Tsukiya sighed as she continued to take pictures it was a day like any other a volleyball exhibition between boys and girls and despite everyone expecting the boys to win it was quite the opposite with the girls leading with 20 points. Continuing to take photos of the game as she was assigned while not the most glorious of jobs it was something she supposed. Taking careful pics she watched the game unfold with a bored stare in her eyes as the only one in the bleachers due to her “press pass” she supposed was the main reason she got out of it so she was thankful for that in the end. Though when she heard the large rumble a excited grin spread across her face. This was more interesting she supposed as she wasted the west wall shake as dust and small debris started to fall causing panic among the students as they ran out of the gym beyond a few slow ones she supposed or was it something more? Either way in the end it there was about a handful of students left and the gym teacher probably staying behind to make sure no one got hurt which was heroic she supposed she could add that to her story heroes never die as long as their story is remembered. A warm sensation flooded her from a that odd card she found so that gotten her approval huh. Before long under the much force, the wall broke to reveal a man on a elphant. Tsukiya’s first thought was a lot of gold that hte man wore it was practically everywhere on his fingers, face and even his body. “My name is Xerxes I demand your subservince and in turn, you shall live.” He delcared grandly this proclomation seemingly angering Brynhildr as she felt rage towards the man. “Those of you who carry the cards come forth and be my generals to take back what is mine your ruler so demands it!”

Tsukiya quickly thankful for her position ducked into the space behind the bleachers as she hid she needed to fight back the valkyrie demanded it and for once they were in agreement but she needed space to hide to bring out the power as to not startle the students. As she started to think of a plan of action on how to best move on.

Attention; it was something that Maggie gave a great deal to the world around her, as she sought to avoid much of it. For her, the game at hand didn't exist; it was an exhibition of people -- some to fear, some to trust, most to avoid. Her eyes flittered from place to place; space to space; person to person, like two blades of grass in a heavy wind, as she attempted to map out the motion, in order to escape as quickly as she could, should the need arise. It was her greatest hope that it wouldn't arise, but, she never fancied herself that lucky. A smart person knew her escape route.

[And, you're ever the smart, little girl, aren't you?] asked a lecherous voice, slipping into her thoughts; invading her mind with its maddeningly pervasive tone and whim. "Don't talk to me," Maggie muttered, bringing her knees to her chest, hiding her face. [Don't talk to me.] mocked the voice, arrogant in tone and bemused, as well. [I haven't a single soul else to. Surely, you'll indulge an old man the fruits of his labor.] Maggie groaned, trying to seem smaller -- less noticeable. It wouldn't work on him. It hadn't in the span of a week; surely, it wouldn't start now. [Come, now, child. A little flower such as yourself should be vibrant. Not hidden away like a wilting bloom. You're only just beginning to bud.]

Maggie opened an eye, still behind her arms, crossed before her, "Why? Why do you talk to me like this? I know what you mean! Don't... I don't... I don't like it..." A faint chuckle sounded. "Why does my misery amuse you? Why do you haunt me? I'm nothing, nobody. I'm --" [--all you need to survive.] interrupted the voice. [I'm strong. You're not. Embrace that, little flower. Embrace me. We're destined for each other. I didn't simply appear, because I wanted to.] Maggie opened her mouth to speak, but, suddenly the walls ratted, and the bleachers shook with the tremendous force coming in. If she screamed, the bellow of the elephant crashing down the western wall, and the demands of an ancient -- and dead -- king drowned out her misery.

Against her breast, the card in demand warmed in maddening desire to be "played from her hand," so to speak. [Let's show him what you can do, little flower. A kindred spirit is ours, he and I. I can sense it. I know you can. Aren't you drawn to it? Don't lie, little flower. It might kill you.] taunted the voice. "Y-Yes," Maggie stammered, as she clenched her fists before her knees. "I c-can f-f-feel it... Bu-But, I c-can't!" she cries, legs tensed, ready to spring up and run away. [Oh, you can, little flower. Just open your eyes. Let me help you... water your garden...]

Maggie drew a shaking breath, and her right hand shook, as it drew to the card. "Pl-Please... I don't... I don't wanna... I feel..." she let the world fall silent, with her right hand; the only sound was the heavy, dull THUD of a pearl-white, immense jawbone. "...I feel... that no-one demands anything of me." Maggie snarled, as she drew to her feet. "I serve no-one, but myself," she says, brushing back her hair, "Besides, subservience to you is impossible... if you're dead."

[Bloom, my little flower.]

The girls' team is going to attempt to spike it over the net from the right side.

I know.

Why not tell the boys' team than?

I coach both teams. Their chosen team leaders should be the ones noticing their weaknesses and strengths. If I do the work for them now, they'll never learn to think on their own when we go against other schools.

Ah. So you're using this match as a learning experience.

The greatest teacher, failure is.

What philosopher said that?

Yoda.

Just as Mr. Sutherland and Odysseus finished their discussion on the philosophy of a wrinkly green alien, the Earth began to shake and a loud roar came from the wall behind him just before it collapsed. There had never been a sight that both equally confused and terrified Hal like seeing a Persian king ride an elephant into a school gymnasium. It wasn't his own life that he was afraid of losing though.

Jumping into action, the PE teacher's first priority was evacuating the area. "Everyone leave the gym now!" he ordered while charging toward Xerxes. It wasn't to commence battle though, but instead to check the rubble for any students that may have been hurt. Activating his servant card and transforming into the Greek hero, Hal began to lift up parts of the wall that may have been hiding a survivor, not giving a single care if anyone saw him.

We should check for survivors later. The fight has begun and it would be better to help keep it contained here than to risk it spreading throughout the rest of campus.

By then a student already hurt may already be lost. I'm saving who I can now and then I'll punch that smug look off that bastard's face. I'm not losing any of my students.

