Yosai Fortress

Yōsai Fortress is the headquarters of Phoenix, located somewhere within Fantasy, though it is hidden by powerful magics beyond most's capabilities to discover. The fortress towers from the sea straight out above the clouds at times. It has eight sections, one for each of the Elements.

It is practically a city in terms of its sheer size, and its military might is strong enough to threaten even Chinmoku, the most powerful nation in Echo. The power of the seven enslaved Elemental Warlords is used to protect the fortress, and any unauthorized entry via Phoenix's portals will result in the enslaved Elementals attacking and annihilating the intruder.

It has a astounding standing army of at least a million troops, though more may lurk within the halls, as no outsider has yet seen the fortress and lived to escape.

Occupying Faction: Phoenix
Main Members:

White

Hiroshi (Deceased)

Torrent

Toma

Noriko (Former)

Naomi (Former)

Aoi (Former)

Kado (Former)

Minions/Bosses
Hitomara - Earth/Fire Elemental-Dragon

Razorwind-Wind/Lightning Elemental-Wolf

Caess- Water/Ice Elemental-Endlos

Dimrune- Light/Dark Elemental-Incubus (Freed)

CE Azula

Silent Angel

Avatars of the Elemental Warlords

Eve of Battle
Naomi walks through the many halls of Yosai, and eventually comes to the meeting room. With a deep breath, she opens the doors to find Hiroshi, White, Torrent, and Aoi discussing the organization's next moves.

White looks up to see her, and a faint smile crosses her face. "What are you doing here, Naomi? Shouldn't you be getting your rest for our incursion onto Earth in the next few days?"

"...I...I couldn't sleep. I've just been... You see I... ...I've been worrying about..."

White has a knowing look on her face. "Oh I see. You're worried about him, aren't you?"

Aoi remains looking down at the map as always.

Hiroshi: Shame the boy took this little test abit too seriously. He complains over how things used to be. All he had to do was take our hand and it could've been that way again.

White looks at him, then at Naomi. "We did find him at one point, Naomi, and we offered him a second chance. However he sunk too low into his desire to obtain power. Out of mercy I gave him one more chance, but seeing as he hasn't responded, or perhaps can't respond, it is doubtless we will have to deal with him in our mission to bring redemption to the world."

Torrent chuckles. "Oh I don't mind that at all. I'm sort of looking forward to seeing how far the runt of the pack has come since he left us so long ago."

Hiroshi: Ofcourse you are. You've been at his neck ever since you two were just apprentices.

Torrent smirks. "Let's not forget that it was he who did the challenging. I just did it so the little kid would shut up."

Naomi clutches her chest, still obviously not at ease. "I just... I don't want to fight him... ...not after all we..."

Hiroshi: Hush child. It will be ok. You do not have to fight the boy along with us. We might have something else for you to do. Might is most definate.

Aoi looks up quietly. "Kukyo is free." All members present whirl their heads towards her.

Hiroshi:...How could this be? Has she devoured the boys soul?

"No. He still lives. But Kukyo has be undeniably freed. I cannot see properly, but it is a powerful being whose doing caused this. It appears though as though Kado... willingly released her."

White blinks. "He allowed Kukyo to be set free?"

Torrent closes his eyes. "If Kukyo is free, we must be wary. She could come for us."

Hiroshi: Definitely: What she is doing with her freedom is unknown, whether its too take the happiness of those who are wrong or to destroy us for the past events.

They suddenly hear roars and screams from the Warlords assembled at the fortress, almost triumphant in nature. "They rejoice. They must have picked it up as well. If Kukyo is free we must be cautious now. Without her darkness, those who are powerful enough will be able to sense us." She is about to return to her quiet nature, when she looks up again.

"Kado has also learned of the invasion. From what I understand there is discussion on the matter between the nations, though it seems Kado has his mind set on going. He will no doubt have to wait for his men to arrive to Chinmoku in order to transport troops, he will not risk another attack from the M.C.C.P. Though Chinmoku may not support Azure, seeing they do not like violence to begin with."

Hiroshi: Will it be likely for them to make an exception?

"Maybe. The future is not that clear right now. Too much at stake is going on." She returns her attention to the map.

White stretches. "What will be will be. For now we should rest. If you cannot sleep, try to stay to your wards."

Naomi still appears upset, and Hiroshi understands too well that her compassion for Kado hasn't died, unfortunately his betrayal to the organization clearly only makes her heart ache worse. She had always been the most unable to properly handle her emotions.

Hiroshi: Listen child. Maybe you should stay up with us, if it will take your mind off these problems.

White sighs. "Not to be insensitive... but this was supposed to be a private meeting Hiroshi."

From behind her, Noriko appears. "Whatcha doing?" She says in her playful tone. White sighs. "Or at least it was one..."

From her anxiety, Naomi's ears and tails sprout, and she ends up burying her face in one of the black furred tails. "Awwwww! Naomi's cute again!" Noriko cheers.

Hiroshi: *moans in disgust at Noriko*

Noriko looks at him blankly. "What?"

Aoi sighs, and looks at Noriko. "You've got more energy than usual, Noriko."

"Energy is my middle name! Besides, we get to do something for the first time in forever! These next few days could go so much faster!"

White closes her eyes. "I see you're enthusiastic to join the battle as well."

Noriko nods. "Besides, I want to see how much little Dark Boy has grown!" She looks at Torrent. "...Don't even." He sighs with exasperation.

Hisroshi: *cracks a smile at Torrent*

As Toma comes in, White just lays her head on the table. "...Fine. We might as well discuss the pairings for the battle. Everyone, get seated. ...Noriko, no funny buisness, understand?"

Noriko puffs her cheeks. "Can I at least sit next to Torrent?"

"NO."

"Please?"

White looks up and glares at her with dragonic eyes, and she quickly sits down.

Hiroshi: For one, I believe we should all spread out within the fortress. I also feel that not everyone needs to be paired up.

"I refer to when we move out to enact the Trimaster Plan, Hiroshi. As you know, Kado is likely to attempt to intervene. I know that you all may not value him as a serious threat. Understand though you all received the same instruction. Of all of the members, only me and Hiroshi remain from the old roster.

I do not want to take any chances. I think it is best if each of the Trimasters has a additional member standing by to keep guard, to allow them to carry out their part. It is too dangerous for underestimating at this point. We can't take chances."

Hiroshi: The boy is driven by his hatred for us an will release the same rage that caused his own downfall, that might be our own. Though he is rage driven, he's not above thinking.

"I will be assigning Naomi to Hiroshi, Aoi to Toma, and..." She hesitantly looks at Noriko, whose face lights up. "...Noriko with Torrent." Torrent groans.

Aoi looks at White. "...Are you sure about my selection? Might it be better for me to stand guard over the fortress?"

Hiroshi: As long as it proves to be effective. What is your reasoning for this?

Aoi blankly states, "I do not like conflict. You know that more than anyone, Hiroshi. Fighting to me is a pointless affair that is better spent avoided. I will do as asked, but I would rather guard the security of the homefront rather than enter the battlefield."

Hiroshi: Hmm. We can't have any mistakes happening out there, and it is possible that he might have set up a strategy where he comes through the front will another division comes through somewhere else. Heh, listen to myslef. I sound paranoid. Fine. You guard.

"Thank you."

Naomi lifts her head up, one of her tails brushes against Toma's face, who just laughs. "I must say it's been a while since Naomi showed her true form." She looks at Naomi. "You should be this way more often."

"..." Naomi silently looks away.

"Don't be that way, I'm serious. You always feel all tense when you're hiding it."

Hiroshi: No matter where you hide, your enemy will find you. It is best to face him where he can see you. In otherwords, Kado will show us no mercy if we are to make one mistake. So get ready.

Naomi's tails wrap around her, her habit when she is trying to comfort herself. "He's that far gone...?"

Hiroshi: I'm afraid he's gone even farther...*tuns his back from the others and has his hands tied behind his back*

Naomi eventually looks at White. "...May I be dismissed?"

White nods.

She gets up, and walks out, Toma and Noriko watch her leave.

Torrent sighs. "This is why I think emotions are pointless..."

Hiroshi: They keep us from reaching our goals...That's why we toss ours aside for the greater good of Phoenix.

"Says the man who tried to drill his ethics and codes of conduct in battle into my head. The only thing that matters is embedding your sword into your enemy's heart, the killing blows. Pretty words and respect do not win battles."

Hiroshi: And that attitude will lead you at your enemies blade...Besides, didn't a certain 'baby' you mention somewhat prevented a battle with Kukyo?

"If I meet an enemy's blade, I will simply destroy them. Kill or be killed. And as for him, last I heard he committed suicide. Only proves my point. Emotions and ethics just lead to your own demise."

Hiroshi: But here are those who have a strong will. It is easier said than done to not to fall at the enemies blade.

Noriko shakes her head. "Ok I give up, this is getting pretty boring hearing you two chatter like old men." She looks at Hiroshi and laughs. "Well, one of you is at least actually old."

She gets up and runs out, not bothering to wait for permission.

Toma just shakes her head. "She really has her head on too loose."

Hiroshi: Then I just make a big enough screw-driver to scew it back in. Real tight.

White sighs. "Best if we get some rest. We have more supervision of the proceedings tomorrow. Dismissed."

Hiroshi: *leaves the room with has hands still tied behind his back*

As he leaves the room, he sees Naomi perched on the rooftop of one of the buildings that surround the courtyard, staring up at the moon, appearing deep in thought. She briefly turns towards him, he can tell she was crying. She turns back to the moon, curled up in a fetal position.

Hiroshi: You understand we don't want to do this. We have to, to unsure Echo's safety from destructive forces. The boy that you nce thought s your friend, no longer exist. Only an empty shell of a man. *walks off*

Naomi eventually walks off to her ward, once in her room, she weakly goes to sleep, still crying.

Within White's private chambers, she ponders the day's events. ''Soon enough we'll see the destruction of humanity. Regardless if he intervenes, we will no doubt prevail.''

Next Day

The man concentrates on the summoning spell that binds Hitomara to the man's will, allowing him to control the titanic beast's every action. The strange being that continually harassed Hitomara would have to be taken care of.

He looks at his twin blade sword, and the dull green glow marking the existence of the spirit of the girl he had imprisoned. ''A shame White ordered us to rely on the Terrors for now. I was looking forward to coating my sword with the blood of the humans... ah well.''

{Inside the sword, a pich black room with no floors, walls or even celings is encasing little Ameno}

Ameno: *Tears stream down her face* This must be Hell... MUST be! When will Jonas come? When will he save me? And what demonic jackass soul would do this?! WHO DID THIS?!!!

She hears a rough man's voice growl out from the void. "Shut up already, stupid elemental." The voice seems clearly irritated. "I'm trying to focus on something here."

Ameno: Is.. Is there anyone... Here? Anyone?

"No, I'm just a voice in your dumb skull. Yes. The more important question you should have asked is 'Who are you'?" The voice replies.

Ameno: Who- Who are you?

Suddenly sensations begin to rush back to her, and she lays collapsed next to a gruff, battle scarred man. His lower jaw is replaced by a steel one looking as though a literal jaw bone, and three long gashes on each side of his face only add to his savage appearance. In his hands he holds two brutal looking swords, and she feels a strange connection to them, as though they were... apart of her.

"I am Ripjaw. Or at least, that's the name I earned for myself." He says in the same primal, rough voice as she had heard a moment ago, now only more solid and firm than before.

"Now will you cease your idle chatter and allow your master to focus?"

Ameno: I think I'll call you 'Metal Mouth'! *She smiles* And do you need any help? Looks like you do...

"You can start by keeping your mouth shut. I need to concentrate. You may not damage or touch anything, and you must stay within my line of sight. Call me metal mouth again and I will replace your jaw with one and see how you like it." He closes his eyes. "And that's not an idle threat."

A woman in white robes walks by. "Progress report, Ripjaw?" She says coldly.

"Hitomara is engaged with that baboon at the moment. I'm counting on the enemy to blindly assume they have the upper hand. That technique is a problem, but I know to watch for it. Soon I'll play my own deck of cards."

Ameno: Ooh, Ooh! Who're we fighting? Can I kill 'em Ripy?

He sighs. "We already have Hitomara destroying the M.C.C.P. defenses, and we have already defeated Weapon Ultima, or Jonas as you know him. Unless you wish to turn against your own, you would not volunteer."

The woman stares at Ripjaw. "Who is this?"

Ripjaw jumps. "...An elemental I bound to my blade, my lady."

"...Why did you not inform me of this?"

Ripjaw bows his head in her direction. "You were in a meeting with the others. I had to wait..."

She closes her eyes. "Very well then." She leaves.

Ameno: I only cared about Joney. If he is out of the way, can I please try out this new power? *Waves hand and a chunkof the floor comes up, molding into a Ripjaw statue*

He grips his sword hilt tighter, and she collapses onto her knees in a forced bow. The statue falls apart.

"You will only do as I say. Nothing more. Nothing less. If you disobey my orders, I will take away your form and you shall remain my mindless blade."

Ameno: ... *Looks at thebroken statue* ... You ... Broke it ... *A tear falls to the statue, turning it to mud*

"I will do worse to you, wretch, if you disobey me and do not stop talking."

Ameno: Sorry... One tip though - It's better to have friends to drink with, than enimies to clash with... Sorry, sir... *Bows in respect*

He ignores her. He stands up suddenly, swearing violently. "Get back in your sword. I have to report this to my lady."

Αmeno: Yes sir. *vanishes into the sword* Back to the void... Back to torture...

"Stop whining or I will make it so you can't even think without my consent." He growls. She notices that she is now partially sharing his vision and hearing, and hears him describing the details of the battle he had been overseeing to the woman in white.

Ameno: Who is that? She looks nice. *Attempts a smile*

A man's voice echoes from the left, and a man with a cloth mask and a fur coat stares at Ripjaw. "Why have you not restrained her conciousness completely? It is standard procedure."

"I was hoping to use her as leverage against Weapon Ulitma of M.C.C.P. He won't dare hurt me as long as I have her as a leash for the mangy mutt."

Hiroshi: That 'mutt' would have destroyed us, if we had met him personally. Actually, he would have decapitated a limb. Dogs tend to be rather savage when a stranger comes to close, so it's only best that we steer clear from them.

"Hmmph. I ain't scared of any dog. I didn't get this metal jaw and these scars from nothing. When you present me with a dog that can do what Hitomara did to me when I first tried to catch him, I'll be scared of em'."

Torrent looks at Hiroshi. "A pride comes before a fall, would you not say so, Master?"

Ameno: Why do you people keep treating me like a slave? I used to have a life! i had a job and a lover...

Hiroshi: Your words are lost on us, for we do not show sympathy towards our captives.

Torrent looks at the blade. "Do us all a favor and shut her up. I have no desire to hear your sword's chatter."

Ripjaw growls. "Neither do I. You in there, quiet or I won't allow you to see or hear. If you wish to converse, do so when it is helpful in combat. I suspect the ground troops will need to return to continue the fight in place of the Terrors. To think Hitomara would be defeated... ridiculous."

Hiroshi: Whoever did so must have been quite the specimen. I wonder if the Chaos Engine can be more capable than that.

Ameno: *Thinks to herself for a good minute..* Hey, could it have been Admin? He can consume anything...

A very distinctive growl comes from the woman in white. Her eyes appear dragonic, and she stares directly at Hiroshi with them.

"Hiroshi. Do not speak of it. Rest assured Hiroshi, that if used at full capacity, it could completely destroy that puny world. The powers of it are beyond any mere experiment of the M.C.C.P. But have I made myself clear? No one is to speak of that. It's forbidden for a reason."

A tall woman next to the white woman speaks up quietly. "It was the one named Jumbo. Apparently Hitomara broke the mind control device that controlled him and Jumbo in turn broke Hitomara's."

Hiroshi: Amusing and interesting. But hold on. With Hitomara free, he will surely try to seek revenge on us.

White has a smug look on her face. "What do we have to fear? Hitomara cannot access this world without our portals, and even so, the Warlords will quickly strike him down. It would be like handing himself on a silver platter back into our hands. Hitomara may be a brute, but I am aware that he also carries a degree of awareness when it comes to self preservation. If it means avoiding falling into our hands, he won't make such a mistake."

Hiroshi: And what of the other 3?

"I don't see why you concern yourself with them. It was no difficult task to capture them to begin with. If they prove to cause problems, we can always just destroy them. We wield a force far greater than the Terrors. We command their very creators. We do not have a need to fear them. In fact... I say we move dates to tomorrow."

Hiroshi: Are you sure that is wise? My apologizes aswell. I am being quiet paranoid. Only because we cannot tolerate failure.

She closes her eyes, and has a smile on her face. "One moment please."

After several long minutes, she opens her eyes. "Kado is coming tommorow. And he's bringing.... Azula with him. Azure moves to come to Earth's aid tomorrow. If we act and move ourselves into position preemptively, we won't have to worry about Azure focusing in on our portals to wait for us to appear in person."

Hiroshi: That sounds good, but why do I have the feeling something...horrid is coming?

Aoi sighs. "It could be that the fates do not smile upon us. I cannot see what the future will bring, but perhaps it is because we are doomed to failure. Or perhaps another catastrophe is getting ready to occur besides the one we will deal to Earth."

Hiroshi: Highly possible. We are so close. It will only take a little while longer and the plan will be complete.

Ameno: I'm going to sleep. Wake me if you guys need help! *The sword's glow dims, as Ameno dreams of happiness in the void*

Naomi walks into the meeting hall, looking very tired.

White looks at Ripjaw and quietly says, "Dismissed." Ripjaw bows his head and leaves.

Torrent looks at Hiroshi. "I see someone didn't take another someone's advice to rest..."

Hiroshi: If it keeps her consciousness from going against the plan.

Torrent sighs. "Still, a tired mind is a feeble mind. And on the battlefield such mentality is fatal. Even if disillusioned, it is never best to risk losses when it can be avoided. Every member is valuable, for the sake of the efficency of the organization's strength. It's bad enough we lost the Fire Slayer to Kado."

Hiroshi: That is too much overkill. They're is enough of as it is. I'm not sure who all the boy will bring,but I know it wont be much for us to handle.

Torrent looks at Hiroshi, looks at White, and leans in to Hiroshi's ear. "If the boy has brought Azula into this, you know that the only one capable of stopping her is White, you realize that? What if she gets involved in one of the battles? Did you think about what would happen if she got involved, or did that slip your mind?"

Hiroshi: *mildly smirks* That's what I'm counting on.

"You forget how the boss is. She could care less about our safety, and only about the mission. She wouldn't come to our aid... let's face it, unless it was I who was on the receiving end of it."

White looks towards them. "I can still hear you know."

Hiroshi: *looks at Torrent* How can you not be as silent as the winds you control?

White sighs. "Let's pretend for a moment that you didn't forget that I'm a half dragon and have rather good hearing, and that you are sitting right next to me."

Hiroshi: *facepalms in shame*

Toma looks up from her book. "Caess is freed. Some Mythos defeated her. Not sure what kind."

Hiroshi: These 'Mythos' are proving a much bigger dent in our plans than we expected.

White closes her eyes. "Very well. We will go at midnight, not by portals, but a slower route they cannot trace. Tomorrow we will prepare to enact the plan." She looks at Aoi. "I ask of you to send Ice Emissaries to slow them down. We will prepare to extract Dimrune while you hold them off."

Aoi nods slowly, and huge chunks of ice flow from her body, 20 splitting off and crashing into the ground. They slowly shift into the form of Aoi, even taking on skin, eyes, and hair, even the exact clothing Aoi wears, each with a mock version of Ice Slayer. They all turn towards Aoi expectantly.

"Go now." She says quietly, and the clones immediately disappear.

Hiroshi: Is there anything else that needs to be done?

"Not unless someone wants to entertain Noriko."

Hiroshi: *is shocked and points at Torrent* Torrent!

"Absolutely not. I would rather play with a hungry lion."

Hiroshi: I called not it, so you know.

"I'ma right behind you, ya know." Noriko says from behind their chairs.

Hiroshi: *is surprised and disgusted* Gah! *jumps back* Why are we so close together?

"You were leaning back in your chair. I was just bored anyhow. SO, who wants to play... tag?"

Torrent coughs. "Oh, I have to be going somewhere."

"That's ok, we can play tag on the way!" *Touches Torrent's back, sending shockwave down his spine. "You're it."

Torrent gives her an angry look. "I told you not to do that!"

Hiroshi: What are you going to do about that, Torrent? Let her get away? Let her play you like that?

