Kaiga Agniyastra

---

"Devil slayer?" Kaiga said puzzled before pulling his sword out the puppet. "I think you've got the wrong idea my flames are just stronger than normal." All thanks to Azuria of course, he wouldn't be half as strong if she hadn't taught him. That wasn't important right now however, he still had to save the kids from these bad guys. Kaiga was prepared to attack again but a dragon(?) appeared out of nowhere. Kaiga was surprised but gritted his teeth and prepared to face Yaorin again.

Only to be quickly beaten back by Yaorin's angel force and as she left Kaiga could only grit his teeth harder in anger at his failure. "Always like this," Kaiga sadly muttered to no one but himself. "Never able to accomplish anything.", Kaiga gripped his sword before he prepared to face his next opponent; only for his thoughts to be interjected by the voice.

"Hey Kaiga...do you think the sister spirit she was talking about was me?", Kaiga furrowed his face up in confusion as the voice kept speaking. "I'm the only spirit inside you unless...I CAN'T BELIEVE IT YOU HAVE SOMEONE ELSE." Kaiga could only meekly mutter out a what before blocking the voice from speaking again. Perhaps it was their attempt at cheering him up...yeah no he lived only to see Kaiga suffer.

However, Kaiga's distraction would prove to be a horrible mistake as he failed to notice his shifting surroundings in time. Kaiga quickly looked around before noticing the kid by his side again. "Unforgivable," Kaiga said simmering with rage. "Bringing a kid into this do you have not shame. Kid stay behind me I'll protect you."

Kaiga decided that instead of just screaming into space about the injustice of this he would make up for his failures by taking down this jester. Tossing his sword aside Kaiga breathe in before clasping his hand together, "do it as Azuria taught you." As Kaiga took his hands apart a flaming arrow appeared and he quickly hurled it at the clown before hurriedly shaping a fir arrow into a spear and rushing at the clown and swinging down his spear.

As the colossal battle between Jericho & Yaorin commence and when all hope seemed lost upon another chokehold, Kaiga set himself ablaze by sheer heroic will and determination with his power of feelings, Brandon saw a splitting image of Natsu's Fairy Tail in Kaiga.

"What the Devil -"

Brandon was surprised by the sheer spikes of magic power that Kaiga released as the floor beneath him not only appeared to be molten but the atmospheric heat of his aura, seemed to be melting the icy walls of the castle.

That quick rush sent Brandon flocking back to his shadow portal realm, flocking to his dimension safe, having nothing but agonizing scream of immolation, not even his dark magic could heal him as it cannot keep up with Kaiga's fire magic, burning him constantly, even after he escaped.

Such humiliating defeat, caught the attention of Lady Setsuka, who wiped the blood stains, dripping from her lips, she initially thought that it was from the people she drained earlier and her cup was full, not even a sip, Setsuka realized that it was her nose bleeding from the sheer heat of Kaiga's flames.

She stood up from her throne for the first time.
@The Jest@Iamme



Such nuisance
Setsuka thought.

"Are you testing my patience, Human?"

The room temperature significantly drops, encasing it in ice and snow.

Lucas Gutenberg

_{Fylkirlén Forest}

---

Lucas looked at the flames with a little pride as left Gwen to choose their destination, he initially thought that he would struggle casting flames in a forest encased in the ice but it appears that he is worried for nothing. As long as uses his own mana, his glyphs will operate normally.

Now time for the next step, adjusting the glyph to use the ambient mana instead of his. That way the flames will not just consume his mana but also allow him to make a torch for them to carry. With the amount of ice mana surrounding him, it will prove to be quite challenge that will need a minute.

A minute that he simply won't have as he felt a chill behind him, forcing him to turn around and prepare a glyph for a potential battle.

Finally her prey in sight, with a rush of energy Liv chilled the group of Gwen, Ayuna, Ceri and Lucas, slowing down their movements and reactions, dashing around the trees to hide her position still.

”Høhø, you Phoenixes can either surrender or face the might of Setsuka-sama and her best forces!”

