"Unfortunately," Gilliam said, stepping forward toward Samoth, "Only Alto has been permitted to ascend. I'm afraid you will have to remain hearrrrrRRRRGGGG!"

Gilliam had reached forward and grabbed Samoths arm, perhaps to escort him out, but as he did so he felt the oddest sensation in his hand. It was as though all the cells in his hand, previously leased to his will, sudden;y began running wild. He couldn't feel them anymore, not like he could before, and as though it were water without a container to hold it the flesh of his hand spread out into a flat, flesh colored pancake of an appendage that he quickly pulled back. He took a concerned step back from Samoth, then another, then another, staring down at his hand until he felt control re-assert itself. The cells marched again to his will and he bound them back into their proper shape.

"Anathema!" He spit the word, looking back up at Samoth while clutching his hastily reformed hand. His eyes were wide and wild, like an animals, and there was a bit of drool creeping down from the side of his mouth. "What are you?"

Naseraph took the opportunity to spring forward and rest the flat of his palm against Gilliam's back. "Stop interfering." The bird boy said in a hoarse whisper before there was what felt like a great rush of air as he took the aura he had stored up in his body and projected it. An invisible sphere of pure force expanded from the point of contact, as tall and wide as Gilliam himself, and Nasaraph took this energy and pushed.

There was a sound like a giant balloon exploding as Gilliam was sent tumbling, past Samoth, end over end across the floor. He hit the doors, and the doors shattered as he continued his tumble into the parking lot. He tried to right himself, grab hold of anything to arrest his momentum, and only succeeded in shaving off bits of himself along the asphalt. His journey ended in a face first slide along the ground that left a train of peach colored face flesh. He slid right into Lise's parked car, leaving a solid dent in the door and causing the alarm to start blaring throughout the neighborhood.

Then he hefted himself up of the ground and turned his grotesque, de-gloved face back to them. He would have narrowed his eyes if there was anything covering the red meat. He started back toward them.

"Aram, please use your alchemy to seal the entrance." Naseraph said. "That grand push used up most of what I had."

As Gillaim walked back he reached down without stopping, his arm elongating grotesquely, and scooped part of himself up off the pavement. The individual patches of Gilliam that marked his path wiggled mindlessly in all directions without any conscious thought, each patch only conserved with its own, individual survival. Gilliam took the himself in his hand and slapped it onto his face. It fell in line instantly, the cells understanding that they were part of the whole again, and reform into a face that looked set on murder. "You try to be civil with people, but there are just so many uncivilized sorts." He muttered as he walked.

He didn't walk far though. He hit a patch of black ice and felt his feet slip out from under him. He fell backward, his head cracking into the ground. It wasn't that cold, why was there ice out here!?!

"Quickly, please." Naseaph said insistently to Aram before turning back to Samoth. "That thing out there wasn't lying, Alto's upstairs somewhere. Probably battling Clara as we speak. If we want to catch them we should hurry."

@RoflsMazoy@Bartimaeus

Gilgamesha Ascot (NPC)

A wall of floating artifact swords would block Andras and Galbrek's passage out of the parking lot, as Gilgamesha said, "Boy, I don't know who you are, but Andras is not leaving my sight; I have a car and will drive her home myself. Now you can come with me, in said car, and I'll drive you home too. But I am the adult in this space and Andras is under my guardianship; she stays until William himself can vouch for you.

"If you haven't noticed, we're right next to a warzone between superpowered kids, and in such conflicts, I do not just believe anything anyone whom Will and Alexander have not vetted to me says. So until Will - or Alex - comes here, I suggest you stay with me."

The Artifact Blades begin glowing on and off, a symbol of the power at Gilgamesha Ascot's disposal.

@Crowvette@KillamriX88@Bartimaeus@Dezuel@AtomicNut

Samoth stood his ground as Gilliam approached him, knowing the inevitable outcome that would occur when one engages him in physical contact. The creature lept back and spat his disdain at Samoth as the latter remained still, staring blankly at him. Samoth hadn't planned to respond to the question "What are you?", and even if he had, it would have been interrupted by an attack from Nasaraph. To Gilliam's back.
Those present watched as he was flown across the room, and through the door across the lot to the fancy car on the other side. Before standing back up and advancing again.

Samoth looked back to Nasaraph, giving him a nod and approaching the stairs as he requested one of the Vigilantes to block the entrance. He marched with purpose up the stairs; he needed to find and assist Alto as much as he could. All that screeching was really irking his headache, though.



"Aram, please use your alchemy to seal the entrance." Naseraph said. "That grand push used up most of what I had."

"Don't have to ask me twice!" he said, making his way towards the doors hurriedly. He saw that thing approaching, its face completely mangled beyond recognition. His fingers fumbled at the latch on his satchel as he hurried to take one of the plates depicting a transmutation circle on it from the bag. That guy really creeped him out.

Luckily, the approaching Mephisto's student would be slowed, oddly enough, by slipping like one of those cartoon characters you saw in the movies, their feet flying up in the air over their head as they failed their attempt to regain their balance. Aram winced as he heard the crack of Gilliam's head against the concrete. Ouch... he thought.

He finally fished one of the plates from his bag, throwing it to the ground just behind the doors, and kneeling beside it. He thought of the effect he desired, and clapped his hands together, then throwing them against the ground as they emanated a black glow, and sparks of the same shade. The ground outside the building shifted upwards slighty, breaking from its hold against the rest of the earth. It then rose and curved through the air towards the building, creating a half-dome large enough to encompass the double doors and several feet around them, and would soon meld itself to the old establishment. Sealing the entrance.

Aram stood, taking the wooden plate and putting it back into his bag, before turning around and dusting off his hands.

"That should do the trick!" he said, looking content that he wouldn't have to deal with Gilliam anymore.

---

"Oh William... such terrible, terrible timing," Vernon said to himself. Poor boy had no idea what he was walking back into. He felt the invigorating power of William's ability take hold of him. If only he knew.

Suddenly, Celine ran back onto the scene and Vernon rolled his eyes as he pulled himself out of the car. Right as she was running past the "Fallen One", he let out an icy screech, aiming to trip her up by icing her feet. He couldn't have William be getting hurt. He also couldn't let William interfere with his new "friend." He supposed he'd just have to do everything himself.

There were no sides for him to take right now. He'd be playing for his own side. One he'd taken care of his own problems, then he'd worry about everyone else. Right now, he had to make sure that his relationship with William didn't reach the ears of his family. If they found out about Alexander, they'd certainly get... concerned.

As he and the Fallen One were passing, his hand shout out and grabbed her elbow to halt her.

"We may share a side, but don't think I'll forget how you've forced my hand today," Vernon shot her a disdainful look. "And clean that up on your way out, would you?" he gestured toward the hopefully incapacitated Celine. He then patted her on the shoulder and let her go.