"What are you talking about old man?" Torrent sighs in irritation.

Hiroshi: Your letting her poke you around. She wants to play a game. Wouldn't you like to beat her at it?

Torrent sighs. "The best way to 'win' her games is to ignore her. I won't be baited by her so easily.

Hiroshi: She will never stop. Not matter how much you annoy her, you know she's there. And the only way to make her go away is to walk away or beat her at her own game. Or even wait until she leaves.

"Hmmph." Torrent disappears in a rush of wind, and Noriko looks at Hiroshi. "How are you doing today Master Hiroshi?"

Hiroshi: *swallows deeply* ...fine. H-*nearly gags* How about you?

"I would feel better if you would relax, Master." She sits down where Torrent sat, and looks at him. "Naomi has been rather off the past few days."

Hiroshi: I know. She is plagued with dreams of the boy. I fear it may compromise her conscientious about the plan. Or it might lead her into a unstable state of mind to where we will all be in a terrible situation.

She looks at Hiroshi in a way he doesn't recognize.

"Can we talk alone for a moment, Master?"

Hiroshi: *is a bit concerned and confused, unaware of what's he supposed to expect knowing Noriko*...Suuure.

She suddenly grabs his arm, and everything appears to stand still for a breif moment of time, before a brilliant light envelopes his vision for another second, and everything comes back in a split second, yet he feels absolutely breathless for a solid 3 minutes: she had just traveled using lightning.

When he catches his breath, he looks around and sees they are on one of the many tall spires of the fortress. Noriko is sparking with electricity, a quiet hum of energy around her.

"I admit I must seem like an airhead with plenty of drive to make most people's head spin. Perhaps I am. But I'm not stupid. I knew Kado for many years, we all did. I knew that what White told us didn't make sense when she first told us what happened. I kept quiet about it, and just went with things. But then it kept going. The things she told us, never added up.

I eventually did digging, Master. I don't particularly like what I found out. I'll serve like always master, but I'm telling you now I'm through with watching little Naomi cry herself to sleep every night because of some lie you told her. And frankly, you're one to talk about salvation. You're half human. And don't bullshit me. I know. I learned that little jewel years ago. I want you to pull Naomi out of this operation. Permanently." She says all of this in a tone very alien to Hiroshi: angry. Noriko never got mad at anyone before. Not even as a child. Especially not like this.

Hiroshi: Frankly, this surprises men. You of all people, so care-free, actually caring. I must say I'm impressed, but you've only scratched the surface. I maybe part human, but their is dominance. I'm more elemental than i am human. If you want to pull Naomi out of the operation, then go ahead. Just remember, like it or not: The boy dies.

"I know a lot more than you think. And have it your way. But you have to get down on your own. Bye." She disappears in a bolt of lightning. He looks down at how far down solid ground is, and cannot help but recall his slight fear of heights.

Hiroshi: What does she take me for? I'm the freakin' Earth Slayer. *a floating rock platform comes from beneath him and begins to make his way back to the castle*

Torrent walks on the air beside him. "So how was your little playdate with Blonde Disaster?" Torrent chuckles mockingly.

Hiroshi: She knows.

"What, just now realized that? And here I thought I couldn't keep up with her games. She's a damn good actress ya know."

Hiroshi: Damn it all. I'm not sure what she intends to do with that knowledge, it my jeopardize the plan.

Torrent chuckles. "You're really out of the information loop then. Aoi has reported multiple times suspicious activity over in the secret archives. White and Aoi eventually caught on to the fact it was Noriko, but we haven't done anything because as far as we know, the only thing she really has done is self educating herself on the organization. Frankly we weren't surprised when we found out she was looking for information. Lightning strikes on a whim. Where it will strike is unknown. But as long as proper caution is exercised, it usually will never strike a single man in his lifetime. It is only the fools who stand clear out in the open with no caution that are struck by lightning.

This whole thing has been going on for years, the issue with Noriko. She has gone off to Earth countless times. I would swear that she actually is employed in multiple private security firms and possibly even a movie actress, though those details aren't confirmed. I think it's more of a desire to be independant from the pack. All wolves eventually either join the pack or find one they belong in. It's just a rule of nature."

Hiroshi: Hmmm, I might as well be a paranoid old man after all.

"It is never a bad thing to be cautious. It is another thing to allow caution to prevent action or to create undue suspicion of others. Caution allows one to see the enemy at the face value and even deeper with practice, but too much ails the mind and creates fractures.

We should head back, do you not agree? Or would you like to try your hand at chess? Who knows? They do say 100 times is the charm."

Hiroshi: What do you think I'm doing? I' heading back there now.

"Pity. I was rather hoping to have some entertainment today. Ah well."

They notice one of Aoi's ice clones walking towards the central palace from the portal gate, holding a crystal with a icy blue tone, behind her a group of soldiers carry a black crystal.

Hiroshi: I presume that is Caess, is it not? And the other is Dimrune?

Torrent nods. "Appears so. I take it that extraction was successful. I'm curious how she managed to recapture Caess."

Hiroshi: Obviously, she did not run when she had the chance.

The clone of Aoi and the men disappear, and only a few minutes later, she appears to everyone of the major members.

"One of the Mythos that freed one of the Terrors intends to try and free Caess and Dimrune. I have foreseen their demise, but it is still better to be ready. Please report to the main hall for instruction from our Lady White." She disappears again.

Hiroshi: What is the extent of these Mythos' power, that they can wield the ability to combat the Terrors, just like we can and succeed in defeating them?

Torrent looks at him. "No time for questions. When Aoi sees something in the future, it usually means it is imminent. We should go now and stop asking questions to thin air."

Hiroshi: Hm. *heads into the main room where all the major members are*

All five of the others have assembled, White seems to have a particularly amused smile.

"It would appear someone has finally come to gallantly die before us." She chuckles.

Hiroshi: Hmm it appears so, but surely we cannot observe him before he get's involved?

"He serves the enemy. The only way he will be permitted to live is in chains. And that won't be willingly. Prepare to unleash the Avatars. He shall know the true meaning of our power."

Hiroshi: Yes White. Send forth the Avatars.

The Enemy
Drake appears on what appears to be a long tiered walkway, with a portal ring behind him. Ahead in the distance he can see a long courtyard, but the entire place he feels is dead silent, he cannot pick up any signs of life anywhere.

Drake: *Takes a look around then continues walking towards the courtyard* Hmm... Well this was unexpected, this looks like any other fortress... Then again, knowing what happened back then. Ugh, I need to focus... *He takes another look around before sighing in annoyance* Where the hell is everyone!?

A slow rumble is his reply, as something moves along the tops of the high sections of the fortress roofs. A single loud footstep can be heard.

Drake: So there are people here then... Wonder who's first... *He turns his head towards the source of the footstep*

He first thinks it is merely a part of the building, but as he looks closer, he realizes he's staring at a whole toe... of a dragon. He looks up, and sees a massive dragon of pure light staring him down, larger than even Hitomara, coiled among the many countless roofs of the fortress's complex weaving structure.

Drake: *Growls before focusing his sight on the dragon's head* You first then...

Drake flies up until he is at eye level with the dragon's, waiting for the dragon's attack.

The dragon suddenly flickers out of sight.

Drake: The hell... *Drake clenches his fists and turns his head, looking for the dragon*

As soon as he turns his head, the force of a mountain crashing into him smashes him and sends him flying clear over the sea, where he eventually smashes into a large outcroping of rock. He looks back to see the dragon still where it was, its tail had smacked into him, and it appears to be staring at him.

Drake: *Roars* DIE! *He flies towards the dragon at high speeds, with a silhouette of a large dragon covering Drake and mimicking his movements. The moment Drake reaches the dragon, he extends his arm out to the side and claws the dragon across the chest, drawing a large amount of blood in the process. Drake glares at the wounded dragon with the look of bloodlust stained in Drake's eyes*

The dragon makes an amused laughing sound. The wound vanishes, as if it was never there. The dragon opens its mouth, and a massive beam of pure light blasts Drake, sending him flying back into the cliff...

which is now even closer to the fortress than before. Suddenly something like a massive hand picks him up between two fingers, and lifts him up, and he realizes he's staring at a massive giant towering above the entire fortress, its earthen face blanking staring at him.

''Drake places his hands between the giant's finger and pushes them apart, standing on it's hand. Drake begins to sprint up the arm, with each step causing cracks on the arm itself. Reaching the shoulder, dark energy channels into Drake's hand, who jumps up and slams his fist against the side of the giant's head. Causing it to stagger, also creating more cracks on the giant.''

The giant effortlessly rights itself, and the cracks disappear, and the giant becomes a colossus of pure metal. The metal suddenly rises up, and bonds with Drake's body, completely immobilizing him, he finds he cannot break it, it seems to not be any metal he's ever encountered before. Suddenly he is pulled off by the hand of the giant, and he is thrown back over the fortress. Above him, something vaguely shaped like a bird made of every color of electricity flies over and grabs him with its talons, shocking ever cell in his body with more voltage than a lightning bolt.

''Drake endures the pain for a short while before coughing up blood, Drake fades away in black fire and reappears ontop of one of the rooftops. With his whole arm raised into the air, conjuring a massive black sphere with black lightning discharging and surging around it, he throws it towards the bird. Colliding with it and causing it to blast into one of the many towers, making it collapse ontop of it.''

Drake: ...Who's next.

The earth giant throws a pike of the strange metal at him, and at the same time, the bird appears and shocks the pike with the same lightning Drake had fired at it, only purified, just as the pike rams into Drake's lung and shocks him with his own attack.

''Drake staggers back before looking at the pike and seeing more blood drip from the wound, he pulls the pike out and stabs it into the floor. Revealing the dark energy resembling fire emitting from the hole, the three creatures notice Drake's sudden energy change. Pure black dragon wings and tail form, with Drake's aura becoming more unstable and animalistic and changing to black also. Drake roars again, causing the entire fortress to shake for a moment, as the energy corrupts Drake even further. He appears infront of the bird and grabs it's wing and throws it towards the giant, firing a massive black fireball that explodes on impact. Causing the two to get push back a considerable amount, Drake then focuses on the dragon and growls once again. Flying towards him and grabbing both of it's fangs and swinging it around, then slams it into some more towers before dropping it down.''

A screech comes from behind him, and he is set on fire by the grasp of a massive phoenix, which then tosses him straight into the air, where out in the ocean a huge giant of pure ice rises from the ocean and blasts him with a massive burst of ice, freezing his front half and partially his blood, making every thought process sluggish. From behind him, the phoenix blasts his back with an inferno ten times hotter than his black flames.

''Drake roars once again, causing a shockwave which shatters the ice and extinguishes the flames. He glances over at the ice giant and the phoenix before narrowing his eye sight towards the ice giant, he flies past the phoenix and slams his feet against the ice giant's chest and bounces off. Hovering between them, the ice giant and phoenix fire their respective element at Drake. Drake flies upwards, completely dodging the attack and causing the fire to melt through the ice and into the ice giant. Drake then glares at the phoenix, having a slight laughter that sounds feral and demonic...''

The illusion shatters, and his reflexes fail him as he is blasted a second time by the two beings, this time his efforts to repel their attacks fail completely, and the blasts punish him for five minutes straight. He plummets, only to be extinguished by a huge wave of water, and a massive gale of wind, the wind blowing him straight into the ocean.

''The ocean splits in two as Drake is in the center, as he points towards the creatures. Multiple dark figures, covered in tribal markings that also share resemble their counterparts burst out of the ocean and fires a massive dark energy beam towards the creatures. Blasting them all away from the fortress, Drake jumps ontop of the fortress' roof and charges two energy spheres in his hands, with the dragons charging dark energy in their mouths. All of them including Drake fire, with the power overwhelming the creatures, Drake laughs as the dragons fade away in black fire.''

The entities remain unaffected, as far as he can tell. A lion made of water rises from the ocean, and a wolf of wind appears as well, seven total entities encircling him. They all appear to have some kind of glowing markings brighter than the rest of their bodies. Suddenly, Drake is in a massive black void, with nothing but the seven encircled around him. They begin to charge massive beams, the energy concentration far greater than Drake's entire being. Just as they fire, they appear to dim and defuse a large amount of energy out of no where, before firing each one straight at him, too fast and too powerful to dodge. Before the beams even reach him, the sheer energy density blows away his form, leaving him exposed to the pure power onrushing him.

White watches from the courtyard as a massive explosion of pure energy rips open the sky, deafening everything with its pure almighty power.

She watches as a figure falls from the heavens, and eventually lands at her feet, unconscious, almost with a pulse, his heart on its final beats. The seven descend from the skies, and return to their respective positions of the fortress.

"Well fought, Drake Ryunexo... such power has its use... even if you shall exist in a mere vegetative state... for all of the concern of the world of the living... you have indeed died..." She smiles. "A death worthy of such a brave spirit. But in secret... I shall know the truth of your eternal unwaking slumber..."

She nods to Aoi, who touches Drake, but her power only stabilizes his heart, nothing more. White attaches a strange metal braclet, which begins bonding with his DNA. A green light flicks on, and Drake's powers are sealed.

White picks him up, and carries him down into the deepest dungeons of Yosai, where an angelic figure sleeps, surrounded by preserved various Mythos, such as an Endlos, a Spirit, and even a Aetherborn.

She places him within one of the preservation chambers, and activates the seal, entombing Drake with the rest of the beings.

She looks at him with a malevolent smile. "From you, we will finally perfect the Chaos Engine. Thank you for donating yourself to our cause... your sacrafice is not in vain." She chuckles darkly. "I will record your battle within my memory for all time... it was most poetic."

Drake comprehends and hears none of this, trapped within a comatose state.

The Dusk Before Red Dawn
White looks among the gathered members of Phoenix. "It's almost time. Are you all ready to go?"

Hiroshi: We've based almost our entire existence on the plan. There is no doubt that we are ready.

White closes her eyes. "Alright then. Once you are on Earth, you will wait for your phase to begin. Hiroshi will make his move only when I tell him to. Caution must be taken. That goes for the rest of the Trimasters. None of you engage unless it is Kado himself, or any other significant threat we have discovered thus far. Understood?"

Hiroshi: *bows in acknowledgement* Understood, White.

A brilliant light envelops them, and they feel themselves slowly disappearing.

"Good luck to you all." White says, and they disappear, leaving only Aoi and White behind.

"...We shall stay and observe."

The Distant Land
Daikeim looks at the figure with a hazy look on his face before slowly flying through the barrier and fixate his eyes at Eta.

Daikeim: I believe this is yours...

"Ah, the 'Draken'. If you were simply here to return her you needn't bother. We would have taken her back ourselves. Still, I suspect you're here for something else. I don't offer candy at this house, kid. Might try the next door neighbor, the rock." She pauses.

"I should really not get back into making puns... I thought I broke that habit..."

Daikeim: Draken... I heard someone tried a suicide mission here, I intend to see him... I think you'll allow me that much, besides, you're lucky Draken here came back in one piece...

"She's a mere prototype. We have more in development like her, now we know the Eta are viable. And as for the specimen... I rather much doubt I should let you see him. Much less anything to do with the CE's. You should thank me. You wouldn't even have ashes to let blow away in the wind had I not intervened. He chose to involve himself in my war, invade my fortress, he paid the price. It was a combination of dumb luck and my mercy which is even why there is a vegetative corpse even left of him. In war you take no transgression lightly.

I can be reasonable, but you ask too much. With set circumstances, I could bring him up... but you cannot have him. ...Not yet at least. With the completion of the newest Eta's, I won't have a need, as I could completely clone his genetics into a specimen that way. I must see to the perfection of the Eta Generation."

Daikeim: I don't care what happens to me, I don't care about the CE's, I don't care... Just let me see my best friend...

She narrows her eyes slightly at him, but says nothing. She turns and lands on the courtyard silently. A woman made of ice approaches the woman.

"Lady White?" She asks.

"Bind him in your chains. Afterwards I want you to remove the memory of what he will see. The information within here remains secret." She turns back at Daikeim. "No exceptions. I can allow the mere specific memory of him... though I very much doubt you would prefer to remember him as he is. Nothing else. The secrets of Yosai remain secrets."

She lets out a dragonic growl. "Attempt to remember afterwards, and I shall personally ensure you and whoever you tell dies."

Daikeim: I've seen him worse, and I have much worse memories buried within my mind... Secrets... Yeah, using my friend as something for your sick tests must remain a secret. *He says that in a sarcastic yet angered tone, giving off the same energy signature as Drake's Primitive forms*

She says nothing, but thick icy cuffs form around his hands, tougher than any steel. She walks up to a wall and taps it, and it disappears, revealing a circular platform elevator. She walks on to it and turns toward him, and the icy woman follows, splitting into as many as ten.

Daikeim: *Sighs* Guess you can't be too careful... *He walks onto the platform, noticing Eta* What about her, surely it's fair for the first of your creatures to meet the person they're copying off from.

She silently walks on the platform as well. "News flash. I don't need an invitation. I live here." She leans into Daikeim's ear. "The mere fact you're alive right now astounds me. Don't push your luck with her."

Daikeim: If you saw my entire life, you'd be dumbfounded at what I've managed to live through. And besides, you wouldn't of walked on this platform if I didn't mention you...

"Why you litte-"

The platform lurches, then suddenly drops so violently that both Daikeim and Eta almost lose their stomachs, White and the frozen woman seemingly not even bothered in the slightest. With a sudden crash! The platform smashes into the water, but continues to travel at an intense speed, sinking deep into the water, yet a bubble of air protects them. With a more definitive crash, the platform lands inside some strange massive underwater complex, dim blue light the only thing lighting it up. A faint electric hum can be heard from the place. White walks off the platform, straight down one of the halls.

Daikeim: Impressive... How you've managed to create all this under Fantasy's radar, *He steps off, following White* I'm guessing we're getting close now... *He looks around* Hmph, you seem confident in these CE's... *He starts being quiet as he continues to examine the complex*

The halls open up into much larger ones, with many rows of containment chambers, dimly lit figures of humanoids all present within them, a great deal of them on one side seem more like just basic shapes of humanoids rather than the others, which look like individuals.

Eta doesn't seem at all bothered by the sights of the facility.

"You and I have more in common than you'd imagine, Daikeim." White says silently, not stopping.

Daikeim: Is that supposed to be a compliment or an insult... *He looks at the humanoids and shudders* Disturbing enough as it is... I got a feeling that worse is still to come.

"You were exiled from your world, you and Drake. Why? Because you defied the Vitae Gods and saved Cyanic from enslavement. You and I are not so different. We once fought to protect humanity. And they too scorned us. I know much more than you think, Daikiem. Humanity has committed wrongs you cannot begin to fathom."

Daikeim: How do you know about all this... Oh, Drake, right. And although humanity has caused some unforgivable sins, I'm willing to give them a second chance... But I'm guessing you're different.

White looks back at him. "Humanity is beyond saving. The only way to relieve them of their hatred is through their systematic extermination. They have had more than a second chance. Time upon time. And yet, see their actions. Calls for change fall on deaf ears, even as their very actions are bringing them back into the cycle they started years ago. The weak will be trampled by the strong. No matter how hard they try. And I don't need Drake to know about you. I've known about you since you first met Kado. As soon as he fought Razorwind, I knew his path would eventually lead him here. Apparently shows of force do not dissuade you two from anything. He should have taken the hint the time he fought Aoi. Just as you should have taken the hint with Eta."

She turns back and continues walking, and comes to a solid wall, and simply looks at it for a moment.

Daikeim: A genocide isn't the answer... There are millions of humans that don't deserve death, your penalty of death due to the actions of some should not linger on others... *Daikeim looks at the wall* Why have we stopped here?

Suddenly the emblem of Phoenix blazes to life on the wall, and it rumbles open, revealing a large chamber within.

"The only truly innocent are children. It is already too late for the ones who have already been exposed to hatred." She walks in, and Daikeim notices the room looks like an operating room. In the center of the room is an operating chair, and White indicates for Eta to lie down.

"I need to inspect her for damages, and collect data." Eta lies down, and White grabs the facemask and pulls it off Eta, once again exposing her face, which seems to cause her to become sleepy, and she soon closes her eyes. White places it on a scanner of sorts.

Daikeim: Hatred is manifested in everyone, it's a basic instinct... I see why you would suggest such an action, but it's ultimately a lost cause... Since the children will grow up, find a life and the cycle repeats... Attempting to off the world because of the hated born within it is useless... *He glances at the facemask then over to Eta* Collect data? I guess it records fights and automatically adapts towards it.

