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Steam practically shoots from Aiden's head as his head all but cartoonishly explodes at this sudden twist. She was supposed to fall to her knees, give up, admit defeat! SOMETHING! Not this!
Aiden's eyes are replaced with rapidly spinning spirals as his brain rapidly tries to process a response to this situation, but he has backed himself into a corner. Wait, this is a bluff. That's it. She's calling my bluff with her own bluff. A, a reverse bluff! Well two can play that game, her, three. I just have to bluff her bluffing bluff! The deafening moment of silence fills the entire house as Aiden's faux confidence, hardly masking a VERY panicked and embarrassed lad, finally makes a move. His move. Quick, but not too quick. Get close, but not too close. I have to make her THINK I'm going to kiss her aggressively, forcing her to be the one to back down! THEN IT'S MY WIN!
Certain of his victory Aiden let's out just a few soft words in an attempt at sounding cool and calm, if not for the fact that he face has invented 15 new shades of red and 13 new shades of pink. "You asked for it-" Aiden moves in to close the distance between their lips at a controlled pace, quickly enough to make it seem like he's going to confidently and assertively follow through yet juuuust slow enough for her to turn her head before lip contact can happen. The perfect plan! She'll get too embarrassed and turn away, unable to move away thanks to Aiden's grip on her long hair, letting him save face and win this hormonally charged game of chicken!
At the very last moment of truth Aiden's brain flashes one last bit of information, something he overlooked in all his bravado he's forcing upon himself for masculine pride or...whatever it is he's doing. Wait....what if she.....---
The surge of strength she put behind her blade did surprise Duncan as he did his best to keep his blade steady in this bind after she tried to hit him with a short slash, thus catching him in this situation.
'Jeez, she's really good. My amateur swordsmanship is showing. I'm hanging on with grit and powers here.'
His own thoughts were a blur, pushed aside as all his mental power was needed to just try and survive the back to back situations Kiysa kept pushing him into as she survived his attacks. He was up in a Ox Guard right now as he defends against her flicking strike to slash his upper arm, now she wanted to twist his blade into an unsalvageable spot. He couldn't keep meeting her as a swordsman, he won't win there with his barely week worth of familiarising himself with the Style he was shown.
But he was still strong enough to resist her efforts to push him into a weakened position, even in this precarious guard, he kept his cool and more annoyingly his smile. But even then, where human flesh fails...
Duncan's smile twists with gritted teeth as metal forms along his hands and up his sleeves, this contest of strength was not going to be so easily won. His command of Aura metal was not as good as his sisters, but even this much would be enough to reinforce his guarded stance. She was stepping forward, trying to pressure him and place him into a precarious spot... Time to kick it up a gear! He uses Accel to shift as he steps forward and to her side, letting her strike run down the edge of his blade before bringing his blade back up to try and slash her forearm. Failing that and Kiysa being swift enough to recover before he can slash her, Duncan quickly moves to snap his fingers again. But instead of using Rebellion a sharp flash of blinding light fills the area as Duncan makes use of more and more of the natures he has been neglecting to use.
Hoping that he has a opening, Duncan engages her with a quick flurry of stabs enhanced by Accel and his own desire to faster. Each stabbed as close to centre mass as possible.
Let's not forget about page editing as well. I don't know how to do it, but it's a "very simple thing once you learn how". Makes it very easy to fake any and all messages exchanged on any manner of website.
"No, don't mind at all," Heimrich responds.
"We can probably get everything in one trip then," Adds Alice as she leads the way out of the house.
As they walk and Vance brings up Diego's defeat, Heimrich can't help but smirk at the memory of Diego howling and whining off across the horizon. "Alice kicked his ass so hard, I was seeing stars."
"It wasn't really me though-"
"Sure it was! All I did was close the gap for you. I'm not the one who made a centuries old fighter look like a bumbling idiot."
"Heimrich stop it," Alice pleads, partly turning as they walk through the front door so she can thump his arm. Vance can see her start to turn red and her attempt at a frown unraveling. She certainly likes the praise, and knowing her hard work at swordsmanship has paid off.
He never fails to pull something new out of his sleeve. In this case metal ones. Duncan becomes harder and harder to budge, and swiftly turns this into an even contest as they wrestle for control. Kiysa's mind is in overdrive searching for any opportunity to take over, and any sign of a counterattack from Duncan. It was the only reason she could react to his speed full on doubling. She is forced to retreat, escaping just outside of his sword range- And outside the possibility to stop the snap she sees forming as his sword passes across her field of vision. Vision that turns blinding white.
Kiysa curses as she snaps her eyes shut, forced to rely purely on her other senses as his sword pierces through the light, seeking to pierce her chest. It won't be as effective, but she has to do this in order to recover.
Duncan sees Kiysa twist to her left in order to avoid his swordpoint, leaving her in a difficult position to avoid a follow up thrust. He nearly capitalizes on it, before he notices something off about it. Nothing physical, but in his gut he feels it's wrong.
It's more effective when we share eye contact, but with proper training we can project a fake of sorts, a false intuition for the opponent that we are going to go one way while we go another. A feint that the opponent's own imagination completes for you.
Remembering what Utu had taught him at the last moment, Duncan reels in his focus and sees Kiysa actually avoided his thrust to her right. Even though the flashbang he can see her shock as he fails to fall for the feint and refuses to relent.
How is he doing this?! Kiysa is forced to dodge and barely reflect thrust after thrust as Duncan forces her back, her windows to counter attack are shrinking to nothing as each strike has fewer flaws and become faster and faster. No, stop! Focus! Duncan isn't the only one who has been advancing. The longer the battle goes on the quicker she adapts. Each dodge and each parry are becoming closer and closer, not just from Duncan speeding up, but Kiysa drawing closer to the minimum energy required to avoid the blow. This is a battle of evolution and attrition. Only one will be able to come out on top.
Winter went deep into his thoughts as Chronoa explained that the Time Patrol joined the Tournament Of Power and ended up losing in the future. Now it was up to him and his team to join the Tournament themselves to prevent existence from being erased. Winter listened as Trunks explained they have picked all five them and another man that they selected to join the tournament. All they needed was one more person, the Clansmen began to think more on who they should pick. He didn't know that many people that were on the same level as them except for some of Aylote's family, though considering they saved the timelines from a Revived Demigra they deserved a break from all of this time nonsense.
As Winter continued to think more he heard Kalla speak and volunteer his old friend named Darrius. Unfortunately, Winter thinks there would be too much risk in bringing someone that was outside the Time Patrol. The Clansman trusts Kalla, but bringing in Darrius could possibly lead into too many unknowns.
"Who is this other person you already selected?" Winter asked looking up towards Trunks.
Being held bridal style, a tough tomboy like her, it was an easy way to make her feel like a lady instead of a warrior. Embarrassing, but since it was him... She'd allow it. Being able to let down her guard and feel so giddy and feminine was strange to allow herself to do. Didn't stop her, while trying to remain stone faced, from having said face being lit up like a Christmas tree.
'If anyone sees me like this I'll die.'
She wraps her arms around his neck, doing her best to hold on when he asks. Watching as his strange aura begins to form before the two of them rocket off high into the air and clearing the Citadel and the forest treeline in under a flat second. The view from so high up, watching as whole cities and forests pass them by far beneath them until the coastline itself zipped by beneath them. With the rolling waves of the ocean now beneath them... All sights she missed because she skipped it all to portal straight to the Shadow Forest that held the Citadel after weeks of calculations.
The ride so far was without any issue. So when he pointed out that he hadn't had much practice with it, and how hard it was to tell speeds from inside the Mirror realm, Samantha nodded in agreement. "For someone without much practice the ride has been swell. You even kept the wind out of our faces as you flew, so its great in my book."
