No good deed goes unpunished regardless of the directions you take including the intentions behind your actions because whenever there's a cause, there's an effect that ripples like a domino.

Fenix Tear Team A is a powerful lineup way before Rena joined, it's true that power finesses most battles but whatever they severely lack is bound to be their undoing in time. As the legend surfed in this timeline, Jaina & Shinra were proclaimed to be uninvited guests in the Adalborg Cathedral because of Weisz' petty prank that put them in this situation. There's no one to blame as there's no time for blame games as the clock was erratically like a ticking time bomb, Rena watched Reuel ditch the Group, has he always been this dodgy just to finish the job? To all of us Players out there, who had brain cells to read up to this point of the post, this is Rena speaking to gently tap the fourth wall.

I'm spitting sacred texts right here, taking the reins for the time being, if you disagree with my methods, that's your fucking problem.

I hope you're cringing, reading this post because it's clear that I'm a time traveler and unlike you, I know most of the Keikaku, narratively speaking ya but I'm not like the bad side of the fandom who spoils the plot. Don't think for an instance that Ver ran out of ideas to keep this RolePlay ongoing, if your country by summer heat has been killing you slowly, you fucking deserve it trolol, it means you need to chill and lose more brain cells, I am attacking you on purpose so that you'd be entertained by Urizen. Enough talk, I hope this brain rot refilled your brain cells to fasten your motivations, both in that realm and posting-wise!

God Bless You!

So there was Rena, who watched things unfold & how a supposedly recon quest go offraills. Azuria didn't die for this in X797. She cringed at the offset of Reuel and her current situation with Amaya, Jaina & Shinra, about to be jumped by Strigduar Vampire Demons. This is when Rena realized that if there's anyone else to blame, it'd be herself, she wanted things to be smooth but because she messed with time during the events of Port Camlann in 8-Island Restaurant, with my permalink here with another permalink.

I ought to make this right. Faster than the speed of light, Rena used Cat Leaper, her Ether Gear's spell with her invitation to Adalborg Cathedral as the catalyst, a Time Rift opens somewhere:

< Clairsentien >
Rena can leap her mind through time, as if she's there in said time and place by touching an object, such as pictures to know its history, anything older than 7 hours, she can't see.

Universe 7, the reality of the timeline we live but not quite, the ratio indicates 7 as it means Universe 7 and 3 means the amount of time travel Rena committed and by rewriting the aforesaid permalinks, time has began to run at a different course, like Jaina never mentioned Zan-Weset because Rena kept her mouth shut this in timeline then one thing led to another.

Jaina never learned of Rena's Magic because by keeping her mouth shut, Weisz didn't spill the tea in the first place, before leaving, Rena demanded Weisz to give them the passes to the Adalborg Cathedral, she knew that he liked bullying Shinra in the future, oops spoilers. Fenix Tear Team A seemed to be the same setup in a longshot. Huh! What the Ankhseram is this, in the similar shade, even in this verse Reuel went ahead of Fenix Tear Team A, Weisz told Rena in this flashback part for one, Reuel is headed to Iceberg, their purpose: Rena, Jaina & Shinra with Amaya's guidance was to cover any loose-ends for Reuel. Suddenly, Rena's got a headache as she felt the remnants of the previous Timeline, erased!

Another different thing in this timeline, Amaya didn't request Azuria to be part of the Recon at the last minute, so instead, she's already part of the lineup to begin with in this 7:3 timeline.

Reuel went earlier and achieved the same result in Fortuna.

Finally, the timeline has stabilized.

However, Rena did not see it coming, even with the passes, the Strigduar still had it in them to suck their blood for dinner. Shinra & Jaina may not been handcuffed in this timeline but Rena couldn't fathom at first as to why Reul's informant, Duke Lestat de Drualac betray them. This is when she realized Weisz's words of loose-ends.

However, to her surprise, after the beating Shinra and Jaina gave, the Vampire Duke, Lest, apologized. Was it because of Jaina's Calm Reaction in effect? Who knows, but whatever is happening now, is favorable for Fenix Tear Team A.

An uncuffed Shinra made things a lot easier.

Rena amidst all this, was still hiding with her invisibility stealth mode spell, her class being Assassin is no joke after all.

Cut to the cue to the chase...
Lestat not only apologized but also dismissed his Vampires from the seen, Team A then formally meets Jun Tao, their prime suspect of this Quest, the sun can be seen rising from the windows, it's 3am in the morning, why is the sun rising?

Suddenly, magic missiles were heard outside, the people at the Cathedral's Ballroom, were unfazed of the situation.
I'm deadass not poking fun of the nukes of Israel-Palestine but you get the point, that's exactly this scene.

"It seems that the Vanisis has shut down a Blimp." Jun Tao looks Oriental.

He's in a private room with Amaya, Jaina and Shinra.