White seems to be observing something Daikeim cannot see, and then she turns and walks back to Eta, with a slight concern on her face, and lifts up the simple shirt Eta wears on the side, and seems to be feeling for something. She then presses hard against Eta's side, and her body flinches.

"...A rupture..." She places the mask back on Eta, and she almost immediately wakes up. She looks down at Eta, who looks away. "You had a rupture of your internal systems during your firing sequence. You declined to tell me this, why?"

"...I failed. I failed to maintain power. You would have canceled if you knew... what point would the Eta have then?"

"The fact you used Chaos Drive at all with success and a minor injury is insignificant. The Eta class can fire a Chaos Drive without a direct power source. What I've been hoping for. Your name is Kanashimi Draken. Remember it."

White walks to the other end of the room, and the wall slides open. "We're done here. Come on, Kanashimi." She reluctantly gets up and follows White.

"We will continue on now, Daikeim. You can still settle for turning back if you desire."

Daikeim: I am not turning back now... *He glances at Kanashimi before following White, he sighs* Why would I want to turn back... So, what was all that about...

"I was nameless. She gave me a name. I only had a designation, never a name to call my own. Proof of my worth as a CE. ...When I fired that beam, I have a internal failure that could have lead to me... exploding. Many CE's that have been born could not fire the Chaos Drive without a power source. An immense power source. The few that could were unable to fire powerful enough beams to cause the damage needed for our purpose."

Daikeim: Oh, then I'm guessing getting a name means a lot to you? I'm surprised that CE's have emotions, you think that it would hinder you... But then again, she did choose Drake as your "ancestor", who managed to keep his attitude while doing missions flawlessly... Most of the time.

Kanashimi looks at him with an irritated scowl. "We're augmented with machines, that doesn't make us emotionless, moron."

Daikeim: *Smirks* Doesn't change your mouth either it seems...

Ahead is a door, but White turns and looks at Daikeim. "Remember what I said. You cannot have him. Not yet." She seems to freeze for a whole minute, until he blinks, and the image completely changes to her being right in his face, and only then does he feel the cold steel of her blade dangerously close to his throat. "So much make a slight twitch I don't like... you won't realize your head was lobbed from your neck until a whole minute passes. Am I understood?"

Daikeim: *Loses his smirk* You're understood... Now put the blade away, I'd hate having to come this far only to attack.

"Glad I made my point." She puts the sword away and keeps going, Kanashimi walking next to Daikeim.

She turns her head and cackles. "Spooked much? She can go pretty fast eh?"

Daikeim: Yeah, she can... *Looks at White* Hmm... What other tricks do you have up your sleeve...

White walks up to the door, and takes out the sword again, Daikeim notices the blade is pure white, a white more solid than any other he's ever seen. She inserts the sword into a strange keyhole of sorts, and the door rumbles, and slowly begins to open.

''Daikeim's Soul Stone begins to glow as he watches in anticipation, catching the energy signature. But not to his surprise, it's faint, like a ghost, he has trouble keeping sense on it but soon manages to pinpoint it as Drake's. He takes a quick sigh and slows his walking pace, he wonders what Kanashimi's reaction will be, but with that being the least of his concerns. He just hopes that Drake will be fine.''

The door opens, and they step inside. In the center of a massive room in a large glass container is what Daikeim couldn't even describe as an angel, too powerful to be dismissed as just a mere angel. The room is shaped in a large circle, with similar tubes containing various other Mythos. He looks throughout the various tubes, eventually seeing a figure recognizable as Drake, but no where near 'prime' condition. From his appearance, he appears very haggard, almost as though as if he had been severely burned all over. His eyes appear listless, if he is awake Daikeim wouldn't be able to tell. Compared to the life signs of the other Mythos in the room, his vitals appear quite low.

White quietly looks at him. "And this just how he looks after Aoi patched him up."

Daikeim: *Starts walking towards Drake's tube, with nothing but a blank stare as he approaches him* Dammit Drake... You crazy bastard...

''White notices something odd with the two, as Daikeim approaches closer, a blue aura in the shape of a dragon winds it's way around Daikeim. While with Drake, a black aura of a similar dragon is wrapped around the tube, growling at Daikeim. Surprisingly, the two half dragons don't notice this and just look at eachother. ''

Daikeim: Why... Why did you do this... God dammit Drake WHY!?

''Daikeim knows he cannot respond and sighs, looking down at his feet. Unable to see that Drake has a small smirk, but due to his injuries, is hurt while he smirks, making him lose the smirk quickly. Daikeim turns to look at Kanashimi and prompts her to come here, regardless if she wants too or not.''

Daikeim: I got a feeling this'll be your only chance of seeing him so you might aswell...

Daikeim can feel White studying him intensely for a moment, and then she looks over at Kanashimi. "Come here for a moment, Kanashimi." Kanashimi complies, and White appears to whisper something to her, then returns attention to Daikeim.

"I don't know what you expected to find or see. You should have expected this. I did tell you." White says in a passive voice.

Daikeim: I know what you said, I infact expected worse... But I-- ...*Daikeim suddenly growls at Drake uncontrollably*

''White can now see the aura dragons growling and taking shots at eachother, she can also see air bubbles coming from Drake's mouth as he somehow manages to make a faint growl. Daikeim's Soul Stone darkens in colour, as they both manage to stop, he takes a step back.''

Daikeim: What the hell...?

The lights in the room turn red, and the aura dragon surrounding Drake feels a powerful shock run through it as the Power Suppressors in the room activate, crippling both Aura dragon's from acting out further.

"Foreign spiritual entities detected. Threat level: Hostile. Suppressors activated."

"So it would appear the Aura Dragons are sentient after all... how interesting..." She stares at the one surrounding Drake. "Mind yourself or you'll find just how painful it is for these Suppressors to seal your powers."

Daikeim: I don't know what you're talking about, something like this hasn't happened before...

Daikeim looks at Drake and notices that his eyes have darken in colour.

Daikeim: ...Primitive, that's what caused it. *He soon realises* Oh shit... *He steps back as his Soul Stone darkens to black*

"Don't go just yet" can be heard throughout the room, Daikeim is shocked to see Drake's mouth move...

Daikeim: H-how can he talk!?

"Because he isn't. Or at least, Drake isn't. I know plenty about the affairs of spirits and their kin to know possession when I see it." White says calmly.

"I'll have none of that behavior in my fortress, whoever you are. Identify yourself and your intentions, and I might consider lowering the Suppressors."

The 'spirit' talks again... "Now, let's not be hostile people... I'm only keeping Drake alive, along with you. Daikeim, you know who, or at least what I am. Besides, I did give you some of my power for your own, but it seems that you managed to purify it to my surprise. Don't worry, Drake is fine, he doesn't feel a thing due to what those creatures did to him... Isn't that right, White. Drake's sacrifice only to defend you, Daikeim."

Daikeim: What are you doing...

''The spirit laughs. "Haha... It's honestly nothing, it's just that Drake here isn't taking a liking towards them two... Then again, could you blame him?"''

''Another voice is heard, as muffled as it is, the three manages to understand. ''

Drake: S... Shut... Up... Corruption..

Daikeim: No way... No fucking way...

White looks on with impartiality. Kanashimi remains by her side, the red light in her mask turned on.

Corruption: Don't make me laugh, child... I'm the one keeping you ali--

Drake: Shut up... You bastard, listen to me right now... I will not stand in this damn tube to be lectured by a fucking spirit! Stay the fuck away from them three or I will end myself!

Corruption: You haven't got the guts...

Daikeim is unable to speak, staying in shock at what's happening.

Drake: Daikeim... I can tell that you'd want to attack, don't be a dumbass... It's thanks to her that I'm alive, despite the shape I'm in... *He makes eye contact with Kanashimi, he gains tribal markings all over his body* ...There, he shouldn't be able to talk. So then, who's that...

White looks at the markings. "Sounds like someone doesn't want someone else talking. Don't want him to say anything you don't like? Perfectly fine with me. I can still hear his thoughts anyway." She gives it a strict look. "The suppressors remain on for the time being. As for who she is, you must not be very self aware if you couldn't tell I've been extracting DNA from Drake. Consider her his child, of sorts."

Drake: *Faintly laughs* ...A child? Jesus, I wasn't planning to settle down this early... So then, how is she like me?

Daikeim: *Is surprised Drake is taking this pretty normally, like he's done this time and time again* How... How are you so calm?

Drake: There's stuff in my past life you don't know about, and it's best if I don't mention it...

White has a slight smirk. "From my data she seems to be plenty resourceful in the attitude department. Like you. She even has some of those curious 'aura' powers of yours. I'm surprised you're not interested in trying to escape. You were so intent on smashing the place. A pity all it took was clobbering you with the Eig- Seven." She catches herself, and then has an irritated look, as though remembering a rather sour detail.

Drake: Look at me, do I look capable of walking? Let alone breaking out and fighting the other members? Hmm, why did you catch your tongue...

"None of your concern." Suddenly they feel a shift come over White, and her calm aura crumbles quickly, becoming oppressive and heavy, like the sudden outbreak of a thunderstorm. Her eyes are closed, and Daikeim has to check twice, but he thinks he sees two fangs sliding from her mouth. She silently stands up, and begins to walk out. Aoi appears, and Drake gets the sensation this one is the real deal, not like the clones.

"Mistress?" She asks cautiously as White walks by, but a deep powerful rumble is the only reply, strong enough to shake the whole room with the force of an earthquake, and it takes a moment to realize it is a dull growl.

"Watch them. They do anything, kill them." A much more powerful, ancient version of White's voice rings out as she leaves. Aoi turns and looks at them quietly as the door closes.

Drake: Speaking of the other members...

Daikeim: Hmm?

Drake: One of the members me and another person fought... Tough son of a bitch, but makes sense... *He looks at Kanashimi* So if you got my attitude, throw an insult at me... Go on...

Daikeim: ...*Walks up to Aoi* Umm, I don't think Drake meant harm on her... Will she be fine?

Aoi just passively looks at him. She then looks up. "You might want to grap a hold of something. She's angry. Not at you."

Kanashimi looks at him dully. "How about I take a golf club and smack your head flatter than the surface of this floor instead?"

Aoi's feet freeze to the floor, and Kanashimi sprouts wings and idly flies as a massive roar deafens them, the sheer rage shaking the whole of the fortress.

Daikeim: *Manages to keep his balance* Wow... *He turns to look at Drake* The hell did you do?

Drake: Nothing, stop blaming me! Anyways... That's an ok insult... Try this; Listen to me fuckface, if you want to keep those wings on your back and not through your chest. I suggest sitting down, shutting up and let your good ol' Daddy Drake smack the bitch right out of you.

"Go ahead and try, Cripple." She flaps her wings and descends onto the ground again.

Aoi was about to pull out a book, but sighs and looks up. "Quiet both of you, before I elect to shut the two of you down for a few hours. Lady White's anger is directed towards the death of one of our senior members. He was killed in action fighting a traitor." She pauses for a moment, then looks back at Drake. "As a matter of fact I may just shut you down anyway. I still remember your rather... distasteful comment from our encounter before." She quietly opens the book and begins quietly reading.

Drake: Hey... That's a bit unfair, I was only having a bit of fun...

Daikeim: What did you say?

Drake: ...Let's not get into that, shall we?

Daikeim: *Glances over to Kanashimi and Drake, watching them throw insults at eachother* ...Two Drakes, that's someone's nightmares alright...

After a moment, the roaring quiets and the door opens, and White returns, the calm aura about her returned, though there is still an edgy tone about her. She looks at Aoi. "Check on the other Eta's." Her voice is closer to what it was, but still a lot stronger than before. Aoi leaves silently.

Drake: *Glances at Kanashimi's armour* ...You're one to call me crippled, tin woman... Besides, do you even have a name?

Daikeim: *Notices White* You seem tense...

She ignores him and walks over towards Drake's container. She then looks back at Daikeim. "Leave. You've seen him. Now I have work to do."

Kanashimi looks over at White. "What about me?"

White looks over at her idly. "Do as you wish, Kanashimi. Should I need you, you'll know."

Kanashimi blinks in confusion. "Do you mean...?"

"You're dismissed to go wherever you please. I will recall you if necessary." The face mask and armor retract into a small headband sort of device, and she looks stunned.

Drake: Oh you were doing that just to spite me!

Daikeim: Hehe... *He turns to look at Drake* Goodbye...

Drake: Hey, you'll be back, you'll miss me too much. Tell Elaonore I said hi, oh, and try not to die.

Daikeim: *Laughs* You too, you crazy bastard.

Drake: I'll be fine... Just go...

Daikeim sighs and walks out, soon realising that he's gonna get lost pretty easily...

A finger taps him on the shoulder. "Didn't think you'd just get rid of me that easily eh?" Kanashimi says.

Daikeim: Hmm? What are you doing this time?

"Coming with you. That a problem, 'Almighty Grouch?"

Daikeim: Why are you coming with me? Ain't you got anything better to do...

"Dude. There is nothing to do here except stare at mossy old brick walls. Or bash your head in boredom against said walls. Wherever and whatever you were doing has got to be more interesting than sitting here waiting for White to decide to make me do something. And with her new errr... toys... ...that could take a while."

Daikeim: I doubt it but ok... *He wonders through the hallways* So, what did you think of Drake? Strange meeting someone who's just like you, isn't it?

"He's a guy with a bad attitude and you two seem to be really close buddies. I can so see how he'd draw out the worst in you though. Anyway, I shudder to ask the question again, but what is with that girl you were with earlier? You seemed ready to chop my head off for no reason, all because I asked about her." She pauses and points down a hall. "It's this way by the way."

Daikeim: *Sighs and begins speaking in a more calming yet empty voice* The girl's name is Elaonore, a Mytho and the love of my life... She's been through so much thanks to me and I can't help but feel tragic every time she says my name or when I see her. Despite that, I'd protect her with my life and would stop at nothing to rescue her if she got captured... Knowing what you guys did to Drake, I threatened you because I don't want people to take her away again... The last time that happened... *He makes a soft growl and clenches his fists as he goes down the hall that Kanashimi pointed at* Let's just get going...

They eventually reach the platform and before they go up, Aoi appears. "So we're clear, you interfere with Phoenix, you will never see Drake again. That is not a threat. That's a promise. And Kanashimi. Don't forget your loyalties. It would be most... unfortunate for you if you did."

Daikeim: I doubt that I'll need to do anything... Just make sure he doesn't do anything stupid... Promise or not, if he dies for something he didn't do... I'm coming back.

"I know you will." She says with a certainty almost prophetic in nature.

Daikeim: *Looks at Aoi with a sense of anger in his eyes, but sighs once again and looks at Kanashimi* Just get this working and let's get out...

Kanashimi smiles, and presses her hand against the button. "Ready to lose your stomach again?"

Daikeim: Yep... I'm not gonna feel well in the morning...

The platform shoots up, and when they finally stop, Daikeim has to adjust for a moment. "So then Chief Vomit, where to?"

Daikeim: No idea... Actually, Forest City. That blast of yours almost destroyed it... If not all of it, and after that... I don't know. *He continues walking*

"Oh err... I can't really fly anywhere right now... see we're not supposed to use our powers if we're err.... off duty." Kanashimi laughs wearily. "In a fight to protect myself I can use my powers... just not carelessly, White doesn't want people knowing about the CE project."

Daikeim: Yet you go to a city and almost destroy-- Nevermind... I'll get you airborne, just get me out of this place first.

"Hey, I attacked you two under orders. When we have a target, that's different. Plus I only shot the douche. Let's not forget the two who were blowing the place up and knocking each other through buildings. Let's not forget who brought the place back to life and reversed the damage you guys did."

She opens the door to the room's exit.

Daikeim: And then blew it up again, but fair point... Actually, that reminds me... Why was Drekavas ordered to kill, and me to punish? I never done anything towards Phoenix prior this...

She looks at him with an irritated face. "Did I not just say I didn't aim at the city? Plus with your shield the damage would have been minimal. As for the second question, Phoenix's goal is basically to purge sin. Violently. Mythos who use their powers to blow up innocents? By all accounts they're sinners in Phoenix's book. He was just another hit to be destroyed. As for you, if you ever found out on your own, you would likely have gone against Phoenix. A more accurate term would be 'scare' or 'intimidate.' By showing you what Phoenix is capable of, White was hoping to scare you off by using me."

Daikeim: I'm surprised I managed to hold back, heck... Even Drake managed to hold back against you... Anyways, then how did they find out about me?

"I'll just say that White is very thorough in removing possible threats."

Daikeim: Right... *He looks around* So, where too now?

She gives him a look. "Scatter brained much? You said Forest City, isn't that correct?"

Daikeim: Ok ok... *Daikeim goes into his Half Dragon form, he looks at Kanashimi and his eyes flash gold, giving her a pair of aura wings that'll allow flight* The Mythos will mistake your for a Heroa God or a Cyanican, so don't worry about getting caught... *He flies up into the air and turns to the direction of Forest City, waiting for Kanashimi to arise aswell*

She does so, following him closely.

''Daikeim starts to fly towards Forest City, but staying silent. The only time he talks, it's only to himself, after a while... Daikeim's Soul Stone gives him an electric shock, causing him to slow down and look around.''

Daikeim: The hell... Ugh. *He shakes his head and continues flying, catching up to Kanashimi soon after. They soon make it back to Forest City*

A Rude Interruption - The Knight
''A lone figure, clad in a black medieval looking armour with also sports a dark blue, tattered cloth around the neck. Looks at the intimidating towers, he puts his arm up to his helmet and quietly speaks into it... "Target found, and what of your ends?" A faint whisper can be heard coming out of the figure's arm, after the conversation, the figure says one more thing. "Ok, approach with caution, both of you. Either eliminate or disable anyone who gets in your way, finally, keep the targets alive." He puts his arm down and hovers up to the barrier, he pushes his hand through it and floats through it. He takes a look around before seeming to be a bit transparent, he continues to move towards the fortress.''

His arrival does not go unnoticed, as a alarm of some kind immediately blares as he crosses the barrier and approaches. He can sense the presence and gaze of many countless soldiers, but they do not appear to be rousing to attack, merely watching him as though they aren't concerned with his presence. However the largest building, which appears to be the main complex has a different sort of barrier, and as he gets closer to it, a strange red bolt nearly strikes him, even though it doesn't hit him, it feels as though he was just dipped in acid.

''The figure looks towards the new barrier. "Hmm, I can't seem to enter. So, the target has obviously sensed my presence. I guess I have to wait..." He looks around, seeing the multitude of guards surrounding him."Like vultures to a corpse..." He takes a moment to glance at his surroundings before exploring the area he's in.''

Where ever he goes, he notices guards assembled at the entrance to every building and tower, eyes coldly watching him. The only activity he sees is the south wing, where some of the forces are entering and leaving via a single massive portal connected to the fortress via a long walkway, though the portal itself has its own battalion standing guard, observing him. They do not appear to be hostile, but the air about the fortress is immensely tense, as though the guards were just waiting to see what he would do, either that or they were waiting for something to happen.

''The figure walks towards the battalion and examines them before smiling, although this cannot be seen because of the helmet he wears. "I'm looking for the one who leads this organization, do you know where I can find her?" The faint dark smoke cloud weaves and turns it way around the battalion, as the figure examines his blade. "Oh, and don't bothering opening fire. It'll result in your own deaths."''

One of them chuckles beneath his own helmet. "Oh we know. We can't take you there, but we know. If I were you, I would invite yourself out. Before she invites you in."

''"Oh, that's a shame... Well, you've filled out your usefulness... Now begone." The smoke manages to reach into their lungs, causing them to suffocate and drop dead. The smoke then traverse its way to the other guards, the smoke thickens until it's impossible to see, the figure walks past the dead bodies and into the south wing. "Now that's done with, time to find my target..."'' The smoke doesn't even phase the guards. "Air tanks and air filters, moron." A guard points toward the main building. "If you're so desperate to die, go right ahead. Now you begone, fool."

From where the Knight stands, he can see part of the barrier over it lift. As he walks up to the doors, they silently slide inward, revealing a massive great hall in the building's first floor.

The figure walks into the hall, with the smoke emanating off of him, it slowly covers the floor like a mist. "Hmm, I guess after that incident, this structure still stands fairly." He continues to wonder through, until he comes across something.

At the end of the hall, White sits upon a throne, apparently sleeping softly.

''The figure walks up to White, stopping only a couple of feet away. He then gets in the knighting stance, shown as a respectful gesture. "Lady White, I presume. So what do I owe the pleasure?"''