As she saw the land approaching, she could tell that they were close to the southwest. Purely because of a small collection of islands close to the coast here that the Beast-kin have been trying to hold for hundreds of years against the Aetheran sea-folk, or at least their horribly deteriorated descendants. Besides that, she knew where they needed to go. "We need to travel east along this coast, we'll find an island in the shape of a Spearhead off the northeast coast. That's were we will find our master. Though since we're this close, he can likely sense us already. Him and afew others, its hard not noticing you." She says as she smirks at him.
Vance's expression grew with interest as his gaze shifted to Alice. To think she was the one that beat Diego. He took a moment, properly placing his hand on his chin and raising an eyebrow as he did so. Having a proper pondering look on his face. "You beat the pervy wolf? Colour me impressed. I wanted to slap that sh!tty dog myself." He says before he hears the rest.
Particularly the part about him 'bridging the gap' for her. That sparked a moment of realisation for the newly born primal human.
"Wait. You gave Alice your sword for the fight then? She used the Eye of Cross? Wow... I didn't think a normal human could take the burden of having a transcendent power like that. Having soft precog levels of prediction and copying abilities, nevermind the ability to erase diving power. It should have fried her mind." He says before he softly frowned to Heimrich. "You better have warned her about that. Those Eyes aren't a toy you know. There's a really good reason why I wanted them so bad. Doubly so now." He says in regard to the recent revelation following rediscovering his name.
Still, seeing how Alice got as Heimrich effortlessly made her blush under his compliments. It made him feel jealous. But not the bad kind. He liked that they got to act like this. Especially when he had to verbally kick Heimrich in the backside for nearly giving in to despair several days ago. Now look at them... He only hoped that he would get a chance to do something like this... Just a chance...
Haah...
He followed the pair of them outside his house, looking back to close the door and lock the door before following them further away from his home... Still glowing that he had a place of his own.
He had to thank Utu after this for warning ahead of time that Wabachan's for force a sense of false intuition upon their opponents in a fight. It's likely part of the reason why the Zeroes were making so much of a difference in the current unholy war. Even with the power gap, it was still a useful tool to have in their arsenal.
Though now that he was aware of it, he took that away from Kiysa. And she looked visibly shocked that he failed to fall for her feint.
In truth. He was hardly thinking of paying back Utu. He really wasn't thinking much of anything now as he focussed on his barrage of simply stabs, each growing more vicious and true with each moment passed. His mind growing ever more empty of distractions and only becoming more and more engrossed in the now, in the fight. Letting petty worries, useless thoughts and random distractions all fall away. But just because his mind was emptying of distractions does not mean that he does not acknowledge that she was adapting, growing more used to his relentless and ever growing assault.
Though as her own speed increased in counter to his own, Kiysa would notice that his eyes grew more burdened. Having trouble in keeping up with her own movements now when it earlier excelled in bridging the gap and keeping him a step ahead, even analysing her movements so he could counter or react faster than he humanly should. But now, as they grew faster and faster, they were failing. The Golden Cross in each eye began to fail and flicker weakly. Though as they failed, underneath it was his normal eye that glowed a luminous yellow, the same colour as his lightning.
And those eyes did not fail to capture her movements, hunting her every move before crackling back to the failing Eyes of Cross. Though the intervals between these failing eyes and his own were growing shorter and shorter with each fleeting moment... He was forgetting that he even used the Eyes of Cross, so too was he forgetting that he was using Accel or Metal nature, he just needed his body to be as he desired. His desire to simply see her, to comprehend his movements and move faster was growing far more than his memory of activating his ancestral boon in the first place.
That memory becoming steadily eclipsed by the desire to win as he began to more thoroughly embody what the human race excelled at... Persistence.
That was the perfect word to describe Duncan's relentless growth. Persistent..
Though this relentless evolution wasn't without a price. He was undertaking a toll, he was changing the world while remaining ignorant to its pushback. He hasn't had to deal with it in his dreams like Vance had, though it will certainly hit him once this fight was over. But for now he was ignorant to the reluctant denial of the world.
The relentless barrage was becoming too easy for Kiysa to deal with, he saw that she was adapting too quickly. He needed to switch things up again. At the end of his next stab he would suddenly switch into a horizontal slash, trying to catch her in her dodge. Following it swiftly a newfound effort. Switching his campaign of stabs to seek her blade in a flurry of vertical and horizontal slashes to bait her into a clash again, preparing a trap. He needed to get into another clash again so he could shock her. To create an opening and secure his victory.
"He's one of the first Future Warriors summoned with the Dragon Balls, back when we still operated out of Tokitoki City," Trunks informs the group. "He is one of our solo operators, but I know he'll be cooperative and willing to work with the team with everything that's on the line."
"I'm not so sure about that," Chronoa mumbles to herself.
In the agonising seconds that passed, in the time that Akina waited for him to seal the deal. She didn't lose that look in her eyes. The hair pulling and the commanding tone was a nice touch, one that certainly got her motor running. But she knew who he was at this moment. Not a confident and powerful man, but someone with potential, someone who has just woken up to the realisation that they can be so much more than what they were.
She didn't hate that. She much preferred the dork, but this was still a nice treat that she won't say no to.
The slow and deliberate move he makes to close the distance between their lips, the distance he controls because he was oh so sure that he was the victor of this little game of 'chickens' when really it was a game of Cat and Mouse. And as that last piece of information flashes in Aiden's mind, he discovers just what he was missing as her free hand moved to the back of his head, and she grinned wolfishly at him.
"Haah, do I have to do everything myself~?"
Despite being far stronger in feats of body. He was the mouse.
Akina closed what little distance remained, and sealed this game with a win. Though who exactly won is certainly up to interpretation.
-----
Watching as Farnus sniffed out a lone crumb only to scarf it down left the Guild Receptionist looking bewildered for a good moment before she centres herself and puts her professional face back on. "What an... Unusual man he is..." Why did he go through that effort just to eat a lone crumb??? She could even see that he was now meandering without any kind of motivation.
The Kobolds reaction was understandable. The two of them were rather low on the rankings, but their efforts and accomplishments spoke for themselves. They were decent hunters, but someone who could kill a Gurgoth with a single blow? No. Not something that is within their weight class... Which was fine by her, without the two of them interfering she didn't have to fret about any unnecessary expenses to make them silent should they notice something amiss with her fascination with him. After all. Those two might not realise it. But this mans resemblance to a war hero from the human lands was something she could not ignore... Perhaps it was simply down to the fact that the Draconian species of the Dominion had a hard time understanding humanoid faces?
Lox-aan simply smiled at their revelation. "Happy to be of help. You can leave him here with us without worry. He will be staying here for the time being if you wish to look in on him." Giving them the option alone is the best bet. They may feel some kind of responsibility to him. She looks behind the reception desk again. Farnus seemed to be food motivated for the moment, best to start there if she wants to get any information out of him. "Herlik, can you be a dear and go in the back to prepare something for our guest? He appears hungry." She leans down, putting a hand to the side of her mouth. "Use the good Salamander meat."
The small guild staff Kobold nods before they scurry off into the back of the guild through a door behind the reception area.
"Now, if there isn't anything else. I could help you pick out another guild request if you do not have some picked out already." Lox-aan said with a sincere and pleasant smile.
Brandon couldn't believe just hold old this geezer was. He remembered tales that his parents would tell him about ancient reincarnates from ancient times living through the ages, and immortals that have lasted since The Cataclysm. He didn't seriously think he would be running into some decrepit boogieman from ancient times looking so damn fresh. And then Zeke started to list off civilisations that rose and fell while that bastard was just existing. Not fun to think about.
Clara couldn't help but look sceptical about this new theory. "Stonehenge? Connected to this immortal nutjob?"
