Oh brother, where for art thou?

[-Ezekiel]

OOC:Honestly, I can fly....but more to the point, the race is on chicken little. Also, Denica, what part of Leo running away with an army after him is fighting?
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Now, if you were thinking that Leopold had been running around unscathed, you be a freaking idiot. No one, not even he can run away from an army of demons and not get hurt. It was impossible not to get hurt, it was more impossible for him not to get tired as he ran about shouting and cursing. Even now as he sat in a hole in the ground, Leopold was arguing with he, himself and that guy.

"Fuck that hurt" he growled as he pulled an arrow shaft from his leg, the armour he wore was heavy, not suited for running around and swearing at people who wanted to kill you. But had saved his life, which was why he was changing it with alchemy, stripping away the excess metal, Leopold attached what he needed to his leather armour. I thought you could dodge arrows "Not when they've been shot at point blank range by midgets I can't." he replied with a growl, even in the darkness he could hear the screams and shouts of demons as they charged past his hiding place. They'll find you soon, what are you going to do? "I'm going to step up this distraction a bit, I wonder what their town planning officer will think"

Pulling himself up on top of a small rise, Leopold raised his hands to the local demons who had spotted him and charged towards him. "BROTHERS, COUNTRY MEN, FISH WIVES, HORSES AND GENERAL MISS HAPPENED BEINGS OF GASEOUS FORMATION. LEND ME YOUR EARS!!!" shouted Leopold as the demons were brought to a halt as the looked at him, slightly confused as he was wearing the head of an berserker as a crotch guard and the horns of a pit lord as his own horns.

"We stand here today, proud to be demons of no real sexual preference, the time has come for us to rise up against our oppressors and tell them...eeep" said Leopold as arrows started to fly at him, it soon became apparent that convincing the demons to fight each other wasn't going to work...again.

As he ran, the shafts of arrows flying past his body, Leopold clapped his hands, early he had been clapping to weaken some of the buildings around the outside of Akara, it might look silly now, but when you cause a shitload of destruction really quickly it tends to distract whoever is chasing you. Leopold learnt this early.

With a strange sort of crunching noise, several large buildings on the far side of Akara collapsed, sending a cloud of smoke high into the air, the demons behind him paused long enough for Leopold to jump into a crack in the ground and pretend he was a chicken...a demonic chicken. When in doubt, pretend your a chicken.

[-Darshe]

As he made his way up the stairs he could hear the demons through the walls moving about some barking orders. He smirked, the elevator trick was working they were gathering near the doors and ignoring the stairs as it passed. His head pounded and what felt like nausea swept over him for a moment. 'What's going on? I've barely even done anything...' he wondered

The dark magic of the demon gate was seeping into him like poison a magic filled with hatred. He hadn't realized it yet but it if it continued he'd be in bad shape before long his body while able to withstand being exposed to powerful magic couldn't take such dark energies for too long in it's current state he just wasn't used to it and so one of the quirks of his new body showed a ugly downside for the first time. He'd have to train himself to deal with this sort of thing but right now the gem was all that mattered and he had to get there before his body gave out.

A new sense of urgency pushed him onward and he was nearing the top when he heard demons again "right...when it hit the top it went down again..." He muttered the one flaw in his plan was that while the demons on lower floors would be occupied the ones at the top would come down regardless, meaning he'd face them on the stairs.


He drew his new swords preparing to use them for the first time in combat as he reached the doorway that connected the stairs to the top level the pain had lessened since he was somewhat farther from the demon gate but now the energy of the gem even shielded was causing him discomfort and to think he'd have to get down with the gem in hand and deal with the energy of both. Tearing at him while demons attacked. By now the outside had surely regained it's guards as well and he was out of tricks. A slight despair crept into him as he made these realizations one after another as he was alone in this tower how could he possibly hope to escape the city alive once he had the gem? It'd be a beacon of magical energy Garuda's invisibility would be pointless.

"No. I gave the elf my word. I keep my word. I will survive this. I survived far worse!" he assured himself before feelings of despair and woe took over. If that happened he was as good as dead. He wondered why they hadn't come yet and decided to find out. He kicked open the stairwell door and waiting for him were two succubi. Mentally he cursed. he couldn't have run into worse opponents, not because of their strength but because of their beauty, if there was one thing Darshe had a hard time with it was harming a woman much less a beautiful one who made advances toward him. Behind them Soldier demons practically filled the hall.

Before anything he simply ran conjuring healing energy around himself as a sort of regeneration, ignoring them they could chase all they wanted he didn't intend to fight them... instead he'd deal with the Soldier demons though he mostly ignored them, rolling and slashing his way through them constantly running trying to avoid attack using his armor to it's full advantage blocking shallow swings and powering through them,untill he turned the corner and stared a dread lord in the face. (yeah i realize that's more powerful than me but what ELSE would be standing up here this close to the gem?) He was in disbelief, succubi and a Dread Lord, He'd rather take the succubi now at least THEY wanted to more than just to kill him.He looked back surprised that they weren't running behind him and rather were simply walking taking their time as well as the Soldier demons that remained. They must've known what he'd run into.

Gritting his teeth as he face the Dread Lord again he readied his swords the unarmored parts of his body were covered in scratches that looked more serious than they were because of the amount of blood though he'd been healing himself the whole time.

"A rat? this far in our territory? You're a damn sneaky one." The dread lord mused "I suppose that disturbance outside earlier was your doing too?"

Darshe merely gazed past him at a strange machine he seemed to be guarding...or trying to restore he wasn't sure which not that it mattered as the pounding pain in his skull and painful pins and needles feeling rolling through his body told him that was where the gem was.

"Move aside Dread Lord."

"Or what?"

"Die."

The dread lord laughed amused at this.

"Have you forgotten where we are? you can't summon one of your minions here." Darshia reminded him having encountered dread lords before, some....acquaintances of Cynn's.

The dreadlord was impressed with his knowledge "So you've met my kind before? and lived? Impressive. Show me."

Darshia ran forward through the doorway and sharply turned right immediately after he passed through confusing the demon. He spun and kicked the open door closed slamming it in the succubi's faces.

"So that's your game? How pointless." The dreadlord drew it's hand back ever confident in it's ability perhaps too confident as it threw forward a corrosive wave of poison. Darshia recognized the spell and immediately wrapped his blades in a white magic running forward and slicing through the corrosive wave with his left hand sword and slashing across the shocked Dread lords side with his right.

"What did...how did you?" It stammered

"You just cast bio....I merely used a spell that counteracts bio...and co-incidently happens to be a holy spell...How's that wound?"

The dreadlord's face would've paled were it not already white. his wound sizzled and he felt like he'd been poisoned. "Y-You!" He threw more dark magics but the blades were capable of outright dispelling bio, Though he left no openings for Darshe to attack forcing him to wait untill the demon wore himself down.

There was a pause in the attacks as the dread lord crossed his arms.

"Giving up?" Darshe taunted oblivious as to what was about to happen. He began an attack only to have a metal pipe slam into his side. "What the...?" The pipe had moved on it's own or rather...appeared to. The dreadlord had seemed to realize dark magic was only wasting it's strength and switched to psychic abilities something Darshe had little counter for.