Next he walked over to William, and a smile spread on his face. He stood in front to him, blocking his path, but also lifted a hand to stroke William's face lovingly.

"William, William, William," he began. "Things have changed a bit, my love. You've gotta stop. I'm afraid that if you try to impede her, then..." His hand slide down to William's chest before suddenly hooking a foot behind William's ankle and taking his leg out, simultaneously pushing against his chest aiming to drop him. "I'll have to impeded you." He hovered over William, a hand on each of William's elbows, pinning his arms to the ground. He knew right now William was making himself stronger, so he had to be fast. "You're resourceful, William, I know you can figure this out." Vernon's skin grew ice-cold and with a crackling sound, he caused ice to form around William's elbows, freezing his arms to the ground. It wouldn't hold forever, but even with William's strength it would hold him in place for a bit. "Just not today."

A few feet away...

"I'm... fine..." Wolf grumbled. He took a deep breath. Masami's second interruption gave him a second to thing. There was a crunching sound and numerous puffs of concrete dust. He suddenly sat fully upright with no trouble, though he paused for a second once he had. Ribs. Ow.

Still, ejecting his rear spikes had instantly freed him. Not quite the intended use, but it got the job done. He noticed that Vernon was suddenly attacking William. Oh good. "If you'll excuse me..." Wolf got to his feet and stomped past Masami. "What do you think you're doing?!"

"Only what is necessary." Vernon stood, but didn't face Wolf. "I'm not any happier about it than you are."

"Unlikely," Wolf growled.

"Hm." Vernon spun as Wolf got close, aiming a blast of ice right into his face. It had worked for the masked girl, hadn't it? Indeed it slowed Wolf's advance, but he just reflexively attacked anyway. Vernon ducked underneath and placed a hand against Wolf's elbow, icing up the armor's joint. He darted around Wolf, limb-to-limb, doing the same until he could barely move. He finished by simply throwing himself bodily against the armored boy, knocking him over, Wolf unable to even catch his own fall.

"Gah!" Vernon clutched at his arm. A spike had nicked his bicep and it burned like hell. "What an asshole..." With any luck, the "Fallen One" had been given plenty of time at this point. "Alright, foxy lady," he spoke to Masami. "You have some options here, you can interfere and join th-"

He was interrupted by an impatient tap on his shoulder. He glanced over and saw it was Vera.

"Back off, girl. You can't do anything here. Just be glad I only incapacitated him rather than hurt him," he told her before turning back to Masami. "You can interfere and join them, or you can stay safe and-"

Another impatient tap. Harder and more insistent. How... aggravating.

"WHAT D-?!" He spun around to face Vera only to suddenly receive a brutal knee between the legs. His eyes watered and he stumbled away, falling to a knee and placing a hand to the ground to steady himself. He honestly hadn't seen that one coming. "You're... going to regret that... in about five seconds," he squeaked out painfully.

"I doubt that." Vera crossed her arms and glared at him. Vernon heard a cracking noise first. Then he felt the heavy footfall behind him.

"Ah, fu-" A vice-like grip grabbed his ankle and suddenly he was hanging upside down, hands still clutching his aching groin as he dangled from Wolf's hand. Of course the freakishly strong armor had let him break free in record time. The next thing he knew, the world became a blur as Wolf spun... and promptly tossed him. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaa-"

Wolf soon after fell to his hands and knees, his armor evaporating into thin air. He sucked in air, panting heavily.

"Burnout?" Vera walked over to him.

"Not... quite..." Wolf gasped out. "But close."

"Not gonna get 'em, huh?"

"Too risky." Wolf's eyes fell. He was disappointed in himself. He could have tried to stop the masked girl, but at this point it would have been a battle of attrition. He knew he'd hurt her and could have possibly worn her out, but it was just as likely in his mind that she would outlast his armor. With her capabilities, he'd never survive a full burnout.

"Ugh, I can't believe I had to help you. You seriously need to shape up!" Vera scolded him. "I shouldn't have to get my hands dirty!"

"Sorry..." Wolf flinched as she metaphorically ground salt into his wounds. At least Andras was safe... right?

Wait, which direction had he thrown Vernon again?



"-aaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAH!" WHUMP!

Vernon rolled to a stop some distance later. He looked up to see a spinning blade about an inch from his nose. Any farther and he'd have been minced.

There really was something to be said about having your luck increased.

He hauled himself to his feet and shook his head. What exactly was going on here? Oh, Galbrek. Of course. It had only been a matter of time til' he showed up.

"Ah, 'Master Galbrek' I see!" Vernon threw on a savvy grin, as if he hadn't just been shot-putted, oblivious to or rather ignoring the confrontation he'd just dropped into. "You finally made it to the party! Your dolls are quite a pain, you know." Vernon winced and grabbed his back, "Hit like a truck..." Accidentally suggesting it was the doll that had roughed him up, rather than Wolf. "Well, if you were here to help that masked person, don't worry, they're quite fine. With any luck she and your pet will be long gone by now."

He arched his back, doing some light stretching mid-conversation.

"Know any good chiropractors by chance?" He then noticed Andras next to the demon bastard. "Oh, Andras. What are you doing out of the car?"

Celine had her sights on William, but that left her vulnerable as she didn't take into consideration of the others present. The one who had flung ice towards her earlier had done something. A freezing cry, but it was more like a loud screech which was spine chilling. Would Celine have had a spine to begin with.

Her feet became hard to control, she couldn't keep balance and fell forwards. Faceplanting into the ground. She could be heard muttering something, using her remaining arm to try look up and raise her body up abit.

If only she were stronger. Strong enough to defeat these people, strong enough to resist and break free from her creator's grip. But she was not. There was ice on her feet making her get up on her feet a troublesome task, especially only with one arm to push the rest of her body up. A sense on panic, a sense of dread. Is this how she was going to end?

Don't give me that crap! I am not going to die... not in a place like this!

She finally managed to get up on her feet, there had been some further fighting around her. Her assailant had been flung out of the place, in the direction of her creator. But he had ordered her to get inside. Perhaps if her master would be no more then she could be free? It was a dark thought. But her desire for freedom was great. She knew what she had to do. Whomever that masked person was, perhaps she or he would be able to somehow assist her?

Right now she had to live. Even if it meant creating more trouble for later, her choices were limited. She ran over to Celestine. "Let's go now!" She gave Celestine a piercing stare, it was not very humanlike. She had the least humanlike eyes of all the dolls made by her creator. Celine tried to get into the car. She had only been in a car a few times, she knew the most important part however. Seatbelt. Better safe than sorry.

Galbrek on the other hand were in a troublesome situation yet again. He had the girl whom he had desired to kidnap, even if he would never admit to using a word like that. The interference of the driver of the car irked him, she had manifested or summoned those floating swords who were all over the place.

