[hr]ATTN: [@AzureKnight], [@The Irish Tree], & [@Polaris North][hr][hider=The Handmaidens of the Sun and the Moon]Lupina tightened her field of view by widening her eyes, and drawing more light into her pupils. "[color=BDD3E9]Eyes of Häyhä![/color]" she overcharged her eyes with Espermancy, and saw the thoughts and motions of everyone that was within her line of sight. Drawing back on her bow, Lupina would manifest an arrow of hatred, of disappointment, of sadness; emotions of negativity and the strength of. Aligning her arrow with the timeline, she looked forward - just a second, and no more - and released her shot. Ripping through the salient darkness, the arrow would punch through the head of her target, as it moved into the shot by no means of influence. It was simply going through the motions, moving along its path, and she led the shot. "[color=BDD3E9]Baast, be the eyes in the back of my head. There is much to kill, and I cannot watch omnipotently...[/color]" "[color=D8B895]As if I needed to be told,[/color]" Baast groused, manifesting in his effeminate, human form, and drawing the twinned katana that were his own upper fangs. "[color=D8B895]Don’t strain your eyes so much, though. The First Handmaiden is down there, as well...[/color]" "[color=BDD3E9]I’m aware...[/color]" Lupina says. "[color=BDD3E9]I may need her...[/color]" Lupina would move from her nest, and scout out a new location to better support Scarlett. Once she did, she would dig in, and observe... "[color=00ccff]Eosinophil! Evolution![/color]" Scarlett leveled her right arm, as it transformed into the triple-barrelled harpoon gun form of her normal spear-morph. Not wasting a shot, she fired the three harpoons into the body of a Malfested Soldier, and locked the gears in place with a loud CA-CHUNK~! before they were put in reverse, and she reeled in the body. As she did, the chain would pulse rhythmically - the leeching blood-vessels-turned-chains drinking the blood, leaving the husk to fall at her feet. Ripping the hooks out with a bloodless spray, Scarlett licked her lips, and pulled on a bolt-action lever on her bicep - firing three canisters out the bottom of her arm like expended gun casings. After a moment, she pushed the lever back into place and folded it forward. "[color=00ccff]Nadia, you dead,[/color]" Scarlett asks. "[color=00ccff]If not, doing something is advised...[/color]" Her piece spoken, Scarlett would turn her reloaded weapon and fire again. [color=00a99d]"Oh! I'm just fine, thanks for asking!"[/color] Nadia snapped in a panicked, sarcastic tone. She tried to ignore Scarlett's visceral spellcasting and attempted to push back the rotten horde with her aero familiar. Shooting out a barrage of vacuum blades, Zephyria diced incoming malfested into dozens of blackened pieces. [color=00a99d]"Why must my luck be so terrible…?"[/color] "[color=00ccff]If you could cry less, and leave some of the bodies intact, science would thank you, and I’d appreciate the silence,[/color]" Scarlett says, as she shirked her cloak, and revealed her almost naked body - as well as the weight she put on Imperfect Cell slurping Malfested Soldiers. "[color=00ccff]Almost enough biomass. I can’t take on much more Miasma, though.[/color]" Nadia would notice that she could see Scarlett’s blood vessels where they normally would never show, and they were a harsh purple against her brown skin - like they were hyperoxygenated by the Miasma she was ingesting, and retaining. [color=00a99d]"This is a sad excuse for a field study! I can't imagine those nightmares taste very good either."[/color] Nadia retorted. She looked at Scarlett's body as it processed the miasma it was devouring. As Scarlett was in fact a malfested being as well, Nadia couldn't help but wonder how it is she retained her rationale and reasoning. She was truly a special case. But it would appear that she was reaching her limit as well. [color=00a99d]"You don't have to…eat them you know. You could just kill them, like you threaten to do to most other people…"[/color] "[color=00ccff]I need biomass for reloads, for morphs, to heal damage,[/color]" Scarlett says. "[color=00ccff]These powers... aren’t cheap. Malfeasance comes at a cost,[/color]" she dropped another husk, "[color=00ccff]Be glad you don’t have to pay it.[/color]" Scarlett reloaded, casings slamming around her feet, and her stomach trimming down. "[color=00ccff]They don’t taste right, though...[/color]" she frowned, "[color=00ccff]Something is off about this...[/color]" [color=00a99d]”Off?"[/color] Nadia was almost afraid to ask. Off how, exactly? Not that she was particularly interested in the different hue of flavors that were associated with miasma. Nadia noticed that the knight from the Church was busy at work hacking away at her foes, along with Hector and Shavis dealing with things on the forefront as well. She reluctantly had to rely on Scarlett for support if things got too dicey. Scarlett would start to hear a faint voice echoing in her mind, they may reverberate to her sisters due to the shared connection they held. [i]Mother…[/i] "[color=00ccff]Miasma is a flavor like anything else,[/color]" Scarlett says, "[color=00ccff]It can be synthesized, and like anything faked, it doesn’t taste right,[/color]" she frowned, ignoring the voice that rose up, "[color=00ccff]If these were natural born beasts... they would taste... rich, addictive...[/color]" she explains, "[color=00ccff]These are sour, spoiled. Something... or someone... made these.[/color]" [color=00a99d]"You're saying someone is actually [i]making[/i] malfested?"[/color] Nadia said, mortified.[color=00a99d]"I mean, does that actually help us right now?”[/color] Almost cutting her off, a malfested pounced on Zephyria and raked its claw across his torso. Both let out a pained cry, sharing a master/servant link [color=00a99d]”Nggh! Scarlett, help!"[/color] She uttered. Scarlett turned before a spear would rip through the torso of the Malfested Soldier, as if karma came calling, and she scanned the skies, seeing the sniper on watch. "[color=00ccff]Seems she’s turned her attention my way...[/color]" Putting the matter aside, Scarlett would tend to Nadia; hiking up her shirt, and discarding her spear-morph, so she could place her fingers upon her belly, and spread them out - a sharp spike of Void Energy erupting from the five points of contact, and momentarily severing the link between Nadia and Zephyria. The Wind Spirit wouldn’t be banished, however, as the snaring energy kept him tethered. "[color=00ccff]No cross-contamination, it seems,[/color]" Scarlett says, looking... relieved? Before Nadia could press it, Scarlett would remove her fingers, and reform her weapon. "[color=00ccff]You need to be mindful. If these creatures are artificially made, then it is possible they can infect you with Miasma through your Gladr,[/color]" she says, "[color=00ccff]It’s a sickness of the body, the mind, and the spirit. In the field of battle, and science, every bit of knowledge matters. You, of all people, should know that.[/color]" "[color=00ccff]I have an idea... if you are willing to cooperate...[/color]" Scarlett says, looking to Lupina’s position, seemingly speaking to the woman out of sight. "[color=00ccff]Nadia...[/color]" she looked back, before dropping into a crouch, "[color=00ccff]This isn’t a laboratory. This isn’t a classroom. This is a battlefield. It’s not a place for you,[/color]" she turned away, "[color=00ccff][i]You’re useless here. Fine somewhere, and hide. I’ll come find you later.