Welcome to Gaia! ::

*Kold raises his head. It's one thing to hear encouragement from friends, but to hear acceptance and forgiveness from a victim...it truly speaks about Brimmstone's character. He's much more logical and understanding than he ever let on. Not to mention that he himself is pursuing Yokoshima, instead of needlessly endangering the lives of his soldiers.*

"So...this is why they respect you, why you have legions of troops willing to lay down their lives for you. This is the real you, isn't it? Why didn't you show me this side of you earlier?"

*Kyla reverts to normal and is fully healed by the ghosts. She is no longer damaged from Umbral's ability. Though there does seem to be a weariness about her. There is still a bit of a wall between her and her husband. But she is careful to mask her emotions. However confused she may be feeling, it's nothing compared to how Kold is feeling, and she doesn't want to add any pressure to the situation. Instead she turns her attention to Brimmstone. She approaches him, and performs a sincere and respectful bow. Not to indicate servitude, but rather respect*

For mocking your title of Suzaku before, I apologize, mew mew. I can't really apologize for questioning your motives before though. You work alone. You keep important knowledge to yourself, and keep your intentions hidden from those who would in fact, be willing to help you. You have your reasons, which I am in no way judging. You knew how we'd react. You knew how much of a distance would be placed between our group, and yourself. It must have been a lonely path. You've seemed lonely ever since we met. Back when you boasted about destroying all the warriors of Gaia. Even then, there was something heavy shadowing you. That's why...I could never resist...with all those nicknames. You looked like nobody had ever given you a nickname in your life. Made you angry for a trivial reason instead of a serious one. And it was just too fun to get you all riled up. So, brother-in-law. Thank you.

*There's a smile on Kyla's face. The first she's worn in a while. But it is sincere*

*Reishi's knees weaken, and he almost loses his balance. Not from any kind of force, but from him almost losing consciousness. Brimmstone's will nearly overwhelmed him.*

"That power...I never felt anything like it."

*as he stands, he reflects on what Brimmstone said*

"I knew. I knew that Yokoshima used a boy to further his ambitions, but I never imagined that person would still be here today."
*He looks to Kold*"It must have been awful. I can't even imagine."


*the group passes by the North Tower. The path is miles long, but they're making progress as they approach the Central Tower in the sky.*

"We still have a ways to go, so please listen to my story. I'll tell you everything I know about Yokoshima." *he clutches the area on his chest where that gash was. It's slowly returning. A regenerating wound. When it fully returns, Oversoul mode will be cancelled.*




*a strong wind forms. a cyclone carrying a single person in the middle approaches the group. The cyclone rips through the barrier before it can regenerate, and a familiar face lands. It's Kaze Fuujin. Brimmstone's friend and ally from G.R.A.S.P., and his former life in Yamato. It seems like his corpse has been stitched together, like many of the other zombies.*



"Long time no see, guys. We'll have to skip the reunion. Yokoshima noticed this weird pathway and is on his way to stop you. I don't really get it, but there isn't much time."

*Kyla is shocked. Brimmstone just dealt more damage to Yokoshima in mere moments than what the entire group has ever been able to inflict*

...just how strong is Brimmstone? Just how weak am I by comparison? Was it foolish to think I could win this fight? Or perhaps we've all grown. Maybe we are all strong enough to beat him. Or is he toying with us? Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr! No time to think about it.

Kyla lets out a long sigh*
Just when you think it's safe to revert to normal form, mew mew. We've come too far for this Algol! We won't be stopped here.

*She transforms once more into the golden lioness*
Kold! Make ice platforms for me to run on so I can get closer to him!

*She crouches down, preparing to spring as soon as Kold starts making platforms*

*Kold shields himself from the heat, and jumps back from "Kaze". It all happens so fast. Next thing he knows, Yokoshima is fleeing with Brimmstone after him. To think that Brimmstone could spontaneously combust people, it's scary to think about. Still, Yokoshima didn't seem particularly damaged. Even after all of that. He looks over to Kyla and notices her reaction.*

"Kyla, I don't think instant combustion counts as strength. Fire burns anything, even Yokoshima. Powerful as those explosions are, Yokoshima's damage was more from burns than anything."

