Flux

Blaze walked next to the Dewott as they started to move. He hadn't gotten a good first impression of him from when he attacked Theo, but it was comforting to know that someone was in the same boat he was. He stuck out the leg that had the Everstone encrusted armband. "My trainer gave me this... back before the Rifts appeared. He said it would help me get stronger faster, so we could participate in real battles..." he paused, getting choked up by the memories. "H-he was always nice to me, and always made sure I was happy. We were almost ready to leave and start a journey, to battle gym leaders and win badges, but... then he... he left on the day the rifts opened. I haven't seen him since..." A tear trickled down from his eye. "I keep hoping... that he's still out there somewhere."

"Am I... a person...?" he said slowly. "What... do I... want...?" He paused, retreating to the only memory he seemed to be able to hold on to, the memory of that girl's face that Minos gave him. She actually looked somewhat similar to the girl he spoke with now. He spoke again. "Lyra... The bottom..."

I kind of have to agree with Chimchain here. Take a look at Ray when Niles and Remus (I think those were the names) were killed. He practically went insane. Now, all characters don't necessarily need to go to that extreme, but I felt that it helped keep the realism a bit... (Just my two cents)

Stratos (((As fun as that would be, that is unfortunately not his power.))) "I have no choice but to assist your group... what type of man would not with so much he held dear at stake...?" The man gave a sly smile. "Oh, you've never had a choice, Anver. I've known of you for quite some time now. This whole operation has been under careful planning since stage one." He pushed up his glasses. "Now, let's get moving. I have great things planned for you." They walked down to the street, where a small but sleek black car awaited. They drove for a long while, exiting the city and entering the countryside. They stopped outside of a forest, where both men got out. The car drove away, leaving them alone once more. The man led Anver down a trail, not clearly visible, but evident once you looked past the overgrown brush. After a short while, they arrived at a small log cabin. They entered the building. The interior contained a table with a few scattered papers on top, a desk in the corner, and a sofa. There was a doorway in back that appeared to lead into another room. The blonde man walked over to the table gesturing for Anver to take a seat. He began to speak, clear and calm. "Now Anver, you may be wondering just why I've picked you to assist us. You see, we need someone with just the sort of talent you have." He smiled, pointing to one of the papers on the table. There was a profile of a man on it, with short blonde hair. "This man belongs to a group that we know only as 'The Organization.' Whether willingly or not, he has interfered with our plans a number of times." He motioned to the paper again. "This paper gives a full profile of him based on what information we've gained from our men inside the Organization. His code name is The Bartender, and he has the ability to freeze things solid." He gave Anver a look. This is one reason why I wanted someone with just your sort of power on this next mission. I know that you are nearly immune to even extreme temperatures. I've received word that the Bartender is set to be attending a dinner party tomorrow night hosted by a government official. The Organization seems to think there will be important information regarding the Pillar there." He frowned. "I am doubtful of this, but your task is to get this 'Bartender' out of our hair once and for all. If possible, find out what you can regarding the supposed information of the Pillar." A man entered through the door. He walked up to the blonde man, an envelope in hand. "Alister," he began, "I've got the invitations you requested. Three for tomorrow night." The blonde man simply frowned at the news. "I thought I told you not to use my name around these sorts of recruits," he stated. The other man's face took on a panicked expression. He bowed, looking at the floor. "I-I'm sorry sir! It will not happen again!" The blonde man's face took on a darker expression. "I'm afraid once is all it will take." The other man looked up, a frightened expression on his face. Alister smiled, the dark expression gone. "Oh well. It is of no consequence." He grabbed the invitation from the man's outstretched hand. "Thank you. You may head back now." The man gave an evident sigh of relief. "Th-Thank you sir. I'll head back right away." As the man left, Alister returned his gaze to Anver. "Questions?" -------------------------------------------- Hukuna "...But it has changed me more to know, that I can never see my family again because I am a monster. I will work with you and your people, but only so long as they are safe, especially from myself." "Do you think that's really how they'd see you?" Ms. Archer said offhandedly. "I think you might be surprised." She waved a hand dismissively. "But your personal affairs are none of my concern. Your family will be protected, that much is for sure." She turned to his wrist. "Your power is much like I have read in the reports. You are very powerful and have potential to become very dangerous. However, you have worked in the government before, and I do not doubt that you could do so again. For my final question... Do you have a preference as to where you work? I could assign you a place on a task force in BOA... the "Bureau on Awakened." It would be similar to your old job, and you could help keep those Awakened deemed dangerous from causiong further harm to themselves or others. Otherwise, I could see if Olympus has any need of your abilities." ------------------------------------------------------------------- King Murdoc Beetle listened intently to Allen's description of the physics behind his power, while Rebecca just stared at Allen with a bored and surprised