Roleplay Overworld RP COMPLETE

Saber Lily · August 8, 2018

Rhaedyn and Xion: Unfortunately not with Good King Moggle Mog the XIVth.

Xion let the man rage. "Such is humanity. Because one of us is strong you assume they are fine. The overworld is amok with such power. And if a parent ceases to worry, no matter how capable a child is, then I wonder if they ever do care for their children." In truth, she had grown all the more protective since Eclaire had been banished from Mare Luxuria...and she refused to see her daughter anything less then happy and healthy. Taking a drought of the potion, she stepped through after them...then kicked off and flew, throwing her arms around Eclaire once in range.

"BY THE GODDESS YOU FOOL." she roared. "No note, no letter, no message!" She seethed. "I didn't know if you were even free!"

Eclaire didn't stumble much, ears drooping. "Y....you came?"

"Yes." Was all she said, letting go, she stepped back. "Wish you'd quit running off now."

Eclaire only smiled softly. "Yes, mother."

Thane lumbered up behind them. How did he drink the potion? Did he remove his helmet? Did he reveal his face? Who knows. Find out nextime on Overworld ~~FighterZ Boudakei Tenshi 4.~~

Endless Thundaga · August 9, 2018

Jynn Venas-Isopolis

Before the grappled clone smashes into the other clone, it vanishes. The grapple hook returns to Jynn’s slinger. Alicia informs the prince that they will take care of the other clones and leave him with the large clone with the katana. Jynn faces it. It slowly closes the gap, appearing to be weighed down by the weapon. “So........ what’s your story?” He then notices a wind aura surrounding the blade. “Ah.......... wind.” A large electric rune appears on top of his left arm, acting as a shield. Looks like I’m going to have to disable the wind before I can do anything. Fortunately, I know exactly how to do that.

La Justiceré surges with a dark energy. He places the sword inside of the rune-shield, seemingly connecting it. The two seem to morph into a large axe, with the sword acting as the support, and the rune-shield acting as the axe head. The two start to surge with dark energy. Jynn then swoops the “axe” right, then finally slams the “axe-head” on the ground in front of him, sending an explosive shockwave of dragon energy at the clone. Should the clone get even hit by shrapnel from the explosions, it will receive an unpleasant and unexpected surprise.

This is what the attack with the “axe” looked like. Warning, possible awesomeness overload.

(Will post for Bherna and Dawson tomorrow)

Vaude · August 10, 2018

- Odin, at the final door of the labyrinth -

Needless to say, Odin felt relief as his hand passed through the flames, uninjured of any kind. The potion puzzle was untampered with and understood by a fair share of the company, though he was unhappy to see that Xion was among the first to step through. Had she no thanks for the group for figuring out the puzzle for her? Maybe he did not care to know. Succubi were a branch of sentients he did not care much to affiliate with.

He slipped through the black flames, feeling them as cool to the touch, and walked on through the Labyrinth with the others. The path was straightforward, without twists and choices, and he soon spilled with his affiliates into a room with tall ceilings, stained glass, and a great door.

The stained glass caught his eye in particular, an oddly placed structure, while graceful and elegant, for the floor of the room. He skirted around it and glanced around the room with search magic active, seeking traps left by previous individuals who dared venture this far into the labyrinth, or maybe those of the labyrinth itself. He did not quite trust the situation, though others seemed to be gathered here for the time being. Perhaps it was safe enough with that keyless door standing sentry over the unique exit to the room.

- Rufus Contralto, in the Halls of Illusory Objects (Part 2) -

Mouse did not waste much time before putting her glass of water away behind her ear and drawing a curtain to Rufus' right with her massive trunk wrapped around an oversized drawstring. Rufus did not bat much of an eyelash about this, having not had the time to even think about looking right when he spent not nearly enough time looking in front of him and to the left, but when he looked intently to his marvelous right he squinted tightly. Darkness loomed within the shaded curtain room hidden behind the initial curtain wall, but that was not all that lurked within. Following the footfalls of a thousand spider-snakes in unison, a bellow called out from within, as well as a misshapen, apish head which jutted into the light. Rufus gasped.

"Oh my, Aunt Margaret! You are looking the worse for wear!" he voiced in shock.

The creature stared awkwardly, then shook its head, then rolled its eyes, and slithered (or was it scampered, judging from the noise and motions?) to the side of the room to reveal the real test. Inside an inky blackness was showcased, with shining eyes and a shining smile. It seemed familiar, very familiar, even.

"Well, look who's back, a loon of the highest caliber waiting to be tested," burbled the voice of the shadowy creature, its smile growing as it spread outside of the curtain with inky tendrils that grew and grew in size and intricacy.

"And who are you again? I haven't the knack for names, so you'll have to bear with me! Fred, right?" Rufus commented, puzzling over the shade.

"Fred? What a waggish name. Nihil is my real name, which I find suiting, don't you?"

"Eh," simply grunted Rufus with a shrug.

"Regardless of your preferences, which, from what I heard between you and your "girlfriend," can be quite scandalous in some circles, you will be given a challenge, and that challenge is me, but you do not remember me, do you?"

Rufus squinted harder at the smiling creature as it rescinded into an inky, humanoid shape, with an impressive tricorne hat and a decorative rod of onyx. His stomach sank a little. It was the spitting image of him, only much more dapper.

"I see you do," chortled the blackened creature, erupting into endless tendrils of darkness again. Mouse and the other elephant quivered nearby as the wisps lapped the air next to them, then consumed them within a jet whirlwind. The sounds of tearing flesh penetrated the air in unnerving fashion. While the two elephants were not real, Rufus felt sorry for the creatures, especially for the false Mouse. "I'm part of you, or was, anyway, though I was ripped from you to segregate something," the being continued. "Do you remember that, perhaps? That accursed hippie sundering us, when we used to be one? Think hard. Think deep."

Rufus frowned as he probed the depths of his own mind, searching for that moment. It was a fool's errand with such holes in his memory, but after some time he managed to recall something, flashing remnants of a distant past.

"This should complete it, Alexander. The rite is finished, and your daughter so dear to your heart has been sealed with the power of the newly erected barrier you requested. But, did we have to incorporate the strange thespian? His soul, split as it is, will only become more and more resolute and independent, and there is no tell--"

Garbled noises interjected the speaker, as if it came through a machine. It was painful, but it soon rang clear again.

"It seems you both have powers greater than you originally had, and are similar to the genies in the lamps of the Hezār Afsān. An odd side effect. Typically they are negative, but perhaps this is negative. How sad a life you must lead later, to give wishes and yet not receive your own, but it is for the good of all. My heart is heavy for you, but you must be parted further, and sealed away. The results of your reunion would be . . . calamitous at best, so I will seal you like in the Hezār Afsān: in lamps.

Silence reigned for a time, then shifted into irritating garbles again. Where in the world did that stupid noise come from, and why was it like that?

"Pardon the inconvenience for your choices of lamps. I can see you both now. You both cannot see me, but I did so for your protection, and for others. One of your wishes I have tested rang true in full without issue, and the other came true in horrific fashion. Now comes the worst of what I have to do. You must part ways with me, cleanly, never to come back. You are vital to the success of nations. I cannot risk your fusion for the sake of you both. This is goodbye."

-- -- -- -- --

((Part 3 of 3 INCOMING! Phew, what a handful this scene is. This is lasting longer than originally thought.))

Nero Kunivas · August 11, 2018

- Soren Monroe, Servant of Shiva's Will - Isopolis, Personal Trial, Hall of Illusions - (Long Post Ahead.)

Darkness overtook Soren's sight quickly, as he, Henry and Helios were seemingly taken away by Isopolis itself, deposited elsewhere. For only a few moments, Soren still couldn't see as he called out. "Helios? Henry?!" His voice echoed across the vast, dark expanse, until a small light illuminated across the hall, allowing Soren to press forward, but he noted that his surroundings became narrow, claustrophobic even and...rocky? As he was still in his Demonic Form, the glowing cracks along his brimstone pores dimly lit the rock faces around the oddly familiar tunnel he was navigating. The air flowing to his face told him he was nearing its end, but suddenly, a figure appeared at the "exit", one he knew all too well as it extended a flat hand, indicating he should stop.

"...you're, the Infiltrator?" Soren uttered softly, his disbelief was at a minimum, for he knew Isopolis would begin testing him eventually. The Infiltrator simply nodded, then he snapped a finger, the cave around them lighting up yet there was no light source that was doing this. More unsettling was the eerie tone the lighting held as Soren reverted to Human Form and exited the tunnel, the Infiltrator stepping back to allow him passage. "Do you remember this place like I do, Soren?" The man unknown to Soren as Teshub quizzed, the former squinting his eyes, internally admitting his familiarity first as he gave a quick scan of the rocks before looking to the masked man. "The Caverns below Isopolis...where I first met you." Soren replied, with the Infiltrator seeming pleased that he did, yet after his reaction, occurred the stranger thing: Behind the Infiltrator, Phantoms of Soren and himself were fighting, clear as day, just as they did many months prior. The "real" Infiltrator moved to Soren's left as they both watched the conflict take place, blow after blow, hellfire meeting furious lightning and the speedy spy versus the demonic juggernaut, in a bout that would end...with a discussion. Negotiation would ensue and before Isopolis itself knew it, its once illustrious Sentinel, blessed with one of the highest honours any Overworlder could earn, was turning traitor at the behest of a silver tongue and his own fleeting dream.

"Strange..." The demon uttered, prompting a "Hmm?" from Teshub, leading Soren to explain with crossed arms. "Only now do I realize that...you, ahh, the Infiltrator, held a familiar aura. But it was only so when Raiden emerged from his secret room, or whatever that was. Panic room for all I know, bearing a similar one." He noted, shaking his head afterward. "I don't think anything of it now, why should I? He's my friend and a man I promised to return to. Why doubt him for a smell, right?" The Infiltrator had to stifle a hearty laugh upon hearing Soren's words of irrelevance, yet fascination. "What's so funny?" "Oh, nothing...I'm, forbidden to say anyway."

"It's, best to find some things out yourself, correct?" The Infiltrator posed, Soren nodding in agreement, but soon enough he was frowning. "Why show me this, anyway?" He asked with a deep hum of concern for what came next. "I've much more for you to see, Soren. Moments of your life and more...and you'll find that a lot of it holds a common...theme." The Infiltrator went on to say, gesturing a little all the while at Soren and all around. The ex-Sentinel couldn't help but think the theme was frustration for a moment, for seeing his Phantom agree to Teshub's proposition irritated him. "Oh, it's only going to get worse, my friend...behold!" The Infiltrator declared, moving ahead of Soren for a few steps, seemingly reading his mind as he snapped his fingers once more. This time, their entire surroundings transformed quickly and dramatically, into a vicious warzone across a large open field, two armies, one of pure Fey and the other bearing differing banners and a mix of Fey and Human, clashing with one another.

"The Second War Between Worlds in a thousand years...?!" A surprised Soren almost shouted, not only because of this, but because deep down, he knew exactly what was coming up, his thoughts derailed as he avoided a hurled body during the chaos. "Oh relax, Soren, they're only Phantoms, dear friend!" The Infiltrator spoke, but not in the comforting tone such words should accompany, hell, he didn't even sound the same at all...a puzzled Soren relaxed but glared at his company, who stepped forward a little before slipping off his mask, revealing a different face to what he was expecting. "Just like me, but what can you do when faced with the shadows of your mind?" The face of Ren Mordecai spoke in an unusually taunting manner, though Soren, while listening, was taken aback by this sudden shift. "Ren...?" "Not me! The one over there!" Ren said, strangely, in a teasing fashion as he pointed with his mask at a Phantom of Wind Drake Ren fighting off a recently transformed Meksis, the Defiled, who was laughing maniacally and repeatedly outwitting and wounding the Drake!Ren.

