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“That was the last of them. I’ll go scout ahead while you guys clear this passage. Try not to get captured by any more tentacled Dissolutions. Unless you are into that kind of thing, of course.” This quote, delivered into a perfect nonchalant monotone, came from the mouth of a not-so-tall, white-haired avatar, draped from head to toes in a burial shroud that seemed to ebb and blend with the darkness of the underground tunnels that spanned most of the Faded City. Dusk Razor always had a penchant for grim humor and snarky comments. Not that she was wrong this time, with her allies falling so easily for the subterranean threats.

“Oh yeah, it’s really easy to say that when your whole job was to warn us about this kind of thing before it happens." Argent Maiden rolled her eyes, trying to not give much mind to the Assassin's witticisms. "Anyway, take care and meet up with us at the exit. We need to get this done quick. Storm, you’ll hold our escape route while we do the deed. If anyone tries to follow us when we are retreating, bash them into the next week!” Maiden laid out the plan for their mission as the small party walked the cramped halls of what looked to be a crumbling service tunnel.

"Fine then, as long as you keep yourself in check we may even succeed." The stoic, dark-skinned beauty, known as Thunder Knight -- who Maiden referred to as Storm more often than not -- held the back of the line, while Argent Maiden and a couple of others went ahead, sweeping any dangers with precision. Their mission was crucial to the Ivory Masks’ victory there was no way they would fail once they reached the Blue City. No way at all.

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“I think I heard something.” The serene voice, almost imperceptible over the hubbub of the not-so-distant raid belonged to none other than the Sorceress known as Icy Mint. The small girl always had a presence to match her size, truly a shrinking violet in every sense. Nevertheless, none could negate the utility of her potent crowd control spells or her attention to details that most would miss normally. “A blast, or something like this.” Mint added as she stared in the distance from her party’s vantage point atop a tall building.

“It may have been thunder, but it doesn’t look like weather is changing. Do you think we should be concerned, Princess?” The deep contralto belonged to the gorgeous cobalt-haired, whip-wielding avatar of Edel Faust, much better known as Faust, despite her gender not matching such a name. The Warlock launched a glance at Eclipse Princess who was sitting at the edge of the roof, staring vaguely at the direction where Purple Crown Academy was located in the Real World.

A moment passed and another blast was heard before Princess turned to her allies.

The Berserker’s dignified beauty was as impeccable as always, the regal armored dress own by Eris’ avatar certainly put her a cut above Deep Ground’s common stock and was, at least on most of the Ivory Masks opinions, a proof that certain people are born to be heroes and rulers.

[i]"One whose star was bound to shine will do great things whether they seek it or not."[/i] This was hardly a matter of discussion. The reality each of us, human beings, is pitted against on a daily basis is more than enough to testify the veracity of this maxim.

Originally, that was a notion that Eris was none too fond of. However, after coming down from isolation and taking her own journey wearing Zarathustra's shoes, the fetching young German reached the same conclusion as her compatriot of twenty decades ago.

Not all are born to be the superman.

Only those who excel in all ways, those who are well-versed beyond belief, those who can weather the storm without bending, no matter for who or what, only those met the criteria to be called superman.

Needless to say, us, flawed beings, do not and maybe will never have that which is necessary to become supermen. That was the same conclusion that Nietzsche reached and, just like he, Eris also found her own person who she thought was the closest to being the true superman, such a person that was the one she admired at the moment. Of course it could be none other than-

“Princess! Are we going to do it or not? The explosions seem to be getting closer.” Faust interrupted Eclipse Princess’ divagation. A trail of dust and debris began to be distinguishable between the buildings in the distance, away from the path they were guarding.

“...” Princess sighed as she rose back to her feet, stretching her muscles. With a light cough she recomposed herself, donning her mask of impassivity once more.

“I’ll take Mint and verify that personally, you stay here with the others and keep this point safe, Faust. If the enemy try to break through, signal us.” As she said so, Princess offered her hand to Icy Mint. The knight-like girl pulled the mage into a bridal carry, much to the dismay of Mint whose face because flushed on spot.

"Pri-Princess, what are you- Ahhh!" Icy Mint squealed as Eclipse Princess jumped off the building’s side, vaulting and teleporting off of the other derelicts on their way to what would turn to be Broker of Fortune’s tank.