expression. "Um, excuse me. I think I'll go outside while you guys do your... thing," she interrupted. Nexus waved a hand at the wall, and a portal appeared. Rebecca walked through, and it closed behind her. Beetle sighed. "Some people just don't appreciate the interesting things in life." He smiled at Allen. I suppose we should get you acquainted with the place. Rooms are downstairs..." He paused, seeming to remember something. "Shoot. We don't have enough rooms. I guess I can join Nexus. I have another mattress somewhere here. Besides, when my Grandpa gets back, we can always talk about expanding. It's not a terrible amount of work when we have his ability." He looked at Allen sheepishly. "Don't feel unwelcome, though. We're glad to help anyone we can. It's a tough world for those like us." ----------------------------------------------------------------- K_H "Would you like me to show you what i mean right now, wait until we get back to base to demonstrate, or should i not show my Powers until they're needed?" The Bartender nodded. "We'll be glad to have you. I have no need to see your power now, though the boss might want to when we head back to base." ----------------------------------------------------------------- rustytengo "Well I guess I will join as well. You can call me Wallflower for now until I am sure I can trust ya." The bartender smiled. "Good. Now, if you don't mind me asking, what exactly is your ability? It will be important for the Organization to know, if you want to help to the best of your ability." ------------------------------------------------------ typhlosionrulez "Meh. whatever,I got nothing else better to do. sure man I'll join in your little circus act." The Bartender frowned at his response. "Listen, this is no joke. If you aren't entirely with us, then it'd be best for both of us if you just left. However, if you're willing to give what it takes, we'd definitely welcome you. Your power sounds like quite the asset." ------------------------------------------------------------ Jory Sterling nodded at Lux's response. "All very good points." He appeared deep in thought. "Invisibility and memory restructuring..." he mumbled. "We don't have anyone with those exact abilities..." He paused as his phone began to ring. "Sorry," he mumbled before answering. "Yes, what is it? New recruits... Really? Yes, bring them back here, I'd like to see firsthand what they can do." He returned the phone to his jacket. "It appears we have some new members coming in. Let's put this conversation on hold and go see what they can do." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Arkhidon "I've got a question. Can the Pillar itself do anything? Or does it simply grant us these.. Abilites?" Zeus turned to the young man. He looked like he was caught a little off-guard by the question. "Well..." he began. "I can't really say for sure. I've never been near it myself. I don't think they've let any of the Awakened approach as of yet. Only the highest members of the research team have been inside the wall." He paused. "I do think that it must have some sort of great device powering it, though. After all, that beam of light coming from the top of it never stops shining. It reaches as far into the sky as we can see..." ------------------------------------------------------------------- Chimchain “No, I don’t know him. It was something about joining them to pure the world or something, I don’t know! I don’t remember much since I tried to run away. That guy just tried to kill me after I ran away from his fri-! There’s another one! There are at least two of them!” Lawrence frowned. He looked around the area. "Two, you say? Well, I don't see anybody here..." There was a noise from behind him, and the world went black once more. The effect lasted a few seconds before the light returned. The black haired man from before was nowhere to be seen. "Damn it!" Lawrence said. "I could've sworn he was unconscious..." He turned back to Eugene. "How about we get out of here? I can take you somewhere safe for a while, until you want to leave. I'm sure you've had enough trouble for one day." ---------------------------------------------------------------- Supernovae The sound of sirens went off in the distance. Zweiss looked to Jude. "It seems they've found another with abilities to chase. I feel in a mood to at least take a look." He smiled. "It's not as if they pose a real threat to us, anyway." --------------------------------------------------------- MasterWeavile898 Cassidy stood with her hands in the air, awaiting the police's move. There was a powerful sound, and everyone was thrown to the ground. The noise was hard to describe. It was a loud hum, reflecting the pressure Cassidy could feel against her body. Try as she might, she could not push herself off of her stomach, where she lay on the ground. The police officers appeared to be in the same situation, struggling against the invisible weight thrown upon them. From the position of her head, she could see three figures walk into the scene. There was a tall man in a dark cloak, with a scar on his left cheek. He had a rugged appearance, but looked dangerous all the same. He walked next to another man, in a long blue coat, embroidered with fancy golden designs. He had a regal bearing, holding his head high as he strode among the fallen officers. His dark brown hair reached his shoulders in the back, and was parted to the sides in front, where long bangs fell over the sides of his face. There was a small girl behind him, her long black hair tied back in a ponytail. Her face bore a blank expression, her bright violet eyes reflecting no emotion. She wore a purple dress. The man in blue walked up to Cassidy. He extended a hand, and she found that the pressure holding her down was gone. He gave a warm smile as he helped her up. "So you're the one they were after this time." he said. He had a powerful voice that commanded authority. It was smooth, and there was an undertone of kindness to it. "What is your name?"