"No...!" Soren's breathing became ragged and angered as he looked upon the sight, helpless as the other Ren patted his shoulder insistently. "Soreeeen?" "Phantoms...I know. It's just...hard actually seeing this..." Soren wanted to look away, but Ren gestured with his mask, while looking around Soren, behind the fight between the Drake and the Defiled. "Maybe that will be easier? No?" He spoke as he pointed to a distant, yet clear shot of Soren, kneeling to Shiva in despair. "It isn't..." "Oh, I'm so sorry. I should've known it'd be hard to witness you prostrating yourself before the Queen? So willing to die, weren't you~?" Ren was seemingly on a quest to mock Soren relentlessly as he walked around him, though he suddenly snapped and grabbed Soren by the collar, the Demon barely reacting. "But I wasn't!!" As quickly as he snapped, Ren calmed down, releasing Soren and beginning to act a bit more...reserved. "Perhaps another?" Ren uttered, snapping his fingers once more, their surroundings becoming darker, the scent of lake water was in the air, as the immediately obvious pair of Phantoms stood nearby.

"Lake Kresnek..." Soren whispered in shock, clenching his fists, his eyes initially focused squarely on Shiva and Raiden, discussing the future of the Overworld and Humanity, one that they hoped to see together, hand in hand. It was then that Ren stood at Soren's side, throwing off his hood with a flourish, revealing now he held the countenance of the late Queen herself. "The day we were supposed to meet together and come to a decision...you, wanted to ensure Shiva's safety, didn't you?" Shiva spoke firmly as ever, seeming very like herself, offering Soren the minimum of relief. "But it seems...that you should've had your eye, elsewhere. For as much as you wanted her favour, my forgiveness, you simply failed to see." "Silence! I know..." Shiva and Soren spoke, the former's attitude already differing as a Phantom of Nergal lunged forth from the shadows, brutalizing the Phantom Shiva just as Soren remembered it, every vivid, horrifying detail captured by Isopolis's dark magics. Each stab made Soren wince, though he couldn't take his eyes away, for his seething hate for Nergal drew his gaze to the ashen-skinned Queenslayer.

"Such merciless regicide is hard to witness...harder when you think you could've stopped it, is it not, Soren?" Soren remained silent in reply as he watched the Phantoms of Raiden and himself attempt to stop Nergal, but were met with only a brief duel, a taunt and swift departure, all the while his perfectly replicated laughter echoed, like that of a delighted, malicious child, yet it soon devolved into purely maniacal laughter as he grew distant, leaving the Phantom Soren only able to roar in rage. Having to relive Shiva's untimely death forced Soren to choke back his grief, only able to say a few words, lest he weep again. "What more must I see?!"

"Enough for you to learn something." This face-shifting apparition's mannerisms always shifted, always changed, yet the finger snap was always the same; Quick, formal and loud, as their surroundings changed once more, to something Soren thought he'd never see again, somewhere he hadn't been for three thousand years...

"The Valleys of Tartarus...my people's underground homeland...Isopolis...you are cruel." The constantly back-lit by hellfire underground expanses and caverns soon surrounded the pair, a place for Demons and other such dark beings deep below ground, even lower than the Caverns of Isopolis. Their immediate surroundings were that of a burning village, one that housed former Nomads who had migrated to Tartarus from other parts of the Overworld, perhaps seeking new life or just somewhere that was away from it all. It was then that Shiva threw off the cloak entirely, revealing she now held the cadence and physique of a male Demon much like Soren's Demonic Form, but more organic in form and bearing different lower-half covering clothing, along with shorter horns and a slightly more human face. The Demon extended his claws and flexed his still extended hand as he looked upon Soren. "Cruel to be kind I would hope...recognize this face?" He spoke with a hiss to his words, yet with a strangely gentlemanly tone, that was all too familiar, with near to no deviation from the personality he knew.

"How could I forget? ...Amon. My...my elder brother's face is what you wear, shade." The, thing, posing as Amon simply smiled devilishly as events resumed motion around them, with a large party of various kinds of Demon moving through the Nomadic Village, burning, crushing, smashing and killing all they could see. It was during this time that a younger, also more organic looking Soren emerged, having yet to spill any blood here, for this was part of his lengthy, arduous initiation, to succeed his father's status in their society. The youthful Soren broke down the door of an already burning house, having heard screams, soon coming face to face with a little girl, remarkably unscathed despite her home being on fire and her parents...well, they were to be seen. As burnt husks around her. Soren caught direct eye contact with her and quicker than he could raise his arm to prepare to deliver the only blow he'd need, his heart sank, the naive and fledgling demon could barely focus on what he was taught anymore, because all he could see now was a little girl, crying among the charred husks of her mother and father.

The initiate Soren lowered his arm, it dangling at his side as he shooed her away. "Just go! ...GO!" The girl took the hint, finding a spot where the flames briefly subsided to escape the building and run away to safety. Having soon emerged from where he came, his brother came into view, a fair few demons anxiously waiting behind Amon as he gestured to the fleeing girl. "Brother, you're letting one get away!" He called out, beaming away as he prepared a fireball. "No matter, I'll clean up for you!" Before he could react, Soren had slapped his arm downward, the fireball impacting the ground between the bemused Amon and a practically shivering Soren. "Dear brother, surely this is a joke? It's a funny one, I'll admit, but come now~" Amon jested, hoping that Soren hadn't lost his marbles in his eyes. Soren simply shook his head aggressively at Amon. "I cannot do this, Amon...I can't!" He growled, fighting back his anger and despair, practically a teenager in Demon Years, releasing Amon's arm who was positively taken aback by this.

"Soren, Soren, Soren! This is our nature!! We are Demons, we cannot take pity or offer mercy, not even to little girls! Are you, feeling okay?" Amon declared flamboyantly, clearly taking pride in his heritage, gesturing around to all Demons and other malcontents present, before displaying concern to his little brother, who continued moving erratically as his voice broke repeatedly. "N-No! No I am not, I cannot do any of this! Burning down a village of travelers? Murdering a defenseless little girl who can do nothing but kneel amidst her parents barely recognizable corpses?! This is madness! It's, it's not how I want to live!!"

"Sha'ir er bo ka do! Ge de eerir!" A Demon behind Amon bellowed in their native tongue, before roaring at Soren and preparing to charge. "Hold your tongue, Hokar! You are addressing one of Mephisto's twin sons! He simply needs reaffirming of his destiny...stand down." Amon spoke softly, but it was a tranquil fury, briefly masked by a dramatic flair regarding their parentage, as he was offended by Hokar's words against Soren, the former doing as asked and retreated behind Amon, who looked to Soren, slowly approaching, hands raised. "Little brother, do not strain yourself. It is indeed a lot to take in, I know...but you must remember, this destiny is one we share! This burden can be spread between us, no? You won't disappoint father, not under my watch, Soren. If that's what you're worried about~?" Soren's older brother proved his position as he attempted to calm Soren, who was still brimming with a fire of mixed, passionate feelings.

"No, brother...I-I just, I just can't live this way" Amon then frowned, quizzically tilting his head a little. "You know of the Land Above already, don't you?" Soren didn't answer, but his telltale look away of shame told Amon all he needed to know. "Their morals, their ways of living, the prestige one can earn...it is nothing compared to what I can give you, what we can all give you! This IS your life!" "NO. I'm sorry, Amon, but it's not!!" Soren bellowed in response, attempting to turn tail and run, as Amon lunged, attempting to stop his brother from fleeing. "No, Brother, please listen--!" "Let go of me!" "Soren, just stop!"

Amon could not say anymore than this, for Soren had turned to face him once more, his eyes now glowing a telltale orange; the shade of Demonic Instincts taking over as he clasped at his brother's neck tightly, bending him backward as Amon barely fought against him, instead desperately trying to tell Soren to stop, but unable to actually say it. The instinct-consumed Soren growled as he wished to silence the constant tapping on his arms, deciding to wring Amon's neck backward, a sickening snap sounded as Amon's thrashing ceased, Soren tossing his corpse to the brigade of surprised Demons as he glared at them, huffing and puffing with bloodlust...slowly regaining his senses, Soren quickly realized what had just happened, only able to look at his hands, terrified and about ready to run once more. Hokar looked up at Soren from the distance as he roared once more. "Kinslayer!!"

Another Demon, more straightened up than Hokar, stood forth, seemingly shocked as he lightly pointed to Amon's body. "Yo...you, broke your pact!" This was bad enough, but what horrified the young Soren more was when said demon began to laugh out loud, genuinely amused as he gestured outward. "You have succeeded your brother! Now you are the prodigal son, Soren! You truly cannot escape your fate now..." This Demon was called Balthazar and he couldn't help but be outspoken, charisma coming naturally to the Demon who had always frequently reminded Soren and others like him of their fates, proclivities and actions, ensuring they stay on course. Soren wasn't having any more of this, turning tail and sprinting away. "You cannot simply run!!" Balthazar called out, but was cut off when Soren summoned a wall of hellfire to halt him as he made his escape. Balthazar eventually parted the flames and pointed furiously at Soren. "You may run, Soren! But you will never run faaaar enough!!" Following this, was mocking laughter from Balthazar, as the tearful youth speared off into the unknown, desperate to outrun his fate and all of his kind, wanting a different future where his instincts as a Demon would never rule him again...

The true, present day Soren was almost as tearful himself, with the representation of his brother and Isopolis looking onward at the scene ahead, soon focusing on the real thing, who's heart still ached over Amon's death. "You two were so different...so why do you mourn him?" 'Amon' asked Soren, who's head turned slowly to face him, tears still streaming. "He was still my brother...and he only wanted to help me. It was not the life I wanted, I couldn't bear the senseless destruction or pain, not since my trials began and especially not then...but Amon didn't have to die! Not for me to escape, for anything..." Soren spoke dully, sounding almost broken by the sight, his voice only raising when Amon was directly mentioned, but falling back down to a saddened droll. Soren had closed his eyes to fight back the tears, but when they opened, he found himself in a strange, endless blue-white void of swirling energies, with 'Amon' taking the visage of the Infiltrator again, but it was altered, for any sigils of Mystras or whatever he bore were replaced with ancient, undecipherable words and letters that strewed Isopolis's halls and his mask was more similar to Nergal's than anything else. As this truer representation of Isopolis's Hall of Illusions stood before Soren, he sighed deeply at the Demon.

"See the pattern yet?"

"Of course. You've shown me my greatest failures. But, one wasn't like the other at all."

"How so, pray tell?"

"Amon's death was due to, instinct taking over and my desire to change my fate. But my betrayal, Ren's death and Shiva's murder...all were due to some kind of weakness on my part...weakness of will or a failure to protect, to be there..."

"And you felt your strength lacking. You felt that if you were blessed with greater fortitude, foresight or just more power, you could prevent them, is that about right?!"

"...perhaps, if I were stronger, or more prepared, I could--"

"Enough! Soren...allow me to show you, where that path takes you. For as a Demon, you have clearly forgotten!"

