[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/6zc773j.jpg[/img][/center]
[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/3R5vYYi.png?2[/img][/center][hr][center][color=silver]𝕄: 𝕊𝕖𝕡𝕥. 𝟙𝟜, 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟘   / /   𝕎𝕚𝕤𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕕, 𝕄𝕒𝕣𝕪𝕝𝕒𝕟𝕕   / /   𝕋𝕠𝕨𝕟   / /  ~𝟙𝟠𝟘𝟝[/color][/center][hr]

[center][h3][color f7976a]𝔸𝕗𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕞𝕒𝕥𝕙[/color][/h3][/center][hr]

Both the Aberration girls had literally lost their heads and the forest of spikes shattered and retracted slowly. What sections did retreat back into the asphalt was that much less of a tarmac burial for anyone still caught deep inside the area, though the headless matter manipulator would be buried regardless. Everything else fell apart in increasingly rapid deterioration, until a mound of black rubble filled up the intersection of Madetra and Caversham just as Brent managed to clear the last of the hostile architecture.

Lawrence was breathing weakly nearby, unconscious now from exhaustion and blood loss, but at least in stable condition with the injury gone from his body. Callan, as well, was knocked out atop the hill of crumbled asphalt, lying a short distance away from the headless body of the gravity manipulator, the dead soldier with his limbs bent at odd angles from the repeated impacts, and the old man who had bought time for the APC to escape. Despite the inadvertent blessings of the ice mage's power, his aging body hadn't been able to withstand the damage as long as Lawrence's had, and the life had vanished from his eyes mere moments before Lily's timely arrival. Beside the dead mage, Zoe had fallen, the students' positions at the heights of the spike forest allowing almost all of them to land favorably, even if Zoe's legs were blanketed by a thin layer of rocks and Callan's hair was caught on innumerable others.

Their battle was over, for the moment, and the winter evening finally settled properly around them, the barest traces of light on the horizon fading at last and giving way to the brilliant night sky where a bright half moon shone against a backdrop of stars easily visible from Wisford, which suffered neither the urban sky glow nor the clutter and glare of light pollution in the other cities. Everything sparkled in direct contrast to the darkness below.

The rain had stopped earlier, leaving behind damp concrete and wisps of clouds visible only in the negative space of starlight. The season lended the aftermath an icy chill that the wet air exacerbated, reminding the pounding hearts and raised body heat of the combatants that even the strongest fighter would succumb to ambient temperature eventually. It was a reminder--as much as Savannah's broken body half-buried in concrete--that for all the world segregrated them, they were still human.

For several long moments after the sudden end to their fight, there was an overall silence in the quiet clattering of rocks from the large hill. It was almost peace.

In the northeast of town, far in the distance and well beyond even Factory's location, a massive circle expanded, visible even from the town center. Tts outline was unsteady and fragmented, glowing as if in blacklight, while the inside filled with a series of distended lines branching from the center, spinning and whirring like a madman's fan. Perspective was impossible to gauge with the surreality of the spell, but it looked like it could swallow the town whole, even from that distance.

A sudden explosion rocked the earth, the vibrations like an earthquake beneath their feet. It faded, then another followed, throwing up a large cloud of dust that the night wind was merciful enough to not blow their way. The looming wheel with its whirling spokes and unnatural, purple light flickered and disappeared in the wake of the sound.

Bright lines of light burned through the night in retaliation, firing horizontally and off towards an unseen target. Something roared, and it sounded human and feral at once. Another explosion, bigger than before, and a length of darkness rising up in that same distance, the amplified shape of Tumor's all-consuming body breaking into the starry lights against the sky like it had eaten those, too. The creature moved soundlessly, rising and falling without any audible accompaniment, unconcerned with the bright swatches of light that tried to wrap around its entire body. Its head darted down after every rise, like a massive heron spearing at fish, and after the third fall that monstrous visage didn't rear up again.

Silence once more, the fate of that distant battle unknown to the students.

[color f7976a]"This is Ethan to everyone in range,"[/color] a voice rang from the cuff, overriding previously open communication lines. [color f7976a]"We have Cat's Cradle or some damn good imitations in the area, plus unknowns. Whatever they're attacking, we don't want to be anywhere close, so I'm ordering a retreat. Transport will meet you at the drop-off point. Make sure everyone's accounted for. Factory is confirmed dead. Over."[/color]

The rumbling of wheels over crackling gravel announced the APC's careful arrival, its new driver still unsteady with the bulk of the car, but managing well enough. Coming to a stop, the driver side door flew open and Dean ran towards the only motionless body he could put a name to. As he crouched beside the old man's corpse, silently assessing the damage, Lauren stood a short ways behind him, hand hovering over her mouth while she cried the tears he refused to. The alert from the quiet girl's cuff inside the car seemed like a lesser problem, even when the name "Cat's Cradle" made the small hairs at the base of her neck stand on end.

The rough tumbling had done much damage to the aged body, and a quick finger against the side of his neck told Dean all he needed to know.
 
His grandfather was gone.
 
Dean’s expression was stiff, but his lower lips were trembling. Ever since the Slumber, he had seen scenes like this on the TV, ruined buildings and motionless bodies. He just never thought he would one day have to live it. He didn’t have time to think much before, when the blood was still pumping and adrenaline ran thick in his veins. Now, everything was coming into focus. Thoughts about what he could have done but didn't threaten to flood his mind, but Dean swallowed them down.
 
There was no time for this. He trudged towards the back doors of the APC and pulled them open, looking across the truck's passengers.
 
[color f7976a]“Where’s your healer?”[/color] he asked, clinging onto the sliver of hope. 

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[hider=OOC Interaction Tags/Notes]
[@VarionusNW] [@Lasrever] [@ERode] [@VampireOracle] [@Zombehs] [@GreenGoat] [@Diggerton] [@banjoanjo] [@Baklava] [@RedDusk] [@Piercing Light] [@Dragonmancer] [@Riffus Maximus] [@Deathmyster] [@Chasers115] [@PapiTan] [@Kyrisse] [@January]

>> V-Victory? In any case, combat is over so we're back to week-long deadlines. The next update post will move the characters to a different location, so use this as time to regroup and reconvene if you feel like it and make your way back to the designated location if your character would do so.

Any characters who don't post during this period will be forcibly moved back towards the drop-off point by guards. Any alternative actions are fine, just let the GMs know so we can either collab the appropriate consequences with you or note your actions in the next update.[/hider]