Nero - Scout Team "Shit! Nero, change of plans. Hold your ground!" Nero nodded as the skeleton warriors approached. He was surprised that the Death Knight would not attack with them, but he wasn't about to complain about it. He muttered another spell, his body appearing to shimmer and wave around. It would help at least a little to keep the skeleton warriors from landing direct hits. He leveled his sword as they approached.

"My name is Meridian. Who are you?" -------------------------------- Phantom turned his gaze back to the flowers at this question. It was the question that had been going through his mind ever since the others had arrived at the first circle. He had been wandering that library alone for so long... never giving a thought to why he was there or who he was. But when he saw the others enter, with a since of purpose and being, he had begun to wonder about his own self. Just who was he? After meeting with Minos, he at least thought he knew why he was there, and he finally had a goal in sight. He looked back at Meridian, pondering the same question as she. He pulled the mask away from his face a few inches, the red glow disappearing as it left his skin. His face was still hidden, but he could now read the name written on the inside. Phantom He replaced the mask, and the eyes lit up once more. He spoke a single word, the only sense of identity he had in this place. "Phantom."

Lars ran up to the group, rubbing a hand on the back of his head with an embarrassed grin. "Um, sorry I'm late. They had me helping hold the side gate against these weird snow things. We fought most of them off, but then there were some loud sounds coming from this way. Sleepy got spooked and teleported me into the forest... I just got back and headed over here. What's going on?"

So yeah... Kinda missed the whole thing... >.> Sorry, I've just been really busy these past few days and haven't had time to catch up and make a post. I guess I'll have Lars run in late? Let me know if you want me to change it, but I'll quick type something up.

Very sorry for the long delays, but I'll be out of town for father's day almost all of today and most likely won't have time to update. I promise I'll get things moving tomorrow. Again sorry, and thanks for hanging with me on this.

"They are beautiful, aren't they?" Phantom turned to face the source of the voice, breaking him out of his reverie. It was a young woman, with long dark hair and vibrant green eyes. He was startled by her appearance; she was so familiar, much like the flower, but still he did not know why. The memories were like a tantalizing fruit growing just out of his reach. For a while, he simply stared at her, trying to trigger the memories. Eventually, as the effort proved fruitless, he answered the woman, his ethereal voice echoing. "Beauty..." He paused for a while, returning his gaze to the flowers. Yes..."