He would attack again batting away another pipe and bring his sword down only to have it crash into another one just shy of the dreadlord. But he too had a trick up his sleeve. As he pushed off He sliced through the air sending some of the magic from his blade in the dreadlords direction as he moved to avoid it Darshe formed an energyball at the point of his sword and launched it slamming it into the dreadlords chest and he was damn glad to have that speed ring making him faster than the dread lord could react as he was attacking on brutal instinct rather than over thinking his moves making it impossible for the Dread Lord to predict them. His sword sastisfyingly pierce the demons abdomen but he wasn't done yet.

The demon's clawed hands thrust forth as it cried out in agony his claws reaching Darshia's chest but fortunately because he was on Darshia's sword the distance was still great enough between them that he couldn't slice him as deeply as he wanted. As Darshe withdrew his sword he let the holy energy take effect burning through the demons insides. Waiting for a lapse in it's defense before attacking again and it came when the burning sensation reached the demons chest and he gasped as a sharp pain hit him Darshe ran in slid and half thrusted half threw his sword into the demons heart as it bent over to try and catch him.

It slumped on the sword pushing it through the body completly just before Darshe kicked it over and reclaimed his sword.

"Damnit...that took too long." But finally he was here at the machine the gem right in front of him He carefully dismantled what he had to to get at the gem starring in awe at the diamond before him. It's power hit him full force once it was revealed and he gasped falling to a knee coughing and clutching his wounded chest, it was almost sufficatingly powerful. He'd been exposed to far too much magic for one day,there would likely be reprucussions. He stood again and claimed the gem "My word has been kept."

Right then the two succubi broke the door down as he gaze fell upon them they shifted half in awe of the diamond half in fear as they realized he'd managed to kill the dreadlord to get it. finding their lives of sinful pleasure more important they fled for reinforcements leaving behind soldier demons Darshia's glare and a energyball would send them on their way for now as well. It was at this moment Darshe began to plan how he would escape now that he had the gem, he had a little time before the demons came back in force he just needed to think.....Blood was pooling from the wound on his chest which he'd almost forgotten about now that he had the diamond in hand. But the pain soon reminded him he needed healing. though he only knew a basic spell it'd have to do as he began to treat the wound while thinking.



OOC:wow that turned out longer than I meant for it to be....originally I was going to wait another post before getting to this point but in the end I decided to lump it together since the last bit would've just been the fight with the dreadlord. If anybody's got a problem with how this turned out I'm sorry..I just started writing the post and..well I couldn't stop myself x.x and on that note I'll call it a night.

[-Phiem]

Linaya blinked at the appearance of a man and dragon, of all things to poke its nose into their lands, a misbegotten wretch brought a dragon. She blinked in surprise at the creature before her. Unlike the little rodents scurrying through the city, it offered to deal with the rest of them? Now that was rich! She laughed, a small little laugh that floated outward in a melodic voice that belied her demonic side. Very well little one, you'll have your chance to prove your worth. Slay the rodents that infest our land, and perhaps afterwards we may work on making you beautiful. It was amusing to her, a little rat seeking out the cat to ask if it needed help. For now she'd let the creature have its fun, perhaps it would do something of interest. She flashed a mental image of the creature and dragon along the network encased among the minds of the demon populace of the city, she couldn't have them killing the little rat just yet.

Darkness flooded Linaya's mind, the cries of her fallen brother grew exponentially louder in her mind. Useless! she cried mentally, her outburst echoing down the tower in a blast of psychic pressure with the thought. The little rodents in the city weren't that much of a problem, but the premature release of her brother without a sense of what happened angered her greatly. Dark energy flared under her, a black miasma crept outward in a hazy cloud, eating away at the roof top. With startled cries, crows flooded the room below, where the machine of ancient times was held. So that was why she could not find her brother, till this misbegotten wretch of a disgrace before her had managed to tear her brother's gem free. With wings outstretched she descended into the chamber, fury flaring and lifted an arm outward. The amber orb in her hands floated outward, defying all logic as it rolled along the bottom of her outstretched hand. She palmed the smooth surface of it and flipped it upright. So you think to kidnap my brother?! A wretched disgrace such as yourself has the gall to step foot in our land, and kidnap one of our OWN?! She was furious now, her voice pushed for the beings mind, pressuring it and slapping hard against any mental barriers that would be there. If this thing had been one of her own, it would be on its knees in pain. A fare of psychic energy coated the room, lacing it in powerful anti magics to deter travel through the arcana, well mainly from the little creature in front of her. It's mental resonance she had run into when challenging its mind had been interlaced into the psychic energy that bubbled around them.

Thunderous footsteps pounded on the stairs at the only door to the room. Six pairs of heavy feet slammed hard into the stones. A thunderous roar blasted from the corridor as the door itself blew off its hinges. Six sets of murderous crimson eyes glared out from the cramped hall as one by one they filed outward. These weren't ordinary demons, they were some of the strongest and most feared. They had outlived the demise of Wagriff. They had experience far beyond any in the legions. They were cunning, they were fierce, they were the last of one of the greatest armies to walk these lands. Their armor shimmered a dark sable, showing their status. The honor guard has come to greet you little rat. If you'd rather die a quick death, surrender your hostage. Linaya glared with hate and spite and the feeble creature before her, there would be hell to pay and something was going to die.

[-Bane]

Running his with his weapons in his hands was a bad idea, because at that moment a ring of fire erupted out of the air, and demons smashed into the ground. Bane was suddenly surrounded by a large amount of demons, their faces filled with hatred for his kind, "You want to fight, munchikens! Then come and fight!" he roared with sarcasm as the first wave of demon's approached him.

He felt the hair on the back of his head stand on end, the tension was mounting, the demons were coming. Then all of a sudden they were within arms reach, their swords chopped and hacked at Bane who had squatted down without their notice. They soon noticed he was not their and looked around, confused and scared. His foot lashed out and swept their legs from underneath them. They fell like a domino effect, the large amount of them falling over, only a few remained.

"Now you little pipsqueaks, do you really want to die?" he asked, his sword dangling in his hand. He laughed as he looked at the demon's who seemed to be cowering, but then a Berserker stepped out of the crowd, "We fight until we die, for out mistress!" roared the demon lord, his sword lashing into the air as he ran at Bane.

Laughing openly now Bane saw the look of anguish, the look of dedication on the face of the Berserker Demon. He felt his heart break as he saw a demon actually show some hint of emotion, and then... he snapped. He felt his head click and his eyes turn scarlet, he felt his muscles convulse for a second but then stop, he felt his heart beat faster and faster. The Berserker Demon was running at him now, it was then in arms length, well for it at least.

Its strong steel sword clanged on the dirt and sprayed sparks and rock everywhere, then Bane ducked to the side. His hand raised and blocked some of the rock hitting him but others did. The rocks ripped at his flesh and cut it fully, the blood spurted out of his skin and hit the dirt around him. His eyes flashed and he knew what he must do.

With Strength and agility he swept under the strike and smashed his sword into the gut of the Berserker, he laughed as the demon was sliced in two. Blood spurted onto his face and he saw the shock and horror on every one of the demons' faces. They were appalled, "WE FIGHT NOW" he screamed as he charged into the ranks of demons, his madness sweeping over them all.

A few Golden Sash members suddenly bustled into the ring of Demons and Bane stopped in his tracks. These men wore the uniform of the Golden Sash, and Bane knew that they would help him immensely, his madness was still there, but held at bay by this sudden appearance. He felt a warmness spread through him, "James isn't telling us what to do, so we are going to do it by ourselves" roared one of them as they hacked at the ranks of demons.