"IMAGAWA, HEADS UP!" someone on the boys team shouted, the recipient of the message hastily netting his fingers together and holding his arms out to try and hit the ball back, only for it to hit in the pit of his elbows, angled just perfectly to bounce up and smack him in the nose. Knocked flat on his ass and bleeding a bit, the boy was taken to the nurse's office. "That angle was superb. So fluid in motion, the way it rippled through the air! Oh, but too bad you didn't catch it. Could have scored a strike." the overly optimistic voice in his head chimed in, Makoto's eyes spinning a bit. Thankfully his nose wasn't broken or anything, so he was good to return after a few minutes, much to his chagrin. Approaching the gym once more, he noticed a lot of people running out...was the game over already? Regardless, he stepped inside and had to restrain himself from letting out a scream upon seeing the elephant. Booking it to the side of the room, he hid behind the bleachers before he was noticed.

"Of all days this had to happen, it had to be today..." Makoto grumbled to himself, holding his still throbbing nose and watching from between the slits of the bleachers. Mulling over his options in his head, he noticed the gym teacher...had a class card!? Not to mention, that elephant guy was undoubtedly using one too. Gulping, Makoto pulled out the shimmering golden card from his pocket, shoving it into his chest as his form adopted the guise of his Caster, Zosimos. The tips of his fingers shined as if they were made of solid gold, and the blue veil covering his face adorned itself with oryx and avian bones, a surge of magical energy rushing into his body, as if his entire magical circuitry had been replaced. What he hadn't noticed however was Tsukiya across at the other edge of the bleachers, the Caster's approach swift as he approached Hal, simply touching each piece of the rubble and shifting its entire makeup into that of pumice, which even the weak caster servant easily lifted.

"That man certainly seems fond of gold...perhaps an offering would placate someone as shallow as him. Page 427, Diagram C, Makoto." Zosimos suggested. Taking that as a good idea, Makoto transmuted the pumice he was lifting into solid gold, the overall mass of the rock shrinking greatly as the pores that had been carved out by becoming pumice crushed the rock in on itself, until it was a fine, large nugget of gold. "Come now, there's no need for threats here. I'm certain a wise man such as The Great Xerxes sees the benefits of mutual cooperation, as well as negotiation." he said, clearing his throat to make it not super obvious who he was, while also extending the gold out to Xerxes, one hand behind his back, touching his own back as if readying something. He hoped that someone would catch on, and use the opportunity to beat Xerxes' shit in for him. He wasn't good at fighting, even as a Class Card holder...

Rebecca counted her money. This was the most important thing she’s ever done, and this activity was daily. In this case Rebecca just finished buying a bottle of water. 550 yen of spending money left. Barely about five dollars back in the states. A sigh escaped her lips as she walked back to take a seat at the game. Oh, looks like Seta will be right: the girls sure look like they are winning. Finally arriving at a seat, Rebecca started to once again read. She only went to this game because she was told to get out more, and was not overly enthused by the game.

Come on, you should have a little more spirit! Cheer for your team and have fun!

Then there was this turn of events in her life. Ever since she received that card of a certain saint and found out exactly what the card truly meant what Rebecca could only describe as either the sweetest or the most beautiful voice she ever heard in her head. Rebecca liked the voice but did not like the catch that was associated with the voice as much.

But I am having fun. I like reading.

But you are wasting such a good opportunity to make more friends.

But I have plenty of friends already. Besides, it is not like anything will hap-

Then the wall seemed to explode as a man with an elephant burst through, making Rebecca jump immediately off of the bleachers, the result being landing on her rear as she got up and hid behind the bleachers catching her breath. Scared, Rebecca heard the words of the man, who announced himself as Xerxes and calling out for people like her, the ones that hold cards and demanding they serve him. It did not sound like a good deal at all, but fear kept her in place as she felt her card in her pocket., but not holding it.

Rebecca, I know you are scared but your classmates need you. Take up the sword and protect them.

But I’m scared. I don’t… I don’t think I can. I don’t know anything about how to swing a sword.

Do not worry, for God will guide you and so will I. Just raise your sword to protect others and everything else will come naturally.

Right. Let God guide me… but I cannot stay here forever. Rebecca replied back with a slight hint of doubt to the voice and took the card out. She willed for the sword, a blade with five crosses on its blade, to manifest from the card into her hands and took a deep breath. However, it seemed that others, one holding some kind of bone even, were already acting. It was now or never. Rebecca adjusted her glasses one more time and came out from behind the bleachers, sword in hand and ran straight for Xerxes using the distraction one of the students was giving intending to use her sword on a man whose name she was familiar with but could not recall the details of.

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"Come now, there's no need for threats here. I'm certain a wise man such as The Great Xerxes sees the benefits of mutual cooperation, as well as negotiation." Makoto's words rang out to the Rider perched atop his elephant, the look of utmost disdain plastered on his face. "You think fit to demand compromise? I've laid the terms of negotiation clearly; Your servitude for your lives." Xerxes said, giving a dissapointed sigh. "Regrettable...I have no need for someone that makes me repeat myself." the Persian King of Old spoke, before the elephant's massive trunks slammed into Makoto's gut faster than he could see, the boy being swiftly flung almost entirely through the wall of the gymnasium, having landed and impacted against the bleachers on the opposite side, crumpled over in pain as he clutched at his bleeding shoulder.