"I need that thing distracted or dazed somehow before I go in, because once I do, I'm not leaving until one of us is dead!" ------------------------------------------------------------------- Gillem nodded to the berserker as he stood. "I'll try to distract it from the ground!" he called out, before turning to Kozuto. "Koz, can you hit it from the air? If we can attack it from both areas, it will have a difficult time fending both off!" He rushed in at the creature's legs, which were taller than he was. He brought down his sword in a downward swing, the blow connecting with the beast's right leg. It hit a clump of thick muscle, barely penetrating the beast. It roared in pain, eyes aglow with its rage. It brought a hand down at Gillem, grasping him tightly and raising him into the air. -------------------------------------------------------- Kho rushed in as Gillem was lifted from the ground. He sprinted towards the creature's leg, grabbing hold of it before pushing of into the air towards the clawed hand holding Gillem. He slashed at the fingers swiftly, cutting into the flesh and causing the beast to drop Gillem. He landed lightly with his back turned to the beast. Gillem crashed to the ground beside him. He stood up, breathing heavily. "Thank you, Kho... You very well may have just saved my life..." Kho turned to face this creature, speaking quietly. "There will be time for thanks afterwards. For now, we fight." With that he rushed in once more, sword raised in challenge.

Phantom looked around in confusion as the dead started to retreat. They were heading back towards an area in the distance that he could not see. Taking advantage of the situation, he leaned forward onto the railing of the balcony, catching his breath from the taxing battle. After a short while, he stood again and returned the sword to its sheath. He looked out from the balcony towards where the dead had gathered. He could vaguely make out a figure walking between them, and could see some of the others from the first circle gathered around. He watched for a while, unable to hear what was being said. Deciding it was pointless to continue the endeavor, he turned away and strode down the opposite staircase, returning to ground level in the garden. He strode down a path, looking at the flowers growing around him. They struck a far-off chord in his memory, but he could not remember why. He began to think on what he had learned from Minos, what he could remember at least, before continuing down the path. He was sure he had known more than he did now when he was with Minos, but he was having trouble retaining the information. After walking for a while, he knelt down and looked at one of the flowers. It was beautiful, seeming almost to glow a pale pink color in the waning moonlight. He reached out and touched the flower, running his fingers lightly over the petals. It seemed so familiar to him, a memory pushing at the edge of his mind, trying to resurface. But try as he might, he could not grasp it.

Psyren for sure. It's one of the only mangas I've read all the way to the end, and I loved it. (Too bad they had to cut it short though. The end could have been much better and more satidfying with more time.)

Guys, I'll be gone for most or all of today, so sorry if things don't get updated. If I have time, I'll try to move things along. I took a brief glance at the profiles of the two new characters, and they seem fine, though I'll have to take a more in-depth look later. Weavile, it's fine with me if you make your own starting post as long as it's realistic in this RP's setting. It'll actually save me some work that way. Also, it's nice to see everyone's thoughts on Utopia and some other characters. Utopia isn't blatantly evil per say, they I haven't shown much good at this point... Hopefully I can try to convey some of the reasoning behind it all later... Also also, the bartender's power is solely freezing, making Anver stronger and more versatile.

Nero - Scout Team Nero's sword pierced the flesh of the death knight with no resistance, much to his surprise. It was a victory short-lived, however. The knight's whip snagged his left leg, tearing open his pants and cutting into his leg. As the knight lowered his sword at him, Nero managed to duck under his own sword, still stuck in the knight, before ripping it upward and out of the body to meet the blow. Their swords collided, but the knight was inhumanly strong and had gravity assisting his downward swing, forcing Nero to his knees. He rolled to the side, putting a little distance between himself and the death knight and ending up closer to Steele. He turned to the other man. "We need to coordinate our attacks if we're to have any chance. Simple strikes will not work. At the very least, we need to last until Odin can send help or we can break away."

So still no... QQ They will never gain levels... What about the Abra part though?