She stirs and lifts her head, one of her eyes opening. "I should ask to what purpose do you intrude in my fortress? I'm not fond of uninvited guests." She says quietly.

''"Well, I have arrived to meet you. Maiden, but this isn't for a house warming gift, I'm afraid." The figure stands up and looks towards White, the sword on his back gathering small smoke around it. "Now don't worry, this won't hurt... Only a small capsule of energy will be needed." ''

Her eye closes. "Your right... only a small amount of energy will be needed to remove you from existence..."

Time seems to suddenly come to a crawl. Sound stops. Deafening silence infact. Everything begins to turn white, the last thing to fade from view is White, as she twitches. For what seems like an eternity passes, before everything returns in one colossal explosion that instantly destroys his eardrums completely, as a blast erupts near the vicinity of Earth's capital with the force of a blast 2,800 times stronger than the blast that took place at Hiroshima, the immediate area turned to charred stone and in flames, the blast zone reduced to nothing but desolation.

At the edge of the blast zone, she calmly stares at the center of the blast, where a liquefied pool of atoms lies, a violent shroud of heat and radiation surrounding her, and she glows bright as the sun.

''The smoke in the area converts to a black slime which forms into The Knight, who equips his sword. "Interesting attack there, Maiden. But useless..." Black smoke fills the room, pitch black as the sound of The Knight's armour disappears. White feels nothing, but a small prick on her back, before she has time to react. Black spikes rip through her skin, appearing on her torso before The Knight blasts her to the floor. "Dark Arts: Puppeteer. " White mysteriously stands up, although not by her own doing. The black smoke clears to see strings attached from White to The Knight's fingers, he swings his arm across to the side. Causing White to fly into the wall... "You made a mistake opening fire, maiden. If I wasn't on a mission, you would be nothing but a husk... These strings are unbreakable, your move..." The Knight clenches both his hands, causing White to stop moving, similar to paralysis. ''

His vision flickers, and she stands in front of him, not even phased. "Interesting intention. But useless. Not only did I see it coming and evade it, but your eyes are your enemy. I can be anywhere... and nowhere." She flickers again, and she is to his far left this time. "Of all of the members of Phoenix to attack... I'm the last one anyone should pick a fight with... alone."

''"Your speed doesn't phase me in the slightest, considering that you have a very unique and strong energy signature. Tracing that becomes a breeze, so it's useless against me. And also, you were chosen to be my target. We know a lot about you and your organization, your toys, the one that died and I know there's someone that triggers something in you... Dark Phoenix, am I right?" The Knight turns towards White and disappears into nothingness, he forms out of White's shadow and grabs hold of her and throws her over his shoulder. He then grabs her neck and picks her up then throws her across the floor, as she stands. Dark spikes fly out of her shadow and stick into her, The Knight picks up his sword and charges at White and slashes at her. Causing a massive cut across her arm, he then kicks her on the side of her head, sending her to the floor again. "Face it, despite your power. I can break you, maybe not psychically, but mentally..."''

She smiles and simply gets up, all the damage done to her none existent. "Trust me little lamb, that isn't likely. Physically or Mentally." Suddenly his vision flickers again, and they are back in the same spots they were before, White at the edge of the crater, and once again him standing farther away, a gash on his forehead this time and her hands dripping with his blood, which burns off, pearl white claws instead of nails retract.

"Like I said... I'm the last person within the organization you should fought with. The mere fact you're alone displays your arrogance and lack of knowledge."

''The Knight laughs. "Ah, so this is what your doing... Interesting, and cowardly. Hehe... So an illusion. Ah well, I came for that sample, and I'm not leaving until I get it." The Knight appears infront of White and places his hand on her forehead... "Black Arts: Rememoration." Suddenly, every tragic event that has happened to White flashes infront of her eyes. "Your speed is remarkable, but time to put an end to that" White gains black stitch marks on her body, The Knight then slams his arm against her face, drawing blood, when White tries to attack back. Her speed is slowed down to a normal humans, allowing The Knight to easily dodge and knee her in the gut and throwing her into the floor once again. ''

The scene flickers again. Just in time to get his faces crushed beyond recognition by a nunchunk which in seconds strikes him countless times, instantly shattering his armor like glass as well as his bones and body in general. With a single swing the force is strong enough to tear off his arm. He notices now that her skin is broken up into scars... no, scales, and she then begins striking him with a whip of pure light, which sears his nerves with every strike. She then lashes it around his throat and flings him over her shoulder like a rag doll and repeatedly smashes him into the ground.

When she is done with that, she strikes him with the very same sort of mental attack, only her attack is infinitely stronger. "Unfortunately for you I have no such tragic memories. So even if that attack hit me, it would have been useless. I don't feel pain or misery. What you fail to understand is that you are alone, and will always be alone. For that reason fate has already decreed your demise. When one fights in the name of God... such things as fear are beneath me.

I will say it again. Even if you do not die by my hand, you will not defeat me. You cannot have a chance of it. Because I have something you lack... there is no such thing as honor or pride. Such things are for those people who rely on a crutch to live. I have no code... except that of my sword. All who stand before me face the wrath of the Eternal Sun and of the Almighty God."

She grabs ahold of her sword hilt. "And allow me to inform you... any attempt to remove my power is useless. Because in reality..." She draws her sword, and all light immediately goes out, leaving him blind, not even the stars shine, a solid black sears his eyes.

"This is a two on one battle." Her countenance becomes filled with the power of the the sun, and around her blade a serpentine dragon curls around it. She points the blade at his heart, and while the explosion that follows decimates his body, the dragon bites his soul, and greedily devours him, consciousness and all.

White turns toward the horizon. "It appears as though I need to take matters into my own hands..." She begins walking off.

''I hate getting my hands dirty. But at least this way... I'll ensure the second phase can begin as planned. Here I come... Dark Phoenix. ''

Final Preparations
Drake hears footsteps slowly grow louder, and the lights in the room begin to flicker on one by one, until the room is fully lit, and the footsteps grow even louder.

Drake: Hmm... I wonder who this is, probably one of the members... But that would only be White or Aoi, regardless.. *His eyes narrows down* It's way to damn bright here.

To his surprise, White and Aoi show up, but along with them are three others. White stops right in front of the glass and looks up at him quietly. The glass muffles her voice, but he swears he can hear her say, 'Open the glass'.

Drake: Wait... What? Did you just say, ok... I think the fumes here have gotten to me.

One of the people who had come with her presses a red button, and the glass suddenly swings wide open, letting a rush of fresh air blast his face. The man wears a fur coat along with a cloth mask on the bottom of his face, his eyes look borderline feral.

"Come with us, and come quietly, Drake." He says coldly.

The two others who had come leave in front of them, while White, Aoi, and the masked man wait for him to come down from the tube he had been in so long.

''Drake steps down from the tube and looks at his burn marks and wounds, stretching his arms out. He has faint tribal marks stained on his body, he turns his head towards White and sighs.''

Drake: I'd like my clothes back...

Aoi looks at him. "The Avatars destroyed them. We will have to get new clothes for you."

The masked man sighs. "I'll be back..." He disappears in a breeze. A minute later, he appears with a change of clothing. "Hurry up and change. We have things to talk about." He points toward a door on the right side of the room.

Drake: Of course they destroyed them... *He quickly changes into his new clothes and yawns, he looks towards the door and walks towards it* So, who are you and what do you want? Because honestly, I liked it in that tube, it was quiet... Peaceful, and I didn't have to look at her... *He glares at Aoi before looking at White* By the way, what was all that noise up in the fortress?

A red tint appears in White's eyes. "I just was busy killing a little gnat that buzzed too close to my ear."

The man speaks up. "I am Torrent, one of the main members of Phoenix. And with White finishing analyzing your DNA, she won't need you any longer. I don't want anything from you. Phoenix however has an offer for you, once that comes with your freedom should you accept it. We will speak of it upstairs, nothing further." He chuckles. "And if I were you, I wouldn't offend Aoi."

Aoi just gives Drake an impartial icy stare.

Drake glances at Aoi and smirks.

Drake: I love ya' too sweet pea. *He looks at Torrent* I honestly wouldn't care what Aoi does, as you can see. I've pretty much been to hell, beat the devil at checkers and returned to shoot someone in the face... But ok, we'll speak of this offer in a minute... *He sighs and summons his HSC and pulls out a book and reads it while walking*

As he walks, it gets much colder for some reason, almost as though he had plunged into arctic waters. Torrent holds out a hand and White sighs, angrily tossing him a gold coin.

Drake stops and looks at Aoi, giving her a death stare before growling, with small flickers of fire leaving his mouth while doing so.

Drake: Funny... Now raise the fucking temperature before I turn you into a puddle. *He continues walking then laughs* Wouldn't be the first time I made you wet.

They come to an elevator, and Aoi seems deathly quiet. The platform rises with no problems, but then Torrent looks up.

His voice comes out significantly higher pitched. "Umm, Aoi, please don't do that."

"Do what?" She says impassively.

"Please, turn it back."

"No."

Drake looks up to see the water covering the vertical entrance is completely frozen, and they are going to ram into it in probably a minute well over a hundred miles an hour.

Drake: Oh you son of a bitch, Aoi... *Drake creates a black fireball and throws it at the ice, only slightly melting it* ...Well, shit... Change it back Aoi, right now!

"What's the matter? Afraid of getting a little flat?" She says in her impassive voice.

Drake: I don't think any of us wants to end up like your chest, now for the love of God. CHANGE IT BACK YOU BITCH!

The water turns back to normal, and they exit and stop at the ground level. Aoi looks at him for a moment, before taking a small breath and blasting him with a blizzard that coats him in ice tougher than steel, and she walks off.

Torrent holds out his hand again, and White angrily fishes for another gold coin. "You and your stupid bets..." She growls.

Drake sets himself ablaze and melts the ice with ease before following with the others.

Drake: You're starting to get on my nerves... *A voice plays in his mind*

Corruption: Well well well Drake, this is your chance...

Drake: No way, I haven't got a reason yet.

Corruption: Hmph, you're pathetic... Where's your sense of honor? Where's your sense of bloodlust and endless kil--

Drake's tribal patterns show up again and Drake lets out a sigh of relief.

Drake: Finally... He'll shut up now.

White and the others enter the main building, and as Drake opens the main door and closes it behind him, a girl with blonde hair with electric blue eyes appears in front of him and leans in his face with hers very uncomfortably.

"Hello tankboy!" She says in an almost too cheerful way.

Drake takes a step back, startled at the sudden shock.

Drake: JESUS! ...Who in God's name are you? *He takes a second to breathe*

"Noriko. I hear you like to give Aoi a hard time. Lover's quarrel?"

A cold chill blows through the room, as Aoi coldly stares at them.

Drake: Yeah... Umm, my name is Drake, not 'tankboy'... Is there any other surprises like her? *He takes a second to look around*

Torrent, Aoi, White, and Toma are all seated, all that's left is this Noriko girl and Drake.

White looks at Noriko and sighs. "Not this again."

"Can I sit next to the new guy? I'll make him feel comfortable."

"....Define... comfortable."

"...Please?"

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"No."

"Yes- Damn it!" White growls as Noriko pulls Drake to the seat next to hers, looking triumphant.

"I win!" Noriko says cheerfully, before giving Drake a bear hug.

Torrent lets out an exasperated sigh. "And welcome to my personal hell."

Drake: *Struggling to breathe due to how tight the bear hug is* Is... Is it too late to go back to the tube? *Drake manages to break free from the bear hug, he takes a look around at the other members* So then... Is this all of you?

White closes her eyes. "Sort of." She opens her eyes. "Enter, Azula."

The main doors open, and Drake sees a woman walk in completely encased in black CE armor with red hair at the base of her hair, slowly darkening to black at the tips. Unlike the other ones he saw, this one has a brilliant and powerful aura that flickers briefly in his vision, even though it appears to be in its normal mode. The headpiece slides open, and he remembers her face from Downation, though the eyes are dim and almost lifeless.

Drake: *Narrows his eyesight to her* Hmm... She was with the masked dude last time I saw her, so she's a CE now... *He looks at White* Your moral compass isn't right, woman... *He looks back at Azula* So your name is Azula, nice of you to give this one a name. Wait, what happened to the other one? Kanashimi, was it?

"Kanashimi was killed by Daikeim after he discovered our race's weakness. Had he left her alone conflict would never have been necessary." Azula speaks, something that surprises Drake.

"I have always been a CE. You are born a CE, you are not made."

Drake: Hmph, then Daikeim would of had a reason to attack... He wouldn't of killed her if he didn't have a reason. *He sighs* Great, then what are you planning to do with him? If you guys send anymore CE's in his direction, they're coming back as corpses...

"Kanashimi was a prototype. To survive realistically in the same situations as more fine tuned CE would be more difficult for one such as her. Making a new and improved Kanashimi would take no effort on my part. I already know the specific genetic codes needed to remake her. And as for Daikeim, that depends." White smiles.

"Mainly on you, that is."

Drake: *Glares at White and growls, standing up and clenching his fists* On me? Tell me right now, what the hell do you think you want from me... Just send me back to the test tube, I'm already tired of this.

"A battle is coming, Drake. I had intended to destroy humanity before tomorrow came, but time is too short to finish the Trimaster Plan. The awakening of a god is at hand..." She has a deadly smile powerful enough to make Drake shudder. "And I intend to bury him and his ally... Van Valeric."

Drake goes into his Aura Dragon form and sets his hands ablaze, walking towards White until he's a couple of feet away, speaking in a more demonic tone.

Drake: You expect me to kill Daikeim? And who's the crazy one here, not a damn chance in hell! You may of saved my life, but if you think I would kill someone who's helped me through the same life... How dare you, HOW FUCKING DARE YOU! Tell me White, killing someone you don't know is easy enough. But I can tell from experience that ending the life of someone you care about is damn near to impossible to recover from, you of all people should know that... *He turns around and starts walking away* I'm going back to the tube, fuck you and your goals.

Torrent looks at White. "I rather dislike emotional brats who don't think before they open their mouths."

Before Drake can make it out the door, he is kicked in the throat and slammed onto the ground, unable to move as Torrent puts his foot on his chest and effortlessly holds him there.

"Why don't you listen again before you get your head cut off? Here is the situation. There is a god of destruction going to appear tomorrow. He is known as Jibaku. He and his ally will be appearing tommorow. Got the picture? The whole aim of this war on Earth was to lure Jibaku out so that we might destroy him. Your part in this will be two fold. One, we expect you to aid in the battle against Jibaku and Van Valeric. That is required. What White should have said regarding Daikiem is that if he should pose a problem to us during that battle or immediately after we finish our task, you are to deal with him. You know him better than we do, so you would be perfect in making him back off. Peacefully or violently. Daikiem may not even show up tomorrow. It's just a precaution we thought ahead about.

We're not asking you to kill him, unless for some reason he attempts to do so to you. That's the letter of the deal. Do those things and consider yourself a free man. We already have your DNA, and this is our more humane way of dealing with you. White could just turn you into a monster or something. I hear she likes experimenting on trash. Though I wouldn't know. Now if you're done throwing a tantrum like a toddler, I'll let you up. We clear?"

Drake: Crystal... Now get the fuck off.

Torrent walks away in mid air.

Drake stands up and exits his Aura Dragon form and extinguishes the fire on his hands, he glances at the Phoenix members before walking out of the room.

Drake: Hmph, kill two people I don't know... Yeah, that'll be 'easy'. I'll be training 'til then, you better be ready when I am. *He exits the room and finds his way to the courtyard before opening his HSC and pulling out one of his jackets and a sword. He creates a couple of clones and trains with them.*

After a while, he notices someone is watching him and turns to find a CE staring at him that looks eerily like him.

"You're easily angered." It says quietly.

Drake: Oh great, so White made more mini-me's... And yes, I get angered easily... What do you want?

"...."

Drake: Let's see... Kanashimi was loud-mouth and brash, so you must be the silent and deadly variant of me. *Drake dodges his clone's attack then breaks his arms then sets him ablaze, watching him incinerate into ash* Anyways, so, you got a name?

"...Silent Angel."

Drake: Heh, good name. So then, you just came to watch? Ask questions or?

A clone appears of Silent Angel. The two start clashing swords. "....Sort of."

Drake: Well, if you have any questions, ask away. If not, then focus on your clone's blade. *He practices CQC with the clone*

"....He killed her."

Drake: *Sighs* Don't tell me you believe in that crap too... If you're gonna bother me with that too, then just go.

Silent Angel brutally stabs his clone in the heart, and Drake thinks he can see a momentary blaze of white hot fury in Silent Angel's eyes, as though he had imagined himself killing Daikiem with that blow.

He makes another one, and is silent for a moment. "She was my sister. ...The Lady forced me to stand aside and watch her die..."

Drake: Sucks, doesn't it. Having to be unable to do anything as you watch someone you care about perish infront of you... Infact, Daikeim knows how that feels, as do I, and you. But, if you want to be someone who works on the frontline. *He disarms his clone and breaks his neck, killing him instantly* Then you have to discard feelings, your kill just then. As brutal as it was, if it was in the middle of the battlefield, that would of gotten you killed. *He creates another clone and trains again* Anyways...

Silent Angel bisects the clone. ".......Want... ...we don't ask for this... ...we don't even have the free will to want anything more..."

Drake: I guess we're in a similar situation where we're forced to do something... I didn't want to get back into a mini-war but here I am... *He sighs* Regardless, sorry about your sister...

Silent Angel flies off without a word. Noriko pokes her head around the corner and sees Drake. "Oh hey Tankboy!"

Drake: Oh god dam-- Hey there Noriko, one thing. Drake, it's.. Drake, not Tankboy... Ok?

"Hmm... I suppose I can call you Drake, provided you stop trying to aggravate Aoi, I think I overheard her mumbling assassination plans."

Drake: That's probably about tomorrow and not me, but it's nice to see she cares. And I can't really help it, being someone who doesn't make somethings seriously is just who I am... Kinda. *He kills the last clone and the sword dissipates into nothingness, he turns to look at Noriko* So then, is every other member of Phoenix like that? Aoi is a stuck-up bitch, Torrent is headstrong, you... You're just... There, really... What about the others? Anything to 'warn' me about when it comes to them?

Her head tilts to one side. "Well I don't know, but we are down a few members. Master Hiroshi died, and Naomi joined forces with Kado, who has been a defector for a number of years and is fighting against us. The people assembled here are the only ones left. There's always been eight members of the organization, no more, no less. ...I guess we need to start looking for new members soon.

I don't know much about Kado anymore, but I do remember how quiet and timid he used to be, heh heh. Probably disguises how timid he is in a fight by pretending to let people take the first shot at him. Have you met him before?"

Drake: *Smirks* Yeah, I met him a once... He's something 'special', annoying too... I wonder if he'll be coming along tomorrow, it'll be fun to show him what I'm capable of. But that's an if, I need to focus about Van Valeric and Jibaku.

"I see, well, I don't know about you, but I think it would be a good idea for you to get some rest. Tomorrow is gonna be a big day, you'll need the energy."

Drake: Hmph... Does it look like I need rest? You can go rest if you want, I'll still be here by sunrise... *Drake sets up some moving targets and sends a barrage of throwing knives at them, all hitting in the heart or brain*

She gives him an odd look, then turns and starts walking away. "Don't let White catch you out here. She'll make you rest."

Drake: Pfft, sure she will... Bye then. *Drake takes a minute to breathe, while this happens, a black shadow appears infront of Drake*

Corruption: Well well, Van Valeric and Jibaku, eh?

Drake: Yeah, but I don't plan on using any Primitive forms. So don't try it.

Corruption: Oh I don't think you have a choice Drake, remember, I control when you NEED the forms. You better start treating me with respect, otherwise once you go into Primitive, you'll never come back out.

Drake: Like I want to listen to someone who lives inside of me, do me a favor and shut up. Alright? Now fade away before anyone catches you...

Corruption: ...This isn't over. *Forms back inside Drake*

Drake: ugh... Stupid parasite.

For a while, it's quiet, until a harsh yell breaks the silence. "ARRGHH! NORIKO! WHAT HAVE I SAID ABOUT COMING IN MY ROOM WITHOUT PERMISSION?!"

Drake hears an almost childish laughing coming closer, and he turns to see an orb of golden light crackling with lightning as it passes. It pauses, giggles again, and then flies off just as Torrent jumps over the wall like a feral animal.