"No no, think about it." Brandon says, giving his bud some backup. "No one knows it's true purpose. Some say it could be a meeting place for old cheifdoms, a druid temple, or a memorial. What if it's connected to this nutjob? I mean, the druid temple theory could hold up if he's immortal from sacrifices."
"Where the hell did you even get this info on Stonehenge?"
"Can't a guy have a 3am hyperfixation? Like, don't you just Beng some random facts? Like how bee's communicate or how they recognise peoples faces?" Brandon says in his own defence.
----------
Funny that D.E would think of an elevator when he began to search the confession booth. He didn't find one, what he did find however was a false panel in the back of the booth on the left that revealed a small empty room and a spiral staircase leading down into parts unknown. Thankfully there was only one trap that Diamond Eye had to deal with. A chemical cloud, likely created by Nicolas as a last line of defence... It didn't take long to dissipate after the trap went off.
The Stranger does his best to feint surprise. "Oh gosh, a secret room! I wonder where it could lead..."
If D.E had any questions, now would be the time before they descend further into the earth and find whatever Nicolas and the cultists were protecting.
Flaz could see that Winter was in a state of deep contemplation. He was right to with this situation... Not knowing how they already lost the TOP in the future will certainly be an issue. Hearing of a solo operative that worked with the team back in Toki Toki city made Flaz quirk an eyebrow. "What..? Do I know them?" Originally Flaz was summoned to Toki Toki city back when they operated out there. But he was summoned alongside some others. A human named Dean, a Saiyan woman named Okora and a Namek named Flute. They were a team for a short while, dealing with distortions in history like other patrollers. Though they each had their own curves of potential... He hasn't seen many of them for a good while now. Mostly due to his own plans taking him away from Conton city. "I doubt it could be Dean or Flute, definitely not Okora either."
As the strange Croc Alien was struggling against the the ever persistent tussle it was having with this bucket of bolts, they didn't have time to try and dodge the sudden barrage of Cybertronian energon fire that landed across their back. Prompting a sudden pained scream as their jaws opened wide. "What the hell?!" His knee buckled first, the pain was enough for the Animal-like AI to gain the upper hand. With the Croc now in a worse state, it opened its mechanical maw again, prompting another orange laser to fire into the croc's face with brutal intensity before their large arms pushed the croc back to the ground and backed off suddenly, firing another beam into the grenades mounted on the Croc's chest harness.
The resulting boom was enough to shake the whole room, even enough to shake up some of the Rhino-aliens and the remaining security frames.
Though their leader was being attacked, and quickly defeated with the turning of the tide, the Rhino-like aliens all turned their attention to Nightlight as she she came barrelling down the corridor towards them. Even with the explosion that just went off and thinning their numbers, they tried to rush her. Though only 3 of them managed to break away to attack her.
-----
The possibility of constructing a space bridge was an interesting one. Though Karn doubted such a construction would begin while he and the Athailian's still resided on this world. Alive. Though time time will tell. "An understandable step." As Shadow-Wind offers to lend her aid to any other outstanding endeavours that are in need of completing, the Superintendent AI respectfully declined. "Oh I couldn't burden you with any more tasks. At least not right now. You've already helped me so much. How could I possibly ask you for anything more so soon? I was hoping that I could offer aid instead."
Not a total lie. While he was waiting on the promised Energon to be delivered to him, he will need to busy himself with something.
Being asked if they had any sort of hideout was understandable. Being trapped in a city like this, normally you would have to live on the move to avoid getting caught by the aliens that had come to invade their world. But Hailey did nod while Bootleg looked to her. "We do. Since you're a newly Arisen, and you seem sane enough, we can let you crash in our place. Right Bootleg?"
"... I'm surprised you'd offer before I had to honestly." Confessed the Ghost.
Hailey's eyes narrowed under the hood. "Because I'm an antisocial recluse."
"Yes."
"... How dare you just agree."
"Where is the lie?"
Hailey grumbled as she looked back to Lilith and Sol. "Just follow us. We're hiding out in one of the collapsed Metro stations." She says as she turns around. With Bootleg continuing on.
"The metro entrance was ruined, so we found a maintenance entrance that we've hidden behind a bus wreckage." He says before he sticks close to Hailey before vanishing since they will soon be going outside. Though they could still hear his voice. "It isn't too far from here. So we shouldn't run into any Fallen."
"Are you ready to go? Any questions?"
"Yeah, that'll be a problem." Heimrich sinks lower as they make an arcing turn along the coastline, low enough that the disturbance in the air they make is leaving a trail on the ocean's surface behind them. Caught up with his own thoughts and trepidations of what they may face here from Salem's forces, he doesn't notice the teasing aspect of Samantha's comment. "Maybe your master knows something that can help me hide my energy better."
Shortly after they see the island approaching. Heimrich rotates from flying head first to bring himself more vertical as he slows. And they arrive with little fanfare as Heimrich comes to a stop with his feet touching the sand. He helps Samantha to her feet as he looks around the island. With his mind and soul opened to aura, he is able to sense the alien magic around them, filling the earth, the plants, even the water lapping on the shore. So this is old magic? He thinks to himself as Samantha takes the lead guiding them inland. It feels like Samantha, but on an entirely different scale.
"No, that's alright. We had a couple more to do before we ran into Farnus. We'll be heading back out."
"We'll come back and check on you later buddy, alright?" Churk says to Farnus, but his attention is entirely on the direction the guild kobold left. Lox-aan would have noticed that as soon as she had said 'meat' his red eyes had locked onto them both, only following the Kobold when he had left. There is something animalistic in the stare, like a dog that just heard something in its yard. Entirely focused on the guild Kobold and nothing else.
"Well... Just behave for Lox-aan for us, ok?" Churk tells him as Brierk and Churk both head out the door to go back into the mountain caves. Leaving Lox-aan alone with the silent and still Farnus. With his simple seeming mind and animal instincts, it is easy to see that Farnus wants to follow that Kobold. And with how he is subtly moving, mentally coming to a decision, he will soon do it.
"Well... You couldn't," Chronoa begins to say, a little tentative on the subject. "He's-"
She stops as she realizes someone is at the entrance to the Time Nest. Standing in the doorway are to figures, one of which everyone is familiar. He has been in Conton City as a Mentor for as long as any of them can remember, a surprise elite that they weren't able to learn from for quite some time. He wears a long cream colored cloak over a sandy colored desert clothing, in the rough appearance of a martial arts gi. His confident grin on his scarred face is infectious as he hops from the Time Nest entrance across the stairs to land in front of them all. To many he is the Mysterious Man, an untouchable desert phantom. But to the Time Patrol, they know him by a different name. He is a Rogue from an abnormal timeline, much like Zamu and the still missing Divine God Tree of Might Turles, but one very much on the side of peace and time. Time Patroller Yamcha throws his hood back and gives them all one of his famous grins. "Yo! Heard we have a fight to save all of time on our hands again! Tayo let me know what was going on. Hey, why don't you come down here and introduce yourself, you grouch."
Yamcha may be taunting their mysterious seventh member, but all those gathered can feel the power in each of them. This Yamcha was strangely motivated in his own timeline, training like a madman as early as his first meeting with Goku. He possesses many of the same skills, along with his own patented moves. Even without Kaioken, or his empowering Super Spirit Wolf form, this human is almost as strong as they are. But the man now walking down the steps of the Time Nest is something else.
The power held within him does not feel human. Even the simple matter of walking carries an intensity that electrifies the air, as if a fight for their lives is about to break out right here and now. And Chronoa was right. Even the orange, white and blue gi he wears is unfamiliar to them, and they have never met this intense, green-haired human before. With power that feels like the presence of a God of Destruction without raising a fist, he should be unforgettable. Then why don't they recognize him?
