Raula stayed mostly quiet. How easily the vampire's goals have shifted; though perhaps it was for the best. Not that she would say anything now that she was already in their little group with a handful of angry angels approaching towards them; but she had a hard time with her mixed feelings. Back to the scene in front of her, all she could do was scoff at the angel running in and acting the fool. Dealing with their kind wasn't her favorite thing in the world; but she has had her run-ins to those with similar stature.

As Azrael came closer, Raula melted into shadow. There wasn't much room to work with, so close to the luminous temple, but it would suffice to work her way around to the back. Reforming to appear ready to slam her hammer into the back of one of the watchers. Giving her all on the follow through, but melting back into the shadow rather than be caught on the rebound. This was probably the best she could do in this situation, but she wasn't deterred. Her shadow shifting away from the one she just hit to pop up and hit another with her next swing.

---

---

---

---

The oni wouldn't find herself going alone, as several others followed her close behind. Ratiq hid within her shadow from the prying eyes of Noire, who happened to be conversing closely with the head Bone-Man himself. The Chryseis lion would also come along as his radiant golden fur contrasted heavily within the dark, damp cavern. Even the silent Pandora wandered behind, looking curiously at the blank puddles of water that littered the ground. Jukati was perfectly fine going on a killing spree against the canid wardens, but she guessed they wanted a chunk of the murder pie as well. They probably couldn't help themselves.

Nonetheless, they would reach the werewolves' fort, which was located within a large cavernous keep. She could already hear the mutts' howls echoing from within, no doubt signaling the others to rally up and prepare themselves for the imminent battle. Ratiq would whisper this concern before vanishing in an attempt to enter the gated keep. She could barely see him slip by just as the gate closed in on him.

"Al'ighty," the muscular oni barked as she clasped her fists together, "If those damn mutts wanna have a go at us, then let us put 'em in their graves."

Before she could act on anything, the lion roared into battle as he pounced onto the wolf horde. With his entrance completed, it prompted Jukati to bellow a trembling war cry as she too ran into the battlefield.

"GRAAAAAH!" the oni boomed as she connected her flaming, meaty fist into the lower jaw of an unfortunate warden.

The wolf would find itself slamming head-first into the ground before the oni's foot caved its skull in with a sickening crack. Three other wolves had now proceeded to focus their efforts upon the raging oni as one lobbed its spear towards her. Jukati would strafe to her right, yet was quick enough to snatch the spear from midair. Her fist would cast the spear on fire just as a wolf lunged with a ferocious snarl. The oni jabbed at the wolf's torso with the flaming spear, before tossing it at the second wolf.

But the warden would swiftly dodge, prompting it and the other wolf to make their attack. The second wolf would lunge with a powerful leap, only for it to be countered by a flaming kick that threatened to shatter its ribcage. As the warden was tossed onto the hard ground, the third guard would be more cautious as it issued a mock charge to grab the oni's attention. Jukati lunged, leading the wolf to side strafe and swipe its spear towards its opponent's side, issuing only a minor scratch. It was a fruitless endeavor for blood as it found its snout obscured by Jukati's massive hand that lifted it off of the ground. Its spear would be snatched away as its face began to scorch in flaming agony, before it would feel flaming fist create a literal hole into its mid-riff.

As Jukati was about to drop the near-dead corpse, she would see the second warden attempt to get up from the corner of her eye. She would quickly advance on its position - still holding the third wolf by its face - before smashing the body straight on top of it, ending both of their lives on the spot.

"Of course I'm not human." Velo said, as if that answered the question brought forth by 'Lord Ignis.' "A human is defined by their life. A beginning, a middle, and an end. I have no ending, and as such I am something else. I am the first of a true master race, that will one day replace humanity. I just have to find others than myself worthy of such a position." He had always been above other humans. Emperors were an egotistical kind, and none more so than the the 27th Emperor.

He had no complaints following behind the others. He had no desire to lead the pack. He was immortal, but he could still feel pain, and he would rather not be the first to trigger some kind of trap. He had been crushed twice since arriving in the Abyss. The first time he'd been crawling about without legs for a while, and the second... He didn't really care to think about it. Long story short, he had to recreate several lengths of intestine.

But, he was the most disappointed when several canines turned to flee. He held up a hand, and a surge of electricity coursed through each that wore one of the collars he had invented. His eyes narrowed as a charge passed through their bodies.
"Each of you shall fight, and kill." Velo narrowed his eyes at them. He stayed near the back, further from the spears. "Fight them! You are many, they are such a small amount! Ten of you with ten spears is enough to end them! A swarm can overwhelm a giant!"
"Are you wolves, or human cattle?"