"COME BACK HERE YOU DAMN FAIRY!" He roars, his cloth mask stolen.

Drake: This... Seems fun... *He looks at the multitude of bodies around him* ...Yeah, following them. *Drake goes into his Aura Dragon form and follows the two*

He sees Torrent running at very fast speeds right behind the golden fairy, but it happily manages to dodge every attempt he does at grabbing her. She merrily has no trouble keeping out of his range.

"♪ You can't catch me, you can't catch me!♪ " She sings tauntingly.

Drake flips so his back is facing the ground, he places his hands behind his head and flies past Torrent.

Drake: Oh, hey there. You seem to be in a spot of trouble. *He looks at the golden fairy before looking at Torrent* Wow, you're slow...

The fairy giggles. "♪ Oooh now I have two desperate men wanting a piece of the action! Whatever shall I do?♪ "

Torrent glares at him. "It's not my fault she's a freaking lightning fairy."

Drake: You do realise that I'm faster than you, Noriko... If I wanted to catch you, unlike slowpoke back there. It'll be easy...

She pulsates for a moment. "Nah."

She bolts downward into the water. Torrent sighs. "I'm not likely to get that back til tomorrow now."

Drake lands then turns his head towards Torrent.

Drake: Why does it matter anyways, it's only a mask...

"If I fail to kill someone and they become a threat later, they won't recognize me if I have my mask off. With my mask I appear less of a person and more of a monster. I don't want people to wonder if I have feelings or emotions or any of that nonsense. It's annoying. People are more likely to assume I'm just some thug who is as mindless as the next Mytho."

Drake: Noriko, give Torrent his mask back. That's like stripping a male of his manhood... Actually, it's not but-- JUST GIVE TORRENT HIS DAMN MASK BACK BEFORE I COME DOWN THERE AND TURN YOU INTO NOTHING BUT A SPARK!

He sees her briefly bob into view from the water, and hovers there. She then rushes up to his face and he feels a small jolt of electricity zap his face as she touches his forehead, and then zips off, dropping the cloth mask in the air, and Torrent angrily fetches it before it can fall.

Drake rubs his forehead and glances at Torrent.

Drake: Ow... Hmm, is she like that with everyone?

"I know for a fact she only acts like this with men. It's her little games. I don't know why she does it, but she will always play these games, even with people she's never met. I do know she can be serious when it matters, but men are open season."

Drake: So, she's a manipulative person... Interesting, I guess it's to fool newcomers... Only with men? So... Why does she toy with you?

"Because I'm a guy. She toys with any men, as I said. She'd be doing this alot more often if we had more main members who were male."

Drake: Right... I guess I'm glad it's just like this... I guess. *He looks up at the sky then looks back down then begins walking away, exiting his Aura Dragon form* Anyways, I'm gonna rest or train, see you whenever.

As he walks through the fortress, he sees Aoi in one of the walkways, staring at the moon as she paints on a canvas, a peaceful expression on her face. She almost seems radiant with the moonlight.

Drake sighs and walks up behind Aoi, looking at the painting before glancing at Aoi.

Drake: Hey... What are you painting?

"...The moonlight on the ocean. I like peaceful things. Beautiful things. I try to capture moments like this with paint but... I'm self taught, so I don't think I'm very good at it yet..."

Drake: *Takes a second to look at the painting, then the ocean and moon* You're doing well, self teaching yourself is very difficult to do, but the payoff feels amazing. Hmm... I guess the painting, and the ocean and moon look beautiful... Strange how you love peaceful things yet you're in Phoenix, seems stupid if you ask me.

"...I don't like it here. The violence. The hate. I don't. ...But... I owe the organization a great deal. ...My life, in fact. ...I haven't participated in any of their battles... the most I do is anything I'm directly ordered to do... or manage security. ...If I can avoid it... I do not fight."

Drake: That's... Surprising, you have quite the temper on you. And what about tomorrow? You're gonna be forced to fight, but I guess avoiding fights is a good thing in most cases... If you're that kinda person.

"...Considering that you keep insulting me and treating me as if I'm some rodent you found in the sewer..."

Drake: You would treat everyone like that if you arrived somewhere, got the crap beaten out of you by mythical beasts, had your DNA copied and made into clones, looked like a damn napalm survivor and had to stay in a tube... *He sighs* Fine, I'm sorry... There, now I feel like throwing up...

"....You're sincere..." She looks at the moon for a moment more. She eventually puts down her brush and looks at him, before she puts a hand on Drake's chest and her arm glows with a greenish blue light, which spreads to Drake's body.

Drake: Ummm Aoi... What are you doing, and why am I glowing?

"Quiet. Restoration." The light seems to momentarily sear his body, but immediately after it fades, he feels his skin is completely smooth with no hint of scarring or wounds, in fact he almost feels younger and full of energy.

"You're welcome." She says quietly.

Drake: Thank you, I feel better than before I arrived here.... Umm, anyways... I'm gonna go rest, good luck with the painting, Aoi. *He turns away and walks off*

She looks up from her painting. "I assume you will want a better place to sleep than a confined tube. I know of several open rooms right now, and I believe a few of the members have spare guest rooms within their towers, though I would have to ask them."

Drake: *Looks at Aoi* Several open rooms and spare guest rooms... Oook, wanna give me a list and location? This place is a size of a city, afterall...

Aoi smiles faintly. "White's quarters are the size of a mansion, she has many spare rooms, Torrent has spare rooms but I don't know if he would be keen, Noriko has spare rooms a plenty... not sure if you're willing to risk being near her though. Toma doesn't like company all the time... I also have spare rooms, and then there's the unoccupied member towers of Hiroshi, Naomi, and Kado. Each of the main member towers are the tallest and are arranged in a perfect circle around the middle. White's is the widest. There are color coded guards that represent each of the member's towers as well who can help you there."

Drake: I don't think I would want to stay in one of Torrent's rooms, why Noriko has more than one room scares me, I don't want to go near White, don't know Toma, and I think you would prefer peace so no me. I guess one of the unoccupied rooms... Hmm, what about Kado's room, where would that be exactly? Because I doubt that there would still be guards there...

"I'll show you, but it's probably dusty and stuff like that... but I can see what we can do. Follow me." She looks at a nearby guard.

"Make sure this isn't messed with, please."

"Yes ma'am."

She starts walking toward the center area.

Drake follows behind, taking one last look at the paining before paying attention to what Aoi has to say next.

Drake: Dusty? How long has he been out of Phoenix?

"He was fifteen when he left... it's been seven years."

Drake: Wow... So what was his reason for leaving, besides the obvious?

"White ordered him to be executed. She and all of the old masters chased after him the night we were chosen by the Slayers. For a while, we all heard he died. ...But eventually I learned from White that he was alive somehow, leading an organization called Azure. When we first heard about the incident though, we were told that Kado betrayed the organization and tried to usurp power. ...I quickly perceived it as a lie, but I kept that knowledge to myself. I very much doubt anything would ever make Kado return to Phoenix."

Drake: I don't blame him, in all honesty... Why anyone would want to stay in Phoenix is beyond me, but I guess everyone has their reasons, don't they... *He sighs then looks at Aoi* I wonder if anything of Kado's is still in the room...

"Possibly... if White hasn't done anything with it." They arrive at the building, and Aoi opens the door and suddenly appears shell shocked.

"...It's... clean..."

Drake: Uhh... Is someone expecting anyone? *He steps in and looks around* Spotless... Who the hell?

Aoi looks at the carpets. "...These were White's old carpets... ...White has been keeping it clean... ...But why?"

Drake: No idea... Hey, you don't think White has a thing for Kado... Right? *He walks around the room* I don't even... Strange...

"His bedroom is upstairs... but I don't think that she really cared about him that much... this room feels as though she expected Kado to rejoin us... ...So she wasn't lying when she said she tried to recruit him again..."

Drake: He left for a reason, so unless White knows the reason... There's no point in trying to bring him back, anyways... Thanks Aoi, I'll see you tomorrow. *He starts walking up the stairs* Goodnight.

"Goodnight..." She says quietly, and silently closes the door, pondering what she had seen.

Drake takes off his jacket on his way up and places it on a hanger, he heads towards the bed and lies down on his back and looks up on the ceiling and sighs.

Drake: Well... That was a strange first day out of the tube... Hopefully I can just rest long enough to be ready tomorrow... *He closes his eyes and slowly falls asleep*

Last Dawn
Drake slowly wakes up, the morning sun beginning to shine on his face.

''He sits up and lets out a yawn before scratching his head and reaching for his jacket. ''"Alright, time to kill... Man I feel like I'm back on Cyanic with that..." ''He does his usually duties, cleaning himself, quick exercise and reading from his spellbook. He then comes out of Kado's room, still hazy eyed as he looks around. ''"...I'm gonna be hungry soon, oh I pray to God they have food here... But where exactly..."

Suddenly Noriko's face pops into view as he steps out of the tower as she swings upside down right into his face.

"GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD MORNING!" She cheers.

Drake's eyes widen with sudden shock, and a simple line could be heard... "JESUS CHRIST ON A FUCKING UNICYCLE! WHERE THE HELL DID YOU COME FROM!?"

"I decided to 'drop in' from this lovely ledge, just spacious enough to stick my feet into for a lovely upside down perch! How's the weather in the tank looking like Drakey?"

''Drake, still recovering from his heart attack. Takes a second to breathe before glancing at Noriko. "I wasn't it the ta-- ...Uhhhh" He starts giggling before bursting into laughter. ''

"Hmmmm, what'cha laughing at, doc?"

"Hehe... Nice panties, polka dots? How old are you, 12?" ''Drake still cannot control his laughter, he adjusts his jacket before walking past her, poking her head. Causing a small burning feeling. ''"Any idea of where I can grab a bite to eat?"

Noriko pulls her feet out from the ledge, and then flips several times before landing with both boots firmly on his head and flipping once more onto the ground softly.

"Well legend has it that White makes a mean breakfast every morning at the meeting hall, but she's still sleeping." She pouts. "She always sleeps twenty hours a day..."

''Drake sighs before smirking. ''"That's a shame... Hmm, ever tried to cook before? I got a feeling it'll be easy..."

"No I have not cooked before... someone else always has... either that or I've eaten out..." She says this as though she were contemplating one of life's great mysteries.

"Well then, looks like it'll be our first time cooking... C'mon, you gotta show me where the kitchen is!" Drake has a mischievous smile and a certain glint to his eye as he chuckles.

Noriko tilts her head. "Hmmm. Ok." She leads Drake to the main building, and Drake notices at the end of the great hall a large throne, and behind it heavily decorated doors.

Noriko looks in the direction of the doors. "Her quarters are beyond that door." She tip toes across the hall to a side door. "In here."

"Here? Umm alright, I guess I'm opening it." ''He cautiously opens the door and glances through, seeing the kitchen. He grabs hold of Noriko's arm and pulls her in too. ''"So then... Where should we start?" ''He takes a look around, exploring the kitchen. ''

Noriko examines a door, which contains a massive food storage. "I think we should get the food out, right?"

''Drake approaches the same door. ''"Yeah we should..." ''Suddenly he gets another idea. ''"Heh... Noriko, what are everyone's most hated dish?"

"Errrm... Torrent can't stand anything without flavor, neither can White... Toma and Aoi pretty much hate spicy food. Why, what are you thinking?"

"So, four dishes, two tasteless and two spicy..." ''Drake opens the door, examining the food and spices. Pulling out ghost peppers and tofu, along with all other stuff along the way. ''"Ok... You work on the spicy, I'll work on the tasteless." Drake spots a chiefs hat and wears it, laughing while doing so.

Noriko carefully attempts to make spicy chicken, but twice she burns it.

"Umm, try again... This time, don't burn it!" ''Drake glances at what he has to work with, slowly cooking the 'perfect' dishes for Torrent and White. ''"Ok, I'll get bored... Spell time!" ''Drake reaches for his spellbook and looks at his dishes, after looking through the book and glancing at the dishes. They gain markings and slowly form into steak and ice cream, Drake has a devious smile on his face. ''"I'm done, what about you?"

The food is now roaring flames. "I think I'm done."

"I don't think that's what it should be like..." ''Drake sighs. ''"Do you want some help?"

"It's NOT supposed to be on fire? ...I guess they don't mean it literally when they say sizzling hot..."

"No... Ok, I'mma help..." ''Drake comes over and extinguishes the fire, after a while of restoring the food. The opens the ghost pepper and plants the seeds hidden into the food. ''"Ok... I think that's better. So how long do we wait until the others wake up?"

She is about to answer when Death walks through the door and stares them down.

White sighs. "What do you think you all are doing in here?"

''Drake has the look of horror as he slowly turns to look at White, soon giving a small smile and points to Noriko. ''"Noriko said that we should give you guys your favorite dishes before today starts, because it was special or something."

"Oh really? Then I'll supervise..." She smirks.

"Oh you really don't need to do that... Honestly, we're almost done." ''Drake glances at the dishes, noticing that they're almost finished, he regains his confidence and smirks. ''"Actually, stay around. You might learn a thing or two from us."

She leans against a counter, and silently watches him and Noriko, arms crossed.

"You're both up earlier than I expected."

"Mercenaries are strict people, White. So it's either get into the routine or get out of the business. As for Noriko, I think she came to bother me with this." Drake helps Noriko with her cooking, still slightly worried about what White will do.

White takes off the outer layer of her dress, revealing a solid black body suit with a covering of some sort of chainmail, as well as a more impressive figure than he originally expected, but she ignores him as she hangs her dress up in a closet. She seems more on edge today.

"Hmph, getting ready for the fight too I see... You expecting casualties from your side of this?" ''Drake finishes off the dishes and sits on a counter. ''"Chainmail, that's... Surprising."

White touches the snow white metal, seemingly fondly. "It was my mother's. It's a heirloom of my family always passed down to the next 'White'. It's a name only given to the chosen wield of Light Slayer. My full title is White the 8th. ...Mother didn't want me to join Phoenix. But I felt it was my duty, no, my destiny to lead the organization back to its true glory days... days we hadn't had since..." She pauses.

"Anyway... as a leader... I expect the worst... ...and the best. It's my role to try to be prepared to accept failure, and graciously accept success without pride. ...Pride... is the weakness of all great leaders. They think they're untouchable." She closes her eyes for a moment, and it occurs to Drake she seems unusually tired.

"Strange... Hmm, you seem tired. Didn't you get any sleep?" ''Drake then thinks back about Kado's room and how tidy it was. ''"Then again, that might of been why..."

Her eyes open, regular golden eyes and normal pupils, different from her more dragonic eyes. "...something was on my mind." She yawns, a slight dragonic twist to it that lightly shakes the room. He notices she has actual fangs.

"What the..." ''He shakes his head slightly, seeing if he wasn't just making this up. ''"Huh... Full of surprises you people have, so what's with your draconic theme to yourself? Also, what was with the pause, after the glory days?" Drake steps off of the counter, giving a somewhat puzzled look.

She looks at Drake tiredly. "The majority of my DNA is Dragon. Technically I am full blooded dragon, but I also am mostly Shapeshifter. However as a side effect of that additional heritage, I cannot remain in true dragon form indefinitely. Certain features are always there, such as my teeth, but others I have to expend energy on. I prefer my dragonic appearances to anything else. It feels more me.

...And as for that... ...I don't have the energy to recite long and old history. But let's just say after the first generation of Phoenix, there was a long period of infighting. This is perhaps the strongest iteration of Phoenix in recent memory."

"Ah alright, so, I'll ask again. But don't try to avoid it, why are you so tired? You need the energy for today, pretty reckless if you ask me..."

She sighs irritably. "I told you. Something was on my mind last night... I didn't sleep well, ok?"

"Ok ok..." ''Drake looks at the finished dishes and smirks. ''"Oh, right. The food is done, I'm guessing these to go the main hall or somewhere?" ''Drake gains tribal markings on his hands as the dishes float in mid-air. ''

She silently points at the large meeting table in the center of the main hall as she holds her forehead.

"Thanks." ''Drake grabs Noriko's arm and pulls her along too, soon whispering in her ear while he sets the dishes down on the table. ''"We're gonna die when they taste these, won't they... Please tell me you have a way to hide from every other member..." He says that with a ounce of guilt and dread in his voice.

Noriko looks around nervously. "Well there is one place... we'll just see what happens though..."

"Alright..." ''Drake takes a second to breathe, soon coming back to his senses. Giggling slightly, he takes his seat and waits in anticipation. ''"This will either be the funniest thing or we crash and burn, but there's no going back now."

The Phoenix members gather, and eventually take their seats. Aoi looks over at Drake. "How did you sleep last night?" She says in her soft voice, and everyone freezes and stares at Aoi.

"A-Aoi talked?!"

She looks at everyone. "What?"

''Drake chuckles and looks at Aoi. ''"I slept fine, thanks for asking. And you?"

"I'm rather fine, thank you." She looks over at White, who seems even more tired. "Something the matter, White?"

"No nothing... I'm fine... I'm... fineeee........." She falls asleep, and her face lands in the dish with a splat.

Torrent looks around wildly for a moment.

"....Dare I laugh? Do I dare? ...........Fuck it." The various members of Phoenix quietly chuckle. Noriko quietly taps White's head.

"Daaaaang, she really is out."

"...I don't even... 'strongest iteration of Phoenix in recent memory'? Yeah... Sure." ''Drake quickly laughs before glancing at everyone's dishes, he gets a devious grin. He looks at Noriko and nods, before speaking out. ''"Umm, anyways... I guess we eat?"

The rest of the Phoenix members don't take long to take a bite, but also not very long to realize something is up after the first bite. Torrent's eyes narrow.

"This isn't steak. Now... I'm going to assume one of two things. One. White just did a shit job cooking. Possible, though I doubt if she's this tired she could hold a spatula. Two. You two fucks messed with the food and are about to be introduced to your asses. Painfully."

Aoi and Toma's hair practically stands on end and Toma barfs, while Aoi's eyes just pour tears from the spicy, a tinge of red in her greyish skin's cheeks. She quickly lowers the temperature of the water glass she has and gulps it, sighing heavily.

While Toma and Torrent now both look like they're going to kill Noriko and Drake with Death Vision, Aoi strangely silently claps with a faint smile.

White groans, and slowly sits up. "....Tofu.........." She silently wipes her face off with her napkin.

Torrent glares at her. "Permission to kill?"

White sighs. "I don't care. I'm taking a shower."

Torrent looks back towards Noriko and Drake.

"One Mississippi. Two Mississippi." He growls.

''Drake stands up and slowly takes steps back towards an exit. ''"Ok... In our defense, first time cooking... Sorta, we kinda had a bit of fun messing around with flavours? Hehe... Noriko, help."

She grabs his arm. "Ok, running." *BOOM!* He hears as suddenly they are traveling within a personal lightning bolt. She stops eventually.

"Well that was close."

"NORIKO!!!" Torrent yells, appearing around the corner. His eyes are demented with anger and his speed puts even the Roadrunner to shame.

"Oh, umm, errr... BYE!" She grabs Drake again. *BOOM!* They are at another part of the fortress.

"Ok, think I lost him this time."

''Drake begins giggling before bursting into laughter, being more happy with himself than he has in a long time. ''"That was worth it, the expressions on their faces! Haha! Oooh, that was awesome, we gotta do that again sometime." ''Drake finally manages to settle down, but still has a smile on his face and occasionally giggles. ''

Noriko looks at him curiously for a moment, before giving him a hug. "Thanks for the fun, Drake. You're the first person to ever join me in a gag... it was fun. ....Hey...... I never told White this... and I don't know if I should... but I plan on leaving Phoenix behind.... this whole invasion thing you see... I feel like it's gonna be my last ride before I set off for something.... more. ...You seem like a guy who enjoys a good adventure too, I was wondering, would you go with me?"

She pauses, as Toma appears riding a tidal wave. "COME BACK HERE!!!"

She looks at Drake. "Hold that thought." *BOOM!* They appear at a different section of the fortress, and she shoves Drake into a side door at a tower and they hide inside the spacious tower.

"Well that was close."

''Drake takes a minute to respond to what Noriko said, he has a shocked expression before speaking in a more serious tone. ''"Planning on leaving Phoenix? Well, I wouldn't say I blame you. But these people are like your family, aren't they? Despite everything, they're there for you, and I know you would do the same. I'd like to join you in your escapades, but I want to be sure you're ready to leave these people behind... Because trust me, leaving without saying goodbye to at least one person you trust will take a lot out of you." ''Drake takes a second to look around to look around the room and starts talking with a more playful tone to his voice. ''"Where are we exactly?"