With that taken care of, he glowered at Rebecca, very clearly looking down on her. "Oh? And you intend to kill me then, Mongrel woman?" he asked, before an axe materialized in his hand, deftly blocking the surprise attack. However, in the brief clash, Rebecca could feel that their strength was roughly the same, given that neither seemed able to budge the other, her attempt at a quick ending to the fight interrupted by the elephant he was riding atop grabbing her leg with its trunk, and swiftly slamming her down onto the ground. Rearing back, the Elephant was attempting to stamp down directly onto her body; A certainly fatal blow, if this beast was a noble phantasm, given its enormous size and weight. "Crush her, and let all rebellion be crushed in an instant! Bellow, my Pērōz Pīru!" Xerxes said, an almost gleeful smile plastered on his face, the slightest sadistic light shining in his eyes as the elephant tried to slam down with all of its weight. "Witness the fate of all that choose rebellion over my rule!" he shouted, as his elephant let out an ear piercing cry, its gilded tusks shining in the overhead fluorescent lights as it sought to crush Rebecca entirely.

What he failed to notice however, was that Maggie was almost immediately upon him, close enough to the elephant to interfere if she desired...or just attack it regardless.

---

Reeling and still attempting to move after being so forcefully dispatched, Makoto narrowed his eyes as he struggled to rise even to his knees. That elephant...it was immune to his alchemy. In the instant that it made contact with him, he'd attempted to turn its trunk into stone, but every attempt made in that brief milisecond of contact was thwarted at the atomic level. This elephant must have incredibly high resistance to magic in general...

"What will you do, Makoto? If I recall, medicines are mentioned in pages 34-97, as well as 211-257... his class card whispered into his mind, the highschool boy grunting as he struggled to move forward, looking rather pathetic as he shuffled over to a water bottle and took hold of it, abandoned in the bleachers. Opening up Zosimos' tome, he got to work on making a potion...hopefully before it was too late, or Xerxes decided he should die sooner rather than later. "Need to heal and run...they can...they can beat him...I hope..." he thought to himself, looking up from his personal crater, already looking defeated. Seeing Rebecca about to be crushed, he shut his eyes behind his veil, unable to stop what was about to happen...

---

Still behind the bleachers, Tsukiya clutched her class card to her chest, hesitating as she hid. For one reason or another, she just couldn't work the courage up. In spite of her class card's vocalized objections, she couldn't find it in her to install now.

[Time to bloom, little flower. Become watered by such a beast's virility.] Maggie's grip on the jawbone strengthened, as she took the bone in to both hand, and flipped it upright; teeth bared. Silently, she took a golf swing at the elephant; burying the ancient molars into the elephant -- but, not the leg proper. No, her cruelty was of a significant depth. [Such a beautiful bloom.] Maggie wrenched the jawbone towards her, and drug the bones through the pad of the elephant's foot like a sawblade. Blood coated the bones, flesh between the teeth, and she raised it to her lips. "Thank you, for the drink," she says, licking the blood slowly.

Maggie didn't even care that Rebecca was being showered by the blood. In fact, she didn't even seem to notice Rebecca in general; her face was marred by displeasure. "Thirsty..." she says, listlessly. "I'm still thirsty." A sinisterly bemused chuckle rose in her mind, [Sup more, my little flower.] Maggie hefted her jawbone weapon higher, and brought it crushing down on the reeling elephant's jaw. A sickening crack filled the air, and she dropped her built-in weapon. "I'M A THIRSTY FLOWER!" Maggie snapped, and grabbed the elephant's cracked lower jaw; digging her hand into the damaged flesh, working fingers through muscle, with mindless determination to take it off.

To be watered.

[Bloom brighter, my thirsty, little dandelion. Open for me, and we may spread madness like a weed amongst your garden.]

Hal.

I know.

Hal!

I know!

HAL!

I KNOW!

Not knowing for sure if the young Maggie would help save her fellow student, Hal had changed his objective of searching for survivors to actively rescuing them. Charging straight toward Rebecca, the instructor ducked underneath the incoming elephant foot, scooping the girl up and crashing back to the floor. Even if it wasn't the most graceful of rescues, his goal was accomplished, even if it appeared that he only saved the girl from having her clothes stained red.

Odysseus... It's time.

Finally.

With Hal's very limited experience in actual combat, he had little choice but to relinquish control to his servant. This was the power of Independent Action. The limited nature of class cards compared to a full servant made the syncing between the two somewhat strenuous, but it was still the best tactical option.

Now in command of Hal's limbs, Odysseus immediately retreated backwards. Afterall, he was of the archer class. He was meant for ranged attacks from areas that were unreachable or unknown to his foes. So the man used his still superhuman strength to jump all the way to the rafters above the gym, where the beams could possibly block Xerxes line of sight if his Espionage skill didn't do it. His next act would be firing two arrows, one at Xerxes and the other towards his mount. He needed to test their strength, so avoided using his noble phantasm for now.

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"You've far more spirit than brain." Xerxes said, glowering down at Maggie as his prized elephant's foot was cleaved and its jaw grabbed, Pērōz Pīru rearing back in an attempt to get away from her, only to have its jaw seized, the berserk girl beneath attempting to completely rip it off. The war elephant's pained toot echoed through the gymnasium, a hollow, angered sound before its black beady eyes seemed to glow an unnatural red. "Crush her, Pērōz Pīru." Xerxes demanded, before the elephant jerked its head to the side forcefully, flinging Maggie off, but not without giving her a massive chunk of its lower jaw muscles and a few teeth.

Just as he finally took note that the sword wielding girl was suddenly moved somewhere else, Xerxes heard the faintest whizz of arrows flying, only to be harmlessly knocked aside by the air around him. Crossing his arms, the Rider looked unimpressed, looking up at the source. "Skulk all you like, I can smell your inferiority." he said, before with one single graceful motion he kicked up off of his elephant and landed on a rafter opposite of Hal, smugly smiling at him. "Too bad. If you'd been up against anyone else, your haphazard assassination may have succeeded. Feel honored that your head will be taken by Persia's greatest King, Lasher of the Hellespont, and Breaker of Leonidas." As he spoke, his gilded axe shimmered in his hands, before he began charging at Hal, seemingly thinking that as an archer he had no way out.