[/i][/color]" Leaving her no word to argue, Scarlett would jump into the air, onto a building, and Nadia would see a streak of Lupina’s arrow fire across the field at Scarlett - only to be absorbed by her spear-morph, and with a sound akin to a tank firing a shell, it would be launched by Scarlett to another location that Lupina couldn’t reach from her perch. Their coverage had expanded. [color=00a99d]"W-wait. Zephyria, you have to save him…"[/color] Nadia uttered out. The wind summon was able to blast the beast off of him, but without direction from his master he would find himself quickly surrounded. Scarlett's words pained and angered her, but she was ultimately correct. Nadia was a scientist and not a fighter. One slice and her whole stride was lost. She couldn't even properly defend her familiar… The tank fire would ring out, and the Wind Spirit would be lifted by the heat of the concussive wave. Scarlett moved her attention elsewhere, as the explosion had scattered the flesh-made beings wide, but left the spirit of air to float on created thermals. Her enhanced arrow wasn’t a physical thing, but a magical creation, so it didn’t have shrapnel to deal any extra damage. Zephyria would have a clear path to evacuate Nadia, as Lupina shot down reinforcements. It was up to him where she would be safest at, however. Pushing through past the malfested abominations that prowled the township’s streets, Hector’s eyes were focused, careful as he rounded a corner, only to find the scene of Scarlett with her hands upon Nadia, a spike of corrupted energy running through Nadia. The marksman’s eye went wide, rifle raising as Herne hissed upon his wrist. What initially seemed like an attack was apparently a bid to sever the painful link between Nadia and her familiar. …Had Scarlett…just helped someone? Sticking to the shadows, Hector would keep watch on the two long enough to witness Scarlett tell Nadia to flee. …Detestably, his estimation of Scarlett had just risen. The beastial woman could care for others. Still, Nadia wasn’t free from the danger that surrounded the scene, and Hector would spy a malfested beast burst free of a door nearby Nadia. Before the synergist would have a moment to process the danger she was in, Hector’s infused shot would ring out, ripping through the air between Nadia and her spirit partner to blow apart the corrupted beast’s head. His rifle barrel smoked with the stock braced against his free arm, his jovial spirit coiled along the underside and raising his head with a delighted hiss. As if saying: “We did it!” [color=8493ca][b]"Ms. Nadia. Are you in need of an escort?"[/b][/color] he asked, internally happy for his dramatic entrance. Zephyria, now free to return back to his mistress, dashed to catch back up with Scarlett and Nadia. However, he wouldn’t arrive in time to save his summoner from a surprise attack from another malfested that broke out of a nearby building. Nadia could only yelp in shock, not having the reflexes to defend herself. Zephyria attempted to shoot a gust of wind to shield his mistress, but it would seem he didn’t need to. Hector blew the bloody beast’s head off before it could do the deed. He made his presence known, asking Whitsett if she needed additional aid. [color=00a99d]"Um, yes, thank you very much."[/color] She stumbled out. Up until this point, she hadn’t had much opportunity to interact with Hector much. Given his background, it made her feel more reassured to have him as an ally in this situation, as opposed to Scarlett who was more unpredictable. She stared at Herne, nestled up along Hector’s modified rifle. Now wasn’t the time, but it certainly got her gears turning. Perhaps they would have a Synergy discussion later… Hector had faith that Shavis could take care of herself for the time being, and would approach his Synergist guildmate. [color=8493ca][b]"Are you hurt? I saw Scarlett use some manner of magic…but, you and your summon seem alright."[/b][/color] As if sensing that Nadia had some manner of interest in him, the tiny snake would coil back, slithering up to Hector’s collar and hiding within it. [color=00a99d]"Ah."[/color] Nadia realized that she may have made Herne uncomfortable with her visual interest. She wanted to get better about that, and she should first tend to her own summon. Zephyria had returned to her side, and she promptly used her mana to restore him and their link. [color=00a99d]"Forgive your foolish master. Field work is something I must develop more of a skill for. Bear with me, won’t you?"[/color] [color=greenyellow]”Do not trouble yourself, mistress.”[/color] Zephyria replied. [color=greenyellow]”It is my duty to aid your quest of self-improvement and magical study.”[/color] While the group conversed on the ground, they would find more beast pouncing on them, as would Lupina still stationed on the rooftop. Baast sneered, "[color=D8B895]Animals should stay on the ground...[/color]" Phantasmal, he would dash across the roof, and slash through the Malfested that came for Lupina, as she continued her overwatch. He was her claymore, a living defense that wouldn’t allow anything through. Readying his rifle once more, Hector would have Herne possess his weapon, steadying it as Hector fired for pinpoint accuracy, leaving the marksman’s senses free to notice the beast springing free from the sewers. With his free hand moving to draw his bayonet from its holster, Hector would skewer the beast through the bottom of its jaw, right through the brain while its corrupted blood dripped down his hand. [color=8493ca][b]"Is there no end to these things!?"[/b][/color] [color=00a99d]"Uh, I think that along with Shavis and Alexandra, we’ve thinned their numbers quite effectively."[/color] Nadia chimed. As if on cue, a large monstrous bellow echoing throughout the vicinity. Looking up, or in Lupina and Baast’s perspective across the opposite rooftop, [url=https://imgur.com/nO9k6wm]a large and imposing monster was overlooking the party[/url]. Nadia, wide-eyed, gazed at the creature with an agape jaw. [color=00a99d]"...Maybe if we ask really nicely, it’ll drop the whole thing?"[/color] [color=8493ca][b]"I doubt it,"[/b][/color] Hector said, breaking into a cold sweat at the sight of the beast, hesitating to raise his rifle. [color=8493ca][i]"Come on…move, dammit!"[/i][/color] his mind raced, heart thumping in his chest in fear of the largest monster that he’d ever seen looming overhead. Scarlett would spin her attention on it; firing a railgun spike at it. The creature had swiped the railgun bolt away with one of its appendages, but it seemed to be agitated by the attack nonetheless and had jumped upon Scarlett. [color=00a99d]"I-I think she pissed it off"[/color] Nadia said, and began channeling more mana into Zephyria. [color=00a99d]"I suppose we should count ourselves lucky that she called it over to herself rather than us."[/color] She attempted to have her summon shoot wind volleys at the creature, but it either evaded and shrugged them off. With a roar it shot fell energy at the Scarred Alchemist, which she would be wise to evade. Scarlett may notice that while her spike was deflected, the spot on the creature’s appendage was grazed with a scar. Perhaps that could give her and her allies more ideas? Scarlett would leap backward, and discard [i]Eosinophil[/i] for [i]Basophil[/i] and slammed the mace through the roof, so she could avoid the blast entirely, before Lupina would shoot the Malfested in the back, and leap for another rooftop. They needed to move it, and move it away from the evacuation zone, so Nadia and Hector wouldn’t have such a beast to contend with. It seemed easy to aggravate, so the Handmaidens would move it with arrow-fire and harpoon-fire. Alexandra made her way over to where Nadia and Hector were, alongside Shavis. [color=Whitesmoke]”Well met Wyland, and salutations Ms. Whitsett.”[/color] She said. [color=Whitesmoke]”Shavis was aiding the locals evacuate while I mopped up the few remaining beasts on the ground. I was wondering where the rest had gone off to, I guess this answers my question.”[/color] She said, eyeing the monstrosity that was chasing Scarlett and Lupina across the rooftops. [color=Whitesmoke]”I see that archer girl is also getting off a few hits on it. Shavis, can you go and aid them against that beast? They may benefit from having a heavy hitter on their side.”[/color] She said, turning to the feline reaver. The creature fired off a few streaks of energy at Lupina and Scarlett, aiming to hit them both as their coordinated movements made them difficult to chase at the same time. It had been far easier ensuring the safety of the people than whatever was going on in the battlefield right now, that much Shavis could tell as she tailed Alexandra towards her fellow Reavers. Behind her, Shadar was already holding the Windflame spear— a precaution really. It had been useful in erecting barriers of elemental energy and having two active weapons during the evacuation process was helpful. She raised her hand in a mock salute as she turned to the beast. [color=fff200]”Will do. Haven’t really had the chance to use this yet, let’s see if it’ll do something to that thing.”[/color] Shavis patted the sword to her side. It was actively chasing and attacking Scarlett and Lupina. She would have to be quick about getting to the rooftops if she wanted to take the beast by surprise. Having nearly lost his morale entirely from the sight of that beast, Hector would mentally draw a line along the rooftops, the gaps between them, then to the colossal abomination. Shavis could certainly go along the rooftops, but the gargantuan beast had a distinct advantage on limbs. He could imagine it either gliding with the membranes between its spindly limbs, or using them like an arachnid to maneuver even faster. Shavis needed a shortcut…and, given her impressive teamwork with her spirit as well as her strength, Hector had an idea to get her there faster. [color=8493ca][b]"Shavis. If I may, I can give you a quicker pathway to that beast…though, you’d have to hop along something this small,"[/b][/color] he said, ejecting an empty bullet from his gun and showing it to her. [color=8493ca][b]"Think you can manage that? If not, I’ll try and slow it down."