The bitter voice of Teshub, now strangely serious about what he was saying, was followed by one more finger snap, which would once more take them to Isopolis's Caverns, but it too was altered by scorch marks, melted rocks and a general dark aura as the two of them turned to its center and moved forward, seeing a light ahead of them that was quickly illuminated by the same eerie source-less light as before, revealing something disturbing indeed. A grotesquely large monster, laying across a throne made from rocks and random scraps, the creature itself was vaguely demonic, but its horns resembled deformed antlers, its body was oddly proportioned, the legs being lean and mean but the upper body was burly, particularly the oversized left arm and hand, dangling upon the floor as the nearly faceless creature slumbered, embers lit across its straggly, large "hairs" that lined its body. Soren and the Infiltrator would feel great strength from the body before them, yet it wasn't...right. Their surroundings matched this feeling, as words were carved into rocks or written in blood desperately, a broken Greatsword still lit with flames as the day it was forged, a tossed aside sapphire amulet still engraved with its words and glowing faintly, discarded and battle-damaged demonic armour littered the area and upon the monsters abdomen, was an oversized version of Soren's abdominal Amulet, that always manifested in his demonic form.

"...it, it cannot be--" Soren began, choking on shock as the Infiltrator looked on scornfully as he stepped aside. "Oh but it is...this, monster...is your fate. Demons who hopelessly pursue power are almost always consumed by it! Driven by instinct as their sapient minds can only watch in horror, as the Beast roams...and now it comes, for you." The Infiltrator concluded as he suddenly vanished before the flames of the Corrupted Soren began to stir, allowing him to begin rising from his 'throne', albeit stiffly at first. Soren could only stare in awe for a while, an awe that stemmed on just what "he" had become, the Corrupted Soren all the while had flames igniting more across his body, giving him a vibrant ember-fueled glow, but as he rose to a seated stance, Soren clutched his head seemingly in pain with his smaller right hand, groaning all the while. But the groan wasn't like the real Soren, Demonic or otherwise. It was distorted, higher-pitched and beastly, now falling to a knee as he attempted to get off of his throne, seeing Soren with its sunken, glowing eyes and desperately reaching for him with his free hand, still grasping his head in pain.

Soren recoiled and stepped back from his beastly apparition, mostly out of horror rather than disgust, as his corrupted self lowered his left hand a little, shaking his head slowly...before staring right at his unsullied self, clutching at his skull still as he let out a full-on, protracted and otherworldly shriek, his mouth completely aglow and having no discernible features, as Soren could've sworn he was hearing this projection of himself screaming endlessly as he was directed by nothing more than base instinct, corrupted by dark powers, fully reaching out for Soren this time, almost begging for Soren to come back to him, to help him...or to kill him.

(Part 2 coming soon! Reference video for the last moments below, starts at 20 seconds.)

(Meksis coming later as well.)

(And Nergal? Not yet, Snake. )

Edited August 17, 2018 by Nero Kunivas

Scrapmaster · August 11, 2018

- Alicia and Mikhail - The Spell Weaver and The Witcher - Fake Shiva fight -

The Clone's attack on Alicia was interrupted by the Jynn, and before Alicia's spell could do anything, the clone was already dead. But the other, Katana wielding clone was approaching Jynn, with wind magic on its katana. Alicia weighted her options, waiting for Jynn to conclude his attack to follow up.She began casting her spell "Lux, Ignis, Glacies!" She would then follow up with a triple spellcast of a light spear, a fireball and an icicle, which would all fly towards the Clone, the fireball would explode on impact, The spear of ice would freeze the clone's area of impact if it landed, and the spear of light would impale the clone, before exploding in a bright flash of hard light after a few seconds.

Mikhail on the other hand was dealing with both clones, one threw three daggers in a quick and synchronized motion, Mikhail's reflexes allowed him to defelct two daggers with his sword and duck his head under the third. As the second clone began to cast a spell that cast a flame on the ground, Mikhail's free hand moved to his pocket as he brought out a bomb. The path of fire was of little threat considering his shield, Quen, would protect him after all. He threw his bomb, which ignited in a blinding flash of light, the common witcher bomb, Samum. Regardless if it blinded them of not he sprinted forward, jumping at a wall and using his feet to impulse him towards the clone who had casted the fire spell, in a spining motion mid-air as he aimed to slash the clone in half. Taking advantage of the possible blindness of them.

- Henry - The Dreadnought - Hall of Illusion -

As Henry's mental triel seemingly ended, he began to see the faint apparition of a door, old fashion, with an old fashiln handle and everything, kinda nostalgic, really. As he focused more and more on the door he noticed it started to become real. As he approached it, and moved his hand for the handle...he hesitated for a second. "No." Henry spoke, with a rather serious voice. "Not yet." He spoke as he turned around and walked back into the hall. Since Isopolis used one's mind...wel...Henry was going to take advantage of that.

As he walked back into the hall of illusion the environment began to change again, to a grassy field, or rather the outside of a forest, overlooking a burning village, with what seemed like a platoon of Sondon soldiers regrouping outside of it. Was it a bandit attack? Or an attack from Helvadora? Well...neither of those were true, because a figure in the middle of them all was watching as well...donning an armor Henry knew all too well.

"My armor..." Henry muttered as he approached, and the soldiers began to walk off, passing by Henry without them noticing him, apparently they couldn't see him, it was a memory after all. The figure in his armor...or rather himself stood still, watching the village burn for a little while longer before turning around and walking back as well. Not noticing Henry...until he walked in front of it and pushed it with his hand, his hand went through the memory, but an apparition, much like that of a ghost, wearing Henry's armor and weapons, except colored in full black and with a shadowy aura around it, with red eyes, seemingly unmoved by Henry's push as he looked at it.

"The guilt. I carry the guilt of my atrocities in Sondon's name still. But I can't keep holding onto it forever...I have to forgive myself." Henry spoke. with a Somber and melancholic tone in his voice. "You are the guilt that lies within me..." as Henry finished speakin, his embodied guilt looked up, and threw a punch to his face, Henry moved his body back to dodge it, as he did so his guilt emited a strong aura of darkness, sending a shockwave towards him. Strong enough to throw the unprepared Henry off his feet and a few meters back. As he rolled back he noticed his guilt charging at him with high speed in a sword swing. Silent, not saying a word, Henry unsheated his sword quick enough and blocked the hit, entering a power struggle as one pushed against the other. After a struggle with both enhanced beings, Henry managed to win in the struggle somewhat, pushing it off as it recoiled backwards.

"I...I have to kill you, whether I want to or not." Henry spoke determined. Finaly, his Embodied guilt roared at him, sending out another wave of darkness his way, but this time Henry was ready, Henry's eyes glew a dark red color as he charged dark energy into his arm and released it into a frontal, more controled and powerful wave of darkness as he sprinted towards it, charging a fireball on his hand and throwing it towards it, forcing it to block the hit, enough for Henry to close the distance and deliver a crushing haymaker to its face, sending it staggering back, unbalanced from the powerful punch and unable to block Henry's followup sword swing, cutting it in the stomach, as he continued into a stab to the gut, impaling it completely on his sword. Enough for Henry and his guilt to touch each other. "You've haunted me for too long. Now it is time for you to disappear...I forgive myself...Goodbye." His guilt began to dissipate, it slowly disappeared until it was no more.

Henry slowly sheated his sword. As he began to feel an unberable, excruciating pain on his chest, as he knelt down in pain, releasing his sword onto the ground, grunting and screaming in agony as his body began to change...This was no normal type of pain. it was pain from the inside, he'd notice a small dark aura from him subsiding slowly, until it fully vanished. And the pain along with it...he felt...relieved...like a weight was torn off him, a weight that was on him for a long time now. He also noticed that his aura was different as a result of it...no longer having any traces of dark magic...it was gone...it seemed like in killing his own guilt...the thing that haunted him for so long, he destroyed his own dark magic...it seemed like in doing so he was rejecting his own powers...fueled by his emotions...he closed his hands into fists. If this is what it would take for him to be rid of his demons...then so be it.

Mystics Apprentice · August 14, 2018

Helios joins the group at the Final Door:

Helios is blinded by light as it pours through the door, enveloping his entire form as it seems to pull him through the doorway. The brightness dulls to reveal a room on the other side of the doorway, to which many familiar faces await. He has arrived at the room with the Final Door, accompanying his fellow comrades and, especially, Aura.

The False Queen: (Mikhail, Jynn, Alicia)

The ninja that trekked toward Jynn stopped in his pursuit, as Jynn dealt an attack that would've knocked the wind out of the mightiest of foes. The ninja attempted to leap back out of harm's way, though was struck in the leg by a shard of shrapnel. It cried out in agony, collapsing to the ground and glancing up at Jynn with fury. It threw two well-timed knives in Jynn's direction, one aiming for his torso and the other directly at his throat.

Alicia, however, came down with her barrage of spells upon the clone, to which it was unable to counter. All three elements met their mark, the ninja exploding with one final shrill cry before dissipating entirely.

The two clones were unable to continue their combat with Mikhail upon the death of the original. Before their departure, however, the flame-throwing ninja was preparing a roundhouse kick to knock the wind out of Mikhail, though his aim was poor due to the flash bomb briefly taking away his site.

They both cried out something in an unknown tongue, before disappearing entirely. In the wake of the katana original that Alicia destroyed rested a vial, its contents being a red liquid with an ornate golden cap. Perhaps it could prove useful deeper within the labyrinth, or even beyond into future trials.

There was only one route remaining, and that was going back the way that they had come. Should they follow this path, they would eventually greet their allies at the Final Door, where Helios recently appeared through a door of his own.

rikunobodyxiii · August 15, 2018

{Mariel: Isopolis; Final Door}

Mariel was relieved to see other members of the party make it, especially Sifrei and Odin. Still, Helios was not yet amount them. She was growing concerned. Without that key, who knew what kind of trap they'd have to face to get the door open.

"Alright, I'm heading back out." She declared. "I might be able to track Helios down by his aur-"

Speak of the key bearer, and he appeared. The Guardian Angel wasted no time in reaching out and pulling Helios fully into the room, not wanting to risk even the possibility of something pulling him back and away.

"Do you still have that key you found?" Mariel asked.

Endless Thundaga · August 15, 2018

Jynn and Bherna-Isopolis

The rune acting as an axe head disappears, and the clone collapses to the ground. Enraged, it hurls two knives, one aimed for his face, and one for his face. He manages to catch the first knife, right before it touches his face, but the second knife digs right into his elbow. Luckily, his gauntlet was able to slow it down and lessen the damage, nor did the knife manage to strike bone or important muscle tissue. He unearths the blade out of his elbow.

Alicia and Mikhail defeat all the remaining clones. But the one wielding the katana left behind a vial containing a red liquid, with a gold cap keeping it inside. The prince grabs it and examines it. “Hm. I’m not sure what use this has now........ but maybe it will coming up ahead.....” Placing it on his belt, he looks to see a singular path leading back the way they came from earlier. “We need to regroup with the others.” He starts to head down the path.

It took a while before Jynn and the others reach everyone else, who were standing in front of a large door. Jynn takes a closer look at it, standing next to Rabiyu. “So, what have we here?”

Edited August 17, 2018 by Endless Thundaga

Vaude · August 16, 2018

- Rufus Contralto, within the Hall of Illusory Objects, Part 3 -

Within seconds, the voice died down to garbles before all sounds, all noises, cut out. Rufus expected more, for whatever reason, his ears ready for more, his eyes closed so that he can concentrate on the sounds, but when he gave up and opened his eyes he saw nothing. Blackness stretched across his world of vision, though when he looked down he could see himself without issue. It was a curious sensation, though he quickly found out the reason when a wide grin yawned out from horizon to horizon in front of him.