He had yet to develop a name for them, but he'd rather they fight than not at all.
His command was given, and as such, they would obey. They must!

Three things became abundantly clear very quickly. First and most disheartening was that diplomacy was doomed from the start, the Nephilim proving themselves no saner then the lowest retches in the Abyss and lashing out at even the fallen Angel's placating words. Second was that, for all the horror of their visage and speed with a lance, they were sluggish in every other regard. Even Raula's sledgehammer blow sent the Watcher staggering forward far longer then even a novice combatant would allow, tipping forward in it's floating state before moving to right itself as sluggishly as it had pitched.

Lastly, the collars worked wonders on making the werewolves obediant, as the pain roused by Velo's furry saw them loose a howl of madness and despair before the three flung themselves at the recovering Watcher. The presence of claws and fur against it roused some manner of reaction from it, helm jerking wildly as they leaped upon it and tore it to the ground, struggling with a vigor that came from thr spectre of death looming heavy upon them. Their prey's helm peeled away, strands of feathered metal opening like a sickening flower with a coreof meat and snapped for the nearest one, only for a flash of silver to herald a dagger thrown through the mass and pining it to the temple steps.

"Strike hard and fast. These husks have nothing to offer but the echoes of beings far more worthy of prolonged battle." Willowa hissed, a vial already rising to her lips as her throwing hand drew back from the launch of her dagger. A drop expertly sloshed out and not an ounce more, wetting her tongue before being stowed once more.

The now familiar growth potion, used as originally intended, resulted in the already tall elf to tower over those assembled at 18ft in height, even her clothes expanding till the hem of her coat was a wall of swishing cloth. Sighting upon the nearest of the two Watchers drifting from the temple she crouched and spring forwards, tucking herself in tight before shooting out like a spring under tension, hammering it into the ground beneath her enlgarged greaves. There was a dreadful squelch of metal and flesh, a splatter escaping from her heel like a burst melon, but she hardly found it enjoyable when the miserable creatures were numb to their own pain. "At least we know flattening works. Oi, dogs! Use a rock or something and smash that one already!"

And so the bloodshed began, the guards of the prison fighting to avenge their fallen and to throw the wannabe escapists back into cells where they belonged, permanently this time. But the numbers were on the side of the wolves this time, 5 to 1 at least as the groups began their clash. Chyrseis would find himself met by three werewolves at once as they rushed him, one with a sword and shield in paws to keep the mighty beat at bay while the other two were armed with spears from a slight distance, jabbing at the lion whenever they saw an opening.

Jukati's wanton slaughter caught the attention of much of the swarm as well, most of the group diverting their attentions to deal with what they saw as the clear biggest threat. If Jukati was particularly keen eared she may have even heard the subtle sound of string stretching as several wolves on top of the fortress walls pulled back their bowstrings, arrows aimed directly at the rampaging oni as they let loose. She would certainly have at least a moment to react as the wolves backed away in unison to avoid the shower of arrows, their pack tactics honed sharply enough that they could tell what their teammates were doing without even speaking.

Noire would have to deal with the leftovers then, only three other wolves who were approaching the cat with caution. "Alright kitty, be a good girl and die quickly will ya?" The lead snarled, before one of his companions jabbed him in the ribs with their elbow. "Don't be a fucking idiot Derick. This is the one we heard about." That last part was a somewhat fearful whisper, seems that Noire was a bit infamous among the wolves.

Their merry band of creatures and degenerates did as Lord Ignis commanded, to an extent. Split off each to their own seperate objectives, the man with the skull face cast his sight upon Pandora and where she lingered. The Abyss' jailer seemed lost in her own world, staring into the ripples of a lagoon that held little light and care for her. He would look upon her for who knew how long, doubtful she even realized her own watching. Then like water, Lord Ignis dispersed into shadow, light and wispy, and one that pooled along the craggly ground. Immediately his essence flickered over to one of the others, latching onto Chryseis' shadow without his notice. No doubt he would continue to be unaware, especially as the actually fighting began. The only indication that the lion's shadow was not his own were two gleaming red dots among it, dots that soon flitted away as the fighting intensified.

With the area now flooded with wolves, Lord Ignis cycled among them, "leaping" from one guard's shadow to the other before finally manifesting, ironically enough, into Rafiq's. Without notion or care for scaring the right, the lord of bone and shadow manifested back into a solid form, standing behind the gates where the rat was working. "Continue to open these doorways for the passage of our allies," he ordered before walking towards his real goal. After all, the pack's alpha couldn't remain hidden for long from his sight.