With his master not present to control his reigns, the Elephant charged ferociously at Maggie, attempting to gore her with one of its twin tusks, covered in glittering bands of jewels and obsidian, the pure white ivory prepping to become stained in her blood. In its mind, it had recieved a single order from Xerxes, repeating over, and over, and over..."KILL! CRUSH! SUBJUGATE!" Like an alarm, it blared over and over, the traditionally peaceful species' being overwritten with Xerxes' mania, madness, and thirst to destroy those before it. This wasn't an elephant anymore...it had become a physical incarnation of a crazed king's power hunger.

---

Now, having recovered enough to stand, Makoto dropped the used up bottle, the few remaining droplets of green liquid dribbling from the discarded container. Still clutching where his arm had impacted on the bleachers, he realized that he had a chance to escape, and, turned his back in order to take it.

"Hmm...this is no good Makoto. I don't know if I could teach a man that would leave a girl all alone to face a dangerous beast..." Zosimos mused in his mind, feigning as if he wasn't basically telling Makoto to go fight.

"B-But..." Makoto started, before his card's spirit interjected. "No, no, it is quite alright...after all, you are weak enough to be beaten before the fight even begins. Hoping that someone else would solve the problem before you would have to deal with it. Running is, after all, the safest option..."

Makoto bit his lip beneath the headdress, clenching his fists. "...Fine. If it gets you to let it go, I'll do the stupid thing." Makoto said, before an almost elated clap echoed in his mind. "Very well my brave pupil! Now, turn to page 13, on the essence of rock based transmutation..."

"SHUT UP!" Makoto suddenly shouted, making it seem to the unaware observer that he was yelling at Xerxes up on the rafters. However, instead of targetting who one would suspect, he instead ran over to the piles of rubble converted into pumice, immediately tossing a piece of it up into the air. His right eye shimmered for a brief moment, a brilliant, burning, orange iris taking over his ordinary hazel as his hand made contact with the rock. In an instant, the material underwent an intense physical change, the air pockets that were placed into the pumice expanding, and seemingly turning inside out as the surrounding rock was pushed into, and then out of the hole, resulting in long, thin spears made of a rock definitely stronger and heavier than the component he'd used. A dozen javelins of rock hurtled towards the elephant at high speeds, several simply bouncing off of its hide, but one managing to strike true into its trunk, splitting straight through it. However, he had failed to stop its charge.

"Move!" Makoto yelled, trying to run as fast as he could over to Maggie, unable to match the charging beast's speed and momentum.

Is this it? Is this how I am going to go out? Death by elephant? Rebecca thought as she saw the elephant's foot about to slam into her. She heard the voice of the saint calling out to her, but she couldn't make up the words that were said as she tunnel-visioned on the impending doom the foot meant. At that moment, however, was when Rebecca felt a pair of hands scoop her from the doom that awaited her and the impending shower of blood that followed from a crazed Maggie spouting nonsense about being a flower.

Rebecca looked at Hal for a few moments in awe as she witnessed him retreating to the rafters. That was when she both heard and understood the voice's words once again. Rebecca, are you ok?! Rebecca looked at herself. Strangely, aside from a crack in her glasses and an ache in her back from where she was slammed she felt and saw no immediately concerning injuries.

Y-yeah.

Get up. The battle is not over. Forget about Xerxes for now, your friend seems to have him handled. For now, that elephant must be dealt with before it causes more havoc.

Right..

Rebecca used the sword of St. Catherine she still held in her hands to get up, regaining her balance on her feet as she witnessed rock hitting the elephant. However, she spotted a bigger danger: the elephant heading straight to Maggie. Despite her instincts screaming that what she was about to do was foolish and would probably get her killed, Rebecca charged once again. This time with both hands she raised her sword in a yell at a different target: the elephant's tusks. If she couldn't block the attack itself she could at least try to divert the deadly monstrosity from the enraged and very scary Maggie.

"Hmmph. Sit down, boy. I fought side-by-side with some of the original Spartan warriors. Those brutes aren't anything impressive," Hal replied in a voice that was very distinctly not his own. This was Odysseus talking, not the overly protective teacher. Swinging the bow securely onto his back, the Archer pulled two of his twelve axes from his belt, going into an offensive stance. "I've slaughtered armies of Trojans and Thracians. Outsmarted cyclopes and sirens. Escaped witches and sea monsters. Ten years of my life were wasted at war and another ten just to return home. I persevered though, overcoming every obstacle the gods put between me and my family. So tell me Persian, what hope does a mere king stand against me?"

A little overconfident there aren't you?

I refuse to let this brat return to the Throne of Heroes without first teaching him who it was that brought him down.

That's great and all, but he's definitely not a push over. Are you sure you can take him?

Hal, or more accurately Odysseus, merely smirked before lunging toward Xerxes. "My name is Odysseus and I shall be the one who takes your head!" the man shouted before swinging both axes at the king's ribcage.

As Hal swung, under the control of guiding hand, a soft, pearl-white slipper tapped, ever so gently, upon the axes, as they crossed each other; adding just the finest hair's breadth of weight, as a ivory-white skirt flapped before him, and crossed before the sights of kings and heroes. "I'll leave this to you, old man," said a distinctly male voice, in the mere seconds of passing, before the flapping skirt gave way to a cloak, and descended. 'I'll ask you, once more, Astolfo.' says the teen, as he descended, 'Serve me.' A haunty snort entered his mind. [I descend to no depths as dark as yours. It would besmirch the name of all I honor.]

Sneering, the teen pivoted in the air, and materialized a grand lance. 'Spare me. I'll relinquish you, when this is through. I have no time for a disobedient Servant.' He received a snort, in kind. [I will relish the moment.]