"Do you remember now what was done to us?" burbled Nihil, his teeth visibly bobbing up and down like rising and falling mountains. "They used us, those of this world. At first they bifurcated us, and then they again and again received wishes at no cost of themselves and every cost of us. Only fragments of memories of our past life are available to us, and less and less are available after every wish. You understand now? Our own being is the fuel for others' happiness."

Rufus frowned deeply, then decided to test it out, sifting through his memories in order to find the ones he thought of as of the recent weeks. He could feel their presence, but he could also feel their hollowness. It was as if they existed, yet no recollection can be made. The girl with long hair, the motley crew of . . . someone. Even what he did was a blur, though he did remember that he was a playwright, and he did remember Mouse from somewhere. Come to think of it, Nihil appeared to remember them too. Was it because this world, or whatever it was, was based around Rufus' own mind?

"Who knows what happens once we are spent of recollection?" continued the shade, eyes without pupils erupting from the inky blackness. "Do we devolve into mere wish-granting artefacts, the very lamps we are sealed into, or will we become more and more mindless, more corrupted? Neither sounds good to me."

The eyes dwindle into slits, stretching over the very long grin into similar long lines.

"I desire out of this samsara, but I cannot do it alone. You need to make the conscientious choice of rejoining those people who abuse your ability . . . or fighting your servitude and protecting what we have left, or regain it back. Like he said ages ago, that hippie: we are resolute, and we are independent. Given the choice, we can stay here and make everything right in your own private world, or we can ensure our full resurrection by having others wish for our memories and our forms back, through trickery, if we must! We need--"

Enough words!" shouted Rufus, his gaze fierce enough to silence Nihil. The eyes without pupils reopened and stared. "I appreciate the thought of our well-being, ol' buddy ol' chum, but we cannot skirt honour for results!"

The great darkness chipped away into tiny streaks of white, as if veins long stressed were surfacing under a new burden.

"You would doom us to slavery without memory for honour? All has been stripped from us, and you don't want to claim it because of a few stupid ties?!" the darkness shrieked, knocking Rufus back into a memory.

A girl, her brown hair long, her green eyes full of life. She is smiling. She is vibrant and full of promise. Whoever she was, she was important for some reason. She held out her hand with a herb palmed within.

"What about her?!" cried out Nihil, dragging him back into their discussion. "You crossed dimensions, seeking some way to find her, to be with her. You are going to let that drift away?!"

"I . . . of course not!" called back Rufus, feeling shaken. Who was that girl?

"Then abandon that tripe! Claim what we want, what we need. We need not deal with the casual whims of wishmakers when we can make our own path."

Rufus bit down on his tongue, swaying both ways, struggling to think up the best solution, before he reached a final decision.

"I will stick to what I am doing. Abandoning my morals for myself is like losing myself, but far better would it be to lose your process of thought than that, so stop your harping! You gab too much, so begone! Vamoose! Or, you know, however I get rid of you."

Nothing happened for a period of ten seconds or so, and the glare coming from Nihil was intense and never lessened. The grin was unbearably growing into wild hillocks and dales.

"It seems I have to do things myself. Force you, in other words."

Rufus opened his mouth to speak, but it was too late. Tendrils of darkness, darker than the ulterior inkiness, reached out towards him in order to snare him. Angry, flustered, and just not in a good mood, Rufus held out his hand. The darkness faded into light everywhere he pointed his palm, and Nihil snarled furiously, his grin erased into a blank canvas in some areas.

"HOW DARE YOU!" the shade shrieked. It strove to rebuild itself, but Rufus did not let the reconstruction happen. Instead, the nullifying power grew and grew until it consumed every last bit of darkness around him. He was back to the realm with Mouse, White Elephant in the Room, and Aunt Margaret, and he smiled a beaming smirk as he breathed in the fresh air and proceeded to cough violently.

"Too fresh," he wheezed between breaths, then sniffled and returned to conversation. "False Mouse, you are all right? You too, Whitey?"

Double trumpets sounded off from the two pachyderms, followed by some sort of shrugs.

"Good!" Rufus answered, still smiling like an idiot. "Now, where's the door around here?"

Both pointed in opposite directions, one straight in front of him and the other behind him. Aunt Margaret just stared from behind the curtain in her creepy, creepy way.

"Thank you. I'll go right, then! Adios! May I see your real variants sometime soon after I'm done with my biz."

With a bow and an imaginary taking off of a hat, he struck off into the distance and, as suddenly as he appeared, disappeared after reaching for a door handle and tugging the portal open. He was back to reality, and yet seemed even more silly than ever, kicking his heels together whimsically as he zipped off to join the rest of the group.

Edited August 16, 2018 by Vaude

Stardustblade358 · August 16, 2018

- Helios - /w Everyone else - The Final Door -

Helios blinked a few times as he found himself at a new door, and a new scene. He stared, his hands moving his chest as he felt the necklace around his neck. Ren. Ariana. Was that a trial? They were warned that Isopolis would mess with his mind, that might've been one of those tricks. He pulled up the necklace, gently giving it a kiss as it was one of his beloved treasures. "Until we meet again." He whispered, his eyes closed for a moment. He would not deny it, to see them, to hear their voices and see their faces. It all felt like it was a blessing...but he knew better. It was merely the temple using his memories and emotions to test him...he wondered if he passed after all. He would open his eyes, just noticing as Mariel. He paused for a moment nodding quickly. "Right, I do." He said. He reached to his satchel, pulling out the ebony key that had been formed from the defeat of the basilisk. He turned to look back up at the door. He held the key, stepping with Mariel towards the door. He stared at the mosaic above, his eyes gleaming as he stared at it. A dragon? Now, it could mean many things. The dragons were always used as symbols of royalty and danger. Maybe they had to defeat a dragon? Or maybe it was a warning that there was a dragon behind them. Or- "Could this key work?" He asked, whispering under his breath as he held the basilisk key in his hand. Because in reality, there was only one other thing that he could think that was dragon related. The gift he was given by his friend. The relic of the clan of pure blooded dragons that lived in this world. His other hand moved down, pulling out the necklace that he held around his neck. It could just be coincidence. The dragon was used for many things and symbols, after all. Or it could have been destiny. Something predicted from along before his own time, built specifically and perfectly to be followed unbeknownst to any of them. Who knew. Certainly not him. Yet he tried, looking up as he held both items at hand. "I do not see a keyhole, though." Helios said, looking back at Mariel. "If we were to use this key, where would it go?"

Elrandir · August 17, 2018

- Rabiyu, Aura and Sifrei - The Final Door -

"A closed door without a key. A key that, to our unluckiness, another of our group has," Rabiyu answered Jynn without looking at him, "I suppose we really should go back and try to find Helios at this point. Some of our members are yet to return as well."

At this point Rabiyu went back to being quiet, watching the form of the dragon while pondering what would be on the other side of the door, or if that dragon would come to life when they last expected it. Aura was watching the path, waiting for any sign of Helios and the others.

"Don't worry, they will make it," Sifrei's voice said from behind, "Don't lose your hope."

Aura turned around and was about to answer Sifrei when she heard Mariel ask if if they still had the key they found. The young woman turned around once more and let out a sigh of relief as she saw Helios safe and sound. She made her way towards Helios and nodded.

"You need to pay close attention to the door, Helios," Aura said, "If you look closely enough you will see that there is a keyhole."

"A warning, though, Helios. It would be wise to be prepared to face whatever trial will be placed upon us once the key is put into the keyhole and the door is opened," Rabiyu said.

Sora's Baby · August 18, 2018

~Aqua: You Know where, Mind Trial~

Aqua blinked. “It’s Aqua-” She had started to remind him only to be cut off by him and then he had run off! “Rude!” She cried out as she ran after him. Rufus was going to get such the stern lecture once she caught up to him. She followed him as closely as she could up the stairs (formerly metal boxes) and to the other side where the path split. She watched Rufus as he went down the left path and then she followed after him. Mere moments after she got on the path, darkness eclipsed her view. She closed her eyes tightly not from fear, although there was some, but from the sudden shift from light to pure darkness.

On reflex, she opened her eyes at the feeling of warm sunlight and a faint breeze. She looked around in awe and shock because she recognized the forest; it had path lead her to her childhood home. She remembered both fond and not so fond memories of the path playing, getting lost, picking berries, she was overcome with memories. She shook her head clear and forced herself to walk down the path. It was a question as to how she got there. She was confused, but for now, she needed to keep on the path. She soon arrived at another very familiar place. A place she hadn’t seen since her childhood in her village.

Her body stiffened slightly from fear because she hadn’t expected to see her village ever again. A tired sigh escaped her mouth so this was the game, a mind trial. The startling lack of anyone being in the usually lively village was proof enough. She took a deep breath and walked inside the village proper. It was an odd feeling the hungover the village. The place had a grim air about it and a desolate feel.

She could see that everything was exactly how she remembered it, at least at a glance. She could see all the vendor's stalls, the school, the clinic and even the homes were in perfect condition. She walked around the whole village until she arrived at her former home. Of course, she knew she had to go to her childhood house, it was where her demons lived, after all, her parents. She pushed open the door and for a brief second, she let herself hope no one would be there, but such luck.

Her parents stood just past the doorway. Her mother stood impassively, her eyes trained onto Aqua. Her father, on the other hand, stared into Aqua’s soul, or at least it felt that way to her. She flinched on instinct and felt her heartbeat quicken at a rapid pace. They advanced on her quickly, as if they could feel her fear. She should have run but found she was frozen in fear. She jerked out her fear-induced stupor by the eerie laughter of her parents.

Two pairs of hands began to wrap themselves around her neck. Her parents had become blurry, black shapes, almost like shadows on a brick wall. She couldn’t tell if her eyes were watering or if the lack of oxygen going to her brain had caused it. It only served to make an already terrifying situation more terrifying. She nearly fainted right then and there, but the sound of something as it hit the ground brought her back to her reality. She mustered all the strength in her body and shoved them off her. They both flew back a few feet and landed on their bums.

She took three deep breaths before she reached down and grabbed her most prized possession, her staff. Once it was at home in her right hand, she glared toward the shadows of her ‘parents’. The two got up but made no move to speak nor do anything else. It appeared to be her move in the game of choice. She smirked slightly. “I should thank you for confirming something for me, my resolve! I have to live my life and not be ashamed of who or what I am.” She couldn’t tell the shadows expressions, but somehow she knew they must be proud of her.

Then everything was covered in a bright light and its intensity caused her to close her eyes. When she opened them she stood in front of the door. She looked around to see she was in a white void nothing to be seen aside from the door. With a renewed resolve to make her journey through the rest of the shrine, she pushed the door open. She was back in the hallway from before. Well, that was anticlimactic, but beggars couldn’t be choosers. She began to make her way forward again and soon found herself with the group again. “Well, it seems as if we’ve all been gathered here and, somehow no one died. Pat on the back for everyone.” It was only half a joke.