The Time Rift that Rena opened caused a crack in the previous Timeline is a fixed point because it's in fact the cause of the thunderous snowstorm, coming in fast at them.

Before they know it, they've entered the wormhole as their ship is sucked and blowed by the Time Rift's blackhole into the Ravines of Time fully that gripped them into the 7:3 Timeline. Not that they'd remember any of it because no one is immune to timeline changes unless you're an Angel/God/Dragon God. This also extends to Immortals like Zeref and Mildianites like Ifrit in this case.

As things converged into the 7:3 Timeline, the group was not safe for the time being, the Thunderous Snowstorm that they're headed towards is no ordinary storm.



They were being anticipated by a Collosus Thundersnow Bifrost.

"Ayuna, you bloody idiot, I don't think it's a Thunderous Snowstorm. We're all gonna die by that fucking Giant! Gwen saw the magnitude of magic power that said Bifrost was emitting.

Elektra is not amused by the fact that Jericho was at odds with her.

"Don't you have better things to do?" Elektra's Thought Projection disappeared due to the sheet magnitude of magic power that's on them.

"Tch... the Blimp isn't gonna hold this long, I hate to say this but it's not like I like you lot. Judging from the brainwaves I'm getting from my Take Over Magic, Isenfeur hasn't been friendly since then. Gwen stated the name of the Bifrost Giant.

"Weird isn't it, Eris. Do you feel that nostalgia, this magic pressure is that of Lady Hisui's Zirconia Jade Dragon Form, and yeah, I recall spiting your ability to understand Beasts like this.

Ifrit, guys, what do we do?" Gwen asked the veteran for guidance, her panic emotion waned and returned to being calm to assess the situation.

Deep in her art, she's afraid that Jericho might pull a Natsu and fight the Bifrost.

E R I S C A R I O S

---

Gwen was right. Even from within the blimp, Eris could feel the almost overwhelming amount of magical energy the Bifrost was exuding. She huffed as Gwen turned to acknowledge her about their shared memories. It was true. When she faced that dragon for the first time when Lady Hisui had lost control, some part of Eris wanted to give up. She had thought she would never have a chance against a rogue dragon but she tried anyway because she had to. And because that hopeless moment gave her more life than any other time in her life.

And now, a part of her was feeling that same adrenaline. That same excitement. That same thrill.

"At least with Lady Hisui, I know she's just out of control." Eris gave Gwen a lazy grin, too relaxed for the current predicament. She moved forward, closer to the window of the blimp to observe Isenfeur even further. There was something odd about the feeling of this giant. Yes, Gwen was correct. It was unfriendly, perhaps even upset, but there was something else there. Pain.

"And perhaps this situation isn't all that different." Eris gestured to her neck before pointing to the giant. Perhaps it was Eris's attunement to her bestial instincts and senses that allowed her to perceive it faster than most of their companions but it appeared that Isenfeur had a chain wrapping around his neck and other places of his body. "Hold the blimp steady as much as you can, Gwen. Hopefully, this will be quick."

She gestured for the others to stand down for now, letting her gaze linger on Jericho specifically. As much as she wanted the boy to get more combat experience, this situation required them to take a more diplomatic approach before they threw hands on a battle that was tilting in the giant's favor. "You told me to take the lead before. Trust me." Eris whispered to Ifrit as she turned to regard the Bifrost Giant. She took a deep breath and projected her voice to pierce through the howling winds.

"Isenfeur, I am Eris Carios, a mage of Fenix Tear, and we are not here to bring you any harm. It has come to my attention that you seem to be in a predicament; would you allow us to aid you in this for safe passage?"

The beast mage was never particularly good at diplomacy, too thick-headed to actually learn how to be conniving. Instead, Eris often took the more straightforward approach. Beasts had always been simply— they simply just yearn for survival. There were no complicated politics with them and that was why Eris enjoyed hunting them more than any other type of mission. Of course, helping beastial-aligned beings was just as simple. Or, at least, she hoped that would continue being the case with Bifrost giants.

@Polaris North@JrVader@King Kindred@Rune_Alchemist@Deide@Digmata
Isenfeur though bondagely deterred by the sadistically malevolent tetherizinger chains was still the deific guardian of the storms that protects the once bustling pathways of the Great Glacia Bridge for all pilgrims that move to-and-fro upon a timely place, a fate so grim of perpetual burden yet so blissful.

He that moved to-and-fro the surrounding spacetime perimeter, that is Isenfeur, the Collosus Thundersnow Bifrost, a reluctant daily mythic figure to Icebergan folk that was enchained by Glacia eons ago. A Titan that dissipates in auroric snowdust of nigh-omnipresence, Isenfeur judges not the weight of objects such as vehicles in tow but one's heart, so lo and behold his exposed Lacrima-beating blue heart that shows character mirages of people. These images are uniquely tailored to one and each are reminded of their causal relationships; their past, sins and longing for the end.

