to be strategic. Fine, we'll storm them. Lead the fucking way."

Ayakshi: More like *she* should lead the way.

Arnak sets the girl down, and steps back. "Go on."

*The girl summons her fists, lifts herself up, and begins to lead the way while walking on them*

Arnak follows after her, keeping his guard up. "Whats your name, girl?"

'Inpu..'

"Did you leave past the storm on your own accord Inpu?"

'No....Others came along too...The one's you saw.'

Ayakashi: She knew we were more than capable of killing them. Especially with the fewer numbers there were. She was the distraction until they all could flee.

"Ah, so they had you be their scapegoat while they ran like the cowards they are? Fucking pathetic. Regardless, you'll be spared. I can't say the same for those with you."

'...'

Ayakashi: Don't try anything. It seems she did that voluntarily, seeing that the other Oni's didn't see us, while she did. We must've passed her up when we found them.

Arnak shrugs, remaining silent.

*After several more minutes of walking through the sandstorm, they finally see a clearing*

Arnak raises his guard and creates a blade for an arm, eying the area around him. "I don't like this."

Ayakashi: Surprising coming from you.

*The enter into what almost looks like a temple and there they see an entire army of Oni. The Oni turn to look at them.*

Ayakashi: But it's not to say that you were right.

Arnak creates a bladed whip like tail, spikes on his back, and large blade like claws on his normal arm. "Hmph. Regardless, I don't think we're welcome, no?"

*A few Oni jump into the air and pile drive on them with various japanese-oriented weapons*

Arnak spins and his tail his the closest ones, slicing all of them in half.

Ayakashi: \*dashes past all of them and almost all of the Oni's are gut in half or are amputated\*

*More Onis appear*

Arnak creates various spikes of metal and send them all in different directiosn, shooting straight into the Oni's heads. "Will there be more blood shed or are the rest of you willing to shut the fuck up and comply?"

They are about to pounce at them.

"Enough!"

The oni's turn to two large currtains and a beautiful woman with six horns facing back walks out.

"The Phantom Fox. It is no doubt an honor to have you here amongst your fellow kin."

Ayakashi: Hm...

"You don't seem like you're in a good mood."

Ayakashi: I do not comply with the targets.

"Targets? Us?"

Ayakashi: Yea. You.

"Hm. I see."

Arnak turns to Ayakashi. "Is there something going on here you've yet to tell me Ayakashi? if yes,  thats starting to be a reoccuring thing, and I suggest it fucking ends."

Ayakashi: I don't know them.

"But we know him. His reputation proceeds him from his homeland and ours."

"Whatever. We may not comply with targets, but we're willing to listen and be...nice, if you comply with us. What would you say?"

"Mmmm. Depends. If you would like to make things more interesting for yourselves."

"Whether something is interestig or not depends on the person. What would you say tickles your fancy, diplomacy, or a blade through your neck?"

"Ooooohhhh violent. No nonsense from you, I'm sure. I can see you would crave the violence if given the chance."

Then you're quite observent...I'd imagine the bodies surrounding me would have given you that idea in the first place. However, there could be other things i'd crave. Information, complience, who knows. Regardless, it was a question. Whats your answer?"

"Proposition."

Arnak walks up to her, seeming to raise his blade arm, but turns both of his arms back to normal, and gets rid of his tail. He adjusts his hair. "Im listening."

"A Challenge. A Tower for Power as I like to call it. You must advance through several floors of this here temple to reach me and if you win you not only get to kill us but to have my powers."

Arnak grins slyly. "Oh? Now I don't like to be tricked. How can I be sure you're keeping your word about this little...challenge?"

*Puts up her pinky and smiles.*

"...Are you really suggesting a pinky swear...?"

"We're demons. There aren't many ways we can ease your suspicion of betrayal. You're just going to have to trust your instincts."

"Hmph. Thankfully, being a demon makes two of us." Arnak locks his pinky with hers, seeming to chuckle as he lets go. He turns to Ayakashi, tilting his head. "Ready?"

Ayakashi: As long as we can get this done.

"It will be an honor to face you in combat, Phantom Fox."

Ayakashi: It won't even be a compition...

"Awww. How cold. And here I have so much I want to show you. I've been saving it for your eyes only. Feel free to follow me through the curtains to begin." *The woman enters through the double curtains.*

Arnak turns back to Ayakashi once more and wiggles his eyebrows, turning back to the curtain and walking through.

Ayakashi: Pfft... \*walks through the curtains\*

*The walk through the curtains and meet up with the woman. They are surrounded by complete darkness, only standing on a stone platform with a blue tint of light to it. There they see a blue creature with and ape-like posture to it.*

"Your first opponent will be Squatto."

*The creature turns around. It's face seems to be humanoid but it also has a creep factor to it as it stands to it's feet and towers over them.*

The woman walks up to the creature. "Oh Squatto. Be a good devil and squash these two for me."

*The monster roars and pounds the plat form.*

"I'll see you on the next floor." *Winks as she turns and disappears into the darkness.*

"Lets see if I even need to use my powers for this." Arnak creates scissor like claws on his hands. He runs up to Squatto and jumps up, slicing at its body and landing behind it.

*Squatto punches Arnak into the ground*

Ayakashi: First hit.

Squatto's fist seems to start bursting as its skin starts to tear, revealing Arnak to have dug straight through his hand. He seems unphased, and the claws are covered in blood and tissue. "First mortal wound caused."

*Squatto yells in agony as he disappears into the darkness*

"Do get back here Squatto, I want to see that face of yours splattered against every surface of this fucking room." Arnak looks around, waiting defensively.

Ayakashi: Side-step now.

Arnak growls, and steps to the side.

*Squatto smashes his fist next to Arnak*

Arnak turns one of his arms into a blade, and swings it down to his fist, splitting it inhalf.

*Squatto flinches back and charge kicks Arnak*

Arnak dodges the kick and gets behind Squatto, jumping onto his back and stabbing him repeatedly with his claws.

*Squatto roars, jumps into the air and lands on its back*

Arnak jumps off at the last second and evades being crushed. "Aww, its the poor little devil in pain? You haven't felt anything yet you oversized idiot."

*Squatto tries to swat Arnak*

Arnak jumps onto Squatto's arm, slicing his arm behind him as he runs along it. He then jumps as he reaches his shoulder, slashing and slicing his face.

Ayakashi: He's done. Let's head on to the next floor. \*walks into the darkness\*

Arnak laughs and follows Ayakashi.

*The enter the next floor*

"Now, what could be next?"

*A giant red Oni falls from above with a giant kanabō in it's hand*

"So another Squatto, but this time with a club? How creative. I think i'll be able to paint a picture much more creative with its blood."

Ayakashi: I think you wouldn't be able to find the difference.

"Regardless, would you like to have this one, or shall I break it's head with its own club?"

Ayakashi: I'm saving myself for the lady.

"Hmph. Do know that I'd like those powers she so said she would give, so don't even think about tearing that away from me." Arnak glares at Ayakashi and steps up to the Oni, turning his hands into bone like armored fists.

*The oni knocks it back and quickly stabs Arnak repeatedly with the end of it's* *kanabō*

Arnak blocks the stabs and moves out the way, leaping and punching the Oni in the jaw before landing.

*The oni blacks and swats him back*

Arnak jumps over the Kanabo and lands on the Oni's arm, running up it and raising both of his fists in the air, slamming them down onto the Oni's shoulder, shattering parts of it's bone.

*The oni flicks Arnak away. It then fixes its arm back into place.*

Arnak takes the time to un back at the Oni, punching its knee and dislocating it backwards. He then moves to the other leg, and punches its ankle, dislocating that.

*The oni roars and smashes him with it's* *kanabō*

Arnak blocks and holds the Kanabo, roaring and pulling it straight out of the Oni's hand. He throws it in the air and jumps up, grabbing the handle with two hands and smashing it down onto the Oni's head at full force.