Against things like that, projectiles overall Galbrek did not have a very good way of dealing with. Especially not so many of them.

Mrs. Ascot? Sounds familiar. But it is of no concern. I have what I need, now it is time to go.

His thoughts were cut off by the woman in the car who had no intention of letting Andras go with him. Not to mention refering to him as a mere boy. He was a man. A young and powerful man. Alexander? Whose that? Another person to use as a toy later perhaps.

"You wouldn't force a girl against her will would you? That's very much illegal, you old crone." Galbrek replied to the woman in the car before looking to Andras, whispering to her as he began to use his hypnotic gaze on her yet again.

"Use any means necessary to allow us to escape from these troublemakers who would try to harm you..." The half-demon grinned but stopped as he heard a yell of some kind. It was the same boy who had paralyzed him earlier, and the sight of him caused Galbrek to grind his teeth against oneanother.

That bastard... useless puppets who are good for nothing. He couldn't tell if Celine was still 'alive' or not. As she had already been drained of her energy and it had returned to Galbrek himself. The half-demon considered his options, but the woman and the boy were getting in his way. And dropping his name like that, might trigger some response from the woman. He recalled what Vernon had sung to his ear earlier. 'Wanna build a snowman?' Some payback was due.

"Wanna be a flatman? I happen to know just what you need to straighten your spine out. This will drive you into another perspective. Insolent cur." Galbrek stretched out both his hands, sending his marionette wires to grab hold of Gilgamesha's car and then he flung it towards Vernon, having the car tumble around along the way, like a rolling wave of crashing metal. How could she use those swords of hers if her head was all dizzy and tumbled around. Better yet. How could that snowman pose a threat to him if he was flattened or left with the choice of helping the woman in the car or rescuing Andras from his infernal grasp.

This was truly demonic providence, with all the dark gods cheering for his victory. Of this he was certain.

Gilgamesha Ascot (NPC)

The strings would successfully stick to Gilgamesha Ascot's car, and Galbrek succeeded in launching said car towards Vernon. The Car would flip and roll several times over and force the latter to try and dodge, and.all seemed lost for Ascot's group. Then, Galbrek would feel a tap on his shoulder as he watched the proceedings; should he turn around to find the source of said tap, he would find an irate-looking Gilgamesha, now clad in golden armor, punching his face with a gauntleted fist.

"You're paying me back for my car!" shouted the woman at him.

@Crowvette@KillamriX88@Dezuel

---

Flatman? What was he talking about? Oh right, Vernon had said something dumb like that earlier, hadn't he?

As the car began to tumble toward him, he considered his options. He could freeze the car to the ground and stop it's tumbling. But no, that'd require much too perfect timing. Duck down and let the car bounce over him? But no, that'd require even more perfect timing.

No, Vernon knew exactly what must be done. DODGE!

He flung himself aside and into a bush... that he soon realized was a thorn bush. Oh gosh. Oh geez. Why had he gone left instead of right?

When he managed to extricate himself from the thorn bush, he saw Gilgamesha, alive and well, attacking Galbrek. Good, he'd have hated to explain to William that his mother had died in a fiery wreck. Well, the demon-boy had certainly fucked this one up. Gilgamesha was supposed to be rather scary, or so he'd been told. That said, Galbrek was also a huge pain in the ass.

"Yes, I think I'm just done for today," Vernon grumbled, but carefully maneuvered around the fight and let William's mother distract Galbrek for him. "This way dear. I'm afraid it's one step forward, two steps back today." He threw a hand over Andra's eyes and then pulled her toward him before attempting to guide her back to the park. He wasn't sure he wanted to face Wolf again just yet, but maybe Andras would make a good enough peace offering...

---

"Sorry for keeping you hanging, but it turns out Andras would not be affected by the first casting of any spell, meaning that you'd have to get heads twi-" Suddenly the phone beeped once and shut off. Cyan's phone had run completely out of batteries. Hopefully they would be able to continue whatever plan they had without his help. Something about raising the dead so someone wouldn't attack someone else? It was all very confusing, but Cyan wished William the best.

However, at this point in time, he had his own problems to figure out. There was no way he could just continue sleeping in someone's house, he could get into a lot of trouble if anyone found out. So he basically needed to find his way back to the academy.
'Now seems like a pretty good time to use a coin-flip, but if I can figure things out without it, that would be better,' he through, and looked around. It was a partly cloudy night, but there were a few lampposts dotting the area so he could see alright. It seemed like he was in a pretty nice part of the city. Big, house-like buildings with neatly trimmed hedges and trees. Signs posted out front showed that they were businesses rather than homes, though. A lawyer here, a doctor there, a funeral home...

Cyan frowned at the realization of what the comfortable box thing had been. He didn't want to be here anymore.
"Heads I get some power back in my phone, tails, uh... I get chased by a big dog," he mumbled as an ordinary gray coin materialized on his fist. Immediately after flipping it into the air, he reached up and grabbed it out of habit, speeding up the flipping process. However, he didn't even need to check what the result was. A low, gutteral growl from behind him gave it away.

'Crap!' The boy took off running immediately. That was like the third bad flip in a row. Taking a quick glance behind him, Cyan saw what was indeed, a big dog. It was maybe the size of a wheelbarrow and had thick, dark brown fur. And also sharp teeth. And probably glowing red eyes. And it was fast. Using its loud and constant barking to gauge its distance behind him, he focused on searching for somewhere, anywhere he could go to get away from this demon.

---

Cyan slammed the door shut behind him, panting almost as loudly as the beast on the other side, which had stopped and was now staring at him through the window. After taking a minute to calm his nerves and catch his breath, he looked over to the young store clerk that had the unfortune of manning the small convenience store at the wee hours of the night.
"That's... That's not my dog," he said, and slid to the floor.

---

@Letter Bee @Crowvette @Dezuel @KillamriX88 @Bartimaeus

Celestine's furious stomping came to a momentarily halt as he heard the word of one of his opponents, William, declaring the intention to take him down by empowering every other fighter in the battlefield. He shot him a withering look from the confines of his cracked mask, as he resumed his power walk towards the car. If you're half a man finish it yourself. Fists and teeth were clenched. He couldn't let them noticed how costly his earlier display of power had been. Pins and needles jolted his limbs, there was this burning sensation from the wound spikes, as well as nausea and dizzyness assaulted him, the rebound of the adrenaline release bringing him to near unconsciousness.

He noticed his arm being grabbed. Vernon. Uttering some kind of threat to lick his wounded pride. "Believe me, you're hardly the only one whose hand was forced today. Foolish brat left me little choice." He added, as he eyed the doll who had just returned. Could anyone be more daft? But something was wrong. If the doll had returned with little regard to her own integrity, Galbrek was surely involved.