Rafiq's work was gentle, precise. Picking a lock was easy sure, as was going invisible and removing one's presence from the world to hide from angry vicious bloodthirsty wolves. But both of those at the same time, well that was a delicate balance of concentration. So it was no surprise that Rafiq was totally engrossed in their work, so much so that they didn't even notice the skeletal man appearing from their shadow until they spoke. Rafiq jumped as their tools almost slipped from their hands, flickering into view for a brief moment as they slipped their lockpick back into their sleeve. "What are you doing?" They hissed, looking back and forth to make sure the skeleton had not brought any undue attention onto it and attention to Rafiq in turn. "I said I would get the door open, I do not need a babysitter while I work. Work, labor, toil."

The sound of footsteps from behind Ignis approaching sent Rafiq into a panic as they focused on hiding, slamming their back against the wall farthest from Ignis as two wolves rounded the corner. These ones had armor on as well as good weapons, perhaps commanders of some sort? "Hey, what the hell are you doing here!?" One of them snarled as they drew their sword, the other unhooking an axe from a leather holster on their back. Good equipment indeed considering most everyone else had been either carrying their weapons in their hands at all times or had it tied to their waist with frayed rope.

Lord Ignis saw no need to remind Rafiq the dire straits of their situation, and that he should get back to work. The arrival of wolf guards saw to that, sending the rat squeaking away. "I require an audience with your leader. Don't keep me waiting." Same as before, Lord Ignis "melted" into shadow, dashing along the ground and slipping between the armored wolves. With their attention on him, that was more than enough assurance Rafiq could work in one piece again. All the same, Lord Ignis climbed up the steep holds of the rocky fortress, fluidly moving up the steps like the airy puddle he was before at last reaching what he sought. "Are you the one who holds legion over these legions?" Lord Ignis' voice spoke, ignoring all else but the one who proudly governed control of the Abyss' guards.

While Rafiq went back to work in unlocking the door, Ignis sent the entire base into a frenzy. Shouts of "INTRUDER" and "FIND THEM" rang through the halls as the skeletal lord jumped from shadow to shadow, the wolves unwittingly bringing their intruder straight to their precious leader. As for that leader... they were surprisngly human looking. A crude girl with feet propped up on her desk, knocking back some unknown alcoholic drink as Ignis spoke from the shadows. She sighed as she reached over to her axe, a great monstrosity of bone with a handle nearly as long as herself. "I swear, you can't trust anyone but yourself in this shithole of a prison. What the fuck is even the point of giving you stupid dogs weapons if you can't stop one monster from waltzing through our base and into my fucking office!?" She shouted, prompting a whimper of confusion and shame from the guards that were posted outside of her door.

"Alright, I don't have time for these fucking theatrics. Are you here to fight me or fuck me, because I'm only open for the second if you meet my standards." The leader said as she kicked her legs into the air, before slamming them back down through the desk as she stood up, both halves of the shitty wooden table flying into the walls as she hefted her axe onto her shoulder.

"I'd rather discuss things in a civil manner, though I'm sure the latter could be fulfilled by one of my comrades." Lord Ignis' voice grew higher, literally, as his shape took manifest form once more, physical and to the ground. "Speaking of them, I can't help but notice your forces greatly outnumber our own. Statistically speaking, it would only take your pets a few hours before overunning them completely. I would like to forgo this bloodshed for a prospect of joint union, so to speak. An alliance, if you will, since I can't imagine the humans treated your services in fair kind." Despite his fancy words, he spoke frank and to the point. Even with an unreadable expression, it was clear he cared not for any dallying, especially as he walked around the alpha's would-be desk before remaining by her side. "For starters, how about we open negotiations with our names."

The woman blinked with an unimpressed look on her face as Ignis emerged from the darkness, leaning forwards slightly to meet the skeleton's eye level. "Yeah, you're fucking screwed. No shit. So now you're coming here begging me to take your side, because you were stupid enough to pick a fight you can't win. Nice job." She smirked as she laid down the facts, an aura of raw smug rolling off of her as she tilted her head mockingly. "Fine, I'll throw you a bone boneman. The name's Haru, and I'm the fourteenth warden of the Chained Wolves. I'd say it's nice to meet you, but it really ain't."