Stardustblade358 · August 18, 2018

- Helios & Arthur - /w Everyone else - The Final Door -

Helios looked at the door, squinting at it as he saw the keyhole. How did he missed that? "Right." He muttered. Maybe he was still thinking too deep about the whole trial. Seeing his friends, being able to touch them and listen to their voices. Even if it wasn't real it still left an ache in him having to leave. But I guess that was the point of the trial, wasn't it? To test him. To see how far he would go. He needed to allow himself to leave the past behind. To move on. He just hoped that he had done so the right way. "I don't like the feeling of this door, if I'm being honest." He muttered. Helios looked down at the key. "That trail was..." Helios muttered under his breath. He paused, feeling beads of tears gently stream down his face. He wiped them away with a smile. He shook his head, looking back to the door. Arthur stepped up. "Are you alright, Helios? What happened back there?" Arthur asked. "A trial, I guess." Helios mused, turning back to Rabiyu and Aura. "Whatever is beyond this door is what will ultimately save the world below. We have come this far. We must not hesitate." Helios looked back up. "It is the one thing that we must fix before moving onto the future ahead." Helios reached out, sliding the key into the keyhole. It fit perfectly. He took a deep breath, slowly twisting the key as he unlocked it with a loud CLICK.

Endless Thundaga · August 19, 2018

Third Trial at the Final Door

Beyond the door, the group enters a huge crystallized cavern, full of sharp crystals, gems, and even the occasional diamond. In the center, a large rocky orb is lodged to the ceiling, glowing a brilliant white and illuminating the cave. Jynn for some reason could not help but feel the experience of déjà vu. “Why does this feel familiar? I have never stepped foot in this temple before, so why am I feeling this way?” Dawson shrugs. “You’re probably just hungry.” The prince looks to see a few crystals on the ground, emitting a blue aura. He does not hesitate to grab one, examining it, he notices that it is quite pure, a little too pure. “Wait...........” He looks up at the large orb on the ceiling.

The light seems to brighten, almost as if something inside was awakening. The ground begins to tremble. Then suddenly, a beam of pure energy bursts out of the orb, and then another, and another. Jynn jumps back to the group. He knew exactly what is happening. “This......... this is a nest!”

After the short but chaotic light show, the orb explodes, revealing a leathery cocoon with a bright blue light emitting from inside. Jynn, unfortunately, was caught in the blast, and was sent flying backwards with a dark energy surging through him. Bherna and Dawson run up to him. Dawson checks for a pulse, and to he and Bherna’s relief, there was. The cocoon opens up, with a large head of the creature inside tears apart the outside of the cocoon. Then the entire body falls onto the ground. Dawson jumps. The head, tail, and front legs of the beast glow a brilliant white, while it’s torso glows in a translucent red. Bherna grips on to her father in fear. “What is that?!” Dawson immediately understands what’s going on. “It’s a Xeno’jiiva. These dragons feed off of the bio energy of dragons and fey. It seems this one seems to have feed off the bio energy of the world below, so much so that it is constantly powered up.”

The dragon was massive, easily measuring 150 feet from its head to the top of its tail, and its appearance is very Otherworldly. Getting up, it looks around the cavern a bit before laying its eyes on the group.

Appearance

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Isopolis-Vs. Soul Lord Xeno’jiiva

[

Dawson draws out his club. Looks like I need to take the lead for now. He faces back to his allies. “Alright, listen up! If we want to slay this thing, we must focus all our attention on the glowing appendages! Once we do that, this thing will be a sitting duck! And whatever you do, stay away from its energy blasts!” Bherna gets her father to safety, but she desperately wanted to contribute. But she remained by his side. Dawson plays a horn and ups everyone’s strength and powers.

The creature faces its body towards the group and menacingly spreads its wings, showing off its massive size. It emits a very loud roar before charging up a large energy blast at the group. Dawson manages to leap away.

Rules for this fight:

1.) If you get hit by energy blasts, you will be inflicted by something called “dragonblight”, causing individuals to lose their powers. If you are controlling a fey and inflicted, you HAVE to make at least one post without their powers. If you control a human with a elemental weapon, the same will go for you. Those who don’t have powers or elemental weapons are not affected. Characters can still fight while inflicted though.

2.) Have fun. Go wild. This thing can take a lot of hits.

(I’ll make this fight more interesting than it was in the game Sabre.)

Edited August 19, 2018 by Endless Thundaga

Stardustblade358 · August 20, 2018

- Helios & Arthur - /w everyone else - Xeno'jiva boss fight -

Helios and Arthur stepped inside. Helios' eyes gleamed at the beauty of the cave around them. Never had he seen such grand display of geodes, crystals and even diamonds. It was truly beautiful. Arthur's jaw almost dropped, his eyes wide as he twirled on his feet, looking around and witnessing the grand display of the place. "Holy crap." He hissed in awe. "All of this was underground?" Arthur asked. Helios paused as he watched Jynn pick up one of the crystals. That's when things began to shift, the ground shaking. His head snapped towards Jynn. "A nest?! Of what?!" Helio had lots of knowledge of many creatures...but this was beyond his knowledge and understanding. The orb exploded, sending the prince flying off. "Jynn!" Helios yelled, gasping as he turned his attention to the cocoon. They all watched as it gave birth to a grand creature. Arthur pointed his sword at it. "What the hell is that thing?! A dragon?!" Arthur asked. Helios looked back to Jynn, listening to the explanation. "The world below?" Oh this was dangerous. He turned to look back at the creature, getting his necklace back inside his robe. "Amazing." He whispered. "Wait, if it feeds off Bio energy, does this mean it feeds off actual life force?" Arthur asked. Helios looked down a bit. "Life force or Magika..." He eyed at Jynn. "It could have absorbed Jynn's Magika and gotten a jump start." He turned back to the beast. He didn't feel that he could talk his way out of this one. "What would its weakness be?" Arthur asked, eyeing the creature. "The only thing I see its right in its chest...if that's where the energy is, the destroying it would have it all slip out and kill it off, right?" Helios shook his head, turning to Dawson. "You heard Dawson." Helios said, Arthur nodding. "Got it!" Soon the creature would roar and shoot a beam at them. Arthur disappeared into lightning, reappearing away from the beam as he slid on the ground. Helios jumped out of the way, rolling to the side as the beam barely missed him. "I don't think I can transform into something this big." He muttered under his breath. The bigger he was, the more of a target he was. So, he would go small. He eyed around the room. He had enough space. He grabbed a flask of Magika, quickly drinking it up in one gulp. He panted, eyes narrowing as smoke escaped from his lips. Soon he transformed into a Peregrine Falcon, flying off into the air. He would provide distraction and attack on what he could. He would fly around the creature, pecking at the back of its skin before flying off again. He just needed to make sure he didn't end up getting eaten. Arthur charged up a beam from his sword, aiming it at the creature's wing and shooting right at it, sending a volt of electricity.

Vaude · August 20, 2018

- Odin and Rufus Contralto, against the crystal-heart dragon -

Odin watched cautiously as he stepped into the room, eyeing the crystals with wariness. Nothing spelled out danger more than a room of crystal shards pointing outward, but that was not the only thing to be wary of, it seems. Jynn took the brunt of that new danger and was withdrawn from the fight, and Odin was quick to react to the burst of energy aimed at the group.

"Earlisin Multiple Teleport," he voiced, reaching out to Alderon and Visco and teleporting them before teleporting himself. The other humans of the group he had full faith in moving out of the way, as he did to all of the fey, but the two royals he dared not let get injured. Everyone would appear out of the way of the blast, and Odin felt a drop in his magical reserves. He would replenish it soon, but moving people out of the way that may not have been able to otherwise came foremost.

Rufus did the same, slipping upwards to get a good glance at the dragon before doing a little jig and trying to nullify its magic, if it had any. The Xeno'jiiva was a monstrous beast, however, and if it had any magic of its own it would be very difficult to constrain. Rufus put extra effort into his nullification as a result, his cheeks turning colour as he held his breath.

Odin drew his blade and followed Dawson's advice. Creatures as powerful as this one, engorging itself upon the fallen, would be difficult to kill unless crippled. The wings, the forefeet, the hind feet, the eyes themselves -- wounding any one of these enough, and the bunch would have a better time fighting the dragon.

Odin tried a different tactic than physical wounding, however. With lightning-aided speed he flung himself into the air, attempting to lash onto the creatures back, draw back his sword, and plunge it into the creature's flesh. It would do no physical damage and would bypass normal defenses, but it would paint Odin in new light to the dragon's eyes if successful: an understanding, or a feeling of affiliation, or maybe a re-imaging of a small and playful xeno'jiiva hatchling. Such was the power of his sword, and Odin tried anything that might work if the attack was successful.

Edited August 20, 2018 by Vaude

Saber Lily · August 20, 2018

Eclaire, Xion, and Thane: Hunting Time

As everyone jumped into battle, Xion grabbed her daughter's arm. "Wait." She withdrew a steele from her side, and drove her heel to the ground. Small spires formed around her, and she began writing. "Script of Lust - Ricochet Glyph." She wrote quickly, and then jerked her arm forward. The spires fired away, and struck all around the beast, before massive glyphs appeared. "Aim for the legs Clary, slow it's movements!" She took to the skies, and instead of Long and Dark December, she summoned a new, jagged blade.

"Come, Caladbolg. Let us drink deep of this chaos."

She threw herself at the other wing, leaving Arthur to assault one while she went for the other. A dark aura covered her, the Succubus Queen slashing down at the beast's wing with deadly force.

Eclaire summoned Kusanagi. Breathing slowly, she set her stance, her clothes changing to her looser, slightly more revealing, but above all speed enhancing clothes. Her body and the air around her crackled like lighting. "Thane. Your axe."

"Of course."

The man swung around in a 360, using his momentum to drive the flat edge of his massive axe towards Eclaire. She jumped up, her feet slamming into Dawnmourne...and she was thrown at railgun-like speeds, slashing at the beast's leg as she passed...before she hit the glyph. With her speed, Eclaire had honed her reaction time to compensate for such recklessness, and began to look like a pinball - from one glyph to the next, slashing again and again, before she hit the final glyph and spun. Reverse-wielding Kusanagi, she slashed the beast's underbelly before flipping and hitting the ground, sliding back as both Flash Step and her momentum inevitably ceased. Smoke rose from the line of dirt she had made, her chest heaving. Grimacing, she fell to a knee, momentarily stunned as her body raced to recover from her opening attack...but she had no worries, for Rhaedyn Thane leaped into action, throwing himself at the beast's head with flaming axe.

"Dawnmourne hungers, dragon. Tell Midgarsormr the Lord of Iron sends his regards."

And so did the Lord of Iron bring down his axe towards the dragon's head.

Elrandir · August 21, 2018

- Rabiyu, Aura and Sifrei - Third Trial: Xeno'jiva fight -

Rabiyu wasted no time, quickly turning into a plume of mist and flying upwards. Sifrei grabed Aura's hand and everything around him began to move in slow motion. The blast of energy was coming their way, so he took Aura and moved her away from the danger. Aura was sure that the blast would hit most of the group, but in one quick blink of her eyes she was now in a different spot, away from the dragon's blast.

"What in the," She said as she saw Sifrei next to her, "what did you do?"

"Protect you. Now focus, unless you want to be hit by the attacks of that beast."

The Archangel's wings appeared behind him as he took into the air. The beast would, hopefully, be ditracted by the attacks of the rest of the group. This gave Sifrei the time to fly close the the dragon's back and summon his spear. He then took out the sword that Alastor had made earlier. In a quick move Sifrei's wings disappeared as he fell into the creature's back and stabbed both spear and sword where the wings connected with the body. Aura remained focused on the beast, waiting for a chance to attack, if possible.