However, Isenfeur is dysfunctional now, he cannot show the mirages because he lost his lacrimized heart and he's seen crying, suddenly diffusing from Fenix Tear Team B, granting them passage.

Gwen uttered: "A shell of his former glory, Isenfeur begotten by Glacia once justly permit passer-bys to her bridge like the good son he is, but ever since he lost his heart, that he know not where to find, the mighty giant is unfortunately exploited by... and sad."

Furthermore Gwen nodded to Eris, hinting as if she noticed that the Great Glacia Bridge was disappearing and forming. It's no question that the burdened son of Glacia was traversing back and forth in weaving his magic body to rekindle the boulevard of broken dreams. His magic was clearly unfit to repair the bridge and many had fallen under the deceiving illusion and unto their deaths because of the falsified bridge.

Gwen knew the legend because she grew up in Iceberg.

She turned her attention to Ceri & Jericho, who seemed uncertain on how to answer Ceri because he was ready to fight Isenfeur with his flight or fight response.

"Ceri. How about you stick close to me and I'll stick close to you, I grew up in Iceberg, after all and I'm curious, what have you read so far?" Gwen squatted down to Ceri's height level to get a closer look at her. still stripped

Gwen was also giving the glare towards Jericho to calm down and most likely not go after Isenfeur, whether he'd as brain-dead as Natsu, that's a close call.

The Thought Projection of Elektra returned, she stood next to Eris, all connections were stabilized.

"Reminds me of certain stubborn lily, don't you think so? Good job, looks like the sad blue giant didn't want to argue, Azuria seemed right to have chosen those deserving of being S-Class."

---

@Sho Minazuki
Somewhere in Fortuna, Azuria apparated to where Reuel is, not by magic means like Thought Projection but real time as Azuria Rutines in the flesh as the sun rises and epically signaled her entrance.

"Nah, you actually did it."

Moreover, she expected nonetheless that Reuel, who acclaimed to be the weakest S-Class was ironically the most efficient to finish the job sooner than expected.

"There's more to be done, I know you don't play well unless you need to, but bro... Running off like that without reassuring the safety of your comrades isn't something I'll make a fuss about but still, I take it as because Amaya was there, anyway catch!" Azu tossed a Lacrima for Reuel to catch.

It was a Lacrima Smart Footage.

The footage contained KKK Members who weren't just doing despicable acts over the course of four days but kidnapping kids to be the vessel for they worshipped a Demon as some god.

"This is your final mission for this journey. I have no qualms killing children, especially if they're going to be demonic doors for entrance, as a Devil Slayer, I know full well. We better get moving before Amaya destroys Fortuna in the next sunset, and fast, Fylkirlén is not so far from here. So kill the Starblood Vessel, unfortunately a child. Try not to kill my disciple."

Azuria entrusts Reuel his final mission: kill the Starblood Vessel to prevent Hellgate Rajabel from returning.

---

@Iamme@The Jest@Gerlando
"Setsuka-sama, the line-up of kids for the ritual has been examined properly, truly worthy of being Starblood Vessels." Brandon said in sadistic glee.

In this valley of darkness situation, Brandon has met worked with the Hawkband, a Guild better known as the Band of Hawks from the Alvarez Empire, who exported slaves for the Rajabel ritual.

"This fox runt was troublesome, but in the end no one clowns with me, your choice milady. Either we feed him to the dogs or what, should I slit his throat for extra measure or leave him be for the Rajabel ritual or feast in his blood or what!" As we can see, hungry Werewolves were outside the castle.

"Liv beat me to it but this punk don't get the memo, ice beats fire!" Brandon vented his frustrations into his prisoner, a boy with blue hair, implied to have tried saving said approximately 10 year old boy.

Brandon stepped and kept kicking the blue haired young man whose blood was frozen from the inside.

"How about I feed you to those dogs, flame brain..."

Behind Setsuka was an enchained blue Lacrima heart, cloaked.

---

@BlackMaiden@Aku the Samurai@Letter Bee
Meanwhile...

Juntao was cornered by Amaya, Shinra and Jaina.

"I got nothing to say to you punks, you are trespassing executive territories. If I may so humor you then I compel you to listen. Oldest trick in the book I have no part with the KKK, what are you gotta do about it.

Kaiga Agniyastra

---

Kaiga’s entire day had been a bad day, first was when he was asleep he had a nightmare and he didn’t get nightmares. Next he was kicked out of the library like always (something something to loud something something he shouldn’t use his powers when paper is around.)

And the worst part at the start of his day was when his drink was spiced with something hot, it could have been a mistake on his part or someone had gone out of their way to play a prank on him.

That’d never happen.