"Listen I don't give a shit about humans or about this stupid race war that every single monster seems to obsess over around here. I was born and raised in this fucking pit, so I don't know what's so good about whatever is up there."She motioned upwards vaugely, though who even knew if up was the right direction when pointing to the outside world. "Honestly, I don't think things are even that great out there. Something fuckin happened and you all got loose, maybe every single idiot on the surface died. Maybe there is no more surface anymore. Maybe if we all team up and be buddy buddy, ripping and tearing our way through the prison, probably losing every single one of my dogs in the process since you're gonna treat them like bodies to be thrown at whatever trap, maybe we'll just all die when we step out into the void. I dunno. All I know is, I get good grog, good food, and I get to fuck whoever I want as long as I keep you idiots in your cells." Her grip on the axe shifted slightly as she stepped back and straightened out to her full height.

"So tell me, what the hell do you have for me that could convince me to risk life and limb just to escape to a surface that might not even exist?"

"Your observation of the situation is remarkable, if not skewered in some bias. Though as a creature borne from these waves, your ignorance of the surface is understandable. I would like to think your wolves would be treated in an appropriate fashion through negotiation and I would insure their use would not be in vain. Especially when their leader would be so generous as to come to terms." Lord Ignis' eyes flashed once as Haru stood to her full glory, hand ready to smash and tear apart with her axe. Now it was his turn to be unimpressed, though that might have just been his normal expression. "What then, could I give you as a token of my good faith? A good stepping stone would have to be your life."

A great pressure evoked itself around the wolf alpha, one that had no qualms with pressing down to crush muscle and bone as it saw fit. The source sprouted from beneath Lord Ignis' feet as a dark and muscular appendage shot out to grasp Haru. Taken in the shape of an arm, it clenched the wolf alpha in one hand, fingers larger enough to crush her head fully but instead, they continued digging into the wolf instead. "I extended my hand as an olive branch, but it seems mutts are to be taught through pain and fear instead. Fascinating. I will need to remember that once we complete our negotiations," spoke the skull-faced man as another arm from the opposite side shot out, both now completely holding Haru in place and squeezing. If any of her guards dared to come near, the presence of something unseen would stare back at them, a ghastly and horrid visage gleaming from the darkness pooled beneath their master as they dared each dog to come that much closer to death.

"Let's start over. You may call me Lord Ignis."

Despite being caught in what seemed to a horribly painful grip from both sides, Haru barely even flinched as she was squeezed tightly by the two shadowy arms, in fact she actually looked somewhat amused. "There you go, now you're getting it bonehead!"She shouted as the two guards busted down the door, stopped by a horrific gaze. But it was not Ignis's monster that stopped them, but the snarling glare that their own boss shot their way. "Stay the fuck out of this you morons! You already fucked up your chance to have a go!" She growled as her muscles began to bulge, white fur erupting from her skin, her nose elongating into a snout as she transformed. "You can kick a collared dog as much as you want, but they're still gonna be waiting for you to go to sleep, waiting to tear your throats out and feast on your corpse in a moment of weakness. You'll learn that soon enough with those men of mine you collared." She said as she flexed her muscles, the transformation beginning to finish as she painstakingly pried the hands off of her form. "The only way you're gonna get our loyalty, is if you beat the alpha!"Haru roared as a wave of white energy burst from her form, multiple cuts and lacerations appearing all over the surface of the hands as she forced the appendages away from her and brought her axe to bear.

"And I don't plan on going down like some prissy bitch!" With a roar she swung her axe into the hands on either side of her, the bones comprising the weapon twitching ominously as the gem planted firmly in it's center glowed a dull crimson. Whatever wounds were made by the axe would suddenly magnify in size, even the most minor cuts suddenly becoming gaping wounds that would be life threatening to any living creature.

"To gain their loyalty, I must defeat the alpha? Yes, I suppose that would be the most logical. Fascinating." Lord Ignis lowered his face, though it was not out of fear or shame. Even as the shadowy hands flinched briefly from Haru's transformation, their master pondered in deep though, ignoring the flashy transformation and hellspawned hatred before him. "Ah, yes then. If it will be the quickest method of achieving my goal, then I will do exactly that then." And once more Haru was trapped beneath the hands, each one renewed now that their master no longer waivered. Her silly toy was discarded, one great hand clenching hard into her arm until bone splintered and broke for the axe to drop, embedding itself into the floor. It wound up, dragging Haru with it, slamming her into what used to be her personal room, before finally smacking her to the furthermost wall. As if on purpose, such wounds that she thought were inflicted to Lord Ignis' constructs merely sizzled away in a layer of burning, intense darkness.