Noriko looks about and blinks. "My living room." It looks for a medieval fortress tower, very contemporary and modern decorated, with TV's, stereos, and various other electronic devices, including a few dozen video game consoles, much to his surprise.

"And honestly Drake, I am starting to have some faulty trust in Phoenix. It's true that they're my family... but still. I can't stay cooped up in the nest forever either."

"So, you're a techno person... Alright then, anyways. I guess you have a point, every bird must leave the nest soon. Alright, after this battle, I'll join you. It'll be difficult to start off without a companion to help." ''He chuckles and finds somewhere to sit, glancing at the games consoles. ''

Noriko plops down onto a sofa and sighs.

"Thanks. I happen to have a few odd jobs on Earth at the moment... ironic that is, don't you think? -But in anycase, I have plenty of money to make a permanent residence if the need arises. Though we could go anywhere. Hmm... haven't been to Echo in a long time... that might be fun..."

"Echo? What, or where's that?" Drake asks with a puzzled expression.

"Echo? Oh it's a realm that exists... err... parallel? To Earth. You could even call it a Second Earth actually. From what White once talked to me about the subject, the world is actually within the same time and space area, but between Fantasy and Reality. So much so that one half is more like Reality and the other more like Fantasy. The majority of us, including me grew up there."

''Drake chuckles. ''"That does sound fun, so that's where we're going after all this." ''Drake joins Noriko on the sofa and relaxes, take a minute to breathe before asking. ''"How long do you think it'll take before Torrent and Toma give up hunting us down?"

"Oh I believe Toma will stop soon enough, but Torrent is a mixed bag. He could calm down in the next minute or won't calm down til tomorrow."

Suddenly they can hear rain.

"...Oh boy. Look's like we're stuck here. Toma just activated her Needle Rain. She must realllllly be pissed."

"Oh yay... So, what do you wanna do?" Drake looks at the games consoles and the games accompanying'' them. ''"How about a game to pass the time? It's been a while since I've played one though..."

"Sure thing. Pick one out."

''Drake stands up and goes over to the games and picks one out by random. ''"How about this?"

"Sure, sounds fun. Let's do it. Prepare to get wrecked!!!" She cheers.

''Drake places the game into the console and hands Noriko a controller, he sits back on the sofa and grabs a controller for himself. He starts to become cocky... ''"Oh yeah? I'mma introduce your face to the ground! We should make this more challenging.... How about a bet?"

"Oh? Let's hear it then!"

"Ladies first" ''Drake says with a arrogant smile to his face. ''

"Wellllllll..... If I lose I have to behave myself during our first trip. Annnnnd how about you?"

"Hmm, if I lose... I'll let you spraypaint my clothes pink." ''Drake shudders at the thought, but considering that Noriko isn't one to behave most of the time. He seems it's a fair trade. ''

"Well I hope you like wearing pink, cause I'm going to own this game!"

"Oh yeah? Get ready to eat those words Noriko, because you're going down!" ''Drake laughs and gets focused. ''

One hour of intense fighting non-stop, Noriko wails as she is defeated at long last.

"NOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooo...... I lost! And I wanted to see you in pink too!" She huffs. "Best two out of three?"

''Drake shouts in victory. ''"AHA! I knew I haven't lost my touch!" ''He turns to looks at Noriko and smirks. ''"Not a chance, now... Let's see if you can behave once in a while, who knows? I might drop the bet sooner or later. Hmm, have Tamo and Torrent stopped yet?"

They can hear a strong wing howling along with the rain.

"Hmm. Seems to be pretty determined."

"Oh, great..." ''Drake sighs before slumping back onto the sofa. ''"So, what do we do now?"

Noriko eyes a electric guitar on the wall. "Well, want a demonstration? I'm practicing rock music."

"Go ahead!" ''Sparking Drake's interest again, he sits up straight and looks at the guitar. ''"How much did that cost?"

"Hmm. Around two hundred human currency. I had it custom made. I love it though." She takes it off the wall and starts running tests to make sure everything works right.

"Two hundred... Not that much I guess, but nevertheless. Start playing, how long have you been playing for?"

She thinks for a moment. "I've been practicing for about two years... it's kinda like a hobby, but I kinda want to have fun in a band sometime. You know, just for the fun of it." She begins playing, rather well actually.

"I'm impressed, you should audition some time..." ''Drake starts thinking. ''"Oh, I wanted to ask you. What race are you? Because there's a lot of humanoid races in Fantasy and Earth, like the Mythos. But I doubt that you count as one."

She suddenly changes form into a chimpanzee which then plays a power cord, then changes back. She laughs. "I'm a Shapeshifter/Fairy."

''Drake chuckles. ''"A Shapeshifter/Fairy... Interesting, does that mean the rest of Phoenix are Shapshifter hybrids?" He continues to watch in slight awe as Noriko plays the guitar.

"Yeah, all of the main members at least. The original Slayers were made to only be wielded by Shapeshifters, so the other races couldn't abuse the powers of the swords. Though I believe lesser versions can be made, though probably not as high quality. ...Do you really think I should?"

"Yeah, you should. You're a natural on the guitar, besides, you'll get bored once we head to Echo. Won't you?"

"...Yeah... ...Thanks Drake. ...You probably haven't gotten much decent company since coming here, have you? Where do you come from anyway?"

''Drake speaks up, with a tone of pride in his voice. ''"Heh, simple, I'm a Cyanican from Cyanic. A high-tech planet with traditional settings similar to the Japanese in a sense. We actually just got out of a war, I hope anyways... Any other questions?"

"Oh that's cool. Do you miss your homeworld at all?"

''Drake sulks and sighs. ''"That's... Hard to explain, I mean... I miss home and the Ryunexo mercenaries, but thanks to Daikeim. I came here and had a lot of fun, something I barely had on Cyanic... So I'm conflicted I guess, I miss home, but I love it here on Earth and Fantasy."

"I see. You'll probably find the right balance sooner or later."

"Meh, probably... But I kinda like being in conflict, I'm too used to it. Either mentally or psychically, I'm always in a state of battle." ''He takes a sigh of relief. ''"But it's times like these where I can just relax and be me, that I feel at peace..."

Noriko puts up the guitar. "I see, sounds a bit like how Torrent is."

"Torrent is like that? I just thought he's naturally pissed..."

"Torrent has his own problems. Though he's become very good at hiding them. There's a reason he looks down at people with emotions. As much as he sounds like a dick for it."

"Yeah, that can be easily seen..." ''Drake looks up at the roof, still hearing the wind and the rain. ''"Persistent too, but what about you? You seem so carefree, almost like you have no problems... Besides the obvious one, which is with Phoenix."

"You'd be right. Maybe that's why Torrent resents when I give him attention. Or why they think I'm childish. I mean, I don't know my parents, most of us didn't, but I'm not burdened by that, cause for me at least, I only remember life with Phoenix. I don't know any other family. But the others? They have a past they'd rather forget. I'm just the odd duck."

''Drake smirks. ''"I guess we're both odd ducks then, I have no idea who my parents or family are. I grew up with mercenaries, so that's why I'm care free. Because I have nothing to lose, and no one would care if I was gone anyways, I'm just a burden and annoyance to most people, but I love it like that." ''He chuckles again. ''"So another question, why are you like this only with Torrent?"

"Ermm... oh. That. You see, I like people who can tell me 'no' to something. I don't like people who think like sheep and will willingly do what I ask. ...There's plenty of men in the lower ranks... but... ...they don't think for themselves. Practically at all. They all tend to look at some of us like deities or gods or something. I'd rather spend time messing with someone who has half a brain than them. You and Torrent at least think."

"Hmm, what would explain why you're not like that towards females. And think is a generous word for both me and Torrent, I usually go in guns blazing. And Torrent is kinda brash aswell, and I haven't said no to you yet. So you never know..." ''Drake can still hear the sound of wind and rain, he sighs. ''"They don't like pranks, do they. It's been an hour or so and they haven't given up... I bet I could fall asleep and they would still be there." ''Drake coughs. ''"Anyways, any plans to do in Echo? After your guitar auditions, that is."

"Probably travel, see some of the places. I hear that the capital of the Shapeshifters, Chinmoku is amazing. Maybe I'll take an apprenticeship there for song writing."

"Certainly ambitious, aren't you? Do you even know how to get to Echo, and even if you leave, the other members will hunt you down... Like they did with Kado."

"I doubt they'd care that much Drake. You have your freedom, and well... I've always been on a loose chain to begin with. I've been visiting other worlds and doing odd jobs for years, and they've known, but never really cared about it."

"Ah, alright... Heh, well, this'll be interesting after we leave. I wonder how long it'll take until we get into trouble..." ''Drake chuckles before opening his HSC and scrolling through stuff, before getting a small picture and a knife out. Closing the HSC afterwards.''

They hear the rain start to slow and stop. "I think Toma gave up."

"Finally, but before we head out..." ''Drake cuts his fingers and thumb, drawing blood the trickles to the center of his palm. ''"Mercenaries rules, if I'm going to Echo with you. Then I want to know if we can trust ourselves to not stab each other in the back. Think of it like a blood pact, but between friends." ''Drake smiles and passes the knife to Noriko. ''"If you want my full trust, then you'll do the same. Don't worry, it doesn't hurt... When you're ready, shake my hand afterwards."

She does the same and shakes his hand.

"Ok, thanks..." ''Drake stands up and looks towards the door, storing the knife and photo in his HSC before hiding that away. ''"We really should get ready for the fight... Is it safe to leave yet?"

Noriko listens. "....No wind. Huh, I thought Torrent wouldn't give up for another hour." Suddenly Torrent blows into being behind her.

"You have no idea how long I've been looking for you two shits."

"Oh hey Torrent!"

"Errrrrrr...... errrrrmm........?"

"How you doing?"

"....................Fuck it I give up." Torrent leaves irritably.

''Drake glances at Torrent. ''"You know, with the amount of time you and Toma were waiting for us. You could of been training instead of having a hissy fit because of a prank..." ''Drake folds his arms and walks towards the courtyard. ''

As he walks into the courtyard, he notices Azula leaning against a pillar, looking immensely bored. She looks over at him and there is a subtle violence in her eyes barely kept in check.

"Have a reason for causing all of that commotion?" She asks irritably, her voice once again surprising Drake, who was used to hearing her telepathy.

"What, over a prank me and Noriko did? Give me a break, this place is as dull as hell. It's like people here have no idea on the concept of fun, and what's your problem? Did it bother you in any way? No, it didn't, so if you're gonna bother me with that, then either shut up or get lost."

"Don't think that just because White offered you mercy and freedom that you're one of us. You have a very short chain here... ...either way, you're expendable. White wouldn't care if I went and drowned you right now, or left you alive to die at the hands of Jibaku and Valeric."

''Drake growls and begins talking in a more draconic tone. ''"Before you say stupid shit like that, let me remind you that I don't want to be part of Phoenix, infact. It sickens me that I'm forced to stay and fight for my freedom, and if she didn't care. What's stopping you from killing me right now? Listen to me you foolish being, if I were to die by your or their hands. Then you'll be doing me a damn favor! So... Anymore annoying lectures?"

Azula suddenly moves to strike him, the movement blinding, but suddenly Silent Angel appears and grabs her arm, standing in front of Drake.

"Enough. Save your fighting for the enemy, Sister Azula. There will be plenty of blood to spill at the battlefield."

"Hmph... Knew it." ''Drake takes a couple steps back and opens his spellbook, sitting down crossed legged as a dome forms around Drake. Tribal markings appear on his as he meditates for the time being. After enough time has passed, the dome begins to crack, releasing small flames until the dome breaks apart. Unleashing a pillar of fire to blast out, after the fire dies down. Drake is standing, breathing heavily, in his Initial Primitive stage for a short time. Until it fades away, he takes a sigh of relief and runs his hand through his hair. ''"There... Now if he gets released, then it's entirely my fault." Drake walks to the edge of the fortress, he crosses his arms and silently waits.

Rescue Mission
There is a great deal of activity at Yosai, as Kalin steps through a permanent portal that linked up with his and pulled him to the grand portal entranceway. Guards stop what they're doing, and stare at him for a moment, before drawing their swords.

"Should we contact White...?" One mutters. Some of them gasp, and file away from Kalin as he sees a lone figure approach. Aoi. As she slowly approaches, he notices her eyes are locked on to him.

"So, you're back."

"Heh. Impressive. You knew I was coming. I thought I would have to go looking for you, lady. As for my return, that would mean I'd been here before. Trust me, I wouldn't forget a dump like this any day of the week..." He looks around, making his disdain for the place as clear as possible.

"I can see the flow of time as easily as one might see the river flow. I knew you were coming long before you made the decision to come. Your friend who came before you failed. Any threat to Yosai is known to me far in advance of its occurance. There is no such thing as a stealth attack on this fortress."

" 'What are you doing here?'. If I asked that question, then I would be a fool. You're here for Caess."

Kalin smirks, honestly impressed that the Slayer understood the situation, and also interested to hear about his 'friend'. ''So they did catch the dumbass...not that I'm one to talk. At least I have an option for escape, though.''

"Yes, put simply, I'm here for Caess. To be honest, what I really want is for you and everything you stand for to burn to ash in the rays of the sun, and be enveloped by the darkness of oblivion, So nothing like this will ever happen again. However, it seems like there is some grand purpose to many things in this world. One of those involving your order."

She silently walks up to him, and it suddenly occurs to him that he can't move, a thick harder-than-steel section of ice has sprouted under his feet and immobilzed him. She walks right up to him and looks him straight in the eyes.

"Tell me... if I gave you her... would you leave quietly? Or will you attempt to 'burn us to ash'?" She says just below a whisper.

"...And why, exactly, would you do something like that?" He says, not bothering to turn his head.

"Because I do not like to fight. I detest conflict. Last time was under orders. I do not wish to fight. That is why I did not inform White yesterday when I noticed you in our timeline. That is why I even confronted you. Why do you think these men have not attacked you? Because I have not drawn my sword against you. That is why.

I believe last we met you were told that knowing your enemy matters most when it comes to defeating them. You're as presumptuous as before. Do you really believe that every single person who happens to be your enemy is evil?"

"No, I don't. I know better than anyone the shades of gray that paint the worlds. However I've no reason to think that what you people have done, or intend to do, is for the 'greater good' either. Of course, opinions are always changing, so if there's some sob story or ultimatum you want to run by me to reconsider my position with you people..." Looks around at the unsure soldiers, most of them still armed. He faces Aoi.

" Now would be just about the perfect time."

"I give you back Caess, and you walk away. That's it. No fighting. I have nothing against you. Orders were orders, I merely did as instructed. Now do you want her back or not?"

"Heh. A straightforward attitude, it's almost refreshing. Aoi, was it? I accept your terms, on one simple condition; tell me what happened to the last person to come after your precious weapon, or servant, whatever you like to call the elementals you enslave?"

"The day I defeated you, the one who was with you went on a strike against us. I forsaw and warned White of him, and she sent the Avatars to confront him. He engaged, and as a result all seven converged on him and struck him down. He was hardly alive when we found him. White ordered me to spare him, and so I restored his body. He is due to be released soon. Provided his good behavior is maintained for the duration of his stay. That is all."

"Ah. So he's alive. And vacationing in what was going to be his burial site, a wise choice. I'm guessing speaking with him would be out of the question?

"Quite out of the question. My orders do not override White's. If she decides to end your life, I may not object. No detours. Caess, or nothing."

Kalin raises his hands in mock defeat. " Hey, it's fine. I'm really only asking to be nice. That guy got himself into whatever he's involved in, and I'm not exactly his friend or anything, so...Let's get going."

Aoi raises her arm to one side, and a massive stairway of ice forms off the side of the long walkway. "Follow me." She starts walking down the stairs, and the ice around his feet melts.

Kalin follows after the Slayer, at first wary of where she may be leading him, but soon deciding to trust that honor existed even among these individuals.

Aoi walks down to a section of the fortress just barely level with the sea, where the ocean occasionally rises up an inch about their feet, and sometimes an inch below the walks of the lower section. She seems to be walking in an easterly direction.

"So, you mind telling me why you did it?" Kalin asked, attempting to break the silence.

"What do you mean, 'why did I do it?' Please be a bit more specific. You could be asking me why did I go fishing one year, or went canoeing."

"And here I thought you were all knowing...I was asking why-" Kalin stopped in his tracks, a single finger outstreched towards Aoi. "Y-you just made a sarcastic remark..."

"...Please. Do you mean 'why did I attack you and prevent you from obtaining Dimrune and steal back Caess'? Or do you mean, 'Why are you helping me take back Caess?"

"I'm not letting that go. You give me the feeling that you're the resident 'Ice Queen' around here, so I'm sure I'm not the only person who would be shocked to find you have, well a personality. But, to answer your question....or my question, an answer to both would be best. Considering how the two events are so closely tied together.

"Firstly I like peace and quiet. My mannerism reflects that. And to answer your question, did I not say that I attacked you under orders from White? I have a debt to Phoenix, and I will not disobey them, regardless of my passions about a subject. Secondly it is like I said, I don't like fighting. I felt the most peaceful way without having to see someone die for no reason again was to resolve it with what you wanted. Caess. So I did. Do you have a problem with me?"

"Well, I'll be honest, I did. However, If we don't have to fight, then I can be my laid back self. So, to answer your question, no. In fact, you actually remind me of me..."

She walks up to a tower's bottom section and opens a small door. She indicates for him to go in.

"Aw, and here is the end of our little walk, I take it? And I was having so much fun, too. Good day to you, Ice Queen." Kalin says, whispering the last part to himself as he stepped through the doorway.

She moves ahead of him in a flurry of snow, and keeps walking to a pedestal with the blue crystal of Caess. As she walks up and pulls off the mind control device, she says, "Hey... it's time to wake up.... mother."

"I'm...sorry, did you just say what I think you said?"

"Yes. I did. Caess is my mother." She says as the blue crystal begins glowing softly, gradually taking the form of Caess, only a much smaller version to fit inside the room.

"Kalin? What are you doing here? ...You freed me, Aoi?"

Aoi bows her head slightly. "Yes...as an arrangement to avoid fighting him."

"I see."

"Okay, I feel as if I'm missing a little bit of information here. Can one of you explain?"

"Caess is my birth mother. My father was a shapeshifter. The majority of my powers come from my mother, and the other half... ...they come from Ice Slayer, though I already had heightened potential for water and ice powers because of my heritage. I am part Endlos, part Shapeshifter. ...Also part elemental, if you really want to think of it that way. ...I thought the simple statement of 'Caess is my mother' would suffice for you."

"So it wasn't a fluke before, You speak fluent smartass...I understood that much. What confuses me is why you would hand your mother over to these people as a slave. What, was the nursing home too expensive!?

Caess closes her eyes, while Aoi gets a rare sad look. "...It would be better if I explained upstairs. ....Follow me." Aoi begins to walk up the side stairs to the upper floors, and Caess follows, at the top of the stairs she turns towards Kalin. "Please follow."

Kalin teleports to the top of the stairs, interested to have his questions answered.

Aoi and Caess are seated in a living room. Aoi sighs. "...You asked... ...and I will tell you. When I was a little girl, White found my family. She saw my potential as the Ice Slayer, so she demanded I join her and be trained. ...We declined. White urged us to reconsider, and when we refused, she killed my father, right before my eyes. ...She told me that if I did not obey her wishes, she would force me to kill my mother. ...I had no choice. ...I had to obey. I must... ...I must always obey..."

She bows her head. "When White learns of this, she will force me to kill her should we meet again. ...That is the debt I must endure for all my life...."

Kalin stares at Aoi, apparently seeing her in another light. "So you serve out of fear, rather than loyalty?"

"If one needs a dumbed down version of that previous statement... ..yes."

"And this is...okay with you? Leading a life another has forced you to live, all the while regretting the monster you're sure to become?" Kalin said, his fists clenching instinctively.

"...No. ...It's not. ...But I can't do anything about it. ...White is too strong. ...She knows too much for me to dare escape. ...My punishment alone for helping you will be severe."

"Why can't you do something about it? Because she's stronger? Well, I've got news for you, There will always be someone stronger!!!" Kalin yelled, his eyes glowing red, and his body began to emit small streams of fire. " So that's it for you,huh? A near eternity being someone else's foot stool because you wouldn't fight for what mattered to you. "Heh, it's funny. When you told me you'd rather not fight, I thought it was a sign of confidence; I respected you for it. But now? Now I see you were just being a scared child."