In a millisecond glance Liv already identified the main threats of this group, a Glyph Mage with likely a large reservoir of spells, but can he maintain his campfire and fight back at the same time?

He could see it in the corner of his eyes, shadows moving and sneaking around the tree. He cannot say for certain but he had a weird feeling about this one.

He took a glance at his group, aside from Gwen the flame he made is a lifeline. He had a choice of fighting back or keeping flames lit.

Well there is another option.

"Forces imply numbers." he spoke as he kept tracking of the moving shadows. He doesn't expect banter but he needs every second he could to modify spell a bit.

"And if you are the best..."

The cold will not bother these flames.

"...it speaks on the quality of your organization." he spoke as he threw the modified flames to the trees allowing it to slowly spread around the snow.

It will remain ever burning as long as coldness lingers.

"I hope you mind the landscaping and arson, it's getting too cold here." he spoke as flames of arrow began pursuing Liv.

In hindsight, this may not have been the best idea.

This was a castle manned by some crazy child-napping, devil-worshipping cult. Of course it was going to be laden with insane traps alongside a bunch of strong guards! While the Mist he made from his flames and his gourd of water may have helped with the latter, it wasn't going to be that effective with the former.

Plenty of times, the boy evaded traps that nearly grabbed him by the tail in quick succession. Just when he thought he got through the worst of it and had a moment to catch his breath... The ground beneath his feet liquified like quicksand, dragging him in.

"Oh, Come o-" Before he could finish his yell of annoyance, he was gone without a trace.

---

Falling into darkness for a second before he could see light beneath himself, the ceiling spat him out and dropped him right onto the floor.

...Of the throne room he left.

Though not quite as he left it. Apparently a lot happened while he was away; he noticed what was happening outside... A giant white monster that looked like an angel, taking on a dark starry dragon of some kind. While both of these were pretty terrifying, something in his gut was telling him the angelic one was the enemy here. Yet for as scary as it looked, there was something about it that gave him...comfort? ...Confidence? As if he felt like he could win when it seems and feels impossible. He never seen an angel before, but heard about them from Tai: the mentors of Devil Slayers and envoys of the most high. Maybe this was some kind of effect they have on people?

Wait, that's besides the point! He shook his head and focused what really matters right now: He was right back where he started. He got to his feet and looked around, wondering how the bloody hell that happened. He was pretty sure he didn't make it to the second floor; if anything he thought he was descending down to the basement when he sank. It seems this entire castle's layout was completely under someone's control, and as he immediately noticed that damn jester looking at them all smug, an Anti-Magic barrier now around the two and the kids still just standing there!

...In fact that, in itself, was strange. Taking a moment to look closer, he could tell they didn't seem to be reacting to any of this...in fact they weren't reacting at all.

...So that's it. This castle, these kids, they're under that clown's control! Kotaro had no idea what kind of magic was being used, but it seems that clown had everything under control from the beginning. Honestly, thinking back on it, he should have saw it coming. He figured the presence of Brandon, his comrades, and his mistress was what kept them in line, and that ring of fire was what kept the kids from escaping. But in that case they should have at least noticed him breaking out and hopping through the fire, and should have at least tried to follow suit, or yell at him to come back, or something. It also made sense why no one bothered to stop him from escaping: he didn't have any hope of going anywhere Brandon didn't want him to go.

But it seems the clown had one oversight. Even though they were surrounded by Anti-magic particles, he was still in Kitsune form, and could still feel that inner fire without hinderance. By the looks of it, it seems like it didn't hinder the other flame guy one bit either. Since running off clearly isn't an option, their only option was to fight!

That said, however, it seems Kaiga was quicker to handle things than him. First by having Kotaro get behind him to protect him, which honestly felt somewhat insulting. But before he could protest, Kaiga got grabbed by the jester's darkness sucking him in. Only for him to flare up in fires the likes of which Kotaro hasn't truly ever seen before, and firing at Brandon with an arrow, the heat from this move being enough to nearly overwhelm him as well.