*Kold is a bit surprised from the power of the explosions, but he believes what he just said.*

*Algol appears. As soon as Kold hears the word "Bolt", he jumps into the air. It seems Kyla has the right idea, andhe forms platforms for Kyla as she prepares to run., and one for himself to stand on for the moment.*

"Remember when Yokoshima returned, how quickly we destroyed his old body? That guy with the eyepatch? Don't get discouraged."




*Kold looks over to Raiden and nods. That should buy them some time.*


*Kold attempts to read Reishi's mind and figure out what he was going to say....but..*

"Damn, it seems that 'Vow of Silence' spell blocks my telepathy."


*he turns to Algol. He's somewhat surprised to hear about the fire rune.*

"So you were monitoring the situation? To think Brimmstone could think ahead and then rage like that."

*Algol never seemed to fight the Lunar Hope crew seriously before, so Kold intends on testing him. All we know so far is that he can turn people to stone with a gaze, he can use a sword, that he can shift between dimensions, and now: he can use Holy Magic.*

*Kold throws two ice kunai, one aimed at each of his eyes. Then he slides to Algol's blind spot behind him and launches a Glacial Cannon aimed behind Algol, in his blind spot.*

Kokujo had watched the exchange between Kold and Brimmstone in his usual stoic silence. Perhaps there was something he had wanted to say, he had gotten the feeling that maybe he should have. Did he have a right though? Kokujo scoffed inwardly at the thought. No, he had his own share of skeletons lining his closet. Maybe if he ever redeemed himself of their icy grip.....if...then he'd have the right to offer reassurance, without being the pot calling the kettle black, so to speak.

Suddenly his thoughts were grounded back in reality at the new figure approached, snapping Kokujo's attention towards him "Kaze?... but...". There was suddenly a burst of flame, lighting up the dim surroundings. Kokujo watched as Brimmstone pounded Yokoshima with his flames again and again, it was strange, to see the foe they had been fighting against, struggling with all this time, being burned so easily.

"Yokoshima!" Shouted Kokujo, jarring himself form this momentary awe. As the last flash of flames faded, the long shadows they cast seemed to hang suspended in time, darkening and writhing as Kokujo harnessed them. Kokujo started across the platform towards Yokoshima as he took off. If he was quick enough then maybe-

He eye darted to the side as his peripheral vision caught a sliver of light, and he dodged to the side just as Algol's blade lodged itself in the platform. Kokujo jumped back, taking a ready stance as the shadows he had plied earlier swirled around, almost blending into the murky backdrop of Horizon.

"So, You've finally been forced to act, Algol..." Kokujo said disdainfully, glaring up at the fallen specter of death. he moved his hand downwards, palm towards the ground. The motion caused the shadows around him to flatten and flow out to the perimeters of the platform "Your master is running scared, and if Brimmstone doesn't finish the job..." Kokujo's brow furrowed "...You can be sure we will".

At this Kokujo leapt into the air, the crackle of his own fire magic flashed in his hands. Some of the surrounding shadows formed themselves into vertical platforms, hanging tangible in mid air to act as platforms for Kokujo to jump from and ascend even further. As Kokujo touched and bounded off each platform, he infused some of the fire he had summoned into them, transforming them into dark shuriken forms with compressed fireballs glowing in the centre. They spun up to speed an launched themselves at Algol is succession as Kokujo climbed higher until he jumped from the last one, now matching height with Algol in the skies. "Zünder-Kanonade (Detonation Barrage)"

Each of the fire infused shurikens would not only try and slice Algol, but would release their compressed fire magic in violent explosions on impact or proximity should they miss their mark. The fact Kokujo had given them their shuriken form also added greatly to their aerial mobility.

Kokujo wasted little time in exerting his control over the shadows once more, this time the ones that had flowed over to the other end of the platform, behind Algol. With a couple if swift hand motions, more black walls began to form in the air around Algol, not enough to incase him, but enough to make his movement extremely limited, and thus making all the incoming attacks that much harder to avoid.

Last time they had met in the Lunar Hope, Kokujo had been caught completely off guard as had Kyla and Kold. This was a mistake Kokujo was not intending to make a second time...