Phantom stood on one of the balconies as the sun set over the beautiful land. The place put him at ease. He had no memories save for that girl, and his desperate urge to bring her back. He didn't even remember why, or who she was to him. But no matter who she was, he needed to get to the bottom. It was strange. He had no clue how long he had waited on the first circle before the others came, having no reason to push forward. However, his determination was set after the meeting with Minos. He would make his way to the bottom, and hopefully remember more about just who he was along the way. He looked up at the sky, having been lost in thought. The moon was a blood red, and the whole place had a sudden hostile feeling to it. He stood where he was as the bodies came from the ground. They were naked, and every touch they made to each other caused immense bleeding and pain. He drew his sword. It appeared he would not get any rest this night. No matter. These were the sorts of things one must expect in a place like this. He cut into the first of them that reached the top of the stairs. Of the few memories he did have, one was how to wield a sword. He cut through body after body, fighting from both sides. They were not difficult to slay. Their movements were slow and their reach was short. They swung clumsily at him, and he easily cut off the limbs before they reached him. However, he began to wear down not from the difficulty of the battle, but simply from their sheer number. Furthermore, he was still recovering from his battle with the panther. The wounds had scabbed over, but they were healing poorly. When he twisted to much, they broke open, causing pain and distracting his attention. He continued his fluid movements until he had a short break, resting before the other creatures reached the stairways.

Nero dove into a roll as the fireball approached. He recognized the spell, and knew that it wouldn't be enough to completly dodge it, but he hoped to at least avoid major injury. As he rolled, he released what minor wind magic he knew, creating a shield that would help buffer against at least some of the flames. When the fireball hit the ground, the explosion was deafening. Nero put his arms over his face as the flames approached. His shield didn't last long, flames licking at his coat. He was thrown back from the impact, and his arms were scorched. He looked up in time to see Steele get thrown backwards by the knight's punch. While the knight was distracted, he ran in, stabbing at the knight. It was a move his tutor had taught him so long ago. He would approach with a simple stab, but when the foe moved to block or evade, a simple flick of the wrist would change it into an upward swipe. He hoped it would catch the knight off guard.

Phew, finally updated. Sorry it took so long, I've been a bit busy and haven't had time for the long reply needed. I believe I got everyone updated, but if I missed you, let me know. (Snap Crackle Pop, your name isn't up there, but you're in the same place as Murdoc and the conversation is directed at him right now. If you would like Alice to say anything at any time, though, feel free to post it.)