Bane felt pride wash over the madness, courage and bravery helped too, "Thank you lads, let fight these son of a bitches right now!" roared Bane as he raised his sword and began to cut down the demons. His blood ran cold as he saw the Pit Lord crash through a few of his own allies, the demons were smashed into the ground. This demon lord had an arrow in his side, but it did not matter. Pit Lord were ruthless things, they came from the 500th layer of hell or so Bane thought. He knew that he would soon have to fight it, but he did not care.

It suddenly saw him and the rest of the Sash cutting down the demons and allies, it then rushed towards them and smashed its fist through the demons in the ranks and hit Bane full in the face. He felt himself fly through the air and hit the ground, blood smashed from his wounds, "You mother fucker, your going to pay" he screamed at the Pit Lord. It was now advancing on him, licking its lips with its pale tongue. He got up slowly and readied himself for a fight, "We fight now bitch!" he yelled at the Pit Lord, his courage and bravery flaring at the challenge. He knew he might die, he knew he might not come out alive, but he wanted to try!

[-The Gunslinger]

Phiem had disappeared, assumingly to the room just below where she had recently been perched. God damnit... Demarkos was left at a crossroads. He could either go down below, where such a power was eminating beyound his wildest dreams...or he could wait here, wait until the bastard came back up, and then fight her. A demon lord, and yet something else as well... Landing on the tower top Phiem had just been watching the battle fold out below, Demarkos landed, his feet skidding against the cool stone. Two gargoyles attached to the tower top dropped down, their gray stoney wings slowly rising up and down. The bats held suspended in midair for a minute, then attacked.

Demarkos had just time to draw his sword as they dived in towards him; he rolled away and closed his eyes, reaching in towards the inner blackness which filled him so, which was strengthened by his hate. Demarkos flung his hand towards the nearest of the two gargoyles, a deep acid green liquid spurting from his palm and through the air towards the gargoyle. The gargoyle shrieked and tried to barrel roll to dodge the poison, but was unsucessful; some of the bio disease splashed onto its wing. The creature shrieked in pain and fell to the ground, it's wing slowly disolving away into nothing.

The remaining gargoyle, at least for now, dived again, feinting left. Unprepared for this, Demarkos jumped to the side, but not before the gargoyle had sunk its claws into his left shoulder. The pain was non existant...this body, in essence, was not his, so there was no pain...a gift and a harbinger of doom at the same time.

Even as he had jumped aside, his feet found nothing but air; he had jumped off the tower, and idiocy that could not be afforded while fighting the demon lord. Fifty feet down his wings sprung out from his back again, the shadow tendrils first slowing the fall, then stopping it, and at last carrying him back up. The remaning gargoyle had tried to follow his descent; it shot towards him with great force, but as a shadow lance caught one of its wings, then another blasting through the other, the gargoyle continued its dive into hell.

Landing back atop the tower, Demarkos raised his sword, floating over to the gargoyle shrieking on the ground in pain, the bio slowly disolving its wing. He imbedded the sword in the creatures neck, ending its suffering. And now...now, he just had to wait. Phiem would come back up sooner or later.

[-The Twins]

Red lightning arched above them and blood ran across Akara below like deep red rivers. As always, a blackened sky dark with exhausted magics and tainted energy swirled overhead. The bodies of the fallen lay there in those crimson pools, their limbs sticking in every conceivable direction and reaching out with rigor mortis as if trying to pull the still living down with them. Mud caked over their expressions and features, making each and every object look like the next; there was no discerning individuality here. An ominous wind carried their corpse smell across the barrens of the ruined world. They had returned, and only for the request of their King. Involuntarily Maritia squeezed her sister's hand a little tighter.

"I don't like this place. I want to leave now." Garnitia felt her fingers curl under the pressure, but a reassuring chill flowed from her palm and into the hot blooded hand of her sister. Even now when magically and physically linked, it was sometimes necessary to console her other half with the mind that she was still around. Unbalance or absence altogether of one source, just one of them fro the other, could mean a collapse of their entire persons, and Garnitia feared this for Maritia over many other nuances.

"Please, sister... By the will of the King do we obey his order, not our own. Were it that we willed our own priorities we might find our quarry elsewhere."
"Yes, the old one and the girl... And that be-damned half dragon!" Her temperature only increased at the mention. It seemed that neither of their hearts was in this, and both children's minds were somewhere else altogether. For some things there was no escape, and others could never be consoled. Fate could not be undone and time was not reversible... Not in this day and age at least.

"Sister, do you feel our brethren's aura?" For Maritia's sake she tried to change their focus to something more useful to their situation. The ebb and flow of their concisenesses managed to soothe themselves enough jointly to halt a dangerous outbreak from the smoldering twin. "The Diamond..." She growled. It was her only response.

[-Ezekiel]

It was all happening so quickly around him, for one blissful moment, Leopold was in his own little world of madness, it kept him safe from reality, kept him from acting his age, kept him from facing what needed to be done. But all of that was starting to rain down on him as he lifted his head from the dirt and looked up at the sky, the blood red sky.

"Can you feel that?" whispered Leopold to the world around him, he knew he wasn't going to get a reply this time, there was no need for him to reply to himself, he had known all along that this day would come. Pushing himself to his feet and out of the crack in the ground, Leopold Crowley ripped part of his cloak off and used it to bind the wounds he had gained from the small time of running and screaming. He had enjoyed that life, the booze, the sex, the money, it was all worth it. But at fifty years old, it was time for him to stop acting thirty.

Even now as he tied his hair back before finally cutting it, Leopold ignored the demons that were stalking towards him, he knew they were there, he would deal with them on his terms however. No more pretending he could hear the voice of his grandfather, no more hoping that his mother was really still alive. No more dreaming about a ship he had lost so long ago.

A Dread Lord stepped toward Leopold, his clawed hands reaching out for Leopold's throat as the alchemist tightened his gauntlets. "Unless you wish to lose that hand, I suggest you piss off" growled Leopold as he grabbed the offending apendage and crushed it, he could hear the bones snapping, the sound of breaking flesh, the feel of blood on his hands. A blood curdling howl erupted from the lips of the Dread Lord as he tried to attack Leopold, but for once, Leopold's desire for the dramatic saved his life, his sword flashed from under his cloak, cleanly slicing away the other limp as he pulled the demon closer towards him, his sword slammed into it's ribcage, none too cleanly did it pass through the ribs.

He didn't bother to check if it was dead, he didn't bother with the others either, he just killed those who thought they could fight him. They could keep up with his sword as he sliced through the throats, the stomachs, the arms and the legs. Even now, as a pit lord charged towards him, Leopold held his ground, he could feel the tremble of the ground, the quaking of his knees as the huge creatures bulk charge toward him.

It was just another bull back at home, just another angry creature, mother, father, daughter, son, sister or brother. Just another part of his life he needed to put to rest. Even as he rolled away, his sword nicking the creature's knee, Leopold turned to face it, this time two swords instead of one. Both were his birthright, one was made for him, it was beautiful in it's own right, lighter then the other, but less suited for what he had planned. The other was what every rightful Crowley desired to hold, the Crowley blade was more then just a sword, it was a symbol of the power of his family.