Kalin shifts forward and, without warning, Aoi is lifted slightly off the ground be her shirt. " Listen to me! If you want something, and there is something in your way, then you freaking bust right through it! If you cower in fear, you'll never get anything. But at least if you fight, even if you die, you can be proud knowing that you might have achieved something!" He lets go of Aoi, letting her fall back into the couch. He then turned, opened a gate, and released a large stream of fire into it. when he finished, the ground beneath him was slightly charred." I...I'm sorry." Kalin said as he closed the gates, taking a deep breath as he returned to face the two Endlos.

Aoi buries her head in her hands and begins crying. Caess has a sad expression, but doesn't seem to do anything about it. Suddenly, above them, the sounds of a door being kicked in shatter the silent tension.

Aoi stops dead. "....She knows.... ...she sent the Drakenguard..."

"Well, then. I guess that means we should be going..." Kalin says as he opens another gate.

Aoi looks up at him. "......We....?" Aoi says confused, while Caess walks over to Kalin's side.

"Yes...I intend to take the couch, as well. I mean 'we' as in us." Kalin said motioning his hand to indicate everyone in the room. He put his hand out towards Aoi. "So, are you coming? Or will you bend over, and wait for someone else to decide your fate again?"

The roof explodes, and the motion causes Aoi to get knocked forward and grab his hand.

Caess smiles. "I think that will work as an answer."

"Indeed!" Kalin said, dragging the Ice Slayer behind him as he enters the twilight gate. Immediately after Caess is through as well, the gate closes.

White's Chambers

White steps out of the shower, sighing. She then pauses, staring at the soldier right outside who is now burning in embarrassment.

"You have approximately five seconds to tell me why I shouldn't flood this area with irradiation that will put the event known as Hiroshima and Nagasaki to shame, and kill you."

"A stranger has come and invaded the fortress, and took Caess and Aoi, my lady! Forgive my intrusion, I-" White rips his head off his shoulders in rage.

"''I'm going to introduce some asses to HELL!!!" ''She roars.

Aggravation
Drake notices some servants entering and exiting White's chambers, carrying various clean up supplies and one even appears to be carrying a body back into the area.

"...And I wonder how White isn't with somebody... I wonder what's happened." ''Drake walks towards one of the servants to ask. ''"Uhhh, what happened here?"

"Someone came into White's quarters and gave her news she really didn't want to hear. Also they were in her bathroom while she was showering... I hate it when the newbies do that..." The servant sighs.

''Drake looks towards White's room and sighs. ''"I have a deathwish anyways, wouldn't hurt to ask her herself..." ''Drake enters the room and sees White. ''"Uhh, hey... Can I ask what the hell happened? Like, seriously... You wouldn't kill someone for something like th-- Wrong choice of words..."

She looks at him with slight irritation, and he notices she is in pajamas, a look that pretty much breaks his usual image of her. Her hair is very wet, suggesting she just got out of the shower.

She turns and sits down on her large bed, sighing. Her tail and wings grow out, and then she looks up at Drake, her tail moving in a way that conveys a subtle anger.

"Someone kidnapped a member of the organization. Plus the damn fool intruded in my bathroom, signed his own death warrant by staring."

Drake takes a quick glance at White before muttering under his breath, unable for her to hear it... "Not much to look at but whatever..." ''Drake looks around then speaks up. ''"A member? Who? Because if it's Torrent, then it's a God's send, bastard doesn't know what fun is..."

"Aoi. The individual took her and Caess. We have no information on the incident as of yet. All we know was the being was an aetherborn/netherborn."

He finds himself on the ground with White pinning him with a single foot, her nails turning into sharp claws which dig into his skin. "And whatever it is you muttered, you might want to make sure that it is something you won't regret saying out loud."

''Drake's eyes widen, with a slight shocked expression on his face. ''"Aoi? Really? Wow... That's unexpected..." ''Drake then looks at White and has a smirk to his face. ''"You said it yourself, I'm 'expendable' so yeah... I said you ain't much to look at, heh... So if you're gonna kill me, make sure it's a clean death, I pity the servants..." Drake's eye colour has changed to a darker tinge of black.

Her foot suddenly begins to get bigger, but then he realizes her whole body is changing, until a massive white dragon replaces her, the single foot completely covering all but his head, her claws as big as his arms.

"I have a better idea." Her voice booms. "How about I give you a humiliating death by sitting on you until you die of suffocation?"

"Hmph... You're really gonna kill me when you got a missing member and deal with Valric and Jibaku all resting on your shoulders? Sort your priorities out..." ''Drake transforms into a puddle of flames which move across the floor out of White's reach, they reform back into Drake who blankly looks at White, almost judging her. But he just sighs and turns to walk out of the room, placing his hands in his pockets. ''

The two guards dressed in heavy white armor at the entrance block him with their spears, and the door closes. "You were not dismissed." The guards intone.

White changes into her normal form and motions for him to come back. "I wasn't done talking to you, Drake Ryunexo. If I was going to kill you, it would have happened. Get over here."

''Drake softly growls before turning around and walking towards White, obviously with a annoyed expression on his face. ''"What is it now?"

"And I was thinking of giving you a gift... you are far too hateful towards authority. I would think a mercenary would respect his boss a bit more." She smirks, a humored expression in her eyes.

"Our information was.... off. We have two more days. Usually Aoi's information would be more solid, but for some reason it was off. While I would be assigning every dog under the sun to find her, I've got a more practical solution. Let's just say... no matter if it's Fantasy, Earth, or Echo.... we will know when they turn up again. To that end Drake, we've got ourselves a case where we have no missions planned, so in that case, consider the next two days free." She has a light smile.

"You don't like me, do you, Drake?"

''Drake smirks. ''"Oh, I respect authority... Only if they deserve it though, also, mercenaries don't respect their bosses that much, they're in it for the prize and nothing else. But that doesn't mean that I respect you, I just have next to no ways of showing it, that's all..." ''Suddenly, there's a glint in his eyes when White mentions the gift. ''"A gift, for me? Oh you shouldn't have... But I doubt you'll hand it over anyways, so I'll be on my way now..." ''He turns and glares at the guards. ''"If they moved their asses away from the damn door."

"Don't even bother..." The guards intone.

White smirks and grabs his hand, seemingly examining it. She mutters what he hears as mental measurements and calculations. After a moment she looks up at Drake. "What is your favorite style of weapon?"

"Simple, the ninto. A straight, sharp and slick blade with a very strong and sturdy hilt, able of breaking spines with a flick of the wrist..." Drake opens his HSC and brings out the ninto that he uses, although it's a bit tarnished and battleworn... "Ugh, lacks the durability though..."

"I see. Well then, come with me." From the ceiling, a platform lowers, revealing many countless levels above them, and she steps onto it.

''Drake also steps on and takes a second to look above him. ''"Jesus... How big is this room? Also, where are you taking me?"

"The Slayer Foundry." The plateform descends, and several levels go by with various things such as living quarters for servants, and he swears one level is called 'Theater'.

"The Slayer Foundry? I'm guessing that's where they make the weapons... Also, why is one of the levels called Theater?"

"Because it's a movie theater."

Drake just says nothing and continues to look at the levels, occasionally glancing at White before looking back at the levels.

They finally come to a level that is much hotter than the others, where various elemental smiths stand at attention. "Yes, White? What would you have us do?"

White smirks. "Make us a Ninto Elementium sword."

The smiths bow, and begin their work, heating a strange metal ore in a massive furnace.

''Drake looks at White, giving a confused expression. ''"You're giving me a new blade? Honestly, I'm puzzled... Wait... Are you getting me a Slayer?!" Drake looks back at the furnace.

"Yes, I am."

''Drake chuckles childishly and a small smile appears on his face, but he still retains the puzzled look. ''"...No way, no fucking way... You're kidding, right?"

"I rarely ever kid. This is not one of those times."

"Oh... Ok then, thanks. So why are you doing this for me?"

"No particular reason. Better to be well equipped than not. A Slayer cannot break, unless the enchantments and the power source is destroyed or removed. Nothing short of a god could hope to begin to understand how the enchantments and seals of such a blade works. And Elementium itself is some of the most durable metals fabricated by mortal hands. A fitting weapon to square off against an enemy such as gods."

''Drake chuckles to himself. ''"A weapon fit enough to kill deities... Yeah, sounds perfect... So, how is this gonna be powered? Because a Slayer needs an element and power source... So what do you have in mind?"

"The power source we will deal with later. As for the element, what do you think suites you best?"

''Drake creates a fireball, to White's surprise. Black tribal patterns emerge on the fireball, animating itself as they were one with the fire and not a marking. ''"I dunno what you could call this... Corrupted flames? I'll leave the naming to you I guess."

Drake notices eight elementals, one of each element as they begin infusing a molten bar of steel with elemental energy, the metal crackles with violent energy as this happens, until it takes a weird multicolored look, shimmering with multiple colors. The eight begin careful construction of a blade, they work with both great speed, and great precision, occasionally muttering some words of magic. They eventually douse the shaped sword in ice water, which creates a massive blast of steam which bellows throughout the room, and Drake sees them add the finishing touches, before one of them approaches Drake with the finished blade, which still crackles with the same vibrant multicolored light.

"What material would you like the sheath?" It asks.

''Drake examines the sword before making a choice. ''"White carbon fiber infused with ivory... Yeah, why not, might as well make the sheath look at good as the blade itself."

White looks at the smith, and he nods silently, before departing to a backroom for a few minutes, eventually he emerges with the sheathed sword in a well decorated white carbon fiber and ivory sheath. He hands it to White, who quickly examines it for a moment, then begins to mutter some lines of some language Drake doesn't catch. After a moment, she unsheathes it, looking it over for a moment, before suddenly stabbing Drake in the chest.

Just as he is about to respond in anger, she holds up a hand. "Do you actually feel any pain? No. Be quiet."

Drake can suddenly feel a pulling sensation as the blade seems to be pulling something out of him and into it.

"I guess that's for the comment I made... Wait... Something isn't right." ''Drake closes his eyes and senses his soul and mind, realising it soon and smirking. ''"Heh, I wonder if he likes the blade..."

The blade suddenly begins to take a red cast, with black tribal markings similar to that of the fire Drake had produced, with similar coloration applied to the hilt. Drake can feel Corruption's anger inside the blade, but he is unable to affect Drake's mind, while Drake feels all the power he has available.

White eventually pulls the blade out, and as it does, the wound heals completely of its own accord, and the blood simply burns off the blade. White then sheathes the blade and hands the hilt to Drake.

"Would you like to name the sword?"

"Yes, of course..." ''Drake stays quiet for a while before gaining an evil smirk. ''"It shall be called Kurai, seems fitting enough, don't you think?"

"That it does. Shall we go up?"

''Drake grabs the Kurai and fits the sheathe onto the right side of his trousers, looking at the impressive blade before sheathing it in. ''"Go up? Oh, right, yeah."

White steps onto the platform, as does Drake, and they begin their ascent up.

She seems to be suddenly surprised, but then the surprise turns into a sort of smile. ''So he's in Midnation.... looks like Kado's learned a few new tricks.... how interesting.''

"Kado's here? How do you know?" Drake himself has a slightly shocked expression himself, but not to the extent of White's.

She looks back at Drake. "....I have my resources. He's in a place called Midnation, traveling. As to how he got to Fantasy on his own, that escapes me."

"Midnation? Hmm, you don't think that he's somehow met Daikeim..." ''Drake quickly shakes his head, preferring to not think about it. ''"So, where are we heading now?"

White smirks. "First off, lunch. Secondly, I must inform the organization of the day's events. The rest we'll get to at a later time." A twinkle of humor illuminates her eyes. "And hands off my kitchen."

''Drake laughs, a cheerful yet mischievous tone in his voice. ''"I can't guarantee it, it was a hell of a lot of last time... Besides, I'll probably be admiring this beauty of a blade."

"Do whatever you like until lunch. But don't be late." She walks off as the platform stops, the guards are no longer blocking the door.

"Alright, thanks for the Slayer!" ''Drake rushes off in a moments notice, sprinting off to the courtyard, practicing with his blade. After a while, he gets bored and calls out a name. ''"Hey Noriko! You around!?"

A light sensation becomes apparent on his head, as though something small was sitting on his head or something.

''Drake picks up the small fairy and dangles her infront of his face. ''"Well, hey there Noriko, I got some news. Knowing you, you'd like to hear it?"

"Well sure, put me down for starters then we can see!!" She puffs her cheeks in light annoyance, wearing a very simple dress in comparison to her usual clothing, though he imagines its harder to tailor for smaller people.

"Ok ok..." ''Drake lets go of Noriko while he slightly chuckles. ''"Aoi got 'kidnapped' and is now missing from Yosai."

"Oh she was? Huh, I guess that's why White threw a big temper tantrum. You know, how does one even do that kind of thing? I mean Aoi can see the future, so that couldn't possibly ever happen...."

''Drake has a small smile. ''"Because she wanted to leave... Much like you or me, she had an opportunity and took it. I'm glad she got out, because she doesn't have to be a part of this anymore... For once, I envy her."

"''Oooh? How do you know what Aoi wanted?" ''She eyes Drake's sword. "Is that a Slayer, Drake?"

"The same night I got out of the tube, I finally managed to talk to Aoi... I even apologised to her about me being a dick to her, she didn't deserve having insults thrown at her... Oh?" ''Drake gives Noriko a better look at the Slayer and the sheath. ''"Yeah, White made it for me... Sorta, but still, pretty cool, I named it Kuria."

"''Nice name. So ah, whatcha want to do?" ''Torrent walks by, and as soon as he sees the two, they notice his pace increases significantly until he goes out of sight.

"Ok? See you later buzzkill... Anyways, I'm free to screw around for two days, and I was gonna ask if you wanna come along. But first White's preparing us lunch, which should be ready whenever..." ''Drake sheaths Kuria and looks around. ''"But yeah, if you want to come along, just say."

She lands on his shoulder, and he feels a slight electric jolt as she does so. "Sure! But uh, where exactly do you plan to go for two days? ...Also I get the feeling White's going to have her revenge somehow for that tofu in the face fiasco."

"Honestly, no idea... We could go around Earth and cause some mischief, and technically... I only made the food, she was the tired one, and everyone laughed... Until they had their food. If you have an idea on what to do and where to go, I'd love to hear it."

"Huh... now that you mention it, there is this place on Earth with this cool thunderstorm that's called the Catatumbo Lightning, I hear it's pretty cool cause it happens pretty often, I think that might be cool. Any ideas?"

''Drake smirks, then suddenly he gets a glint in his eye. ''"Yeah, we'll do that... But before we go, we're gonna give Torrent a 'present'. I mean, you don't want him to forget us, do we?" He chuckles.

"Present?"

''Drake opens his HSC and pulls out a couple of spraycans, all tinted a vibrant pink. ''"A little redecoration of his room... Wouldn't hurt."

Noriko giggles. "Well someone's going to have a gravestone very soon! Haha, ah well I could use some chaos around here."

"Meh, I called White flat chested, I'll survive anything! So, when should we do it? Now or after lunch..." Drake looks at Torrent's tower.

"I want as much of a headstart as possible so after lunch probably. I assume though White's gonna address us about the issue, so we shouldn't get going until after she summons us to a meeting. Uggh.... I hate meetings. Just what is that magic box thing of yours anyway?"

"Oh, this?" ''Drake materialises the HSC infront of himself, watching it hover in place. ''"This is a holographic storage cube, prototype stuff during the war... It sorta works like a computer." ''Drake imitates the action of opening a map, with the HSC turning into a screen, showing a lot of random items Drake has acquired from his travels. ''"Any item that is placed into this screen is digitized into data and is stored onto the cube, whenever I need something. It materialises into my hand, which is handy for stuff like my spellbook and other weapons."

"''Oh that's pretty cool. I assume it doesn't work on people though, that would kinda be interesting. ....Arrggghh, I hate dresses..." ''Noriko complains, looking at her simple dress in slight disgust. "I wish someone would be a little more inventive with the damn clothes we get to wear... I swear Drake, fairy tailors have no sense."

''Drake chuckles. ''"For one who doesn't care when people can see her pants, you care a lot about fashion don't you? And I've never tried storing a living thing inside of the HSC before... That would be interesting." ''He glances at Noriko's clothing and laughs. ''"You look like a three year old... I guess before we go see the Catatumbo Lightning, we'll find a fairy tailor and get you a new outfit, how about that?"

"Sure thing, Merc. I may be projecting here, but from what I've heard, you don't seem to like Kado that much."

"I'm more or less indifferent to him, we didn't even have a fight... Although it almost did happen thanks to Corruption... But yeah, I don't like him yet I don't dislike him, so I'm just indifferent really. Dunno where you got that idea from."

"Oh, White just figured you had a beef with him or something I guess."

"Haha, of course it's white to assume things... Typical of her."

Noriko looks over towards the main building. "''Be back in a second...." ''She zooms off in the direction of her tower.

"Uhhh... Ok, see you in a second?" ''Drake closes the HSC and unsheathes Kurai and talks to it. ''"So, how does it feel to be inside that?" ''A dark 'corroded' voice hisses, causing the black tribal marks to seemingly move. ''

"How DARE you! Seal me away inside this blade, once I get out, you'll pay! I cannot believe I'm in this situation..."

"Oh quick complaining, just be glad White didn't eradicate you... Besides, I control you now, and not the other way around." ''Before the blade can hiss again, he sheathes Kurai and chuckles lightly. ''

Noriko appears again, full form and usual clothing. "Sorry, had to go and change form, back now."

"Hey there Noriko, again... Hmmm, y'know." ''Drake chuckles. ''"If you're quite a hit with men, then have you dated anyone?"

"No. I like to keep people at a distance, and understand who they are, and where their brains are. Mostly I find most of them just have their brains between their legs, if you know what I mean. Torrent's fun to mess with, but I can tell at a glance he doesn't have an interest. At all. Like a stone wall, though I'd suspect he has a crack in there for his dead family, but nothing else."

''Drake laughs. ''"So it's true, all you do is tease and mess with men... Nice to know I thought it was a good idea to go to Echo with you. And besides, most of the Phoenix members are a stone wall... Like, seriously-- Oh! We should also give Toma a goodbye prank too."

Noriko tilts her head. "It's true I tease and mess with people, but that's my way of understanding them. You at least have more emotion that a pinball machine." She looks towards the main building. "I imagine lunch is ready." She looks over at Drake and gives him a playful smile. "Soooooo.... can I sit next to you?" She asks with her classic impish grin.

"I don't see why not, go ahead." ''Drake looks towards the main building and starts walking towards it. ''"Hmm, I wonder if White has cooked me something I'll like..."

Noriko shudders. "White is meaaaaan.... I just know she has something planned for us.... I know it...."

"It'll be hilarious anyways, now c'mon!" ''Drake grabs hold of Noriko's wrist and sprints towards the building, sweeping Noriko off her feet by accident. In a matter of seconds, Drake reaches the building and comes to a complete halt. Causing Noriko's hair to seem like she just got out of bed, Drake sees this and giggles before bursting out laughing.''

She silently grabs both of his cheeks and leans in, looking as though she is about to kiss him, when suddenly a violent jolt of electricity runs through his head, causing each one of his hairs to stand up on end, and she pulls away and laughs. "Look who's talking, Einstein!"

''Drake chuckles, running his hands through his now spiky hair to morph it back to normal. "I'll get you for that someday." He softly punches Noriko's arm before looking at the doors infront of the two. ''"Ladies first."

When she opens the doors, she gasps. "Noooooooooooooooooo waaaaayyyy....."

''Drake glances at Noriko before looking at what Noriko is seeing. ''"What are you 'noo way'ing about-- Uuuh?"

White stands at the end of the dining table, which is covered with various foods, such as various meats, soups, and fruits, and there's even a section of deserts laid out. She has a rather pleasant smile on her face.

"Welcome to lunch."

Noriko blinks. "Caaaaaakkkeeee..... ...wait why is she making all of this food?"

''Drake jaw drops, unable to comprehend the amount of food laid out. Practically drooling, he notices the cake as well. ''"...Must... Eat... Cake... Before... Others..." ''He shakes his head before responding, looking at White. ''"Wait, yeah... Why did you make all of this?"

"Because I thought I would treat my faithful members to a lovely meal to start off their break." She smiles again.

Noriko looks at her for a moment. "It's the Perfect Smile... ...Either she's planning our deaths, or she genuinely is being.... ....nice." She says above a whisper in awe.