King Murdoc "Still wondering how that portal works. I'm Allen, by the way." Beetle was the one who answered his question. "The portals are the work of Nexus. He could explain more, if you want details." He paused. "Though good luck getting him to say more than a few words.... Basically, we work in collaboration. You see, I can... communicate, for lack of a better word, with insects. It's more complicated than that, but that's besides the point. I always keep a few insects stationed by the monument there. Looking through their eyes, I can tell when somebody needs to get in. Then, I simply tell Nexus, and he opens the portals." He grinned. "There's no other way inside. We're completely underground." He stopped suddenly, looking a bit nervous. "But, um, don't think we're trapping you here. If you want to leave, just say the word." After a while, he looked up again with interest. "So Allen, what can you do?" ----------------------------------------------------------------- typhlosionrulez, K_H, rustytengo "So who are you my bartender friend?" "I've definitely got a few questions. Firstly, who are you three? Secondly, just what the f*** is going on? And lastly, is there any connection between what is going on and that Pillar that I was nearly hit by about one year ago when it busted out of the ground like nobody's business?" "Yeah mister bartender guy just who are you and how do you have a blue telaporty guy working for you. Also why did you bring us to such a place to talk. Its seems a bit villainy to talk with people in a place they really can't get out of." Beverly said with her best little girl look. The bartender smiled and gave a nod. "All very good questions. I suppose I'll address who I am, first. I work for an organization that seeks to gain access to the Pillar." He looked at Kenny. "I suppose this ties into your question as well. Within that organization, I am known as the Bartender, just as you have been calling me. I am here to offer you a position in that organization if you will agree to help us. It is completely up to you whether or not to join us. I will choose not to reveal my real name until I can trust you as members of the group." He paused. "Now as I've said, I do believe the Pillar ties into all of this. After all, it is the organization's main goal." He swept his gaze over the three. "Surely you all feel it. That overwhelming urge to go to the Pillar. However, you couldn't simply walk in alone, nor could you hope to fight your way through without significant backup. It would be suicidal, to say the least. That is why we have banded together to form this organization." He looked at Beverly now. "As for the means of transportation to get here, that is all thanks to Blue, another member of the organization. I had him bring us here not to be a villain, but to ensure my own safety. You see, Blue is the only means up or down from here, and I am the only one of us who knows his contact number. I do not know who you are or what you can do. Ace here is the only one I have any information on, and that is solely what he has chosen to tell me." He waved his hand dismissively. "But back to the main reason you are all here. Will you join us?" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jory "You have a deal, Mr. Sterling. But I think I'll take you up on that advisory role. There needs to be someone to speak on behalf of the Unawakened. It isn't that I don't trust you- it's that sometimes power can cause destructive oversights." Lux offered his hand to the man behind the desk. "So, what do you need me to do?" Cedric Sterling gave a bright smile. "Excellent! It is a great comfort to know that there will be someone watching me. I strive to be a great leader, and with you as my advisor, I feel there is not much I could overlook." He shook Lux's hand. "I have a task for you right now, actually. I'd like to hear your thoughts on our first major action. You see, there is to be a dinner party hosted by a government official tomorrow night. I have managed to snag a few invitations via my "business" contacts. But here is the important part:" he met Lux's eye. "There are rumors that this official is involved with the new government branch, BOA. Not much is known about the branch, save that they deal with the Awakened. As such, I find it logical that they would also be privy to information about the Pillar. Our goal is to attend this party, speak with this official, and look for any information we could gain about the Pillar. If done properly, we should be able to get in or out without any trouble. And if by chance we do not find anything, we have not suffered any losses. What do you think?" -------------------------------------------------------------- Stratos "Where the hell did they go?" There was a quiet chuckling from behind Anver. He spun around to see a man in a white coat and pants, stride into the room. The man had long blond hair that fell behind his shoulders and to the sides of his face. His eyes bore a cunning and intelligent expression from behind his glasses. The man spoke in a taunting voice. "Are you looking for someone? I'm afraid there is nobody here save for us two." He looked at the gun. "If you value the lives of your family, I would not recommend using any sort of force against me. Cooperate, and they will be unharmed." The man laughed, knowing that he held the power. "I come from a group called Utopia, a group you have so generously agreed to assist. You will help us eradicate those who would hold back the Awakened, using the power that the Pillar must hold." He paused, a wicked grin on his face as he looked at Anver. Now, you can see the logic in helping us, correct? You wouldn't be so reckless as to decline my generous offer..." ------------------------------------------------ Arhidon and Hukuna There was a knock on the door of the lobby room. After a few seconds, Poseidon strode through. He spoke in the same businesslike voice as before. "Ms. Archer will see them now." He motioned to Viktor. "You will come first." He led Viktor outside and into the larger building. Zeus and Keaton followed behind. They walked through narrow halls, passing many closed doors along the way. They took the elevator, where Poseidon took them to the uppermost floor. As the doors opened, they found themselves in a narrow hallway. The walls on either side were made completely of glass, allowing the sunlight to stream through, giving a view of the city from above. There was only one door at the very end of the hallway. Poseidon led Viktor towards the door, while Zeus and Keaton waited outside the elevator. Viktor was ushered through, finding himself in an office. To the left was a desk, a single chair placed in front, while a woman sat behind it, who he could only guess to be Ms. Archer. She had her dark brown hair tied up in a bun and wore formal business attire. "Viktor Grimes," the woman stated, looking at the papers on her desk. "Former SWAT Team member. Discharged after your entire squad was killed under your supervision." She looked up, meeting his eyes. "Correct?" She pushed the papers aside. "That incident is irrelevant now. Prove your dedication here, and all past errors shall be forgotten." She paused. "I have heard that you are one of these "Awakened", as they have taken to calling themselves. I suppose my first matter of inquisition will be here. Tell me, what exactly can you do? Do you feel any different having gained these powers?" --------------------------------------------------------------------- Chimchain “W-Who are y-you?” The man gave a warm smile. "A friend. Though if you seek more specific answers, my name is Lawrence White." He gave eugene a troubled look. "Why was this man attacking you? It is clear he is gifted, as am I. However, I do not find reason to attack strangers. Do you know him?"