[/b][/color] The feline belua examined the bullet for only a moment before she grinned and nodded. [color=fff200]”I think I can manage.”[/color] Shavis always tackled unexpected problems with confidence; had she ever tried doing something like this? No. Is she willing to try? Absolutely. [color=fff200]”Just give me the signal, Hector. I’m sure our teamwork from the past two missions will bear fruit today.”[/color] To augment her own speed and precise movement, Shavis’s body began crackling with her lightning as her eyes seemed to lock onto the beast. It was terrifyingly large and daunting but who would she be if she backed down from a challenge like this? Besides, it would be a team fight. It will be to their advantage. Probably. The pressure was on now that Shavis actually accepted the ridiculous plan. [color=8493ca][b]"Alright…let’s see,"[/b][/color] Hector said, leveling his rifle, and channeling a few untimely departed spirits within the chamber of his rifle. [color=8493ca][i]"Two-degree shift for wind…Lupina and Scarlett are traveling in a straight line. High likelihood of turning right. 45 degree shot angle to springboard Shavis,"[/i][/color] his thoughts raced, and his hand surged with Galdr energy as Herne possessed his hand to level its aim to peak perfection. [color=8493ca][b]"Now!"[/b][/color] Hector shouted before firing a shot that would sail through the air then stop as if it was plucked from the air, a phantasmal violet enshrouding the round before another arced slightly to the left of it, giving Shavis room to go ahead while Hector fired a pathway for her with Shot Suspend repeated ad nauseum. The moment Hector spoke the signal, Shavis practically disappeared in a bolt of lightning. There was almost a rhythmic beat to when Hector shot the bullets and when she needed to leap. The sniper was kind enough to retain the same distance between each bullet to make it a bit easier for her to gauge each step— each leap. While it felt like slow-motion for her in her lightning infused state, the events happened in extremely quick succession. Once she was close enough to the beast, Shavis aimed for the weakest spot and unsheathed the blade and aimed a slash towards it— simultaneously activating the magic imbued into it....[/hider][hr][hider=Awaken, Handmaiden of the Clouds]Sightless, she was blind. Lamed, she was broken. Shackled, she was captured. However, she was not deaf. Her Lord had not left her for dead. He had called upon a favor of a higher power for his Last Apostle. [center][i]He called upon her[/i][/center] And she delivered. It was dark. Death was coming. Rousing to herself, she rose to her feet, and cracked her neck; her legs were broken, her arms fractured, and her ribs cracked; yet, she stood, bandaged in rags and bloody cloth. Alive. Well enough. Shambling to the cell walls, she rammed her shoulder into the bars. Irregardless of what they felt, she was leaving. ...the Third Handmaiden was waking up to justice. [center][i]He had to die.[/i][/center] The bandaged girl's banging had attracted the attention of one of the nearby guards, who came walking up at a hurried pace. “Knock it off! Step away from the bars and sit back down! Got enough to worry about as it is…” Kalos giggled, as she pressed against the bars, and licked the metal with her forked tongue; twisting the plump muscle around a bar, which started to hiss from the contact. Her salvia was melting it. “Shit!” Exclaimed the guard, realizing what she was doing. He grabbed a stun baton and attempted to bludgeon her with it, aiming to thwart her efforts. Kalos grinned, as her tongue lashed out further than predictable, and twisted around his hand and arm; pushing her body to function, she would hop off the ground, grabbing the bars with bandaged fingers, and plant her swollen feet upon the gate, before wrenching back with all her might - yanking the guard off his feet, and into the gate head-first. It wouldn’t do all the work, but the disorienting head slam into metal would stun him long enough to miss the telltale sound of Kalos gathering phlegm and spitting a wad of acidic goo on his face. All in service of getting him to drop the baton without reaching for her tongue, so she could fish it up, and batter down the lock. With a grunt and a cry of agony, the guard tumbled back and began writhing on the ground, his face smoldering from the acid that was shot at him. Kalos's plan worked, symbolic of the baton that now laid in tongue's reach. The two other captured Belua also became interested in the noise. “Looks like were not the only ones planning a break out.” Said the male. Kalos would just set to task of breaking free, and started smashing the lock. Kalos's efforts who yield fruit, as the lock being weakened from her acid allowed her to fully snap it off. The door to the cell swung open, and the bandaged Belua was free to do as she pleased. “Hey, hey, let us out too!” Said the male voice again. “We need to regroup with Kinnich!” “M-maybe we shouldn't get too fresh with this one. I don't even recognize her…” Said the female voice with him. Kalos tilted her head back. "[color=318ce7]Kin... nich... Oh~[/color]" Shambling, Kalos would approach the cell, as she gathered up spit to break their cell open. Madly, she would giggle, all the while, as the door slung open to freedom. A freedom unpermitted, as her tongue lashed out, and twisted out the neck of the male - acid biting into his flesh and muscle, as she choked him. "[color=318ce7]Kinnish...! Kull Kinnish...! ‘ell me...! ‘ere ish Kinnish![/color]" Kalos screamed at the female, as she pounced her and battered her chest with her fists, drooling and spraying her face with acid. The female convict screamed in horror as the cell doors were torn apart and Kalos used her tongue as an executioner weapon, aimed at her canine partner. The acid chewed through the flesh of his neck, causing him immense pain and being unable to breath. He expired soon after. The silver-haired bat-like girl tried to quickly flee, but Kalos was too fast. She flung herself at her fellow inmate and began pummeling her with a barrage of fists, all the while spraying her with bits of acid. “Aaugh, ack! P-please stop, I don’t want to…die!” She barely managed to plead. “H-he abandoned us! He mentioned something about meeting up in the western plains outside the town walls, but he’s l-likely gone! I beg you, it buuurns! Mercy!” Kalos would find that the bat girl was capable of blessing sorcery, as she was healing the acid burns with light. She would attempt to wield this same light to push the reptilian Belua back and flap away to safety. Kalos grinned, sliding her tongue up the bat girl’s cheek, before she unraveled the bandage that kept her blind, and revealed her eyes; the right glowered with the heat of the sun, a blazing iris of gold with no pupil; the left glared with the chill of the moon, a frozen iris of silver, selfsame; and, centered between, the prismatic eye of seven color, shimmering and shining. Her natural eyes alone where enough to expose her as a member of the Cult of Kahos, apostle to their Lord, Zhaoxin, who kept them wakeful in all hours and gave His best Priestesses command of the Blessings of the Sun and Moon, but the center eye was something of legend. Something meant to stay legend. Still, Kalos would smile, and let the bat girl get up. Drifting over to the baton, she would heft it, and test its weight. Night was falling. In the depth of darkness, she found strength unnatural... Rearing back, Kalos would wait for the Belua to get a little safe in her own escape, before she threw the baton like a cannonball at her back. Her [[b]Bane of Darkness[/b]] buff raising her strength as the night settle it towards the apex of midnight. Seeing the face under the bandages made the bat girl all the more terrified, and increased her haste in fleeing the scene. She was even more surprised that Kalos willingly let her go, had her pleading worked? At any rate, she made for a window with the outside light shining through it. However, she would then feel a sharp pain in her back, as Kalos threw the discarded stun baton from earlier. Thanks to her blessing the baton didn’t run her clean through, but