As soon as Brandon tried to escape into his shadow portal to retreat, from out of the same portal popped out a blade Kotaro immediately recognized. It seems the sword was never in the armory like Kotaro deduced, but was kept by Brandon himself this whole time! As if on instinct, Kotaro quickly jumped into the air and grabbed his katana, putting it back into the no-longer-empty sheathe by his side.

Now that his trusty partner was at his side, and the Jester was gone in a way he admittingly almost felt sorry for him going through - "almost" - things were starting to look up... Is what he would have said had he not felt a sudden frigid chill coming from the throne. Kotaro looked and saw Setsuka finally standing up, and the area around her succumbing to sudden frost, the sound of the room being frozen over like the cracking of glass. Almost immediately, Kotaro himself froze up, the fiery tail standing on end and the fires dimming.

"...Oh crud..." He whispered in fear.



From the start, Kotaro knew there was something about this woman that was bothering him, something about her was bad, bad news, especially when considering the others were taking orders from her. But at the time, he figured it was just because she was a very powerful wizard, or maybe even some sort of demon.

It was only after she unveiled herself by freezing the throne room that he realized she was something far, far worse.



"What's a Yuki-Onna doing here!?" he thought, his whole body shivering either from the cold... or was it from the fear?

In Hizuru, Tai taught him about this special kind of monster known as the Snow Lady. Supposedly a kind of yokai like Kitsunes, though Tai never called them anything more than monsters. Either way, they were viewed as incredibly powerful beings of cold and ice, and for Kitsunes like Tai, were something of a rival or perhaps even nemesis race to them. Most - save the most powerful among the kitsune - would avoid or run from one, and this was especially so for someone like Kotaro, who wasn't even truly a Kitsune himself.

Now, what is considered a bogeywoman among yokai stands before him: powerful, cold-hearted, and pissed off! Even as a Snow-lady, she seems especially powerful, given how she had all those guys serving under her.

This is a land of ice, so it's not entirely unthinkable that a yuki-onna would show up here, but he assumed they only existed in Hizuru.

Every single fiber of his being was making him want to take his mentor's advice and run like hell away from this woman. Brandon's gone now, so the spell keeping this castle under control should be as well; there shouldn't be anything preventing him from escaping out the door or one of the windows that she hasn't frozen over yet... If only it was so easy. Brandon's spell probably broke on the kids by now. Even if it didn't, he can't just leave them here with this ice witch, and he can't just leave the fire guy after what he just did; Tai wouldn't do that. But at the same time, he's not Tai; he's not strong enough to take down a Yuki-Onna even with his sword.

His heart raced in his ears; as if he was already frozen by her powers, he couldn't move his legs as he gasped for air.

...What should he do?

...WHAT SHOULD HE DO!?



...No, deep down he knew what he had to do, but he was too scared to commit to it.

Even so...



Kotaro took a couple of deep breaths to calm his beating heart and return to his senses. His kitsune features dispersed like an extinguished flame as he unsheathes his katana once more, the blade suddenly whirling with rings of wind magic.

"Taigetsu" was a quality form of Spirit art that Tai taught him, but it was ever going to be a back up plan until he was old enough to adapt to it properly. His true calling, a majority of his strength, lies in the wind spirit arts he harnessed through his blade.

"In this situation, even if he was outmatched, Master Tai would never abandon these kids. So I won't back down and abandon them either! There's only ever one reason to fight a losing battle..." He thought. He then turned to the fire guy.

"Grab the other kids and run for it, I'll cover you!" He said to Kaiga, gripping his sword with both hands as he took position to fight Setsuka, the winds around his blade roaring and pushing against the cold air she emitted.

Was he still terrified? Of course he was! The cold eyes of Death were staring him in the face, and simply feeling the air she emits was making him shiver even still. He doesn't stand a chance against this woman and he knows it! But...





@Danyel @Iamme

Jaina Dalton

All right, she was mad at the interruption, but also excited at having a worthy opponent at last!

