Empire of Maniacs Finale: Einland's Challenge

[Astral Harmony]

"This is the place."

Twenty-Three, the guardian of the future led them to a strange circular building in the ruins of this city of the future. They had passed countless powerful Implanted that made no move to attack them or even to notice their presense.
"I can feel Einland's power here," Twenty-Three continued. "It is as if he is summoning you here. No, I'm positive that is exactly what he is doing."
An area of the wall in the structure opened to reveal a hallway leading to a large circular room. "Well, we're not going to figure out what Einland's game is until we fall directly into his trap," Teressa said, walking inside. "I say we go in."
"Be careful in there, all of you." The guardian cautioned. "I don't want to put the pressure on you, but you might just be the only ones who can stop the Hymnblade Apocalypse now."

The room that the hallway lead to turned out to be some kind of an elevator, and once all had entered, the room was sealed off from the outside and started to ascend. Teressa leaned against one of the walls. "So here we finally are. The real war against the Hymnblades is far from over, but at least this battle which has been overdue for a long time will finally see its end today. A long time ago, I believed that Murder, Kaliph and I could stop all of this on our own. I lost hope and felt desperate when Murder became the vessel for Einland's soul. But, the fact that I'm still alive means that I didn't give up in believing that something could be done. And now, here all of you are. I feel pretty pathetic, actually, that even after all the years I've lived, the things that happened in these past two weeks have accomplished more than I did myself in an entire millenium. ...I guess that's my way of saying thanks."

The elevator ride was suddenly over. Teressa was forced to stand up straight as the walls folded back into the floor that surrounded the elevator. The ceiling was pulled up to form a kind of dome. As the lights came on to illuminate the entire domed arena, she heard the voice of Murder, coming from the same source that it always had: Rhonia.
"Warm greetings, my friends. I'm sure you're all itching to paint this floor in the blood of your enemies, but let me be the first to begin with this."
General Rhonia, now an Implanted under the direct control of Einland, was still a featureless shadowy and sexy form of unfriendless. Her sword lay on the ground, freeing her hands for what she had just tossed over to them.
"Ah," Teressa said, and jumped up, catching the lifeless body of Alicia. Upon landing, Teressa was already calling the princess's name.
"Alicia! Alicia, wake up!"
Alicia's eyes quivered, then slowly opened, eventually finding Teressa's face. "Ter...Teressa?"

Teressa looked to Rhonia. "What the hell did you do to her, Einland?"
Rhonia shrugged. "I completed Prescenia's resurrection. You should be thanking me. Had I not, Prescenia would have been reborn anyways after having absorbed all of Her Highness Alicia's soul. You have me to thank for the fact that Alicia is alive at all. You'll have to destroy Prescenia if you want to save Alicia completely. However-"

"To ensure victory over Prescenia, we desire to see your abilities tested."
Superbia stood on the opposite side of the arena, Einland's imposing Implanted Elite in the form of a twenty-five foot tall fully armored centaur with a blazing lance and a large Hymnblade driven through the horse's torso.
"If you cannot defeat the two of us, then you are no match for the challenge Prescenia will present."
Rhonia reached back and drew up her sword. Then she and Superbia stepped forward and readied themselves. "Not that we can't destroy Prescenia ourselves, but if we wanted to, then why would I bother allowing you to come to the Void of Enlightened at all? There's a method to my madness, though I'm sure you'll never understand as you can never see things from my perspective. Anyways, looking at all of you, I can tell you're sick of hearing me prattle on and on, so without further ado, let's get the endgame underway, shall we?"
Teressa backed off from both enemies as they assumed their battle stances. "I'll keep Alicia safe. You might probably think that would be cowardice on my part but I'm sure you'd rather be fighting these two than holding a weak young girl instead."

[PyrosNine]

"Well, I'm not a knight in shining armor, especially here in this nothingland, So I'll just let you take care of the girl whilst I get a'killin."

Yet, strangely before Kings pulled out his Ghaleon or even unsheathed his sling armblades (more on them in a sec) the first thing he did was start to take off his armor. He took off core pieces of his armor, and let them drop to the ground.

Craters were formed. Despite being of small size and even small adornments, all pieces removed hit the ground as if they were of much weight, some hitting the ground as if they were a massive cannon ball. Kings had to move as he took them off, lest he get sucked into the sand in their wake.

With all these extra parts of his armor removed, all that remained was a shirt and pants, and Kings even took off his shoes. Kings was now visibly vulnerable, with the look of a seasoned merc gone and now just some hairy shemp standing there. Or so it looked. Because to all in the area, they could certainly feel something there. Spiritually, it was if they were all consumed by a powerful soul. Magically, they felt a burning power rise up to fear inspiring levels, even for those who were considered his friend. And visually, the very air about Kings crackled and sizzled with heat.

"This is where my fight truly begins. It is said that I am incapable of doing anything but destroying, so I must seek something great to destroy in my lifetime. Families. Armies. Kingdoms. But before me now stands something unbalanced and fragile, yet threatening with the power to destroy everything. I am excited. I am afraid. Wicked Men have destroyed many things in their days under the sun, but who has destroyed the future? I shall do this, for this future cannot stand. I falls within itself, and threatens to crush everything it stands upon."

He flicked his wrists and out popped the armblades, making a cross before his chest. "Burn shade of a possibility! The great fire oni demands it!"