it still hit it’s mark. The impact along with the electric shock caused the girl to cry out and fall down outside with a large thud. Kalos would then hear the footsteps of more guards, yelling orders and to secure the parameter. Kalos would leap forwards, and stalk the bat Belua, as she didn’t aim to kill her - yet - but use her to track Kinnich. In her panic, she’d, at the very least, return to the scene they’d seen him last, and try for protection. Regardless of that outcome, she would be ready to kill him. “Arggh… Damn it, why…?” Moaned the chiropteran Belua, as she slowly got back on her feet she rubbed her side. The injury along with the electric burn prevented her from flying, and she had used up too much of her mana healing herself from Kalos’s acid. She heard more guards stomping around the corner as well, needless to say her situation was grim. “C’mon Astreya, think!” She told herself. Sticking to the shadows, she took advantage of her nightly instincts and move along the walls and corners to avoid detection, until she could find the exit to this place and hopefully make an escape. Meanwhile, two more guards happened upon Kalos, they recoiled at the broken cell door that held the desecrated corpse of an inmate along with acid dripping down her grinning mouth. “Damn, some of the prisoners have escaped!” One of the guards exclaimed. “Take her down!” The security detail beside the one who first spoke came at her with a pair of stun batons, whilst the other provided cover fire with a magitech rifle. Their aim was to silence her using bludgeoning and piercing forces. Stronger than she was faster, Kalos would shrug off the battering and the bullets like a demon, in spite of the wounds, and flick her tongue forward, before punching into the wall, and ripping out some metal support. ...and winging it like a discus at her attackers. Astreya made her way further down the compound, hoping that she would reach the exit fairly soon. She overheard some of the other guards talking, the news all but crushing her spirits. “I heard there’s been an outbreak of miasma beasts around certain parts of the city.” “How in the bloody ‘ell did it happen?” “I dunno. But it could’ve picked a worse time, we’ve got a couple of prisoners who’ve broken out, and one of them is a lunatic who’s killed some of the other inmates.” “I should’ve just transferred to the Republic when I had the chance…” Great, Astreya thought to herself. Even if she managed to escape, she’d have to worry about evading a horde of monsters before being able to make it out of the city altogether. The guards taken a bit aback by Kalos’s show of strength, but chose to press on nonetheless. The baton wielder charged in at her and attempted to parry the metal pipes she was using. The metal served as an effective counter, absorbing the electricity from the weapons to prevent her from being shocked. The suppressive fire did little to pierce her reptilian hide, but it did provide distraction for the baton fighter to get in a few good hits and stun her a bit. But would it be enough…? Kalos widened her jaw, and snapped down on the baton - fangs punching through the material, as her acid melted it. Swinging her arm like a bar, she would hit the melee fighter like she was swinging a beam of steel, and she looked to the gunners. If it was daytime, she would just blitz them, but it was nighttime, so she only had her superstrength to rely on. However, her body would suddenly freeze up, and her third eye would glow brightly, as her ragged hair started to length and her color restored to her it; painting it a beautiful, silver-blue as it fell to her waist, and her pallid skin flushed with color before dull to an ethereal porcelain, as her cracked and chip nails and scales strengthen and took on their natural coal hued. Extending her hands, an orb would form in her palm, the size of a basketball, and they take on the form of the Sun and the Moon, before cracking like giant eggs. "[color=318ce7]Awaken, [url=https://i.imgur.com/rvmSOH0.png]Sol, the Sunrise[/url]. Arise, [url=https://i.imgur.com/BTbS4Go.png]Luna, the Moonfall[/url],[/color]" Kalos says, before two beasts erupted from the eggs and surged down the halls. Kalos would cackle... she was awake. Kalos’s blow caused the disarmed baton wielder to be knocked back into a wall, where he left a sizable crater. The gunner would mutter an expletive as they dialed up the fire, not wanting to meet the same fate as their coworker. However, he would find that his bullets had lost their effect entirely, as Kalos underwent a state of change as her hair and scales regained their definition and hue. She had ‘returned’ in a sense, signaled by her conjuring two large eggs in both her hands. At her chant, two large reptilian creatures had erupted from the shells and stormed down the halls past the guard. They moved too fast and the guard was too stunned to have done anything. He immediately turned back and continued to fire on Kalos in a blind panic. “Shit, I need help!” He exclaimed. His fate was in Kalos’ hands now, along with egg shell shards. Meanwhile, the two summoned beasts tore through anything they came across, and Astreya sensed they were drawing near. Panic-eyed, she quickly looked around and saw the main entrance and saw there were two guards stationed there, along with a few more headed inside the compound. She felt she had enough mana stored up to jet out a flash of light that would distract them. She noticed that her blessing was weaker than usual, but she’d worry about that later. For now she had to focus on escaping. She let out a single burst and the guards recoiled with surprised cries, and she was strong enough to jet a little off the ground into a small flight past them. She was home free…so long as the two beasts couldn’t move faster… They could, and they would, but beyond her. They had bigger prey to deal with... Before she could get too far, Astreya would feel something embed into right foot; drawing blood, as, upon looking back, she saw Kalos waving her off. Behind her, the visage of a svelte man in all black and rather aloof look standing behind her. To her, he was the Grim Reaper... He lifted a rather looking, old-fashioned service revolver, wreathed in writhing shadows, and aimed at her, marking her for sacrifice. Whatever was jammed into her foot would burn the punctured muscle and bone, but wouldn't impede her flight, if Astreya could work through the pain... Astreya yelled in frightful pain at the sudden impalement of her foot, feeling the burning sensation that accompanied it. She looked back in horror to see Kalos and a strange regal individual seemingly seeing her off. Sensing the aura of the man filled her with immense dread, whoever he or it was, he was bad news all the same. It may have been merely from pure adrenaline, but Astreya fought through the pain and glided out of the compound. She saw that some of the guardsmen were fight off a few malfested here and there, which has very fortunate for her as they seemed to be less interested in her as a result. Tears began to well in her eyes from the pain and fear of death all the same. She still had to think of what to do once she escaped… Kalos would allow her to escape, having a means to track Kinnish. For now, she had more important duties to attend... Her prey marked for sacrifice, by her Lord, no less, Kalos was free to turn her attention to the matter at hand. During her ten-year journey through her own personal hell, over in minutes, Kalos had met with Sol and Luna, or as she called them, Hack and Slash, reverse respectively, for Sol had large blade-like fins for his arms, good for slashing, and Luna had large, axe-like blades on either side of her head, good for hacking. Wayward children like she, the brother and sister duo became hers to shepherd along the Path of Kahos, the cult that followed Lord Zhaoxing and his bloody ways. She didn't know they were so big, however. Not that that mattered, as Hack would ram her head into and through the armored Malfested Soldiers, while Slash drove his bladed arms through the Malfested Beasts. Slowly, but surely, making their way through the city and towards the Albion, where Scarlett and Lupina were... ...all the way, walking in prayer-step, as she kept her stride measure, her hands clasped, and her eyes closed - utterly confident in the protection of her Lord. Hack and Slash would soon find themselves having to block a strike from a large, twisted appendage as they tore through the lesser rotten. [url=https://i.imgur.com/mTdNTno.jpeg]A vaguely humanoid, three-headed creature[/url] stood in the way of Kalos and her dragons, letting out a