[h3][center]Frenzy Plant's Elite[/center][/h3]

The sensation of penetration and a splash of red, illuminated by the sunlight filtering through Indigo's fog wall, were all Hyun needed.  Her opponent, a seasoned warrior in his own right, wasted no time in letting go of his weapon with one hand to snatch the swordswoman's wrist, but even if her thrust got caught in Jake's muscle and was stymied because of its thick edge, the damage was done.  The disadvantage afflicted upon him by having an arm that agonized him with its every movement was catastrophic.  He spat out some retort as he yanked her arm away, pulling her knife out as he did, but Hyun felt absolutely certain that the fight was hers.

The same could not be said for Indigo and Plum.  Having overextended to try and siphon away Hunter's magic power, Plum took a full-force battering to the head, leaving her dazed and staggering.  One forceful twist later and the double was thrown to careen into the original, taking her aback in the process.  Before either could recover, a magical binding ensnared both of them, tying them together like captured pirates to the mizzenmast.  Its very touch sapped the strength from their bodies, far faster and more effective than Plum's own vampiric power imparted to her by [i]Nosgoth[/i].  The underdevelopment of that tomb, do to its magic always feeling distasteful and unladylike to Indigo, was a crucial mistake but one that neither Librarian could help now.  Only a second remained before Ammy would begin her onslaught—no matter how unconventional the weapon, sitting ducks made for splendid targets.  An unspoken urge passed between Indigo and her double, who hissed, [color=007FFF]“For you...I'll take it all!”[/color]

She heaved herself forward, not much but just enough to spin herself into forward position, blocking Indigo with her own body.  The scythe of Ammy Silver fell again and again, its blade quickly severing Plum's wings to prevent escape before moving on to the rest of her, and it carved her up.  She slumped, bleeding from a dozen wounds.  Just like Nolan did with Straw, Ammy held nothing back, perceiving Indigo's double to be nothing more than an expendable fake and not worthy of holding back.  Her eyes grew dark, and closed, while a final gasp slipped from her lips.  [color=007FFF]”Bring me back fast...please,”[/color] she whispered, so only Indigo could hear, and was gone.

With her back to her double, Indigo couldn't glimpse her face, and only because of that managed to keep herself from throwing up.  Still, she could feel the cold settling through Plum's skin, and it made her feel incredibly sick.  After she dry heaved, however, her eyes grew hard.  Before she could say or do a thing, however, some kind of wave passed through the tower.  Instantly, the air inside normalized, magic weapons disappeared, and the vile rope binding her dissolved.  She looked at Hyun, who had been poised to nullify Ammy's magic, but the swordswoman shook her head.  Quite unable to speak, Indigo collapsed against the wall of the tower, shaking.  She laid her hand on the book [i]Nosgoth[/i], and the body of Plum disappeared as well.  With her disabled, Hyun took her place, glaring at the wizards of Dragon Fang.  [color=DA70D6]”Cease fighting at once.  There is some sort of disturbance.  Anyone who touches Indigo dies.”[/color]  Leaving it up to her enemies to determine if she was serious or not, Hyun made haste to the tower door.  She hopped out onto the knuckles of one of the earthen hands, staring up at the arena, which lay not too far away.  Her expression of contemptuous, contained anger did not change.  [color=DA70D6]”The royal family...?”[/color]  A flick of her wrist cleared most of the blood off her dagger.  From this distance, she had to strain to hear, but hear she did.  [color=DA70D6]”The event is over.  It's a draw.”[/color]  The normally blank tone of the duelist turned bitter.  She spotted Zander, Owen, and the others down below.  There seemed to be some sort of problem with Dmitri and Scarlet, but she would have to confront that when she got down.  [color=DA70D6]”Hey!  Get us down!  Indigo is unwell!”[/color]

On the ground, the rest of Frenzy Plant's Elite was just as flummoxed and irritated as Hyun.  Owen distracted himself by creating a few magic circles in an octagon beneath the tower.  At his command, more giant rapier blades arose, shooting skyward to stick in the bottom of the tower.  Zander wielded his ruby blade to fire a narrow aurora at the earthen hands, carving through both one at a time.  When he got all the way through one, it fell apart, and when both were done, the Howling Djinn's Keep sat on the rapier blades.  Of course, they began to bend dangerously, so Owen quickly lowered them back down.  The tower descended like an elevator, a little faster than the fencer would have liked, but not dangerously quick.  It settled in the middle of the street, and Hyun hopped off.  Knowing the objection about to burst from her, Zander cut her off.  [color=E0115F]”I know, it's disappointing.  But it's the second-best outcome that could be had.  Let us rejoice that the victory went to nobody else, for nobody else deserved it.”[/color]

Hyun put away her weapons and crossed her arms.  [color=DA70D6]”As you say, Commander Louvier.”[/color]  She disappeared back inside the tower, ignoring the Dragon Fang wizards as she helped Indigo to her feet and allowed the sorceress to lean on her.  When she emerged again, Owen had already done the same for Dmitri, and Zander was holding Scarlet in his arms.  The soldiers began to walk, and Aqua and Vert followed behind.