Back-flipping herself down onto the ground, landing on her feet, she began gathering her Memory God Slaying Magic around her hands once more, before shouting, "I am Jaina Dalton, Princess of Snaervold, Wizardess of Fenix Tear and Daugther of the Sea! Flee now or be drowned in it!"

Ignorant folk have always feared the sea, due to generations of dread that formed a collective memory filled with monsters, drowning, and a vast blue expanse of nothing at all for miles around. Jaina tapped into this collective memory to amplify the dread those who heard her felt, her contempt for those who gave themselves over to their fear of saltwater flicking out like a whip when it would otherwise be held back by courtesy, etiquette and respect - None of whom this brigade had earned.

Seawater began to seep up from the floor, rising upward to shin-length, the salt smell permeating the area and mixing with the coppery tang of blood as Jaina continued her outraged speech.

"You who fear the source of your bounty, you who live beside the source of a fear you do not wish to overcome, clinging to your cowardice to the point where you fear Vampires less than she who has granted you the fruits of food, commerce, and the salt used for both - And all because of what? You cling like babies to your mothers when faced with storms and sea monsters?"

The seawater stirred beneath them, awakening the primal memory of the sea, carried by harsh winds that brought the salt to their noses, even as Jaina's words reverbrated with even more outrage.

"I do not detest cowards. I do not even detest willful cowards. But who I do detest are those who would deny their cowardice in the face of the source of their own rewards!"

The seawater rose up into tendrils, even as Jaina opened up a Memory Manipulation Vortex, not to erase or even extract memories, but to enhance them, to ensure that they would not forget their fear of the sea, and to make it clear that their contempt for it was echoed so many times over that it was irrelevant.

"Memory God Slayer Magic - Memory Manipulation Vortex! Seawater Magic, Grasping Tidal Horror!"

The tendrils of water would hold the foe in place if the saltwater seeping into their gear had not already done that (Jaina was immune and she also made any nearby books immune; knowledge was sacred). The Memory Manipulation Vortex would remind them of their fear, amplifying it to extreme levels. And if they did not overcome this fear, the tendrils of saltwater would drag them down into the rising seawater... And they will drown.

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

Kaiga Agniyastra

---

Kaiga watched as Brandon skulked away and was freed from the darkness; there was only one thing he could say he felt: happiness. This was something not even the voice could take away from him, he had finally managed to accomplish something of note other than being a punching bag for bad guys. That happiness was short-lived as the woman got off her chair.

Kaiga quickly moved to grab his dropped sword as the woman got off her throne, he was quick to check on the kid and was surprised to see him holding his sword. Perhaps he was more capable than he thought, but before he could instruct the kid to run away he was the one told to run. That struck a blow to Kaiga that left him momentarily stunned. He should run away?

Either that kid was suicidal or confident in his abilities but Kaiga couldn't let a kid deal with his fight. "No way," Kaiga responded firmly "I can't just leave you to deal with her." After saying that Kaiga took a look at the lady and took his time to take her appearance in resulting in him biting his lip. "Great of course, it had to be a yuki-onna."

Even more reason to not run away, Kaiga quickly moved to the cells holding the kids and cut them down with his swords. "ALL OF YOU LEAVE, WE'LL COVER YOU." He couldn't just leave these kids here while he fought the yuki-onna. but what they did or what they didn't do shocked him even more. They didn't even react to him they just stayed sit.

mind controlling

He knew these guys were horrible but to think they'd go to this length was even worse. He grinded his teeth in fury before forcing himself to calm down. He needed to keep a cool head to deal with this monster. Kaiga switched out his sword for his gauntlets and walked up to the sword-holding kid. Giving one last glare to the yuki before clasping his hands together Kaiga would shoot a javelin right at the Yuki before rushing her.

He never intended for the sword kid to fight with him, but he knew he would never accept to being told to go away. Kaiga turned to the kid and smiled. "Sorry but you're going to help those kids get out of here." As soon as Kaiga said that he put more energy into his feet to appear to go faster and crashed the yuki-onna through the castle walls.