*The oni grabs the* *kanabō and begins to spit fireballs at Arnak*

Arnak quickly moves around to dodge the fireballs, swinging himself up onto the Kanabo, and creating his arms into massive cleavers. He runs down to the handle, and brins the cleavers down onto the Oni's wrist.

*The oni manages to pull it's arm back*

Arnak jumps off, and grins. "Im getting bored, I think i'll end this now." Arnak turns his arms into seemingly large spikes and jumps back and runs behind the Oni. One of the arms extends out and stabs into the Oni's back, and the other one across it. The spike shoots out hooks as its inside of the Oni's flesh, and Arnak begins to pull, slamming the Oni into the ground. He dislodges the hooks and pulls his arms back, turning them into large blades. He jumps onto the Oni, stabbing its stomach as he jumps off, laughing.

*The oni collapses.*

Ayakashi: Good job. You didn't slaughter this one.

"Sadly, yes. Now lets move on, i'd like to have those powers." Arnak walks off.

*In the next room they find multiple platforms*

Arnak scouts the area as he jumps onto one of the platforms, waiting cautiously.

*A rather small and scrawny Oni ambushes from above*

Arnak jumps out of the way onto another platform, turning his arms into bladed whips once more.

*Another small oni ambushes him from above*

Arnak looks up and swings his arm at the Oni, effectively cleaving it in half as he whips his other arm at the first one, cutting its legs in half.

*The smaller oni dodges and begin to mockingly laugh at Arnak as they begin to hop around on one foot*

Ayakashi: I think they're calling you slow.

Arnak growls as he slings his arm again, impaling the smaller Oni's head and ripping its brain out. "I think its slower, mentally that is."

*A smaller oni lands on Arnak's head and lauchs*

Arnak growls once more as a tendril appears from his back that backs the Oni, crushing him. "Fuck. Off."

*More small oni appear. One manges to pick up Arnak with it's feet and tosses him to his other oni, who then proceed to juggle him around*

Ayakashi: To be honest I'm finding this to be rather amusing.

Arnak roars as he eats the head of the one who is holding him, using his arm to impale every single one of the Oni and smash them against the wall and ceiling various times. "Real FUCKING teammate Ayakashi, thanks. Asshole."

Ayakashi: You're the one who wants to the power. You are the one who fights.

"Yet you're supposedly the one whos saving themselves to fight the woman. With your logic it should be I who does so Ayakashi." Arnak creates tendrils under his feet, figuring out where the remaining Oni are.

Ayakashi: Ah but you see. You're in this for the challenge. I'm actually the one here for the main target. *You're* playing games, while *I'm* doing my job.

Arnak's body twitches and seems to almost break and glitch involuntarily. The walls of the tower begin to crack and shatter, and all of the remaining Oni seem to bleed from every orifice, and their bodies burst into various limbs and pieces. "This is no game, Ayakashi. This is me doing all of the work for you to reach your supposed job and calling me out for just trying to experiment...seing my strengths..how far I could go. And you stand there doing nothing. You stand there...mocking me. This is MY job. Your opportunity to fight her will be mine now, unless you prove to me you aren't useless." The walls stop shattering, and Arnak's body stops twitching. He leaves to the next floor.

Ayakashi: ...\*follows after him\*

Arnak seems unresponsive as he enters the next floor, waiting for the next challenge. He galnces at Ayakashi, and stays silent.

*There they can see a scrawny one wearing some torn clothings and is carring a sickle-like halberd*

Arnak steps forward, turning his hands into claws.

*The oni stands there tapping it's halberd*

Arnak quickly reaches his clwaws out towards the Oni, and the claws shoot out at the Oni, the grow back, and Arnak leaps behind the Oni.

*The oni dodges with a drunk-like movement*

"You've got to be fucking kidding. Is this fucker shitfaced?" Arnak leaps at the Oni, with a whirlwind of slashing and slicing.

*The oni counters by using one swift swing of his halberd*

Arnak dodges the halbered and closes the space between him and the Oni, sweeping his leg underneath it and tripping it up. He turns one of his claw hands into a blade, and raises it up to bring down on the Oni.

*The oni uses it's halber and balances itself on Arnak's clawed hand*

Arnak retracts his claws and the halberd falls to the ground as he grabs the Oni, slamming it onto the ground over and over.

*The oni lands on it's halberd and slowly lowers itself to its feet*

"Out of all the things to fight, a drunk demon with a halberd. You're not even attacking me , you're just playing around."

Ayakashi: Then keep your guard up.

"Keep my guard up for a drunkard that isn't doing shit? Perfect idea Ayakashi."

*The oni somehow appears behind and swings it's halberd at Arnak's mid-section*

Arnak takes the blow and quickly recovers from it, growling at the Oni. He grabs the Halberd, and throws it, as well as the Oni away.

*The oni does a cartewheel and throws it's halberd in the air. It jumps up as it's halberd gets stuck into the platform and it lands on top of it*

Arnak turns his arm into a sledgehammer like weapon and jumps up, slamming it onto the platform the Oni is on. The platform begins to shatter, and the halbered with the Oni fall to the ground.

*The oni manages to land on it's halberd and preforms a flip attack at Arnak*

Arnak blocks the attack and swings it away, punching the Oni in the face.

*The oni is bending backwards and hoist its'elf up with the halberd*

Arnak grabs the Halberd and pushes it back into the Oni, casuing it to hit it. He does this over and over.

*Before Arnak knows it, his hand falls off*

Arnak makes no indication of pain or shock as his hand and arm start creating tendrils that grab each other, and the hand reattaches itself as if nothing happened. "You want to play like that, hmm? Very well." Arnak creates a razor sharp tendril that whips at the Oni, cutting off both of its hands.

*The begins to to numerous acrobatic moves until it finally makes it's way to Arnak and has the blade of it's halberd against his throat.*

Arnak slides under the halberd and gets close to the Oni, putting his fingers at its throat. "Checkmate." Arnak's fingers turn into razor sharp blades and pierce through the Oni's throat, and he retracts them after.

*The oni falls to the ground*

Ayakashi: Good.

"Thats four floors ended. Annoyingly enough the woman didn't say how many floors there are. As much as i'd want to use my powers to make this go faster, it'd ruin this whole thing im doing. Lets just move on." Arnak walks to the next floor.

*The enter the next floor. There they are on what appears to be a wooden bridge over an expanse of water*

Arnak begins to walk across the bridge as he takes a cautious note of the water.

*Something lurks from under the bridge*

Arnak quickly and instantly fires a Psyhic Spear at whatever is under the bridge, turning his arm into a harpoon like weapon.

*Some serpentine-like creature breaks through the bridge with it's body*

Arnak jumps out of the way and fires the harpoon like weapon into the creature's body.

The creature disappears under the water.

Ayakashi: \*lands on a pole. He looks at the floating logs in the water that used to be the bridge\* You acted to swiftly without thinking. Now we're going to have to jump the rest of the way.

Arnak laughs. "Jump? The oh so frightful "Phantom Fox" can't fly?" Arnak sprouts wings and takes to the air.

*Arnak gets swatted into the log-filled water by the serpents alleged tail. The serpentine creature retreats bac into the water.*

Arnak swerves out of the way of the tail, and growls. "Lesser creature..." Arnak extends his hand forwards and dark energy comes out from it, spearing into the water. Soon after the water begins to blacken and chaotic waterspouts appear, pushing the serpent up and ripping apart its flesh.

*It's body parts fall in the water and the waters flushes red*

"Now...shall we move on, Ayakashi?" Anak continues to fly, waiting for Ayakashi.

*The blood takes shape into a serpentine-like figure and submerges itself into the water.*

"Oh for fucks sake." Arnak waits pensively in the air for the serpents next move.