Oh well, he didn't care anymore, as he cast a last glance at the diverse set of fighters. Vernon was taking care of the last nuisance, and the foxgirl seemed confused. The doll had -finally- listened, and hopped into the car. It would do for now, he thought as he picked one of his sedatives from his waistbag and injected it into himself. If it had gone for more time, serious harm could've been made.

He started the engine, as he eyed the doll. "I said that ages ago. This is your and your master's folly." He added, as he eyed Vernon being launched into the car with the relative of the Ascott. He would not even try to help him anymore. THe engine of the battered car came to life, as the Fallen One left the scene without more words or actions.

---

@Ebil Bunny

Meredith's life was usually like any other high schooler, except for certain peculiar moments. This was one of them. She browsed the chaotic stands of consumables with care, given that her attention span at this time of the night was not the best. She had the urges to shake her head and simply go back home. Seriously, what kind of mother figure sends her own daughter on an errand in the middle of the night to satisfy her cravings? It was true she could fly, but most High Schoolers who wanted at least a successful future were sleeping by now.

Right. The strawberries were in the basket, the chocolate toppings aswell, now all that it was needed was the whipped cream. Meredith could not even begin to fathom why her own mother would insist in buying kinds of cake frosting at this hour if she had not even baked a cake, but then again, the ways of demons more than often puzzled mortals and half-demons like her. She squeezed sideways towards the counter. This shop was kinda cramped, unfortunately.

It took her a few seconds to process what was going. Outside there was a cute fluffy dog, looking at one of the figures inside. At first she thought it was a half-demon like her. Then she remembered there was a boy with a fox's tail in class, what was his name...

"Hi Ceylon!" She said in a cheery albeit somewhat tired tone. "Are you on a late errand too? My mother wants whipped cream and strawberries but I didn't see her bake a cake at all tonight. It's curious. Oh...are you that tired? You can't sleep in the floor, silly, it's dirty!"

Gods, so much is happening right now. she thought as she watched a new person run onto the scene.

"W-wait...WAIT...W-WHERE IS HER ARM!?!?" Masami screeched to no-one in particular as she pointed wildly at Celine. Before the latter face planted into the ground. The fox-girl's ears twitched as the scream assaulted them, and she instinctively covered them as she looked towards the source. There's too many people in this city.. she thought.

She wasn't exactly sure who was friend or foe. Besides William. Who had just been frozen to the ground by some ice-manipulating dude. She started to move towards them and was about to call out as she saw Vera come up behind Vernon, then proceeding to send him stumbling to the ground. Before Wolf promptly lifted him, and flung him across the park..

She let the ice from her blade melt away as her Starball floated back to her hand. She approached Wolf and Vera as she put it back in her mouth, then initiating perfectly un-hindered speech. Well. Except for the fact that she was a little nervous that she had almost attacked Wolf in a misunderstanding the moment before. "H-hey.." she said, nervously scratching her ear "I guess we're on the same side, huh? I'm Masami Souma." she held out her hand to lift up the now-exhausted Wolf, but before he could consider taking it, they would hear another massive screeching commotion in the distance.

More fighting? Great... she thought sarcastically. I had a feeling my first day would be frantic, but this is just out of hand!

William Ascot

Typical. Someone just had to blackmail Vernon. Ascot, using the enhanced strength from his copied Body Art and Nakama Dedication Method, broke himself off from the ice just in time to hear the sound of his mother's car being destroyed. Knowing that his mother would easily survive such a circumstance, the boy tried to stand up, sighing. Looking at Masami, Wolf, and Vera, the boy would say, "I...I am really sorry for what happened. But yes, the battle would up going out of control; not helped by Vernon turning on us for entirely forgivable reasons.

"And by entirely forgivable reasons, someone managed to get one over on him and me." It was only now that a note of anger entered Ascot's voice. "Now, let's go to where Mom is; she might stop holding back against the one who totaled her car."

He would then begin walking in the direction of the parking lot, and hopefully meet Vernon and Andras on the way. The young man would then say to the former: "You're forgiven. Make it up in bed when we both have the time."

@RoflsMazoy@Dezuel@Bartimaeus@Crowvette@KillamriX88@AtomicNut@Gentlemanvaultboy

Cyan

---

TAGS: @AtomicNut

---

Cyan's relaxing vacation on the floor was interrupted by the surprise appearance of a classmate.

"Hi Ceylon! Are you on a late errand too? My mother wants whipped cream and strawberries but I didn't see her bake a cake at all tonight. It's curious. Oh... are you that tired? You can't sleep in the floor, silly, it's dirty!" She rambled a greeting, sounding like she was attempting cheeriness but was audibly tired.

"No, I was just..." Cyan trailed off as he turned to look at the monster that was drooling all over the window. Now that he got a better look at it in the light, it... Well, it didn't have glowing red eyes.
"Uh... Yeah, my phone ran out of batteries." It took him a moment to regain his trail of thought, but once found he tossed in a non-sequitur. It was probably best not to admit that he'd been running at top speed for the past five minutes to get away from that thing. Even if he knew better, she would probably think of it as a lovable newfoundland dog.

Pulling himself back to his feet, Cyan brushed off the seat of his pants. The other student hadn't been lying about the state of the floor. This place needed a janitor, someone at least as good at cleaning as his tail accidentally was. The boy grimaced as he pulled off a few leaves and brushed off bits of dust that collected in his tail. Some of it was probably from running from the dog though.

"So... Meredith, right? How come your mom's making you come out here in the middle of the night?" Cyan asked in an awkward attempt to not be awkward. Luckily he knew her name, even if she didn't know his. It wasn't that he was especially good at names, she was just one of the more memorable students in his class, even if he hadn't talked to her before.

---

---

Christine merely followed the group merrily, not caring much on where they were going. Unlike Rurik, she wasn't bothered at all when Thobias took them to the third floor. She then heard a Vigilante member shouting for King. Huh, so they were here too. Well, the more the merrier.

After redirecting Rurik to the proper direction, she jumped over the two holes. She might prefer standing still in a fight, but she could move her legs around pretty well if she wanted to. Her short coat fluttered as she leaped, flashing her black panties once more to anyone who happened to look. Just like before, she didn't notice in the slightest.

“Oh! Hi, Bak!” she said to the girl, raising her right hand to wave at her once they discovered her.

“Whoa…” Christine said as she witnessed Bak shooting her missile at Samoth. Christine had always been impressed on Bak’s power and the arsenal she had with her. She thought it was really cool.

“Hmm, is that another St. Laurel student?” she said as she looked at Samoth’s sprawling figure. “Should I take him on?”

“Ah, he’s running away!” she said with an excited tone, the opposite to Rurik’s lazy remark. In the end, however, the one who chased after him was Rurik. With Tobhias’ help, he tripped the boy before he could run even further.