Forcing her outside as they both fell, with the voice scolding him all the while.

---

_{Location: Fortuna}

Shinra spiralled in the air for scarcely a second before immediately righting himself, landing in a slight crouch beside Jaina. His eyes narrowed at the priest warily, his entire body buzzing with restless energy. He could already tell that a good fight was about to go down.

Surprisingly, though, Shinra wasn’t the first one to act. Before he could even start moving, his scholarly guildmate made the first move.

“Yeah, you tell him, Jaina!”

To be honest, Shinra wasn’t quite sure what she was talking about, but she seemed really into it so he cheered her on anyway. His fist clenched, the power of gravity surging through his body as he watched Jaina restrain the priest with seawater?! Where did that come from?! Shinra shook his head to snap himself out of amazement, setting a determined glare on the enemy priest. He could gush about how cool his guildmates were later! There was no way he was going to let himself fall behind here!

Taking a light step to launch himself into the air and at the priest, Shinra accelerated his speed several times over, shooting himself like a cannonball.

“Magi-Mech Attack: Gravity Cannon!”

@The Jest@JrVader@Iamme@Polaris North

---

Setsuka amused of the way things are took a blunder as soon as Kaiga said that he'd put more magic and go faster, he did as he said he would and crashed her thick hide through the castle walls.

Forcing Setsuka outside as they both fell into the ground.

Delusions
Delusions

Whatever Kaiga experienced was nothing more than a delusion, thinking that he caught up to Setsuka who just stood up.

"Kitsune. That magic power essence, I never thought I'd taste it once more, it's been 400 years since I fought Tai. How pathetic, yet another mere human is his successor? How disappointing, oh well, as Queen of Iceberg, all enmity against you is severed, you may take your leave, this instance. Had I known sooner, that Hizuru arranged an appointment, then, by all means have an intelligent discussion."

Setsuka's appalled to know that her domain was broken, not just by Fenix Tear but also Hizuru, she had made it clear, 400 years ago that Iceberg wouldn't be open to any deals unless it's of dire need, still, of all the nations concerned, Hizuru is one of those with Yuki-Onna.

The only country she'd allow to visit.

"So let mask you lad, you're free to go or do you have business with Iceberg because we haven't been accepting foreigners since then, though I made it as gesture of goodwill against my rival to not touch what is his."

At the castle's throne room doors, came Ifrit and Elektra.

"I have heard your King, Jellal's summons, Chancellor Elechanel, you have also brought more company than I expected. That orderly man must be Fenix Tear's Messenger, no...I'd rather find it hard to believe that a former White Creed, White Mage would succumb to barbarity and mediocrity of Azuria Rutines. I can see your history in your eyes, young man."

Elektra sighed at the sight to behold.

"Iceberg and their demonic festives, an offering to Zagrebal, I heard." Elektra smirked at the sight of she saw, it's rather a welcoming mixture of emotions, moreso of fascination.

Setsuka bear her vampiric fangs against Elektra.

"Don't you dare say our Lord's name so nonchalantly, mere mortal." Setsuka reassured her composure once more.

"To put it frankly, Milady, there's nothing casual but do take ear, when I say this, not everyone who calls upon the Lord, will answer thee, similar to how I won't inquire further what's being avoided. Lightning never strikes twice."

Setsuka felt Elechanel's words struck her mind open, it's as if she had a sudden raise of bioelectricity, surging unusually, unable to think of what just happened vaguely.

Ifrit was never a stranger to the higher ups that the White Creed do, he knew that not all Demonic Nations are evil, but clearly he doesn't trust Iceberg.

"Supposed Iceberg refuse your alliance?"

"Then consider that Ankhseram sends his Angels to rein fire upon Iceberg, Ifrit, I can see that the Queen seemed undecided on an alliance, won't you be so kind to enlighten her that with Iceberg's military night, we can stand up better against the Demonic Fogs? But before you do that, please get Kaiga out of here."