deep and gargled snarl as its claws twitched. It made for another swing at the reptilian summons, attempting to tear them apart outright this time. A creature of flesh and blood, even cursed, was something that could be slashed and hacked in twain. Neither of the dragons would stood, so blessed by Kalos, to power through anything in the cover of darkness. Running forward, Hack would roar before ramming her double axed-head into the beast’s arm, and hacking cleanly through it like firewood, while Slash would pivot, and extend his arms, to become a whirlwind of blades to shredding the halves like paper. Both charging straight to, and through, the main body to make a path for Kalos to walk through. The monster bellowed in pain at having its arm shredded to pieces at the seams, but it still charged at the trio of summons and mistress all the same. Hack and Slash would prove to be too powerful, however, and easily fell the dark creature. With a final moan, it’s mutilated corpse fell to the floor and began to dissipate. Kalos, however, would feel something headed toward her at high speed. One of her sisters decided to make Kalos a participant in their current sortie, whether she wanted to or not. Kalos felt the energy racing at her, and understood what it was intended for. Raising her rosary, Kalos would create the target ring for the arrow to bullseye, and surge her with power. As her body nearly erupted with the concentration of “positive” and “negative” energy, and her Third Eye widened as Hack and Slash glowed and fused into each other. "[color=318ce7]Break, [url=https://i.imgur.com/2GsrFNJ.png]Limbus, the Eclipse[/url],[/color]" Kalos says, before the fused Spirit reformed into something new. And, that something new that rush at the Albion like a bullet...[/hider][hr][hider=Animal Girls vs. Kaiju]Unified, Scarlett and Lupina were pinging the Malfested Beast with the Temporary Designation: Albion from the left and the right, respectively, and tearing its attention back-and-forth, and pulling its ire towards the walls. It was slow and dangerous, as any distraction pulled its aggro away from them, and, in a town of screaming, panicking civilians, it was difficult to pull off. And, only getting harder by the second, as Lupina noticed Hector firing in their direction - not to attack, but to create a path for the Lightning Tigress to charge upon and fling herself into the air to attack. [center][i]From behind.[/i][/center] "[color=BDD3E9]Baast! Perimeter breach![/color]” Lupina says, firing a trio of arrows at Scarlett. "[color=D8B895]Take care of it, quickly![/color]" she barked, before her third eye glowed. <[color=B5C0C9][i]We have a problem.[/i][/color]> "[color=D8B895]Where did she come from!?[/color]” Baast hissed, before he rushed the edge of the rooftop and threw himself off... Meanwhile, Scarlett noticed the trio of arrows, and moved to catch all three, which created a massive burst that would capture Albion’s attention in full with a straight headshot that knocked it down, as the trio of arrows was fired as a singular bolt, which exploded Scarlett's arm. <[color=B5C0C9][i]I noticed. My arm blew up![/i][/color]> Scarlett groused, <[color=B5C0C9][i]Add to that, my old handler seems to have joined the fight.[/i][/color]> <[color=B5C0C9][i]I diverted Baast to stop her. But, I don't have eyes in the back of my head, and I can't fire without stopping to anchor my emotions.[/i][/color]> Lupina says, a fatal flaw in her archery was needing to gather - quite literally - her emotions, which was hard to do without Baast’s protection. <[color=B5C0C9][i]I'm running shy on biomass, as well. It seems like we are going to have to break the shackles...[/i][/color]> Scarlett says. <[color=B5C0C9][i]Time to let her wake up in full...[/i][/color]> Lupina says. <[color=B5C0C9][i]We need to wake her before it recovers...[/i][/color]> Scarlett says. Racing across rooftops, Scarlett and Lupina would channel the magic of all Six Scions, and clasp their hands. <[color=B5C0C9][i]Awaken, O' Handmaiden Third, and heed the call of we, Handmaidens First and Second, and she, our Lady Vidi. Awaken to your purpose.[/i][/color]> [center][i]While it felt like slow-motion for her in her lightning infused state, the events happened in extremely quick succession. Once she was close enough to the beast, Shavis aimed for the weakest spot and unsheathed the blade and aimed a slash towards it— simultaneously activating the magic imbued into it...[/i][/center] Baast had met Shavis to parry her blow against the creature, and when it did a black flare erupted from the blade that caused the hue of the air in the vicinity to darken for a moment. Ebon flames cackled briefly before dissipating. Baast was fast enough to intervene, but the flames left small singed marks on his body. They had begun to emit small black wisps, signifying that his wound may have also been cursed. He would feel his spiritual body begin to weaken slightly, and become harder to move. "[color=D8B895]What the hell is wrong with you!?[/color]" he snapped, as he transformed for a moment to kick himself forward, before blocking Shavis’s swing with his katana and body to keep her from hitting the beast. "[color=D8B895]We’re trying to lead it away from the town center, and you'd turn it around, you moron!?[/color]” After scolding Shavis, they turned to the creature who was still chasing after the two handmaidens, who appeared to be channeling the latent abilities to properly deal with its menace. [color=whitesmoke]”Wyland, your allies appear to be planning something. Whatever it is, they better do it soon. That abomination is closing in fast…”[/color] Said Alex, looking at the third eye that began to open on both of the Handmaiden’s heads. [color=whitesmoke]”I know they’re allies, but can we really trust malfested like her? I fear she may turn on us if this battle drags on for too long.”[/color] She said, referring to Scarlett. [color=00a99d]"Let’s trust her and see what happens."[/color] Nadia interjected. [color=8493ca][b]"I have no idea,"[/b][/color] Hector admitted, leveling his rifle to continue giving Shavis ground to stand upon, small footholds within the air for her to leap off of. [color=8493ca][b]"But better to trust the devil you know,"[/b][/color] he said with a half-hearted, tired chuckle. To her surprise, another had blocked the attack right before it connected. Unfortunately, the sword had already been activated faster than Shavis could stop it to avoid hurting an… ally? [color=fff200]”Fuck, sorry.”[/color] She stopped, keeping her balance on one of Hector's bullets as she sheathed the sword as the plan was revealed to her. The belua narrowed her eyes, turned to Scarlett and Lupina, before turning back to Baast. [color=fff200]”My bad, I don't think anyone on the ground was aware of the plan.”[/color] Shavis linked with Shadar who stayed with the ground group who quickly told them of the plan to lead the monster away from the town square. As if she wasn't all that bothered by the mistake from the lack of communication, Shavis continued. [color=fff200]”I was told to help. So how am I supposed to?”[/color] A seemingly genuine question as she watched the monster continue to be led away. Baast grunted, before losing his human form. "[color=D8B895]The plan is to down the creature at the walls, away from civilians, and prevent as much casualty as possible,[/color]" he says, "[color=D8B895]That sword is messing with my form, but it might help my sister and the First Handmaiden,[/color]" Baast would revert to his Spirit Form, and open his mouth, "[color=D8B895]Get in. I have a plan. You are going to fuse that swords with my sisters arrows and fire that at the First Handmaiden, and she will redirect it at the beast, to, hopefully, fell it.[/color]" Shavis hummed. She wasn’t exactly sure how the semantics of the sword worked— especially with how the spirits inside it would interact with objects outside of its given form. [color=fff200]”Yeah, sure, I can try. Hopefully something about Ms. Naomi’s teaching about synergy stuck.”[/color] The belua looked hesitant for a moment, looking at the familiar’s mouth. Oh well, whatever. Shavis stepped inside. Baast shut his head around Shavis, and flew to wear Lupina and Scarlett had decided to hold their impromptu ritual to awake their third, before opening his mouth to let Shavis out. She could take care of the rest, as he retreated to reducing to a size similar to Herne’s and huddling around Lupina to recover from the damage done by the sword’s curse. [color=fff200]”Sorry about the damage bud…”[/color] Shavis muttered when Baast retreated to recover. Void magic had always been a little unpredictable, even Shavis knew that, but it only proved that the damage was hefty. It would prove to be useful in taking down a seemingly unbreakable beast. She nodded to Lupina as she brought up the sword. [color=fff200]”The familiar mentioned this might help boost your bullets. It’s a spirit bound to the weapon though so I’m not too certain on how I can coax it to coat your ammunition.”