With the wolf pinned as she was, Lord Ignis approached, forgetting briefly of the guards too scared to move behind him. "I need to thank you Warden Haru of the Chained Wolves. A very valuable lesson has been taught here and I will ensure these teachings won't go to waste." Lord Ignis thus raised his actual hand, red sketches etching themselves from the top of his glove to his palm. Runic, ancient, and very much blasphemous symbols brightened themselves upon his hand, eager in their wretched magic and hungry for the dog in front of them. "Yes, I will do well to keep you firmly collared Haru. Let's deal with those fangs first." he spoke as he reached closer and closer towards her head.

Back and forth Haru was dragged, bone cracking and shattering with each slam, just as quickly mending back together thanks to Haru's superior regenerative capabilities. Her own attacks were rendered ineffective completely, a complete domination of the warden without a doubt. But even as Ignis approached, that look of defiance never left her face, not a hint of fear present in her visage as he conjured runes of an unholy nature into reality. "Do your worst! I'll use your fucking arms as toothpicks!" She roared, defiant to the end.

And in the corner of the room, hidden from the eyes of wolves and skeleton, a rat observed. Door long since unlocked and opened, Rafiq watched the proceedings of Ignis with a hint of confusion. If this man was so strong, why even bother recruiting so many to his cause? Very confusing, perplexing, puzzling. Indeed.

---

---

Azrael nodded, taking Wilowa's words to heart as he charged in with quintessence raised, slicing at the Watcher closest to him. Faster and faster until it was finally laid immobile on the stone floor, its pulsating body sliced into many charred and burnt pieces, each smelling worse than the last.

Using one of the eyes embedded in the palm of one of his left hands, Azrael noticed the flashing of a spear tip, moving to the side just fast enough to avoid being skewered by it. Turning his attention towards the attacking angel, which had wandered out of the temple sometime during the battle, he zipped towards it, wings outstretched. Raising his fiery blade, he brought it down with all the strength he could muster, cleaving the foul-even for his standards-creature in two. Moving away from it, he looked about the battlefield and, noticing the wolves going in to take down another one of the Watchers, moved in to help.

Noire was happy to stay on the side lines. Watching everyone rushing into the fray in a fury of battle-fueled rage. Even the skeleton man found something interesting to do as he slipped away past the front line. The cat had just decided that it would be nice to follow; surely there was something waiting for her just inside those doors; other than that rat that is. But no, a couple of loud dogs had caught scent of her and apparently didn't listen close enough to those rumors.

"Nya~? So you've heard about be before, I'm so embarrassed..." Noire puffed out her chest for the wolves. Feigning inapt carelessness towards her attackers before flipping her demeanor a hard 180°. ">.>" Thousands of needle point spikes took shape between the cat and the dogs. Straight and stiff, each wire were less than a millimeter thick. Noire wanted to know what the rat and skele-man were doing within that building; not play with more dogs when she could've easily had any way she wanted back in the lagoon. No, they were worth less than the swiss cheese they were about to become. Wires shooting forward to skewer the dogs how they stood; killing them instantly. Riddling them with thousands of holes, no part of their body were left untouched from the wires. Penetrating them well onto the other side before retracting back into the cat. Their bodies falling limp onto the ground, motionless. ">.> If I have to deal with another one of your kind, I'm going to keep it a live just long enough to tell the others. Hmph."

Pain was a great motivator, but pain can only do so much when all other resources are lacking. Sure, he might have motivated their three remaining wolfmen to action, but it was clear they were far from enough. Worse, so far from being enough that all they could do was take advantage of the enemy's much slower motions. Thankfully... He never came alone.

"Right hand, exterminate." The lumbering titan that followed Velo lurched into action. It was much slower than the wolves, and in a regard one could say that slowmotion might have made it unsuited for fighting the mindless shades of the Nephelim. But, if the wolves could smack the creatures down, it was all in the power of the Right Hand to put them down for good.

The wolves were smart enough to move aside just time, before a fist slammed down onto their fallen enemy. That fist, charged with a fatal electric pulse, was more than enough to fry the brain, and implode the chest cavity. That emotionless machine was perfect for the emperor's desires.
"Do any of you need aid?" Velo inquired, gesturing for his Right hand to stay with the wolves. With luck, that might help motivate them to ignore the specter of death.

Raula had began to work up a sweat; something she only enjoyed during certain circumstances. This was not one of those times. Instead she continued to bash away between each of the foes. Shadow jumping from one to the other before bashing them with a swing of her hammer. In the grand scheme of things, she probably wasn't doing as much as the others. Though she did quite well to be an annoyance to them and split their attention. Flittering across the battlefield proved to be simple enough to dodge their retaliation strikes and the others were more then capable to crush them by themselves. The drow had enlarged herself to the point she could probably take care of everyone without too much trouble, and Azrael was in a fighting spirit as always.