He made a bull run for Einland-Murder. His speed was deceptively unchanged, but one could feel that standing still before his charge would be a bad idea.

*Arm-blades: Gauntlets that protect King's forearms and hands that contain two spring loaded blades of considerable sharpness and strength. Not only can they pop out with ease, but can also be shot out further and be used as a hookshot for a long range attack or quick midair travel. Kings acquired this when he kicked Valgurr back to his senses (which also took the form of kicking him where the sun don't shine) and demanded to know where the human blacksmith he'd kidnapped had gone. Upon finding her, he tasked her with the creation of a blueprint on his person of Amazonian origin, which was a strange gauntlet like device. She did it out of both thanks for her rescue, and for fear that she'd been captured by yet another scary powerful force. (Kings protected her whilst she forged and put together the armblades and also reforged his sword, killing implanted with his bare hands.)

The blades are reddish gold with dark bits of hard iron marking the knuckles and the wrists. The lady blacksmith saw fit to place a burning fire insignia upon each of them, and improved upon the design by adding the springloaded hookshot feature and adding gripping teeth to the bottom of each blade allowing for pulling one self across distances. She was last seen fleeing Aristigalde in an ATV before the heroes made their journey to the future, who knows whether she made it out....

[Astral Harmony]

"I see the first up to bat is the fiery bastard himself," Rhonia smirked as Kings rushed her. "Let's see how his newfound fury holds up against this."

Rhonia swung her blade across her body and didn't stop, creating a swirling wind tunnel of air and forbidden magic intertwined. "Now, Superbia!"
The big armored centaur nodded and began thrusting his lance in rapid succession, launching numerous fireballs. Something that probably wouldn't phase Kings...until they hit Rhonia's whirlwind. The result was a massive salvo of air, fire, and forbidden magic shells that scattered as they rebounded towards Kings and the rest of the group.

[Incendius]

"Protection of the young is no duty of shame. Losing the young gives us less of a future then this." Rashandras leaned down and murmured into Teressa's ear. With one of his enormous hands he squeezed her shoulder reassuringly.

Straightening up Rashandras took a step forward, just as Kings started his little display. "I do not have such a magnificently terrifying spiritual transformation as you kings." Rashandras almost purred, his voice high and soothing. Both of his hands reached down to his sash and slid into his metallic claws. Lifting the dual weapons free, Rashandras crossed his tree trunk arms across his chest and splayed both of his penta-clawed hands above either shoulder. Rashandras' eyes dilated into little more then paper thin lines. Suddenly his voice switched into a deep, rumbling, and menacing tone. "But I think I can make do from any deficiencies in that regard".

Stepping forward with a stride that dwarfed that of normal men. Rashandras found himself alongside kings. Now in an imperious, loud tone Rashandras stated. "Friend Kings, neither do I have your purpose of destructiong, but I have A purpose. My purpose is just as pure in intent as yours. I strive for domincance and superiority. Just as a chance for ultimate destruction is in your sights, I have a chance for ultimate domination in mine."

As the powers of Rhonia and Superbia combined Rashandras let loose a might roar and shouted. "My goal is the hither to unchallenged beast, your is the herald of the future. You have your fight, and I have mine. For all others, interefer with my own fight at thy peril, for I cannot gaurentee your safety alongside me. Only a beast can fight a beast, and before I have not shown you such."

The moment the powers were unleashed onto the battlefield Rashandras made his move. He rushed forward with a speed and agility that belied his immense form. The flame tongued winds assailed him but he moved through the fields with ease. At all points he was threatened, but he always managed to push through the attacks. With a drop to all fours he ducked under a rushing wall of flame, the edges of which danced just above his back. The non beflamed winds were as breezes against an mountain; felt but in no way minded. Pushing off the ground Rashandras launched himself from left to right, rolling out of the paths of flame and deftly evading the chaotic nature of the field. The speckles of forbidden magic managed to dot his form, but even as he accumulated these bloody points, he still charged without abandon.

Each step he took deepened a corona of red along his form. The corona of shapeshifting, yet no change in body took place. The red light strengthened and strengthened; Rashandras seemed as if a demon, for he charged on all fours as no man, and the aura of red served to coat his human features and leave only a beasts.

Finally the object of his undeniable desire came into range, the giant, the beast, the unnatural Superbia. However a raging wall of flame suddenly blocked his path, just as Rashandras was ready to jump. The wall of flame proved no delay, it was as gauze before Rashandras and just as non frightening. He had not delayed his advance for a moment. Rashandras launched himself off the ground and through the wall with a terrifyingly powerful leap, one that carried him yards.

In the midst of the air he truly looked beyond sanity, flames licking alongst his body, raging in contrast against his corona. He was as an incarnation of the immortal beast, his leap one of dauntless insanity, endless rage, and unfathomable courage. At the apex of his leap Rashandras slashed downwards, aiming for the soft tender flesh inbetween the armor of the beast; flesh where he could find purchase and quickly ascend to the top of the beasts body. A roar that resounded terror in the very bones of all who heard it escaped Rashandras' lips.

[PyrosNine]

Kings took on the whirlwind at full, instead of leaping over it he charged it, lest it crush those behind him.

"Null." He bellowed, as a calming force dove into the flames before him, enslaving them to his will. And his will was for them to vanish. They went away with nothing more than a puff of hot air, leaving the fury of the wind and the forbidden magic for Kings to contend with.