[/color] "[color=BDD3E9]Show me,[/color]" Lupina says. "[color=BDD3E9]If it’s just Void Magic, then I have an idea,[/color]" she says, "[color=BDD3E9]I’ll need your hands, however, and your Spirit is going to need to act as a bridge between you and I. Baast isn’t strong enough to bridge the gap, at the moment...[/color]" Lupina sighed, "[color=BDD3E9]This is likely to destroy the sword, so I hope you aren’t attached to it.[/color]" [color=fff200]”Well, it’s not just void magic.”[/color] Shavis said with a hum. [color=fff200]”It’s a void spirit but it houses both fire and void.”[/color] The belua seemed to stiffen for a moment before letting out a huff as her hand tightened around the sword. [color=fff200]”I just got it, so hopefully, it doesn’t get destroyed.”[/color] Shavis rolled her shoulders. [color=fff200]”But hey, I’m a pretty damn good Galdr mage. I can probably keep it whole while getting our mark so throw me the idea.”[/color] "[color=BDD3E9]I just need you to hold it, after that, I can fashion an drawstring across it, and you'll need to draw on it, then fire at Scarlett,[/color]” Lupina says, "[color=BDD3E9]I'll manifest an arrow of Absolute Negatively, transferring it through your Spirit Animal, and into your soul,[/color]” she explains, "[color=BDD3E9]Once you fire it, it will be charged with your Element of Lightning, which will supercharge with her metals and overcharge her, so she can echo the polarity with her Absolute Positivity.[/color]” "[color=BDD3E9]And, providing none of us die, it should go down... [i]I hope.[/i][/color]” "[color=00ccff]Consider my confidence tanked,[/color]" Scarlett says, before reforming her arm and Eosinophil, "[color=00ccff]Let's do it.[/color]” Shavis listened closely and nodded. While she wasn’t sure how the interactions with magic worked to the certain point that Lupina and Scarlett did, as long as she did what she was told to, it should go well. [i]Should[/i] being a very hopeful term. From what Lupina just said, there was a real possibility that one, two or all three of them might die from this magical interaction. [color=fff200]”Wonderful, nothing like the risk of death to make this more fun!”[/color] She raised the sword in its scabbard, waiting for Lupina’s signal to draw the sword. "[color=BDD3E9]Just pull the blade out, and hold it straight,[/color]" Lupina says, "[color=BDD3E9]I’ll care of the next step.[/color]" [color=fff200]”You got it.”[/color] The belua unsheathed the blade, and held it straight with her eyes on Scarlett. All she could hope for was that this goes well without a hitch— and that their equipment stayed intact. Lupina placed her hand on the base of Shadar’s neck, eyes glowing as the Tiger Spirit would feel the most crippling wave of depression, dread, and apathy wash through him, before it would soak into Shavis. Immediately, her happy-go-lucky demeanor would melt under the corrosive negativity of a woman that only knew the horrors of life, the pain of unfortunate circumstances, with no-one in your corner and everyone that was in your camp was dead... [i][b]because you killed them.[/b][/i] An Unbound Bow would form with the sword as the spine, and Lupina would open her eyes, "[color=BDD3E9]Shavis, draw the string and fire at Scarlett! And, for the love of Lady Crystallia, don't miss![/color]” It was such an odd experience— like feeling another entity enter into her as Shavis felt bogged down by such an intense feeling. It took her a moment to understand that Lupina was already directing her to shoot and she bit her lip, the sharp pain bringing her back into the moment. She could make this feeling something that could be a problem for later as she aimed the bow straight at Scarlett. [color=fff200]”I hope this works…”[/color] Shavis muttered as drew the magical bowstring, waiting for a moment to readjust before releasing it straight to Scarlett. Scarlett would open the loading mechanism of her harpoon gun arm to the foreign shot, as immediately the weight of the arrow would drag her downwards. It was so heavy, yet she could still wrap it in her own warp ideal of positivity - her life a series of trials that her outlook was to turn the negativity into fuel to further her goals, and come out positive from the negative. Closing the loading mechanism and sealing her arm, Scarlett sank to her knee, and aimed. However, she didn't aim at the Albion, but in the distance at Kalos... Roze looked at Scarlett, perplexed as she saw that the obvious target didn’t seem to be her specific one. [color=8882be]"What is she aiming at?"[/color] She said. [color=whitesmoke]”That’s what I’d like to know.”[/color] Added Alex. [color=whitesmoke]”Do either of you know what she’s planning?”[/color] She said, looking at both Hector and Lupina. The creature then saw a stationary Scarlett, aiming off at something in the distance. Making her out as easy prey, it leaped at her with mouth agape. Letting loose and alien shriek, it dashed madly to the alchemist who was still readying the shot. [color=8882be]"Scarlett, you’re a sitting duck like that!"[/color] Exclaimed Roze. [color=8882be]"Icarus, go!"[/color] She signaled for her wind familiar to charge at the beast in an attempt to save her ally. Just before the creature’s jaws could close on the alchemist, Icarus had tackled it out of the way. This caused the beast to crash into a nearby building, and with a gust of air Icraus returned to its master’s side. [color=8882be]"Thank you, that was well done, Icarus."[/color] She said, smiling at her avian summon. It was a short lived success, as the creature began to emerge from the rubble. It was more annoyed than injured, as it changed its target from Scarlett to Roze. However, Scarlett was now free to make her shot unabated. "[color=00ccff]Sitting duck,[/color]" Scarlett rolled her eyes, like she would leave herself unguarded. Her shot would have fired faster than she would have been in danger, but she didn’t have time to niggle. Instead, she simply fired, and grit her teeth as her entire right arm and chunk of her torso vaporized, as if the creature had still gotten a bite out of her. "[color=00ccff]That... fucking hurts...[/color]" she groaned, as she staggered to her feet, "[color=00ccff]But... this should do it...[/color]" As the Albion recovered, something was inbound. Nothing about the situation seemed eager to let them breathe, even when their current problem still seemed like it was going to go on another rampage. Shavis let out a deep breath as she sheathed the sword, the remnants of Lupina’s magic dissipating from it. Her ear twitched and turned to Lupina. [color=fff200]”Looks like someone else wants to join the fray.”[/color] She alerted her with a grimace. She turned back to the creature. [color=fff200]”But, well, let’s just end this creature first, yeah?”[/color] It appeared like she was asking Lupina for even the smallest bit of permission before attacking the downed creature while they still can. Before Lupina could even start to think of a statement, Limbus would surge beyond them; talon-tipped wings stabbing into the body of the Albion, and rip off hunks, as it the apparently smooth talon where barbed and tearing with the sheer speed of the leviathan beast that flew overhead. [color=fff200]”Oh! Or that!”[/color] Shavis couldn't help but be impressed by the familiar. Way to take initiative of things. Her stance relaxed as Limbus continued to have a blast making sure the creature was knocking on Death's Door. [color=fff200]”Well then, that's all well and done. Probably should check on the little visitor then.”[/color] "[color=BDD3E9]At least, she didn’t fuck us over...[/color]" Lupina says, "[color=BDD3E9]Scarlett, a head’s up next time? I don’t like the idea of working off a hunch...[/color]" "[color=00ccff]Yeah, yeah,[/color]" Scarlett says. "[color=00ccff]Science is all about taking risks, y’know,[/color]" she says, "[color=00ccff]Shit... I need to eat.[/color]" "[color=BDD3E9]Plenty of corpses,[/color]" Lupina says. "[color=BDD3E9]I’d get that sword checked. It might shatter if you try to swing it again,[/color]" she says to Shavis, before looking to Shadar, "[color=BDD3E9]Good job, Spirit. You’re a strong one. Don’t let her get you killed.