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Artan Zuill

Chatty Codger

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PostPosted: Sat Jan 11, 2025 1:54 pm


[ User Image

______________________________

Location: Cueva de Víboras
With:Aella, the servers, and Zen
Mood:Calm
Condition:Good
Current Outfit:[Outfit]

He wasn’t exactly sure what sort of reaction he was expecting from Zen (after all, they weren’t that well acquainted) the response he got failed to meet whatever nebulous expectations Édouard had set. He was going to just let the servers go? That was a bit careless of Zen was it not? But, that wasn’t his problem—that was Zen’s and whoever was pulling his strings. But then again, it was clear his attention was focused on the fragile form laying on the floor and not really anyone or anything else in the room. Though weak and hardly loud enough to be heard, Aella’s words managed to reach him and the corner of his mouth curled upwards ever-so-slightly. He stood there a moment, the portal behind him swirling and hissing with energy. It was an odd twist of fate that he should run into both of them in Spain (or a pocket dimension they’d all reached in Spain), wasn’t it? No matter. It was time for his part in this little blood soaked drama to end, at least for now.

The heel of his right foot had just left the floor to begin the final step backwards when he felt something. That strange static-y sensation that would start in the middle of his brain and radiate out; shooting through his nervous system like a bolt of lightning shooting down his spine. The sound that followed was both horrendous and unmistakable. He heard an unfamiliar voice call out from the tear in space that had formed off to his left. Yet, the figure that emerged first was not unfamiliar to him at all. The unsure footing, the small unconscious mousy movements that the man himself probably wasn’t even aware he made, and that aura of being always just in over his head no matter the situation; the changes in his physical appearance could not mask who he was to Édouard even at a quick glance. Mephitis was there now too…an odd twist of fate indeed. The next person to draw his attention was totally unknown to him and part of him was grateful for that. If things kept going the way they were, he was sure by the end of all of this half of Rengoku would be stuffed in that bar. Now that both were through, their portal shut.

Judging by the reaction to the scene he’d walked into, Édouard assumed this new person had some authority over Zen and was clearly displeased with him. He shoved Meph aside and was probably about to give Zen a nice and proper dressing down right then and there but it seemed that both new arrivals noticed the wilting figure dying behind Zen at roughly the same time. The unknown, seemed to falter at his approach so much that they almost went over and need to prop themselves up with the bar. You didn’t need to have much in the way of magical abilities or supernatural powers to see he was clearly not up to the task of healing poor Aella. Still, this fellow was going to give it his all. Édouard watched as he was able to pull the lead pellet from her flesh and once it was securely in his grasp, the healer discarded it.

While this was going on, the severity of her situation had apparently set in with Meph and he lost enough emotional control that his true form began to pierce through the mannish visage he wore. As Zen attempted to explain himself and was abruptly cut off by this “Levi” individual, Meph rushed to Aella’s side in spoke in a way that hinted to Édouard that his former classmates had kept in far better touch with each other than he had ever bothered to. He began to feel as though he’d wandered into the intertwining strands of some great web of unknown origin and design. He didn’t like being caught up in things that he didn’t, if not outright bring forth himself, didn’t have a solid handle on. His own internal brooding was interrupted when Levi began to vomit blood and then crumple. On the floor, the man that Zen had summoned was clearly just as bad if not worse off than Aella. He couldn’t help but let a cynical pass through his mind as he stood, much like the remaining servers, an observer to the events before them. But then something seemed to grip Levi and sat up and propped his back against the bar.

To Édouard it almost seemed as if a panic had taken hold of him and as his bloody eyes searched, the reason made itself known. A deep rumble, for a split second almost too subtle to notice above all the commotion around him, began to swell and became too great to ignore. Édouard had not given much thought as to why the sensation that had told him of new arrivals hadn’t left him but simply ebbed away some. He’d coughed it up to just the overall chaos of what had been going on. But now it was back and he tore his gaze from the people in front of him to examine the rest of the space. There was no need for Levi to tell him to leave. Yet, despite the oncoming whatever it was, he hesitated like the rest of them.

Levi had managed to grab a questioning Zen and that brought his attention back forward. But it was a surprisingly resolute and firm command to ‘shut up’ from Meph that really set his focus back on the group. That was something he’d never heard from the Meph he remembered; certainly not with that kind of power behind it. Clearly this was an attribute of his draconic self. Édouard watched now more curious than alarmed as Meph grabbed at his neck (though he couldn’t see what he was doing properly). He hunkered over the fallen woman and did something. After a moment, he finally could see what was happening to Aella. The transformation was unexpected and he wasn’t able to hide that as his expression and body language gave him away easily.

Édouard had no idea Aella had any draconic blood in her at all. It was arrogant of him to assume he knew most of what he needed about her from the times they’d interacted as students but she’d never even hinted any of this to him. Though, if he was to give an honest assessment he had never really looked into her past or her history any. He based his assessments on the Aella he knew in the moment and judged her potential from what he saw there. Clearly, a mistake and one he did not plan on repeating. For a brief moment he examined the changes and then, a still pained Aella blurted out the apparent remedy to this Levi person’s problems. That was certainly a derailment of his current train of thought. So, Levi was an incubus. She pleaded that one of the men would have to do something. She looked at Meph first and then her eyes went to the grim killer ex-boyfriend. Lastly, the fell on his own form and while her concern was clearly evident, he wasn’t inclined to offer himself up as a tribute. Especially not when the rumble was only getting more and more pronounced and the entire fabric of the pocket dimension seemed to him to be growing more and more unstable.

This was quite the situation they found themselves in and much to his displeasure, he still had an active portal open—the only portal open. At last he spoke up. “This isn’t the time or place for that.” He remarked. It was clear by his face as he spoke he was not thrilled about what he was about to say next. He glanced at Zen and Meph and let out an aggravated sigh as he stepped aside from his portal. “Pick up them up off the floor and go through before I come to my senses and leave you all here.” He glanced over at the still terrified and confused servers and waved them on as well. They seemed wary until a bottle fell and shattered near them and sent them scrambling past him toward the open gateway. “The portal won’t be open much longer.” He added looking back at the others. He took a moment to weigh everything that had happened up to this point and could only fall back on wondering how this had all gone so terribly off script.

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PostPosted: Sat Jan 11, 2025 6:16 pm


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Not yet? NOT YET!? If these motherfu**ers were any more dense the godd*amn light around them would start to bend! Seriously! Zenith, for being some calm ex-assassin, was about as useful as a button on a sock. And then there was Mephitis who, judging from his situational awareness and ability to follow instructions, couldn’t empty a fu**ing water filled bucket if the directions were on the bottom of the fu**ing thing! Levi was beyond livid with the everything transpiring, and yet he didn’t stop trying to heal the elementalist. Realistically, she could survive several minutes without him, but his objective was not to grant her a full recovery-not anymore. Now, it was all about stabilizing her as much as possible before she left to the mortal realm. Of course nobody seemed to be picking up on that; Not even her!

The next donation to this circus show was contributed by none other than Aella herself, announcing that the Devil needed a little hanky panky to recharge. Predictably, that didn’t really go very well with anyone. Zenith managed an audible, “What?...” and blinked at Aella as if waiting for her to repeat something that he had clearly misheard. Levi tried to tell her that it was not the time to play wingwoman right now, but sadly he was too preoccupied ejecting his guts through his face. Luckily, it seemed that someone had enough brain cells to make up for the other two men. Mr “I’m cool enough to wear shades indoors” informed everyone that ‘No, this is not going just another wacky p*rn intro’. Thank the gods.
”Go!, l-leave me and go!” Was the Devil’s only other contribution to what Ed was saying. Zenith, however, was still distracted! Whether it was because he was seemingly bothered by Aella’s draconic transformation-as was evident from the twitch of his brow- or Aella’s earlier comment of proposing sex with Levi, the man was suddenly irritable enough to yell back at Ed, ”Just leave Édouard, I’ll get everyone else out of here.” The vessels on Levi’s forehead were about to burst. Wooooow, how motherfu**ing heroic and mature of you stoic killer man. Clearly now is the BEST time to measure your coc*s; good job. At least the comment had prompted a bit of action from the Sword Saint, who placed a hand on both Mephitis and Aella just as the Servers fled to the open portal…sadly, however, it was all too late.

Édouard would probably feel the instability of mana around him, since he was the only person who had his head on his shoulders; In Aella’s defense she had lost a bit of blood. The portal began to waver, the dimension construct bending and warping when it shouldn’t have…and before the servers could pass through it just snapped shut. Both of them shrieked and fled to another corner behind the bar as the shaking caused several more bottles to fall from their display perch. Levi’s bloodshot and actively bleeding eyes went wide and then shot to Zenith. Who was shocked. ”Wh-...I can’t…Levi I can’t teleport them out of here!”

Son of a Bit**. Levi, while still granting Aella meager healing magic, converted his life force into more magic and tried to create a portal himself. The beginnings of spatial magic began to spark where the portal had once been, opening only slightly, but sadly it still closed shut. That attempt alone thrust Levi into a worse condition than he already was. Now, his body was visually cracking, like he was some dropped porcelain doll. One eye, the blue one, was completely red. Moments later his whole right arm fell from his shoulders, the joint had dried and crumbled. From the crumbling absence of an arm, there was still a faint trickle of blood despite the stone-like appearance that was slowly spreading across the rest of his torso. He was so close to talking realestate with Jesus. Though, he didn’t have the luxury to kick the bucket now. At that moment…Levi’s magic left Aella entirely.

”S-shades…” the Devil gurgled as he used his remaining arm to push his back against the inner wall of the bar, ”H-help everyone..to..tha…stage…” Oddly enough…Levi’s tone was calmer now…having accepted the reality that was upon them. Deities, in their truest form, were an unstable force of power. They rattled the mortal plains in those rare few moments that justified their most authentic presence…and for a small dinky pocket dimension like this, it would likely make it more and more unstable. So, gathering the group in one place would make things a little easier.

Zenith, having barely heard what the Devil was trying to say, grit his teeth together. ”What’s happening Levi!?” he demanded. Levi combed his hand through his hair, some of it just pulling from his scalp entirely. ”I’ll…handle it…” was all Levi said as he took a slow breath. If he did any more his body may have crumbled right then and there. Zenith’s jaw tightened and his brows pinched as his anger splashed itself upon his once calculated visage…and then he teleported Zen and Aella to the stage. For some reason he wanted some control over the situation that had gone completely off the rails because of his mistake. With the three gone, the servers screamed again and looked to Ed for guidance.