Kings leapt into the fury, the wind cutting at him and the magic clashing against his spirit. With his own roar he expended an amount of force, ripping the whirlwind apart. The fury of the wind was dispelled through the deadly battlefield, even reaching so far as to cut down a few implanted off in the distance. While a few came close to those behind them, Kings made sure there was sufficient space to get out of the way. Then he brought his blades down with a rush of flame, striking down the forces which now clung to him, seeking to end and darken him. The attack for the most part nullified, Kings resumed his charged towards Rhonia.

"Here I thought you were a manly woman, and yet here you are throwing things in my path to keep some space between you and the big bad Kings."
Kings jabbed with a fang peeking out from his mouth.

[Astral Harmony]

Superbia took the strike full on and bounced back, his blood dripping down his breastplate. "Is that all you have? You shall be skewered at once!" He reared back and carefully aimed his lance to turn Rashanras into a kabob.

Rhonia abandoned her attack and charged Kings with the bigger, darker version of her Emerald Stinger at the ready. "Well, could you blame me, Kings? From what I've observed, you seem to make a habit of going after anything that might have a uterus."

[Incendius]

Rashandras merely let loose a guttural growl at Superbia's words, not deigning too, or unable to answer in human speak. The spear came whistling down, splitting the air as it drove towards Rashandras. At the last possible second, Rashandras flipped backwards, avoiding the flaming lance by inches, and leaving himself in a handstand facing away from Superbia.

Pushing downwards Rashandras flipped himself again, this time into the air to spin, and land feet first on the shaft of the lance. It is said a cat never falls on its back, which Rashandras had just shown. It is also known that a cat can balance on the most precarious of positions; as Rashandras now demonstrated.

Rushing forward, his arms flying behind him to either side assuring his balance, his mind shunting aside and ignoring the flames, Rashandras ran up the shaft of the lance. As Superbia shifted the lance, recovering from the strike, Rashandras leaped off it. Again his destination was the top of the fearsome beast, in this instance a shoulder would suffice. If his charge didn't succeed in that regard, he would at least attempt to score a strike with his claws.

[PyrosNine]

"Sorry to disappoint you lady, but as far as I know, right now all that's down there is a gaping void of misery." Kings rudely remarked with words that would forever leave it's mark on gender conflicts to come...in the alternate future.

Kings took aim with his left arm blade and fired at the oncoming Rhonia, who dodged it with ease and kept coming. Kings however, let the blade keep going, where it found purchase in the barren ground. With a click of his left hand, Kings rocketed himself forwards horizontally through the air, ending the distance between the two within seconds.

Kings clashed his right blade upon her Emerald Stinger as he returned to the ground, snapping the left blade back towards him as he did so in an effort to hit Rhonia with the whiplash of the return trip. She saw it coming out of the corner of her eye and contorted her body out of the way, doing so while smoothly repositioning her blade as she brought it down hard upon Kings. Kings needed both bladed hands to keep the sword from crushing him, yet the force of the blow had made a heavy impact upon the ground where he stood.

The armblades held under the pressure, the so called "apprentice" blacksmith had at least gotten some experience in making fine blades when she had toiled to arm Valgurr's soldiers.

With a grunt of effort, Kings hurled Rhonia and her blade off of him and sent a scorching ball of fire after her as she went through the air. She deflected it with her blade using it's sheer size as a body shield much like Kings had done before with his Ghaleon and she had done before technically when Kings had assumed her form.

After the flash of heat however, Kings was back on the attack and hammering her giant blade away for a close range stab with his right armblade....

[Astral Harmony]

Superbia quickly switched his lance to his left hand and backhanded Rashanras, sending him into the wall some thirty yards away, possibly to land on all fours as usual. The lance followed shortly thereafter and Superbia was already channeling energy into his fists as he turned around to get the morphin' manbeast into his cone of vision. "You're in for a beating, you little brat!"

"Damn you!" Rhonia quickly dropped her sword and caught the blade between her hands, realizing quickly that trying to snap it was impossible. Kings' groin was too far for a flying knee, so Rhonia attempted a high kick to his chin.

[TheBlindMime]

Valgur lie crumpled on the floor, a triumphant Kings standing before him. Though his body lay prone his mouth ran driving foul curses and threats into Kings. Which Kings promptly ignored.

As Valgur tried to lift himself to his feet so that he might die honorably in the name of Prescenia despite her leaving him to die and the completely dishonorable kick in the subligar. That's correct, kicked right in the subligar. Val felt a sudden weight on his back. It was General Remalia, her hands glowed with a fierce but warmly embracing light.

It enveloped and destroyed him, leaving only Valgur the Grey.

Hours later Valgur stared heartlessly at the frail form of Alicia in the arms of Teressa, she symbolized everything that had gone wrong for Valgur since he stepped foot into Aristagalde. As she opened her eyes and spoke for the first time that Valgur had ever heard her true voice, he knew that he was merely blaming a victim. Regardless of their heritage they were kin, both of them manipulated by a force more powerful then themselves, a force which would have killed them and for Alicia a force that was still killing them.

Valgur would save this girl, Remalia had forced his hand to this spot but from here on he would fight for Alicia. He smiled bitterly, he once again found himself pledging to protect the same girl from harm no matter the cost. He truly was a father at heart.