The Supreme Kai Of Time is able to explain. "This is Tayo. He is a Time Patroller... From an earlier universe. From the Time before ours. Only Tayo, Tokitoki, and I are able to recall things from that time, not that it helps us now. But Tayo has been a great help to the Time Patrol, working behind the scenes to deal with other threats while teams like yours face the Time Breakers. But with time being threatened like this now, I feel we dont have a choice other than bring Tayo out for this mission."
Tayo looks over them all, not making any noticeable judgements about anybody in particular. For a human his power is astronomical, dwarfing all of their resting powers, though he doesn't seem to be taking strength into consideration. He did bring Rogue Yamcha for this mission, who's raw power is a bit less than all of theirs. "You're the leader of this time, right?" He says to Winter. "Your team is the core of this mission. Your job is to stick together and do what you do. Cover each other and make sure all of you are still in the game til the end. Flaz, you and I will be dealing with any Time Breakers that appear. Keeping them from interfering with the Tournament in ways that would effect Universe 7."
"Remember guys, to save Time its not just on us," Yamcha says while gesturing at the scroll. "Whether we make the wish to restore the universes or Universe 7 does, we still win. I'm going with because out of everybody in Conton I know Goku and everybody else the best. I'll be dealing with Time Breakers, stragglers, and helping out Universe 7. That way we'll have the best chance of winning, working together with Goku to deal with whatever team this Zamu guy brings to the tournament."
Tayo looks about the group again. "If anyone has any objections to this plan, best speak up now. Won't be much time for talking once we're in there."
ZOCOM and SicklyMother
The physical and mental strain is building rapidly. Kiysa has seen less and less of the world around them the longer this fight has went on. Now the entire world is gone, a black haze that only contains herself and Duncan. She has become blind to the burning in her lungs and the numbness in her arms and legs. Powered purely on adrenaline and her indomitable spirit. One final thrust she dodges by the slimmest margin, but she sees his hands clench and the muscles in his arms bulge. This thrust will change to become a horizontal swing. In an instant she sees her winning move. She has to instigate a clash. From there she can win. She will win!
Power Duncan has not experienced strikes his blade as Kiysa twists with new vigor and parries his strike, knocking it aside as she goes to cut him down with the same flow. With great power and determination Duncan does the same, bringing his blade back and stopping her return fire. Over and over they trade, standing their ground as they both sense the end. Kiysa's spirit has evolved, refining itself for one final explosive push, burning everything as if there will not be another day. Duncan can feel it, each attack she throws has an intensity even beyond where he is now, forced to block most of them now as they have become dangerous to attempt to parry. But he has to keep up the assault. They both were searching for the same thing. And when both Kiysa and Duncan sense that the other is just a hair out of place, they knew it was time.
Their blades clash. They grind together with one final burst of strength. Still, Duncan is physically stronger. His victory condition is met.
Which meant Kiysa's victory is guaranteed.
With Duncan's focus on the clash, he does not see through Ideal Girl. Duncan met Kiysa's blade in a way where he can still brace to have a hand free to grab Kiysa's arm with his left hand. The shock on Kiysa's face almost hides something from him. And it is from the periphery of his left eye that he senses it. Defeat.
Much like Kiysa, Duncan's world only consisted of the fight before him. Though things like physical stress and mental fatigue were hardly an issue for him now, not that he realised it. He simply forgot about it, he didn't realise he should be tired or even taxed. His mind was consumed with securing victory in the fight right infront of him. Once this fight was over though? He will realise that he isn't tired and will hit himself with a massive amount of whiplash.
Another effect of what he has become thanks to Heimrich.
Though with this small world, his sole concern was securing his ideal future. In this endless clash of countering, clashing, parrying, he couldn't see an end yet he must push forward. He must secure victory. He must have his future away from the darkest timeline. Defeat was not an option.
They meet in a clash of blades, sword edge grinding against sword edge, a test of strength. A futile effort even with Kiysa's efforts evolving as this fight went on. But even with that, it was too late. His victory-
?!
His narrow world erupts as he feels it, his single thread to his ideal future was fraying off to the left of him. Defeat was imminent.
He didn't know why, he didn't know how. He knew he simply must resist. He had one hand free, and an obstacle to his left that threatened his future. It must be crushed.
With his free hand he reached out, motivated fingers wrapping around the throat of Kiysa and shifting his entire stance to throw her into whatever means Kiysa was employing to secure his defeat, his sword arm was now free to counter. To bring about his victory. To complete his rebellion against Kiysa's desire for victory. He swings his blade with all his might and slices deeply through Kiysa's chest.
Ideal Girl is a technique born to take advantage of moments like this. Whereas Duncan's instincts are full in control, Kiysa's mind had never been sharper. Seeing this as what Duncan was aiming for, Kiysa willingly entered the trap. And as he is blinded by his goal, Kiysa was already gone. Her fighting spirit still burned in front of Duncan in the clash, whereas Kiysa herself under Valentine Rain calmly and collected dashes a step back and to the side, before coming back in for one final slash to end this duel. The last two weeks have given her time to perfect the technique, but her own fatigue and Duncan's inhuman instincts allowed him to realize something was wrong. Kiysa sees him grab the throat of Ideal Girl and spin to hurl it into her. She ignores it, and drops a little lower to avoid the sword she sees beginning to move in his other hand. Ideal Girl is her fighting spirit separate from her own body. All that will happen is that Kiysa will pass through it, landing her winning blow across his side before his-
Ideal Girl hits her, knocking them both off balance.
The reality of what occurred does not come to Kiysa immediately. No thoughts do. She can't comprehend that Ideal Girl was Real, a physical clone of her that stops her own attack dead in its tracks. Which means...
Both Kiysa and her fighting spirit in a living, breathing body both are in shock as they see Duncan's sword arm begin to ramp up speed as it enters its swing. There is nothing Kiysa can do. But she can feel it, the tingling sense of danger. And she can see death in Duncan's eyes.
In a flash of jagged red light, Duncan's blade is stopped by the flying sword Jingo, cutting deep into the blade and struggling to slice all the way through the gestalt demon. Ideal Girl rapidly disintegrates as Jingo uses everything Kiysa has left just to keep himself together and to keep Duncan from finishing his swing. Kiysa finishes her fall backwards onto her butt, and for brief, agonizing seconds Duncan continues to try and follow through with what he started, until he realizes Jingo had interfered. That he was cutting through the demon sword. How.
In a sudden change Duncan's blade flies through Jingo with no resistance. Duncan loses his balance and falls as well, his training sword now sporting a thin red line in its blade where its material passed through Jingo. The demon sword clatters to the ground, all of his energy spent.
Neither had landed a hit on the other. But they both knew this duel was over.
It didn't even register in Duncan's mind that it was Jingo that had stopped his blade because his mind still consumed with the fight with Kiysa, defeating Kiysa. He had simply thought that she managed to block, and he was resolute in breaking this block. It was only as he saw that her sword was still in her hand as she fell back did a red flag jog some conscious part of his mind, buried in his desire to focus solely on the world that had become this fight.
'What is she blocking with...?'
Duncan's eyes snapped up, looking to the stubborn demon blade that was protecting its master, preventing his sword from slashing through Kiysa. Wait... How is he clashing with Jingo?
That thought, combined with noticing the rest of the world around him, had broken Duncan's battle trance. The training blade clattered to the ground before him as he fell onto his hands and knees.
'Huh-?!'
Exhaustion hit Duncan, though his motivation was keeping it from overflowing into an instant coma from just how hard he had been fighting. If he wasn't a primal human, he would have needed to still have Vengeance to offset the kind of limits he had broken through with this fight alone. Though with his motivation slowly coming down, he will feel like death before it gets better.