With some of the last remnant of expendable mana, Levi peeked beyond the veil of common perception…and chuckled…his voice but a sarcastic whisper…but charged enough to find the oncoming divine forces. ”You three should have given me a heads up, I would have cleaned up a little if you had.” Mephitis also received a telepathic message from Levi, the sound of his voice echoing in his mind calmly. ~”Hey, listen kid… I’m going to ask a lot of you right now, ok? I need you to stay calm. I will handle this…”~

LucaRominov


The Panda Samurai

Hilarious Codger

PostPosted: Sat Jan 18, 2025 12:06 pm


『 It's in the air and it's all around 』xxxxx
xxxxxxxxxx Location: Cueva de Víboras
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Company: Aella, Zen, Levi, and Ed.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Internally: ...
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Wearing: Fancy suit



                                              xxx M e p h i t i s xxx
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                                              Mephitis hadn't meant to blast Aella right in the face with all that pure, chaotic mana. The poor fool just wanted to be sure that she would be okay. However, the fear and panic gripping his heart was only rushing him faster and faster. He couldn't lose her. Not now. He couldn't deal with the pain of her loss and face this terrible world alone. Deep down, he knew that he would finally break. That horrible fate loomed in the back of his mind, forcing him to lash out internally. Silent, unseen demands for the girl to just lay back and let him fix this. How could she be bleeding out from her side and still have the energy to worry over others. It was so maddening and yet it was the part of her that he loved the most. Claw-like hands came up to gently take the girl's shoulders, pressing upon them gently in hopes that she'd lay back against him. However, she just didn't know when to quit. His hands slipping back as she immediately turned to him. A beautiful, fractal gaze staring back at him that made his heart swell with hope. His claw coming up slowly to take her cheek but it would never make it. Aella had found a way to do what she always did even in a horrifying and grave situation like this.

                                              “Levi needs sex,”

                                              Aella's plea was meant by a stunned silence and a blank stare from Mephitis. There wasn't a single emotion left twisting and pulling at his facial features. His eyebrows were slightly lifted, showing his surprise. His lips were parted ever so slightly but the edges didn't pull up or down. All of it frozen for a few seconds besides those chromatic irises that were constantly shifting. A mental reset forced by the most ridiculous thing to come out of Aella's damn mouth. Was he dreaming? Had he heard her wrong? All of this was just far too ridiculous but that fit given it was Aella. Honestly, the dragon might have been kneeling there like a statue for several seconds longer if it wasn't for the others. At least they had the mental capacity to stay focused and keep the group moving. Mephitis and Aella on the other hand were absolute idiots.

                                              "This isn’t the time or place for that.”

                                              "Ed?" Mephitis had rejoined the chat. His body able to move once more now that the surprise of Aella's absurd statement had been washed away. His eyes flicking away from the girl's soft pretty face over towards Ed's far more rugged and sharp one. The man's identity confirmed in less than a second as truly the mysterious and aloof student from Rengoku. How? Why? What strange thread was linking the students together? There were a hundred questions that could be asked in that very moment, but Ed's firm command made sure that they were saved for another time. Honestly, Mephitis was glad that Édouard was here even if it was a surprise. The blond always had a clear mind and the ability to make quick decisions. Something that Mephitis still lacked. The mage grounded himself as he listened to Ed's words. That strong body getting lower as he got ready to grab Aella. In Mephitis' mind, he would carry her to safety while Zenith helped Levi. They'd rush through the portal with everything they had and then worked on getting everyone healed up. At least, that's what he wanted to happen.

                                              "Zen, get Levi. I go-” How hadn't he noticed it before? Just how damn oblivious was he to not feel the power rolling all around them!? Had he fooled himself into believing it was his own chaotic energy? Mephitis chastised himself for being so blinded when it mattered the most especially when it had been so obvious. Invisible forces rolled and crashed around them. The dragon could feel this volatile energy ravage the magic around them. He knew in an instant the portal had collapsed without even looking at it. Even worse, Zenith couldn't teleport. Mephitis gritted he tried to think up a plan. Running was useless. It would be like trying to escape a tsunami on foot when the wave is already in sight. The former king ground his teeth together as he tried to find a way out. Fortunately, Levi had an idea it seemed. Get to the stage. Even if it was just a vague command, it was one Mephitis could follow.

                                              Aella, keep pressure on your wound and stay still. Zen, can you-" And then... They teleported. "Thought you said...” Longer jumps must have been impossible but shorter jumps could still be done. Mephitis just shook his head and looked around the room once again. Whatever Levi was cooking up, it better be damn good. Unfortunately, it seemed to involve Mephitis of all people. The dragon just stared off as to where Levi would have been.

                                              "Just tell me what you need." In his frustration, Mephitis had answered a telepathic message aloud. It would make anyone wonder if he had gone insane. Although, he did seemed focused now. A determined look in those draconic eyes as he readied himself to do whatever the devil requested of him.




                                              xxxx T o x i c xxxxxx B o t a n i s t




xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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『 With a taste of a poison paradise 』
PostPosted: Sun Jan 26, 2025 5:31 pm


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      tab I'm the violence in the pouring rain.

  • Aella's heart pounded painfully in her chest, every beat a drum of panic echoing in her ears. Her breaths came in shallow, uneven bursts, the air barely filling her lungs as she struggled to steady herself against the storm raging inside her. The healing magic Levi had granted her moments before, a lifeline she hadn’t fully understood at the time, now felt like a cruel memory. That thin thread of connection, which had tethered him to the living world, had been severed.

    The warmth of his magic, which had lingered faintly in her body like a comforting embrace, vanished completely. In its place was a bone-deep chill, an emptiness that hollowed her out from the inside, leaving her trembling. Wide, tear-filled eyes darted to Meph, silently pleading for reassurance, for strength, for something—anything—to anchor her. But he looked just as shaken as she felt. His usual sharp composure had cracked, his expression tight with frustration and fear. No help there.

    Ed then? He wasn't the most charitable guy but he had always been capable of remaining level headed and handling business. She could depend on him to be a functioning ally if their goals aligned, she just needed to somehow convince him that it was in his best interest to-
    ...

    Yeah that probably wasn't going to happen while she was half dead on the floor...

    Desperation drove her gaze to Zen. Zen was the stoic one, the unshakable force who always seemed to have an answer when everything else fell apart. If anyone could do something to save Levi, it had to be him. Aella adjusted herself with a small grunt of pain and turned her hopes for aid to the ex-golem but the sight of Zen, wide-eyed and visibly panicked, shattered her last option. His body was tense, his gaze flickering nervously between Levi and the crumbling room around them. He looked less like the calm strategist she relied on and more like someone on the verge of bolting Levi was literally falling apart in front of them and no one was doing jack s**t about it! Aella tried to push herself out of Meph's embrace but he was keeping her cradled in his arms. "Bullshit Levi, you're-" Her stomach lurched her into silence as the three of them were relocated to the stage.

    It was then that the air noticeable thickened with tension as a strange, almost imperceptible vibration hummed through the room, a sensation that settled uncomfortably in Aella’s bones. What Levi had been sensing was now made obvious to those less in tune with how reality was woven around them. The disruption in the magic weave was subtle at first—tiny flickers of instability that warped the edges of their surroundings, like a ripple in a still pond. But the change soon escalated, unraveling with terrifying speed.

    It began as threads, ghostly and gossamer-thin, peeling away from the blood-slick walls of the show house. They shimmered faintly, each strand dissolving into the air like vapor, unraveling the very fabric of the pocket dimension. The intricate patterns of magic that had held this sinister space together frayed and collapsed, their absence leaving the room eerily hollow. The macabre decorations—the crimson-splattered walls, the grotesque chandeliers dripping with wax and blood—dissolved like wet paint running down a canvas, their colors bleeding into the air before vanishing entirely.

    The stage beneath them shifted an unsettling wave as if the floor might collapse at any moment. The walls around them rippled and bent like a mirage, their solidity nothing more than an illusion now crumbling into nothingness. The threads of magic began to funnel out faster, whipping through the air with a tangible texture, like strands of silk brushing against bare skin. The energy surged chaotically, filling the room with a low, resonant hum that vibrated in their skulls and rattled in their chests. Mephitis' wings protectively wrapped around her and Zen, forming a small cave of protection.

    And then, with a sudden, jarring finality, the magic snapped.

    The pocket dimension collapsed in on itself, the oppressive show house disappearing in an instant. They were left standing in the dark, their breaths visible in the chilled air. Aela’s first impression was the stench—a pungent mix of oil, rust, and decay that clung to the back of her throat. The space they had fallen into was vast and industrial, the dim light barely reaching the cavernous corners of the dilapidated warehouse. Dust hung heavy in the air, catching the faint glow of Aella’s still-sparkling scales and the faint mana energy lingering like an afterimage.

    The walls were lined with cracked concrete, and long-forgotten machinery loomed in the shadows like skeletal remains of some industrial beast. The floor was slick with grime, the faint squelch underfoot reminding them of the filthy reality they now faced. Every sound echoed—each ragged breath, every scrape of movement—stretching into the oppressive silence that had descended like a heavy curtain- but the stillness didn’t last long.

    The air grew heavier, charged with chaotic energy that made Aella’s newly heightened senses prickle. Her gaze snapped upward, and her stomach lurched as the faint creaking above them turned into a deafening roar. The roof of the warehouse groaned ominously, the sound of metal straining under some colossal force piercing through the silence. With a violent screech, the ceiling was torn away, the metal beams bending and snapping like twigs under an unimaginable weight. The night sky poured in, moonlight casting stark shadows across the ruined floor. Aella’s breath caught in her throat as a monstrous form loomed above them, seen through the gaps in Meph's wings.

    Faint moonlight danced across the metallic sheen of its multi-hued scales, its gold and crimson heads shimmering like fire, while the black and dark teal radiated an ominous chill that seemed to suck the warmth from the air. Each head moved with terrifying grace, their necks twisting like smoke, coiling with an almost hypnotic rhythm. Aella’s silver-blue-green eyes widened in sheer disbelief as the largest gold head surged downward, its maw wide enough to consume the entire bar in a single bite. Its teeth, jagged and glinting like shards of a broken star, gleamed with cruel intent. The gaping abyss of its mouth seemed endless, an unholy furnace of light and heat that promised annihilation. She couldn't see what it was targeting, but somehow she knew in her gut.

    "Levi!" she screamed. Meph’s arms tightened, pressing firmly against her back as though his embrace alone could shield her from the devastation unfolding. "Damnit Mephitis!" His decision to keep Aella cradled in his arms, safely shielded by the protective span of his wings, wasn’t a bad one—at least, not for her immediate well-being. One of her hands remained pressed firmly against her wound, her palm slick with the sticky warmth of blood. Yet the pain, once sharp and blinding, had dulled to a faint ache, and the flow of blood had slowed to a negligible trickle. As long as she stayed still, as Meph intended, there was little chance of reopening it.