*Before he knows it the water beneath them sprouts up*

Arnak moves out of the way again and stops for a second, and the air warps around him, as well as an orb of water appearing next to him. Something seems to go inside of the orb of water and mix together, and Arnak continues to wait for the serpent.

*All of the water begins to turn blood red*

The orb flies into the water and it begins to fizz, and eventually the entirety of the red water begins to bubble and solidify.

*Something grabs on to Arnak's leg and pulls him into the water. The blood shapes back into a serpent and wraps itself around him.*

Arnak simply bursts from out of the serpent, spraying its blood formed body everywhere.

Ayakashi: It's finished. Let's continue.

Arnak nods, clearly annoyed. He continues flying and enters the next room.

*They enter a red room with curtains and smoke teaming from what looks like a hole. The oni woman appears with her oni mask on and almost barely clothed.*

Arnak seems to take a second to examine everything in the room, smirking as his wings fold back into his body. "I see you decided to set the mood, I like it." He tilts his bead at the Oni Woman.

*The oni slightly moves her mask revealing half of her face. She smiles at them.*

" I am pleased that you've made it."

"To be fair it wasn't the hardest of challenges to get here. I'd just prefer that you'd end up as the real...and final challenge. However, would you rather me be savage, or gentle?" Arnak snarls at first, but his voice seems to carry a strange tone to it.

"Whichever way you like." *Winks*

Ayakashi: \*grumbles\*

Arnak glances to Ayakashi and laughs to himself, before shaking his head. "As much as i'd like to continue this...there is something that has to be taken care of. As you said, if I defeat you, you shall give me your powers, yes?"

"If you defeat me, you can have *all* of me."

Ayakashi: \*grumbles louder\*

"Sorry Ayakashi, you're going to wait til next time something like this happens." He turns back to the Oni woman, grinning. "Offer accepted, ladies first." He takes a defensive stance, waiting for her to make her move.

"Quite sweet of you, but I insist that you go. You two *are* my guest after all."

"So it begins." Arnak turns his hands into large serated claws, and point them towards the woman, and the claws fire large spikes in her direction.

The woman steps back before a spikes comes up from beneath her and begins to dance around all the spikes until she reaches Arnak and strokes this chin. "Don't hold back now."

Arnak hesitates but growls before growing a whip like tail and turning extremely fast, his tail hitting the Oni Woman aside. He jumps back and charges at her, leaping into the air and raising his claws up to slash at her.

The woman disappears fro, his sight and re-appears behind him. "You seem abit too tense. Let me help you with that." She taps his shoulder with two of her fingers and shock is sent flying across the ground for a moment.

Once he stands up he he sees that his right arm begins to ooze all of a sudden on to the water-layered ground they stand on.

His arm quickly reforms and points to the ground, and dark energy emits from his hand that enters the water. The water level begins to rise as spouts of corrosive water hit the Oni Woman, pushing her back and leaving lingering intense pain. "You can help with how tense I am after I defeat you." Large whiplike blades of shadow suddenly emit from the ground that lash at her from all directions.

The shadows somehow loses their form and they begin to ooze into the water."Hm, so shadows can bleed."

Arnak takes the time to create large and extremely hard tissue and dermal armor on his hands, and charges into the Woman, slamming his hands into her stomach. "Now, lets see if you can." Arnak takes a step back before turning one of his hands into a large blade, and slashes at her.

Once the blade reaches her, she simply touches the tipe of the blade with her finger and the blade burst all over the room insuing great pain to Arnak.

Ayakashi: Stop! She's weakened the tissue in your arm. If you try to keep using it in that current state, you'll render it useless. Unless...

The scattered tissue of his arm suddenly shoots up into the air and back into Arnak, and his arm reforms within seconds. "Ah, maybe its weakened, but only temporarily." His arm suddenly glows red as strange demonic sigils appear on it, and soon go away. "Even better than before. But if you so insist for me to not use my arms..." Four psychic arms grow out of Arnaks back, each armed to the teeth with claws, and two holding psychic swords. "Then so be it." Arnak suddenly teleports behind the woman as one of the arms snaps its fingers, and various explosions send her flying into a wall.

Arnak feels a tap on his shoulder and when he turns his head sees the woman. "Well you're certainly not slow, but I can't say that you're fast neither. Let me ask you, have you ever heard of the term 'Speedblitz"?

"No, I haven't. Go on, tell me all about it while I subsequently win." One of the arms slowly goes to her head and adjusts her hair, before slicing her arm with sharp claws. "To be fair this could be ended much faster, but I'd like to see what you want to throw at me."

A bright array of light suddenly envelopes Arnak and his entire body begins to loose it's form and is reverting into a black blob across the floor. He can feel the lack of control of any part of his body and even his mind feels to be getting numb.

"Speedblitz" *The woman looks at Ayakashi* " Are you interested in me now?"

Ayakashi: No choice. \*walks on to the water-layered floor\*

"My turn now"

*Before Ayakashi knows it the woman is already behind him.*

Ayakashi: \*pokes her in the stomach with his sheathe, pulls his katanas out, and attpemts to cut her\*

*The woman disappears*

Ayakashi: This sort of movemnt...It's familiar.

"It should be." *The woman reappears* "But I can't tell you why. You're just going to have to figure it out yourself."

Oddly enough, the black blob instantly reforms into Arnak, and he begins to laugh. "Seems you haven't heard of the term Overrule, lesser demon." The woman feels herself become weak and sluggish, with her powers becoming less potent than before. He looks to Ayakashi, and gives a strange look. "You may fight her, but im going to be the one who ends it."

"I'm afraid not." *She spins in a circle and the water they stand on turns into a cycloe as they are caught in it and thrown across opposite sides of the room*

Arnak stabalizes himself within the cyclone and has the water specifically around him and Ayakashi run still, the cyclone spinning all around them. "Poor choice." Arnak puts his hand forward as dark energy leaves it once more and enters the water, and the cyclone turns darker in color as the corruptive water crashes into the woman, bringing her intense pain as the cyclone subsides.

The woman touches the water and an immense shock can be felt coursing through their bodies. Arnaks body begind to convulse violantly.

Ayakashi: \*jumps into the air and descends on the woman. He begind to engage the woman\*

Thr woman manages to disappear

Ayakashi: \*looks closely ands sees that the womans movements are like that of drunk kung fu and tai chi\* The Loner's Dance.

*The woamn appears beside him.* "That is correct. A proficient technique as well as soothing."

The moment Arnak feels any shock, he changes his body to not be able to conduct any form of electricity, and quickly recovers. He disperses all of the water within the chamber and teleports next to the woman and Ayakashi, roundhousing her side and sending her flying into a wall. "Im getting bored, do give me a reason not to end this now."

"One reason." The woman disappears, then reappears next to Arnak. She taps him in multiple places at one, then nack kicks him away.

Ayakashi: \*presses on his blade's ignitions triggers until they glow red, runs towards the woman, and swings his katana at her\*

The woman catches the katana in between her fingers until Ayakashi manages to slip the katana through her fingers, splitting her hand. The woman is surprised of the sudden move.

Ayakashi: \*takes his other katana and tries to cut the woman at her mid-section\*

The woman steps back and doges the attack

Ayakashi: \*brings his katana back and tries to cut at the woman's face\*

The woman moves her head back barely dodging the tip of the blade

Ayakashi: \*brings his katana back again and tries to stab her in the stomach\*

The woman hops backwards, but looses her footing, falls over, but catches herself with her other hand.

Ayakashi: \*attempts to stab her at the leg\*

The woman cart-wheels back and runs towards Ayakashi with her two fingers ready as she points them right at Ayakashi's face.

Ayakashi: \*slowly makes an about-face\*

The woman disappears

Ayakashi: \*turns completely around and strikes at thin air\*

The woman reappars behind Ayakashi facing the opposite direction of him with her arm extended and with her two fingers point outward. Suddenly red streaks of light slice through the woman and once they stop, she collapses to her hands and knees

"You...Are everything I hoped for...It was...An honor...To die at your hands..."