"Christopher, my Helmet." Valgur demanded thrusting his arm towards one of the two cloaked figures behind him. Promptly his helm was handed forward, he began clasping it on as Rashanras a newcomer with strange powers of a feline nature and Kings the man of flames that Valgur knew quite well and yet not at all, leapt into action. "Tykus, take aim at Superbia and use Christopher's cover fire when you can."

The second figure behind removed his cloak to reveal the implanted Tykus, "Yes, sir." His voice still sounding like gravel rolling down a hill in a mudslide. He leapt to the dome wall and began skittering along the roof with his warped arachnid limbs. Finding a spot he liked he gripped the roof with his feet and fell back, now standing upside down on the roof he drew out two recurved bows. Notching two arrows to each bow he took aim.

"A sword as well Christopher." A sword protruded from the still cloaked figures chest, as if he had been impaled with it previously. Valgur drew the sword and spoke with a great deal of sorrow in his voice. "And Christopher, I'm sorry for what I have done. I hope your forgiveness was not a falsehood. I truly grieve for what I have done to you and this country."

"You have returned to me my freedom Valgur, I owe you sir." The cloaked figure responded confidently.

"I am afraid you are wrong Christopher." Valgur lunged his armor's jet igniting sending him hurtling towards the fight. His sword at his side, in the time it takes most to breathe he amidst the frenzy, raising his sword in a fluid swipe into Rhonia's side. Hoping to take the opening made by her high kick and spread her guts to the five winds. Ironic his personal goals finally corresponded to the group goals.

Tykus fired his four shots after lathering them all in a green foamy substance. The arrows latched onto Superbia's armor and began shriveling and melting into a goopy nothingness on his back. Before he could even suspect their true nature Christopher; formerly known as Jockun, drew out two guns and fired them. Hoping to ignite the explosive goo now latched onto Superbia's back.

[Astral Harmony]

Rhonia caught Valgur's approach out of the corner of her eye and dropped a split second, sliding back as Valgur's sword almost hit Kings. "You two fight a lot, huh?" Rhonia smiled as she pulled herself up into a handstand, jumping back onto her feet, sword in hand. "It's a shame I have to end you, Valgur. Hymntrollers are extremely rare. Theodora would be upset when I have to eliminate you. Oh, well."
She whirled in place, launching a large wave of dark energy at the duo that can't seem to get enough to each other. Gaun would be jealous.

Superbia caught fire just as he launched roughly a dozen tracking energy shots at Rashanras, then turned on Christopher. "Just give it up. Einland desires your heads and your heads he shall have!" Unfriendly looking lights grew within Superbia's visor. That could only mean one thing. Christopher was going to be on the receiving end of some laser eye beam action.

[PyrosNine]

Kings disengaged Rhonia to avoid being struck by Valgurr's blade. "Fight with me if you will, just avoid any unhealthy side effects of me kicking her ass."

Kings had settled things between himself and Valgurr, and once they had come to an understanding, fighting together would not be so hard.

Rhonia prattled on nonsensically about hymns and trolls, and then shot two dark blasts at them.

"Flame cannon!" Kings put sheathed both blades to free up his fingers for the attack, which fought against the dark wave attack. He sincerely hoped Valgurr wasn't busy with something, and would attack Rhonia whilst he dealt with the dark energy.

[TheBlindMime]

"To you as well." Valgur chided back before Kings shielded them both from harm, albeit with a larger explosion. Dodging around the explosion Valgur came at Rhonia from her rear thrusting his sword for her heart. She blocked easily and would have shoved his attack back as well but before she could Val pulled his sword away and swung from another angle intent on keeping her on defense. "I'm sorry did you say something I wasn't listening."

Val's plan was simple, use the speed and efficiency of the broadsword rather then the brute force attacks Rhonia had become accustomed to fighting against. Hopefully Pyros would join in a tandem attack with his usual unsophisticated heavy handed tactics, which he assuredly would.

*

Tykus continued stringing, lathering and firing arrows with deadly precision. Seemingly unnoticed by Superbia he began firing even quicker almost hoping to draw the creatures attention. His mind focused completely on stopping Superbia and not on his obvious death wish. His arrows continued to splatter against Superbia's hindquarters leaving open his front from fiery oblivion.

*

Christopher dropped the pistols to his feet, the pistols were all but useless now. He thrust his arms open wide and spoke mockingly. "This may sound odd from a fellow implanted but have you ever considered freelance work?" Suddenly his entire arm-span appeared to turn to metal, the metal burst forward lurching to the earth and landing surprisingly on its side. It was a large metal door that had once belonged in an outpost just before Fort Brahnigan, one of the many things you pick up when you follow a herald into war.

The laser cut through the door mercilessly, Superbia's attack cutting a straight line across where his target was standing. The metal door glowed brightly across its new scar, then split along it. Amongst the smoldering metal in front and the billowing smoke behind stood Christopher sans his cloak. He wore a black vest gilded in gold with a white dress suit underneath and fine leather pants and boots he could have only stolen from the palace. He stood next to a freshly procured cannon, the second largest item he had picked up on his travels. The first being the door.

"You could live a lot longer if you did." He smiled simply as he fired one of his 'useless' pistols into what cannoneer's so lovingly call the 'touchhole'.

[PyrosNine]

On the opposite side of Rhonia, Kings dashed forward with a mighty scissoring slash of the two armblades to see if Rhonia was watching her back while she attempted to harm Valgurr.

Kings could be a team player, sometimes.