    Stillness didn’t come easily. Her body trembled faintly, not just from the strain of her injury but from the tumult of emotions crashing over her like relentless waves. Desperation, helplessness, and a bitter, mounting frustration fought for dominance in her chest. Suddenly there was a faint glow of Aella's scales—soft and ethereal, like moonlight on rippling water—bathed the inside of Meph's wings in a surreal light. The delicate shimmer reflected faintly in her unfocused eyes. Each shallow breath she took seemed to echo in the cocoon-like space his wings created around her until crack! thunder split the heavy silence, rumbling with a ferocity that seemed to shake the earth itself. It wasn’t a close sound like her initial storm had been. Before anyone could process it, a blinding flash of light illuminated the darkened skies as bolts of lightning rained down in rapid succession, each strike carving jagged streaks into the night.

    Several of the bolts found their mark, colliding with the monstrous form of the dragon goddess above them. The strikes seemed to ignite her massive, multi-headed form in bursts of harsh, unearthly light, the golden and crimson heads appearing almost molten in the glow. But whether the barrage of lightning was enough to spare Levi from her wrath was impossible to tell. The golden head, enormous and glinting with savage intent, descended with terrifying speed. Its gaping maw smashed into the ground where Levi’s crumbling body had been moments before, the impact shaking the earth and sending a shockwave of debris outward.

    It would be unclear if the lightning had interrupted her deadly intent or if Levi had been swallowed whole. Dust and smoke filled the air, shrouding the scene in a choking veil.

    Where: floor
    With: meph and errybody
    Doing: not dying
    Wearing:

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    Do not fall in love with people like me.
    I will take you to museums and parks and monuments and kiss you in every beautiful place,
    so that you can never go back to them without tasting me like blood in your mouth.
    I will destroy you in the most beautiful way possible.
    And when I leave, you will finally understand why storms are named after people.

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  • Anika Nyame
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    GhostsNeverDie

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    PostPosted: Mon Jan 27, 2025 6:43 pm


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    Sirens went off deep below the city of Barcelona. In a screen lit command center, screens flashed red as personnel scrambled to deal with the alarms. A message pulsed on the screens with every sounding of the siren, reading: Catastrophic Weave Anomaly Detected. “This can’t be right! Call the Captain.” One man with glasses reading over the charts called out. Meanwhile, far off the coast of Nicaragua was a half dressed Shingen training with a dummy, striking it’s wooden limbs with quick succession until the sound of his phone on a nearby table caught his attention, causing to stop and look up.

    In the stars above the darkened warehouse where the auction had once been, a small light had mingled among the stars. Out of this point drifted a mist-like light, swirling as it left the aperture. “The readings are unquantifiable! Sir, either the ENTIRE sensing apparatus is malfunctioning or there is something big happening down there.” The voice of the analyst came through the phone as Shingen huddle over his laptop, closely looking at the same screen his subordinate was. He cursed under his breath, watching the line on the graph continue to climb. “Get me a door to command, now.

    As the terrible draconic entity entered their plane, reality seemed to groan and whine, taxing the fibers of what held everything together. The sheer magnitude of all the concentrated mana sources in the one area threatened to cause another massive event, or so the Bureau of Magic thought. Shingen quickly walked up to his desk overlooking the large command center, throwing on a long sleeved shirt as an assistant brought over a phone and his personal BoM credentials. “Why don’t we have visuals up yet? We know where they’re at!” He shouted, over the computer monitor on his desk. The other technicians were busy taking calls and organizing emergency response according to protocol. “There’s heavy magical interference, sir. We can’t get any sort of reading IN or OUT. All we can see are the energy levels going hyperbolic.”

    Shingen’s jaw tightened in frustration as he affixed an ear piece into his ear. “Mobilize all available assets in the area and call down the Quick Reaction Force.” Shingen commanded. “Sir, they won’t get anywhere near that until they can get a read on what's happening. The area could be unstable. We need to get eyes on, now.” His Lieutenant interjected. All the while, the survivors on the ground were shielding themselves against a crumbling structure and beginning to throw what they could at the creature. The mist in the sky had long disappeared and a fiery bolt descended from it’s place. A screen down a ways from the Captain’s desk was tracking astral activity and was picking up a small signature headed for earth, but there was no one manning the station to see it.

    Flashes of his friends and their struggles began to fill Shingen’s head as time went on with no results. His frustration came to a boiling point and he pushed off his desktop that he’d been leaning on and began to walk to the designated portal site. “Get me a door down there!” He commanded. “Not possible. The interference is preventing us from getting close at all.” His Lieutenant corrected, stopping Shingen in his tracks, forcing him to look back at the screens helplessly.

    Lightning crashed down upon the heads of the beast, sending flashes of spectacular light up into the dark sky. It was truly a feat of magical potency. But unable to stop one of the heads from coming down on top of Levi. There was a rush of wind, however, and a flurry of golden feathers fell about the huddle group. Beside them was Levi and a warm feeling like peace washed over them. Someone else was there amongst them, emanating a flame that was the source of this feeling. Their wounds began to quickly seal and the fibers of their bodies restored. A man with outstretched wings was crouched among them then stood, retracting his wings until they were gone. He looked up at the god and spoke.







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    I’m here to even the odds, any objections?


    PostPosted: Fri Jan 31, 2025 9:38 am


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    ______________________________

    Location: Cueva de Víboras, Warehouse
    With:The others
    Mood:Tense
    Condition:Good
    Current Outfit:[Outfit]

    Édouard would have paid more attention to the others in response to his offer for escape if not for the sudden pressure. He could feel the collapse of the portal coming just before it happened. The stability of the whole pocket dimension was coming undone but it almost felt like a rejection of his energy, not just a result of things falling apart. The source of the shaking willed it shut. It did not wish for any of them to leave. And this rejection went far further than that. It was as if the cause of all of this was seeking to suppress other abilities of his as well. He suspected if the others were more aware, they’d find a similar thing happening to them.

    Levi in his continuing deterioration gave them all a command to leave him to deal with whatever was happening. Zen seemed to rebuff his offer to send the others through but while he heard the words the pressure in his mind increased sharply and as the servers almost reached its threshold—the portal snapped shut and the tremors increased in power sending them fleeing. He couldn’t help but try to search for any sign of what was behind the shaking. Though this Levi individual seemed to know what was going on, the others were of no help.

    As pieces continued to shed off him, Levi addressed Édouard directly. “Shades” was not something anyone had called him in a while and in any other situation he might have found the nickname cause for a smirk. But not now; he was being called to get people to the blood-soaked stage and having responded to the assassin’s question by merely saying he’d handle it, Zen did part of his job for him and teleported Meph and Aella to the stage along with himself. That left the servers, Levi, and Édouard at the bar. He glanced back at the crumpling form with a mix of mild discomfort (which he pushed deep down) and curiosity. But if one thing was clear, there was precious little time before whatever was going to happen happened so he gave Levi a nod and moved over to the cowering women on the floor and crouched down to their level.

    His stony face and hidden eyes likely did little to comfort them but he’d worry about that later. He moved quickly grabbing each woman with a squawk of surprise and tucked them safely under his arms. He took one last glance at Levi before there was a small breeze that seemed to come from the space between the soles of his shoes and the floor. He rose up just slightly and then hopped up and cleared the bar coming down on the other side lightly. He gave the bar one last visual inspection and that’s when he saw it begin.

    Like pulling on threads, the world around them was being stripped away. He had intended on being a bit gentle with his human cargo but the time for gentleness and subtly was over. His back was to the stage but it didn’t matter. He launched himself into the air and amidst the cries of surprise and fear from his wards, he covered the space between the bar and stage a second, landing hard on the stage floor and sliding backwards on contact for all the blood still pooled on its surface. After gathering his balance once more, he set the women down to stand or fall on their own.

    Édouard watched silently as everything came unglued and waited for the inevitable. Nothing was solid anymore, the stage undulated like the sea and at last, the dimension collapsed and darkness was upon them. It was heavy, oppressive, and full of the stench of rot—not organic, but the unmistakable smells of manmade decay. Once his eyes adjusted he gave a quick scan of this new environment. A warehouse and a large one at that was now their place of residence. The floor was grimy and innards of this place were old and disregarded. For a brief second, the vibrations took a back seat to his disgust at the ruins of civilization just being left to sit and pollute the world. But the vibrations demanded his attention and quickly had it once more. The presence that hung over them was impossible to ignore, even for the seemingly magically disinclined servers. The air was almost crawling with a tense energy that exuded among other things, great power and he’d long ago learned that power of that kind means danger.

    His eyes were drawn upward and as it was, the roar blasted forth ushering in the removal of the structure’s roof. The terrible sound of its destruction was only matched by the horrid sight of what had removed it. A great multi-headed beast leered down at them and with sinister intentions seemed to search out and locate one of them in particular. Without thinking, Édouard grabbed the two women against quickly tucked them behind a dilapidated piece of machinery before turning in time to see the creature zeroing on the bar. Aella gave a shout and then literal thunder and lightning followed. Great bolts of energy crashed into beast. Édouard held up a hand to help shield his eyes, as even through the lenses of his sunglasses the flashing light of the assault was hard to look at directly.

    But as he was trying to evaluate if it was doing any good, the largest head, golden, and full of malice rushed downward, mouth wide. With a tremendous crash that shook and rattled everything, it fell upon the bar and, it seemed, Levi. Édouard wasn’t sure if he had any last minute trump cards to avoid such a fate but he was certainly in no condition to flee under his own power. But as light had danced and the great teeth fell upon Levi, Édouard’s attention was grabbed violently elsewhere. His blue eyes searched rapidly for something—another wave of pressure had washed over him: someone else was there.

    A wind caught his hair and blew through the space as feathers gently wafted down over the group. Levi was there with them. But more than that, there was a stranger as well. It seemed the disintegrating fellow had a savior. This man’s presence had changed the oppression of the warehouse and their foe to something warm and almost tangible like a blanket. The two women peered out from behind their cover, they too having felt the change and noticed the feathers. They stared at the winged man with the warm flame like moths getting ready to fly into it. This was a curious new development in a night of curious new developments. Finally this stranger spoke and revealed he was there to “even the odds” and it was clear by the surge of hostility that rushed forth from the creature at his presence, his arrival was not welcomed.


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    Artan Zuill

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    LucaRominov

    PostPosted: Thu Feb 06, 2025 7:28 pm


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    Zen’s hazel eyes blinked anxiously to his surroundings, or what surroundings he could see between the gaps of Mephitis’ wings, as the very fabric of this small synthetic realm began to unravel before him. It wasn’t the first time he had seen something like this, but that didn’t spare him from that crushing sense of foreboding. Just thinking about it made his hand squeeze so tightly around the hilt of his weapon that it began to tremble with excess tension. But what could he do, really? What could he do against something that could threaten the components of space itself? The answer was simple and all consuming: Nothing. Any attempt to resist would be in vain…just a delusion of resistance and control worn like a mask over the inevitability of his uselessness. It was a cold and bitter reality that allowed trepidation to sink even deeper into the marrow of his bones.