[/color]" "[color=00ccff]Seconded. Continue to keep a good eye on my former leash-keeper, Shadar,[/color]" Scarlett says. [color=fff200]”No one’s gonna miss these corpses, I think…”[/color] Shavis muttered. It was always better to just let Scarlett do what she did best and deal with the consequences later. If anything, no one would know how the corpses disappeared— for all the civilians would know, the Albion had been the one to clean up. She turned to Lupina and gave a shrug. [color=fff200]”Roger that. I’ll ask Ms. Nadia to help with checking the stability of the infusions too.”[/color] Shadar huffed just as Shavis stuck a tongue out almost childishly. [color=fff200]”Mhm, I don’t intend to let Shavis die. That is what I’m here for, mostly.”[/color] The tiger sat down. [color=fff200]”And do not worry. It will take a lot to get rid of me.”[/color] Lupina nodded, as Scarlett plunged into the darkness of the streets below to feed and repair, while Limbus and the Albiom committed to a dogfight of beasts that the city wasn't liable to forget. It was definitely more notable than a tyrannosaur versus a giant parrot.[/hider][hr][hider=The Unholy Trinity Unites]The abomination barely had time to regain stride as Kalos’ newly fused summon wasted no time in tearing through its cursed flesh. Ragged chunks of flesh began splattering on the ground, purple mist filling the air as they began to dissipate. The creature attempted to smack Limbus with one of its remaining appendages, but the summon shrugged off the blow with ease. What were once hellish roars became weak gasps for what little “life” the monster had left. Nadia noticed that Scarlett allowed herself to fall to the streets, attempting to replenish the large hunk of flesh she lost when firing her weapon. The researcher’s face was filled with grimace and her skin turned pale as she eyed the large hole on the side of Scarlett’s torso. It didn’t help watching her eat the corpses of malfested victims. [color=00a99d]"Ugh. They say that natural science can often be gruesome and unsightly, but you take it to a whole new level."[/color] Nadia uttered. Scarlett may not have heard her, however, as the cursed essence she took in would begin to have an effect on her mind. <[i][b]Mother…Mother…[/b][/i]> A haunting chant would begin to over take her mind. Scarlett landed with a grunt, as her body writhed and squirmed, before blood vessels spidered away from her; stabbing into the beasts around her, sickeningly slurping away like a spider. Sighing, she slicked back her bangs, and looked into the sky. "[color=00ccff]So mouthy,[/color]” Scarlett says, "[color=00ccff]I save your life, and you repay me with nagging.[/color]” "[color=BDD3E9]Oh, be nice to your, little girlfriend,[/color]” Lupina says, as she landed on a lamppost. "[color=BDD3E9]Unless you let Hector get hurt, in which case, I will have to use you for target practice.[/color]” Nadia looked at Lupina with a blank expression. [color=00a99d]"Excuse me?"[/color] She flatly asked. [color=00a99d]"I suppose it’s nice that this traumatic experience hasn’t affected your crass sense of humor."[/color] While Nadia and Lupina chatted it up, Scarlett would begin to hear the ringing in her head getting louder. <[i][b]...jaorith…will bring Mother’s…Salvation…[/b][/i]> "[color=00ccff]That's not going to get annoying...[/color]” Scarlett says, as she slowly reformed herself. "[color=00ccff]Oi, Nadia. Gimme your underwear.[/color]” Nadia broke away from conversation with the belua archer, quickly turning at Scarlett with a few exasperated blinks. [color=00a99d]"I beg your pardon. Did…you just ask for my underwear…?"[/color] Her cheeks blushed a bit, annoyed anger overtaking her eyes. [color=00a99d]"You’ve got a lot of nerve, you little goblin! I’m amazed you can have such thoughts at a time like this!"[/color] Scarlett would find that the voices wouldn’t stop, and the ringing was starting to give her mild head pain. <[i][b]Mother…Mother![/b][/i]> "[color=00ccff]There's no part of me that stuttered, nor -- hold on,[/color]” Scarlett placed her left hand to her ear, before blood exploded from her right ear, and nose, before she shook her head, "[color=00ccff]...nope. Still there.[/color]” Sighing, Scarlett would regenerate her right hand, and spool her blood vessels in, as her fingertips close. "[color=00ccff]Anyways, underwear, now, before I strip them off of you,[/color]” she says, "[color=00ccff]I’d suggest you get your prescription checked, as well, four-eyes, since you seem to be blind to the fact my bra and panties were destroyed.[/color]” "[color=00ccff]Your ass is fatter than mine, but I can just clinch them up with some of my hair,[/color]” Scarlett says. Lupina snickered from her perch, "[color=BDD3E9]It’s not [i]that[/i] big.[/color]” [color=00a99d]"I never!"[/color] Nadia snapped. [color=00a99d]"You’re one to talk you half-pint!"[/color] She said, pointing at Lupina at her haughty perch. [color=00a99d]"As for you, your request may fix your problem, but it gives [i]me[/i] a whole new one!"[/color] She snapped, now turning to Scarlett. [color=00a99d]"Also, how [i]dare[/i] you call me fat?!"[/color] <[i][b]Mother…will…love you. Like…the world didn’t…[/b][/i]> Scarlett’s self injury didn’t provide the relief she intended. In fact, the voice became stronger. <[i][b]She will acknowledge you. Give you…purpose…[/b][/i]> "[color=BDD3E9]Even as a half-pint, I have a whole ass more than you,[/color]” Lupina says, crossing her cloven hooves at the ankles smugly. "[color=00ccff]Oi...~[/color]” Nadia was suddenly slammed to the ground on her back, the edge of Scarlett’s blade-morph pressed into her throat, just shy of drawing blood, "[color=00ccff]I'm getting so sick of your back talk, little bookworm! You annoy me, and I'm still hungry![/color]” she barked, before widening her jaws, exposing her twined rows of shark-like teeth, before a cloth fell over her eyes, "[color=00ccff]Eh?[/color]” "[color=318ce7]We are of similar hips, so...[/color]” Kalos lowered her dress, and smiled, "[color=318ce7]Will my panties suffice?[/color]" Scarlett grunted, before pulling the garment off her head, and standing up. "[color=00ccff]Fine,[/color]” she says, "[color=00ccff]You took your sweet time making it here.[/color]” "[color=318ce7]I mustn't stray from the path of my Lord,[/color]" Kalos says. "[color=BDD3E9]Religious type, huh,[/color]” Lupina asks. "[color=BDD3E9]Just don't ask me to pray with you. Lady Crystallia’s Garden doesn't have room for Bloodroses.[/color]” "[color=318ce7]Never would I intrude,[/color]" Kalos says, "[color=318ce7]My Lord’s flock is special and small. Never more than six. Though, I am alone, now.[/color]" Limbus had finished off the creature completely by this point, wretched blood spilling from her claws. Alexandra and Roze had walked over to the Handmaidens now that the fighting was over. [color=whitesmoke]”Well, good to know that your little strategy worked, but who is this person?”[/color] Asked the Church knight, looking at revitalized Kalos. [color=8882be]"Uh…Glad to see you’re alright Scarlett."[/color] Added Roze. [color=8882be]"I was worried, as literally half of your torso was gone, but you managed to heal yourself well enough."[/color] She said, both she and Alex attempted to hide their uneasiness at having watched her devour miasma-infected corpses. Nadia looked at Scarlett’s face, being rather inquisitive now. [color=00a99d]"Are you alright? Your face is looking…pale."[/color] <[i][b]It wasn’t your fault… Mother will…forgive you. Will bear the burden of..your sins[/b][/i]> The voices continued, and the ringing in Scarlett’s head got worse. It quickly became a painful stab that echoed throughout her mind, as if it was clenching her - attempting to pull her into a foreboding blackness. As the member of The Church made herself present, the tension of the situation would shift, as Lupina launched off the lamppost, and landed on Kalos’s left, as Scarlett drew to her right - flanking her from the west and the east, respectively, furthering the theme influenced by Kalos. However, it wasn’t JUST the trio that opposed Alexandra, as semi-transparent figured appeared behind them, the patrons that had led them all to their current mistress: [i][url=https://i.imgur.com/DQbxgIj.jpeg]Lord Zhaoxing, the Father of Bloodletting Strife.