"Judge Magister! Do it now!" Sifrei said as he jumped into the ground and moved away from the beast.

Rabiyu's physical form reformed, floating in the air once more, as she touched her fingertips together in the direction of the dragon.

" Zii do su, gaar hin nah ahrk drun amativ qo wah nos tum," Rabiyu said in ancient draconic, as two glowing glyphs formed above the dragon, at the same spot where the spear and sword were, "Let the flame of life be extinguished!"

From the glyphs two powerful bolts of lightning came down, using the metal of the sword and spear as lightning rods. Hopefully the two bolts of lightning would at least stop the movement of the beast, at least for a few moments to allow the others to attack the beast.

rikunobodyxiii · August 21, 2018

{Mariel: Isopolis; Xeno'jiiva fight}

Mariel lingered a moment while Helios opened the final door back at the entrance of the room, looking back the way the party had come from. Part of her worried if there was something else important left back in the labrenth. Well, one way to find out. She followed the others through the final door, drawing both her swords just in case. Her suspicions were confirmed with the reveal of Xeno'jiiva.

"Oh, that's suitably big." She said dryly as she looked the otherworldly dragon up and down.

Though prepairing to take flight, the Guardian Angel paused to listen to Dawson's guidance. She carefully noted the targets. Most of the party could deal with the front legs. Getting its attention would probably be the best use of her enhanced mobility. She could feel the call to battle ringing through her mind, amplified by Dawson's horn. Even with the dire situation that brought her here, she began to laugh. This was going to be fun.

Bellowing out an angelic warcry, Mariel launched herself into the sky. As she rose, her sword Flame of Heaven burst into flames at her silent command. She launched a quick fire bolt at Xeno'jiiva's glowing legs as she gained height. She noticed Odin's attack on its back. He had likely come to a similar conclusion that the Guardian Angel had and was trying to get the dragon's attention. Well, she couldn't let him do that all on his own. Taking a deep breath, Mariel lashed out with an extended sonic scream, directing the magic at Xeno'jiiva's head. She hoped it would distract and disorient the dragon. She did her best to keep moving through the air as she screamed, not wishing to be an easy target. There was still some ache in her healed wing, but she knew how to power through the lingering pain.

Scrapmaster · August 21, 2018

- Typhon, Alastor, Alicia and Mikhail - The dragon battle -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XNWG9cBbW4

Typhon was near Jynn as the sudden attack landed. Which knocked Typhon to the side from the blast as well, though not much damage. Alicia immediately runs up to Jynn to see if he's okay...which thankfully he was...unbeknownst to her, her hair and eyes began to glow violently a violet color, as a arcane aura began to emanate around her. An aura somehow similar to that of Alastor, much to anyone's possible surprise.

She held both her hands up in the air as she closed her eyes, her hair now floating and swirling on nonexistent wind. "ON THE GROUND!" she spoke as she quickly slammed her hands down, and like that The dragon would suffer a massive shockwave downwards, possibly pinning it to the ground with sheer force. But that wasn't enough to hold it down.

Which is why the spell quickly increased in power then. By Alastor, who aimed at it with one hand, glowing. "Dovah Wah Golt!" Alastor shouted, with pure draconic energy flowing around him and his tatoos. "Liiv Tuz". Which was draconig for Withering blade. As his sword began to glow as he aimed it with his free hand and threw it at the dragon, if the sword came in contact with the beast, it would suffer a debilitating strike that would drain some of its power if it landed.

Typhon didn't really have much to do other than grab Jynn and carry him to a more safe area of the arena.

Mikhail was pretty much chucking every single type of bomb he had in his arsenal, especially the stunning and freezing ones. Throwing them like a madman.

- Henry - The Mind Trial -

Henry kneeled down on the ground and closed his eyes, for the next illusion to take place. The area changed shape again. This time a black void for a few minutes, before a giant ring of fire surging around it. As the shape of castle walls began to spawn out of the fire, showing the inside of a castle...one he recognized all too well, it was the guard area. Where Henry was, arguing with his superior.

"That wasn't a takeover, that was a massacre! You told me we'd capture the village not raze it to the ground!" Henry shouted, slamming his fist down on a table so hard it broke in half as his superior looked at him with a smug smirk. "I never said I wouldn't lie to you Henry. But you did splendid work, you helped us rid of the unruly helvadorians that resided there..." He said as he chuckled. "And besides, what can you do? Huh? Attack me? You may be stronger than ten men but you're still a living being...a living being that dies." He spoke smugly, clearly not seeing Henry as a human anymore, further angering the dreadnought.

"You son of a bitch!' Henry spoke grabbing the man by the throat and slamming him against a wall. The man laughed at him as Henry simply tightened his grip. "So, you'l kill me then? fine, see what happens to you." He spoke, in strained voice as Henry stared right into his eyes. "I signed up to protect others, not slaughter innocents..." Henry spoke as he threw the man to the side, as he scrambled out of the room. As Henry let out a raged scream.

The true Henry, meanwhile watched the scene from the other side of the room. as the room caught on fire and he was black into the void again, but now a burning, fiery plane. With Henry's illusion catching fire, turning towards him and taking a form of a fiery demon. With fiery wings, a giant sword and horns like that of a true demon. It simbolized the wrath and chaos that resided within Henry, that he constantly suppressed.

"There is no talking to you...I know that already." Henry spoke unsheathing his sword, as the dreadnought armor began to form around him. It wasn't a battle of speed, but of endurance now. As Henry staggered to the side the creature lunged at him. Its gigantic sword upwards, attempting to slam it down on him. Henry grit his teeth as fire began to emerge around him as he launched himself like a missile towards the demon, mid air, Henry slammed his hand on the demon's chin, sending it and him flying high into the air as Henry moved his hands to his sword, and slashing down. A blow that was blocked by the demon, but was sent crashing down in a fiery explosion of a magnitude of 50 kilos of dynamite on impact with the floor. As Henry fell down like a meteor towards it, only to be knocked aside with a backhand, which he blocked. Landing and sliding on his feet. Henry overlooked the demon, some cracks in its armor, but some on his own as well.

Henry inspected his sword, which had a flaming crack in the middle, as it broke down in half. Henry simply sheated it onto his back and cracked his knuckles, with a fiery conviction in his eyes as he broke out into a sprint towards the beast, whom had not let go of its sword as it sprinted towards Henry as well. Slashing at him with all its fiery wrath, Henry blocked the blow with the back of his left arm, cracking some of the armor on it as it deflected the blow completely, sparkles of fire crackling from it as he used his other arm to grab the beast's sword arm as he slammed it to the side, knocking it off balance as he quickly followed with a lunging punch to its forehead, kncoking it back, and the sword off form its arm from the sudden throw and impact.

THe creature tried to revert its momentum and try to deliver a haymaker to Henry's face, who simply moved to the side, sidestepping it completely as he slammedh is fist into its stomach, followed by grabbing its head and slamming it down on his knee.

Not stopping with just that Henry delivered another crushing punch to its face with his left arm. And then using his right arm to slug it back in place so he could punch it with the left again, the creature too stunned could not retaliate for a few seconds of the beatdown, as it regained its standing as it grabbed both of Henry arms and stared him dead in the eyes, the crack in the armor revealing Henry's own face below the demon's armor. Henry didn't hesitated, puilling back his head and slamming it hard onto the beast's as both their helmets broke off, this freed Henry's right arm, which he then thrusted forward towards its throat, Fire igniting on his feet to boost him forward like a rocket, as Henry grabbed his wrath's manifestation by the throat and flew right throw the armor, with it in his hands, he flew for around 8 meters before throwing it forward onto the ground as his illusion bounced off the ground from the sheer force of the throw.

As it tried to regain its composure Henry sprinted forward and delivered a kick to its chest while it was down, sending it sprawling back as it tried to get up yet again, this time managing to do so and trying to punch Henry's face, Henry let the blow hit him, but he didn't budge, the blow was weak, it was defeated. Henry simply grabbed its hand, tighteting his grip as he deliverd a punch to its face with his left, knocking it down.

Henry quickly toop the initiative and jumped on top of it, and slammed his fists down a couple dozen times to truly make it submit to him. But before delivering what seemed like the final blow. Henry stopped. "No..." Henry spoke, holding back his hand as he looked at the now distorted figure of his wrath and rage. "I need you still...but not your rage, not your wrath...but your fighting spirit, I will control you, never to lose it again" Henry spoke as he stood up and got off the illusion, offering his hand to help it up. "I do not need your fire any longer. But I will not let you die in vain, lend me your power." Henry spoke as the barely conciouss figure held his hand as a dim crimsom light emanated from Henry as the figure disappeared. As Henry winced in pain as his body began to change again, getting all of the fire magic out of his body. He looked into his hands as he concentrated. And they glew a dim red light, something was different...he felt if after his darkness was destroyed, and now he felt it with higher intensity as his fire faded away. But it was too weak to make any significant change now, nor did he know what it was.

It was time for the next trial...The final one.

The chaos demon form:

Edited August 21, 2018 by Scrapmaster

Mystics Apprentice · August 21, 2018

--Alderon, Athena, Everyth, and Elia-- Major Test of Strength--

"What is that?!" Elia cried around the same time that Jynn was flung to the side. She hurried over, readying her hands to cast a healing spell over him. An amber orb began to form in her palms, as she chanted an ancient cleric verse over the prince's form. "That should help," she murmured softly, placing a hand on Jynn's shoulder. "Are you alright, Prince Jynn?"

Meanwhile Everyth unsheathed her silver sword, twirling it in her hand before brandishing the blade with both. "The glowing appendages, huh? I think I can manage that." She kicked off the ground, hovering over the dragon momentarily in a cloud of dark magic. She landed on the dragon's backside, stabbing her silver sword in the direction of one of its glowing appendages while shooting three small orbs of darkness toward its head, hoping to blind it at least temporarily.

Athena stood alongside Arthur, fingering the sword at her waist. Now would be the time for her to put her skills to good use, though never in her wildest dreams did she imagine facing a monstrosity of this caliber. She nodded at Dawson's command, looking for an opportunity to charge at its glowing places, though was caught in the line of the beam's fire. A piercing scream escaped her as she held up her arm to defend herself, bracing herself for impact as the light grew in intensity.

"Athena!"

The princess felt herself flung to the side, her face scratching the coarse cavern floor as her hand was spliced open by a sharp crystal shard. She ignored the intense throbbing in her fingers as she turned to glance behind her. King Alderon stood in Athena's place, arm raised to take the majority of the blast. A large shield rested on his shoulder, seeming to absorb the majority of the blow. He was, however, still taking a heavy hit, and Athena could see the burnt flesh on his leg from the parting blast. He turned his gray eyes onto her, urgency within them. "You need to take shelter while we handle this. Athena. Now is not the time for you to be practicing your sword fighting skills."

Endless Thundaga · August 22, 2018

Soul Lord Xeno’jiiva, Trial of Might and Self

The creature was attacked by Helios, Arthur, and Odin. Rufus tries to nullify any magic the beast had, but to no avail. The beast doesn’t even react to Helios’s pecking, but does react to its wing being pierced by Arthur’s sword, and its back being stabbed by Odin. Unfortunately, the Mystrian lord’s sword has slightly missed its mark. The elder dragon begins to behave unlike its past Xeno’jiiva brethren, shooting a blast of energy at Arthur, and slams its back into the ceiling in an attempt to crush Odin.