Ayakashi: Mm. \*puts both of his katanas back into his sheath and turns to face the woman\*

"I...am yours...Take me..."

A loud roar is heard as the woman is suddenly devoured whole by a monstrous being, which appears as an extension of Arnak's arm. "I said, I will be the one to end this." The mouth lifts up and pulls back to Arnak's body, but doesn't dissapear. "She isn't dead, yet. She cannot do anything, think of her in a stasis like state."

Something suddenly wraps around Arnack and he sees a skeletal head of a serpent. He looks over to where it came from to sees that the snake is the extension of an arm that belongs to none other than Slang.

Slang: \*has a small smile on his face\* If you're not gonna eat your food, then I'll be happy to take her off your hands.

The snake bites into Arnak's abdomen and begin to suck away at him. His body shrinks some and Arnack begins to feel slightly fatigued. Blood can be seen seeping out where the snake has bitten into him.

Ayakashi: Slang, stop this!

Slang: Ayakashi has failed to tell you it doesn't matter whether you deserve the fight much less the power of the opponent. The power, is truly up for grabs. Whether you deserved it or not.

The snake  retracts it's fangs and unwraps itself from around Arnak and retreats back into Slang's arm

Slang: Mmmmm. Mighty delicious. \*disappears and reappears next to Arnak and put's his hand on his shoulder\* I also took the liberty of cleaning up everything...Well, everyone else. But don't worry. I saved one for you. \*his neck elongates and a lump forms in his neck. He then hacks up a blob that turns out to be the oni girl from before\* I was going to bring her back and admit her as a new weapon, but I know you might be feeling down about me ruining your moment, so do what you would like with her. \*pats Arnak on the back and appers behind Ayakashi\* I'll bee waiting outside for you two. It's imperative that we return to the facility as soon as possible. \*exits the room\*

Ayakashi: \*narrows his eyes at Slang, then turns and walks over to Arnak and the oni girl\* There isn't anything I can really say about this, Arnak

Slang's body is suddenly impaled by ten Psychic spears, and Arnak suddenly appears next to him and rips his arm off, devouring it. "ILL FUCKING SEND YOU TO OBLIVION YOU OVER GROWN WORM!" He grabs his head and slams it into the ground over and over til it's a bloody mess, and stomps his foot through his abdomen. He picks him up and hooks him onto a psychic hook floating in mid air, and begins slashing at his body over and over.

Slang: \*laughs\* I don't think I've met anyone of our kind as animalistic as you. All the more reason you are not fit to claim the power you seek.

"Say something else and the only thing animalistic will be the animals devouring your brain after I feed it to them." Arnak contiues to lash out on Slang's body, eventually stopping but letting him hang still.

Ayakashi: \*puts his hand on Arnak's shoulder\* Forget about him. The more you respond to him, the more you'll loose youself and that would give him the jurisdiction to put you down. I don't want thatfor you.

Arnak turns to Ayakashi, clearly seething. "What YOU dont want for me? If loosing myself means getting what I want and VICIOUSLY FUCKING BRUTALIZING THAT HIDEOUS AND DISGUSTING WORM THEN IM ALL FUCKING FOR IT! And right now, that option seems EXTREMELY fucking lovely."

Ayakashi: Fight back your instincts, Arnak. Please. If push comes to shove, you'll have your chance soon enough. But now isn't the time. There's alot more that needs to be done back at the facility.

"OH THAT PUSHING AND SHOVING IS GOING TO TURN INTO PURE AND UNADULTERATED MURDER WHEN MY CHANCE COMES UP, THAT I'LL FUCKING TELL YOU! The work that needed to be done at the facility could have been done by Slang if he wasnt being such an unneeded little prick, getting his vile little head into things that dont concern him!"

Ayakashi: Then hold out until it comes to that. I don't want anyone to have to suffer at The Admin's hands.

"It'll be worth it to watch the sad life drain from Slang's eyes. When my chance comes, I'd like you to bear withness to the art I shall bring to the table. My medium of course will be Slangs broken and disheveled body." The psychic hook that was holding up Slang finally dissapears, causing Slang to drop to the floor.

Slang: I wasn sent by The Admin. to clean up after you. He said if I've found you two and your mission was not yet completed, then I was authorized to complete it for you.

Arnak walks over to Slang, begining to yell down at him. "And you're fucking stupid enough to not realize the mission was about to be over?"

Slang: About to be, but it wasn't.

"BY A MERE FUCKIGN SECOND, THE MISSION WAS ABOUT TO BE OVER, AND YOU DECIDED IT WAS A GOOD IDEA TO END IT YOURSELF? ARE YOU INCAPABLE OF THINKING, YOU IDIOTIC FUCKING SNAIL?!"

Slang: You should've ended it alot sooner. But you were too busy play 'Test Your Might.'

"I was "playing test your might" so I could fucking get a better grip on my abilities, and in turn finish later missions even quicker than I possibly could!"

Slang: You could've done that back at the facility. We have specialized training for that.

"Specialized training can only do so good, things can and will be different outside of training. The best training possible is the training you learn under real situations."

Slang: You are no soldier. You are a weapon. Soldiers train outside. Weapons train inside.

"Correction, I am a soldier who is also the weapon. If I was a weapon, I wouldn't be able to act on my own, think for myself; much like you as it is obvious."

Slang: A soldier doesn't bark when his victory is taken from him.

"No, but they will bark when they're betrayed or disrupted by a fellow soldier. The mission was already about to be ended, your action was not needed. You could have applied yourself somehwere else to be useful. Maybe checking for more Oni? Figuring out how to get out? Maybe field research on pocket dimensions so we can weaponize them?" Arnak kicks Slang far out of hearing range and he is sent flying into a wall.

Ayakashi: Arnak, listen to me right now. If this situation is brought to The Admin.'s attention it might not go in your favor. Slang is...on another scale than me and you.

Arnak turns to Ayakashi again, clearly still full of fury and rage."Then why is he working with us? If hes on another scale, whuy bother with us?People on higher scales should not be wasted with those on a lower scale that can handle themselves."

Ayakashi: Because we're the only weapons that are awake at this moment. We've screwed up.

Ayakashi: We're not exactly on The Admin.'s good side right now, especially me. No use for the both of us to go back into cryo or worse.

"Slang dies. Maybe not today, or next week, month, year, decade, but he will die, by my hands. When Slang screws up I will be there to knock him down countless scales. Hopefully he'll slice his skull open over and over every scale down. We're never going to get on his goodside if Slang takes the credit for these things, dont you understand Ayakashi?"

Ayakashi: The Admin. sent Slang because we took too long to complete the mission. He still believes we are capable, but he won't be thinking that if we continue on like this.

"Slang did nothing to help. We need to make ourselves look good and him look horrible, understood?"

Ayakashi: Arnak, you know that would be seen as immature. The best thing we can do is to face whatever punishment we're given and move on from there. If we're given another chance, we make up for our mistakes.

"Its only immature if we get caught. Right now thats exactly what Slang is doing, and hes gettng away with it. Every chance we get, Slang takes it. This very mission was our chance, and you see now what happens to our chances. This was not our mistake."

Ayakashi: We have to take responsiblity for this. It was our fault because we took the long route to complete our objective. Slang only showed us up once. We'll make sure it won't have to happen again.

"Responsibility for taking a second too long to finish a mission? Bullshit. But fine, if you want to take responsibility, so be it. Im heading back to the vehicle we came in, and i'll take the girl." Arnak walks off and heads to the Oni girl and beckons her to follow, before exiting the Tower.

Ayakashi: \*looks around the room abit and follows\*

Arnak eventually heads back to the vehicle, turning to the girl. "Im suprised you didn't run off."