And now at the worst part of his day he was frozen like a lollipop after trying to save a little kid. The best part of his day was that the voice had been quiet for most of the day after the nightmare…or well until now.

“HAHHAHAHAHHAH” The voice laughed out filling Kaiga’s head with nothing with his annoying laughter “I told you not to go, but like the ungreatful idiot you are you immediately rushed in.”

Kaiga stayed quiet as the voice continued to ridicule him “So are you going to help me get out or are you going to keep laughing.” The voice stops before humming. “I don’t know you were pretty mean to me yesterday.”

“Stop acting like a child and help me.” Kaiga claped back “Says the one on the floor right now, idiots learn best from experience free yourself by yourself.” After that it was radio silence “I should have shut him out.” Kaiga growled before funneling fire into himself.

“He’s lucky he’s not physical I would have strangled him.” Kaiga flames burn grow and grow until boom “Let’s go for round two.”

Ever got into a situation so bizarre or dangerous or just plain different from the norm, that you have to sit down and ask "How the hell did I get here?"

Well, for the little 10-year old samurai vagabond Kotaro, this was one of those situations. His journey from the island nation of Hizuru to Avalon was evidently not off to a good start; bonded to anti-magic cuffs, his sword far away from him, and currently in a room surrounded by weird-but-powerful wizards who apparently are indecisive what to do with him, and the guy who came to rescue him only to get his insides turned to iron-flavored popsicles.

---

Looking back, the boy was naive in thinking he could travel from Hizuru all the way to Avalon by his lonesome without any trouble. He suspected common thieves or kidnappers on the road, maybe even a rogue wizard or two wanting to grab him for profit of any kind. But he figured he could handle whatever came his way. He was after all the Fox Sage's pupil, and learned how to be decent with his wind raigetsu and swordplay; anybody who'd stand in the boy's way would have a lot more than they bargained for. In a way, the fact that he's a wandering kid on the younger side of the spectrum is something he could use to his advantage; people of a child-harming profession tend to underestimate their prey and master Tai always taught him not to waste an opponent's underestimation in battle. How did he put it again? "Hunters who chase a little black fox into a corner, will find themselves led there and becoming the prey." ...Something like that anyways.

But never did he expect the opponent blocking his path be some clown freak apparently made of crows. Something about this..."thing" freaked the boy out more than any thief or hooligan ever could. That gaudy ridiculous attire, the crows that seemed to be around him, those big black eyes that were as if the boy would be sucked into the Void just for looking at him, and this feeling, this darkness he could sense... Screw "butterflies", there were outright moths in his stomach as this guy chatted about him being perfect for... well, Kotaro wasn't really paying much attention to whatever he was saying. This guy was a particular brand of bad news he wasn't prepared for, instinctively going into his Kitsune form, The boy and Brandon the Jester fought off the trail...well, it's more accurate it turned into a fight as Kotaro tried to run off the path to get away and the clown followed suit.

Kotaro tried to fought him off, and to his credit, the boy seemed to be doing well at it, giving the clown a hard time. But, there was a moment of weakness, his mind starting to go dark, his body getting enervated and sleepy... was it the clown's magic, or was it something that hit his head during the battle and giving him a concussion? His mind was too scattered to focus on that or the fight for much longer until eventually...he just blacked out.

Next thing he knew, he was in a dungeon, his weapon taken from him, his hands cuffed to keep from using any magic, and surrounded by other kids roughly around the same age as him.

For a little while now, Kotaro was in his cell with the others, sat down near the middle, trying to keep himself calm and figure out how to get out of this situation - hopefully without any random blackouts this time - and free the rest of these children with him. The fact that they were kids and so not the least bit quiet about their situation did not help matters at all, some of them even tried to pick a fight with him as the weird new fresh meat. This was far from the kind of thing master Tai trained him for, and the cherry on top is that while he tried his damnedest to hide it, he was just as terrified of this situation as the rest of them.

---

Which brings us to the present. Kotaro and the other kids are lined up in what seemed to be a giant throne room, a giant heart-shaped Lacrima - the likes of which Kotaro has never seen before - chained up in the back behind the throne. That clown from before is there suggesting the many things they could do to him including - oh, how cute - feeding the "fox" to a bunch of hounds outside, said iron-popsicle guy the clown was kicking, and sitting on the throne was the one whom the clown was talking to, a woman that looked almost like royalty, her eyes as blue as the giant lacrima on behind, and a look in them that was just as cold and stone-like. He didn't know what the clown who was still chatting it up was talking about, but while he never heard of the name 'Rajabel' before, something about it irked him in a way he couldn't explain...A demon perhaps? Could it have been the same one that attacked the forest that day? ...No, it sounds like whoever this Rajabel is, he isn't materially present in the world yet...and these kids - himself included - are the ones that are going to be that material to bring him into the world.