Bak growled in annoyance as Samoth intentionally used Rurik to protect himself from her attacks. The same obstacle also applied to Christine, who could’ve sent icicles towards Samoth, but chose not to as she was afraid she would hurt Rurik.

But unlike Christine, Bak had less compulsion in not hurting Rurik. Thus, she declared she would use her rescue missile. After apologizing to the lazy boy first, of course.

In the end, the missile arrived just after Samoth had escaped. Thankfully, Rurik managed to deflect it to the ceiling, avoiding a direct hit that would no doubt be quite painful.

“Aaw, he got away…” Christine said. “Oh well, I’m sure we’ll meet him again soon enough!”

As usual, Christine was as optimistic as ever.

“Hehe, yeah, he did!” Christine cut in when Rurik described how he had defeated Katherine. “It was quite the amazing combo! I would have never thought about doing something like that! My fight with Sis would just be a straightforward fight between heat and cold.”

When Rurik draped over Christine, she received him with a smile as she patted his head. “Yes, yes, you may rest now. Good job, Rurik!”

After hearing Bak’s story, she remarked, “Hmm, more Vigilantes. I’m not sure why they would be here. We’re here because St. Laurel is here, and St. Laurel is here because they want to exorcise the ghosts. Do they just come here to pick off at both sides, hoping to catch them in a weakened state as they fought off each other?”

@KillamriX88@Gentlemanvaultboy@6slyboy6

---

Rurik actually felt a small wave of relief at Christine's words. Finally, some sort of confirmation that he didn't have to do anything anymore. Bak being proud of him was great and all but since when the hell had he actually cared?

Never. Quite frankly, never. And he wasn't about to start now.

After being almost broiled alive by Kath, he was content to relax in Christine's cooling presence. She was his girlfriend, so why not take advantage?

And then all hell broke loose beneath them. Screaming and crashing and... sizzling? He stuck his head out into the hallway and his jaw dropped. As if to add to the atmosphere, steam lit up with an ominous, orange glow seemed to be rising up through the holes in the floor. That couldn't be good.

He wanted nothing to do with that.

"Wait, isn't your sister still down there?" he asked Christine, but also looked to Thobias who actually seemed more concerned with the girl's well being than her own sister. Christine was weird that way, though he was sure she cared regardless of how poorly she portrayed it sometimes.

The last thing he needed was Katherine dying and Christine getting depressed. That would be a lot of trouble for him to deal with.

On the other hand, no way in hell was he going to be mounting the rescue effort, so he'd let them worry about that. In the meantime, he wanted to get as far away as possible from whatever the hell was going on down there. He thought for a moment and then sighed. There was only one option, wasn't there?

He pulled at his hair and let out a frustrated roar before stomping over to where he'd deflected the missile like a tempestuous child, waving for Bak to follow him. He then pointed up.

"So, uh, if we wanna get back on track, I figure you and I can blast a hole all the way to the top and then work our way back down until we meet up with Clara. Thobias can get us all up there in a second as long as we give him a line of sight," he suggested to the girl. And as a bonus he'd have a nice, safe buffer zone between him and... whatever was downstairs.

He just hoped there was nothing upstairs.

---

Christine also heard the screaming and crashing and sizzling noises coming from the floor beneath them. And just like Rurik, she went to check the hallway, only to find that it was now filled with steam rising up from the holes on the floor.

"Hmm? What is this, I wonder?" Christine asked to no one in particular.

"Wait, isn't your sister still down there?" she heard Rurik ask.

"Oh? Her? Don't worry about her. She's one tough girl, you know. She'll take care of herself just fine," Christine replied with a smile.

But in the end, Rurik decided they should go down there in the end.

"Ah, that's a good idea!" Christine said to Rurik's plan. "That means we can go down with minimal risk! We can just go out immediately if things go south!"

She looked back towards the hole in the ground. I sure hope Katherine is okay... Even though she said she believed in her sister's strength, which she did, she couldn't help but feel a little worried for her at the same time.

@KillamriX88

---

Thobias observed from the end of the hallway as Samoth leapt out the building, despite Bak and Rurik's best attempt. He couldn't help but laugh when Rurik got hit by Bak's missile. He had it coming for a long time now. Thobias warped back to the group as they gathered together to come up with a plan on what to do next. He expected Bak and Rurik to argue, but he clearly missed some conversation between the two as they didn't seem hostile towards each other. He shrugged, it was a fair enough outcome. Thought he would have enjoyed the two fighting each other, this was an outcome just as good as any other.

He was trying to listen to the other three talking, really, but his attention spam wasn't long enough to keep him interested long enough. He peeked over at the hole and remembred that he left Kath down there. His attention now turned to the hole. Should he go back? He peeked around his back and saw the other still conversing. Well, why not. Maybe Chrisitne will appreciate it. Then again, she never seemed worried about Kath. On one hand Thobias understood perfectly why it was so, but he couldn't shake this uneasy feeling about Christine.

He let go of these troubling thoughts and warped down a level. There, he saw a peculiar sight: what seemed like ghosts on fire slamming through the ice barrier erected down the corridor. "Uh....what?" He cautiously walked to the still uncoscious Kath, keeping an eye on the ghosts. Steam was starting to fill the hallway, but it was still manageable to see and breath easely. As he approached Kath, he heard a scream that made him shudder, and he watched as a large amalgamation of burning ghosts smashed through the ice wall, turning it to steam insantly and obscuring vision before he could do anything. "Alright, fuck this. I'm out of here." He bent down to pick up Kath, trying to lay low and not be spotted. "You're coming with me girl."

Ooooooff Kath wasn't nearly as light as he thought. Now that was not saying that he couldn't pick her up, but he made a mental note to never believe films again about how easy it is to pick up people who are knocked out. With some effort he finally picked up Kath into his arms and then turned back to go back through the....hole? Where was it again? His eyes struggled to find the opening on the ceiling, but the thick layer of steam obscured vision. He was beginning to sweat, and he really didn't have the mood to play hide and seek with a damned hole again. "Here we go again."

The portal opened right next to the other three, and from a mistly puff of steam that came though the portal, he emerged with Kath in his hands. "Express delivery of one boiled sister." The portal closed behind him and he coughed some as the cold air hit his chest. "Anyways, someone tell me what the plan is, because my arms are getting tired. Like no joke, she's heavier than she looks, ok?"

@Hammerman@KillamriX88

Cyan & Meredith

@Ebil Bunny

Meredith blinked for a moment, struggling to concentrate. What was she doing again? Oh yes, errands for groceries. For her own mother. Her eyelids felt like lead right now, as she counted for the ninth time she had all the items she had been requested to fetch. Slowly, like one trudges through mud, her mind seemed to make the right connections and nodded sagely to Cyan as he stood up, trying to explain the situation.