"Are both of you ready for this fight? I will not fight opponents that are not ready to face me." Nero began muttering another incantation under his breath. It would be difficult to fight without vision, that much was for sure. However, he could at least make it a little easier. He waved his hand, releasing the magic. It was a spell that would enhance his hearing, causing the soundwaves to bounce towards his ears. He muttered one more spell, two small balls of light appearing in his palm. He threw them into the air, and they stopped above his head and Steele's, following their movement. However, even the light had a difficult time penetrating this darkness. It simply reflected off of the swirling black clouds, gaining him no more than a foot or two of sight. He raised his sword, preparing to defend and counterattack at the first sign of danger. He would have a slight advantage over Steele, at least. His sword style was created by and taught only to the Darkwinter family of lords. He doubted any of his ancestors had played an important enough role in any battle to have met this knight. His moves would at least be unfamiliar to the knight, making blocking them more difficult. He called out to the knight. "Hiding behind the cover of darkness, eh? Most would call you a coward, but as an Illusionist and an rational fighter, I can see the logic behind it. Honor means nothing in battle. At the end of the day, it all comes down to who survived and who perished." He paused. "I'm ready when you are."

Nero - Scout Team "Nero, I am glad I have someone to fight alongside. If we can survive, that would be grand, but as long as we take down this bastard, I don't care what happens." Nero gave a dark chuckle. "As much as it would please me, I don't plan on leaving this cursed world yet. I still have a different grudge to settle." A look of surprise came over his face as Steele drew his sword. It seemed to be a longsword, just as Nero's was, but the blade was much thinner and had a curve to it. Furthermore, it was a single-sided blade, as opposed to Nero's double sided. Nero gave Steele a thin smile. "It seemes that blade knows its purpose. Let's put it to good use." He looked down at his own sword, its silver blade gleaming against the black hilt. There was a skull at the base of the blade, the same ebony color as the rest. He had had this sword made after his family had long since passed, to serve as a reminder that only death and destruction could truly exist in this world. He was about to prove that point.

Blaze walked up next to Theo and Nivia, anxious to get moving. He had stopped crying, but his face still had the marks of the tears on it. He put his small leg on Nivia's side. "U-um... I don't think it's very safe to stay here anymore..." He looked back at the Hydreigon, almost breaking into tears again, before moving his gaze to Umbra and Theo. "Especially for Umbra's sake. She... she shouldn't be anywhere near this wind... It feels like it comes from something very powerful and scary..."

"Nero, we need to get out of here." said Odin. "I fear we are not ready for this fight. I am sure Steele can handle himself." Nero turned to Odin. "And if we are not ready now, when will we ever be? The only way to get stronger is to take down those above you. If we constantly flee from challenge, will we ever be truly different than when we fought the Gentleman?" He turned back to Steele. "If my illusions won't work..." he drew his sword from inside his cloak. "Then I'll simply have to rely on other skills." The footsteps of the army approached. "Besides, who's to say I cannot help against the lesser undead?" He muttered an incantation and waved his hand. The was a resounding crash in the distance to their right, followed by several resounding booms and shouts. "Perhaps that will draw the army away for a short while. For now, we can concentrate on this guy." He returned his gaze to Odin once more. "Warn the village of the threat they will face. Steele and I should be able to hold him off. I won't just let him die while I flee."

We will, I just haven't had time to go through and update everyone yet. I should be able to do it today, though.