*The oni girl avoids eye contact with Arnak*

Arnak scowls. "Regardless it was the right move. You're going to be taken to our facility."

*The oni girl continues to avoid his gaze*

"A suggestion I have is to look to your authority in the fucking eye, else I'm sure you won't be treated right at the facility. However I'm not in the mood to bother with...discipline."

Slang: Forget it about her. Salvage whatever you can. She simply can't do anything about it.

"I dont think I asked for your imput Slang."

Slang: Then don't just stand there.

"I was under the assumption we were going to leave, not salvage shit that cant be of any use to us. Im waiting for you to get in the vehicle so I can fly the fucking thing."

Slang: Another one of my orders. Besides, you arrived with Ayakashi. I arrived by myself. \*turns and heads towards his helicopter\*

"Your orders, meaning you're the one who will salvage. As far as me and Ayakashi know we had no orders to salvage." Arnak growls and turns to the Oni girl, telling her to get into the vehicle.

*The oni girl slowly gets up and gets in*

Ayakashi: \*catches up\*

"Lets see, lesson learned today would have to be I fucking hate nearly everyone and everything. Who fucking knew." Arnak gets in the pilot seat and waits for Ayakashi to get in, and begins to take off.

Ayakashi: You don't have to hate everything because of one.

"No, maybe not. But the one I hate absolutely makes me feel like hating everything. So apologies if I want to strangle everyone til their neck pops."

Ayakashi: Please Arnak, try to retain yourself. You're only going to make it worse for yourself if you act upon your feelings.

"You don't seem to understand. My mind and my feelings are both telling me to mutilate Slang and impale his body on a spike for all to show. Before you say "listen to your soul" or some shit I highly doubt I have one."

Ayakashi: Your soul would still be telling you to slay Slang.

"Exactly. Even if it takes years it will happen. For now I wish his inferior life an infinite hell."

Ayakashi: All because he screwed you over once?

"Yes. Once is already too many times to let happen. He's a bitch and deserves to be put down like one."

Ayakashi: \*sigh\*

"Sigh all you want, my mind, and feelings are set. Besides it doesnt need to be discussed. If anything I'd like a quiet ride."

Ayakashi: Fine then. Got to figure out our response when we go to the Office.

Arnak eventually reaches the MCCP and docks the vehicle in the hangar, escorting the Oni girl out.

Slang: Take her to the Waiting Room. One of the overseers will determine what to do with her.

Arnak snarls quietly as he walks the Oni girl to the waiting room. "Like the dumbass said, one of the overseers will figure out whats going to be done with you. Good luck." Arnak then turns and walks off.

## No Outback Down Here

Slang: \*stands ith the line of personnel and drones\* You all know what to do. Make The Admin. proud.

"Sir yes sir!"

Arnak started morphing into the Rep, turning to Slang and giving him a slight nod.

Slang: Get into position. This might work if we go about this right.

A distinct, violent explosion erupts in the center of the city, followed by several more explosions, all seemingly at random.

*Scrams of panic can be hard around the city*

Slang: Hmmm?  I wonder what that was all about...

"Sir, should we investigate and help out any civilians?"

Slang: Hmmmm....No. Stay your ground.

"But si-'

*A black snake with a skeletal exterior chomps on the soldier and gets swallowed whole. The snake retreats and it reverted back to Slang's arm.*

Slang: Tastes of concern. Not good for my line of diet. Anyone else want to be my next meal?

Everyone soldier stays silent.

Slang: That's a shame. I really wanted to see how each one of you tasted. We keep to the plan.

The lights suddenly go out, with the whole city's screams of panic rising with the absence of light.

Slang: All-Seeing Vision On.

All the soldiers helmets shine with a blue light.

Slang: Whoever they are, they cannot get past us. Not while I can still taste the air....

Arnak was pretending to freak out, crawling into a fetal position under a desk.

Curiously, there seems to be no attempt to attack their location. Instead, sounds of distant continuous pandemonium can be heard.

Slang: Hmmmm...Whoever is doing this must be waiting for us to make a move...

Outside, any citizen who remained in open view has been shot, and people are cowering in the streets, countless buildings are blown up.

Slang: .....

"Sir?"

Slang: We're not moving. Let them destroy the city. See what I care. All I care about is apprehending whoever is doing this.

*Some of the soldiers look at each other in shear confusion.*

Arnak glances at Slang, nodding.

Things fall eerily silent save for occasional gunshots, for the next few hours. Suddenly, the lights and everything all come on at once.

"Do you want us to scout the area-"

*The soldeir get's eat by the black-skeletal snake and it reverts back to Slang's arm*

Slang: You already knew my answer. And this one tastes of concern too...

Arnak scoffed, and started to pretend to act calmer with everything seeming to get better.

"*I have spent the last few hours connecting everything in this city to one killswitch. Your government has abandoned you all like the cowards they are. What a pathetic excuse for a Representative, don't you think? They cower in their bunkers like frightened little rabbits, while you all die for them. What a disgrace. With but a flick of a switch, I can cut off your water, your food, your fuel, and your power. What do you think? Will you support a government only looking out for themselves, or will you choose yourselves? I know what I would want... what about you?"*

A voice over the city's communication systems rings out, before everything dies again.

Slang: Cowardice. It is the *human* thing to do.

A few days later, and many dozen destroyed supplies shipments later, the situation grows continously worse for both citizens and soldiers.

*The people of Perth stand outside shouting and raising signs saying "We want answers!" and "Leave us to die, will you?"*

Reporter: Here we stand at the Parliment House in Perth, Australia where many of the civilians who were massly assaulted by an unknown assailant, who has also has been reported to have had killed Representative Komi before hand. The people are grow more and more hostile every minute as Representative Alice Spicer has yet to explain herself of her supposed abandonment of her city as stated over a intercom by the assailant . Growing great distrust amongst the civilians. Shipments of medical supplies, building constructions, and funeral arrangements have also been reported to have destroyed possibly by the same assailant who single-handedly put Perth on edge.

Arnak looked to Slang. "So much for waiting."

Slang: The goal has been achieved. the assailant didn't kill Representative Alice. So with that, our work here is done.

Nerai, observing the pandemonium, quietly surveys her work, smiling faintly. "I have a feeling my mission was completed in a more diabolical way..."

Alice: \*is cowering under her desk all tucked in\* Ooooooooooooooohhh they are going to to tear me apart....\*takes out her phone and calls someone\* Where is that limo I asked you for?!

Body Guard: Sorry ma'am. But the crowd is blocking m-....Ooooh no I think they see me....I'm going to have to-!

*The call abruptly cuts off*

Alice: \*her face is stricken with more fear as she slowly rocks back and forth as the yelling of the crowd intensifies\*

Nerai only watches the mob.

*Nerai feels someone knock her over the head with almost feels like an entire light post just hit ger*

Torem: You daughter of a bitch!

Nerai is soon up on her feet, giving Torem an impassive look. "Our job is done. This representative will be killed. Either their life taken by the wrath of the mob, or their reputation slaughtered. With these works our task is at an end. A more favorable group to your cause will be achieved. Let's go." She without a word, begins to walk off.

Torem: \*yanks Nerai by her shoulder\* IFine, but I ain't walkin' home. Hell, I didn't even walk, I ran to come get you! \*raises her hand they disappear\*

## Three Wise Men

*Three pods crash land in location fairly close to Red Square, they cause rather insignificant damage, but cause a lot of noise. Three beings emerge from the pods and look around their surroundings. One of the three is Phazon of origin. The other two are of the same race.*

*The taller of the two smells the air.*

Taller Male: I assume this is "Earth".

Shorter Male: Looks like it. Looks kinda shit if you ask me.

Phazon Male: It makes me wonder why my father ended up having this place be his grave marker.

Shorter Male: We are only here because the Hakaishin wanted us to remove *your*misfortunes, Sect Leader Rourke.