Just looking at this "Setsuka-sama" on the throne, Kotaro doesn't know why but he can tell, ...this lady is gonna sacrifice him and the rest of these kids for this Rajabel demon if nothing was done. Moreover, by the sound of things, that's the "lucky" way out of this. One's gonna be a lot worse off as a vessel if nothing is done.

The guy coming to rescue the kids is incapacitated from the ice, but judging by what the clown was saying, this guy's a fire wizard. While it's true that ice magic might beat out fire magic, ice itself might be able to melt off from the fire magic; he won't be able to focus on that with that clown kicking him though. Considering that Setsuka lady over there, never mind the other mages in the room, he didn't like this guy's chances in a fight. But with his own hands tied and his weapon out of reach, he was the best chance they had at getting out of this.

And so, Kotaro took a deep breath...

"If you care so much for those hounds' stomachs, how about feeding them some of those birds of yours instead!? In the meantime, how about not threatening to kill off kids you need so badly for this ritual or whatever? Seems a bit stupid and short-sighted to think about how to kill us 'vessels' you spent a lot of time gathering for such an event. What if you end up killing the one kid that's perfect for hosting this Raja-whatever, and you end up with a failed ritual for it? Did it occur to you how her royal highness over there will react if that happens, or do you happen to have a crow's brain to go with that bird-magic of yours?" He yelled to Brandon, a smirk on his face. Chances are the other kids were trying to calm Kotaro down or shut him up for his own sake, but if the clown got pissed at his taunts, then his job was done.

He just needs to keep him and everyone else distracted while the fire-guy melts off his ice and fights back.

Kaiga Agniyastra

---

As Kaiga escaped the ice the first thing he did was use re-equip magic to put on his gauntlets and draw out his blacksword quickly. He would be the first to admit that his martial arts skills were far better than his swordsmanship skills but Ria taught him that he needed "tactics." He thought it was stupid but if Ria told him he had learned it was smart to listen to it.

But the first thing he braced for wasn't the puppet in front of him but the voice in his head. "Re-equip is a stupid magic meant for idiots who blindly follow the knights." Kaiga never knew why but the voice always complained when he used re-equip magic and he had just learned to block him out. "Anyone who uses re-equip is a dumbass who can't think for themselve-"

"You can act like a brat later about re-equip, but I have a fight to win si U can't listen to your tantrum." Kaiga quickly shifted his stance with his sword, he should have replaced the black sword before this mission considering how fragile it was but after his drink was spiked with something hot he had forgotten now he was alone having to fight whatever the puppet that stood in front of him was...just his luck.

Kaiga looked at the kids before giving them a smile and a thumbs-up. "Stay still for a while, your big brother got to deal with a hideous monster." Kaiga liked to think he was good with kids and the first thing to do when dealing with kidnapped victims especially kids was calm them down. "I don't know what kind of lives you guys lived, but drawing innocent kids into it is unforgivable."

Kaiga never knew why but he always had a hatred for devils burning deep inside of him, but he could think of that later now it was time to fight. Staring around the room Kaiga swiftly charged the puppet before sliding beneath it and slashing its Achilles Tendon hoping to drop it to the ground. He briefly considered charging the caster but decided to get rid of the puppet first.

"I don't know if you have a soul in you but if you do... I hope you can rest in peace." Kaiga quickly stabbed his blade into the puppet before injecting fire inside of it, burning it from the inside out. While he hoped the fight would end with this one attack villains always had something more up their sleeves.

Well, it didn't turn out quite like the boy expected. The clown, though unamused, just took the insults and disappeared. He'd be lying if he said that the ineffective trolling didn't disappoint him a bit. Still, the main point of the insult - to get the kicking of the frozen fire-magic guy to stop - was accomplished at least, so it wasn't a total loss. Now he had to just wait for the guy to break out of his frozen bindings and get the rest of them out of there...

Or at least, that was the plan, but confusingly enough, a priest that seemed to be working with this group came over and sped up the process by defrosting the man personally, and the boy too to boot. But as if to show he's not actually on their side he also erected a giant ring of white fire around all of the kids and the fire-user, then just up and vanished without any further elaboration. Kotaro was familiar with priests as being similar to his master's own occupation. Tai told him that they were essentially exorcists and holy men who often do good for people around them....what was someone like that doing with these people in the first place?

"Umm... Thanks?" Kotaro confusingly said to no one, meant for the priest who disappeared before he could say it. Then there was the other chick who had a face that portrayed the kind of imagination a 10-year old like him shouldn't ever step into yet; a very creepy lust plastered over it that made the boy cringe and a shiver run down his spine. She snapped herself back to reality and summoned up candles, which in turn seemed to summon a giant humanoid monster of some kind - a "puppet" as she called it - before she too left the area.