    The dismantling of this place all started with a disturbing resonance that steadily grew from an inaudible pitch to a deep rumble. It was the first real harbinger of disaster that greeted the group plainly. The vibrations seemed to pull the sinews of reality apart and erode the textures of this small dimension. Zen’s jaw tightened with anticipation, already feeling the once sturdy ground beneath him begin to bend and sink. At first, the decay of reality was slow…those strands of space floating as if caught in a lazy breeze…but as the uncanny burr became deafeningly loud-enough to shake him to his core-those fabrics of reality began to lash out wildly into the oblivion that peeked from behind the enclosure as if it were the canvas of this pocket dimension. It felt like the swordsman's body was being lacerated by the splinters of the fractured space at this point. Even as everything was torn asunder around them, the whirring continued to elevate even further. All the while, Zen still remained close to Aella from within the dome of the dragon’s wings… poised for action. And then…everything went dark as they were violently thrust to the location where the dimension was attached to. Luckily, Zenith could at least tolerate the jarring phenomenon thanks to how intimately familiar he was with teleportation. That may not be the case for the others, however.

    Zen’s body ached with tension as the cold foreign air nipped at his corded muscles. Where were they? Despite how polarizing the stale silence was from the earlier chaos, the sword saint just couldn’t shake the apprehension still holding him hostage. Still cautious, he began to soak in what surroundings he could see. They appeared to be in some abandoned warehouse littered with large rusted apparatuses that looked like silhouettes of forgotten giants in the darkness. The metallic and musty odor of the rust clung to the curtain of dust hanging heavily in the empty cavities between the broken industrial equipment. Zenith choked on those thick particles during his first breaths within this dilapidated place, bringing the nook of his elbow to his mouth as his body tried to cough up the coarse air.

    It was then that, for a small moment, the sword saint actually wondered if they were safe. Perhaps it was that stillness left in the wake of their arrival that made the illusion of security so believable. That was all it was, however: An illusion. The quietness was shattered as the walls in the building groaned, as if rudely awoken by their presence. The low tone was coupled with the distinct whine of straining metal, stretching and warping under an anonymous pressure it could not endure. Zenith was not quite as aware as Aella was, so the turbulent mana hadn’t touched his attention until the metal skeleton of the building hidden beneath the cement could no longer bear the force any longer. And then… disaster finally arrived.

    Suddenly, the roof was ripped from the warehouse in a terrifying act of strength as large blocks of rubble flaked off the broken edges. The meager light from the stars and the moon poured into their surroundings and granted a muted luminance that chiseled out some of the details and depth of the interior and its contents…but at that point all Zenith could do was look upon the grotesque silhouette of the behemoth responsible. Five draconic heads peered in from the top of the decapitated structure, each one unique and horrifying. The air became impossibly thick with the arrival of this goddess and Zenith couldn’t even breath as he looked up from within the thin shield of Mephitis’ wings. They were truly fu**ed.

    “Levi!...Damnit Mephitis!”

    Aella’s words guided Zen’s awareness back to him, unintentionally drawing him from that hopeless trance long enough to remember why this beast was here. Could Levi survive this? Would they? It was then that the darkness filling the space within the dragon’s wings was chased away by a growing light that glittered off Aella’s draconic scales. Mysterious mana swelled within her, and one could even see the transcendent glow of it through the windows of her eyes. What was happeni-... Without another moment to even mentally grasp at Aella’s condition, a vein of lightning descended upon Tiamat with a concussive blast that made the earth tremble beneath them. The blinding light flashed from behind the spaces between Meph’s wings, and Zen couldn’t help reactively flinch at the devastating demonstration born from the arcane tempest raging within the young elementalist. With each crash of lightning that carved itself into the darkness of the night, those momentary flashes of light created terrifying still images of the titanic goddess above them. And yet…even that wasn’t able to stop the beast…as one of its heads lurched out and crashed where Levi had been deposited earlier.

    Again, the ground quaked, this time from the monstrous impact in front of them. Levi had been swallowed…or at least that was what it looked like. The next instance proved to dispel an untimely end for the Devil…as angelic feathers swayed lazily around them. An odd unfamiliar warmth began to wash over them then, steadily cleansing them of injury and fatigue as they all continued to bathe in it. The source? Well, Zen saw what seemed to be a new ally was now beside them all.

    “I’m here to even the odds, any objections?”

    “Who said the odds needed to be evened, jacka$$?” came the pitiful wheeze from the Devil Sor had just rescued. Before Levi could continue, he had to take a deep and unstable breath, “If you wanted to make this a fair fight, you would be on their side…not that it would help.” Even in this dire situation, Levi still found the strength to talk shi* to this stranger who had heroically arrived. Was he being ungrateful, vain, both, or was he covering up his gratitude?No one could really tell. Zen was shocked though, frozen…not by this random ally…but by a single word uttered from the broken demon. Their side?” the swordsman uttered a whispered echo of what had stroked a new sense of dread within him.

    The meaning of that steadily blossomed from the already disordered chaos in the moments following. It began as an uncanny chitter…the sound faint and distant…but as the storm raged on over the heads of Tiamat, the group could lay their eyes on the source. A horde of large mutated arachnids poured over the jagged top of the dilapidated building, a seemingly infinite deluge of them that blanketed over the outer membrane of the warehouse as they neared their position. If that skin crawling visual wasn’t enough additional nightmare fuel, there was also the heavier crash of colossal feet that crept closer to the hollow structure. From the other side across from Tiamat, a sharp tapered leg made of condensed supernatural exoskeleton crashed through the cement wall, and then came another… before a massive spider loomed over as well.

    The grotesque beast looked to have crawled out of a horrid dream. Thick hairlike fibers decorated the thorax and legs of the new goddess, each strand tougher than the most exquisite enchanted armor mortal casters could fashion. The massive body skittered along the broken edges of the building, allowing the head of the arachnid to look into the cavity of the industrial building with those large eight beady black eyes. Fuming acid drooled from the pair of massive chelicerae that moved against each other hungrily, occasionally revealing the moist shine that coated the colossal fangs attached to them. Several heavy globs of the mucus dropped from the maw of the arachnid as well, hitting the surface beneath it with a dull splat before the shrill hiss indicated that the acid began digesting whatever it landed on. Perhaps the only graceful quality of this monster was the torso of a woman that bloomed from the crown of the spider’s head, a nude and lithe eight armed female form with long straight black hair whom seemed to be whispering an enchantment to slow down Tiamat while the hive minded minions swarmed to devour Levi themselves. Lolth had arrived.

    Despite her advantage in numbers, she was not the next one to make an attempt on Levi’s life. The abundant shadows of the night inexplicably began to slither from their surfaces like black ribbons and coalesced right in front of the group. As the twisting mass of shade began to take the shape of a large mortal figure, standing about 10 feet tall, a wave of decay began to pulse from the being. As the supernatural torrent of death magic crashed into the group, a feeling of crushing fatigue would plague those incapable of protecting themselves from it. Zenith gasped as his muscles visually began to deflate, as if the consequences of seventy years assaulted him all at once.

    Then…mingling with the divine feathers Sor had sloughed off…were larger raven black ones…each one radiating with the stink of undeath. Finally, the details of that manifesting form began to carve themselves from the swarming shadows…and a large male figure wearing skeleton armor with two large wings floated ominously above them. The man had a dull grey skin tone and long black hair that cascaded down his skin that clung so tightly to his bones that he appeared starved. He held a scythe made of skeletal remains of man and beast…and judging from the way the beings glowing blue eyes stared down at Levi, it was clear what life the weapon planned to reap. Thanatos whispered a venemous curse at the infernal king as he pulled the massive weapon back…and swung it down upon Levi as the hordes of spiders were mere meters away from them in all directions.

    At this point the air cracked with volatile life as the group’s position became a nuclear ground zero for divine energy. Three gods all here to end the life of a single ruler… but the truth was that there were four beings preying on the downfall of the Devil…the last of them could easily be missed…a distant presence…hiding back in between two large contraptions that the spider hive had already swallowed…a human figure in a coat…wearing a bandaged mask with a single eye etched in black ink over the fabric.


    Part 2: Ascendence

    The emissaries of chaos and death had convened here to bring an end to the reign of Hell’s first and only ruler-in this reality at least. What an honor, to be the object of such greedy interest. Levi was flattered, especially since his possible decline garnered even the attention of the being who sat at the pinnacle of this existence…hiding its presence only from the 3 deities that wished to take the Devil’s life directly. Oh how little they knew of Levi’s tenacity. Unbeknownst to everyone else, the Devil was talking all kinds of filth to his attackers telepathically. ~’Just three of you? That’s cute, really. A bit delusional to think that’s enough though. But I guess it can’t be helped; None of you know the depth of who the hell you’re dealing with… So ill do you the favor of telling you…’~

    Levi’s shambled remains hadn’t even moved an inch after he was laid down beside the group. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to, but more that he had no energy to do anything. He couldn’t even open his eyes anymore. Cracks decorated his visage as if he were a porcelain doll that had been dropped…and his attire was tarnished and dirtied to such a degree that no one would be able to tell how luxurious it once was. One sleeve of his white shirt loosely splayed across the ground where his arm was missing entirely, the color now a dark brown from the dried blood…and yet…the man’s mouth pulled at one corner, flashing that notorious cocky grin. ”I’m Levi Mother Fu**ing Pierce.”

    The most unfathomable thing happened then. The cacophonous chaos that consumed them, the air so irradiated with divine energy that it cackled around them, and the feeling of terror that threatened to usurp all thought and reason…all of it was chased away. In its place, something inexplicably tranquil took residence over the once dire situation. All injury and sickness was evicted from the bodies of those at the eye of this fatal storm within an instant as a profound anomalous energy caressed and coddled them back to health. The weave that was intrinsic to the space around them was immediately pacified, domesticated voluntarily by the presence of the man who had suddenly blinked into existence before all of them. The arrival of this figure ushered in a paradoxical feeling of serenity, a feeling that could fit a utopian narrative despite the frozen scene of disaster surrounding them.

    Through the eyes of the late dragon king, he would see the way the diaphanous strands of arcana resonated to the whims of this man, seduced completely by his presence. In fact, every facet of reality became a thrall to this new being, eager to be molded and bent to fit the container of his desires. This was the abstract power granted to those who broke the veil of comprehensible prowess.