Something was definitely off, Elektra hasn't shown the single slightest of care about the other party members, furthermore, it appears that the entire place was coated under the fabric of layered llusion.

Setsuka silently reinforced the illusion to mask the fight between Yaorin and Jericho.

Whatever maybe, things aren't what it seems but the arrival of Ifrit and Elektra was real.

Meanwhile, somewhere down the Bifrost's Holy Forest, was Eris, who just woke up from the crash.

Long story short, by order of Setsuka, Liv attacked their ship and got them separated, now she wandered.

@Gerlando@Digmata

---

Gwen didn't let her feelings fumble on this one, she's not gonna let one childhood memory, the be all and end all.

GUNGNIR!!! Gwen encased Lucas in an ice cage made of a giant spear, cancelling whatever attacks, he had prior.

Gwen didn't take Lucas kindly for what's happening, what she's experiencing right now are raw emotions, her traumatic childhood came rushing back at her, Gwen's way of dealing with it, was pushing everyone away, she recalled a spell that Ayuna was attempting the other day.

"Aqua Aera!" said attempt alongside the rush of adrenaline, allowed Gwen to perform Aqua Aera by mere muscle memory, she looked at Ceri and Ayuna, urging them to back to the Guild since she successfully managed to connect the Guild's portal to the Holy Forest, which was oozing abundance of magic power.

With Ceri and Ayuna out of the way.

Gwen attacked Liv without remorse, she knew well enough that it's Fenix Tear's duty to exterminate Devils, not negotiate with them.

"Liv is dead, stop desecrating her body like that...TAKE OVER: DRY ICE BOMBER, GODHAND CRUSHER!!!!! " Gwen rushed towards Liv with multiple consecutive punches and kicks of assault, Spiria-induced with nitrogen.

Jericho wasn't sure what was happening all around them. One moment he was preparing to give his friends a ride and the next they and their giant ship were gone. Just where had they gone? Someone who might have the answer suddenly appeared above him, the shadow of her fifteen foot form turning the land below into a valley of darkness. Jericho looked up to see who or what was causing this and saw a giant woman? He wasn't quite sure until she spoke. She didn't seem to have a face, but she did have what appeared to be a halo above her head. Her hair was a long and flowing white. She reminded him of Azuria when she blessed his eyes for the first time. No wonder he thought she was an Angel.

The Angel finally spoke and it was clear that she was threatening him. Her words filled Jericho with laughter, but it didn't come out as a dark laugh. It instead came out as a boisterous and monstrous roar sending shockwaves through the area. Jericho then cleared his throat. "Apologies. I'm not quite used to speaking in this form." However it seemed that she wasn't interested in conversation. She wanted to fight and Jericho was one to oblige. Unfortunately for the both of them it wouldn't be much of a fight. The Devil-Slaying Angel was completely unaware of how much of a mismatch this battle truly was.

Jericho opened his draconic mouth to inhale deeply. Every single spear raining down on him found itself pulled to his mouth like it was a superpowered vacuum. He consumed every last one before burping. Such a delicious meal. Did all Angelic magic taste like this? He laughed again, mocking the Angel above him. "You fool! You're out of your depth. Devil and Angel are no different to me. They all fall to the Dragon God of the Night and Stars. I don't know what you've done to my friends, but if you and your allies have hurt or killed them there's not a god that can save you from my wrath. Bring them to me or die."

Narrator: Oh no. I almost forgot about this. Jericho rarely transforms into Dragon Force. He always tells others that it's because he likes to test his human strength, but the real reason is because his mind becomes more like a devilish dragon of legend ready to consume any and everything in his path.

Jericho didn't give her an opportunity to respond or do as he commanded. He wanted her to know the extent of her sin before him. He opened his mouth forming a dark ball of spiria infused mana. He even added the meal that she just served him to the mix. In a deafening roar the ball expanded into a full beam heading straight for Yaorin to end this battle just as quickly as it started.