Taking form on the sidelines, she withdrew herself from the battle. There wasn't anything more to be done that the others couldn't take care of; her leering eyes watching the others. Perhaps she judged them a bit too soon with the last battle, though they wasn't going to keep her from reaching the surface; even if she would have to leave them at some point. But for now, she was fine baby sitting another group. She only wished....

While the Watcher's had made slaughter of captive prisoners, their cursed existence's were just as curtly snuffed out under the retallation of the Escapees. Dragged down and crushed till none remained, even the whimpers of the werewolves rendered mute by the sheer incredulity that they had indeed prevailed, and having done so with ease. Credit was due to their skill, without doubt, but the mindless nature of these lost angels had rendered them no more intelligent then a simple golem. None that persisted in such hopeless agony could claim to hold their sanity, let alone any of the divinity that once powered them.

So it was rather alarming for the Giant Willowa to fall to one, a curtain of blood fountaining from a lacerated calf as Watcher who knew nothing of hunger stood behind her, sword drawn back from a slash that had carried it from the temple interior to the present battlefield. Armor-like flesh writhed a warm blue, tufts of magic leaking into the air that radiated a holy energy that struck Azrael with feelings of warmth while Raula would find it as toxic and noxious as the most combustable of swamp concoctions.

A backhanded fist as large as it's chest swung towards it, and unlike it's lesser kin this Watcher had the wherewithal to dodge, a beat of it's wing sending it gliding alongside Willowa's fist where a sword mounted beneath each feathered extremity cut a shallow gash into her bracers. Distancing itself from a hobbled foe it sprang towards Velo, sword raised high and reverbating with a endritch roar that shook it's bulk righteously. In the shifting of plates, Raula and Velo would be able to see inside and find that unlike the other Watchers, there was the vague impression of someone inside the fathomless chest cavity. Less a wielder of the armor and more an power source.

Just as quick as it exposed itself, it was still bearing down upon the Immortal with both holy blade and keen skill.

---

Chryseis took on the wolves' stratagem with nothing more than overwhelming might. The spears that attempted to jab into his body stopped at the skin. The Nemean Lion possessing a body impervious to mortal weapons also apply to the weapons wielded by these werewolves. They may be better than the cheap trash they were using before; however, it's still not enough to break through his defenses.

'If they just use more force, then they can break through it. Alas, they aren't strong enough.' He lamented their weakness and cherished their futile fight. As he rose his claws, the sword fell on it and shattered into pieces. He carried the motion of his swipe and blasted the wolf off his feet and turned his attention towards the spear wielders. His eyes landed on the spears themselves and he smirked.

Chryseis's body was changing, shrinking to a smaller and more compact form. The two wolves helped their fallen comrade to his feet as they prepared to take in the sudden glow. What was revealed after the metamorphosis was a man with a sublime, golden luster. He stood well over six feet and was dressed in a general's military uniform. "Wonderful. A nostalgic sight." He couldn't hold himself back and rose his hand in front of them to conjure a spear as gold as his hair.

The speed at which he spun it kicked up wind pressure. His eyes narrowed and his grin grew wider. Chryseis charged at the wolves who tried to defend themselves with the spears. Their weapons were severed by the blade of the golden lance and the wolves were slashed deeply.

Blood flew through the air as they fell down and didn't get back up. "Now then..." He noticed the Oni getting the brunt of their fighting force so he decided to stroll over in that direction.

---

Raula wasn’t the only one who watched the Watchers—and those who fought them—from the shadows. The unmistakable, yet faint, sound of chains echoing through the cave’s wall was the herald of Pandora’s arrival. Once again, the being who opposed the fugitives seemed to bear her no mind and, once again, she brought a small hand to her chest, clenching it tight as if she were grasping her own heart.

Save for the maddening clashes of battle, the cave was still and cold, a sign of the nature of their confinement. Every strike and every groan reverberated through the walls along with the sounds of pooling water, but even so, the chains were always there. Present, yet ethereal, just like Pandora herself.


It takes an illusion to see through another one. Or so it was said. Perhaps then, it was no wonder that Pandora would also be seen in the werewolves’ keep, looking over the massacre with distressed eyes.

The echo of chains reverberated past Chryseis. Their wailing symphony was like that of tolling bells as Pandora made her way past both him and the Oni he sought to assist. Her feet barely touched the lagoon’s cold, moisty floor, in fact even the way she moved seemed unnatural.