    The man smirked again, the crimson glowing marks across his perfect skin creating a dull glow around him. Two curled horns bloomed from the crown of his head, and six beautiful obsidian wings unfurled gracefully out from his bare spine. If one was particularly perceptive, they would have caught Levi’s ascendant form murmured something soft…gentle…yet all powerful. “No peeking Mr. Peeper man. You’ll have to wait for our title fight…” that distant mortal figure flinched for a moment and then…immediately vanished. There was a distant rubble at that moment…as if something was throwing a tantrum somewhere very very far away trying to come back to them. Levi’s new red eyes floating lazily around him, soaking in the horde of spiders and their queen…the attacking death god…and of course the tyrannical dragon through those infernal slits of his. ”I have no reason to allow you two to live…” came the mellifluous hum of Levi’s voice as he snapped his fingers. Lolth, her hive minded minions, and Thanatos suddenly were all reduced to black particles that were dismantled to even smaller components until nothing remained. Levi literally ‘Thanosed’ them out of existence.

    Despite these immeasurable feats of control…despite the most authentic solace that seized the ambience of the group’s surroundings…there was only one true lens that could comprehend the grim truth of Levi’s transformation. Those stormy blue draconic eyes could see past the miracles, beauty, and peace…and witness how this power was actively digesting Levi the longer he maintained the form. The power of a divine nucleus…the power of an Omniarch…was never meant for a man such as him to wield. Only through the most unyielding determination was he able to concoct an arcane algorithm that slowed his inevitable decay to nothingness. If the Devil continued to keep things up, oblivion was guaranteed.

    Now, with all but Tiamat dealt with, Levi took a satisfied breath through his nostrils, and then exhaled it out in a pleasant sigh as his eyes lifted to meet those of the multi headed dragon. Despite having looked around earlier, The Devil had never made direct eye contact with his attackers…and the draconic goddess discovered immediately that there was a consequence to it. As his beautiful vermillion eyes drifted closer and closer to meeting hers, she could feel her mind drawn to a madness that threatened to take over her native consciousness. The feeling dulled her mind, and made it immensely hard to resist his presence without being enamored with him. Levi smiled up at her, his lips parting to form words…but when he spoke his exquisite voice whispered directly into her mind. ”you, on the other hand…my ugly little iguana,” the teasing voice murmured in her mind, ”You I have reason to keep around a little while longer.”

    Tiamat would feel the uncanny presence of invisible hands slowly coiling around the necks of her many heads…but they did not choke the life from her… no no no, that wasn’t Levi’s style. As they grew tighter around her throats, her mind was guided closer and closer to the precipice of an incomprehensible bliss…something beyond reason…something that even a being such as herself couldn’t even scratch the surface of without being escorted by something this powerful. Her conscious thought would unravel more and more as she was drawn to a cliff that overlooked something even she had no business discovering. Everyone else would see something different though…as the flesh around the frozen dragon’s necks began to sizzle into an outline of a large mortal hand. ”Do you realize now?...just how ignorant you really were?” Levi’s voice echoed deafeningly in her mind as he began tampering with the very concept of her while he tormented her the way he was most accustomed with, “Perhaps you will think twice wh-...”

    Suddenly, Levi’s eyes went wide as he crumbled to a single knee. While he had done so much research…and while finally stepping into this form granted him so much more knowledge to equip…he still hadn’t done the appropriate preparation to stay like this much longer without fading entirely… and he couldn’t quite risk it all just yet; He had greater things to see through after all. However, the stasis that had plagued Tiamat was momentarily lifted as the Devil’s accendant form took its toll on Levi, and her consciousness flowed back into the near shattered container of her mind…giving her the opportunity to flee.
    PostPosted: Sun Feb 16, 2025 11:58 pm


    『 It's in the air and it's all around 』xxxxx
    xxxxxxxxxx Location: Cueva de Víboras > Warehouse
    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Company: Aella, Zen, Levi, and Ed.
    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Internally: ...
    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Wearing: Fancy suit



                                                xxx M e p h i t i s xxx
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                                                Years ago, Mephitis had promised himself that he would be the hero that others could look up to. A man that all could find reassurance and courage in his countenance. A stalwart being of justice who would face down even the greatest horrors of this world. An absurd dream drawn up from far too many comics, movies, and fanciful bed time stories. However, it was a dream that he clung to throughout all his sorrows and struggles. It held him together and drove him towards the hope that one day he would be that man. That he could truly change things for the better. Why was he flinching now of all times? When it mattered most to Aella for there to be a source of strength, why did he show his fear? When he had the choice to do so much, he choose nothing? Those bright, chromatic eyes seemed so far off as Mephitis judged himself for his actions. He ridiculed his cowardice and inactivity. Meanwhile, another voice hissed at him that if he was going to be so useless then he better make sure of one thing... Nothing shall hurt Aella. So, she found that she could not free herself from his grip when she pushed against him.

                                                I'm just doing what they're asking of me but... What would he think if he saw me like this?

                                                Mephitis' mind snapped back to reality as he sensed the shift in the weave around. It was a storm of pure chaotic energies that whirled its way around the area. It only got worse as the group as teleported away from the stage and to a warehouse. It didn't phase the dragon in the slightest though. Throughout it all, Mephitis' could sense her. He had been warned already of the oncoming goddess but their presence still instilled a rage within the former king unlike any other. The thick clouds of dust and disgusting smell rust went entirely ignored by the blue-haired mage. Every sense had been burned away as his perception shifted unto the weave. Each strand violently tossing and turning from the very chaos around them but it was still able to give him a picture of what was coming. Tiamat. Her disgustingly radiant presence was upon them now and... Was it really just Tiamat or where there more? Even she didn't have power like this.

                                                Don't look up. The roof tore away from the warehouse with such ease. Don't look up. The moon's pitiful light shined down upon Mephitis' visage. Venomous hate contorted those usually kind and calm features. Teeth clenched and fangs grinding against the bottom row as he tried to control himself. Bright blue, shimmering mana gushed from between his teeth. Her focus wasn't even upon the pariah king and yet he was seething from her existence. Don't look- The dragon was snapped out of his thoughts as Aella started pushed, shoved, and fought back against his hold. Her desperate attempt was ultimately futile as he refused to let her go. However, the way her scales glowed drew him in. The brilliance leaving him stunned as she shined ever brighter until... CRACK! Mephitis' head turned at the sound but stopped halfway. Don't look up! He didn't need to anyways. He could tell from the weave that she had just struck Tiamat with her power and...

                                                What if she retaliates?

                                                That singular thought immediately kicked Mephitis into action. While one arm cradled Aella against him, the other shot out before him. The dragon performing drawing a rune within the air before him with a practiced grace. His palm pressing into as the weave answered his call. It was clear to him that his wings wouldn't be enough if Tiamat chose to attack them. No, he needed to put up a barrier with the most power that he could summon. He wasn't sure if it could nullify such a blast entirely but it would be damn well safer than just putting his wings up. The mana scars upon his body flared as he poured more and more of his energy into the rune. Suddenly, a rune expanded beneath them all. From the edges, bright blue walls shot up and curved inwards. The came to meet at the very center above Mephitis and formed a dome around them all. The shimmering barrier giving a slightly blue tint to the horrors that happened outside. Still, Mephitis wasn't satisfied. He called out the weave itself. Brilliant strands locking around the dome as if to form a cage for them. While it might have trapped them, it was at least by Mephitis' choice until they had a better plan. Unfortunately, this barrier also blocked out any help that would come from others. It couldn't perceive what would hurt or heal. No, it simply distorted any spell that came close.

                                                After all the gods have made their entrance...

                                                From there, Mephitis just hunkered down. His eyes focusing on Aella as the battle raged around them. If she looked up, he'd see his eyes snapping to and fro. It was as if he was watching the battle beyond the barrier without really looking. The horrendous gods that flooded into their reality, the sheer power put on display, and then... Two of them were just snuffed out with ease. The former king's eyes widened as he realized what Levi had done. How did he still have such power? What man could snap two beings like that away? It was terrifying. Another reminder of how out of their depth they all were. Zen, Aella, Mephitis, and Ed didn't have power like this. They might as well have been ants to these monsters. However, they all needed to ascend to this level. This state of being beyond mortals and even gods.

                                                Mephitis' eyes twitched as he felt Levi falter. The dragon's eyes flicking up to only see the inside of his wings. However, it was as if he was looking straight at the devil right then. What now? Did they make their move? It seemed like they had help now but did Tiamat also have reinforcements?

                                                xxxx K i n gxxx o f xxx F o o l s




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    『 With a taste of a poison paradise 』

    The Panda Samurai

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    Anika Nyame
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    PostPosted: Mon Mar 17, 2025 8:35 pm


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        tab I'm the violence in the pouring rain.

  • Aella’s breath came in short, ragged bursts, each one strained beneath the crushing weight of the energy raging inside her. Every inhale was a battle, every exhale a gasp, as if the very air rebelled against her lungs. Blood still slicked her dress, but the pain had long since dulled, drowned beneath the storm being set free. Around them the warehouse trembled, its walls groaning as wood splintered and metal beams shrieked. She had to save Levi. Had to reach him, pull him back—even though she didn’t know how. That desperate need burned away all reason, all awareness of anything beyond her singular purpose. The world around her warped and fractured, blurred at the edges like a fever dream and her body convulsed, wracked by the force of the storm she could no longer contain.

    Above, the sky continued to churn, thunder rolling through the heavens as the winds grew violent. Dark clouds rippled with flashes of electric light and the gale howled and the ground shuddered violently, deep cracks splitting through the ice with a deafening roar. Ed would feel the wind tearing at his clothes, threatening to wrench him off his feet. The women found new reasons to huddle and shriek. The air thickened, tainted with a creeping, suffocating wrongness—something ancient stirring, something that did not belong. Though Aella could not see the necrotic god’s approach, she felt it in the marrow of her bones, a terrible pressure sinking deep, like ice spreading through her veins. The weight of its presence should have driven her to her knees in terror. But she was too far gone.

    A terrible cold swallowed the ground, spreading in a glistening, crystalline frost that slithered outward like a living thing. It moved unnaturally fast, not the slow creep of winter, but something hungry, something claiming all it touched. The ice crackled as it spread, each delicate formation weaving together in intricate, shimmering patterns. Édouard would barely have time to react before it reached him. The frost curled over the tips of his shoes, then surged up his ankles, threatening to anchor him. Then Mephitis cast the barrier and the magic driving the elemental chaos became trapped. The storm dis not dissipate instantly nor would the frost or the wind, but without the magic to fuel their existence they would fade naturally and the ice threatening to trap him would crack and snap under pressure.

    The moment it snapped into place, the world inside it changed. Aella’s energy—furious, unrelenting—had nowhere to go. It churned within the enclosed space, thickening the air to an almost unbearable density. The pressure was suffocating, pressing in from all sides, heavy with the scent of ozone, like an incoming storm. The magic clawed at the barrier’s walls, rolling in waves of electric heat and biting cold, seeking any means of escape—finding none.

    So it turned inward.