"You can't find batteries for cellphones in this kind of store..." She mumbled to herself, before getting distracted by the actual fluffyness of the tail. Oh and the other tail outside the door. Wait, that was a dog, a cute dog. Maybe she should buy a couple of dog snacks for the other companion? Was it Ceylon's dog by any chance? Oh right, he had asked a question. Which remembered her ... well, situation. Her gaze cast at her feet she began to construct a response.

"Well, mom said that since It was for a ritual or something. Oh and that she wanted to send Anna too, but she isn't strong enough to bring all the stuff back home flying." She blurted out. There went one of her many little secrets, but she was too tired to try and cover up her little slip. Besides the boy had a fox tail. He probably wouldn't freak out.

"For a ritual? What kind of power uses chocolate and stuff for rituals?" The boy asked, noticing what it was she was carrying. 'And more curiously, why would it need to be done in the middle of the night?'
The dog, in the meantime, also noticed what it was the female inside was carrying, and became even more interested in trying to find a way in. Putting its paws up against the window, its claws began to make screetching sounds against the glass. Cyan jumped at the sound and whipped his head around to focus on the furry creature, nervous at what maniacal plan it might have.

The store clerk, too, was watching the large dog. If it caused any problems, he could very well be the one getting in trouble. But then again, the last thing he wanted was to wrestle what was basically a grizzly bear. Oh well, if it started to become an issue, he would get a broom and try to chase it away. Hopefully these customers would get what they wanted and leave, though, and take the dog with them.

Meredith shrugged heavily. "Beats me, she did not explain to me, and she was doing this weird hip sway and giggle as she went back into the bedroom for some reason." Her eyes darted to the dog, then to Ceylon. Oh right, he must have been walking the dog and given the size of the beastie, he was all exhausted and probably hungry. Well she was hungry too, so she slid a couple of drinks in her basket and ordered a couple of hot pockets to well, eat. She offered one of the drinks to the young boy as she smiled somewhat.

"Why that's a cutie doggie you have there..." She said as she fearlessly trounced towards the door, probably against any kind of common sense. The door opened ominously, as she extended her hand to pet the animal.

"Wait! That dog's dange-" Cyan exclaimed as Meredith moved past him to the door, but it was too late. The door had opened, and now all hell would break loose.

The dog went absolutely nuts when it caught a whiff of Meredith's hand scent, as it started to bark audibly and growl, seemingly bent on pouncing on the new target, but for all of its aggressivity its back was curled and his legs were flexed low. Its ears were also bent backwards. It seemed to be scared witless of something, but no other indication of what. Meredith seemed to obviously ignore the danger signals and kept pushing her hand towards it. She never reached the creature, because it darted at a speed that seemed impossible for a dog its size, visiblely whimpering as it did so.

"Why...don't the doggies and the kitties ever like me..." She added, dejected and pouting, while seeing the large dog running away like a mouse in the distance. Only the microwave ping that announced that her snack was ready shook her out of her stupor.

Cyan's jaw dropped as the creature that had been chasing him took off running and whimpering into the night.
"What on earth did you do?" he finally asked after a brief silence, but still stared through the window in the direction the dog had disappeared.

Meanwhile, the clerk was very relieved the dog was finally gone. If it had broken something... Hoo boy. Relaxing his shoulders in relief, he pulled the warmed hot-pockets out of the microwave and handed them out to the girl who both purchased them and had rid the store premises of the hooligan.
"Here you go," he said in almost a cheerful tone.

Meredith what she usually did, and handed one hot pocket to her companion in misadventures, alongside a chilled drink. "here. Sorry about your doggy. But you must be hungry and thirsty. It's also getting late. I'll take you to my home, the dorms are sooo far away." She said as she munched on the hot pocket, before letting a small whimper. "Itth hurths! Sho hoot! But shho good." She said, while cooling her small accident with her own drink. Her gaze towards Cyan was not unlike she had found a lost puppy, only momentarily breaking it to pay for her items with an overly large bill.

"Oh, no, that wasn't my dog. He was just chasing me for, well... Not exactly no reason," he responded. "Thanks for chasing it off, that's a pretty handy ability."
The boy's eyes lit up at the offer of food and drink, he hadn't realized how hungry he'd gotten. He hadn't even had supper yet, so he was pretty famished. He took a bite of the hot-pocket, then swallowed before asking, "How far are the dorms? If they're not too far away, I don't mind walking back to them if you can give me directions."

"Being hated by animals is not an ability." She pouted so slightly, as she consumed the food at an alarming speed. "Dorms are not that far, but it's not well lit and you might be attacked by whatever is outside there. Specially without a doggy. My house is safer, father killed a lot of demons!" She cheered as she adjusted the bags of her purchase. Besides I could use someone normal in that house for a change. She paused to herself. "I mean i could take you to the dorms too, but then the errand...hummm...." She said as she eyed the boy. Wasn't Ceylon one of the poorest kids at the academy? He could use some more food, he was scrawny.

"I thought... okay. Would your family be okay with me sleeping there for the night?" he asked, pretty resigned at this point. This has been one of the more chaotic twenty-four hours he'd experience, and he was getting exhausted despite the sleep he had earlier. Cyan thought the area around St. Laurel's would be pretty attacker-free, but he was still relatively new to the area, and even if he got to the dorms there'd be a chance he'd still have to deal with whatever pins, syrup, or whatever had been stuffed in his mattress this time.

"Nonsense, mother complains I don't bring enough boys to the house. That will shut her up for a while!" Meredith grinned somewhat as she drew closer to Cyan, indicating him to go with her outside the store. She knew what was coming after. Well, she still doubted if she could trust her classmate with her little secret. St Laurel's students...would not be kind to her if this was widespread. In a deft move, her arms latched onto the scrawny boy, pressing him against his body.

"Okay, now hold on to me. I've never flown with this much weight but it should be fine. I think." She said. But the Meredith who had exited the store and the Meredith who was clutching Cyan close to her were ...different. For once, a barbed tail was wiggling almost uncontrollably from under her clothes, and her nails were now black pointed claws. Two horns crowned her head, but that was nowhere as striking as the huge, leathery bat-wings that had sprouted on her back.

"Eep!"
Cyan was not expecting to be hugged or the sudden transformation the other student went through.
"F-fly? Are you sure walking wouldn't work?" he barely got out. Meredith was surprisingly strong, and she was making it, a little, difficult, to breath. He was beginning to consider that he might be getting himself in a little over his head. It was probably too late for that now, though.

"This is faster." Meredith added, and her wings began to flap in mighty motions, the sudden acceleration of taking off rippling through her entire body. Soon, the sensation of ground beneath the feet was a memory for the pair, as Meredith powered through the sky with all of her might. It was a short, but exhausting ride. She nearly made both them fall a couple of times, and almost failed the landing, but she made into the entrance of her own house, a rather impressive manor. There, bathed by the light of inside, was a woman who could've fit in any saucy male magazine, dressed in vaporous night clothes that left little to imagination.