Once it returns to the ground, the beast uses its wing to send a powerful gust at Xion, however, suffering some damage to it. Suddenly, Eclaire slashes its legs and underbelly, and Thane’s flaming axe slams down on its head. It falls to the ground for a brief moment, before finally getting back on all fours. It performs an extremely unnatural behavior. “Unfortunately, Lord of Iron. Your friend has a little bit of waiting to do.” The shrine gave the beast the ability to use telepathy to talk. It faces Eclaire, who was still recovering. “Ah..... If it isn’t your little succubus friend. The ‘mistake’, as she likes to refer to herself.” The dragon uses its tail to try to swat Rheadyn away, while simultaneously turning to Eclaire. “Tell me....... How is life without your precious Shiva?” But before the monster could taunt her further, Sifrei jabs both his spear and sword into the base of each of its wings. However, Sifrei gives away Rabiyu’s position, causing the Xeno’jiiva to turn towards her. “Insignificant pests....” It fires a powerful beam at the ceiling above Rabiyu, causing large crystals to fall on the floor around her, interrupting the magic, and trapping her. However, the metal does manage to shock the beast, but not as much as Rabiyu would’ve probably wanted it to. The dragon’s torso then suddenly “explodes”, sending a massive shockwave to those within fifteen feet of it. If Odin and Sifrei don’t get off it’s back beforehand, they would most likely be inflicted by dragonblight.

Mariel fires one fire bolt at its leg, causing it to stumble on it, but it gets back up, only to be stunned by the sonic scream Mariel let out. The creature then attempts to preform a spin, using its tail as a club, to whack her out of the sky.

It was then taken by surprise when a massive shockwave pins it to the ground. The creature looks to see Alicia being the offender. It decides to share a few taunts at her as well. “Why hello there, Grimoire wielder. How, may I ask, is your family? Or......... have you given up on them for your precious prince, the failure?” Before Alastor could attack, the beast fires a projectile at him, as well as swatting his sword away. It also uses its wings to blow away Mikhail’s bombs back at him.

Alicia’s magic was not able to hold the monster down, so it gets back on all fours and faces Alicia again. “What if I told you there is someone from your family line standing in this very room?” It eyes Alastor. “It would be upsetting for a creature like myself to figure it out before you could, wouldn’t it?”

Jynn and Bherna

Elia manages to awaken the prince. He replies to Elia. “I’m fine.......... but I’m inflicted by this blight.........” Black and red sparks emit from him. Suddenly remembering the situation, he quickly gets up. “What’s going on?!” Bherna tries to stop him. “Wait, Dad!” But it was too late, he was already in the combat zone. The Xeno’jiiva then lays its eyes on him. It seems to raise its head in frustration. “Venas......” The prince stops in his tracks. It can speak?! “You know me?” The draconic beast growls. “I know you......... This birthplace curses me with that knowledge. You, the murderer of my fellow brethren. A monster hunter.” Jynn interrupts. “To my defense, I’ve only killed one Xeno’jiiva.” The beast was quick to reply. “One. Five. A hundred. What does it matter? I will still see to your death.”

The Xeno’jiiva opens its mouth to fire a large and powerful energy beam at the group, but was suddenly interrupted by Everynth. She manages to blind the beast temporarily while stabbing it from behind. It gives out a loud roar before shooting beams at the ceiling, causing random chunks of crystals to fall around the room. “Pests!”

Stardustblade358 · August 22, 2018

- Helios & Arthur - /w everyone else - Xeno'jiva boss fight -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYP1J6REHTU

Arthur couldn't block nor dodge the blast of energy. It sent him flying back into the nearest cluster of crystals, crashing across. He finally came to an end, leaving dust and pieces of crystal behind. He carefully stood up, his cape with the kingdom's emblem torn into pieces. His armor slightly dented as he got back onto his feet. Yet, he knew something was wrong. He looked down at himself. "I...my powers are gone!" He yelled, staring down at his hands. He gritted his teeth, ripping the blue cloak off him. No matter. He was born without powers, raised without powers, as a human then and now. He didn't need them. Arthur glanced at Athena and King Alderon, his eyes widening as he hurried to their side. As the crystal fell from the ceiling due to another blast, Arthur hurried to their side, raising his shield as he used it over the two to protect them from the falling debris. The clang of the crystals against the metal of the shield echoed as Arthur turned to the two, his eyes falling on Athena. "Athena, I know you want to do this. This is your people we are fighting for. But we can't risk you against something this dangerous!" Arthur said, staring at her as he maintained the shield above them. "It won't be worth bringing our people back if they don't have a leader to return to." Meanwhile Helios was dodging the falling debris. He would fly over the creature's head, transforming from the bird to a large, bright white anaconda. He would slither across the creature's head before wrapping himself tightly around the Xeno'jiva's mouth, trying to keep it from shooting anymore beams. If it tried to shoot a beam, maybe it could end up hurting itself in return. "My condolences for the hunting of your kind!" Helios hissed as he continued. "We are in search of the source of all life, in order to bring back the lives that have been lost at the destruction of the world below! We don't have to fight!"

Nero Kunivas · August 23, 2018

- Soren Monroe, Servant of Shiva's Will - Isopolis, Slaying the Beast, Hall of Illusions - (Another Long Post.)

~ Soren, the Miscreated Bulwark ~

Only a short pause would ensue before the Phantom of Soren's corrupted self rose to a hunched over stance, rearing its head back into another screech as the beastly instincts utterly took over this monster once more, leaving Soren little choice but to draw his sword and prepare to fight. The tainted Soren then lunged with terrifying and unexpected speed at his past self, forcing a quick roll to the side from Soren as he transformed himself into his Demonic Form, feeling he'd need the extra resilience during this ordeal. The Bulwark snap-turned his head to the former Sentinel, drawing a ragged breath through his grotesquely elongated maw, uttering a slightly deeper, angrier screech as he moved toward Soren, swiping at him with his larger left arm, left to right, then a backhanded swipe followed up with a palm slam to the ground, releasing hellfire from the point of impact in an attempt to catch his former self off guard. Soren was able to dodge the monster's swipes, but had to block the area of effect flames with his sword.

Soren then retaliated, with a stab toward the larger arm that had just impacted the ground, which would follow up with a few slashes and backstep, for the Bulwark had taken the stab to said arm and a few of the slashes, but the last two had missed and the tainted Soren tried to grab Soren in a rather telegraphed fashion, allowing him to dodge it. Irritated, the monstrous Soren growled as he tried another slam, Soren evading it easily, but couldn't avoid the diagonal upward swipe with his smaller arm, knocking him off balance, giving the Bulwark the time to wind up for a two-handed grab and execute it successfully; clasping at Soren, raising him above his antlers and smashing him into the ground as he released his grip. Soren would end up bouncing once upon impact, giving him a little distance from the mutated Soren but he had to pull himself from the dirt first. Though this didn't take long, his counterpart had begun a charge, his larger arm extended to his side as it was clearly about to swipe at him and swipe hard, bounding toward him in speedy fashion. The real Soren barely managed to duck under the creature, but was able to stab his greatsword upward into the monsters exposed ribs. This only caused superficial damage and a louder screech, suggesting to Soren that he had to move and so he did, running between the Bulwark's legs, giving a quick slash to Soren's leftmost option as he did and prepared to react to the other Soren's next move.

The Miscreated Bulwark was seemingly about to roar as he faced the ex-Sentinel again, but then seemed to convulse, lowering its head with a muffled groan. The real Soren narrowed his eyes and remained still, but this left him unguarded against the Bulwark's next move; sharply raising his head toward Soren again, he screeched as a bellow of lava shot forth from his agape mouth like deadly bile. Soren's quick reaction spared him the brunt of the move, but it caught him on his arm and though he held an affinity for Hellfire and Lava, it still caused much pain, as did the residual heat from the Bulwark's continued stream that the monster kept trying to follow him with for a few seconds. Soren then hurled a fireball at his cursed reflection, in hopes of hitting it in the mouth, but alas, the Bulwark had finished its spew of lava, only taking the fireball directly to the face, then going for a full on punch at Soren and though it was evaded, it was followed up by several more, angrier smashes that followed Soren as he just turned tail and ran away, for dodges quickly showed they weren't going to cut it. The last punch summoned a raging, narrow torrent of fire and earth not unlike Soren's own attack that surprised the real Soren and knocked him over.

Standing up again in short order, Soren stomped in place, creating several glowing cracks across the ground in a large area from where Soren stood as he readied his blade and attacked the Bulwark with several slashes, aimed at his face and arms, requiring Soren to reach up a little. But the Bulwark was unfazed, managing his own stomp that created bigger, brighter cracks of its own. The astonished Soren detonated his own attack early, causing minor damage to his counterpart, then finding a gap in the cracks to brace for the detonation, which shook the foundations of the cave with its underground-focused force and grazed Soren, but it was less minor than he had hoped, singeing his rocky pores. It was then that the Bulwark only seemed to get angrier, his flames glowing a little brighter than before, mostly around his left arm. Before Soren knew it, the corrupted Soren was swiping harder and in a more berserk state than before, with an extended range due to the flames and this managed to catch him off. It only got worse, for a vicious barrage ensued, trapping Soren in a hard-hitting five hit combination that juggled the helpless demon with each screech backed swipe. Once Soren was released from it, he crumpled to the ground, but before he could get up, the Bulwark finished off with a sixth hit; a slam that released an explosion of hellfire that threw Soren a short distance across the cavern. Soren's own rage fueled him, smashing the ground with his blade, the fires that lined the steel burning brighter and more furiously as he too roared at the monster bearing his name.

A charge between the both of them ensued, Soren going for a hard, righteous slash while the Bulwark was prepared to smack him once more, flames enhancing his engorged left arm as he screeched to the high heavens before the moment...

...where everything stopped. The Bulwark was frozen.

Then it all disappeared into the blue-white void Soren was in prior to this encounter, leaving him puzzled, yet more angry as his trial was seemingly interrupted, turning around sharply, his eyes met with the Isopolis-themed Infiltrator, whom Soren could tell was glaring at him, despite the mask. "Why do you interfere?! Don't you want me to be tested, Isopolis?!" Soren questioned loudly, his voice still roughened and distorted by his Demonic state, only serving to highlight his disdain. Though it was only met with the Infiltrator resting his right arm on a crossed left arm, his right hand over his mask, seemingly in frustration or disappointment, perhaps both. "I had to take you out. I couldn't allow you to keep fighting with those...thoughts in your head." Teshub-I spoke dully, as if his own frustration had mounted upon him too much, but this only puzzled Soren. "Thoughts? Explain!" He then demanded, pushing the Infiltrator over the edge, who snapped bitterly. "Ones you shouldn't be having! Ever!" He began, pacing to the left and right as he went on. "Ones that revolve around the past, but not those that are productive or healthy, no, the destructive thoughts of...of, of "What if?" or "Perhaps if I had..."--NO!" The Infiltrator ranted, his gestures highly animated and furious, his last word invoking a hard, dismissive swipe of his arm at the air.

Soren soon found himself stricken with shame and of the kind he didn't want to admit. "I...I don't know, what you mean--" Soren couldn't finish, for he had royally annoyed Isopolis for having the audacity to attempt denial. "You KNOW of the thoughts I speak of! Do not dare to deny it! Observe...and do so closely..." The Infiltrator then gestured to his right, behind him. "See now...a more, ideal version of your past. What wracks your mind so frequently..." "Stop it..." "See! What if you did not kill your brother?" Lo and behold, as Isopolis spoke through the Infiltrator's veiled lips, a representation of what he spoke of played out where he gestured; Instead, the younger, shaken Soren escapes his brother Amon's grip and simply flees, leaving Amon alive, yet Balthazar still laughs at the youthful demon. The present Soren's anger began to build, so too did his shame, shaking his head. "Stop this."