And, as certain as the fact the Abyss would always be there to welcome all those wretched and rejected, unnatural things beget one another. It was no surprise, then that Pandora would be making her way to the stage of Ignis and the Chief Werewolf’s duel. And there she remained in silence once again, watching from the same shadows as a certain rodent.

---

Chryseis's approach towards Jukati was abruptly cut off as 5 more wolves stepped between him and the oni, who appeared to be handling her own wolves quite well given how most of the red she was covered in was certainly not her own. Each of the wolves facing Chryseis now were armed not with swords or spears, but blunt maces, made for breaking bones and rupturing organs. Seems as if they had learned rather quickly that they wouldn't be piercing the skin of the Nemean Lion, instead opting to go for breaking each and every one of his bones with blunt instruments of pain. Maybe an old dog can learn new tricks.

Meanwhile with Noire, she would find the amount of wolves attacking her to be quite... nonexistent. It looks like seeing their comrades seemingly drop dead without her even touch them had scared off everyone from attacking her, leaving her a clear line into the now open fortress. When she ventured inside she would many wolves crowding the corridors, however none of them were actually paying attention to the intruder. No, if she payed attention to the murmurs of the crowd, she might just catch rumors and whispers of something rather interesting.

"The boss got trounced-"

"-heard she surrendered for us-"

"I'm telling you, there was this giant skeleton thing that-"

"-they used to know each other-"

"-apparently they were lovers once-

"-and they were roommates!"

Rumors spread fast it seems.

Was not easily impressed, or terrified. But even he had to admit there was something terrifying when a giant could fall. The spray of blood scattered about, and he felt nauseous in the presence of this... Watcher. Sure, he was human, and as such its aura would not be as apparent as it might be to fallen angels, or demons, but even he could feel awe, and fear. He took a step back, clenching his fist to recall his golem. Probably a bit late as the combat had drawn it further from him than he might enjoy. And far to far for it to turn quickly and guard him before the watcher reached.

He was immortal, but he saw what that other had done to the werewolf. He could not risk anything that might attempt to maul him, or worse capture him. "Eagles, attack!" Golden animatronics unfurled from beneath his coat, and several of his golden drones snapped to life. They sailed the distance between him and the attacker, while he stepped back further and further away. Each of the eagles divebombed at the attacker, two or three at once. He only had nine left after scrapping one to make the collars for the werewolves, but the goal wasn't to overwhelm with power. Rather, he expected them to maybe distract, draw attention, long enough for his guardian to charge back.

With luck, his Right Hand, a feat of imperial magitech, would slam into the blue armored watcher's back. Slamming fists down onto its wings, and forcing it to the ground.
"What are you waiting for, Azrael!? Help me!"

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Azrael pulled his quintessence free of the Watchers skull, and had begun moving away from the wolves when his ears picked up Velo's cry for help. Turning towards him, the exile rocketed towards the immortal with a slight flap of his many wings. Stopping just short of the emperor, he raised his fiery sword on high and, with as much stength as he could muster, brought it down on the nape of the Watchers neck, burning through armor and rotted flesh alike.

Pulling his blade free from the charred ruins once more, he turned his gaze upon Velo.

"What's the matter Emperor?"

A smirk disfigured the angels horrific face.

"Do my kind frighten you?"

Despite his words, which were mocking to a certain extent, Azrael understood Velo's panic all too well. Being trapped in the belly of one of these things, forced to digest for Seven knew how long, was a fate even he feared.

---

With both conflicts about to end the time had come. Time for Pandora to step out of the shadows. The unveiling of her presence would likely be enough to send a chill down the spine of those who opposed the escapees, Watchers and Werewolves alike. Whether they knew the truth or it was just instinct didn’t matter, setting their eyes on Pandora would be enough for them to K.N.O.W. it.



The first to know Pandora’s touch would be the werewolves’ boss. Forever a dog bound to her chains, whether she knew it or not. Now it was time for those chains to make themselves known once again.

And so they did with Pandora stepping right between her and the mysterious Ignis, cradling the beast’s face with her frail arms. For an ordinary onlooker, it would seem like even a sneeze from the beast would be enough to throw her away, however, the way Pandora looked at her said a whole other story.


The same could be said for the Watchers. However, Pandora wouldn’t approach one of the specifically. Instead, just as Azrael dispatched the foe threatening Velo, both of them would be able to notice that she was there, standing silently less than a feet behind him. All of their powers and Velo’s guardians being none the wiser of Pandora’s presence until she made herself known with the same rattling of unseen chains.