[Mintaro]

Aran floated in nothingness. He wasn't sure how long he lay, nor what happened while he did. His only company was the slowly growing sound of music. He wondered to himself if this was what death was. To simply lay in nothingness. It seemed a lot less grand than the brochures had promised him. Even the idea of complete nothingness was preferable to existing inside of nothingness. He blinked once. He realized then that it was the first time he had moved sense he got to this place. Blinking again he noticed that the blackness was becoming more silver as the music grew louder.

"So lets see, empty nothingness, slowly filling with something familiar. And I can barely move." Aran listed off things out loud before even realizing he could speak. "Oh and I can talk. I guess that counts for something." Very slowly Aran felt strength returning to his body. First his heart began to beat faster, then his breathing increased. Slowly he regained feeling in his body. His fingers and toes began bending.

Finally after what seemed like yet another eternity he was able to get up onto his feet. The void was a dusky silver now. The music sounding like it was just in the other room. He could finally identify the source. A strange lilting stringed instrument, sounding almost like bells or chimes. It was his song alright. He'd heard it often enough of late. Unconsciously Aran began humming along while he strolled about the empty nothingness. Soon he saw something off in the distance. It looked to be a man.

Aran was eager to get the hell out of where ever he was, And where ever he was he had not a clue. So running towards the only thing he could see other than himself seemed like a good course of action. Every step he took towards the man brought the void into a brighter silver. Which in turn made the music rise in volume.

Finally he could see the man clearly. It was an elderly man, silvery hair cascading down over his face. He sat on air and strummed an odd looking instrument, on which he played the song. It looked like a guitar, but much much longer, and the strings were all a thin silver color. Aran slowed and then stopped in front of him. Not exactly sure what to do.

"Yo." Aran said in a friendly tone.

The man continued playing but responded in a melodic voice. "Hello Aran, I see you've finally made it here. Please take a seat."

Aran was totally perplexed not only did he not know this guy, but there was no chair to sit in. Plus as far as he could tell, there was no here to be a there. Which really just seemed aggravating. So Aran just flopped down onto the ground and listened to the music for a moment.

"SOoooOOOoo....Am I dead?" Aran finally asked.

"No. At least, not really. Your mortal coil has ended."

"I see..." He really didn't but he felt it best to just go along. After all he wasn't going anywhere. "Well if I'm not dead, and I'm not really alive then...where...am...I?"

"Well here, obviously. At the cross roads. You get to decide where you go next."

Aran smiled, he was finally getting some where. "Ok so I'm at the cross roads. So can I decide to go back to Aristigalde?"

"Yes, if that is your wish. But think carefully on what you want."

Aran suddenly wasn't too sure what he wanted. For all he knew going back to Aristigalde meant being born again. Which really would put him behind the group on the whole saving the world bit. "Ok, umm, well can I just be dead?"

A string snapped on the instrument, creating a sour note and halting the melody. The man got very still for a moment. "Do you so yearn for death? I am offering you something great here."

Aran was now totally lost, it seemed like who ever this man was, he wasn't on all his stilts. "Well I don't want to die I suppose."

"Good than." The man said happily. Reaching up he pulled one of his hairs from his head and used it to restring his instrument. The hair shouldn't have reached but somehow it did. "Then do you accept?"

Aran scratched the back of his neck. A task much harder now that he lacked his favorite tool for the job. "Yes?" Aran half asked confusedly.

"Ah HA!" The man chortled suddenly. "You don't even know what it is I'm offering you!" The man straightened up making the hair fall away from his face. The man before him was as young as Aran was, not old and gray as he had first thought. "You would just blindly accept whatever is thrown to you. Aran the Treasure hunter indeed!"

"But you....said....then you....Tell you what, why don't you just tell me what it is you want to give me and I'll tell you if I want it."

"Life Aran! I want to give you life! A life more grand and purposeful than any moments you have lived till now. Although I have to admit you've had a few good moments."

"Ah ha! You said Had, meaning past tense! Meaning I AM dead!" Aran stood up and jumped about victoriously. Happy he was finally understanding what was going on.

"You didn't listen to me did you. Aran I'm offering you my place."

Aran stopped jumping around. "So wait. I can either die or become a guy sitting in silver nothingness playing music for all eternity?"

The man sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He seemed to be loosing patience. "These mortal brains are so, cramped." He muttered. "I am offering you what is left of my power. Do you accept?"

Aran scratched his chin, it seemed a bargain was afoot. "Whats in it for me?" Aran queried slyly.

"EVERYTHING YOU SLOW WITTED MONEY THIEF!" The man had finally lost his patience, Standing up his instrument vanished. He seemed to grow larger every time he took a breath. Which he heaved in and out.

"OK then I accept." Aran responded meekly. He still was unsure what this man was offering but it seemed preferable to being squashed in a great vast nothingness.

"OK then." The man snapped his fingers. "It is done." With that he vanished.

"Well thats ridiculous what was do-""

Before Aran could finish his sentence he awoke with a start. He was laying in a bed. Heavy blankets piled atop him. Very confused now he wiggled out of bed. Running a hand over his chest he noticed something very odd. He didn't have a single wound on him. Not so much as a scar. Either that Paladin had come by the tower. Or Prescenia wanted him alive for something sinister. Aran was not one to take the time to find out. Looking around the room he found his clothing in a nice neat pile. Throwing it on quickly he looked about for anything that would help him. Finding no weapons he decided to make the best of it. Cracking open the door he looked out into empty halls. Slipping outside he padded quietly down the hall. He turned a corner only to find it totally exposed to the outside. A chill wind blew across the opening causing him to shiver. His clothing was covered in holes.