As they approached the stadium, a figure could be spotted sprinting out.  When it grew close, it revealed itself to by Xyster, beaming from ear to ear.  Owen and Dmitri suddenly remembered their pledge of dedication, and Owen at least reddened slightly.  Xyster slowed up and clasped her hands behind her back, her one remaining eye full of joy.  The soldiers stopped in front of her.  [color=9ACD32]”You guys,”[/color] she said at last, rolling her eye.  [color=9ACD32]”Always gotta put me on the edge of my seat.  You were amazing!  All of you!  I was cheering you on the whole time, just like you said, Zander sir.  And calling me the heart of the team...”[/color]  Common knowledge dictated that Dullahans, being undead, couldn't blush.  Xyster proved them wrong.  [color=9ACD32]”Makes a monster like me really happy!  Really, I'm so happy to be a part of...this.”[/color]  With nothing else she could say, she moved to the side, and as the soldiers continued on, she fell into the procession.  All the while, her nigh-unnervingly wide smile never diminished an inch.

Then the firebird appeared.  She landed in the path of the soldiers, blocking them with an aura of blazing multicolored flame.  Not a single member of Frenzy Plant looked kindly upon her as she asked if she could help.  [color=E0115F]”No.”[/color]  The answer was plain and simple.  To allow some upstart from another guild to tend to Frenzy Plant's wounded would be a grievous insult not just to the individual, but to the army as whole.  Soldiers took care of their own; it had been that way since the first day, with the witch Tsubano alone tending to her comrade's wounds.

[center][color=C2B280][h3]Fleo Plector – Phoenix Wing Stands[/h3][/color][/center]

Surprise flitted across the dusty woman's features.  She opened her mouth to say, [color=C2B280]”That's it?”[/color] and gagged instead.  The realization that she'd been holding her breath hit her while she gasped, but Fleo couldn't be blamed.  The main event of the final day of the Grand Magic Games had been the most exciting one yet.  Previous battles proved themselves to be interesting, but nothing came close to capturing the imagination and setting hearts beating as this massive free-for-all.  The sheer scale of the royal rumble alone was enough to make the history books, she felt.  A sudden and inconclusive stop to the Games made her wistful, but if there was some sort of subterfuge afoot, it couldn't be helped.  Besides, with the amount of power being tossed around in this event, someone was bound to get seriously hurt sooner or later.

She started to clap, but when nobody else joined in, she did it anyway.  Once satisfied, she addressed the Phoenix Wing audience members closest to her.  [color=C2B280]”Was that amazing or what!?  And an appearance by the King and Queen!  Wow!”[/color]  Very clearly, she could barely contain her hype.

[center][h3][color=D8BFD8]Nero the Genie – Arena Stands[/color][/h3][/center]

A quiet moment passed before Nero heaved a bored sigh.  [color=D8BFD8]”Aww!  Just as things were starting to get interesting.  How am I supposed to grant anyone's wishes if nobody loses?  Desperation and vengeful feelings are what gets work done around here.  Maybe I'll pay the guilds a visit anyway, nyeheheh!”[/color]  Though she didn't quite understand what he was going on about, Eve laughed along lightly.  The Dark Mage's arm, situated around her extremely portly midsection, gave her a light squeeze.  [color=D8BFD8]”C'mon,”[/color] he said, smiling as he stood up.  [color=D8BFD8]”Let's get outta here.  Fun's over for the day.”[/color]  Obligingly his companion heaved herself to her feet.  She took a moment to turn and set down the hinged divider for the two seats her massive rump had taken up, for which Nero waited patiently.  [color=D8BFD8]”Always so conscientious,”[/color] he teased lightly as he held her arm out.  Eve clasped his slender hand in her own, and the couple began to leave.  

For a moment, the little salmon-haired girl who'd sat on the opposite side of Eve from Nero didn't realize that her friends had gone, having been lost in a daydream.  Few seconds later, however Ayame snapped from her reverie.  [color=f7976a]"N-nero!  Evie!  W-wait up!!"[/color]  She hopped from her seat and sprinted after her friends, not anxious to be left behind.  Having already reached the aisle, the other two members of Miracle Eye stopped walking to let her catch up, and together the three set off into Crocus.