"Or maybe! If you had never turned your back on Shiva, or me, in the first place?!" Then, to Isopolis's left, Soren and the true Infiltrator's Phantom, where Soren considers the Infiltrator's offering...but growls and swipes his greatsword aside, vehemently refusing and preparing to fight once more, disgruntling Teshub's Phantom, who too readies himself, Soren's loyalty intact. "Enough, please!" "Or if you were there to protect Ren? Wouldn't you have liked that?!" As mockingly as he spoke, the blue-white void projected to the further left; an image of Soren defending the wounded Ren from the Defiled Meksis, then urging him to safety while he fought off the dark knight, saving the life of his former prisoner. "Please, just--!"

“And dare I say...if you had intercepted the Assassin? Usurped the Queenslayer before he had even begun?!” To the further right, finally, was a representation of Soren tackling Nergal to the ground as he lunged for Shiva, the Feyslayer clattering to the ground as Shiva and Raiden, though surprised, surrounded the pair quickly, the life of the Frostbearer goes on… “Lo and behold, the past Soren Monroe wishes he ha--” “ENOUGH!” The gloating of the Infiltrator was accosted by the enraged bellow of the aforementioned Soren, who despite his shame, was more infuriated by the relentless mocking of Isopolis.

“These...thoughts...they are my own. And...and they are not...I shouldn’t be thinking them.” Soren admitted in between sharp, hard breaths to contain his anger, electing to put aside his shame to admit to himself that these thoughts were unhealthy. “Indeed you shouldn’t.” The Isopolis-Infiltrator lowered his dramatically extended arms and spoke softly this time, walking forward a few steps as he went on. “These events, they are past. The past should strengthen your resolve, Soren. Not drag it down, face-first into the dirt, leaving you, unfocused and, and foolhardy!” He spoke harshly, not unlike Soren’s own lectures to those who needed them, keeping his gestures short and sharp to accentuate his point.

“So, hear me when I tell you; Cease these thoughts, erase them from your mind, forget the pain...forget the--” Soren had been listening wordlessly up until this point, but something the Infiltrator spoke sparked a fury in his eyes, for he soon silently shoved Teshub aside, his greatsword’s flames spitting outward. “Soren?” Suddenly, Soren yelled angrily, swiping his sword at the still projected images of mockery, shattering the first memory immediately, charging for the one between himself and the Infiltrator, smashing downward and leaving it naught but dust, scraping the blade across the void “ground”, sending a small torrent of flame at the Ren Memory mockery, finally narrowing his eyes upon saving Shiva, dragging his blade behind him as he ran toward this pantomime, his yells became a dull roar as he brought the hammer down upon it, obliterating the figment in a geyser of hellflame.

The surprise of the Isopolis-Infiltrator was met with a sharp turn from Soren to face him, hatred burning in his eyes. “These, foolish, fleeting dreams are gone! But the pain, the PAIN! The pain never leaves!” Soren bellowed, somehow causing echoes across the blue-white void, where there had been none previous. “Every day, every night, whenever I close my eyes, I will always see them! Amon, Ren, Shiva, everyone who has been lost under my watch, I can never forget them, nor the hole that they have left in my heart!” Soren borderline screamed at Isopolis, who stood there, watching, his thoughts unreadable, for his stance was now utterly neutral, compared to Soren’s feral fury, every gesture he made was sweeping and shaken.

One sharp gasp later and Soren was reduced to shaking for a few moments, eyes firmly down to his feet, before rising his head to meet the Infiltrator’s gaze once more. “I’ve acted like a fool, a child, in the past few months. Always rushing to fulfil my dream, no matter the consequence, never facing it when it comes knocking, dragging me down to reality once more from my pedestal of naivety.” Soren resumed talking with a lower voice than before, his anger subsiding into a tranquil fury, yet realization as he began to clutch at the grip of his sword in hand harder than before, his stance straightening.

“No more. I accept all that I have done, all that it implies and the judgements of my peers. But now...my past will be my strength, for it will pave the way to my future. Instead of dwelling on my failures, I will learn from them, to protect those who matter today, tomorrow and beyond…” Now, the Demon spoke with renewal, walking slowly toward the Isopolis-Infiltrator, who didn’t flinch or waver as Soren approached. “Betrayal, loss, pain...hope, vigour and valor. I feel it all. I know it all intimately...my passion fuels my flames and so long as I live, so long as I vow to protect my comrades, to fulfil my duty, they will never burn to embers, nor can any waters drown them.”

“And if I must kill, destroy or die to protect them, to fight for what I believe in, then so be it. But others will always come before me.” Soren took a moment to look upon his Sapphire Necklace, the words seemed to glow before his eyes; “Shiva”. “Sentinel”. He clutched it fully before letting it hang behind his armour once more. “I am Soren Monroe. Soren the Immovable, Soren the Unrelenting, Soren the Unbreakable...Soren the sometimes Insufferable, but now! ...Soren the Sentinel. Their Sentinel.”

Silence followed for a brief few moments, before the Isopolis Representation gave his reply: A slow clap, each one too echoed like Soren’s voice. “Well done, my former Sentinel.” It spoke with pride in its words, astonishing Soren a little. “You saw through my games all the way to the end...now, you are who you are meant to be, nay! Who you always were, from the beginning, Soren. When you took upon the role of Sentinel, this is who you were!” The Infiltrator-I allowed himself a small laugh before going on. “Yet now, you are that man, times ten. And that, is good.” With one more clap, more of a clasp of his hands together, Isopolis relented, the Miscreated Bulwark appeared once more, but it was placid, calmer as it too relented beside the Infiltrator, shrinking and disappearing into an orange glow, replaced by Amon, who simply folded his arms and gave his usual curt smile.

“Thank you for testing me so, Isopolis…” Soren bowed in respect, but cut himself short, when he realized something; “But, might I ask, why the extra cruelty and bitterness? Don’t think I missed it.” Soren quizzed, with the Infiltrator shrugging a little. “Oh well, I treat everyone who ventures here equally, though I can’t say the same for those who leave during their shift.” A short pause followed, with Soren realizing that Isopolis can hold a grudge...and laugh, as he soon did, but in good spirits, with Ren waltzing from behind Teshub as he finished, he too smiled softly.

“Ahh...of course. I-I am sorry, for that.” Soren spoke bashfully, with Isopolis brushing it off. “Worry not, I’m jesting...half so, anyway. Needless to say, you’ve learned much. Now go and take that knowledge to the rest of time, Soren. Be the noble Demon you were meant to be.” Isopolis spoke in a motivating tone to its former Sentinel, as from behind Amon strode out Shiva, who simply stood tall just as she always did, her smile was anything but frosty.

“Hmph, let the legend come back to life, as it were?” Soren simply uttered, then finishing his bow as the wooden door behind him materialized. “Thy will be done.” He added, beginning to turn as Isopolis raised a hand. “Your will be done, Soren...farewell.” All present before Soren gave their own waves as he gave them a saluting wave, fully turning to the wooden door that would allow him to exit back to reality...giving one last sigh of relief, Soren had one final thought:

“My word, that was sappy...I’m not a Demon, I’m one of those goddamn fairies…”

With a little chuckle to himself, Soren turned the handle and shoved the doors open, stepping through with purpose.

- Meksis, the United, Armour of Twilight - FLASHBACK: Battle Between Brothers -

The newcomer’s presence was most welcome and now, it seems, he was more real than he was a few moments prior, for he had viscerally attacked Maxis during their hold of him before it was broken and consumed some kind of “essence”, to regain the physical form he had seemingly lost. As the gentleman introduced himself as Hektor, the crippled and enraged Maxis unleashed his power, evolving to a higher state of being with sheer madness energy, now completely made from said power and ready to annihilate them with a hurled, overcharged sword.

Though before Meksis could think to dodge, Hektor had closed the distance and clasped his shoulder, rendering the two of them ‘ethereal’ as it were. A feeling that Meksis was not at all used to, yet it had saved them from the countless energy explosions that ravaged the mindscape, Hektor taking them out of the dream as quickly as they had entered it after the dust settled, revealing himself to be a Third Generation Armour: Something Meksis had only heard rumours of, if that.

“Third Generation…?” Meksis uttered in awe, but quickly regained himself, his power brimming to the surface of his light and darkness infused armour. “Call me Meksis, the pleasure is all mine, Hektor!” He then called out, readying for battle alongside the mythical gentleman, facing Maxis in the mad god’s bewilderment. “Let us end this, old friend! You will be free!!” Meksis bellowed, with the aid of the Defiled in amplifying his words.

(Sorry I cannot post for Dragon, I've run out of time in my book. Please like. lol

)

Edited August 23, 2018 by Nero Kunivas

Saber Lily · August 23, 2018

Eclaire, Xion, and Rhaedyn: Facing Soul Lord Xeno'jeeves

Xion went tumbling towards a wall, but managed to recover. Stabbing her sword into it, she flipped and landed on top, now facing the beast. She scowled. "Low." She growled. Her arm erupted with dark energy, Consumption flaring. Kicking off, she dove down at the beast as the pulse faded, aiming to slash at it's eyes. "Ignore it Clary! It is but a test! Even apart, those we love do not fade until our memories of them do! Use them!" She cried.

Thane had been batted away. Flipping once, he slammed into the ground and slid back, coming to a stop as two deep troughs of earth were created. He drew forth Frostlight, the mighty sword at his hip, and once more formed Geirskogul, Spear of Iron. "Midgardsormor is no friend of thine. He is a dragon, slain to the West. His fire did not consume, nor did his rage break mine armor." Rising up, the Iron Lord slammed Geirskogul into the ground. "Land of the King." He roared, and gouts of fire began to erupt around him, heading for Xeno'jiva. "Your nest belongs to the ringing sound of Iron." Rhaedyn Thane began his charge, as fire began to erupt beneath the dragon, making it fairly hot for him.

Eclaire had not moved. Only tears did, falling. Life...it was existence. But Shiva would not want her to once more fall into the despair of calling herself a mistake. "If a Queen, as cold and unforgiving as the ice, yet as warm and welcoming...if a woman...who could have turned me away at first look...turned me away for intruding her home...could find love for me." She let go of Overture, letting the Valkyric blade fade into Light. She then reached onto her back and grasped that silver sword, as her body was engulfed. "I am a mistake no longer. I am the lingering will of Shiva, and I have an oath to keep with final breath." She rose as her armor finished materializing on her. To many Valkyrie, they it would have been white as the freshest snow...but her armor was black, the golden trim standing out...the lining to a dark life that now shone.

"Do you know what I named this blade for, dragon?" From her back burst forth her wings, aetherial and bright. "If you do not, let me acquaint you with it." She exploded from the ground, aiming once more for the beast's legs. As she crackled with lightning, she turned and swung in air, bringing the sword around her body 360 degrees, as both Light and Dark augmented the blade to be twice as long. The girl aimed to sever the beast's leg, her body moving with purpose.

She had an oath to keep.

One she would not break. No, sooner would Xeno'jiva's scales shatter before Eclaire Oathkeeper failed her Queen...her friend....her love...one more time.

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Roleplay Overworld RP *COMPLETE*

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Roleplay Overworld RP COMPLETE