Wishing to himself that his clothing was mended he set off back down the hall in the other direction. He got just past the door when he spotted a stand mirror. Glancing at his reflection he stopped and gapped at himself. It was him. Only now his hair was stark silver. The same color one would find in a gilded throne or the necklace of a noble. Not only that, but his clothing had changed. No longer was he wearing the tattered rags of yesterdays battle. But now he was wearing clothing fit for a prince. Black fine silk with silver threading. Aran laughed. Clearly he was still dead.

Looking around he decided to roll with it. If this was the afterlife it wasn't so bad. Aran strode down the hall. Like a king inside his castle. Even if his castle was dusty and empty. "So where dose a prince go in his castle." Aran pondered to himself aloud. Snapping his fingers, which gave off a sharp melodic noise he took no notice of. He came to his conclusion. "The Treasure room!" Closing his eyes Aran thought about treasure. When he opened them again, there he stood. The sole occupant of a glorious room full of riches. Complete with Marble statues. One of which was broken.

Yep the afterlife sure was turning up well for Aran Sordeth.

(OOC: OK thats the first half, my GF's here so I'll write the rest later. Also this is happening day of the final show down. Aran is just still confused. Being dead will do that.)

[Astral Harmony]

Rhonia had the pretty much abandon her sword and use her arms and hands to parry Valgur's attack. Which was fine to her, but without the reach she would have with the blade, Valgur wasn't leaving any openings. It would be a battle of stamina, and if Valgur tired out first, Rhonia would have him.

She caught Kings coming at her from behind, made a quick thrust kick into Valgur's stomach and dove to the right, tumbling into a crouch. As she rose to her feet, she gathered energy into her fists similar to Superbia when he readied to attack Rashanras. Rhonia charged a lot more energy, though. Probably her final move. "It doesn't matter," Rhonia gasped. "If I defeat you here, that's two less obstacles in my path. And if you win, then at least the mighty General Rhonia will no longer be a threat. Either way, you'll be dealt with accordingly."

Superbia was slowly becoming wreathed in flame. However, he was quite a powerful one, and only seemed to suffer mild discomfort at the concept of being on fire. That probably wouldn't take long to change, however. People on fire who lack the necessary elemental affinity for it like Superbia wouldn't be able to put up with it for long at all, even if they were one of the Implanted Elite. "Freelance does sound nice, but I'm sorely lacking in any desire but to serve my master."
Superbia reared up and slammed his two front hooves onto the ground, creating a rapidly spreading shockwave. He quickly charged energy into his hands for a second assault to nail anything thrown into the air.

[TheBlindMime]

Tykus' arrows dropped from his grip as the roof shook, his tenuous grip on the roof with only his feet was nearly lost. He forsake extra attacks of opportunity for safety gripping the roof with almost all of his appendages. As the roof settled he once again took aim only to find Superbia blocking his attacks.

*

Christopher had lost his footing during the tremor, he was now laying awkwardly across the cannon which had lodged itself into the wall after its first shot. Which had been high and to the left. Christopher needed time to load another shot, he had the powder and the ammo he just needed the time. He took a quick glance towards Superbia to see Tykus struggling to keep him occupied while the flames upon his back slowly died.

"Rashadras?" Christopher called out, he could see there ally no where around. He'd been fighting so fiercely but a moment ago, but as the name past his lips Christopher regretted saying anything at all. Superbia's angry glare turned on him while still maintaining his absolute defense against Tykus. He'd already gambled now, might as well let the dice roll. "Help!"

*

Val stood motionless his eyes locked on Rhonia, without her sword he easily had a reach advantage over her. He could avoid her swipes for some time, maybe get in a fatal strike, all he had to do was be react to her movements as she made them. This fact wasn't the only thing that kept him from moving, This fight doesn't matter? Val thought quizically.

And if you win, then at least the mighty General Rhonia will no longer be a threat. She says... its as if she has a death wish. As if the true General Rhonia desires us to kill her now to prevent her from being used later against Aristagalde. Then she, like me, could be freed from her spell and returned to who she was...

A shame I'd rather see her dead. Valgur readied his blade, "Give no quarter Kings, she is lost."

[PyrosNine]

"Asking me to give no quarter? Are you perchance mistaking me for some other, more benevolent fire demon?" Kings jeered.

Really, Kings was torn by the memories shared fighting with the general and the things accomplished with her. It was a shame, a dishonor for her to fall under the sway of a freak like Einland, be it through possession, subversion, or whatever means. If Rhonia was lost, then trying to save her was folly. And her not being lost was a slim chance in this shitty world.

But then again, Kings never liked to gamble with the odds in his favor.

He would beat down Rhonia to the brink of death. He would give no quarter in his combat, and would only cease when she could no longer fight. But if she was still among the living following this, there would be a chance. There was a suitable technique Kings knew. But if she was dead, Kings would bury her in the past, not this wretched future. It was all Kings could do and hope to do.

King's energy flared and his body became covered in crimson flames. "YAAAAAH! Can you withstand a thousand blows?"

King's energy and his body seemed to move separately as they made ready to fight her to the death, even as she readied up her final move. If Rhonia was touched even once by Kings or the silhouette of flame that took it's own path to her, she would truly feel a thousand blows.