Phazon Male: Ehh... This should be the place where the Legion's second in command, Cato Legolias, was deceived.

Taller Male: Mereije should be arriving at point beta shortly. For now, we should start disposing of the failures that exist in this "Red Square".

*A troupe of Phazon exclaved soldiers arrive on the scene, all of them look shabby. They aim their guns at the trio.*

Troupe Soldier: Who are you?! Identify yourselves!

Phazon Male: Hmph... You shouldn't really ask who your *prince* is, now, should you?

Troupe Soldier 2: Prince Rourke!! Everyone, stand down! Our new leader is here!

*The soldiers stand down.*

Troupe Captain: Sir, it has been terrible! We have atrempted to reclaim both of our bases to no success! The emperor is dead, along with General Legolias, and the man who betrayed us is still roaming free! Please help us!!!

Rourke: Well... You're almost right there.

Captain: Huh?

Rourke: The Legion of Phazon has been fully assimilated by the Great Dominion of the Hakaishin, that means that I am not technically your true leader, despite my new prowess of the Source.

Soldiers: Hakaishin? Who's that? When did this happen?!

Captain: Why have you only appeared *now* to us, Prince Rourke?!

Taller Male: So many questions...

Shorter Male: Get to the point, Rourke.

Rourke: Ah, yes. While we *did* come here to deal with those issues, we still have to address the fact that, as members of the Dominion, you are all guilty of failure, and we will have to eliminate you.

Troupe Soldiers: What?! What is the prince saying?!

Captain: Eliminate us? What is this outrage, sir?! We were loyal and hardworking to the Legion and the Emper--

*The shorter male fires an orange shot at the captain, piercing his heart and frying the area around it. He drops dead on the ground.*

Soldiers: Captain!

*One of the soldiers begins firing his machine gun at the shorter male. To his shock, he finds that the bullets don't even hit him; they disintegrate midair.*

Taller Male: How rather foolish. A failure that doesn't bother to notice the abnormal heatwaves, and a failure who blindly attacks. Why did the former Legion initiate you?

*The taller male creates an orange energy whip and swings it round. It slices through and bifurcates a majority of the soldiers, including the foolish attacking one. Rourke and the shorter male eliminate the remaining soldiers with energy blasts, vaporising them.*

Taller Male: Rourke, Tanaan, we're done here. Lets advance towards the base, immediately.

*The three enter the premises of Red Square. They stop in a space in the square and look around.*

Tanaan: Ugh... This place is a shit hole.

Taller Male: Quite. It's a good thing we're getting rid of it. This miserable world needs this type of favor.

Rourke: Are you sure that is what the Hakaishin *wants*, Geppro?

Geppro: It was on his orders, and I shall carry out the command regardless. Anyone who stands in the way of the Hakaishin's might and willpower shall burn.

"You're in the wrong there." A bland voice rings out from above. Four shadows fall from the sky. "I think you'll be the ones to burn should you consider this ill fated conquest of yours."

Geppro: Hmm? We have guests.

One of the figures has black hair with red, gold and violet highlights. He carries a red claymore and wear a utilitarian garb composed of a black cloth and metal. Another wears no armor, holds no weapon and has golden hair. He only wears beige pants and has bizarre orange symbols on his body. The next figure has indistinguishable features due to a flowing cloak shrouding their form. Lastly is an older looking man with greying blonde hair and a long trench coat.

"It'd be best you go, before things get ugly." He speaks in the same bland, monotonous voice.

Geppro: And whom might you be?

"Concerned folk who'd rather not have to spill unnecessary blood."

Geppro: Then leave. We didn't come here for the likes of you to stand in our way.

"Unfortunately, we can't do that, especially if you plan on dominating this world for the empire you mentioned." The older man sighs. "I'll warn you now, your plans will fail, even if we don't defeat you and your leader here and now. Wouldn't you rather live to see another day, than die from an unseen menace?"

Geppro: Who said we are here to invade this crapsack world? And who said we were but an empire, compared to the likes of the former Legion?

"Oh? Then you aren't here to harm or enslave the inhabitants of this world? Excuse me for not believing that, especially with the comments about the thing you call the Hakaishin you made." The man looks at Geppro boredly, as if he isn't worth the time or breath. "If that isn't the case, it is still for the best that you leave."

"Old man, can't we just boot them off the planet," asks the black haired figure.

"It would be less polite than persuading them to leave. Besides, unnecessary bloodshed is against our principles."

Geppro: I do not recall mentioning any form of attack or capture of any land aside from the cleanup of the site belonging to this one here.

Rourke: Hey! Don't involve me in this!

Geppro: Anyways. I would best be wise to stay out of our affairs for now. You can have your peace after we've finished our job.

*Geppro begins walking towards the Kremlin.*

"You three, return to HQ," the older man says, signaling for the others to leave.

"But-!"

"No buts, Arkyle, leave." The older man glances at the black haired man with an equally bored look. "You have a job to do elsewhere. Viola." The cloaked figure nods and the trio vanishes in a flash of blue lightning. "Again, excuse me for not quite believing you. I'd like to accompany you to ensure nothing extra happens."

Geppro: Much abliged. You two, keep up the pace.

*Geppro stands in front of the Phazon Palace's entrance and looks up.*

Geppro: I am assuming that there are potential hostilities beyond this door. I think we should--

*Tanaan recklessly blasts a hole in the nearby wall.*

Geppro: Tanaan, you fool! Your recklessness is not adhered. Cease your actions *immediately*!

*Tanaan takes a step back, visually frightened. Geppro opens the door.*

The older man watches quietly, producing something akin to a time piece from his coat pocket, one much larger than the pocket it was drawn from. He quickly replaces it without a word.

Geppro: Hmm... Before we go any further, mind telling me your name? I prefer to know the names of those of whom I am acquainted with. Its a manner of trust, you see.

"Patrikolos. And you?"

Geppro: I am referred to as Geppro of the Drought. Now, *Notitia*Patrikolos, let us proceed.

*Geppro taps the door with the hilt of his gladius. It burns apart very quickly. Geppro walks through, followed by his two cohorts.*

"Hm." Patrikolos passes through the doorway, hands in pockets.

*From afar, Dracorex, along with Typhoon, Zero and the massive test tube with the creature inside it watch the event happen. Dracorex smirks.*"Oh, this changes my plans somewhat... But that's why I can adapt. Typhoon, I need you to take us to that organization, I want to talk with the MCCP's plaything."

*Typhoon nods and places a hand on Zero's and Dracorex's shoulders, Dracorex places his hand on the glass tube before taking out a small device.*"And let's be polite and give them a welcome present..." *Once he activates the device and suddenly the Palace crumbles in on itself before exploding outwards, sending debris everywhere, just as one is about to hit the group, a massive bolt of lighting forks down from the sky and strikes the group, teleporting them to safety.*

*Rourke disapparates a Source Barrier covering Geppro, Tanaan, Patrikolos and himself.*

Tanaan: What the hell happened?!

Geppro: Looks like somebody has done our work for us. How disappointing. Although, through smelling the air, I caught the scent of at least three Cyanicans within the radius. I suspect it is your late father's lecherous associates, Rourke.

For the briefest of instances, Patrikolos' pupils slit. "Hm, how tacky." He glances at Geppro. "I assume your business here is done."

Geppro: Not quite. There are other buildings on site that must be taken care of.

*Geppro sets his sights on St. Basil's Cathedral.*

"I see. Let's go then."

*Geppro begins leading the group over to the Cathedral. Suddenly, Phazon soldiers begin leaking out of the State Museum on the opposite side of the square*.

Geppro: Rourke, take care of them. I know they are your former subordinates, but, no survivors.

*Rourke runs off, charging towards the building. Geppro continues leading the other two.*

Patrikolos follows quietly, sparing Rourke a brief glance.