@Danyel [@Everyone]

@King Kindred
Gwen narrated the fight between Jericho and Yaorin, atop the Holy Forest, next to the Castle.
_Narration

Yaorin anticipated the attack that the Dragonized Jericho did and swallowed, no, gobbled what he released directly at her, she sucked Jericho's massive magical power that he roared against her. Spiria was the big black spheric ball of magic that Yaorin consumed, although it was clad in Mana, Yaorin's skin at Angel Force was clearly impenetrable from Mana except against physical attacks.

"It is obvious that this contest cannot be decided by our knowledge of Magic but by our skills in the physical." Yaorin used her angelic authority as a Four-Winged Angel to forcefully deactivate his Dragon Force, but not fully she's intrigued by the fact that Jericho resisted the Dragon Supremacy Magic, a lost attribute unique to high-ranking Angels in Universe 7.

Yaorin only turned Jericho back to human but not full but partially dragonized and taking half of her magic power as well, making her partially angelized.

As they afloat in the air.

"Have you ever heard the tragedy of Faris, The White? It seems that you got a special woman in your heart, I can see it in your eyes, little dragon.

I thought not. It's not a story that Pergrandenians would tell you, it's an Icebergan legend.

Faris, The White was The Great White Mage, so powerful and wise, that she could turn all ethernano into the Magic of One to ressurect the dead.

She had such great knowledge with the Magic of One but could not even reunite with her beloved at summer's wait, today this story was reduced into Beauty and The Beast. (^{Callback Foreshadowing of Izuki, slipping the book, Beauty and The Beast into Jericho's hand in the Guild})

Jericho was it? Join our ranks and perhaps you could be with that special someone."

---

The Devil Slayer Priest, Vergil Dantes at Fortuna, no-sell what came upon him and was intrigued that magic like Ether Gear from the Dark Ages still exist, he kept up with Shinra's speed, pound for pound and burned Jaina's magic away with a mere flick of his wrist, after dodging her attacks with multiple backflips.

"This isn't even a fraction of Lord Drake's magic. Snaevrold Princess, do permit me to retort, having known of your identity by the spilled blood of my comrades, sets an intrigue not only to Queen Setsuka and Hellgate Lord Zagrebal, I cannot fathom that our Kingdom's greatest enemy in the seas has its Princess fiddling around the care of Fenix Tear." Vergil cut open the portal with his blazing sword and as it went by, he found a wounded Brandon.

Using his healing magic on the unconscious Brandon, the man awoke and began to demonize because Vergil inflicted Brandon with vampire blood, turning him into a heckling, Jester Vampire.

"Do not interfere, Dragon God Glacia. Yes, I know who you truly are, your cowardice has made you soft, masquerading as a human, Lady Setsuka was right." Vergil said to Amaya directly but Shinra and Jaina cannot hear what they're saying due to Telepathic message.

"I am making this personal, I wish not the indoctrinated children of the cathedral choir be sacrificed to ressurect Zagrebal, for it is a mortal sin.

You, Jaina Dalton, Child of The Sea, Snaevrold's Princess.

I hate the sin, but not the sinner and your sin, is for existing.

You are the one that's going to be Zagrebal's vessel!

A long time ago, I inquire of the Holy Grail of the Goddess Alexandria, she answered not of my inquiry.

You see, it is foolish of the Gods to set your fate against me.

Jaina Dalton, no. Alexandria. God is tribal, God takes sides.

No God in the skies delivered Iceberg when Deliora attacked and Snaevrold raided Iceberg, weeks before all that, your soldiers killed my wife.

Now begone!" The demonized Jester Brandon nullified the respective magic of everyone present except Vergil Dantes, who ate Amaya, Jaina and Shinra, consumed into his portal stomach.

---

Cut to the present

Reuel faces off against Jester Brandon and behind him came Vergil Dantes.

"You were the one that killed my brothers and sisters from the Krusade, I'm not letting you off easily, heretic!" The demonized Brandon yelled at the top of his lungs to Reuel.

