@Snarfulblast@Wraithblade6Eclipse flies around the battle, avoiding the titanic blows being exchanged as the Hydra fought it's way to land. Liters of blood poured from it's wounds, turning the ocean around it red. And yet it fought on, the waterfalls of blood mere cuts to the titanic creature, the tornadoes that tore into it mere annoyances. And despite the weather the wards simply remained where they were placed, floating in mid air. And even as he placed them, he could feel his spirit connecting to each of them. He left his 'fingerprints', and the more he placed, the weaker he placed. As if his very being were being stretched out. Such a thing would be impossibly without his consent, of course, and it was only his continuing good will that allowed the spell to work. Clearly he would be used to power this spell, a disposable battery of divine energy to be used and thrown away. And yet, despite this knowledge, there was little he could do about it. He was trapped, like a mouse in a mouse trap, unable to stop as he marched towards his fate.
Albert found himself in a similar situation. He used his superhuman strength to move large boxes of barrels, enough sake to get an army drunk, working tirelessly and endlessly. He saw large creatures working by his side, superhuman giant red demons lifting carts of rice wine to be added to the pile. And within a matter of minutes the pile was the size of a large building, within an hour it was reaching the lip of the palace wall itself. An immense collection of rice wine, the cheese in the trap. And even as Albert had worked he had known he was being exhausted for a purpose, that after such continued and thankless work he would be able to offer little resistance to Kiyoki. But there were few options, he was merely a gear in the greater plan.
Kiyoki simply smiled, as he marched up the steps to the top of the walls. The crowd on top parted before him, seeking reassurance in his presence. Kiyoki could feel their hopes placed in him, and he could feel their lives in his hands. He knew that everything depended on him, that he held all the ropes. That even as these little gears stared at him so expectantly, he, he puppet master, would use them all to perform his grandest trick yet.
As Blarg marched up, and gathered his magic to perform his harmless trick, he found himself suddenly in pain. A cut seemed to materialize across his chest even as he jumped backwards. For where previously had been but a shadow now stood a tall, dark figure. Silently, the undead assassin beheld the creature that had so blatantly attempted to cast a spell near his master. It was his blade that had left it's crimson trail across the murloc's chest, and it was his blade that would soon take the creature's life. Shiro dashed forward, blade flashing towards Blarg's neck, as he sought to end this as soon as possible.
Above, Kiyoki raised his hands. Well aware, and well smug, of the events occurring behind him. He grinned, as he could feel the power of an empire tingling at the tips of his fingers. When he spoke, his voice was like the crack of thunder, it's mere force seeming to part the black clouds above. "Yamato no Orochi. You have defeated us all. Accept our offering." Smiling brightly, he flicked his hands as power ran through his many charms. The illusion was lifted, and the pile of sake barrels was revealed. Truly, the giant serpent was powerful. But it was greedy, and it's greed had been it's downfall once before.
And, surely enough, one of the creature's immense heads rushed forward to devour the rice wine. With no resistance showing it gladly devoured the supposed offering, no doubt secure in the knowledge that it would enact it's vengeance with sated thirst. Little did it know, of course, that the wine had been enchanted the day before. And little did he know of the trap that closed down around him.
"Yamato no Orochi, enjoy the wine. For it will be the last gift of this land you will taste." Smiling, Kiyoki sprung the trap. And the very air seemed to burn, as each of the wards lit up brightly. White light surrounded the creature, as it raised it's head. The people cheered, seeing their hero enact his plan. And in that moment, Kiyoki's true power became apparent. The mage raised his hand, and eight immense shackles appeared around the creature's neck. Divine white chains held it down, pulling it to the ground as it screamed and struggled. The very ground shook with it's efforts as it roared in defiance, and yet the chains did not give way. "Feel the wrath of the Gods of this land, fouls serpent. I banish you."
And with those words, Eclipse burned. He could feel energy pouring through his body, as Kiyoki channeled through him the faith and life energy of every single man and woman in the entire Eastern Empire. Absolute faith, absolute devotion. Focused through him like a laser beam through a lens, formed by the web of spiritual energy he himself had placed. And even as this power burned it's way through him he could feel his own power leaving him, pulled from him involuntarily, dragged along with the stream. Fire enveloped him, as he could feel agony tear at his body. And yet, his torment was but a spark next to the main focus of the spell.
Divine energy seemed to surround and infuse the immense hydra. It thrashed and screamed, the ground tearing and shaking. It felt as if the very sky would be torn down by the violence, as waves higher than houses smashed into the harbour walls. Kiyoki simply waved his finger, as if he were orchestrating a piece of music. Symbols and runes burned in the sky, a merging of the power of the Onmyoudo, drawing from the sheer divine energy of Gods. A spell of unlimited potential, a true piece of arcane art. And as Kiyoki finished his incantations and movements, the very sky turned black. Runes burned their way across the serpent's body, and with one last scream, it became silent. It's body seemed to ripple, a wave of energy making it's way across it's scales. And even as the sun struck it once more, Yamato no Orochi's fate was clear to all.
Where once had stood a titan of flesh and bone, now stood a collosal statue. An eternal monument to the power of the Dragon Emperor, a symbol of Kiyoki's conquest.
Next, the fates of those gears that had played their parts in Kiyoki's plan would be decided. Eclipse was torn from the sky, his very being burnt to a crisp, on the cusp of death. Albert was exchausted, but very much alive. And Blarg was engaged in mortal combat with the deadly but silent assassin, Shiro. With their plan of revenge, they had worked their way precisely into Kiyoki's plans, and it seemed like they would now pay the price. The one man who remained both free and unfettered was King, but he could have gone anywhere in the time it took to perform the ritual.