*The group arrive outside of the Cathedral. Geppro heads inside first. Inside, the trio find what appears to be a makeshift generator with several former soldiers inside.*

Geppro: Well, what *do* we have here?

"Likely a trap akin to a pincer attack," shrugs Patrikolos before drawing a quartet of rounded handles from his coat pockets.

*Some of the soldiers turn around.*

Soldier: Who are you? What do you want here?!

*The soldier raises his gun.*

Soldier: S-start talking!

Geppro: Look at you. You're terrified. Let me show you how *scary* we are.

*Geppro raises his hand outwards and fires an orange blast out of it. The blast cuts through the soldier's chest and hits the generator, causing it to blow up, killing a few of the soliders.*

While Geppro handled that, Patrikolos makes short work of the remaining soldiers with attacks that appear to have come from nowhere as he doesn't move from his position, but just about every visible soldier is bisected or explodes into mist.

*A body lands before Tanaan, who gazes at it with disconcern. It suddenly springs to life.*

Bifurcated Soldier: HELP ME! HEL--

*Tanaan vertically slices the soldier's head in two.*

*Geppro walks over to the centre of the Cathedral and regurgitates a large, egg-shaped glowing object into his hand. He then places it on the floor before stepping back.*

Geppro: This should do the job.

"Final stop?"

Geppro: The last building is the Kremlin, to the west.

Tanaan: What is that thing?

Geppro: It's a Sun Egg. If we stay here for too long, we will be engulfed in its explosion.

*Geppro leads the others outside. The State Museum in the distance suddenly explodes inside blue energy. Momentarily, the Sun Egg detonates and envelops St. Basils within an orange field. The building soon erodes before the field dissipates.*

"Lead on."

*The group head towards the Kremlin's entrance. They regroup with Rourke and head inside. Another pod suddenly crash lands on top of the Lenin Mausoleum.*

"..." Patrikolos watches quietly.

*Another being similar to Geppro and Tanaan emerges from it. They sport dark armour and leathered clothing, and wore a black mask that covered his mouth. He has messy, light grey hair that ran to his shoulders. He stood slouching, but had piercing, observing eyes watching around him.*

???: Looks like Geppro isn't finished yet... Looks like I've gotta wait for the bastard. Hehehe... It shouldn't take long.

"Friend of yours?"

Geppro: Bayoll...

*Geppro turns and walks over to his comrade.*

Geppro: You're early. Seems to be a first.

Bayoll: Nice to see you too! The Hakaishin has made some change of plans.

Geppro: And what might that be?

Bayoll: He wanted to leave at least one building left standing.

Geppro: So it would be either this final building or the Legion's headquarters, which Marieje is clearing out.

Bayoll: The Hakaishin wanted the one with the least Phazon adherence. That would be this one.

Geppro: Why does he want it standing, exactly?

Bayoll: He wants it as our Earth Base.

Geppro: I see.

Bayoll: We'll have some troops arriving soon to begin remodelling.

*Bayoll turns to Patrikolos.*

Bayoll: As for you. You've got your end of Geppro's deal, feel free to leave.

"I was under the impression that you would be leaving once your task was complete," notes Patrikolos. "If that isn't the case..."

Geppro: That *was*the plan we had been instructed to carry out.

Bayoll: But the boss changed his mind. We can't help you there. The Hakaishin's orders are *absolute*.

"...I'll present my warning once more," states the ashen haired man."Coming to this planet isn't a good idea, especially if conquest is your intention. Leave peacefully as to avoid the coming storm."

Bayoll: That's not for you to decide. We all have to follow the Hakaishin's orders.

"If words will not suffice, must I use force to persuade you otherwise? I'd really rather not, but if you won't listen that may be the only alternative." The air around Patrikolos swirls ominously as his pupils slit and gold rings form in his irises.

*Smoke begins emitting from Bayoll's mask.*

Bayoll: Are you challenging me?!

"Are you so dense as to not see that? Come at me and see what awaits you."

Bayoll: If it is a fight you want, it is a fight you'll get!

Geppro: To prevent potential property destruction and unneeded deaths, I'd advise you both go fight elsewhere.

Bayoll: Fine! Follow me!

Patrikolos shrugs and follows along.

## Hunting for Rats

*Pripyat, Ukraine.*
Arnak lands the helicopter in one of the designated areas, waiting for Slang to come out after he himself exits.

Slang: \*hops out of the heilicopter and looks around and the ruins of the cities\* You take westand I'll take east. \*begins to stick his tongue up into the air and walks off eastward of the city\*

Arnak studies the surrounding land before starting to walk, twirling a dagger made out of his own tissue as he goes.

In the distance Arnak can hear some sort of sound.

Various tendrils grow from his feet as he walks, instantly figuring out the source of the sound and he turns in its direction.

There Arnak can see 3 individuals sitting around a radio.

Arnak tilts his head and shapeshifts into a dark green snake, slithering across the land and eventually reaches the three individuals, listening in.

Man 1: So, what do you guys think?

Man 2: What do i think? I'm thinking why we're using an old-ass radio! That's what I'm thinking! Man 3: It was the only way to relay the information since it was a cassette tape.

Man 2: Who the hell uses those anymore! In this day and age, who would use those, ma' boy?

Man 3: You'd be fairly suprised.

Man 1: Who do you guys think we should had this off to?

Man 3: Not to Face. This would only cause some major casuaulities for us if we were to act upon this information.

Man 2: Yea, i mean we maybe thugs, but even we can't be that careless. Even with this sort of stuff. Something like these General Arms can do a number on our already screwed economy.

Man 1: No suprise it's from those troopers. But what about the JP? They could do something about it.

Man 3: Possibly. After all, I do suspect them to be the ones who took out Representative Komi. Did they try to get to Kavi too?

Man 1: Yea, but Sha'ta faked them out. I wonder if they know.

Arnak promtly bites the second man on his leg, and suddenly leaps up and bursts into the man's chest. Movement is seen from within the mans body, and Arnak as a snake bursts through their neck, taking his normal form after he slithers out. "You know, he really should have taken better care of his body."

Man 1: Oh shit! \*pulls out a sub-machine gun and starts shooting at Arnak\*

The bullets seemingly ricochet off nothing as they near Arnak, shooting straight back into the attacker. "Yeah...no." He turns to the third man, and grabs him by the neck. "There are more of you than just you three, correct?"

Man 3: \*choking\*

Arnak sighs. "I dont even need to bother asking." Arnak devours his face and then his head, dropping the decapitated body onto the ground, suddenly gaining all knowledge on the man's allies. He quickly turns to the radio, and takes out the cassette tape, placing it on one of his pockets. "Thank you for your contribution."

Arnak hears very quiet footfalls somewhere nearby.

He shapeshifts into a wounded man, wearing similar clothes to the men he killed. He lays down on the ground, smaller black tendrils coming out from his back that cannot be seen that give him another view of the surrounding land.

The tendrils are able to pinpoint a rough area, but not the exact location of the source of the noise.

"*Hmph, strange...*" As the rough area gets cloaser, Arnak feins clear signs of distress and pain, looking in the direction of where the rough area is.

As he gets closer, he just barely catches a glimpse of long green hair as it goes around a corner.

Arnak tilts his head, somewhat surprised. "*Interesting.*" He shape shifts into a raven and flies up into the air, flying over and tailing the green haired man.

The man stops as Arnak passes over him, and looks up directly at him.

Arnak lands nearby, tilting his head. "*It knows.*"

A mass of black shadows greets him, soon forming into the green haired man. "Aaaaah. So that's it. A youngling. My, the MCCP certainly just loves to throw fodder out into the battlefield, doesn't it? You're a Second Gen, are you not?"

Arnak turns back to his normal form, taking a step back. "I don't think thats something that needs to be disclosed...but yes." He seems to scan the strange man, eyes glowing.

He gives Arnak a faint smile, as one of his blue eyes turn yellow, a slited pupil forms in it.