    The raw elemental force and pure life energy assaulted Mephitis and Zen, pouring into them like a flood crashing through a shattered dam. It burrowed into their very beings, seeping into muscle and marrow, igniting every nerve with something wild, something ancient. She lay still in Meph’s arms, her silver-blue eyes unfocused, hair drifting as if caught in invisible tides. The currents of magic swirled around her, coiling in luminous ribbons that glowed and pulsed like living things. The draconic DNA Tiamat had gifted her—Mephitis' blood and magic woven into her being—had been forced to awaken in an attempt to save her, but now it reacted to an ancient well of power stirring from within, exiting, and returning.

    Horns pushed through her hair, their smooth, crystalline curves catching the fractured light. A protective exoskeleton, draconic in nature, began to take shape, growing over her fragile frame like living armor. Crystalline formations spread across her skin—delicate yet unyielding. Jagged shards, gleaming with an iridescent sheen, emerged along her shoulders and collarbone, their edges sharp as cut glass. Deep blues, glacial silvers, and flickers of violet shimmered across the surface, light refracting in mesmerizing patterns. With each breath, a faint luminescence pulsed through the lattice, shifting like ice beneath a frozen lake.

    Aella’s fingers twitched. The polished surfaces of her talons gleamed, lethal yet mesmerizing, as the crystalline plating crept up her arms. Her throat pulsed with an inner radiance, the glow shifting subtly with every unsteady inhale. Then, the final piece took shape—a mask, sculpted with razor precision, unfurled over the lower half of her face. Neither a prison nor a shield, it was something far more—elegant, untouchable.

    Strands of snowy-white hair lifted in unseen currents, glowing faintly as if woven with constellations. She was no longer simply Aella. No longer just human. She had transcended into something new—shaped by storm and starlight, forged in fire and ice.

    As Mephitis held her, he would feel the sheer power radiating from her fragile yet untouchable form. She felt fragile in his arms, yet utterly untouchable—like a star on the verge of collapsing in on itself. She was still Aella—barely. But for how much longer? Beneath the iridescent plating, blood still seeped from the wound at her side, sluggish and dark against the cold shimmer of her transformation. The injury should have mattered, should have slowed her—but it didn’t. Aella needed to be free. The overwhelming desire clawed at her, insatiable, absolute. She had to save Levi. It was the only thought that remained, the only truth in the maelstrom of power threatening to consume her whole. She couldn’t see that Levi no longer needed saving. Couldn’t recognize the world beyond the storm raging within her. She was lost, drifting somewhere between divinity and destruction. Mephitis would likely be too stunned to react before the air itself pushed against him.

    A sudden, crushing force wedged between his arms, prying them apart, forcing them apart. It wasn’t her strength but the sheer pressure of the energy radiating from her, demanding release. She was rising. Not through will or conscious effort, but because the force within her refused to be contained.

    Where: floor
    With: meph and errybody
    Doing: not dying
    Wearing:

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    Do not fall in love with people like me.
    I will take you to museums and parks and monuments and kiss you in every beautiful place,
    so that you can never go back to them without tasting me like blood in your mouth.
    I will destroy you in the most beautiful way possible.
    And when I leave, you will finally understand why storms are named after people.

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  • PostPosted: Mon Mar 24, 2025 12:02 am


    Tiamat’s vision darkened.

    No.

    She was not small.

    She was Tiamat, the Dragon Queen, the Tyrant of the Skies. The world had trembled beneath her shadow since time immemorial.

    She refused—refused—to be anything less.

    With sheer, brute defiance, she called upon her power, reaching for the untamed fire that had always been hers. Even bound, even crushed beneath the weight of something beyond her, she pulled.

    For a moment, the hold around her throats loosened—just slightly.

    Levi tilted his head, amused.

    And then, the pressure doubled.

    Ecstasy surged through her like a divine spear, raw and all-consuming. It burned through her veins, electric and unbearable, twisting pain into something almost intoxicating. Her vision blurred, her very essence shuddering under his grip as she was brought to the brink—but she did not yield. She would not yield.

    And yet, the pleasure overwhelmed her.

    It crashed over her in waves, relentless and inescapable, shattering the edges of her defiance. Her mighty form trembled, every nerve alight with unbearable sensation, her breaths ragged, stolen from her throats one by one. The force holding her tightened, wringing more from her than she had ever allowed, until for one fractured moment—one impossible, shameful moment—she submitted.

    Her heads trembled, but her eyes burned with undying fury.

    "You are nothing," she snarled through gritted fangs, her voice ragged but defiant.

    Levi merely smiled.

    And then, just as suddenly as he had taken hold, he released her.

    For an instant, she did not move. The world swayed around her, the ghost of his grip still seared into her throats. It was not mercy—she knew that. He had not let go out of pity, nor because she had forced him to.

    No, something else had shifted.

    Tiamat saw it in the flicker of his form, the way the divine storm within him faltered. His power, stolen and unnatural, turned inward like a ravenous beast, consuming him from the inside out.

    The moment his grip loosened, her minds snapped back into place, their edges ragged but whole. She could feel the brand he had left on her existence, the lingering taint of something that should not be, and fury—no, something deeper, something far more visceral—swelled in her many throats.

    And yet, she did not strike.

    Instead, she laughed.

    A low, rolling sound poured from her throats like distant thunder, thick with menace, reverberating through the ruined battlefield.

    “Oh, Levi Pierce,” she purred, her voices layering atop one another, a chorus of destruction made manifest. “How amusing you are, to think you stand above gods when you cannot even control the power you have stolen.”

    Her heads tilted, the glow of her countless eyes boring into him, watching the cracks forming in his ascendant form.

    “You call me ignorant, little devil,” she mused, “but look at you. Gasping. Breaking. Wasting away beneath your own ambition.” One of her heads dipped lower, eyeing him as a predator would a wounded beast. “You think you are the first to taste power beyond your means? The first to claim divinity with mortal hands?” Her fangs gleamed in the flash of lighting cracking above. “You are nothing new.”

    And yet, despite her words, she did not strike. Not because she feared him—no, not yet. But because she had seen it. The truth buried beneath his arrogance, beneath the smirk and the sharp words.

    He would die.

    Not here, not by her hand, but by his own.

    He had reached beyond the veil, torn through the fabric of existence itself, and now the abyss had latched onto him in turn. Even now, she could see the way reality fought to reclaim what did not belong. His time was running out.

    How delicious.

    A clawed foot crushed the ruins beneath her as she began to rise, her great wings unfurling.

    “Enjoy your stolen divinity while you can, little devil,” she murmured, eyes flashing with cruel amusement. “We will see, in the end, who truly stands.”

    With that, she took flight, her massive form vanishing into the night, her laughter still ringing through the broken battlefield.

    She would wait.

    And when Levi Pierce finally crumbled beneath the weight of his own power, when the cosmos itself turned against him…

    She would be there.

    Anika Nyame
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    GhostsNeverDie

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    PostPosted: Fri Apr 04, 2025 11:24 pm


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    Sor’s landing had done little to stem the cascading magical energy of the situation. He knew that this moment would serve pivotal, anchored in time as a landmark in the realization of their identity. Perhaps he had been too hasty and acted too quickly, slipping through along with the abominations that were waiting at the door. Levi, still very much shirking aid found time to swat away Sor’s lending hand. It was who he was and had always been. It didn’t mean he didn’t need help, however. Surely, the strength of this bunch would begin to multiply, raising this reality into new heights. With that came raised threats, dark ones that bided their time in the shadows, coiled and poised to strike at the most opportune time.

    There was little Sor could provide but he was there now, there was no turning back. As the fated pair began to change before their eyes, a fire began to burn inside of Sor. Warmth radiated from him and would begin to flow outward in the form of flames. Although they were not hot to the touch, the began to resist the volatile forces of magic that enveloped the area. He pushed them to their limits, burning outwardly in order to try and touch every person in the room, hoping to shield them from the myriad of magical forces unleashed, but only time would tell if they served as shelter or a blanket in a rain storm. There were forces within the Traveler’s reach but still remained unwarranted despite the apocalyptic circumstances.

    One after another, ancient horrors appeared, convening on the momentary weakness of the King of Hell. Even a reaper, made an appearance, his very presence a sickening affront to the life currently in the room. “Pitiful creatures of darkness…” Sor spoke under his breath. He could feel their murderous intent thickening the air, creating an odor in his nostrils, an antithesis to what he stood for. He sought to shield them even further, the flames flowing from his body and up like a brazier. It was then than Levi took the leap. Pushing the limits of his body once again, he entered into a heightened state, or at least, one further in his development. Sor’s countenance shifted, a saddened look at the sight. He’d seen it before and knew what it meant but did not make it any more the easier.

    With a snap of the fingers, two of the monsters were banished. This was the authority that was cradled in the incubus, one that had been taken at the tip of a sword, so to speak, but nonetheless wielded against other forces of darkness. Tiamat, the proud dragon that it was reeled under Levi’s grip, suffering under a terrible influence that Sor had become familiar with before. He even addressed the Omniarch himself, surely watching from afar, being one of those with a calculating mind and not so eager or proud to be seen by all. Levi had successfully driven off the dragon but not without scathing threats and a promise to return. It meant they would once again have to face the incredible threat of the hydra-like deity, not something Sor was looking forward to.

    All the while Aella became more and more unstable, developing into something beautiful but dangerous, not unlike the flash in a nucleic collision. And the nature of her changes were very similar. Even now, she repelled those around her and began to rise as the cascading forces turned inward. Sor frowned as he began to see what the consequences of her unrestrained reaction would be. The people around them cowering in fear and their friends watching in awe, unable to make it out of range. There was one with a power that might prove useful. A niche authority to bind, to put away. Although tainted, it might prove enough, with the Flame’s aid. And yet space and time remained a great obstacle, or so it would seem. Regardless, Sor poured out the flame, hoping to shield them all from what was about to happen.
    PostPosted: Wed Apr 09, 2025 5:18 pm


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    “E.T.A. Twenty mikes.” a radio filtered voice said over the sound of beating helicopter blades in the background. Shingen sat behind one of the two gunners, watching a handheld device. Behind him sat ten men and women, dressed for combat and armed to the teeth, complete with night vison. Strung out behind the particular Blackhawk were eight more, four to the left and four to the right in a wedge formation. The squadron had been quickly briefed on the situation but being the quick reaction force on duty, they were prepared for general threats and perhaps not world ending ones.

    Can’t this thing move any faster? People are dying out there. The warehouse was one of dozens in an inactive industrial zone and yet, light and flashes of magic lit up the whole area. The screen of the device Shingen was holding appeared to resemble a thermal image, with brighter colors flowing out of the warehouse like water from a well. “Ten mikes.” The pilot’s voice came through their headsets again.