Twisting away from the demon, the anicent blade in his hand, Leopold waited as it raised it's glaive to attack, the shine of the metal, the cool breeze it created as it swung the weapon upwards, exposing the soft folds of flesh hidden under it's armour. Pushing all of his weight behing the thrust, Leopold stabbed the creature true, the ancient blade passing into the heart of it just as he pulled it out.

He had no time to cheer, no time to finish the kill properly, there were more demons and little time for him. He was the diversion, time to divert attention of a bigger foe away from the ignorant boy. He wasn't sure if it would work, but he had to try, it wasn't everyday you pushed yourself beyond what you had tried before. In Necronus he had tipped the iceberg a little, it hadn't weakened him, only shown him what he could really do, what his powers were really capable of.

Sheathing his blades, Leopold dodged and weaved his way past attacks and possible death, the crow wasn't about to fall today as he slowly dipped into the well of possiblities he had always touched and then went one further, this time he stepped into the river. It felt good, it was like chocolate, like fire, like whiskey, it was like the sun on a cold day breaking through the clouds and warming your neck. The energy that was this world was glorious, it was all powerful and unending, and yet it was pained as well, so much damage was being caused by magic and alchemy.

Even as he became infinitely aware of the world, he became infinitely more aware of what was happening around him, it was as if the world was slower, so much energy was beautiful, but he had to find a way to conserve his strength, he wasn't used to this much power so quickly. It would be useless to tap in and out like someone hacking at a tree, however, it was better to keep the link open and take what and only what was needed, nothing more.

He could feel his own aura, it burned like the sun, drowning out the auras of those around him except that very powerful. If he wished, he could have hidden an army with such power, but that would be foolish, instead he would do what was needed. A diversion of colossal size would need an earthquake large enough to shatter most of Akara. Lucky for Leopold, the volcano of Akara was overdue for an eruption, the demons had blocked it off in order to feed their own needs. Tapping into the stress nature was feeling, Leopold unleashed the part that gave out the tremors here in Akara.

They started out small, but grew to huge sizes, even as Leopold kept a sure footing, he couldn't help but notice the way everyone else was having trouble. It would have an affect on everyone, not just himself as he pulled away from the tremors and let nature take it's course. It would be interesting to see who would come. But he'd have to make them.

"COME AND GET ME" he roared, his eyes laughing as the ground around him shook with such force, "COME ON YOU BLASTED DEMONS, BRING YOUR WORST" All around him, Akara shook with the force he had unleashed, it would be felt all across the dark world, only time would tell if the others in Necronus would make it safely.

[-Darshe]

Darshe was taken by surprise by the sudden psychic attack and the voice echoing in his mind he did indeed drop to a knee as he held his already aching head. But he was glad whoever was approaching had done so before they appeared as it alerted him a psychic was coming and he prepared his mental defenses to prevent further intrusion into his mind as he pulled himself back to his feet. Hiding the diamond in a pouch inside of his armor.

He readied himself facing the doorway untill his enemy appeared before him and was stunned. It wasn't just a woman, it was a beautiful one though she was mostly obsucred by the honor guard around her. Luck just wasn't on his side today....or maybe it was depending on how you looked at it.

As the honor guard filed into the room and took up positions on either side of him along the walls he realized he was indeed caught he couldn't face foes this powerful and in these numbers especially not in his current state but perhaps he could do something about his current state. But now that he got a good look at the woman he froze for a moment she looked far too familiar, 'Freya? No that's impossible' he reminded himself. Freya had been Darshia's last love, she dissapeared with little trace and was in fact a demoness very similar to the woman before him the only difference was in their wings and such a resemblance had an odd effect on him as he seemed to abandon any ideas of killing her, for if he did he would surely see Freya's reflection in her eyes. His mind went back to the creature at Necronus which had shown him his fears. He dared not even put himself into a situation similar to the one depicted even though this woman was not Freya she looked like her and that was enough.

He ignored her hostile tone as he was never one to speak vulgarly to a lady no matter the situation. Hopefully his ability to charm when he desperately needed to would not fail him now. He gave a bow letting his long silver hair fall forward though he kept his eyes on her. "My....I didn't expect the company of a lady such as yourself, had I known I'd be in the presence of such beauty I'd have made certain my appearance was a bit better." He began. blood,mostly his own, was all over him from the waist down though his upper body was fairly un blemished thanks to his armor aside from a few splotches of demon blood and his face? he'd be damned if he let anything cut his face.

"I am Darshia, Might I inquire the beauty's name?" He was stalling while the healing spell he had already cast took effect slowly repairing his wounds. Using it the way he did as a sort of slow regeneration process he could make even the weaker healing spells repair more serious wounds than they normally would but it took time. Time he didn't have if he couldn't get this woman to talk. while he spoke he was also making note of the area around him, the ancient machine the honor guard, the lady, the walls, there was a way out a few actually but he wouldn't get far if he didn't heal first.

[Denica]

James nodded to his friend as he appeared next to him, geeting James once again. That man was never going to leave James alone to die, even if itwould take him to run through the whole battlefield alone, naked or mostly in his underwear, screaming like a girl that was just rapped. Smiling to himself, he looked at the pitlord who was just attacked by flamming arrows and then by Archain. Grabbing his katana, James ran through the battle field with his sword outstretched tothe front, gaining speed with each second, he jumped high into the air, aiming for the pitlord's head, whose was just attacked by Archain himself. Slashing half way through the thick armor on his shoulder, James landed nearby and grabbed the thing by it's foot, blasting the pitlord with a series of stronger push than the usual one. The thing flew back and grinded the undead lands just 5 feet away from James, growling in hate as it stood up and grabbed it's hurt shoulder.

Who dares attack me...feeble humans?-the monster screamed lookingthrough the crowd as James came in closer, slowly, as his left kneww was bleeding, and the armor that was ther has been cracked into two, barely hanging off his foot. Looking at the thing, James laughed to himself as he replied back, in a more of a sarcastic tone, tauting the pitlord to gain all attention at himself.

Not a human, but someone of your own kind, bloody filth!- with this he charged forwardand launched a large protecting shield at himself, grinding right at the pitlord's huge body. Now all he wanted was Archain managing to create his main attack while James was distracting him.

[-The Gunslinger]

OoC: Zeke made huge fucking earth tremors idiots.

Demarkos stood atop the ruined tower, gazing down at the battlefield. Tens of thousands of demons were still attacking the small force of no more than a thousand; it seemed several of the demons had taken to following some undoubtedly crazy lunatic. Two gigantic pit lords ruled the scene, each towering over the battlefield. The brutes swung their glaives with such force, with such uncaring for what they hit; Demarkos watched as one of the two slammed its glaive down upon a Fel Guard; the creature was instantly crushed into the ground by the sheer force of the gigantic weapon.

The earth began to rumble, an earsplitting roar ripping through his ears. Demarkos noticed not the blood that slowly ran down his face, coming from his ears; pain was non existant in this body...sooner or later, it would be his doom. In time he must find a new vassal.

Demarkos nearly lost his footing on the tower top; part of the already half destroyed roof fell off, tumbling down the outside of the dome, falling into the depths of oblivion. Hopefully it hits a demon fucker. The earth continued to tremor, the vibrations were so bad it caused Demarkos to once again extract his shadow woven tendril-like wings; even when he flew up a foot off the roof top he could still feel the tremors from the quake.