"I can tell, the handiwork of the MCCP is fairly obvious these days. Regardless... carry on with your mission, I'm of no interest to you. Also, speak nothing to your Admin of me, it's not his concern to begin with, he is already on thin ice with us."

Arnak's face seemingly shifts to disdain. "Lets see...for one I don't or rather wouldn't like to see him as my, then, or even an Admin. So depending on your...allegiance, we might be able to..work something out. Its clear you know a few things, but so do I."

The man's face gets a strange smile, his face shadowed slightly. "How interesting. Haven't done a good job breaking you in, have they? No, I think it's closer to resentment. You resent when your prey is taken away... hmm. How nostalgic. Hmm. Well, I can't take you in, not directly at least, it would be obvious."

His eye fades back to blue. "In the capital, there is a fountain with the symbol of the horoscope of Cancer. Next time you have free time, find your way there, I can talk in greater detail. You're on a mission, so I would recommend you not idle."

He points off into the distance. "The next batch of your prey should be there. We'll speak again, youngling." He disappears into black mist.

Arnak says nothing but smirks as he dissapears. "Making comrades...in all, the right places it seems. Lets just see if they stick through." He teleports in the direction of where the man pointed.

Arnak reaches some sort of military installment, with tents and armories about.

He transforms into one of the men he killed earlier, and begins looking through the various tents.

In one of the tents, Arnak finds a book reading 'Confidential' on it

Arnak tilts hs head as he picks the book up, and sifts through it.

He reads a statment in the book '...The attack was a failure and had escelated unexpectedly, but this should make the president abit more hesitant on his decisions. The Boss has us still looking for this warp. I'm not usually one to look for anything, but I'm not neccessrily paid to do nothing. Me and my men have been about North America, Westrica and Indeonasia, but have not found it. It's amazing how we've only come across abandoned city ruins. I can't continue to skwander my men like this like we're some explorers. We are soldiers and our real task is to be rid of the National Power....'

He pockets the bool after grinning. "Oh how I do love bonuses." he continues sifting around camps for more info.

Arnak begins to find cassette tapes from various other tents.

He takes the tapes as well, and collects other files and books along the way. "I believe thats enough info...now lets see how well this place can scorch, but first..." Arnak begins looking around for others.

Arnak accidentally bumps into a man wearing a similar outfit to Ayakashi, but when he looks up, the man's face is completely wrapped in bandages from head to neck and the only thing he can see is the man's left eye, which is wide open. The eye is red in iris color and he can see stitches and staples on the rim of the eye's iris.

Man: A little distracted, aren't we soldier?

Arnak squints as he seemingly scans the man, taking a step back. "Of course, apologies sir. Although I must ask what were the most recent orders? I've been quite shaken up today and things seem to be escaping my mind..."

Man: Your recent orders? \*leans close to Arnak\* Your orders: Are to die.

Arnak feels himself being stabbed by the man, bare handed

Man: \*kicks Arnak away\*

The olther soldiers of the camps surround him. Tanks and all.

Man: Set on a repossession mission, Shadow?

Arnak begins to laugh as he is surrounded. "I cannot say the name Shadow is a name im called...you're likely confusing me for someone. But after this is all...sorted out, you're going to wish it was Shadow." Arnak transforms into his normal state, stretching. "Lets see...a few tanks, a few soldiers, and one bandaged bastard to cover up a disgusting face. Lets have some fun."  He takes an odd stance, seemingly aloof. "Go on, attack me first."

Man: I already did.

Arnak feels the strange sensation. Something like anger and digust the longer he looks at the man.

Man: It's your turn, Shadow.

"If that was an attack, then you are in some serious...serious trouble."  He looks to the tanks as he suddenly teleports onto one of them, slamming his fist onto the top of it with such force that the entire roof of the tank caves in. "Thats one.."

Man: And this is two. \*tosses a sliver cylinder near the tank\*

The cylinder begins to emit vibrating sounds. Arnak begins to feel his mind irritating him and that irritation grows into pain. His mind feeling like it's being shocked. Arnak falls to his knees, trying to block out the noise. He is covered in black substace and tendrils begin to flail about as it screams in pain.

Man: \*walks over to Arnak and looks down on him\* Savage as always.

Suddenly a skeletal snake whips at the cylinder and crushes it with it's fangs.

Man: \*turns to see where the snakes came from\*

There above the edge of the slope is Slang

Man: Men! Take him down.

The soldiers and taks begin to a shoot at Slang

Slang: \*begins takes the multiple shots\*

Man: \*turns to Arnak\* It's your turn agaain...

Some of the bullets being fired at Slang suddenly zoom back and straight into the soldiers heads, Arnak currently seething ontop the rubble of the tank. "Insolent...BASTARD!" Arnak's arm suddenly turns into a spiked whip that lashes across the mans face, ripping the bandage off and cutting against his chest as it whips back.  The whip then grabs the cannon of a nearby tank, ripping it off and swings it into the mans stomach.

The tank only hits the ground. The man reappears behind Arnak. The torn bandages are still covering the majority of his face.

Man: Give me back the information and I'll put in a word to The Boss for you.

A dark version of Arnak seemingly latches onto the man and digs large sharp claws into their shoulder blade, with the real Arnak teleporting a fair distance back. "No, I'd rather keep these. And once your skull is ripped from your body I think i'll keep that too." The shadow clone of Arnak digs its claws deeper into the man.

*Arnak notices that the man isn't even bleeding nor his his cloak torn. Arnak then sees that his shadow clone is somehow 'sinking' into the man until it's completely gone.*

Man: A shadow can't kill a man. Nor can it kill what isn't there.

The shadowy Arnak seems to retreat back into the ground and crawls all the way back to Arnak before it fully sinks into the man. "Thats where you're wrong." He opens his mouth and a purple mist escapes from it, completely encasing the surrounding area, and the man starts to feel intense pain from his lungs.

Man: \*breathes some of the mist out through is nose\*

Through the mist Arnak suddenly leaps forward unseen, slamming his fist into the mans chest and headbutting him in succession. He melds into the ground quickly after, dissapearing.

Man: \*stops Arnak's head and looks down at Arnak's hand in his chest, then looks back up at him. He grabs Arnak's arm and begins to crrush it with ease\*

As the man squeezes Arnaks arm, the tissue seems to shift as it completely wraps around the mans hand, and he finds that he is no longer squeezing anything. "Mind if I borrow something?" He feels intense pain as his pinky is ripped off, and Arnak retreats back, eating his finger. "Lets see..."

*Arnak feels his hand being sucked away*

"Ah, no. I do believe i'll be making an exit now. Slang, finish things here." Arnak warps away from the area.

Slang: Food... \*hisses\*

Man: \*walks towards Slang\*

Arnak finds himself at the very end of the military installment, and laughs as he creates a wave of fire, scorching and burning every tent to the ground. He warps away again.

*3 minutes later*

Slang: \*crwals out of the military installment with almost half of his body melted. His right arm is twisted and his face is full of shock\*

Arnak tilts his head, and picks up Slang. "Isn't this just a fine sight, no?"

Slang: \*hisses furiously at Arnak and continues tor crawl away\*

He follows Slang. "Should I end you now? Do you think the Admin would be fine with letting something so worthless continue crawling into the depths of patheticness? Come on, tell me. Tell me Slang."

Slang: I think he would displeased with you for your unprofessinalism and your lack of regard for your partner...

"Oh, I wonder why I'd be having a lack of regard for you. When I try to think of a reason, nothing comes up!" Arnak's tone is condescending as he scoffs.

Slang: I advise you to fix your atitude before The Administrator fixes it for you...

"I advise you fix your fucked up body before the Administrator fixes it for you." Arnak walks past Slang.

*Slang finally makes it to the helicopter and manaes to get in*

Arnak is already in the pilots seat as he takes off, flying back to MCCP.