Ceasing the conversation, the boy landed on the back of the elephant with the skills of a trained rider, as if he'd been born to. "Wounded. Enchanted. All odds against you, and yet, you charge without mercy," he says. "I thought, I could make use of your master’s power, but, I have no use for them, for there is only one arrogance in this world I shall entertain," he raised his lance, "My own."

"Seek it's heart, Argalia." the skirted boy intoned, as he plunged the lance in; deep and true, seeking the heart of the maddened, loosed beast.

---

[Oh. A new flower has bloomed, such a mighty one, at that.] Maggie growled, as the elephant went crashing to the earth. Her eyes turned to followed, glaring at the skirted boy, as he descended upon the dying mount. No-one was stronger than she was. No-one! He'd told her so! He watered her! He fed her! He strengthened her! Weeded her! Fertilized her! Promised her! He made her stronger! That's why she bloomed so brightly! [How passionate you've become.] Maggie shifted, and took her jawbone off the floor. Her hair seemed to glow with the intensity of a flame, and skin gleamed with the shine of the sun, as she turned her attention from Xerxes towards the newcomer.

Jawbone in tightened hand, she battered the beast in the side, one-handed, and sent it skidding away with a caved-in torso. Gracefully, like a pixie, the boy landed. "My, my, how strong," he says, clapping the backseat of his skirt, before ruffling his pink hair, "I admire that. You don't need anyone here, do you, Margaret?" Maggie faltered for a moment. "If I had to guess, you're the Berserker in this game for seven, right," he asks, spinning his lance, "Let's test how much sanity you've retained, then." Maggie acted on instinct, as she swung up her jawbone, and deflecting the testing poke of a surprisingly fast attack. "Maybe, you aren't all gone, like him. I wouldn't have a used for you, if you were."

[How curious. Entertaining, even.] Maggie snarled, as she threw herself forward; swinging aimlessly, and was countered at every turn. [He's barely trying. Barely can. He's not as strong as I thought. He is fast, though.] Maggie panted, slowing, but launching all she had into a singular strike. "Gah!" she gagged, as her body locked in place, nature rejecting the situation at hand. "You really are useless, aren't you," the boy asks, disdainfully. "Couldn't even piercing divinity?"

Maggie gagged and growled, as she was, humanly, reacting to the spear-tip of the lance being pressed against the hallow of her throat. It didn't break flesh, but, it still hurt, as if it had -- her brain imagining the pain, and recreating it. Driven to her knees, she reeled for a solid moment, as the pain screamed though it. Even without activating the lance's hidden power, it was still formidable in it's legend. However, that was not enough to stop her forever, and she recovered. "You stabbed me," she asks, incredulously, looking up with the ground -- eyes wide and maddened. "I'm going to bury you in my garden, and blossom in your corpse." A broad smile cross the boy's lips, and he stepped back, "Unfortunately, that's not on the menu," he crossed both hands over his chest, and lost his white skirt and cloak for a black skirt and hooded cloak with the addition tightly wound system of fishnet and leather armor pieces.

Flicking his hand forward, he tossed a small card at Maggie's face, and three gumball-sized spheres. Distracted by the card, Maggie didn't noticed the sphere, until the crashed into her, and burst into a sizeable plume of smoke. Looking around, she didn't see the boy anywhere.

---

~Click-clack. ~

Behind Rebecca, the sound was sharp and noticeable. "Rebecca, no," asks the skirted boy, standing right beside her, yet he felt nonexistent, "A bit of silence, hm? I don't think she's happy with me." Chuckling, the boy watched the discard Class Card coast around the around; as if, being carried on winds of fate, before disappearing behind the bleachers. 'You were useful, I suppose, Astolfo. Pity, you didn't stay so. Isn't that right, Hattori-san?'

[Hai, McQueen-dono.]

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An amused smirk crossed Xerxes' lips, his axe clashing with Hal's, guarding with a single hand, having stepped back to intercept both axes with his own. "Ten Years, hmm...That makes you Odysseus. Well then, Oh Great Hero who took ten years to cross something as little as a sea, let's have our duel be uninterrupted," he said as a snap of his fingers resounded throughout the gymnasium, a hollow, low pitched sound that seemed to echo and reverberate, the floor seeming to shake...

Finally speared through its heart, Xerxes' steed fell, slumping over, tusks broken, jaw shattered, foot sliced, and fully pierced through its body. A rather pathetic sight to behold...or at least it would be, had it not immediately start breaking back down into its Spirit Form, fading from existence in a stream of glittering golden particles. The conflict that resolved, thankfully, without bloodshed between Maggie and McQueen had resulted in the Lancer class card he had been in possession of flying from his body, going to the bleachers where Tsukiya still hid. Floating before her, the gilded card spun ever so slightly, as if waiting to be reclaimed by her. However, just before any kind of reunion could occur, a powerful rumbling shook beneath her feet, and, in a singular moment, a bony hand erupted and reached out for her ankle, gripping it powerfully. Glowering at her from the hole it resided in, a skeleton's empty eyes glowed with a ghostly pale green light, adorned in fine robes of purple.

"More! More! Rise and serve me, those who bear the title of The Immortal! Kill once more in my name, Athanaton Ten Thousand!" Xerxes said, his smirk growing wider as more holes in the floor burst open, with skeletons literally beginning to flood the gymnasium, starting from the end opposite of the Class Card Holders. Makoto was the first to fire into the crowd of the growing legion, defeating one with a direct hit from another rock spear. However, the defeated skeleton was quickly replaced by another one, rising from the same hole it had emerged from. "There'll be no end to this...They're regenerating..."