Even with that exhaustion he knew that this match was over. And with his victory.
Though it didn't quite feel like one. Looking up from the ground between sucking lungful's of air through his teeth at the Demon Blade on the ground, the blade compromised by his slice with the training blade... The training blade that should not have sliced into the Demon Blade at all. He had come to realise that he did not understand enough about what he had become. No longer Aetheran or Forgotten. His only theory was that he had become so consumed with the thought of defeating Kiysa, that any sort of nuance to what that meant fell away with the rest of the world... His purpose peeled away to its most base meaning. Defeating her by any means necessary.
He dreaded to think what that kind of primal purpose could do if he were fighting his friends, his family... All the more important that he masters this new power under Master Wabani.
But back to Kiysa and the damaged Jingo. Instead of announcing any form of victory, the first words that left his lips were a worried. "Sorry." Barely uttered through exhausted breaths. Moreso aimed at Jingo.
"Stonehenge may be worth investigating... If we ever find a way out of London," Ezekiel remarks. Hayes ignores them and continues searching for any immediate useful information about this ageless man's powers and any potential weaknesses.
____________________
The Superhero makes no reaction to the poison, as expected, but does turn back to the Mysterious Stranger for a moment. He has no questions, but does make an order. "Follow, but not too close, in case there are more traps. More members of this Cult may return here to investigate." Diamond Eye then begins to descend the staircase, having to take it slowly due to his height and armor. Every now and then part of his suit scratches the wall, carving out small trails in the stairwell's walls.
Alice certainly is surprised by the abilities she unknowingly had while wielding Stelrem, but Heimrich is unbothered. "Hmph. Underestimating the Mentat again? You'll have to break that habit," Heimrich looks at Vance with a smirk before summoning Stelrem. It winks into existence in Heimrich's waiting hand. With their reduced and calmed power levels, Vance can sense quite easily that Stelrem itself is stronger than both himself and Heimrich at the moment. "I may have woken up, but I was so weak I might as well still been in the coma. So Stelrem itself holds the Eyes of Cross," Heimrich explains as he looks at the blade, Vance and Alice can both see his irises change as the Eyes of Cross awaken in him. "And Stelrem takes the strain. Not that it's capable of everything the Eyes of Cross can theoretically do. The Eyes didn't have time to fully mature by the time of the fight, and they're locked at this stage now. And with the power both you and Duncan have..." Heimrich releases Stelrem and it disappears once more, the Eyes of Cross also disappearing. "They would only weaken you. They don't do me any good either, the Mentat's abilities are capable of the same and more. But they'll help Alice."
"So my eyes looked like that too?" Alice asks as the continue walking through the village.
"They did, did they help?"
"Hmm... I think they made deciding what to do easier. It's hard to tell, after you made it possible for me to see you guys moving around at full speed."
"Something we can test later maybe."
"S'alright. Used to it at this point." It was meant to come out nonchalant and his usual joking tone, but it is impossible to miss the worry and empathy towards his master. Kiysa has yet to move, her mind static, locked around the single realization that she had lost. She almost does not realize Wabani is walking towards them, with Veltas a step behind.
"This duel is over." Master Wabani's words are a necessary finality. "Jingo. You interrupted their duel, when you had sensed your master was in danger. If you had not disobeyed me, you would not have been worthy of being her blade." Jingo remains silent. "Veltas, collect their weapons, and return Kiysa her sword."
Wabani stands with his hands clasped behind his back as the butler picks up Duncan's training sword and Jingo in his other hand. The sword has no energy to float to Kiysa on his own. Then he approaches Kiysa and crouches down next to her, first gently prying the sword out of her white-knuckle grip before placing Kiysa in her hands. She is silent, not wanting to accept what had just happened, desperate to refute the facts. But she can't. Her pride as a warrior, and desire to be worthy of Wabani's teachings both force her to accept it, and are the very feelings that wish things to be different. They cannot change the result: She lost to Duncan. He will become Wabani's student, and she will be back to nothing.
"On your feet."
Kiysa does so without thinking, though it is far from swift. The strength is gone from her body, and her legs barely support her weight. She forces them to do so, standing where she landed on trembling legs as Duncan likewise makes his way back onto his feet as they both wait for what Wabani has to say. He doesn't speak immediately, appraising each of them separately, and taking his time to digest what he had seen of their battle. The wait is excruciating, both on their bodies, spent of all the energy they had, and their frayed minds.
"... Duncan Cross. You have proven yourself capable of learning my techniques. You do not have the sword training that Kiysa has, yet your body instinctually knew what had to be done to attain victory. However. Your instincts cloud your judgement. You lost yourself to the battle, consumed by your sword. If it were not for Jingo, had I not intervened, Kiysa may not have remained with the living." He then looks to Kiysa, who struggles to maintain eye contact. "... Kiysa Duvala. You are the only person not of the Wabani family to learn one of my techniques by sight along. You are strong of spirit and mind, and cunning beyond your years. I know how important this duel was to you, how much was on the line. Despite the heat of the moment, you remained calm and collected, enough to separate your spirit from your body in the final moments. Your body cannot keep pace with you. You are unable to accept what and who you are. You are limiting your potential. Had you not, you would won this duel."
She cannot respond as her eyes well up with tears. Kiysa cannot bear to look Wabani in the eye anymore. He then looks to the silent damaged sword clutched tightly to herself. "Demonsword Jingo. Your senses have heightened considerably, and you were able to discern the danger Duncan posed in his final attack. Yet were it not for the last two weeks of training outside my gates you had undergone, Mr. Cross would have cut clean through you and into your master. You rely too deeply on your demonic nature. Your chi is nonexistent, requiring power from Kiysa to fully function. You will be a liability to Kiysa against the target she hunts." Jingo is silent.
Wabani now looks between all three of them, before shaking his head with a sigh. "Your flaws are deep, and will be difficult to remove. If you are to continue to be my students, you best be ready to forget everything you have learned, and prepare to be driven to the brink of death."
Wabani turns, his coat swirling with a flourish as something pierces through the static in Kiysa's head. ... Students? No, she dare not hope. She had lost! That was it! He had said so himself! She looks back up as Wabani begins to walk slowly back to his mansions steps. "Three days from now, Friday morning at five o'clock, the gates will open for one minute. Afterwards you will remain these walls unless given permission to leave. You have this time now to be with friends and family, and to complete any business you must deal with. You are dismissed."
There is no way Wabani had meant what he had said. It sounded like she was to be there too. No, it had to be a trick, her own mind twisting Wabani's words into what she desperately wishes to hear. Kiysa's mouth opens. She must ask him, but the fear of bring wrong strikes her mute. Wabani somehow knows what struggle is inside her mind.
He stops, looking to Veltas who had begun to follow him back to the manor, the butler stopping as well. "Veltas, what were the terms for this duel?"
"It was a duel to see who was worthy of becoming your student, my lord."
"Was there a clause, that meant only the victor could be worthy?"
Kiysa's eyes widen as Veltas mustache twists in a small hidden smile. "There was not, my lord."
Wabani then looks over his shoulder at Kiysa, tears welling up now for a different reason and trailing down her cheeks. His voice remains measured and soft as he addresses her directly. "I expect to see you here in this courtyard. I do not wish to be disappointed."
Kiysa rubs her sleeve across her eyes, clearing the tears away before giving her master the best determined smile she could. "I won't let you down, Master."