    I want a perimeter around the target when we arrive. Strike teams on the ground in a three-sixty, birds on overwatch. Shooters on the surrounding rooftops. Be ready for anything. All we know is that these people are dangerous. Report when the jammers are in place. I’ll be going in to recon with alpha.” Shingen muttered flatly over his microphone. There was a cold look on Shingen’s face except for his eyes. There was a ready determination, like a cat ready to pounce or an athlete waiting for the signal to go.

    As the formation neared the warehouse, partly torn down and tattered, they ducked their heads as a terrible creature took flight. Humungous and multi-headed, it swung around overhead, turning the heads of the pilots and anyone else with a clear view. “What the hell was that?!” One of the pilots said. Shingen leaned out to watch the creature fly off and disappear into the night. “Charlie mike.” He said before turning back to the front. Checking the sensors again on the device, the colors were still brightening even though the monster had flown off. “Sir, the readings aren’t getting any better. The source is quickly spiking in energy levels and destabilizing to the point of possible catastrophic release.” A clearer voice came through his headset belonging to his lieutenant.

    Shingen's black hawk stopped, and the others circled around as he ordered. He fast roped down, followed by his team behind him. Once on the ground, Shingen swung his rifle off his back and wasted no time moving in. Rifle up, his non-dominant hand kept up the sensor, receiving feedback on the now near magical source. Before he even reached the door, he could feel the invisible, almost electric waves of energy sweeping through the area. He put away the device and kicked the door in. Sure, it was rushed by he’d wasted enough time getting there...

    Dilapidated corridors and broken door frames greeted Shingen as he swiftly swept through. Instead of clearing room by room, he broke protocol and went straight to the main floor. Crossing the threshold, Shingen could feel the deathly cold air hit him all at once. And yet, waves of warmth would also follow close behind. The entire team stopped when Shingen stopped. Frozen at the sight of what was happening, Shingen held up a fist, signifying a halt.

    What is all this?” Shingen muttered. Fire and ice filled the room and at its epicenter was a female creature that was steadily rising into the air. A regal mask covered her jaw, matching a beautiful, delicate yet aggressive form which Shingen could not begin to place. He could spot some familiar figures below her to include Mephitis, Zenith and...Édouard? There were two others that he didn’t recognize, however. Winged men, one of which seemed to be the source of the fire. Why am I not surprised to see them all here? And where is Aella? He questioned as he spotted bystanders cowering for their lives.

    There was a strong blue sphere barrier covering Mephitis, Zenith and this woman who had to be the source of the tempest. Bringing up the sensor again, Shingen could see what was happening even with is limited knowledge of metaphysics. Slinging his rifle onto his back, Shingen began to step forward onto the floor. “Push back the perimeter a quarter mile out. Situation’s volatile. Alpha team, regroup with bravo.” He spoke into his mic, hoping the ice storm nearby wouldn’t drown him out. “What are you seeing down there, boss? We can’t mak-” The radio cut off once Shingen moved further onto the main warehouse floor covered with ice. He glanced over his shoulder to see the agents behind him beginning to pull back.

    The more he neared the group the more he panicked not seeing Aella. “Where’s Aella?” He asked before stepping into the circle of flames, glancing toward the winged strangers then towards Mephitis. The way he and Zenith were encased together in the barrier and how he looked at her made it all clear. Damn it, girl. Just can’t catch a break, can you? He thought as he put his hand on the barrier. “I gotta say, Mephitis. Your training has been paying off. This is one solid barrier.” He said as he readied himself. “Why don’t you let me take some of the weight off?” Shingen asked before there was a small flash at the place his hand was touching. Activating the World Eater ability, it threatened to begin condensing the barrier before starting to pull in Aella’s own magical energy to his palm. There a glowing sphere began to form, tiny at first then as time went on, it would continue to grow as Aella’s magical waves continue to get sucked in.

    There was a clear burden on him as he began to realize that the energy was not only highly potent but also not stopping. The glowing sphere continued to grow as he followed her upwards descent with his hand. He needed to figure something out since he wasn’t so sure he could shield everyone from a blast should it come to that, not with such a rich concentration in energy. He then threw his other hand up, casting multiple angled constructs that began to try and squeeze the sphere into a smaller form. While they did make some progress, they froze and shattered before long. “Alright, now would be a good time to get everybody out of here. I can’t keep this up forever.” He looked over at Zenith, hoping he still had the strength to do what he could do to evacuate.

    Then, Shingen looked over to Mephitis. “Here, catch!” He then tossed the now car sized glowing sphere of Aella’s energy at him. “I need both hands for this! Encase that for now!” He then put his hands one over the other and a barrier formed around Aella. He repeated the motion from different directions, throwing layers on top of a blue spherical barrier. He then began to cast hand signs, like he had before at Sandelli’s. Holding the last hand sign, blue dagger like edge began to appear on the walls, floor and ceiling of the warehouse, pointing in. She’s gonna hate me after this. The daggers slowly began to slowly slip out of the surfaces and Shingen reached into one of his pockets while holding a sign with the other hand. He then dropped it onto the floor and it rolled out below her, a round gem of perfect clarity.

    Maeda-Style Sealing Magic: Tessellation! The daggers then all shout out at once, stabbing into the sphered barrier, creating plates that all began to close in tightly and would slide over each other as the barrier began to shrink. “If there’s ever been a time to trust me, now is that time!” He shouted, knowing there were at least two people in the room that would try to take his head off if they though he was going to kill her. The gem and the barrier would both begin to come closer to meet in the middle until there was a flash with a glowing set of runes and Aella would be sealed into the gem.


    GhostsNeverDie

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    Artan Zuill

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    PostPosted: Fri Apr 11, 2025 10:06 am


    [ User Image

    ______________________________

    Location: Warehouse
    With:The others
    Mood:Tense
    Condition:Good
    Current Outfit:[Outfit]

    Édouard watched as the events around him unfolded. So many things happening all at once—dragons, deities, waves of flame and ice, and enough magical energy to boggle the mind and leave one a quivering mess. There was the instinctual urge to collapse and cower like the two poor women he’d brought from that disaster of an auction. But he was beyond those impulses. For him, the awe of the sheer power on display was not a marvel or a thing of abject terror but merely bellows fanning a deep simmering flame within him. His eyes narrowed watching Levi confront those who sought to claim him.

    Watching him dispatch them was an unsettling sight to behold considering how beyond the others they had been. Even the dragon seemed unable to resist him. Yet just when he seemed to have her completely within his grasp, he faltered. Édouard did not understand all the forces at play but there were things happening to the incubus that he could not see but could sense happening. For all the power that surged through him there seemed to be less of him there to be felt somehow. But as the abominable dragon took the opportunity to flee for its own life, something else had begun demanding more attention.

    The storm and the cold that he could feel coming from the shield erected by Mephitis; beyond even the physical sensation was growing stronger and it was a sensation he was all too familiar with. Something was happening to Aella that he was not in a good position to see happening but soon that was not needed. She was now drifting upwards; flames shot out from one of the others in greater intensity to shield them. Even the servers likely could now feel the inevitable outcome of what was becoming of Aella. It wouldn’t be long, Édouard figured. If he abandoned them all right then and there, he might actually get up enough speed to escape the initial blast, he would suffer for it and he wasn’t entirely sure he’d succeed is surviving the event as a whole, but it was far better odds that staying there with them. Still, he didn’t flee.

    If getting caught up in Aella being unable to control herself yet again was his fate, then it was his fate. Besides, if they all bought it in the warehouse, at least he’d have the satisfaction of knowing no one would ever find that painting. Yet, fate it seemed had one last trick for the night. The sound of helicopters had been drowned out by other sounds so when the dark figures appeared in the main doorway, he wasn’t expecting them. The leader stepped forward not seeming to have been quite prepared for the mess he’d find. But as he drew closer his appearance struck the blond man as familiar and the voice only confirmed it. Yet another face from the past was here.

    Once Shingen had figured out the floating woman was Aella he turned his attention to Meph. While he was giving instructions to the dragon, Édouard was beginning to think of his own exit. There was no way that the men he saw were all that had been brought. That could make him slipping away unnoticed a bit trickier than he was hoping for and he only could assume they’d put up something to inhibit magical powers. He watched Shingen move in to try to contain Aella. The orb was an interesting touch. But his constructs seemed to be availing him here as well as they did when he’d first encountered the man a few years back at the museum. He glanced around at all the others taking in the moment. He had to admit the raw power Aella had managed to accumulate was quite impressive; even with Shingen trying to siphon it off, it was only increasing. A quick, twisted, thought snaked its way into his mind. If you could cause this sort of power to manifest in her but have a way to contain it longer, how much more destructive would it be when that power could no longer be contained? Could Aella destroy a city like this? A region? Could she destroy even more than that? Interesting things to dwell on, assuming Shingen didn’t fail miserably and she went off there then and there and killed all of them.

    But at that moment he seemed to be doing something else. He watched intently as he moved the pieces into place to seal their dangerous form classmate away. For how long or how effectively, he couldn’t guess. But the process looked…not terribly safe for the poor girl. He almost expected either Zen or Meph to try to stop him but soon, the black-haired figure had done his work and Aella was inside the gem. Did that mean things were safe for them and what was to become of her now that she was entrapped?


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    PostPosted: Sat Apr 26, 2025 4:37 pm


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    Was there more and if so, what was it like? It was such a human quandary to consider if further mystery, or perhaps power, was tucked away somewhere distant and undiscovered still. Such gluttonous ambitions to pioneer the next stage of humanity’s evolution commonly drove scholars to insanity and warlords to their graves over the aeons of mortal existence. Some wagered that there was an infinitum of growth that would plague reality far into the unforeseeable future and that an ‘end’ was incomprehensible and thus couldn’t exist…and yet Levi touched the enigmatic truth…saw through the lens that answered what truly was beyond the veil of standard comprehension and power.

    Such abstract facets of reality swam through the very concept of who Levi Pierce was. Every story…every conquest…every feat that defined the incubus… the sum of all of it was touched by the highest aspects of both known and unknown. But there was a price for this ascension, for he was never intended to stand at the doors of true Omnipotence. He saw it himself, through the kaleidoscope eyes that oscillated through fates unspoken.

    In some, Aella was with Mephitis…In others she was with another that allowed her that normalcy she chased… In some, Shingen shouldered the infectious burden of the Void beast…in others he was unsullied and sung as a hero for his bravery and altruism… In some, Mephitis ruled over and guided his kin to a brighter future… in others he was just as rejected by them as he was now… In some, Ed was still bound to hunting for the world seed… and in others he was driven to a different cause. So many branching realities played in the Infernal King’s mind within fractions of a second… though the end of his seemingly infinite gaze all ended the same…all ended within 3 weeks…when this power would try to claim every memory of him…and burn it all to cinders for becoming something he wasn’t.