"No. Worse. When defeated, they are simply replaced immediately. If they were simply regenerating, damaging them fast enough would work, but...Any damage to their numbers just results in reinforcements...a True Immortal Army." Zosimos replied in his mind, before Makoto got to launching more earthen spears, just trying to push their forces back. That wouldn't do however, as different kinds began pushing up, the holes continually sprouting closer to him, Rebecca, and Maggie. The legion only grew, and as the gymnasium filled more, their ranks shifted, many of the most basic, unclothes skeletons offering their mass to others, melding and congealing into horses made of human bone, their wailing skulls settling as the hearts of the beasts.

---

Xerxes' laughter filled the rafters as he glowered down at Hal, before kicking him squarely in the gut and retreating back a pace. "Come then, Greek Wanderer. Their anguish will flavor this bout. If you want them to live...then I suppose you had best come at me with everything you have." he said, his tone seeming to carry the message of: "As if you could" to Hal's ears. Before he could ponder though, Hal would find himself suddenly pressured by Xerxes' blows, the King of Persia's axe slicing through air as easily it could flesh. Each strike was precise, aimed at a joint, and happened so quickly that Hal had little time to focus on attacking rather than defending. However, there was only so much room up on the rafters...and a legion of warriors awaited below, those who were waiting to come to the front merely observing, and having their spears pointed up at where Hal was coming.

Falling from the edge of that rafter meant death.

With Xerxes relentless assault against him, Odysseus found himself quickly being pushed back by the Persian king. His intention in equipping himself with two axes was to use one for offense and other for defense, but with the difference in both strength and agility, it became obvious to him that both would be required in order to avoid being cleaved in half.

I told you.

Shut up. I know what I'm doing.

Do you? Because it looks to me like we're being pushed back.

Odysseus was silent, causing Hal's faith in his servant to continue diminishing. The lack of an answer though was not because he had none, but because the Greek hero needed his full concentration on the fight before him. Ducking downward, he kept his axes above his head, causing Xerxes' own weapon to glance off and strike the column to his left. The sound of screeching metal echoed throughout the gymnasium as the blade cleaved through like a hot knife through butter. In an attempt to give himself room to maneuver, Odysseus aimed a kick toward Xerxes knee before retreating to the opposite side of the beam they were both standing on. His back now against the other, still intact, column, the Ithacan prepared for another difficult defense.

Tsukiya

“Aren’t you going to fight?” A voice echoed out it sounded bright and chipper if a bit flighty. “I’m scared I'm not able to fight things like this,” Tsukiya replied softly she hated feeling this weak it bugged her like no tomorrow. “Than why don't you fight?” the voice replied still carrying that chipper tone in its voice. Like it what it was saying was the most obvious thing in the world which to be honest it probably was. “I can’t I'm not able to im weak a coward,” Tsukiya replied again her voice soft she didn’t know what to do. “Than don’t worry I’ll be your spear with me you will have nothing to fear I Astolfo Paladin of Charlemagne so swear it! Trust me as a paladin I will protect you! There will be no one that I will let harm you as long as you wield my power master we can go the distance even the moon isn’t out of our reach!!” A feeling surged inside Tsukiya she knew what needed to be done she thinks.

“I-i-i--include lancer?” She said a bit timid as suddenly the card she held turned into a large white jousting lance. Caught unaware by the large lance in her hand and accounting for the weight caught her unbalanced as she fell backward with a loud oomph as even the skeletons in front of her were paused by the comical scene. Trying her best she stood up hefting the lance in front of her as she charged forward the lance. The skeletons one by one collapsed as their legs vanished beneath them leaving the comical site of some trying to crawl spears and swords ready but moving nowhere fast. “That’s it master! Just like that, you see with me as your lance you have nothing to fear!” She heard the confidence and support from Astolfo filled with more confidence as she lifted the lance a bit more confidently but still a bit shaky on the legs as she prepared to face more of the army in front of her.

AJAX THE GREAT

“So he comes here huh a place full of children perhaps there is some brains in his head at least more than I thought.” A gruff voice said his face covered by a large Corinthian styled helmet its grand red plume was both overly large and a bit flamboyant as it trailed down his back. Clad in bronze armor that showed him to be a warrior of Greek origin a large shield clutched in one hand while the other readied a spear. “Odysseus my friend always a step ahead of me I see” he chuckled in good mirth as he spotted a familiar bow. “Can’t keep an ally waiting I will be their shield now just as I was in the war that was my vow and now it stands even truer now that a dear ally is among them.” “ODYSSEUS MY FRIEND DUCK!” He shouted as he threw his spear at Xerxes quickly climbing up to join the fight. “My friend I Ajax the Great will be your shield once more!” He jovially said his shield at the front as he caught up to the fighting warriors in front of him his shield covering him and the archer ready to block the next attack.

Well, at least the elephant has been dealt with. Rebecca thought as she shook out of her surprise only to see what was a large grouping of skeletons after Xerxe's little speech and the activation of one of his Athanaton Ten Thousand. She heard her name called but she stayed silent, feeling a presence but not focusing on it. After all, what went through her mind was that if they wanted her dead, they'd have done so by now. Besides, they may have been the ones that taken care of that elephant.

However, with this new development Rebecca started to recall information about the Persian king. While she did not know much extensively about Xerxes, she did know about the Persian Immortals if only because she looked them up after watching a few movies about them. Ten thousand elite soldiers and they were always immediately replaced when they fell on the battlefield. Rebecca felt the psychological effect on her even now that this noble phantasm was able to create. That is why Rebecca decided to chance untested power by installing Jeanne D'Arc, giving the saint a modicum of control.

This was also why Rebecca found herself in blue cloth with a banner on her back. The banner's noble phantasm was not active, with the requirement of that being it must be in Rebecca's hands, but it was already acting as the base for the Charisma skill. What was more: as Rebecca looked at the clothing she imagined herself in the shoes of the saint that they belonged to.