Kiysa now stands tall as Wabani turns and continues walking with Veltas. She herself turns towards the opening black gates, the tremble in her legs gone as purpose fuels her. Duncan can see the change overtake her and Jingo, spirit that was once drained dry returns, empowering her strides on legs that moments ago barely supported her. Duncan ends up following her out of the Wabani Manor grounds. Outside she does stop, and faces him. "I have to admit it, we both lost to you," Kiysa flips Jingo into a reverse grip and points his pommel at Duncan. "Enjoy your victory while you can Boy Scout, it's not gonna last for long. Because we're going to beat you when you're at your strongest. Try not to die before then."
Samantha does have some grievances about being so low to the ocean like this, though she doubts any of the drowned or their cousins would be strong enough to even want to fight Heimrich as he is now. Though as Heimrich brings up that her master may know a way to hide his energy better, she couldn't see how... Not unless Heimrich somehow managed to translate spatial magic into the odd brute force style of Aura he uses. Though with Heimrich learning the basics of the Mirror World, maybe there was something he could do.
Samantha could see Spearpoint Isle come into view now, it has been so long ago now since she was last here. Though technically that was only yesterday.
As soon as they made landfall at the beach, Samantha did some big stretches. Being carried was nice though. Before either of them could move up the beach and further inland though, an invitation presented itself. A large doorway-like portal, a large 7ft tall purple and black archway appeared before them, the centre a swirling mass of dark colours before it reacted. Much like how you let a drop of water hit a larger surface of water, the portal rippled and revealed a large throne room beyond its dark and oily membrane.
"Ah, I told you he'd know we were here." She says with a big smile across her face, fearlessly passing through the oddly ornate portal and crossing through to the throne room on the other side.
Once Heimrich steps through the major theme of the immediate area seemed to be gothic in tone, large dark stone archways that clung to the ceiling like they were stepping into the ribcage of an unknowable monster. The throne, sat atop a small flight of stairs flanked by two large Chimera statues with their eyes and maws aflame with purple fire, a lavish red and gold carpet winds down the throne room from the foot of the throne itself. A large and imposing seat made of black crystal. Couldn't be that comfortable to sit on, but to each their own.
And sat upon that throne, with the only massive source of light coming from the large window behind his throne, was the man that seemed to be Samantha's master. A man whose mere presence rivalled that of Sam's. In his steely golden gaze encompassed a wealth of untold millennia's of knowledge that was so far beyond their short lives. yet that was betrayed by the youthful appearance he held. He did not look or seem like a vampire, no. His body was young. At least compared to Sam. Still older than the both of them combined. Yet his souls were ancient.
[Revan: https://imgur.com/8zJttNx]
The man regarded Heimrich for a moment, taking in the odd well of alien power that now stood before him and sensing a similar well within his pupil. "Aura...? I did not believe I would see it upon our shores again, at least so soon." He knew of Aura? It might be better to consider that it would be more odd that he didn't know what it was. Someone as long lived as him. Despite the oddity of HOW he can seemingly be so old yet so young. His golden gaze shifted and seemingly brightened, yet held a tone of sadness within them, as it fell upon Samantha. "My condolences, dear descendant..."
Samantha had bowed to greet her master but looked puzzled for a moment, knowing well what he referred to but more confused at the how. "Master, how did you know? You sent me away yesterday."
With a snap of that man's fingers, a similar oily black and purple portal spat out a small humanoid husk. A forgotten. Bound in cursed blackened chains that radiated of death as it writhed in constant pain, pleading wordlessly for freedom before it was wrenched back into the abyss it had been forced from to demonstrate his source of information. "Some information fell into my lap as soon as a civil war had seemingly stirred in the Schism. Only your brothers death could divide them like this... That, or the rebellion of one of the Harbingers."
Samantha's face twisted with some understanding. Her master's worlds confirming what they already know... The Forgotten are at war with themselves. One side wanting to continue their efforts of corrupting Aetheran, the other wanting their own freedoms and to redeem the evils they have committed. Honestly she didn't care about any of that.
"Now. Introduce yourself young man, who are you to stand so closely to my descendant. Announce your purpose." As if to bridge that gap in context, the man's eyes become a far more ornate and intricate version of Samantha's Eyes of Cross.
How could she not take notice. Lox-aan had been gauging those animalistic eyes of his ever since they locked onto her and drifted to her college as they left to prepare the Salamander meat. She had heard that the Dragneel family in the human kingdom were like beasts thanks to their Bloodline ability, but this was something else. In a different league to what she had been briefed on.
But hopefully she could keep his attention with it and avoid being cast under that animalistic gaze again.
But it was quickly seemingly like she wouldn't get a say in that. She could see the simple clockwork turning in that seemingly empty head of his, he was a hairpins drop away from vaulting over this counter to follow Kobold that just disappeared. The Guild hall was basically empty at this point, only her fellow Guild staff in the building. So she quickly raises her hand in his line of sight and speaking up. "Dragneel." She desperately says aloud, hoping the name will spark something resembling an actual human thought in that head of his so she can get to her real purpose. "You're part of that family right?"
The appearance of the portal gives Heimrich pause at its alien nature. With the little time he's had to become used to portals, the doors to the Mirror Realm his only source to fall back on beside Samantha's, this portal in looks alone puts them to shame. Samantha passes him by as she enters the portal, and Heimrich enters it soon after. Heimrich is a simple man, used to the outpost and the towns of the Crimson Range over the grandeur of the Citadel. Seeing this elaborate throne room, filled with the thrum of Revan's power, is certainly overwhelming. The intensity in Samantha's master's eyes helps keep Heimrich's eyes from wandering around the throneroom's exotic decor.
That became difficult when Revan summons his chained Forgotten as an answer to Samantha's question. As soon as he sees it, he can feel its disgusting energy. He can taste it in his mouth, the horrible corruptive stench. A creature of Salem. Heimrich's heart flares with anger just by seeing the Forgotten, barely noticing its tortured existence, only seeing that it is still alive.
The Forgotten disappears as swiftly as it was summoned, leaving Heimrich's anger, the swelling hatred boiling within him nowhere to go. Most of Revan's first sentence is missed. Only the mention of Duncan helps Heimrich reel in his emotions enough to answer Revan. "Sorry," He apologizes for losing focus, before making a short bow. "I am Heimrich, sir. Knight Templar of the errant Mainland Chapter, led by Albus Cross."
Seeing someone else with Samantha's eyes is slightly unnerving, but at least this is a man he should he able to trust. Hopefully. "My purpose is revenge for my blood-brother, and Samantha's brother, Duncan Cross. He was made a tool of Salem's plots, and prey to a monster that infested every cell of his body. We're here in Aetheran-" Heimrich pauses and looks into Samantha's eyes before meeting Revan's gaze again. "-Looking for answers as to what infested him, and destroying everything and every person responsible for what happened to him. Salem, included."
She was hoping for some sort of reaction to the family name, though none comes. Either he isn't a Dragneel- which based on his appearance seems highly unlikely, or he doesn't care. He sniffs the air once without moving his head, and his pupils dilate slightly. He has already caught the scent of his next meal.
He raises the arm of the Gurgoth he was still holding and his teeth carve through the granite hide and even tougher bone with little resistance, barely chewing before he swallows the lump of meat and bone. He drops it, losing interest as he climbs up on the counter, clearly intending on following the Kobold now.
At first Aiden isn't kissing back, caught completely by surprise at Akina's actions as his eyes practically pop out of his head. His grip on the back of her head loosens for just a moment but, as his mind accepts this is actually happening, he leans into the heated moment. He returns her passion in kind, tightening his grip back up on the back of her head though despite his superior strength she is very much the one in control of this situation. Seconds feels hours as the two lock faces with increasingly intense passion, nearly neglecting the need to even breathe. Caught up in the moment Aiden brings his other arm around to hold Akina's waist and pull her in against himself, getting the duo as close as possible. The tension in the air skyrockets with every passing moment as pent up feelings flood out all at once.