    And yet…even after knowing that his memory, his story, and his existence was the currency required to barter for more power…Levi could only think of simpler things. Like just how infuriatingly useless Mephitis was-in the nicest way possible. A boy who could deflect the ministrations of an Ascended being like him…and yet do so at the expense of the one he loved since it disallowed the healing magics intended to ensure she was truly safe. It would have been better that he was still a woman; At least the dragon at least be nice to look at as he executed such self destructive feats of ignorant idiocy.

    Still, Levi had seen what was to come…so the dragon boy’s unintended foolishness would be forgiven… Tiamat, on the other hand, stoked Levi’s fury in a different way. The 5 headed Iguana spat venomous words that lacerated the man’s pride…and in that moment Levi wished he could have just undone her existence like he had the other two gods…and yet the baby mana iguana REALLY wanted his own revenge; God it sucked to grow attached to people so much that you think of their wishes over the smarter more rational measures that could have been taken. Too weak to spit a clever rebuke back to the departing dragon goddess, Levi simply lifted two middle fingers sky high. It was then that he felt it…an unnatural disturbance that lashed out in increasing waves until it was eventually contained by the barrier the dragon erected. By a feral need to help, Aella had undergone a dazzling metamorphosis that allowed her to orbit so closely to the root of all genesis: the true nature of life that held the elements within its dominion.

    “Fu**...This is going to suck,” Levi mumbled to himself, his long black hair receding and returning to its former gold…though his features became pale… weak and exhausted. Several slivers fractured across the devil’s handsome visage…and a golden blaze began to flicker and swallow his torso. The Devil closed his eyes…enduring an agony that could not be described… until the right moment came.

    ----

    Zenith was horrified and enthralled by what was happening. Never had he ever witnessed such a clash of higher power. Sure he had imagined the path he needed to take in order to fight The Watcher, but this battle was a bitter reality check: he was nowhere near strong enough to accomplish his goals. Levi had become something…something that the sword saint couldn’t even understand. He erased the hordes of the spider goddess, stopped the strike of the death god…and then flicked a wrist to simply unalive them.

    Then all that was left was the tyrannical dragon. Zenith still gripped the hilt of his sword as if he was going to intervene at any moment, but he knew very well that he was rooted firmly to where he was. All his mind and body would allow him to do was wait…and witness the clash of giants far beyond his imagination. He had been so absorbed that he hadn’t even noticed how unstable things were becoming within the anti-magic dome the dragon pariah had erected. Wind lashed out against his body like whips and a chilling cold crept up his knelt posture, threatening to swallow him entirely.

    Eventually the chill and the accompanying storm became too much to ignore, and Zen’s eyes finally snapped to Aella as he was forced to kneel down closer to the ground to brace himself against the elemental tempest that dared to undue him…but it was far too late to do anything as things got infinitely worse for the sword saint. “Aella! Aella what’s ha-” Suddenly all that elemental force evolved into something new…something that turned inward and sculpted Aella into the shape of something that could both reach Levi and assist him in his struggle… but that radiating energy was the polarizing opposite of the one Zenith had adopted.

    “GRAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!” The man screamed as his form crumpled and writhed on the ground. The bloodthirsty sheathed blade was immediately discarded, clacking against the ground and soon swallowed in a layer of crystalized frost. Zenith clawed at his body, as if trying to tear the magic energy off his body as it scalded his flesh…his bone…his marrow…places he couldn’t possibly reach. “GAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!” His nails tore at his attire, shredding it to ribbons until his bare skin was exposed through the shredded openings. His flesh actually looked like it was burning, wilting and eroding to the energy that was turning Aella into something truly dazzling and powerful.

    Just as the scene escalated into something incomprehensibly chaotic even after the battle had ended, Shingen broke and his team breached into the main chamber of the carcass of the warehouse. Zenith was far too consumed in the unspeakable pain that clawed at him from the inside out to hear anything happening around him or to even register it. His vision was blank, his mind white with searing agony as he rolled and thrashed against the ground.

    ”Where’s Aella?” Shingen would shout to the group after he dismissed his team. The Agent’s eyes then fell to the screaming swordsman, “What’s going on!?” urgency lacing his words as he clearly began to comprehend how unstable things were becoming. The man seemed to attempt to diffuse the situation with kind supportive words to the late dragon king before he did what he thought was best: sealing the wild ambient magic-which also included the barrier Mephitis had created to encapsulate him, Zenith, and Aella from the outside chaos.

    The container for this magic started as a small sphere of condensed mana…but it kept growing as Aella’s turbulent arcane aura showed no signs of weakening. That small marble sized sphere became larger and larger. He seemed to use his barrier magic to try and halt, or at least slow, the growth of the orb…but it did little to stop the true source of the volatility: Aella.

    Likely realizing that he needed to address the source, Shingen made an attempt to toss the now car-sized glowing sphere towards the dragon…but before that large mass could even make it to Mephitis the sphere shattered into thousands of smaller particles…frozen in the air momentarily before they shot swiftly over to Levi, who was still up on his knees. ”I’ll be taking this…” The incubus whispered far too low for anyone to really hear as his eyes slowly opened. His form had become increasingly pale now, his body cracking as if it were made of brittle marble. Tears of golden ichor spilt from beneath his heterochromatic eyes as he soaked in the mana for what he needed to do next.

    Meanwhile Shingen informed Mephitis that he needed both hands for the task coming…yet not quite explaining what for as he conjured a complex barrier around Aella after making varied hand signs to erect the arcane structure. "What in the..." The dragon managed to utter as his draconic slits witnessed the grand design of the Maeda sealing techniques that were employed one after another. Mephitis’ eyes will snap back to Shingen. "What the fu** are you doing, Shingen!? Let her out!" Mephitis already charging towards him. Mana flaring as he gives into his more draconic side. "Release her, a*****e!"

    ”Please stop,” The dragon would hear the gentle plea echo in his mind as he charged the agent…and a phantasmal form of the Devil would appear in front of him, invisible to all other eyes but him. ”It’s too late now… but if you really want to help Aella, I need you to prepare yourself and think solely about what needs to be done after this… It’s going to demand a lot from you and I won’t be able to help.”

    Mephitis abruptly halted, his momentum barely stopping him within a single foot of reaching the standing apparition only he could see. “Oh fu** off! How fu**ing much this time?! Huh?! When will the world stop demanding more of me?!” He roared, fury still consuming his mind. In those moments, Mephitis’ charge on Shingen was interrupted for now as the ghost continued to speak him down from stopping the final stages of the Maeda sealing spell that had already failed to execute the sole design of its creator. Instead of containing Aella, the dimensional magic was connecting her to the divine ambient magic around her…but the gem would be their means to reach her. There was a pause then…before mephitis eventually murmured after taking a long purging breath. “Yeah…Yeah, you can.”

    Just because Mephitis’ rage was momentarily, however, didn’t mean that everyone was safe. Aella’s transformation still proved to be unimaginably volatile, resisting the Maeda sealing spell. The arcane structures groaned and strained to keep the transformed elementalist trapped, even as the spines of mana used the warehouse structure to support the complex design of Shingen’s spell.

    Distantly, Levi steadily opened those weak heterochromatic eyes. The man was still on his knees, but he had already started to work behind the scenes to neutralize the situation. ”Just gotta calm you down now…” he whispered more to himself….moments passed…but then oddly enough Aella’s mana would settle just enough for the plates to push her essence into the sphere…until she eventually completely vanished into the gem…and yet…shingen would realize that something was amiss. While theoretically ‘sealed’ in the object…her presence was not at all within the item…though…he could still feel her distantly.

    Levi, still ablaze under the golden plasma, sighed as he lifted a hand… pinching his middle finger to his thumb.”Now get going now…” his tone was soft…gentle…he had appeared strong long enough…but now he needed to fight off being completely undone. With a snap of his fingers, the group would be warped back to the dojo. Shingen, mephitis, Zen, Ed…and Ed’s coworker who gripped onto the world seed painting…were suddenly swallowed by the silence of the Sword saint base that Aella and Mephitis were staying at. Zen was still on the floor…but now he seemed…Healed? He panted heavily and clutched at his body, just trying to cling to any form of mental clarity after the blinding agony. Meanwhile the gem was still on the floor between them all…a distant shimmer reflecting off the exterior.

    LucaRominov


    The Panda Samurai

    Hilarious Codger

    PostPosted: Wed May 07, 2025 12:52 pm


    『 It's in the air and it's all around 』xxxxx
    xxxxxxxxxx Location: Warehouse > Dojo
    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Company: Zen, Levi, and Ed... Ed's co-worker?
    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Internally: I'm getting her back
    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Wearing: Fancy suit



                                                xxx M e p h i t i s xxx
        User Image


                                                A safe, serene silence surrounded the group as they were teleported back to the dojo. The horror and destruction that tore the warehouse asunder now just a memory. This air of peace and tranquility captured by the dojo's architecture was not shared by one though. No, there was still a violent energy pouring out from a very furious dragon. Burning eyes cut-through by black slits glared straight ahead but at no one in particular. An anger barely subdued keeping every muscle in his body tense. His jaw clenched tight while his teeth grounded together slowly. His draconic attributes were still on full display as well! His wings closed against his back, scales shimmering across his body, and hands looking far more like claws. He promised Levi that he would focus up but it was so damn hard! How could he not protect the one person that meant the most to him? He should have...

                                                Mephitis silenced any 'what-ifs' that could creep up within his mind. Levi had been right. The dragon needed to focus on what needed to be done instead of fuming from what has already happened. Even with that, Shingen got a rather harsh glare as the dragon's eyes started to dart around the group. After Shingen, came Ed. The mysterious blonde's presence met with slight suspicion as those chromatic eyes moved down to the World Tree Painting in the co-worker's hands. Just what exactly did Ed have to do with that? Was he hunting down the seed as well? Would it be in direct competition with the dragon? Finally, the mage's gaze came upon Zen who still seemed to be struggling after... What had happened to him exactly? So much had just happened. It was near maddening really!

                                                "Ed, I have a lot of questions for you about the World Tree but that'll have to come later." Mephitis said as he started to move. The dragon stepping over to the Zen as he continued to talk to the group. "Shingen, I really hope you can turn that thing into a portal right now since you're the one that did the sealing." Those large claws came down and carefully wrapped around Zenith's arm. He didn't yank the man up. Instead, he waited for Zen to register that he was there before helping the swordsman onto his feet. "Get up. I'm not going in there alone when its her realm." Mephitis was unsure of how much control Tiamat had over him at this very moment. Would her curse grow in power when he was at the very source? He could only hope that it wouldn't but it was best to bring someone along he trusted. Currently, Zen was the only one he could.

                                                Mephitis looked back at the other two one more time and said, "I'm getting Aella back. If you two want to help, then fine. Just be ready for a fight. No dragon likes a trespasser." Especially the Mother to all of them...







                                                xxxx K i n gxxx o f xxx F o o l s




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    『 With a taste of a poison paradise 』
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