Either these people are really confident they can't get out of this situation, or they're really stupid for leaving them alone like this. As much as Kotaro would like to, he can't take a chance on the latter. This marionette, Nemesis, was unlike anything the boy has ever seen before, and his legs were shaking in fear at the sight of it. Not to mention, the woman on the throne was still present, and there's no doubt in his mind that she's the strongest of the group. Even if they managed to beat this thing, she wasn't going to let them go easily herself.

Even so, he can't help the fire-user like he is. Not with the anti-magic cuffs still on his wrists keeping him from using Taigetsu, and without his sword he can't use his Raigetsu either. As it stands, he's just as much a sitting duck as the other kids by him.

As he kept instinctively stepping back more and more - as if his body was wanting to get away from this throne room on its own - he noticed that his heel was right in the white flames, and just as instinctively, he jumped away from it. ...But the strange thing is, there was no indication of that other than him seeing that. There was a little heat but that's it. Curiously, he then touched the flames with his finger as if to confirm he wasn't imagining it, and sure enough, his finger wasn't getting burned.

Why did the priest make a wall of flames that doesn't burn? Was he bluffing when he made it, or is there some kind of trap on the other side?

He couldn't think about that right now, as his cuff was having some effect from getting close to the flame. This was a magic flame on anti-magic cuffs after all...Maybe...

"Hey, Fire man, mind keeping that thing distracted for a bit?" Kotaro asked Kaiga. Not waiting for an answer, he sank both his wrists into the white flames to let the anti-magic cuffs get constantly hit by it. Sure enough, even though the white flames weren't burning him the cuffs couldn't say the same. They were becoming quite hot - perhaps due to an overload of magic - and eventually broke, opening up on their own and dropping off the boy's wrists.

That was one problem taken care of, but he's not at his best yet. If he couldn't be hurt by the flame, then he could probably pass through it. He'd hate to leave the guy and these kids here with the monster and that woman, but he couldn't afford to play escort right now to the kids, and Kaiga... Tai looked over and noticed that the guy was content on fighting this monster-puppet on his own, even seeming to have delivered a rather clean blow to it with a sword he summoned out of nowhere...so he's re-quip swordsman as well, huh? Kotaro was convinced; he could probably handle this thing for now.

So while the lady - he hopes - was distracted by Kaiga fighting Nemesis, Kotaro snuck off out of the ring of fire.

But he wasn't going to escape just yet, he needed to get his sword back.

This was quite a castle; there's probably some kind of armory they casually dropped his sword into as a trophy. If he can just find it, he'll be able to help fight off that monstrous puppet alongside the fire-wizard, maybe even be able to get the other kids out of there as well. One problem though: He had no idea where the Armory is, and this place is likely loaded with enemy guards all over the place. Still, he couldn't turn back now.

"At least they let me keep my water." He muttered to himself as he then clapped his hands together in a hand symbol and closed his eyes.

"Taigetsu..." he quietly said as he became enveloped in blue flames. his hands and feet shifted and became more fox-like paws as his arms and legs gained golden-yellow fur, his ears perked up and became points upwards as a fox, and three tails of the same golden fur appeared from his backside. Opening his now red eyes, he moved towards a Wall to keep from sight, then looked around to see if there was any guards anywhere.

Since he has no map for where the Armory was, he'll have to just guess and comb the castle for it. It's more likely it's on the lower levels than the upper levels, so he'll have to start there.

Jaina Dalton

Jaina nodded as her palms glowed gold, but tinted with black, before she said to the female Vampire, her hands clasping the sides of the latter's head, "Relax, this won't hurt."

Then she began trying to access the captured foe's memories; to be honest, this sort of intrusion was wrong, but everyone had vices, and the amount of interesting information she got from using Memory God Slayer Magic more than offset her qualms at literally reading people. Either way, she would begin picking through that woman's memories, keeping away from the deeply personal ones, in order to get the information she needed in order to stop the 'Kulto Kalium Krusade'.

Oh, and while she was at it, she needed to brush up on her Vampire Lore; this woman was a Strigoi, right?

Either way, she also needed to know where the secret lair of the Krusade was, what their plans were, and more importantly, where their libraries were located; after all, her prime obsession was studying, plus Lukas needed a few gifts for the Fenix Tear Library...

@Aku the Samurai, @Danyel, @BlackMaiden, @Sho Minazuki

Lucas Gutenberg

---

One time the suspended librarian was nursing his wounds from the impromptu brawl, the second he was facing down a giant. Fortunately for him, he didn’t need to fight so quickly.

That is until the blim got hit by red ice, is that blood he’s smelling from it?

Thinking quickly, he began creating a glyph slowing down everyone’s descent as he created wings to move around. He doesn’t have enough time to control their descent but he has enough to ensure everyone will live.

Wait

Where’s Eris and Ifrit?

….And everyone?