I can't fucking wait any more...if I stay on this tower top, gargoyles are undoubtedly likely to come again and again. It's time to find Phiem. Demarkos could sense the entity straight below him, in a room with several other powerful demons. No need to waste me time walking there...might as well throw in a surprise. A black portal of darkness, like a droplet of ink from a quill blotted Demarkos's vision. The ripples of darkness eminating from the portal felt magnificent as Demarkos flew through the portal, his mind sighing with pleasure as he went through the portal.

Demarkos had the sudden feeling he had gone out of the frying pan and into the fire. In the room was not only the 'raven goddess', but an odd looking machine as well as several demon honor guards...and a lone man, whom the demons were obviously focusing upon. No doubt the women Demon Lord had already felt his presence; a being of her power undoubtedly could. Whether or not the honor guards knew, though, Demarkos couldn't say.

Seeing as how he had yet to truly anger the demon lord, it was time to trying something new. Let's see how well you like your birds, demon. Demarkos thought to himself. Placing his left hand on the pommel of his sword, Demarkos felt the blade warm against his hand. When he pulled his hand away, it was alight with dancing fire, the flames wonderously not eating his flesh. Demarkos bent his elbow, his left arm extending towards his right soldier, then snapped it out straight, sending blasts of firaga towards the crows. Burn in hell.

[-Bane]

The Pit Lord crushed its glaive into the ground, causing a large crater to appear. His face turned serious, his lips curved into a grin as he did a roll to avoid the attack. The Pit Lord reared up again, its Glaives swinging in its large and muscular hands. It swung around with surprising agility to deliver a large blow to the side of his cheek, a cut was open and it splashed blood along with the other of his wounds.

His vision was now dimming slightly, fog seemed to close in around the sides of his vision, causing him to stagger and trip. He felt the power of the Pit Lord crushed into his cheek yet again and he felt his body lift from the ground and smash into it seconds later he cried out in pain as his body arched back. He felt the blood pour down his face and through his hair, into his mouth and into his wounds. He felt them sting like they were in hell, the fire burning them inside. He rolled over just as the glaives 3 blades crashed into the ground.

He slowly lifted himself up on his shaky limbs, the blood slowly dripping onto the ground out of his open mouth and wound. The Pit Lords knee crunched into his face and he felt himself black out for a moment, he woke up and saw he was on the ground, the glaive just 2 meters from his face. He then awoke, the fog around his eyes seemed to shoot away, and he felt awake as ever.

His brain flared into concentration, he felt his hands move in front of him, and he muttered a few words. Next moment fire exploded out of his hands and onto the Pit Lord. The Pit Lord was smashed into the air, screaming in a frenzies fury, the glaives in its hands twirling wildly. He saw the Pit Lord smash into the ground some meters away, and then he saw it twitch slightly, and then begin to get up.

His new energy then came into play. Tremors were caused in the ground and he staggered slightly, he then nearly fell over as the tremors came to a climax. He barely clung to the earth with his own two feet. Demon's fell over until most of them were on the floor, the two Pit Lords remained standing...

He ran towards the Pit Lord he had been attacking before and stabbed it in the leg, its hand crunched down into a punch but it missed him by inches. He felt the wind of the attack streak his face, he then got both of his blades and mustered up as much energy as he could. He felt his blades reel back, then it all went wrong....

The blade crunched into his arm, he felt it touch the bone and it jerked a bit, causing the blade to cut out of his skin but cause a longer wound. He felt the blood spurt and flow down his arm. The warmness of it was comforting, but the pain was even more dangerous. He felt his arm go numb, he felt the blade drop out of his hand, now he had only his left hand; his good hand.

He dodged a left hook by the Pit Lord and sunk his only blade into its ribs, it screamed out in pain and keeled over. He felt his magical energy raise again and his arm instantly went out in front, "FIRAGA" screamed Bane as fire came out of his hand once again. He felt his left hand jerk back and the fireball ran towards the Pit Lord. It hit the Pit Lord and it smashed to the ground, black blood ecking out of its mouth. Bane smirked slightly and then looked around, the demons were now getting up... he had to kill this thing fast! "Come on you stupid coward get up!" yelled Bane as he looked at the Pit Lord with hunger for more vengance, his arm throbbing at his side...

[-Phiem]

Tremors rippled through the tower, though the shifting ground did nothing to deter Linaya or the honor guard. They shifted with the ground, swaying ever so slightly to deter a change in center of balance. Save the flattery heathen. It will get you nowhere. Last chance. Return our brother or perish in agony. She was done playing games with these little rats in their land. First they have the gall to kill in her lands and attempt to pass off as one of her own, then they try to kill her of all things, and finally they had murdered one of her pets. Oh she wasn't annoyed with the little miscreants now, she was down right pissed at the little maggots.

As if answering some unannounced prayer for them to just try and push her over the edge, the little thing from earlier, one that she had slapped with a punch of psychic force, appeared and threw fire at her crows. They scattered in a flash of feathers and warking cries. A few vanished in the flames, though they seemed to come through the raging blaze unharmed. An almost physical force settled down in the room, psychic energy pressing downward as Linaya glared hate and anger at the two creatures in the room. She barked out a command in demonic, the harsh tongue grating on her throat. "Two of you kill the bitch with the fire. The rest of you retrieve my brother." Sable feathers continued to rain downward as the crows flapped around the room, some fleeing out the holes in the roof.

The two heading for the fire user unsheathed their blades, metal grating as the sharpened edges ran over the sides of their tower shields. Malicious grins crossed their faces, happy at the chance to taste flesh and blood once more. The other four moved in similar fashion, fanning out to cut off any escape by the creature who had taken the diamond. From the doorway a low growl emanated, the other stalker having escaped to return to its mistress. Its usually onyx eyes glimmered crimson as anger clouded its mind, though it still maintained a hold over its primal instincts out of shear loyalty to its master.

OOC: Honor guard are npcs, but remember.. they are the elites of the elite. The crows.. are Phiem's.

[-tincup]

Archain turned in the air to see James begin to attack the pit lord. The hybrid smiled to himself and began for formulate a plan to take down this large demon. He swung around and soared down to the ground behind the distracted pit lord. He brought up two rocks, each about 1 foot in diameter. He positioned them on either side of the pit lord's head. She swung the rocks together. The pit lord didn't see them coming due to James's attack. The rocks hit its head at the exact same time, causing its skull to explode.

Brains and ichor shot out at Archain and James. The hybrid brought his wings in front of him to block the guts and gore. His wings were splattered and drenched, but the rest of him remained dry for the most part. His leg was still thoroughly broken, and he felt like he was about to pass out, but otherwise he was good.

He limped over to James. "Shall we take down the other pit lord? Or just got for the big bad demon lord?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
((Shit post, I know. Sorry.))

[-Darshe]

His healing incomplete Darshe let out a sigh of dissapointment, but he had focused on two vital areas to his plan of escape and made sure they had healed enough to allow what he had planned.

The distraction brought on by the other and the slowly intensifying tremors only added to his probability of escape it was almost perfect. Like the universe had sought to move everything in his favor just enough to save him. But he was just lucky though it helped to be a bit of a daredevil escape artist situations like these were a dime a dozen to him.