Time has blurred, neither one knows how much time has passed, though the moment must come to an end: Aiden had been neglecting to breathe. When his lungs his capacity his slides both of his hands to Akina's shoulders and gently pushes her away just enough to free their lips from each other, but keeps her near enough that he looks down and touches his forehead against hers as he catches his breath in a deep pant.
THAT...was...intense. Holy crap. Was that real? I-
"I could get used to that..."
"Well you did bring us deeper into London, mate." Brandon says as he keeps looking through piles of papers that was mostly just inane spy stuff to him. Though, he gets an idea as he looks up from the table he was looking over to look back to the group. "Wait. Clara you make doors, right? Can't we just go up to the barrier and you make us a doorway out?"
Clara's own eyes widened at that. "Wait, yeah! I could totally do that- Ah, but... We're now in the middle of zombie and cultist infested London Right?"
Brandon looked around at the amount of dead zombies and cultists... And one dead Foundation spook. "I mean... That guy did well enough. And I just he just had telekinesis or something?" Given how most of the enemy dead looked to be crushed under incredible weight. Maybe it could be telekinesis. Or something more dangerous. Even so, the fact he was dead made whoever killed him worse to deal with.
"I guess... But, is there anything about my dad here? My family??" Clara asks. She was hardly going to leave the city without them.
"We already checked your house, only your security was there. Ans from the looks of it, this place was just being used by the spook to find out sh!t about the cult that wacko is leading... Sorry Clara." Brandon says as he keeps peering over across the tables.
The laptop that Hayes was presumably still looking through did have additional dossiers on the five members of Cassian's elite bodyguards called "The Black Hand". One of them being the woman that Ezekial saw with Cassian, named Octavia Khalil. She was a heiress to a rich family out of Aswan in Egypt, with a family tree rooted deeply in the occult. Intel would believe that she originally fought Cassian, unsuccessfully, before becoming his second in command. She commands an array of elemental abilities, usually wielding an aspect of wind or ice.
There is even a video file added of the short confrontation between herself and Cassian. In the opening 3 seconds it looks promising, she engaged him along the Nile river. Freezing himself inside a large house sized iceberg before using a large current of wind to slice it clear in two. The 2 seconds after were devoted to him walking out of the iceberg, the water ice turning to steam in an instance before snap changing to a massive spindling tree of gold? The fight was over really quick after that, he just seemed to point at her and a pillar of light fired from it, crashing into her and burning her up good... Seeing as she is still alive, Cassian must have some kind of healing ability. And it must be potent seeing as Octavia looked like charcoal in the video.
Fight Cassian was going to be really annoying if they run into him again.
-----
The lack of questions does surprise the Stranger, though perhaps the Hero just believes that now is not the time. He would be right... What resides below is more important. "Of course." The Stranger answers. Following behind Diamond Eye as they descend down the spiral steps. There are noticeably few traps, but not very. A pressure plate on one of the final steps brings away a fake stone to reveal a hidden weapon.
A rigged shotgun. One that goes off with a single loaded slug that fires into the heroes helmet... Likely doing no damage at all.
Now that they were at the bottom, a long corridor stretched before them with five doors. Two on each wall and one at the very end... The doors on either wall of the corridor look to be metal gates made of metal bars... Prison cells? Was this some kind of dungeon?
After the shotgun had gone off, a set of hands clasped around the bars of their cell down the hall. A gruff and worried male voice calling out from within. "Hey, is someone there? Are you okay?"
The Stranger didn't look surprised that someone was locked down here.
"Maybe." He says in response. "Your powers are weird as hell, and that's coming from me." He didn't know about breaking any habits, but he was looking forward to knowing more about this sword of Heimrich's. Though, saying that... Just looking at Stelrem was unnerving. The sword was stronger than either himself and Heimrich. Which is fair... Haelgrym, the sword that he had Duncan lug around in its sealed state, would have been a crazy boon if he could have made the damn thing listen to him. The damn weapon was a crazy strong artefact that could contend with some of the godly weapons of this sector. But it only listens to people it chooses.
Too bad Heimrich destroyed the damn thing.
But Stelrem itself was holding onto a power born of another sector, rooted in someone who could challenge the heavens and infernal pits... Like it was nothing? The Mentat was a strange and weird power. But then again, so was whatever he had going on now. And hearing that he and Duncan were now ill suited for them was a hard pill to swallow, it was a useful ability to have. Letting Alice have it was... Well. If he REALLY didn't need it anymore, at least someone should use the damn things.
"Well someone should use them. Anyone but my creator really." Vance says as he looks around as they pass through the village before looking back at Alice. "Oh so you saw the whole fight then? You're probably one of the 3 people that did. I doubt anyone of Duncan's side could near the end. Maybe Sam, that Vampire is weirdly close to the domain of the Gods."
Revan could certainly feel the indescribable rage filling that young man's body... Moreover, the foreign energy he held was beyond what he as expecting. Threatening to spill over at any moment until he pulled himself back from the brink. His willing admittance to being a Templar was appreciated, but Revan sat back in his throne and looked to Samantha for some sort of confirmation after hearing what the two of them were here on Aetheran for. He was interested in the part about Duncan becoming infested by something.
Heimrich could feel the foreign presence of mana zip like lightning through the air and to Samantha. Some kind of silent messaging spell? Whatever it was, Samantha answered aloud. "You can trust him, I do. With my life. He's just in a rough patch right now."
Revan raised an eyebrow as he looked to Heimrich once more. The power this young man held was impressive, beyond even his own pupil had managed to attain. Whoever this man was, he was either an unimaginable prodigy or someone with an incredible bloodline. Yet that power was tied up in so much rage. So many raw and unresolved emotions that ensnared him so easily. "A rough patch...? If you do not mind me being blunt, young Templar. You are a bomb. One our home shall have trouble recovering from, should you fail to aim it at the Forgotten. But... You will certainly be a force for good if you can control that power of yours." Revan rises from his throne, stepping down the dark stone steps as he draws closer to them. "Now... What is this about a monster that infested Duncan? I take you aren't referring to the Forgotten entity that resided within him? But that should be impossible... Nothing I have seen can overpower the Mad God's divine's will. Not zombification, mind control, not even separating the primary soul from the body. Nothing could undo that damage except something exceptionally powerful like my Father's own power, the will of the Crown or... Hmm, or something exceptionally bizarre. What happened to Duncan after being infested? Is there anything left to examine?"
"No... Heimrich had the body and the souls destroyed..." Samantha says, a slight dip in her voice still betraying the soft spot of that issue.
Revan eyes widened before snapping to Heimrich. A hint of understandable anger evident in his voice yet he kept it civil, he got the feeling it was not a malicious act. "I hope you have a compelling reason for this. We Aetheran's are not like your kind from the mainland. Death is not an end for us, it is a cycle, we can reincarnate without interference from children of Father Death or the realms of Afterlife. Even Salem's influence cannot fully contest Moria's will over our cycle of reincarnation. For what reason have you permanently killed Duncan."
Seeing that even mentioned the name had zero affect, Loz-aan look dismayed. But she was sure. No one else on this island nation has a transformed body like that except the young Dragneel boy. Maybe she should show her hand more. "You realise you only have, one living descendant left right? A young boy with a body like yours." She says says as she watches him drop the Gurgoth arm and climb over the counter.
"Herlick whatever you're doing in there don't get in his way. He's uncooperative." She says as a word of warning to her colleague.
The small purple kobold pokes her horned head out from one of the backrooms, seeing the Dragon-man looming in the area behind the counter and coming towards the staff rooms. "Hey! You can't come back here! Your steak will be ready in a bit."