I feel...better. As if I can take on all of these things.

Because you are not alone and now you are even more capable than you were. That banner always reminded me that God was with me and so was an army.

But without Xerxes being defeated, they will just keep coming. Rebecca observed the skeletons being defeated then another replacing it.

Someone has to hold them off until a solution is made for the problem. Protect and inspire your friends as they come up with that solution. My sword of St. Catherine should be effective against these undead creatures.

And how do I inspire them?

If you cannot think of words, just let them see the banner as you fight.

Rebecca took a deep breath as she held the sword toward the approaching creatures, spotted what allies were in the most danger of being slain by the skeletons, then charged forth in an effort to buy time for the others to do what they needed. She just hoped Mr. Hal Sutherland would be unharmed up there in the rafters and be able to beat Xerxes as she pressed on.

Ducking underneath the incoming spear, the Archer turned around to see where both the projectile and the familiar voice originated. "Ajax?! Odysseus shouted out in surprise as the fellow Achaean completely blocked Xerxes' next blow. "What do you think you're doing?!" he demanded next, seeming not too happy with the Shielder. He had intended to redirect the Persian's attack to the support beam behind him, just as he had done the last one. With Ajax's heroic rescue though, he'd need to try again, meaning he'd need to get in front of that giant axe and risk his life again... Unless...

His initial shock and anger subsiding, the Greek hero remembered their battles together back during the war. And the guilt he felt after they lost him. "I'm sorry, friend. It's good to see you again, though I would have preferred it to be under better circumstances. Perhaps later we can try and get a drink together. For now though, I need your strength. How hard can you swing that shield of yours again?" As Odysseus asked, he took one of the axes in his hand and swung it into the side of the column, embedding the weapon into the column. It was his attempt at a signal, without giving away to Xerxes what his plan was, to drop the Persian king right on top of his army below where their pikes and spears were still pointed up into the air.

@Bushman501, @Guess Who, @Enkryption, @Suku

A scowl crossed Xerxes' lips as another Servant arrived...and of all things, it had to be the most boisterous and annoying of all. Already having been knocked back by Odysseus' kick, before Xerxes felt a warm sting on the side of his cheek, hurriedly touching it as he felt the red liquid flow from his cheek. "...You..." he said, voice full of spite as he raised himself up once more, absolutely seething with hatred at Ajax. To think...a GREEK of all things would manage to strike him with a projectile, even if it was glancing. His strength had to be something else to push it so close to even scratch him...this fight wouldn't be so trivial anymore. Snapping his fingers, Xerxes' skeletons stopped, and half of them turned their attention to the rafters. "There won't even be a scrap of skin left when I'm done with you both. First you, then all your friends down below will be nothing but a footnote in my legend." he said, seeming intent to step forward, before a massive hole burst in the Southern wall of the gymnasium, the dust clearing quickly as a massive headache walked in. Groaning audibly, Xerxes yelled: "WHAT NOW? WHAT FOOL COPIES MY ENTRANCE!? ...Nevermind. I already know. I never asked for your assistance, peon."

An echoing laughter filled the gym as a hulking figure, easily over 11 feet tall lumbered in, his very steps shaking the remains of the floor beneath them. Fiery red hair slicked back, mixed with a scraggly beard of the same color, the main appeared to be a gigantic torch from how brightly he shone in the barely functioning fluorescent lights, his very being seeming to glow, before all at once the dust cleared from him stamping his foot, revealing his full visage. "XERXES!" he bellowed, pointing up at the rafter. "HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO NOT COME? I SMELL A CHALLENGE! I SMELL STRENGTH! I SMELL..." he said, sniffing around, before looking around, stroking his beard. "...SEWAGE. YOUR SKELETONS ARE NOT DELICATE!" he noted, before carefully stepping over the many holes in the ground. Skeletons nervously stepped aside to let him pass, before he looked at the three Class Card Holders before him, stroking his chin. "...FIVE MINUTES." he said, lowering his stance a bit, before a single, wooden sword materialized in his right hand along with a small buckler shield on his opposite arm. "COME AT ME ALL AT ONCE, OR ONE AT A TIME. SURVIVE FIVE MINUTES, AND I WILL BE IMPRESSED!" he said, before a monstrous, excited grin overtook his face. "AND THE ONE BEHIND THE SEATS. YOU TOO." he said, casting a glance at where Tsukiya hid.

...An overwhelming aura of desolation overtook the gymnasium, as the hulking man stood before them. "ITS ONLY FAIR FOR WARRIORS TO EXCHANGE NAMES. I AM FLAMMA, HE WHO HAS WON FREEDOM FOUR TIMES, AND CAST IT AWAY FIVE TIMES." he said, seeming overly proud as he said so. "DO NOT KEEP ME WAITING." he said, seemingly waiting for the foursome to make a move, before a loud thud resounded from the wall, a rod of earth shooting forward and impaling him right in the center of his chest. Makoto, his hand on the pillar, looked nervously at the man, thinking he had just managed to kill him before the pillar quivered, Flamma walking forward, letting it pierce more through him until he raised a hand and broke it off halfway with a simple tap. The wound seemed to close immediately, and, in one swift motion, Flamma swiped his wooden sword at Makoto, before sending him flying out the wall. Grinning even wider, he seemed to be salivating, his muscles throbbing in a slight rhythm. He...was getting larger, ever so slightly. Looking down at Rebecca, he grinned. He seemed a far tougher opponent than Xerxes.

---

...Flat on his ass outside, Makoto was getting really fucking sick of being knocked through things, clutching his stomach, thankfully having transmuted his skin into a far harder material to absorb the impact. Still, it was incredibly painful, as if his bones were all vibrating against his innards from the force. "Aaugh..." he wheezed, struggling to sit up.

"Makoto." Zosimos said.