[Astral Harmony]

Rhonia's gaze darted between Kings and his flame form. Their brawling was fast enough to be nearly untrackable as Rhonia and Kings played out their dance of defense and offense. But if Rhonia had a single failing, it was her speed. Even without the sword to slow her down, Rhonia was only so fast. Setsumi could do this, but the mighty ground commander general could not.

Kings took a right hook to his left cheek and was sent whirling to the ground. Rhonia was knocked back as the assault of a thousand blows sent her into the wall behind her some thirty yards away. Like Neo from The Matrix Reloaded, she flew through the air, propelling her arms, and smashed into the wall. However, she was flung farther and faster than he was, and probably do to these differences, she wasn't getting up. Her head hung weakly over her chest. No one could tell if she had somehow survived that attack or was dead before she hit the wall.

"She's good against dozens of weaklings, but against a couple of powerful warriors such as yourselves, it's just no contest."
The voice came from a difference source. Murder stood not far from the duo, Synfection weapon at the ready.
"I thought that would be the end, but now I think Prescenia can just keep her panties on. I haven't indulged in serious combat for over a millenium. Stepping in and feeling your strength with this body could be quite refreshing."

[Incendius]

"Rashadras?" "Help!"

It was at the moment Christopher yelled that Rashandras made his move; though more of tactical gain than that of simply assisting an ally.

The last furious minutes for Rashandras had been a game of avoidance and stealth. First the shapeshifter had needed to disperse of the tracking magical bolts aimed at his direction. It had not helped that he was hefted against a large wall only moments before. Rashandras had shifted the moment he landed on his feet from the knockback, into six different cheetahs. The effort expended in that venture was immense; even when Rashandras had shapeshifted, the twelve bolts had split as well. Two had gone off onto each target, for the bolts tracked Rashandras' essence, and his shapeshifting split his essence into six. However, his shapeshifting also changed his essence subtly, which added slight confusion of direction to the bolts. Whenever one of Rashandras' forms drew near to another, the bolts would sway in the second form's direction.

Using this tendency, through many coordinated manuevers along with his natural speed, Rashandras' was able to avoid and outpace many close encounters with the bolts. However, he was unable to attack or do much else. His attempts at using the terrain to disperse the bolts met ultimately with failure, the bolts prowed through any barrier or just moved around it. Nor was there any oppurtunity to enlist an ally for aid; all were engaged for their lives as he was. Rashandras had been presented with few options but that of flight. This deeply angered him; such an inability was that of a weakling, and Rashandras was anything but weak. In his collective beast mind, Rashandras had resolved that he would turn this insulting attack back against the huge implanted.

No such oppurtunity presented itself; that is until Superbia made his attempt to flush out his quarry. With the insticts of the beast, Rashandras had realized what Superbia intended the moment he raised his front hooves. All six of Rashandras cheetahs rushed to a focal point, to the side of Superbia. Behind each one, two bolts chased, relentless in their pursuit. As the cheetahs came together, so did their forms. The red glow of shapeshifting enveloped them, and Rashandras' normal form came forth crouched on the ground, all his muscles tensed and prepared. An instant later, Superbia slammed down his hooves, and the shockwave spread outwards. Rashandras' did not oppose the shockwaves force, in fact he supported it. The moment it struck his position, Rashandras pushed forth, launching himself far farther into the air then he would ever have managed by his own volition.

As he was launched into the air, Rashandras curled himself into a ball to consolidate his form. The apex of his ascent was a stunning fifty feet, twice as high as Superbia's form. When he reached this point Superbia smirked coldly, as he unleahsed the energy he had gathered into his hands at Rashandras, who he believed had no way to manuever through the air. Superbia had however forgot or not realized two crucial facts. When Rashandras shapeshifted, his own body was the platform, the forms that came out of him, were able to move as if from the ground initially. The second was that twelve devastating bolts of magic were already chasing Rashandras. This mistake would dearly cost Superbia.

The red magic of shapeshifting enveloped Rashandras as his ascent stopped, and he started to fall through the air. Out of his red aura sprung his six forms, this time that of six rust colored lynxs. The lynxs all sprung towards Superbia, but this action was masked. For as they sprung forth, the tracking bolts bended again towards them, and Superbia directed bolts swept under the six forms missing by only milimeters. The two sets of bolts collided, the ancient magics mixing, and not mixing well. The collision caused an explosion, one who's smoke and flash obscured the air. Thus, Superbia had thought Rashandras gone for good, and had turned towards Christopher. Due to his position, Christopher had been unable to seen these events either.

It was at the time of Christophers call, that Superbia painfully realized mistake. Not only had Rashandras avoided a painful demise, he had used the explosion for his own efforts, ensuring a rapid descent directly towards Superbia. What Superbia had denied Rashandras twice before, he had readily given Rashandras a third time. All six of Rashandras' forms had found purchase on Superbia's back and head. It was at the moment of the call, that each of Rashandras' forms attempted to tear into Superbia's flesh. For now they were all in a position where they were not easily dislodged, or even reached.

Two attempted to tear into Superbia's lower organs, two had landed near his neck and went to dig ravenously into that. Finally two had landed on Superbia's head, and went to tear into his eyes and the soft part of one's skull.

[PyrosNine]

Kings sighed. He couldn't use his special technique just yet, now with that woman's appearance.