It was hard to miss the worry and empathy in the tone of the demon blade, a concept that still seemed so wrong to him. A demon with genuine empathy. But he had the idea that Jingo was hardly a normal demon... His own exhaustion and Wabani's words cuts through any useless thoughts. Rising to his feet through struggled breathes and screaming muscles that wish he would deny this absurd demand.
Yet Duncan does so regardless.
It seemed he was first as he does his best to maintain eye contact with the Sword master. Not for any grand or troublesome reason, only out of exhaustion. His body wanting to pass back into a coma that he was denying. Despite his victory, some very relevant points were made. Some he was painfully aware of and others that were only a recent revelation. He lost himself to battle and almost killed Kiysa in their spar, with a weapon that cannot kill. He was aware he had little in the way of any kind of formal sword training, at best he only had the style that his future self taught him. Several days of training hardly amounted to the years of dedicated work that Kiysa has put in.
This did not feel like a victory. But neither was it failure. He had failed in a way, failing to keep himself grounded, forgetting himself and becoming consumed by his raw desire to win... Something he will need to improve on.
According to Wabani's words, they all had some growing to do. Being told that he was going to be driven to the brink of death sounded almost melodramatic, but something what the Sword master said made him doubt that. Then again, he has already died twice at this point in his life.
Wait... Why did that sound strange? It was almost like he planned to take them both in.
Because he had. Oh. Well.
Duncan couldn't help but feel somewhat reinvigorated. Wabani was taking the both of them in, and Kiysa had already driven him so far even without Jingo, meaning she could still sharpen him yet. All these countless flaws he possessed, she will help him file them down until he is a flawless blade that he can be pointed against the madness to come. In that dreadful future he had bared witness to. Still, he as happy for Kiysa. He certainly wouldn't want her to have any kind of strange and deeply personal vendetta against him.
He was finally one step closer to avoiding that bad ending.
But he couldn't just relax. He had three days to prepare... Certainly more than he planned for. He thought he would be settling in as soon as he got here... If he knew that he had time to prepare, maybe he wouldn't have told the guys to head back to the Citadel without him.
Duncan walked out with Kiysa, beyond the gates to the Wabani estate. 'How in the Moria's name am I going to leave Wabacha without one of them here to warp me back? They definitely left by now..' He thought to himself, too tired to reach out with his Aura and try to sense his siblings or Tobbi. 'Maybe I'll try what my future self did? Climb up into a storm cloud and launch myself at the shadow forest?' Only problem with that is that he had zero idea where Wabacha was on a map. Both times he came here was with someone elses help.
Wait. He's a noble. Maybe he can get help at an embassy? Surely there's an Aetheran embassy around here... Right?
His personal dilemma was put on hold as Kiysa turned to him as they step beyond the gates, flipping Jingo over to point the pummel in his direction. Declaring that she will not lose their next fight. Even going as far as to declare they will beat him when he's at his strongest... A proper goal to have. But had zero intention of making it easy for them as he smiled back. The smouldering embers from moments before had regained some of there vigour, an enkindled flame burning brightly behind his eyes as he answers her. "I should be saying that to you, I've already died twice. And father Death has yet to stop me coming back." He says so nonchalantly, she gets the feeling he certainly didn't mean it spiritual sense. He meant it quite literally. Still, he moves to get past her and wander down the hill... He'll have to find some way home. "I look forward to seeing how strong get when we next see each other. But until then. Just try and beat me."
The small things really pulled Akina into the moment after she pressed her lips to Aiden's. The quickening pace of his heartbeat, the slight increase of strength as he held onto the back of her head, his free arm pulling her close so now he could better feel her heartbeat as she was brought closer to him. She didn't dislike it, and didn't mind that their chests were pressed against each other, al the better for feeling just how quick their heartbeats were. There was so much tension, so much passion in these fleeting moments, it was almost going to her head.
Yet she was pulled back from the bring. Aiden's sudden need for air wrestles a light-hearted laugh from the Oni woman, though she herself had been just as guilty in being caught up in their bout of tonsil tennis too.
As he splutters and starts to calm down, pressing his forehead against her own, her deep yellow eyes stared into his own with a small delighted smile on her face as she hears what he said under his breath, it was frankly impossible NOT to hear it at this distance. "Oh yeah~? A glutton for suffocation huh? You know there are better ways for someone to risk suffocating with someone else right?"
She lets that vague mental image hang in the air, letting Aiden's imagination fill in the gap of just how she could make him risk suffocating in more fun ways before she gives him a small peck on the lips again. "Just so you know, ya doofus, I don't just kiss anyone. There are plenty of strong people in the village. But you are you. I know we practically JUST met. But you're different from anyone I've ever met, and I know you're a good guy." She says as she looks to Chloe, who was still staring at them. "Partly because your voyeur rabbit wouldn't have stuck with you when you first came here. She seems like a decent judge of character."
"We won't get much say where we're going with him chasing us," Ezekiel says in response to Brandon and Clara's brainstorming.
Hayes continues to largely ignore them, though when Clara's worry for her dad starts to overwhelm her he does speak up after Brandon stops. "This place will have a panic room or several somewhere, no doubt. We'll check for any signs of your daddy before we leave."
"Brandon, can you position one of your Guardians near the entrance to watch for our pursuer? I'll send the Faceless Man out of the city as fast as I can. That way we at least have a potential escape route," Ezekiel gesture-poses at the window at the faint haze of the barrier they can see on the skyline. Meanwhile, Hayes continues to go through the files this Foundation member had on Cassian's group. They've known about these guys for a while, if they have this much information on them. Cassian must have made some moves even they didn't expect. Seeing a dossier on Forge as the third member does make him huff in amusement. His face did make a pretty splat in the train terminal. They all have rather odd abilities, though most of them he's seen in some form over his many years. Being able to catch a short video of Cassian and his second in command, unfortunately, did not yield much useful information. In fact, all it did was reinforce his already growing conclusion that he was the only one capable of fighting them. Bar Forge, all of Cassian's officers possess odd abilities and ways of killing their opponents outside of a simple fist fight. The poser is useful for escaping a bad spot, and his ghost thing has power. And the other brat has firepower of his own in his ghosts, but those won't help them if they were made to rot from the inside out, or the air stolen from their lungs. Nevermind what they had seen firsthand from Cassian and what he just saw now. His powers have no definition, he's capable of too much. He can't even tell if the bastard is using magic or not. Worse yet, he's aware of the Doumi.
Hayes has no way of knowing if Cassian was telling the truth about killing a Doumi before, or if it was said to break their resolve, that resistance was hopeless. What he does know, as Hayes' face becomes even grimmer rewatching the video, is its very unlikely that a meeting between Cassian and a Doumi wouldn't end in a fight to the death. "We should get moving," Hayes rather flatly announces as he walks over to Clara and hands her the laptop right after he closes it. "Hold onto this. Might come in handy." After that he takes the lead out of this destroyed office and back into the top floor hallway. Now that he doesn't have to concentrate on driving and keeping an entire APC under his control, Hayes' focus is entirely on his surroundings, making sure Cassian can't sneak up on them again. Ezekiel as a Stand User does not have that kind of spiritual detection, instead focusing on rooms and doors that may lead to some sort of clue of Clara's dad being here. They can only hope they didn't beat him here, and get chased away before he does arrive.
____________________
Once they had descended far enough down the stairwell, the traces of enochian magics within the ruined church grounds stopped interfering with Diamond Eye's ability to detect life. A leading reason why the superhero did not react to the trap at all.
"I appreciate the concern, but it will take more than that to harm me." The hero reassures the captive as he approaches. He barely is standing in front of the metal bars between them before he grabs them and pulls them apart, along with any manacles holding him in place. In case the room was trapped against tampering, the prisoner would be removed from his captivity at much greater haste. But if not, the prisoner will be allowed to leave his confines of his own accord.
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