"You're late, my daughter. Have you brought the offerings? Hm?" She asked, as her gaze pierced on the other person who had arrived. "A young male sacrifice? Are you trying to appease me with that?" She asked, a grin spreading in her face, as she saw her daughter's cheeks becoming beet reed. "Just kidding. I suppose we have a guest, aye?" She added, as she greedily zipped towards her daughter and quickly relieved her of her bags.

"Be welcome to the Blackgate abode, young man. Fox. Man-fox thing. Whatever." She added, deciding it wasn't the effort to think any harder. Her hips swaying with pride, she entered the house, leaving the door open, and disappeared somewhere, her backside slamming a door close as she went by with her prize.

Meredith, who had somewhat recovered from the jest, just muttered under her breath. "I once tried to do that but my underwear got caught up in the door." She pouted.

Poor Cyan was in no way prepared for a flight, and the sensation of falling every so often most certainly didn't help. As soon as they landed, he collapsed into a sitting position, propping his body up with his arms behind him.
"Please, let's never do that again," he half mumbled, half begged. However, even recovering from what was less flying and more zig-zagging through the air didn't distract him enough from Meredith's home situation. The boy wasn't really sure what to expect from a mother who sent their daughter in the middle of the night for chocolate and whipped cream for a "ritual", but this woman somehow both competely surprised him and perfectly fit whatever it was he could have imagined.

As strange an individual Meredith was, Cyan couldn't help but be relieved when it was just the two of them. At least she was relatively normal. He could see a similarity between her and her mother though.
"She seems... nice. Very funloving." he said. Best be polite when in another's household. The compliments were rather forced, however.

Not really sure what else to do, the boy continued sitting in his spot in the grass and awkwardly looked around the yard and at the exterior of the house, avoiding eye-contact with Meredith. It was quite dark, the sparse cloud-cover from when he woke up had become more dense, so the stars were no longer visible and the half-moon barely so. However, the electric lamp over the door of the house lit the area well enough, and there was light coming from a couple windows as well. Just going off from the lovely two-story house and well-trimmed lawn, one wouldn't expect the residents to be so... bizarre.

"You've got a nice house." he finally said in another stiff attempt at etiquette. At this point he was definitely regretting coming here.

"Mother is a demon." Meredith said, probably with the only hint of poison in her voice that she had shown in the entire conversation. And just like that, she was back into her older self. Without the extra monstruous bits. "Well, father is well off after being a hero sort of thing." She paused as she grabbed Cyan by the hand. "Oh come on, don't stay in there, my bed is big enough for two." She cheered as she invited Cyan to come with her upstairs.

'Guess I'm not the only with parent issues,' Cyan thought, not realizing the girl was being literal. However, at the mention of them both sleeping in the same bed, he stopped on the stairs and pulled his hand back.
"Oh, um, that's okay. I can sleep on the floor if you have any extra blankets or something."

"Uh, that won't do." Meredith said. "Mother will scold me if she found that I let you sleep in the floor." She added as she brought Cyan forth once again. "Besides, it's not like anything will happen if we sleep in the same bed, silly." She added, sure of herself."Haven't you heard about the birds and the bees talk?" She said, steeling her resolve.

"Why can't we just say I slept in the bed. I... like my personal space." Cyan said, getting quieter. Then in a louder voice in an attempt at humor, said, "Besides, it's not like I've never slept on the floor before or anything. Me and the floor go way back. We're good friends."

Meredith shook her head. "No one should be sleeping in a cold floor. You'll get the bed. I will get the floor because I was the one who dragged you to this situation." She finally conceded. Well, jeez. Couldn't things be easier for once. They always kept refusing the bed if she didn't do this to her visitors.

---

@6slyboy6@KillamriX88@Hammerman

---

Bak looked up excitedly. "Yes, you are right." She said, the tell-tale sound of her guns spinning up filling the room. "Nothing to worry about. Our friends have only passed us, I am sure." She pointed her guns straight up above her. "Stand clear!" Then, for the first time, the rattling DAKKADAKKADAKKA of chain-guns sounded out.

Bak was happy even as a torrent of dust and scrap began to flow down from above her. She hadn't gotten to cut loose like this since she got here precisely because she was so scared of bringing the building down on someone, but if her objective was to bring part of the building down on herself there was no longer a problem. Her bullets cut through the upper floors like a power saw through ice, the numerous holes poked in the floor eventually forming into a web of cracks that caused the chunks to split apart and come raining down. She felt them, clattering around her, off her, a big chunk of something glancing off her head. She didn't pay it any mind, just held her breath so she didn't have to breath any of the debris in.

In a few minutes she didn't feel anything raining down on her anymore. She stopped shooting and looked up, shaking pieces of building out of her hair. Through the still slightly crumbling holes that had been punched through the buildings floors she could see night sky and all a once a cool breeze seem to flow into the building.

She tried to move, and found she was having trouble. Looking around, Bak found herself buried waist deep in chunks of rubble, smashed furniture, and the bodies of a few unfortunate imps that had had the floor sliced out from under them. Around her was even more rubble and debris, the crappy apartment they were in looking more and more like a disaster movie set. She tried to pull away some of the debris, noting that her arms were covered in little cuts and scratches from the shower she'd just taken. Probably her whole body was covered in superficial damage like that, and she'd be really sore come morning, but that was a small price to pay for a job well done.

"All right, step one completed." She said. "Step two, going up to find our friends." She tried to move again and found it was extremely slow going. "Thobias, please help. It will take too much time to dig myself out."

---

---

@Bartimaeus

---

"Nicely done." Naseraph said clapping Aram on the shoulder. "I doubt he can burn through all that. We should leave regardless, just in case he can." He spun on his heel and followed quickly after Samoth. "Besides which, we should find Brutus." He called over his shoulder.

Naseraph was ecstatic as he caught up with Samoth. Every one of the Big Three was currently inside this building, no doubt engaged in mortal combat above. No doubt that, even were one to win, they would be severely weakened and in a state where a handsome young vulture could just swoop in and take their head like it was nothing. He had been lying before. He wasn't empty. He always kept just a little bit of energy in reserve, in case he needed it.

"They've probably ascended to the top floor by now." He said to Samoth. "We should move quickly." Hopefully this fool wouldn't interfere. If he did, Naseraph might have to use the last of his power on him.