"A Bruisers' vehicle? That was not in our plans." Eclipse Princess thought out loud as she landed upon the roof of wat should be a convenience store that was in the rogue tank's path. "And why are they piloting like that? A tank maybe able to plow through most kinds of obstacles, but these buildings have armored concrete skeletons. If their threads get stuck they are as good as dead. Either way, we won't let them get any further. You stay here, Mint. Get ready to freeze their threads when I signal you, but try to stay out of their sight." The brashness of the unknown pilot brought a challenging smirk to Eclipse Princess' lips, which was all too evident when she teleported to the ground and pointed her lance at the charging machine.

"Halt!" Princess shouted, using the global channel. "In the name of the Ivory Masks' Ruler, the White King, White Sun, your passage is forbidden. Surrender and join us, and you shall be treated as equal from now on. Resist and you shall perish here and now, along with the rest of your Guild! That is the one and only warning I'll give!"

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Meanwhile, the war raged wild on the other battle fronts...

On the mighty reinforced walls of the Blue City, Absinthe took a pause from spellsling the Ivory Masks' vanguard to verify a status report on all the damage they had suffered up to now.

While the figures were within the estimated numbers, it wasn’t exactly something that pleased the Blue Fairy. “That’s not good at all, if we don’t have any sort of support we will start losing more than we can recover in a short time. Maybe…” Absinthe was going to mention, that maybe they needed to ask for help of the Strykers, but the few reports she got made it seem like that was an unlikely plan, to say the least.

Without the support of the Strykers in the immediate time, the Cobalt Bruisers needed to do as they could to defend their territory. Melee engagements would be a bad idea at the time, thus Absinthe reunited the best mages and ranged attack focused avatars as well as all the weapons she could find and distributed them on the walls. “We’ve sent a message for help to our allies. But we’ll not sit idly and wait to be saved like damsels in distress." She shouted to all the Bruisers from atop the Bruiser's Guild Hall.

"Ready the cavalry, focus your fire on opening a path for them to storm the enemy frontline then send in our infantry. We gotta do this on our own, even if we are outnumbered and outgunned.” The temporary leader of the Cobalt Bruisers yelled as she raised her fist signaling the attack. The only thing Absinthe could hope now is that this brash assault would yield any results, before they began taking a real loss.

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The conflict on the Red City raged even more violently, with the burning passions of two individuals being put against one another…

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“What’s up boys, that’s all you've got? You gotta raise the stakes if you wanna tame this tiger!” An avatar with long blond hair, like flames on a summer bonfire, or liquid gold pouring from a searing hot crucible, shouted as she punched one of the Scarlet Harley defenders right through a toppled concrete wall just as three more circled the girl, wielding blades thirsty for Fanged Ranger Blood.

“What are ya afraid of? Come and get some, I promise I won’t bite… too much, heh!” The golden brawler extended her arms in an inviting stance, taunting them.

“Jeez, do you ever shut your mouth, Golden Pussy?” One of the avatars snarled in contempt, rushing at Golden Tiger, followed shortly by his companions who were equally full of the boisterous female’s motor mouth.

“Heh! If you think you have what it takes, why don’t you come and make me?” A challenging smirk rose on Tiger’s face as she noticed that one of her abilities had become available once more. With a mighty heave, she pulled her arm back, motioning to punch the ground. “Howling Tiger... Fist!” Tiger yelled as she released the strike, causing a shockwave that sent her attackers flying as well as hurting them quite badly.

“Was that too fierce for you, boys? Come on, let me help you get some rest- Hey!” Golden Tiger was just about to rush in and finish another of her foes when a lightning bolt glanced her left rib, burning part of her jacket and, unwittingly revealing more of the avatar’s ample assets. “Where the heck did that come fro- What the!?” Tiger let out a startled shout as another lightning almost hit her, with little to no time between both spells. This time however she could track the source of them.

Such source was none other than a second, this time literally, burning-haired female avatar, standing atop a broken column, slinging spells downwards as if there was no tomorrow.

Burning Blossom made a pause and stared right at Golden Tiger. A smirk that couldn’t be described as nothing but feline was stamped on her face as she said. “You'd better remember those words, Goldie, ‘cause when I’m done with ya, I have a very nice idea of how to use that mouth of yours.” Blossom rubbed one of her cheeks with a thumb, flashing a confident grin at her foe.

“Well now, why don’t we see who will be shutting who up, Strawberry Shortcake?” Tiger replied, turning her back to the less interesting targets and lowering her stance. “The fight is on!”
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