"Tch. Lucky wench." Jericho sneered as Elektra's Thought Projection disappeared at the presence of a much bigger problem, both figuratively and literally. Despite the potential dangers Jericho was excited. He'd get to test his might against a magical beast so large and powerful. He sheathed his blade and started for the edge of the ship, but he was stopped by Eris's diplomatic actions. He sighed. Of course this big guy was a victim. That took the fun out of pummeling him. Thankfully he didn't have to. They were permitted passage and moved forward. Unfortunately their troubles didn't stop there.

Eris and Ifrit were crownapped and they were now plummeting down to the ground thanks to some weird red ice. Jericho didn't have time to think about anything, but saving everyone. It seemed he was going to be able to DRAGON UP after all. He removed his sheath and tossed it to Nirvana. His clothes were magical, allowing them to be turned into a sort of collar once transformed. Lucas was able to slow their descent. That was all he needed for the others. "I am never riding in a blimp ever again. Everyone, I'm going to jump and transform. Get on my back. Kids, ever rode a dragon?" He asked with a smile, knowing they hadn't. He continued his dash to the edge and jumped off. What a wonderful and freeing feeling it was to be in the air, just as himself. But as a dragon? It was a different sensation entirely.

He transformed with a monstrous roar alerting everyone and everything in the area that a Dragon was here. Glacia did everything it could to ruin their journey, but not anymore. It was time for the future Dragon God of the Night to make his true debut.



@Digmata@Danyel@Polaris North@Deide@Rune_Alchemist

Yaorin was fighting both Kaiga & Kotarou all at once but she never anticipated that one of their own, Jericho would turn into a Dragon and that Kaiga has taken down the Nemesis Marionette, effortlessly.

Things get to be even more interesting as it went on, Yaorin recognized the sound from what's not so far. Yaorin's interest, waned in both Kaiga & Kotarou, t'was quite a migraine that of all people, she needed to feel Brandon's eery telepathic comms. & the sound of his voice was not only distorted but commanding. That's the voice that frightened Yaorin to her wits.

Brandon claimed that all his victims were marked by his runic clown magic & that escaping was never an option, at least when he's around but this time around, it's not that he needs to be around but because he's confident in the very castle that they're in.

Just who knows if Kotarou landed on some, rather grotesque traps or significant players, which by the way was rather expected.

Yaorin yawned at Kaiga, the waning interest she had with him initially, just waxed.

Suddenly, the castle began to change in form and shape, Brandon was equally surprised outside that Yaorin is going to use that.


He turned his attention to Liv, who seemed to be taking on Jericho's Dragon.


Yaorin transformed into a four-winged Angel.


Yaorin reveals herself to be a Devil Slayer, immediately using Angel Force to overpower Kaiga as she intended to bring down Jericho to lessen the physical casualties in the city.


The landscape of the castle, internally changed as the space distorted in a massive area of effect.

Kotarou was warped back & together with Kaiga, their magic was restricted with antimagic particles.

It didn't take long for Yaorin to also round up whoever is at the vicinity of said location, Eris was captured & detained in the castle too.

Back to square one, Brandon watches over the prisoners while Setsuka remained seated in her throne.

Yaorin's Angel Dress: Metatron!

A colossal showdown begins.

Yaorin vs Jericho

White & Black

Day vs Night

Angel Force vs Dragon Force

Yaorin stared from above, menacingly at Jericho with her angelic spear.


Heavenly Space Distortion Spears rain like arrows upon Dragon Force Jericho.

@King Kindred@Polaris North@The Jest@Iamme

Setsuka spoke for the first time.

"Brandon, execute that bluehaired man and bring that boy to me." Setsuka wanted Zagrebal's vessel, Kotarou at all costs.

Brandon grinned and swallowed Kaiga with his darkness, slowly but surely, enveloping him into the portal.

Can Kaiga get out and fight for his life?

It wasn't a happy landing for Gwen, neither for Lucas and Ceri as they found themselves not quite far from the Blüdenfort Castle.

They landed in the snowy woods of Fylkirlén, separated from their comrades & fate wasn't so kind either, given the never ending quarrelful history between Gwen and Lucas. Surrounded by snow-white elden trees that spans 80-feet tall, no traces of corrupted magic can be found, Gwen briefly saw the rubble of her father's ship on the snowy grass. It's as if the trace of black magic was washed away.

Gwen's memories flashed yet it's distorted, she recalled fond memories of playing with her bestfriend in the very forest itself.

She looked at Ayuna, Lucas & Ceri, who were the only ones in immediate grasp & conversation.

This magic power felt awfully familiar

No Gwen, nothing is haunting you

Everyone you know in Iceberg before, is already dead

"Y'all alright?" Referring to Ayuna & Ceri.
@Deide@Rune_Alchemist@Digmata

Gwen hated it but to ensure the chance of survival, she'd have to rely on the intelligence of Lucas.