"Calm down, Brandon...you there Assassin's Pride, judging from the blood memories of my comrades, it seemed that you laid waste to the KKK, I'm willing to make a wager...this thing is about to digest your friends once it makes it to the castle but I will be in your way because I have some valuable information that you may be interested. What's it gonna be, you can let your comrades die and never know about the Contractor...decide now."
@Sho Minazuki@Letter Bee@BlackMaiden@Aku the Samurai

Jaina Dalton

Jaina tried to shout, "I was six when that happened, you bastard! And if your nation refused to trade peacefully, of course we'd raid to open your markets - And it's not as if you and the other nations weren't invading our land and burning down our crops every so often!"

Okay, maybe the concept of the 'Cycle of Hatred', that the various Sages in my nation preach about, does hold water after all, she thought as her cries were drowned out by being absorbed into some sort of demonic stomach pocket dimension. All hail King Jellal; he at least put a stop to the constant warfare, as far as I know. Yeah... The long peace we had due to him bringing all of us together against the Demons did put an end to a lot of wars and petty raids. Or at least, that's what I remember...

She had to admit, she was feeling bad about that Devil Slayer Priest's wife. Not so bad that she'd not defend herself, but bad enough that she had to distract herself from this demonic pocket dimension that was trying to digest her. Was this really her punishment for her father's sins? Was she going to die before doing her part to secure the peace that King Jellal had brought to the continent, including her Kingdom? No, this cannot be the end - Nor does it need to be Shinra and Miss Amaya's!

Looking around the demon stomach portal mini-dimension, Jaina tried to find some way out, racking her archive of memories for answers. She had an Ether Gear guy and Miss Amaya, who was a Dragon God. Can a Dragon God break out of this literally forsaken place?

Was she being digested through magic, or was her guilt picking at her? Damnit, she always thought of Snaervold's past as raiders as just that, the past, and even worse, thought of the raids as great adventures against worthy opponents, not murdering and thieving and wife-killing!

Yeah, she was being digested by magic and picked apart by guilt. Both mixed in her and it was not comfortable. Focus! You have to break out of this... What did this portal space look like, anyway?

She focused on trying to conjure up a light; a small glow would do. She needed to find Shinra and Amaya if they weren't close by. But right now, her guilt was picking at her and it was interfering with her spellcasting!

Goddess Alexandria, help me in my time of need, I beg of you - I need wisdom right now!

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

E R I S C A R I O S

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Not remembering what had happened before she woke up already sent alarm bells ringing in Eris's mind. The next was the fact that she was distinctly alone, not a single trace of any of her guildmates could be found. The moment she stood up, her body slowly shifted to be covered in almost imperceptible scales. Whatever had happened did not mean well and she needed to be prepared to fight at the drop of a needle.

Eris scanned her surroundings. Clearly, she was in some form of forest with a fresh lining of ice around it— fitting for the namesake of their country. She bent down to one of the plants to pluck a leaf and it was cold to the touch all the way down. Fantastic. She spotted a few animals skittering about, just as seemingly cold as their plants. She had half a mind to call out to them and see if they can lead her somewhere when her gaze was pulled upwards, a prickling feeling under her skin.

"An illusion?" She muttered. Was this the reason she was separated from others? A high-level illusion to trick them into thinking they were all separated? Or was it just her who didn't know where the others were? Fantastic job on your graded assignment, Eris. She supposed it was a good thing that Ifrit was around then. Surely he could keep the others safe should the danger truly be too much. Ironic how the only thing they wanted to do there was to fix the damn bridge and head back home.

She narrowed her eyes against the bright light of the sky. Clever, clever. Runes did make maintaining such a spell a large-scale spell a lot easier. Whether it was the cause of the illusion or something more sinister, Eris figured she had to get to the bottom of it to find her companions but, well, best to not show her full hand yet. As such, she took a deep breath and keep her senses peeled for any changes as she delved further into the forest.