---

---

Gilliam picked himself suddenly up off the ground just in time to see the entrance to the apartment building finish sealing up. He stood testily in the moonlight, a constant stream of saliva pouring from both sides of his mouth. There was something in that building that was a danger to him. Well, two things now. One was Alto, and the other was the boy that took away his ability to be Gilliam DeWitt. Both of these threats had to be exorcised, that was obvious. Then there was the chicken. No real threat, no real reason to eliminate him, but for some reason Gilliam wanted desperately to pluck that chicken! Why was that? Was it....yesssssss. Humiliation. He'd been made to look like a fool.

By a chicken.

By a piece of poultry!

Gilliam leaped at the wall of the building, bone tipped tendrils exploding from his back, his hands extending into wicked claws, and he clung to the side of it. The fools had sealed the entrance, this was true, but they had also sealed the exit. All Gilliam had to do was get to the top and work his way down. Inevitable they would encounter one another again. So Gilliam climbed, hand over hand, tendril over tendril, toward the top floor.

The final floor, the final student, and the cat. They each had a separate reason to climb the Apartment building, and now they were about to face it.

"Isn't it a possibility that that cat of yours has moved on to the lower floors by now?" Clara asked as they climbed the stairwell.

"Sure, but I'll just find it again when we come back down," King replied.

"But surely it could move past you and into the apartment by that point?"

"Then I'll find it again on the way up."

"..."

The other two didn't seem to be taking it all that seriously because it was likely they already knew the nature of the threat. Alto had also figured it out by this point but it still just felt like spinning around in a revolving door, listening to these two.

If this many imps hadn't been found yet, then it meant only one thing. They were being kept here by a greater Demon. The Otherworld is ruled by Demon Lords, but they fulfill the same purpose the Gods do in this world. The only difference is that they tend to rule, and interfere with affairs, directly. This quells major rebellion for the most part, and they remain free to crush anything they wish to.

They can crush rebellions effortlessly, and their people don't need to advance, they only need to make their Demon Lords stronger, and they will become stronger in turn. However, living under the shadows of the Lords, those of lesser, but still great power were bound to chafe eventually.

No one in the human realm knew what a Demon Lord looked like now. They're images were lost to time, and even back then, stepping into the Human world would provoke a direct intervention from the Gods, so it wouldn't have happened often.

A Greater Demon at the very least was needed to open a portal between worlds. Such an existence was not beyond their powers. It would seem that this one had chosen to act subtly. Taking the 8 students rather secretively, and amassing a small army of imps and ghosts.

Clara's and King's actions made more sense with that assumption. Clara would not miss the chance to turn a Greater Demon into her minion. King would stand to gain a reward for not only the death of the Greater Demon, but also sealing a portal to the Otherworld, and perhaps also stopping a potential invasion before it started.

And Alto was just here for duty. Out of them all, he had nothing to gain, but that wasn't exactly an unfamiliar feeling.

They rounded the stairs and finally found themselves on the rooftop.

"So you've finally arrived." The Demon said.

His suspicions were correct, this was most certainly a Greater Demon. A female one it would seem, in her lap was a cat with an orange collar, and floating next to the throne in a purple bubble of demonic energy was the last missing student.

"You can have him back, by the way." She said. Unfortunately she wasn't talking about the student, who was female anyway.

The cat jumped down and padded over to the trio, where King was able to pick him up.

"Ah, but I can't have you moving right now."

She clapped her hands together twice, and a red magic circle appeared, floating just above the back of the cat's neck. It activated an invisible magic circle right under their feet which erected a wall of flames around them.

The three weren't fazed in the slightest, however.

"What is your goal?" Alto asked.

"I don't see the need to reveal such a thing. I don't know how it is in your world, but in ours, the dead don't keep secrets as easily as the living," The Demon replied. "Though I must say, I was never expecting to succeed here. I was simply testing the waters, but I never anticipated it would be so easy to just... take you humans."

She drew the bubble over with her clawed fingers, and stroked the shell while gazing at the student inside.

"You took so long to respond, who knows what I could've done in that time? You are fortunate I have to return to the Otherworld, but before that..."

She finally got up from her throne and began walking towards them, magic circles forming in her hands.

"I'll eliminate you. I apologize, but I can't leave any witnesses." She finished. "Any last words?"

Alto felt a light touch on his back.

"Are we finished?" Clara asked.

"...Yeah." He said.

Clara's book unfurled and an inky blackness surged out from it, engulfing the trio and the magic barrier. The Demoness didn't drop the initiative however, and a pillar of fire erupted from the centre of the darkness. Yet the darkness seemed to absorb it all. It was only absorbing light, of course, but the light which should've emanated from the pillar didn't appear at all, until the pillar breached the dome. However, through the inky darkness a light shone through.

And suddenly, Alto was behind the Demoness, blade racing towards her neck. A spark of light, and her head fell forwards with a spurt of blood. Yet Alto did not put away his blade.

"...Interesting." The Demoness said from above them.

She had sprouted leathery wings and was flying in the air while her 'body' slowly faded away. The inky blackness was disappearing as well, little bits of it simply ceasing to exist, like fog disappearing as the sun reappears. Through the darkness, the magic circle which had created the barrier, already in pieces, crumbled away.

Clara's Dream Eaters, the worm-like creatures in her Grimoire could eat away Demon magic as well as metaphysical existences like Ghosts, but they ate magic at a much slower rate. To destroy the circle, she just had to destroy the essential components, but it was vital to keep her strengths and numbers a secret from an opponent like this, one who was the same type as her.

"On your left," A voice said suddenly.

The Demoness whipped around to her left, and then was impaled from the back by a light saber. The body faded before it hit the ground.

"You..." She said, holding her hand to where she'd been impaled. It seems she'd been able to escape death, but not the entire attack.

The cat in King's arms mewed? at her before looking back up at King.

"I can't pet you up here Donatello," King said. "I can fight fine with one hand though."

"Fine, then so be it..." The Demoness said, many magic circles appearing in the air.

The floated and settled down over her skin, and then she multiplied. Her shade separated from her as if someone hit duplicate in some editing software and pulled the two copies apart. The spell repeated, and now there were four.

"How will you handle this?"

---

Rurik's jaw dropped when Bak just deployed her guns and began chewing her way through the building with bullets. Lots of bullets. Seemingly endless bullets.

It was a lot of bullets.

Rurik lifted an arm to protect his eyes from dust and debris, and for a moment considered using his shield like an umbrella for himself and/or Bak. He soon realized, however, that shield or not, they would get buried, and so just got clear while Bak played demolition crew.

"You know..." Rurik blinked in surprise at a half-buried Bak. "That's not quite what I had in mind, but I guess that'll do." Saved him the trouble of putting forth any real effort. "Uhh, I guess we all climb on then." He did he best to scale the unsteady pile of debris so that he was next to Bak. Once Thobias teleported them, it would set Bak free and move them all up to the final floor. He waved for Christine to join them and looked at Thobias expectantly. "Maybe you're not a taxi, but how do you feel about elevator?"