The hit to his cheek had hurt, a worthy punch for a battle, and there was even signs of a bruise. It was the fault of the previous technique. Takeshi could cut through men and machine with blazing speed with his sword, often so fast the eyes could not see. Kings two could pull of this feat, assuming he had smaller weapons than his ghaleon or sax. When Rhonia felt the thousand blows, Kings was reflexively attacking purely by lesser memory with a thousand swings of his blades. However, this reflexive attack had it's flaws, as Kings lost attention to the rest of the field of battle. It allowed this Murder to appear without his notice, and also left him wide open for that punch to the face.

He'd have to be extra careful for Murder though. From here on, no more gimmicks. Kings would have to be strong and quick, with deadly efficiency, or be dead himself.

"Hey Miss Murder. Bathing in your blood will be refreshing as well." Kings magicked a quick Fira attack at the newly shown up Fighter.

Rhonia, be you not dead or still possessed, wait thee a little longer!

[TheBlindMime]

Valgur looked at Murder with an obvious misgiving, "Now this is hardly fair. You should at least let go of Synfection." Valgur's entire standpoint on fair play was burnt to nothing under the fira spell thrown by Kings. "It's odd, I no longer hear the hymn yet I still want him dead." Val muttered as he leapt through the aftermath of the flames swinging his broadsword down.

[Astral Harmony]

Superbia, wreathed in flames and assaulted by Rashandras' lynxes (lynxen? I dunno), tried desperately to shake off his attackers like a Colossus trying to shake off a kid with a sword going after his glowy bits.

Murder spared a brief glance to her Implanted Elite. "Superbia, you should recover. Leave this to myself and Prescenia. You shall have your chance for revenge later."
Superbia had finally managed to throw off all of the cats and, furious and still on fire, obeyed the order to withdraw, rapidly melting into the ground.

"Looks like I get to take you all on myself," Murder said, tossing her Synfection aside to vanish in black flames once it left her hands to please Valgur. "The original name of this manmade cyborg is Miracle, and she was the second prototype of the Supreme Soldier program started over a millenium ago and probably existing still today. True to her name, she is a miracle in combat potential. If I really wanted to, I could have slain those generals who caught me. I could slay you as well, but I'm curious about you all. I wish to see where your futures would lie if I let you live. But first, you have to earn the right to life."
Here, Murder raised her fists. "Let me see your best, now. I'll make sure you're in fighting fit form for the confrontation. I'm sure she wouldn't want it any other way."

[TheBlindMime]

"If it is my best you desire then I had best become serious about this fight." Valgur tossed aside the broadsword as if it were a worthless piece of scrap and turned towards his paige. "Christopher my hymnblade." Christopher nodded as the hilt of a sword began to protrude from his shoulder.

Earlier, just before the rift opened when Valgur first regained consciousness he found himself lying beside General Remalia. She stared at him with a purity and strength in her eyes. "Why did you not slay me?" Valgur managed to say though his body yearned to rest.

"Because you were not the one who needed to be slain, you were but a puppet." She replied.

"You did not see the things I have done." Valgur grabbed the hymnblade lying between them, "It would be better for everyone if you took my head with this, ending the sinner with his sin."

General Remalia placed her hands atop the blade and the fierce light that cleansed Valgur flowed over the blade as well. "Valgur the Grey, it would be better for everyone if you fought on the side of justice and valor as you had started to when I sent you into Aristagalde. Can you fight for what is good in this world or not?"

As Valgur took hold of that once cursed blade, he knew that he could fight.

Christopher tore the sword from his shoulder, though the act seemed to pain him to do so. With his strength on the wane he only had enough to toss the greatsword to Tykus before collapsing for a well needed breather. He had done his duty though, he had kept the sword safe and hidden.

Tykus began a quick scurry across the roof, his lower arms and legs dragging him up the dome despite the heavy sword in his arms. As he reached the apex of the dome he lurched to a stop and hurled the sword down the all his strength, his throw guiding the blade towards Murder/Miracle's head handle first. The swords glyphs and seals all appeared to have been altered along the blade, each sigil now channeled celestial energy.

Val had taken the opportunity to move back during his subordinates distraction but now he had taken to the air and was diving alongside the holy blade. He grasped the blade as it fell towards its target and just before it arrived Valgur took control of its momentum sweeping the blade down in an effortful slash.

He had never used this recently blessed hymnblade in battle but he knew it would be dangerous.

[PyrosNine]

(OOC: Ooy! NPF 5 is a twister in a whirlwind within a omega earth ending storm!)

Kings roared with rage. "I shall kill you, MURDER!"

He was the first to attack, sinking one of his armblades into the ground at his feet, he leapt high over to the perversion of all that was good in this and landed on her other side, where he immediately had the springcoil turn on, pulling him down at an angle at Murder.

With his free blade, he went for her neck.

[Astral Harmony]

Kings got to Murder just before Valgur did. She skillfully caught his blade and was about to administer a thrust kick into his midsection before being knocked flat by Valgur's attack and left on her back five feet away. She quickly raised her legs and slammed them on the ground, launching herself into the air and-
"More..."
Rays of divine energy were sucked into a building sphere of light between Murder's hands which split into eight tracking shots when she launched it at the duo.

She was already on the ground and sprinting straight for Valgur, her fist raised to put a crater in his face a split second before the energy shots would hit.