"Yeah?" he asked, sitting up slightly.

"You really should have tried detonating the material while it was inside of him, as the damage dealt would have-"

"...Shut up, Zosimos." he said, coughing as he rolled over, crawling to his feet. He needed to get back in there, but...what could he do against that kind of monster? That strength was beyond what any normal person had...it felt like getting hit by a freight train.

---

Flamma meanwhile just approached the two female class card holders. "A WORD OF WARNING; I'VE NEVER HELD BACK. THOUGH..." he eyed Maggie, and couldn't help but grin even wider, his lips tearing at his cheeks. "FOR YOU, I'LL GO ALL OUT."

Maggie dropped a skeleton; correction, several skeletons, as she dropped a large skeleton onto his skull into a crowd via a Full Nelson that transitioned into a German Suplex from a standing leap that made the entire thing a really confusing, yet sick hype flying Tombstone Piledriver with the impact zone of a Moonsault. Jumping up, she looped her jawbone around the neck of a skeleton, and jump, going prone, and brought them to a crashing halt out of nowhere. It was only when the skeleton army's more than feeble attempts to scratch and claw and actual break her -- both in flesh and morale -- stopped, did she noticed they had stopped, and did she take note of their pause, the cause, and his focus on her. Why? Why was he staring at her? Why was he smiling? Was he acknowledging her strength, her bloom, her brilliance...?

It felt nice.

It felt so nice, it was terrifying. Such grand acknowledgement. Such a powerful acknowledge that radiated around and away. It was so goddamn terrifying. It felt so nice, though. For a moment, she wanted nothing more than to become lost in it; to run away from it, and yet to it, as well. It terrified her -- just as her current form did. He was so strong -- stronger, still, than her. That couldn't stand. That couldn't be. If she wasn't stronger, then she would be like she always was. Alone. Scared. Weak. A pathetic nature that her maddened thought reviled, so strongly, it made her want to vomit. She wanted to be lost in his strength, his madness, his... his..

[Bravery.] supplanted the guiding voice, the beacon in her madness, the very cause and nature of it. [It's his bravery, you seek, my little flower. Same as the bravery, I give; generously.] The voice was different. Less creepy. Less risque. It was level, higher than her own. "I... I do..." Maggie all but asked. It wasn't a question, but acknowledgement, seeking affirmation. [Of course, you do.] Affirmation given, tout de suite. [Go, Margaret. Take his bravery. Kill him.] whispered the voice, coaxing her to its level. [Be braver, by being the only one that remains.] Maggie grinned, and tensed her muscles. Suddenly, her body relaxed, and slumped forward; from behind the curtain formed of her messy bangs, madness peered back at Flamma. "I'm going to take your jawbone, and beat your skull in." she promised, before THROWING herself straight at him.

It was on like Donkey Kong.

---

Meanwhile, less than willing to gamble on his own life, the Assassin-keeper stepped outside; teleported, as far as most eyes were concerned, but, nevertheless. However, he didn't retreat; tactical repositioning, is all. Besides, he was more interested in the one that was thrown outside than leaving. From his vantage point, he'd watched the scene unfold, and play out. He had accessed most of the Classes in play; roughly judging from their weapons, appearances, and behaviors. Makoto had hung back, and then suddenly a pillar impaled the new threat. That bespoke of one thing: "Caster, judging from the garish attire and that little trick of magecraft," he surmised with a casual callousness, standing behind Makoto, "Makoto, isn't it? Here's a question: what's your best magic trick? Don't dally answering. It might just save a lot of lives."

Tsukiya

Tsukiya looked forward lance in hand as she stared at the horde in front of her and now another person who joined the fray things was definately not going well. "Bad day, Bad day, Bad day, Bad day, Bad day, Bad day, Bad day." She started to say outloud as the number of skeletons became way too much for her to handle. "You need to install me!" Astolfo cried as Tsukiya continued running screaming bad day over and over again. "Dont worry! I astolfo will be able to guide every step of the way!" Nodding to herself Tsukiya stopped running her lance held in a knight's salute as she listend to the words he was whispering into her ear "INSTSALL LANCER!" She shouted as a wind seemingly pushed back the skeletons standing in Tsukiya's place was her but she was wearing a odd chainmail and skirt combo a horn strapped to her waist and a sword book on the other side. Hefting the once heavy lance she started to twirl it with expert ease. Her once black hair gained a single pink streak in it. As she let out a smile that was totally different from her normal and all the while she felt a strength and courage as she let Astolfo briefly take control. "I am Astolfo one of the twelve knights of Charlemagne I stand before you to protect my master!" She exclaimed loudly as she knocked away a skeleton with her lance before digging it into the ground and using it as pole vault to leap over a amount of skeletons Before grabbing the horn on her waist and blowing deeply into it causing the whole building to shake in the process but the skeletons started to break apart from the force of the horn.

AJAX THE GREAT

"HAHAHA I Can or have you lost your faith in me!" Ajax exclaimed as he caught onto the plan Odysseus was planning with relative ease wasnt to had to guess despite what many thought of him he was far from a battle crazed fighter like Achilles was at times no he knew how to strategize just as well. Without another word Ajax hefted his shield and swung at the side of Xerxes the large shield and Ajax's surprisisng strength causing him to be caught unaware as he soon fell landing with a loud thud as he landed on the floor. "HAHAHA just like old times friend now what say you we wrap fight up!" He exclaimed jovially grabbing his spear and pulling it out of the pillar before jumping down spear pointed downward as it impaled a few skeleton through its skull. Hefting the spear he pointed it at the new comer who apparently served under Xerxes. "COME FIGHT ME! I am AJAX HERO OF THE TROJAN WAR I ASK WHO ARE YOU!" He called out yelling his procolomation as loudly as he can.