"Shame...I couldn't get your name. It seems you're rather popular too." He commented as he crouched low as the four demons approached there was a slight bulge on his back and then he pushed off the ground leaping high as his blackened wings, which he had pulled in to allow to heal some time ago after they'd been injuring back at the fort, painfully burst out reminding him yet again why he usually left them hidden. His hands shot forward and energy balls slammed into the floor exploding on impact with just enough force to make it begin to give away with the rumble of the earth to aid in it's crumbling dropping the honor guard down to the floor below at the very least.

He hovered there for a moment with a satisfied smirk. "Do remember the name. I'm sure we'll meet again. But I'll take my leave." He said as he flew away with grace not exactly in the desperate hurry one might have expected him to be in as he used another ball of energy to make his own exit. His hope was that the woman would be too flustered and unfocused to use her psychic powers properly after all from what he understood of them it took concentration to use them properly and surely her rage was unfocused.

It was then a voice spoke to him that should not have.
"Most amusing...drawing them in and dropping them through the floor and holding a secret such as having wings untill the last moment."

Darshe didn't bother looking around it wasn't hard to figure out the voice was in his head. there was no way anyone could've been beside him.

"You are...?" he asked seemingly to no one


"Denjess...who else would I be? You picked up my gem afterall.That woman was lacking. She has little right to even call herself a 'Demon Lord' it's fitting that you embarrassed her so. So what is it you're after? Power? I've got that in spades. Only one other among us surpasses me. yes...you picked well indeed you're either very well informed or very lucky."

"I like to think I'm both" Darshe replied drawing amusement from his 'guest' He had little idea where to go now or what to do. But he happened to see what at least appeared to be allies fighting demons probably having come for the gem as well and remembered Caranor had mentioned the Golden Sash army would likely show itself.They seemed to be having a bit of trouble though.

Still he would make his way to them hoping to have left the demon lord behind him with the other who seemed to have something against the birds around her. But it was none of his business he had the gem all he wanted was to get the hell away from demons untill he knew what exactly to do with it. "You there! Are you members of Golden Sash?" He yelled down to them as he flew

[-Phiem]

An almost tangible rippled blew outward from where Linaya stood, visible waves of psychic energy poured outward from her location. She crouched downward slightly, the muscles in her legs could actually be seen adjusting under her fair skin. With something akin to a cross between a snarl and a guttural growl she launched herself outward after the little bitch that held the diamond. She rocketed outward from the ruined tower, the crows that were with her vanishing into a flutter of sable feathers. Linaya outstripped the gargoyles, those that had come in response to her rage, in pure speed. She blew by them in a wave of feathers and anger, a backlash of psychic energy swatting several from the sky.

Tendrils of psychic power lashed outward to wrap around the diamond, her prey clearly in her sights. With a roar, both mental and vocal, she tore at it with all her might. While she pulled on the gem, she let out a blast of unrefined psychic power, directing the blast at the miscreants face. If he wanted her to act, then by all means she'd grant the doomed creature its wish and show why she was master of these lands.

Far below her, down on one of the rooftops of the main ruined buildings, in a corner far from the fighting sat a black crow. This one was far more graced then the others that followed Linaya around. Its sable feathers were almost blue black in color. It watched with crimson eyes in curiosity at Linaya, for it did not seem like her to be in such disarray or anger. Squawking a cry it took off into the skies, soon lost in the yellow-grey of the Akaran skies and bodies of the gargoyles who populated them.

[-Hand of Fate]

Gargoyles began to circle around from where some young warriors were scrambling about towards Kein preparing for an attack. They stopped short and Kein smiled as he heard the woman's acceptance. He bowed to her and responded, "I will try not to disappoint." His voice was respectful but not too eager. He could tell she did not have a high opinion at him, almost laughing at him. Still respect was not something handed out, if it was who would want it? Respect had to be earned. He surveyed the surroundings. He watched his new mistress disappear into the tower she was standing on… there appeared to be a strong… no two strong power sources with in. He watched as a crazy fool began to dance on the tower above it, but he seemed to be having trouble with the gargoyles and he didn’t want to intrude. He defeated them, and Kein clapped for him, but before he could challenge him he disappeared into the same tower. Kein wasn’t too worried about the fighter getting away, he was amusing, but not a threat…

Kein waited, reluctant to leave to go after some random ‘rat’. He was waiting for the most opportune moment. He finally found that chance when one of the strong power sources began to move. It burst out of the tower’s wall and began to fly through the air. As did his new mistress, looking less than composed. Kein felt yet another power source below. His eyes were drawn to a particular raven, the call sign of his mistress. It flew off into the skies, but he paid it not much more mind. He decided to set out after his mistress and the escaping power. Reborn’s massive wings easily surpassed the tiny flying gem thief, under him… cutting him off from the forces below. Reborn was careful for the forces bellow while Kein looked up and noticed his master begin her attack. He waited it for to unfold. When he understood her plot he prepared his own attack and called out, “I’m not, but maybe I can help you… or you can help me. That gem sure is nice looking. I’m trying to get on good graces with my new commanding officer. No matter what the species or culture, girls always appreciate precious jewels… I’m sure you won’t mind turning it over,”

He did not wait for a response as he let out from his back his black wings… which were not wings but instead an array of shadow lances. The shadow lances appeared like wings coming from his back until they spread away far enough for their true form to be determined. The Black Lances of Dark Magic arched upwards from his back towards the Gem holder. The Gem would definitely survive the barrage, but perhaps not it’s holder… and if anything it would distract him while his mistress could take back the gem.

[Denica]

James rippled away as the pirlord fell down dead, it's brains squashed for over a mile, his hands burning in pain as hemanaged to keep the pitlord in his own attention, all this time wrestling with it's huge body. Falling down to the ground, James launched a large huge ball of protect at Archain and ate the dirty mud that gotinto his mouth as he fell. They might have killed thepitlord, but he felt something else coming fron inside of somewhere, his feelings telling him that it was that same power he was looking for earlier. Managing to standonhis feet, James stopped and looked around, slowly listening to the battlecriesof humans and demon altogether, trying to figure out where the energy was coming from this time. Looking back at Archain whose leg seemed to bebroken or pretty injured, James came closer and enclosed his hand, bright green lights shining out of his body as the blood and the injuries seemd to fade away slowly. Nodding to his friend, he watched as a human face emerged out of nowhere, calling them by their army ranks, perhaps he might have known them from before but James couldn't tell. Inside his hands, he held something that made James stop thinking all of a sudden. It was what they were here for.

He was about to smile when four large demons coated in some sort of major kick-ass armor appeared running from behind. These were nothing what he has seen of before, nor anything he has thought of to meet. He heard of them, the honour guards that were once part of Waugriff's army. Grabbing his sword, about to launch forward and perhaps kill himself, James suddenly threw the sword down and grabbed his head again. It was Phiem, the demon glided through the air in great speed as she made her way towards the man who had the gem, energies of psychic shooting at the man whohad no idea what to do. Looking back at Archain for the last time, he nodded back, this time, his eyes full of fear and anxious thoughts. He mut protect the man, but he would give his life away most probably dying and failing in the mission.

My friend...- James sent a psychic message towards his friend who has followed him far enough forall these times. I am sorry, but we might not meet again. I must save the diamond and the man from Phiem, and I might die. I only want to tell you that you had served me well enough...and for that, I thank you with the most of myself. Thank you... With these words James grabbedhis sword and flew towards the man who had the gem, and was most probably thinking that James would kill him now, but that was not the plan.