"You're not exactly my go-to when it comes to roadmapping, as biased as I may sound, Jaina is way better than you when it comes to coming up with the fastest routes and overall alternate routes but like I'm the one to be bitter, can you find a way out of this forest?"

Getting out of the forest won't be easy, they're all in uncharted territory amidst the Bifrost Tribes. (incoming Collab with Digmata)

Rena assisted the Team on the Fortuna Church, she sighed and reminded Jaina.

Amaya assessed the situation, putting two-and-two that this whole party's a ruse right from the start and Reuel took the quickest action according to her moniker, Guild Master Azuria's plans. She didn't want to intervene with the young peoples decision making but given how it took them long to decode what's even going on and how to approach the situation swiftly, surely failed her standards. Standards that are high, Amaya took the mission upon herself based on Azuria's teaching methods, while it's personal to her, she's also an S-Class Mage & a teacher-figure to the younger generations, just like Ifrit would do.

"That young lad swift to his feet went ahead & send sinners on the same day to Ankhseram" Referring to Reuel who did what he just did, less to be said about her fellow S-Class.

"A Time Mage who just altered time & flashforwarded to spoil the schemes of the Enemy, a risky yet efficient method, that young lady knows what she's doing since the Time Bureau Rave Masters hasn't come after her."

"An Ether Gearist with the same vigor as Jericho, I'd at least praise Shinra for his capacity to listen and take precaution."

"A God Slayer of the same pantheon as Lucas, this child is on the right track to interrogate enemies but lacks the force to do so.

Amaya takes leadership of the mission and had enough of the younglings, prolonging it.

"Rena, if you have any magic at your disposal, I strongly suggest you use that instead. Young Lady, I am forbidding you to use Time Magic, I am not asking you, I'm telling you." Amaya commanded Rena not to use anymore Time Magic because of the implications.

"Jaina, leave this politician to me, I need you to look for any runes in this place."

"Right ahead of you" Amaya used her Dragon's Eye and saw runes connecting from not just Fortuna but the entire ecosystem of Iceberg.

"These are bloodbank runes, any blood spilled is converted into ritualistic magic transfer that feeds households of Vampires. In fact, not just the Vampires themselves but also their weapons, devices... Reuel...what have you done... Did Azuria even factored this to her plans? Is this a miscalculation? No. We have to move forward before Setsuka makes hers."

"On second thought, while you're at it, make it quick and I need you find the locations of Ifrit and the others because we're heading there soon."

Amaya quickly froze the incoming projectile.

Vergil Dantes has arrived.

"O Trespassers, you have sinned against Iceberg, prepare to be exorcised." The Priest, Vergil Dantes has brought the Devil Slayer Brigade with him.

"Fenix Tear Team A, disperse. We don't have time to fight the Exorcist Brigade of Iceberg, dodge their attacks and whatever you do, do not spill blood!"

Things were about to get worst.

"Jaina! Shinra!" Amaya didn't see it coming.

Vergil went ahead and gunned towards Shinra and Jaina, speed blitzing them out of range, outside, breaking the roof and setting them in midair.

- Jaina and Shinra vs Pastor Vergil Dantes
@Letter Bee @Aku the Samurai @BlackMaiden @Sho Minazuki

A man with a Heckler's Mask stopped Reuel on his tracks.

And so it began, Fenix Tear has been exposed to the inhabitants of Iceberg.

Space around him begins to crumble.

"You were the one that killed my brothers and sisters from the Krusade, I'm not letting you off easily, heretic!"

Lucas Gutenberg

---

Lucas gracefully landed with the help of his magically constructed wings, the sheer coldness of Iceberg now assaulting him in full force now that he is outside the blimp. Fortunately his branch of magic thrives in sheer versatility and while the weather is hostile, nobody else is.

[Glyph Magic: Grand Campfire]

Warmth would cover the area around Lucas and the gentle rays of magical fire to Ceri, Ayuna and Gwen which garnered his attention. That face of hers it felt familiar.

It was a very hot day back then, it was him, his teacher and that poor siren.

She cannot speak a single word and she have no choice but to bottle it up.

Sometimes she will enter his room and wake him up. He already knew what she wanted and will make space for her.

If only so that he could shoo away her nightmares.

There's no mistaking it, Gwen is having a living nightmare perhaps a vague one but it is one worthy of being kept an eye on.

"We should be the ones asking you that." he coldly spoke to her yet it also had a tone of worry, of genuine concern?

He smiled a little at Gwen's recognition of his talents as he materialized his book.

"I don't have her photographic memory nor the training necessary to become cartographer but I can cheat a little." he declared as opened and revealed a page. Drawn on it was the map of Iceberg, specifically the section where they crashed landed.

"There's a castle nearby, we might be able to find it for temporary shelter but a cave system is also available in the opposite direction.