Meanwhile Corbenik was staring off after the fleeing Yokoshima and his fiery pursuer, his puzzled expression showing some very rare semblance of conscious thought "Hmm, I'm sure I recognise that scene from somewhere, what was it again..." He brightened up and snapped his fingers triumphantly "Oh! Full Metal Jacket!....No wait, that doesn't seem right....." Corbenik's ears drooped once more as he tried to put his finger on the answer he was looking for. A task far more demanding of his attention than the battle going on some feet behind him.

((Hell yeah they are. xd ))



"Yokoshima did not expect you all so soon. I must admit, even I was surprised at his haste, especially considering Reishi really knows nothing of consequence. But I can't allow you to take such a large shortcut."

*Algol closes his eye. When he opens his eye, they’re blue instead of red.*



*He looks at one of the incoming explosive shadow shuriken, and blinks. He looks at the two ice kunai, then blinks. He looks directly at Reishi, then blinks. It seems more like a camera taking snapshot than an eye blinking. All the while he's chanting something*

*Algol creates spherical temporal distortions. They appear around the one shadow shuriken, the two ice kunai, and Reishi simultaneously. They look similar to one of Kold’s older techniques: Chrono Ball, except this seems to depend on Algol’s ocular abilities. The distortion spheres completely stop their targets. He grabs Reishi and flings him into the remaining shadow shuriken. The moment he touches Reishi, a number 10 appears above his head.*



*Algol turns the ice kunai in mid-air and changes their intended trajectory. Algol gets hit by the Glacial Cannon begins to be frozen in place. Before he’s completely encased in ice, he blinks one more time and his eyes return to being red.*

*The distortions’ effect expires, and time returns to normal. Reishi cannot dodge the barrage of exploding shadow shuriken, the ice kunai clash with the remaining shadow shuriken, and causes it to explode. The heat from the explosion thaws Algol. Though minimal, he still took damage from the Glacial Cannon and Zünder-Kanonade’s explosion. Said explosion thaws the ice*
*He doesn’t have time to dodge Kyla’s blast, but his eye glows Crimson and the energy impacts. The explosion from the Golden Energy seems smaller than it should for the amount Kyla used, and seems to happen slightly before it reaches Algol.*



*Reishi gets hit by the remaining explosive shadow shuriken, and falls to the ground. His wounds heal, save for the one from before, and the number over his head is now a 5.*

*During this entire scene of events, Algol recites a Prayer Chant to strengthen a Holy Magic spell:*

"Oh lord of the six wings, let the putrid vanity behold thine divine grace. Suppress! Humiliate! The weight of thine will shall be felt. Novo #12: Holy Orders. Amen!"

*Just as Holy Orders activate when the 5 above Reishi's head appears, Algol follows up with another spell*

Devil Sorcery #596: Nethershots.”

*Holy Magic and Devil Sorcery dual casting. Something which is completely unheard of. Holy Magic is drawing on the Seraphim's power, and prayer chanting can increase the effectiveness of a spell before casting. Devil Sorcery draws on the power of Pandemonium, the ruler of Hell....with a set limit on each spell's effectiveness. They're fundamentally different in that way. No one can sincerely pray to God and the Devil at the same time, because each requires full devotion. Somehow Algol can use the powers of both, but serve neither. This is probably one reason why he's wanted dead in both Heaven and Hell.

Normally Holy Orders would only increase the gravity over one person or thing, but the Prayer Chant increases its range so that the effect is over the entire platform. For a short time, this will prevent everyone from moving easily. The gravity intensity has also increased beyond normal Holy Orders' power. Everything and everyone in the effective area has 3x normal gravity. This affects all physics related as well, whether it's momentum from projectiles, fall damage, people's individual weight, etc.

Nethershots aren’t particularly powerful, nor durable…but they're extremely fast. Under normal gravity, they're as fast as bullets. In this gravity, they're still pretty fast but technically possible to intercept. There are 5 of them, heading straight towards Reishi’s torso. This isn’t enough to kill Reishi, under normal circumstances. But the number 5 above his head is curious.*