"Move...!"- James screamed as he dove infront of the man, holding up his both arms just about to block the psychic shot that Phiem sent towards the poor man, sending him to fall back to his feet, merely managing to stand as both of his armor pads cracked into two, even the skin underneath has been burn as well. His head starting spinning but James could get control of it and launched himself forward right at Phiem, who was also making her way at him now, as the holder of the gem was right behind him.

Holding both of his hands together, James closed his eyes as thefire around him finished off burning, and darkblue falmes started to glow outof his hands, sparking into many directions as the ball he was creating enlarged in size. Suddenly dissapearing into the inside James, he opened his eyes, his face a little blue as he outstretched his both hands blindly at Phiem, a large wave of blue matter and flames shooting out right into Phiem. Large thunderbotls screamed through the skies as they hit everything around James, the blue matter was enlarging in size as it reached further towards Phiem, the spell was none but Demi, as it was called these days. Knowing that he couldn't get to his senses perhaps for a minute orso, James continued unleashing the large wave of blue sparkles and matter that screamed through the battlefield, each demon and human looking back to find out what exactly was going on.

[-Darshe]

Darshe soon recognized he was being followed and glanced back at Phiem "Are you really so taken that you had to follow me? I said we'd meet again couldn't you have waited?" he'd probably never stop his odd way of throwing her off. It was the way he dealt with all of his female opponents

Darshe saw the man cut him off but had little means of dealing with him with the rampaging woman behind him. he spoke briefly with a sigh

"It's troublesome being popular..."

He could feel the tug of something pulling at the diamond carefully tucked away and secured inside his armor but he wasn't about to let it go anywhere. Smirking he had another idea to continue his pattern of disrupting the normal flow of things. He never knew there was a psychic attack coming his way untill james had moved in to save him from it. Caranor hadn't been lying when he said the Golden Sash were reliable allies.

"A rival for her attention? Sorry I'll have to ruin your chances." he joked as he spoke to Kein breifly not waiting around to see what he would do but simply retreating he pushed himself backwards and spun around to right himself as he headed in the opposite direction which would have been towards phiem though somewhat below her as he had come down a bit to try and meet with the others. He would push james in the center of his back to get him out of the way of the incoming attack while only minimally affecting his stance, not wanting to break his concentration for the spell he was casting but needing to move him out of the way as well, As he always repaid a debt The would pass dangerously close to Phiem but hopefully she was going to fast to stop herself properly and catch them. "It's your turn to move" He said quickly as he glanced back to see how the practically rocketing Phiem would stop herself in time as Keins shadow lances would now be headed directly for her since if she went past them she would essientially be in the position he should've been when the lances got there.

It was amazing just how much trouble he could cause without even attacking.

[-The Gunslinger]

As the honor guards closed in, Demarkos reached into his black magic abilities, and tryed to open a portal in the fabric of the universe...and yet no matter how hard he tryed, it seemed like it was impossible. The demon must have cast an anti-teleport spell, the bastard...and her crows...immune to fire, or something more, like a mimic? The thought certianly brought along several other interesting thoughts.

As the first honor guard closed the remaning distance, Demarkos decided there was nothing to be done except blast his way out. Flying into the air, his shadow woven wings aspread, Demarkos began to mentally assault the nearest wall with a series of psychic pushes. While the wall did look to be losing its durability, there was no time to slam it with psychic force a hundred times. No, he had to think of another way to get out...and perhaps the honor guard could help him.

The nearest honor guard was now no more then five feet away, its gigantic sword raised ahigh; Demarkos had just time to jump to the side as it came crashing down, slamming into the building's floor and causing a minor tremor. Flying back towards the wall, Demarkos stopped when he felt his wings brush against it. Now to get the idiots to hit the wall, instead of him...

[-Hand of Fate]

---

occ- I wonder how Dar got so far from the tower so quickly and James got so high up in the air... Weren't we just flying through the air? If not then wow... You really covered alot of ground there... flying from the tower to them, and reaching the ground... before we could even react... >,>

---

Since Kein was under his target, and his lances missed... his attack went high up into the air... towards nothing… he was amazed his opponent could escape so many lances with out a scratch and worry about someone at the same time but Kein only smirked. It certainly was annoying he wasted the life energy for that spell, but he was more than capable of it, with out worrying too much.

"Fine, lets make things interesting?" Kein taunted as Reborn brought himself about. Kein stared at his target, who had a chance like a noble angel in hell… which was not far from the current situation… Kein’s bright blue eyes hidden under his bangs began to fill with power. He suddenly looked up as he released that power. The veins around his eyes began to fill with blood and could be seen pressed up against his skin. His pupils began to turn bright red. ”Let me see… I want to see your madness!” Kein called out after he let out his spell. Soon that crimson color began to spread across to the whites of his eyes. His pure red eyes with a small black pupil remaining in the center focused dark magic on the Gem Holder. He could feel his life force being drained, but casting the spell was well with in his power. It was the spell ‘Madness’. That would definitely slow down this jewel thief, should it take effect. It’d be difficult for him to hold the gem against the mistress’ awesome power through that. Incase the Gem somehow fell from all’s grasp, Reborn flew close below Darshia, with Kein.

[-tincup]

Sara slammed her bow into her quiver and whipped out her daggers. The pit lord was literally on fire, so she decided to leave it to its agony. She looked and saw a man with what appeared to be a demon gem. She also saw another man jump in front of the gem holder. She decided she would help out. She looked around quickly, and spotted all of the fire in the area. She called it all together in one concentrated ball, which was about four feet in diameter. She sent the ball of flame at Phiem, guiding it towards her. As the ball went, she added bits of static to it, to add a little extra "umph" to the attack.

Archain felt his leg healed by James's spell. As soon as James was done, he cast a protect on the hybrid and ran off to defend a man who appeared to be holding a diamond. Archain immediately realized the implications, and ran to the man as fast as he could. He opened up a hole in the earth next to the man.

"Quickly, down here. I can get us out of here and to safety. We need to keep that gem out of their reach!"

Widening the hole so that it was large enough for two people, Archain called back up to the gem holder.

"If you want to get out of here alive, I suggest you hurry your ass up and get in here!"

[-Hand of Fate]

Kein noticed the hole in the earth, and decided it was annoying. Leaving his 'Madness' spell to take effect or be stopped by some unkown force to Kein, he ordered Reborn through their mind link.

Kein was busy with his spells, recovering from the last spells he sent out and preparing NEW ones...

But Reborn was still free to play around... it maintained it's position under the gem holder and would not easily let him get away... he looked down, sure that Kein would alert him of the gem's movments through their mind link, it looked down to the tiny hole in the earth... and filled it with the fire of a dragon's breath.

"What is a hell with no flame?" Rebarta Reborn sent out through it's dragonic mind's power to all around.

Kein's Bonewalkers, Sufferin... I mean Pain and Suffering were also free and waiting in hiding, amoung Rebarta's scales. Waiting and plotting.