[/url][/i], [i][url=https://i.imgur.com/T1y7zBk.jpeg]Lady Crystallia, the Miasmic Herbdrake[/url][/i], and [i][url=https://i.imgur.com/ZstleLb.jpeg]Madame Sciō, the Mother of Ingenuity[/url][/i]. "[color=00ccff]I don’t recall making that your business,[/color]" Scarlett says, currently no-selling the screaming in her mind. Her day-to-day was pain and misery of her body rejecting what it considered flesh cancer, despite being the entirety of her right arm from the elbow down - which was currently held at the ready as [b][Neutrophil][/b]. "[color=BDD3E9]And, there’s no chance we’ll be intending to make it so,[/color]" Lupina says, readying her bow, as Baast stepped out from behind her; hands on his swords. "[color=318ce7]It is sad, but our faiths are incompatible,[/color]" Kalos says, as Limbus glowed, and fell out of the sky in a pair of glowing light, before reforming into a small creature - [url=https://i.imgur.com/ecUVXwO.png]one like a shark[/url], and [url=https://i.imgur.com/DiIsUTQ.png]one like a dinosaur[/url] - each that were outwardly as threatening looking as Milli, but likely far more dangerous. "[color=318ce7]But, we can battle as sisters of faith, regardless![/color]" Alex went wide-eyed as the three magus made themselves known, the silhouettes of their deities appeared behind them. She placed a hand on her sword, which was still sheath at this moment. [color=whitesmoke]”A flashy statement, but I will not tolerate such provocative behavior. Remember your place and who you represent, unless Eon has decided to throw in with monsters and fell spirits!”[/color] Responded Alex, with a calm but solemn tone. <[i][b]There is only…one…Mother! Only…one![/b][/i]> The voices in Scarlett began to howl out in vitriol as she proclaimed the patron she pledged fidelity to. As the splitting pain got worse, she would begin to hear a more soothing, and nurturing voice. [color=82ca9d]"Hey, Scarlett, can you hear me?"[/color] It was Elaine, who spoke into her mind using the telepathy stone. [color=82ca9d]"I wanted to check in with all of you, but I wasn’t expecting you to be picking fights with fellows from The Church. Please stop this!"[/color] Thanks to the stone, everyone present also heard Elaine’s pleas. The fighting was over for intent and purposes after all. "[color=00ccff]Tch![/color]" Scarlett rolled her eyes. "[color=00ccff]Fineeeeeee.... But, only because you are asking.[/color]" "[color=BDD3E9]Whipped~[/color]" Lupina smirked. "[color=BDD3E9]I guess, that’s the power of a real woman, eh, four-eyes?[/color]" "[color=00ccff]Up yours, lambchop![/color]" Scarlett snapped. "[color=BDD3E9]Say again, sunburn![/color]" Lupina growled. "[color=318ce7]Oop~![/color]" Kalos squatted, as Scarlett and Lupina butted heads - literally, as they slammed their foreheads together. "[color=318ce7]Oh?[/color]" Looking down, she watched Hack and Slash copy Scarlett and Lupina. "[color=318ce7]So silly.[/color]" "[color=D8B895]I suppose, venting stress isn’t always normal,[/color]" Baast says. "[color=D8B895]Run along, clergywoman. You have better matters to attend. Many lives were lost, and it would be terrible if someone spread terrible rumors of The Church killing innocents in the name of prevention, right?[/color]" Alexandra would feel a tug at her leg, and a small girl would look up at her, "[color=ffc1cc][i][b]Why’d you kill my Mommy and Daddy, miss...[/b][/i][/color]" before Milli warped a twisted smile, "[color=ffc1cc][i][b]Wanna play?[/b][/i][/color]" Alex looked at the little girl, quickly realizing it was Scarlett’s familiar taking a different form. An act which she didn’t think was very funny. [color=82ca9d]"Well you girls please show some decorum?"[/color] Elaine said with a sigh. [color=82ca9d]"Forgive them, Knight Vander, the Tower will take full responsibility for their disrespectful behavior. They did save most of the other townspeople, so perhaps you could let this go?"[/color] Alex’s hand left her sword handle, but still glared at the Handmaidens for a moment. Two of them were having a small argument, and the third one watched on as if it was a circus show. [color=whitesmoke]”Wyland, Namista, assist me with seeing to the townspeople.”[/color] She said, turning to the two newer members of Eon. [color=whitesmoke]”Lavina, I imagine you’ll check in with the other teams?”[/color] [color=8882be]"I can."[/color] Roze responded, shooting a concerned glance of her own at the Handmaidens. [color=8882be]"I admit, I’m worried about Eve and Lapis."[/color] [color=whitesmoke]”Those two young girls? I believe that the young son of the Devaron house and that Fae boy are also with them?”[/color] Alex said. [color=whitesmoke]”Do as you will, Triad Witch.”[/color] Alexandra began walking over to tend to the townsfolk who managed to survive the initial attack, motioning for Hector and Shavis to follow her. Nadia and Roze were free to move as they pleased, and the Handmaidens were left to their devices. [color=8493ca][b]"Yes ma’am,"[/b][/color] Hector said, hurrying after Alexandra in a hurry. He didn’t want to think about the fatigue all those Suspend Shots had built up, and was certain that he was due for a nap or…twelve. Herne was no worse for wear however, proudly coiled around Hector’s neck like a scarf while keeping a lookout for anyone trapped under rubble. Shavis gave her a salute as she fell in step with Hector, giving him a pat on the shoulder. [color=fff200]”Thanks for the assist earlier.”[/color] She muttered with Shadar walking beside her, still keeping alert for any possible civilians who got stuck in the rubble— those unfortunate enough to have gotten involved in the crossfire. After exactly one minute, Scarlett and Lupina would pause, and look toward where Alexandra had left to, while Kalos looked straight ahead. "[color=BDD3E9]is?[/color] [color=00ccff]She?[/color] [color=318ce7]Gone?[/color]" they asked as one. After a few seconds, they would sigh as a trio, and collapse back-to-back-to-back, and hive-fived with the backs of their dominant hands, "[color=BDD3E9]Good.[/color] [color=00ccff]Job.[/color] [color=318ce7]Girls.[/color]" "[color=D8B895]That was a risky gamble...[/color]" Baast groaned, as he flopped to his ass, sitting cross-legged. "[color=D8B895]Annoying The Church is certainly [b]AN[/b] idea, I guess.[/color]" "[color=00ccff]Better annoyed than chummy,[/color]" Scarlett says, "[color=00ccff]In some way of other, all three of us have a death warrant, and they are dying to sign it.[/color]" Milli, Hack, and Slash whined; piling onto Baast’s lap. "[color=D8B895]Oi! Get them offa me![/color]" Baast groaned, becoming a toddler bed. "[color=BDD3E9]You’ll live...[/color]" Lupina says. "[color=BDD3E9]I’m exhausted...[/color]" "[color=00ccff]Are we good for a nap...[/color]" Scarlett asks, already dozing off. "[color=BDD3E9]You can’t asked that, and then just go to sleep anyways![/color]" Lupina grumbled, before yawning, as her eyes closed, "[color=BDD3E9]Well, whatever...[/color]" "[color=318ce7][i]Zzzz... Zzzz...~[/i][/color]" Kalos snored with a little hiss. "[color=D8B895]Ditto...[/color]" Baast says. "[color=D8B895]That damn sword did me in. I’m bushed...[/color]" Fatigue catching up, the Handmaidens would surrender to sleep, as would their summons. Even with the potential of the enemy engaging anew, they would sleep soundly, as if in their own beds. Nadia and Rozemyne starred awkwardly at the sleeping Handmaidens. [color=00a99d]"I should be annoyed that they can fall asleep in a place like this so easily, but right now I can’t be anything else but envious."[/color] Nadia said. [color=8882be]"They’ve earned it, so it’s fine I guess."[/color] Roze added. [color=00a99d]”Well, at any rate, I think we should be fine now, so if you wanted to go on ahead, you ca-”[/color] Nadia was cut off by a message from Rana. [color=0076a3]”Elaine tells me that you’ve all finished up here. Are any of you able to go and assist Leon’s group? Elaine and I have tried to reach them, but it seems they’re struggling in a battle right now!”[/color] She said, almost frantically. Nadia and Roze looked at each other, the former nodding at her. [color=8882be]"On my way!”[/color] Roze beamed, jumping onto Icarus’s back and flying upward. As Nadia was left to her own, [url=https://i.imgur.com/yVKBORH.jpeg]a rather regal woman of the cloth[/url] would slither by - quite literally, as she slipped past Nadia on a crimson scaled tail. Plodding by her, following the woman, a little girl with golden, button eyes and a pickaxe looked at Nadia, and pulled her cheek with a muffled “caw!” as her sewn lips parted a little and her shoulders raised like threatening wings. It was enough of a distraction that Nadia almost missed the woman opening a portal to what looked like a massive library, and pulling the Handmaidens and their summons within. Backing up, the little girl would point her pickaxe - no, her weaponized cross, Nadia would realize, at the academic, before slinking into the portal behind her mistress. They were gone, just like that...[/hider]