---

What Pandora witnessed could hardly be called a duel. There was little fighting happening between the two sides. Indeed, all bloodlust and violence simmered away from the rowdy wolf chief as soon as Lord Ignis placed his hand upon Haru. Those wolves guarding the entrance never noticed her presence-or the rat’s for that matter-until Pandora appeared before the skull-faced man and his quarry. However, Haru’s expression was completely blank and it didn’t change in any degree even when her face was caressed by Pandora.

“What are you doing, Chains of the Abyss.” Lord Ignis’ voice rumbled above the dainty girl. The figure’s face looked down at her, eyes near-glowing under the lowlight as they regarded Pandora with an unreadable expression. His words naturally matched the hollowed-out gleam of his looks. “I’ll ask again. What are you doing.” Haru for her part, still didn’t react to Pandora’s touch. She continued staring forward blankly as if the girl was unseen by her sight and unknown to her senses. Only after a few seconds did she move away from Pandora.

The wolf chief steadily got up to her feet and briskly stumbled over to the door as if in a drunken stupor. “She will be announcing her acceptance to our negotiations,” Lord Ignis announced, more for Rafiq than anyone else in the room. “Soon she will call off her wolves and integrate her allegiance to our sway. It only took some persuasive thinking for her to realize she needs us just as much as we need her.” Indeed, Lord Ignis’ predictions were correct.

One by one, steady as it was, the flow of endless wolves that poured out of their base stayed like a clogged faucet. The sea of dark pelts no longer writhed like a howling pack as the order to back down passed just as swiftly as any rumor regarding Haru’s defeat. Of course, no mutt would dare deny any such order from their leader no matter how strange or sudden it came. Soon even those fighting below would halt and allow the escaped criminals minutes of reprieve.

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Chryseis grinned as he was beset by more opponents. He brandished his spear and prepared to run it through the closest one when all of a sudden news spread through them like wildfire. The will to do battle vanished from their eyes and their spirits as they rapidly stopped surrounding him.

He spared a glance towards the raging Oni who seemed to be winding down as well. The sigh that escaped from his lips wasn't a voluntary one. The battle was well and truly over by this point.

It was a sudden, unsatisfactory conclusion for the lion that craves to ravage and love everything at full power. He was just getting his engines revved up when the fight ended. He reluctantly accepted that with his spear still pointed at the wolves. It vanished into motes of light as his outstretched arm fell to the side, his grin changing into a dispirited frown.

"How droll. Will all of you become a bore and lay down your arms like that? I slaughtered your comrades, brothers, sisters and the like. Well, no matter." His momentary frown lightened back to a grin filled with malice and purity in equal measures.

"Yesterday's enemies are today's allies. It would be a pleasure to go to war with you all." His eyes flashed in excitement. All that laid in those pools was a desire for destruction taken to the absolute limits.

With that said though, he still wondered what caused them to settle down like that. It could've only been their boss issuing an order, for if the boss was actually murdered, then they would've absolutely gone into a raging frenzy. 'That's also an acceptable end, though unfortunate that isn't what unraveled.'

He ventured into the fortress where the boss should most likely be. There was no door to obstruct him due to the efforts of the handy thief. Chryseis's eyes first landed on Rafiq, then he followed his befuddled gaze to Ignis who was currently doing nothing. There was also no sign of the boss for some reason.

"Oh? What do we have here?"

It saw her. It saw the chains. It saw the delusion. As it loomed before Velo, it saw a glimmer truth and was stricken by the weight of something beyond the cursed hunger it had overcome, and in doing so, it saw no more.

Willowa expected more from the last Watcher, yet it's head was parted from its shoulders without incident. There was a wet plop, not from the armored exterior but from the host it parasitized. A head rolled free of the Watcher, coming to a stop before Azreal. It's skin was pale and hair matted, yet there was the light in its eyes that told of life. He met the eyes of Azreal and its mouth moved in an alien hiss.

It grated against the Drow, but to angelic ears it rang with sweet gratitude before the light left his eyes and the head was truly deceased. This soured her mood considerably as the well spring of emotional anguish and despair went with it, lightening the air of the temple area considerably to her pain-attuned senses. "There's nothing left here that can threaten us."

Already the light was leaving the temple, dimming till only the natural lighting of the abyss surrounded them. The Drow, seeing nothing left to warrant her size, took the counter-potion and reverted in scale. A fortunate side effect was the reversal of her wounds as the excess flesh worked over the cut and restored it. The pain of others was like fine ambrosia but tolerating unnecesary cuts on her own person was just bothersome. "This looks like a good place to establish. Shall we go report it to the others?"