[-Marcus]

OOC: Wow guys, a huge earthquake is going on and you're digging holes in the ground, smart.
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Marcus watched the mess around him, the fools fighting were that, idiots who were barely allowed the honour of having the name of warriors or heroes. They were weaklings, pitiful and lacking in skill. How they ever survived with a million demons around them was no wonder. Marcus seriously thought about leaving Akara and these weaklings to their mess, that was until the buildings he was near collapsed, sending huge clouds of dust flying into the air.

Blood trickled from a cut on his ear as he looked around for the source of the attack, had someone sensed him hiding here? Was he that easy to spot? No, he thought with a jolt, no someone else was doing this. Even now he could feel the power that was emanating from a single point, it was emense but not as large as Oldatoro's, however only a little bit shy. Such a person shouldn't exist, there were none but the demon lords who had this sort of power.

As Marcus slipped from the shadows and run across the ground, he noticed the cracks, the shaking of the world as this person unleashed power beyond any other, unlike so many other aura's Marcus had felt in his time, this person wasn't like the fire of a Mage or the pulse of a psychic, it was a bubble, soft and clean amongst a world that had embraced it. An Alchemist, a truly powerful alchemist.

But Marcus could get no closer to the man as he watched huge cracks in the ground grow larger and larger, soon huge splinters of earth rose from the ground, swallowing demons as the earthquake grew in power. The animal part of him told him to run, flee from this place. Even now the rats were leaving, looking up into the sky, Marcus noticed that the gargoyles had yet to notice. Why were these fools ignoring the obvious? Such foolishness was weak. Moving closer to the man, Marcus waited, his claws lashing out at demons who dared to attack him. This man might just be strong enough, the fools if they had any sense would rally around him.

FOOLS, roared Marcus, his psychic projection emanating across Akara. YOU ALL CLAIM TO BE WORKING TOGETHER YET YOU'RE FOOLISH DESIRE TO HOLD THAT WHICH ISN'T YOURS MAKES YOU WEAK. MAY YOU BE CAST INTO THE FIRES OF AKARA, THIS IS NO PLACE FOR THE WEAK AND IGNORANT, UNITE OR FALL

[-The Gunslinger]

As the psychic message coursed through his brain, Demarkos felt all his fantasys leave him...had he really been such a fool? This world was on the brink of destruction, and people were actually caring about power? Power could matter later in life, but for now, what must be done had to be.

The two approaching honor guards now looked more like a small obstacle, and less like the big powerful demons they were. "I was a fool, I was blind. But now I can see." The two honor guards paused their approach for a second, as if trying to process what he meant. "Come and get me, fuckers." With this, Demarkos created two mimic copies, each one swerving around him-himself moving too. To get out of this anti-teleportation tower, he would need to use wits.

The honor guard roared and charged, their speed inhumane for creatures of their sizes; the first of the two charged straight for the mimic on his left, while the other charged straight for the REAL Demarkos. Demarkos sent out the most powerful psychic force he could muster towards the guard approaching him; the blast slammed into the beast's sword, knocking it from its hands. The first honor guard had its sword over its shoulder, bringing the sword down hard on the mimic. The sword crashed though the mimic and into the wall of the domed building; what would be impossible for man, a demon worked wonders with. The demon's sword crashed through the wall, ripping the stone out of place, sending its shrapnel flying in all directions. When the honor guard pulled his sword loose from the wall, there was left a hole, a good one and a half feet by another one and a half.

Watching the first honor guard had rendered him completely helpless against the second-Demarkos didn't so much feel as know that his body had been picked up and slammed into the wall; in this body which he did not own he would never feel pain...

The first honor guard, obviously realizing that his partner had found the real Demarkos had turned towards him. The second was already picking him up from the ground, slamming its fist into his face. He saw the blood flying before his eyes, the creatures insane green eyes staring at him with such incredible hatred...

He would not be trapped in this body. No, he had work to do. He could not, would not, die like this. Demarkos felt the adreniline, the very will to live, which he had been so oblivious of ten minutes ago course through his veins. Grabbing the hilt of his sword, Demarkos withdrew it with all the force he could muster and slammed it into the guard's arm...not a lot of force, but enough for the guard to loosen its grip; Demarkos took the chance and flew straight upwards, until he was an inch away from the ceiling. He floated there for a minute, then rocketed down towards the hole in the stone which the first guard had created; as Demarkos blasted down through the hole and out into the daylight he was assaulted with a scene of chaos.

OoC: Sorry for the shit post, even I don't like it; I just had school on my mind, was having an MSN conversation w/ Ezekiel, was reading a DC thread, and was trying to post this at the same time.

[-Bane]

The Pit Lord raised its head and shook it for a second, trying to shake off the affects of his savage attack. His right arm was beginning to throb rather badly, this was a good thing for he could now feel it. Sweeping his sword up his lips turned into a grin, his teeth then split apart into a malicious grin, then into laughter, "You seem to have hurt your self, Pit Lord. Now get up so i can kill you!" taunted Bane as he saw the Pit Lord feeble attempts to get up.

His face turned to amazement as he saw the Pit Lord stretch out his arms and lift its heavy body, it then stood up, its Glaives resting silently in its hands. Bane rushed at the Pit Lord who was still staggering slightly from the Fireball fell to the floor as Bane's good sword arm slashed through its body with a sword. Blue-Black blood splashed on the dirt and on his face. He saw the two parts of the now dead Pit Lord flicker in spasm for a moment and then fall to the floor with a deafening thud.

He felt his arm suddenly be able to move, he struck the ground with it but no power was in the blow. It was just a movement, he could cut with the sword but not through anything. He grabbed his other sword and then looked at the Golden Sash members who were now cutting through another lot of demon's, the rest of the army having caught up with the few and were helping them enormously. It seemed the battle was finished and then the worst happened....

6 Honor Guards crashed down from the sky and seemed to puncture all hope. The Demon's were now retreating and the Honor Guards were getting closer. A few of the Sash Members ran out and attacked a few, but one Honor Guard crashed through the ranks of the Sash. Its eyes locked onto Bane and its hate and anger seemed to cut through him, it then raised its sword.

He dodged the huge blow and then raised both of his arms (his right of which was weak) and stabbed at the Demon Guard. The Guard hit his blows off with a flick of his wrists and then punched him full in the face. He felt his body smash through the air and hit the building, the rock exploded and chipped into his face. He cried out in pain but then he saw the Demon Guard running towards him, at full pace. The Demon Guard covered large ground, as soon as he got up it was on top of him.

He felt the blade plunge through his body, the cold ring of the metal never left his ears. The cold blade stayed, planted, in his belly for what seemed an eternity. He could feel his spirit fading, he tried to move but he could feel himself floating away, leaving his body to rot in Dark Forest, he was then in a corridor. A warm, comforting light at the end. He ran towards the light, it was getting closer. Climax was Climaxing.

He was then sent back with amazing force and crashed back down into his body, he was not Bane however though... he was Dace. He had ascended in the form of Dace in Bane's body. He lifted himself off the rubble of the building and then stared at the form of the Demon Guard walking away, smiling and cackling at his fallen carcus, "I'm not dead dip shit" smirked Dace as he turned around and faced his killer.

He felt a new strength reach him, he laughed with the power of it all, "COME ON YOU FUCKIN DIP SHIT COME AND KILL ME AGAIN! I DARE YOU.... TRY IT!" yelled Dace as he ran towards the Demon Guard, his swords raised, the need to kill fresh in his mind. His normal eyes had turned red again, and he was going in for the kill.