''Drake whispers back. ''"I think she's wants to get back at me calling her flat-chested... White and smiling don't mix well..." ''Drake goes over to the food, noticing some meat. His draconic fangs show and he takes a bite out of it. ''"...Doesn't taste like poison. Maybe White is genuinely nice today, as scary as the thought is."

Torrent sighs. "I would be dead if that was the case."

Noriko plops down next to him and also busily eats, Toma and White finally start to dig in as well, Torrent, Noriko and Drake being the most aggressive eaters at the table.

''Steak after steak, desert after desert, snack after snack. Drake manages to already eat a quarter of the feast, he takes a sigh of relief and takes a moment for the food to digest... Before eating like he hasn't had anything for a month. ''

After they finish, White smiles again. "I assume you enjoyed your meals?" She asks, Torrent responds with a grunt.

Toma smiles. "Excellent as always." Noriko thinks for a moment. "The cake was awesome!"

''Drake chuckles then smirks. ''"Ok, the food was great. But why are you smiling this much, you're rarely happy. So you might as well tell us..."

"It's always nice to make a meal for the family and seeing them appreciate it. Besides.... ....it's time for dish nomination. I elect Noriko and Drake."

All the other Phoenix members present agree eagerly. Noriko sighs. "Greeaaat....."

''Drake's smirk washes away and he angrily glares at White for a moment before sighing. ''"I hate you so much right now... C'mon Noriko, let's get cleaning..." ''Drake's opens the HSC and points to towards all the empty dishes, they all digitize into a small folder on the HSC. Drake puts it away and walks towards the kitchen.''

Noriko sighs. "Well, I think she got us good."

"Yep... She did..." ''As Drake wonders into the kitchen, he easily spots the sink and opens the HSC. Grabbing multiple stacks of dishes and placing them on one side of the counter, after all of the dishes are placed out he closes the HSC and looks at Noriko, while the sink water runs for a moment. ''"Do you think there's a reason I was given a Slayer?"

Noriko sighs. "If I knew, I would tell you. Perhaps it's a secret offer to stay with the organization. I wouldn't know. White does always have a means to her madness though, she's always adapting to situations before we're even aware they're going on ourselves. She rules very much by the moment, yet can easily, effortlessly adapt and make a new strategy before the enemy can figure out she's done it. Perhaps she has some reason Drake, but I wouldn't know why. Perhaps it's that little nasty thing inside your Slayer she wanted to keep in check?"

''Drake ponders on the thought. ''"Probably all of them reasons plus more, but ah well... As long as I can keep Kurai, I'll be happy." Drake turns off the taps and begins to clean the dishes, making sure they're spotless before he dries them. Staking them up like they were buildings to a city.

Noriko helps him dry, and when they finally finish, Noriko sighs.

"I hope we can get some good off time before the big event happens... ...hmmm.... ....I wonder if Aoi's going to be ok?"

"We got two days to kill, I'm sure we can find some fun stuff to do. And as for Aoi, she can handle herself, but I do agree, I hope she's ok."

''Everyone please proceed to the Address Hall. ''The voice of Azula rings in their heads.

"Oh great... I wonder what they want now." Drake sighs and wonders to the Address Hall with his hands in his pockets.

Noriko walks beside him, and they walk up a flight of stairs, and two guards wait at the door. "...Is he supposed to be with you?" The guards ask cautiously to Noriko.

"Ah don't worry about it. White won't mind." The guards reluctantly stand aside.

"Come on Drake, let's take our seats?" She grabs Drake's hand and guides him out to a balcony, where White, Torrent, and Toma are already seated. White looks at them for a moment, then sighs and waves her hand dismissively. Noriko seats him right next to her throne, and the one he ends up sitting on is one that has on its back inscribed, 'Darkness'.

''Drake looks at the others with a slight confused expression in his face and tone of his voice. ''"Umm, may I ask what we're doing here?"

Noriko leans over. "White is going to address the organization. We're here just for show more or less."

"Oh ok, that's easy enough..." ''Drake sits up straight and keeps quiet, seemingly intrigued for what White has to say. ''

White rises, and it's then that Drake notices the troops below, which to his rough calculations could easily be well over two million present. She looks over them for a moment.

"You have all done well these past few days, and we have dealt decisive blows to the enemy! While it is true that we have suffered great losses these past few days, in the end, it is they who crumble, and they who will beg for mercy. The Mythos have long been suppressed, and come only a few more days, a new era graced by the power of God will begin, in which the humans have learned their place and the Mythos finally command the respect we deserve!

Before that happens, I would like to reward you loyal followers of Phoenix with a two day's grace to rest and do as you wish. But be ready for the final confrontation, in which we demonstrate the true power of Phoenix! The False Ones shall be crushed, and the Desecrators and Sinners shall burn! Glory to the ever burning fire, in which all shall be reborn in pride and victory! Glory to Phoenix!"

Her words are met with the army's cheers.

"For some, there will be missions left to complete before they may partake in this grace period, but rest assured my believers, the Eight Slayers shall be rekindled soon enough! Our power shall never falter!" She bows, and the crowd cheers once more, and she waves her hands over the crowd, and slowly they begin to dismiss.

"Well, that was certainly impressive White." ''Drake takes a sigh of relief. ''"Finally, I get to get away from this place for the time being... So, are we to return after the grace is over?"

"That is correct. You must return after grace period, to fulfill your end of the bargain."

"Ok ok... Hmm." ''Drake's eyes shift over to Torrent's tower, he gets a little glint in his eye as he looks at Noriko and subtly tilts his head. Giving her the notion about the prank.''

She silently follows him out of the Address Hall. "I wonder how fast we can get away before Torrent notices," She whispers.

''Drake smirks as he enters his Aura Dragon form, now back to it's normal red colouring since Corruption is sealed away. He pulls out two pink spray cans and walks towards Torrent's tower. ''"As fast as lightning, and besides, I have a way of getting away without a hint of trouble..."

Noriko chuckles, before changing into her fairy form and grabbing a can, covered in that ball of electric yellow light again. "Let's do this!"

"Alrighty then..." ''Drake flies to the top of the tower and notices a door, hovering towards it, he manages to pry it open and slip into the tower. Holding the door open for the small yellow light to enter, Drake takes a second to look around.''

The room is all grey, with a single grey colored bed and a ton of bookshelves. On the top of one, a glass case with a strange knife catches his eye. But other than that, the room is really dull.

"Ok, we'll do a room each and meet in the middle, got it?" ''Drake shakes the can and starts spraying the room they're currently in, making sure to to paint the knife. ''"That blade seems way too important for-- Wait... Is that a rib?! Jesus that's unsettling..."

Noriko while blasting the area with pink giggles. "Yep that's 'the rib' alright. Long story short, Torrent used his own dead brother's ribs to kill the peeps who killed his family. Kicked their ass if I remember it right. He doesn't use it anymore though, the thing IS old.... ...and gross."

"Yeah, you can say that again... Anyways, this room is done, let's move on." ''Drake moves onto a different room and starts spraying every little thing. ''

Noriko joins him, merrily blasting everything in sight, even slyly aiming at Drake a few times in her mischievous glee.

''Drake chuckles and sprays the end of Noriko's hair, laughing afterwards. ''"Hmm, pink tips... Suits you."

They manage to spray the area, and break down into a spraying fight, after which, they quickly run out of pink and they begin to head out the way they came, and Torrent stands in the room, arms crossed.

"Oh... Uuum, hi?" ''Drake quickly tries to make excuses. ''"A ghost possessed us?" A forced 'innocent' smile appears on Drake's face as he nervously looks at Torrent.

Noriko suddenly whips out a pink can she had kept hidden and flies right up to Torrent's face and begins blasting his face with pink while rapidly orbiting him, giggling the whole time. She runs out, laughs and lands on Drake's shoulders.

"Ok now we can run."

"Yup, we hope you like it!" ''Drake laughs as he narrowly flies past Torrent, weaving and turning past the towers in an attempt to confuse Torrent. After a moment, Drake looks at Toma's tower and smirks, snatching the spray can from Noriko. ''"Might as well leave our mark." In the brief time Drake has, he sprays his signature all over Toma's tower before spotting Torrent and flies off again.

"''Great plan and all, but how do we make our get away?" ''Noriko asks.

''Drake stays silent for a moment, obviously thinking. ''"Hmm... I hope you have an idea how... Because I don't."

Noriko lets out a tiny sigh. "So where to then? Earth? Somewhere else on Fantasy?"

"Let's just explore Fantasy for the time being, but first we need to get rid of Pinky McFluffytins over there..."

"''I got this!" ''Noriko flies up to Torrent and begins annoyingly buzzing around his head, and he tries to angrily swat her, when she finally zaps him with a lightning bolt.

She flies back to Drake as Torrent begins falling. "That should give us.... oh about ten minutes to get some distance."

"Awesome... I owe you one someday. Hmm... Let's fly West." ''Drake flies up and turns towards West, and speeds towards that direction, looking back at Yosai. Drake smiles and takes a sigh of relief. ''"These two days have to be worthwhile..."

Assemble
As Drake flies closer to Yosai, he feels a presence enter his mind, Azula.

''I was just about to call you in. Noriko is also en route, so I guess I don't have to look for you two then. Based on new calculations, you're just in time. In a few hours, our targets are expected to appear. When we have all gathered, White will inform us of the plan. We will see you at the courtyard.''

"Ok... See you soon." ''Drake looks directly at the little blip in the distance over the waters, until Kuria's blade glows. ''"Worried Drake?" Drake hesitates to answer but then manages to speak."Sorta, I promised I'd be there to help them two, it would suck if I'm to die now..." ''The blade mockingly laughs. ''"Never thought you would be the type to care." ''Drake stays quiet before angrily sighing, speeding towards the floating fortress. ''"Just shut up Corruption."

Noriko appears next to him not long after the fortress becomes much more visible, laying on her back as she flies. "'Sup Drakey?" She says with a playful grin.

"Oh, hey Noriko, glad to see you caught up quickly." ''Drake instead smiles instead of his usual smirk or grin. ''"How are you then?"

"I'm fine. Though there were these weird seagulls that kept dropping raw fish- NO NOT THAT AGAIN!" She dodges a falling fish, then zaps the offending seagull, then regains her balance, and looks at a laughing Drake.

"Ah shut up."

"Haha, it's like they offering you like you're royalty!" ''Drake manages to control his laughter, and after a moment of quietness, Drake looks at Noriko and speaks in a more... Unique tone. ''"Hey Noriko, y'know what we're doing after this fight is over, right? ...Well, there's someone who wants to come along, she's worried that White will get her again, is it ok if she comes too?"

Noriko shrugs. "I don't see why not. " She looks over at the fortress. "Hmm, seems White's brought a few more out than usual."

''Drake flies closer to Noriko and hugs her for a brief moment before retaining him balance as he flies back into his original position. ''"Thanks." ''Drake then looks over to the fortress, seeing the CEs, Drake's eyes widen slightly. ''"Well shit Grandma Whitey, you're certainly packing heat, aren't you..." Drake begins to chuckles slightly.

Noriko looks down at them. "I wonder if she's bringing them out for use in the battle as well...?"

"Why would she haven them out otherwise? We are fighting two gods, so we'll need all the help we can get really... Not like we need them anyways, but I guess better safe than sorry."

Noriko lands to the side of Toma, who along side Torrent and Azula stand in a line facing White, the CE's are behind them, Silent Angel included.

''Drake lands and exits his Aura Dragon form, looking behind him to examine all of the CE's. He quietly sighs and focus on White muttering under his breath. ''"So nearly free... Let's just get this fight over with."

Her dragon eyes coldly look at him. "It is good that you are all here. Our plan is to wait for the resistance of Earth to begin to falter, then Phoenix will unleash its attack in waves, I shall go alone and provide for the initial assault. The rest of the major members, you come in after my signal. Chaos Engines are to wait in reserve." She looks at Drake.

"You are permitted to join in battle along with the main members or wait to be called on alongside the CE's. Your choice."

''Drake looks at the remaining members of Phoenix then the CE's, he glances at White and shakes his head. ''"I'll go whenever..."

"Very well then. Go with whoever you please. Out of curiosity, what were you two doing?"

''Drake gives White a puzzled look. ''"Excuse me? You two? Who are you talking about?"

"You know what I'm talking about. You. And Noriko. Off for a romantic dinner for two? Shared a kiss perhaps?" She has a faint smile at that last one.

Torrent and Toma laugh.

''Drake steps forwards without saying a word, unsheathing Kuria and tightening his grip on the hilt as he glares at White. ''"Is that so? Heh, then I could say the same about you and Kado? Afterall, his room was surprisingly tidy after he left seven years ago, so what's up with that Whitey? Missing your masked man, or is there something I'm just not getting..."

He barely has time to dodge as she breathes pure white flames at him, the flames hotter than any fire he had ever encountered, in fact a burn forms on his arm, even though the flames are no where close.

''Drake places a hand on his arm and glances at White, as his hand glows, trying to heal himself. ''"Oh, did I strike a nerve? Next time White, watch your mouth, because trust me. There's more to say, but for once, I'm gonna shut up. Watching you snap would be funny, but it wouldn't make a good impression for 'the strongest incarnation of Phoenix', wouldn't it?" Drake sheathes Kuria and takes a step back.

He feels a massive pain in his chest as she suddenly kicks him into a tower. "Never. Ever. Say that again. Do you hear me? I will not have you insult my family line again." She walks off silently.

"You all are to remain within the boundaries of the fortress at all times, until my order is given! No exceptions!" She yells as she walks out of sight.

''Lodging himself out of the tower, a small treacle of blood flows out of Drake's mouth as he growls. ''"Fucking... Bitch... Honestly, I will rip out her damn throat." ''Drake angrily sighs and enters his Half Dragon form and flies up to a flat roof and lands hard enough to cause cracks, he looks at the burn on his arm and growls once more. ''"Great..."

Noriko lands next to him, and inspects the burn, before placing her hand on his head, and he can feel a strong tingling running through his body.

"Noriko, what are you doing... I'm not exactly the safest person to be standing next to right now, you know that, right?"

"Hardwiring your brain to fall in love with me and to make you serve me." She pauses long enough to see his reaction start, before she smiles. "I'm telling your cells to heal themselves over ten times faster than normal. Watch."

He feels a sharp burning as though someone poured peroxide on his arm, and the burn begins to heal at an astonishing rate until it disappears. He also feels the damage done to his chest heal, though more slowly.

"And now for the mind modification!" She giggles, then playfully dodges as he swipes at her. "I'm kidding!" She laughs.

"Hmph... Thanks once again, it hurt like hell... But thanks, remind me not to piss you off." ''Drake smiles and chuckles before sitting down and yawning, looking up at the sky and the clouds, and for once. Noriko sees a more quiet and peaceful side of Drake, no brash comments, no jokes after what he said, just a small smile and a delicate look to himself despite what just happened. After a couple of moments, he finally speaks in a surprisingly soft tone, something that's near unnatural for Drake. ''"I needed that off my chest, it was worth the pain, I don't care what anyone thinks, but sooner or later. Reality is gonna hit White and it's gonna hit hard for her to realise soon enough."

"Do you think White is out of touch with reality?" Noriko smiles a bit. "You're right, there is something you don't see. I can understand why you don't see it yet. Were you paying attention to what she said, Drake?"

"Not really, most of what White usually says just goes over my head. But then again, I'm not one to listen to 'authority'." ''Drake chuckles. ''"Ok Noriko the all knowing, what am I not seeing here?"

Noriko sighs. "Well, I'll not beat around bushes. White and Hadari, the founders of the organization, they were both lovers, do you remember that?"

"I heard things here and there, like a fight and death and Slayers... But yes, I remember being told that."

"Well, they weren't just any lovers. Kado is the descendant of Hadari. White is the descendant of White I. If Hadari and White had children, and Kado and our White are descended from them, what does that tell you?"

"...Kado and White are brother and sister, or at least related closely. So that why White gets mad or annoyed when someone comments on the two, but that doesn't seem to make them two close per say. I'm sure I heard that Phoenix went after Kado for having a choice to leave, although... Nevermind"

"There you go,I knew you had a spark of a brain in there somewhere!" She playfully teases. "Anyway, White has been spending more time below than usual. She's been talking with Azula a lot lately as well. I think White's getting ready to turn it on, in any case."

"It? What do you mean by it?"

"''Charging phase completed." ''A artificial voice rings in the air.

Noriko blinks. "It's done charging. It's White's ace in the hole, she's going to be giving a.... demonstration... soon." She smiles. "I can't tell you until you see it for yourself."

''Drake smiles and lightly pinches Noriko's cheek, chuckling while doing so. ''"Awww, please tell me. I can't be bothered to wait!"

There is a slight rumbling, and a tear in the sky starts to appear over Yosai Fortress.

"...Nevermind, I guess she's giving the demonstration now." ''Drake stands up and looks at the tear, his eyes widen. ''"Hooooly shit... Are they planning to use that against Jibaku and Valeric?!"

The tear suddenly completely rips open, revealing a massive translucent structure on the other side of what seems to be a rift in reality itself, composed of many countless spinning rings and a single long cannon shaft. He cannot tell how big the structure is, but when compared to objects around it, including a few blue stars, he realizes it has to be absolutely gargantuan in size. As he stares at it, eight large towers erupt from around Yosai, and he can sense massive energy stored in them, what looks like energy channeling devices on the tops of them.

"That is the plan.... .....White calls it the Spear of God. No one knows who designed the thing, but it's scary. Azula is the only CE that can fully charge it. In order to power it this time, she had to sacrifice fifty CE's just to get it to fifty percent, the minimum power level needed to possibly destroy Jibaku and Valeric."

"That was fifty percent!? That's strong enough to destroy a planet, then I wonder what one hundred percent would be like... The Spear of God, yeah sounds scary enough. I'm glad we're getting the fuck out of here after the battle."

Noriko takes his hair and roughs it up. "Yeah. I want to get out while I still can. Besides, I'm rather bored of staying here. It's time I flew from the nest."

''Drake chuckles as he does runs his hand through her hair and ruffles it up, before sitting back down and opening his HSC and turning it into a screen. He plucks an item how and it slowly materializes into Drake's hands, to Noriko's surprise it's a guitar, he starts to play but is completely opposite to his attitude. Since what he plays seem to be more tame and peaceful. He smiles. ''"I saw this back in Upnation and bought it, I used to play back on Cyanic. I'm a bit rusty but I was hoping you could teach me, after all you did get me back into music."

She smiles. "I'd be glad to teach you. Looks like a nice one."

"The amount of times I've said thanks to you today keeps on rising and rising, thanks. And let's just hope this is durable enough for our travels, mind you I won't join any bands, this'll just to pass the time... So what do we do now? Because I just wanna relax until the fight begins..." The guitar digitizes into the HSC as Drake puts it away and lies down on his back looking up to the sky once more.

Noriko lays down next to Drake, laying her head down on her arms. "I guess we just wait for something to happen. Or make something happen."

''Drake quietly laughs. ''"If you have an idea on what to do then I'm all ears. I would say prank some people, but they need to be at the top of their game, so we can't really do anything that lowers their chances... So I have no clue what to do."

Noriko peeks over the roof at Silent Angel. "Hmmmm....."

''Drake closes his eyes and speaks in a relaxed tone. ''"What's going on in that brain of yours?"

A seagull dives at her and she grabs it, and looks down at it menacingly. "Oooooh sir, you are in so much trouble.... now...." She taps its head, an electric current zapping it, she then places a very large rock in the bird's feet, and she swats it, and it goes flying straight over Silent Angel, and then proceeds to drop it on his head, and Silent Angel angrily looks up at the bird, but then continues reading a book he had pulled out. The bird flies back to Noriko, and looks at her expectantly. Noriko smiles. "Oh how fun it is to have my own pet bird...."

''Drake opens one of his eyes and glances at the bird, chuckling. ''"I told you, so are you gonna name it?"

"Ehh, not gonna keep it. Want a turn?"

"Sure, why not?" ''Drake scuttles over to the bird and places a large rock in it's feet. He takes a look down at Silent Angel and points to his book.'' "Hit his head then snatch his book." ''Drake giggles. ''

The bird flies down again, and merrily drops the rock on Silent Angel's head, who angrily looks up again, with a scowl on his face this time. The bird swoops down and snatches the book, but makes the mistake of heading straight at Drake and Noriko, and Silent Angel follows it with his eyes and sees them, and a strange purple cloud comes from his feet and chases after the bird, which panics and drops the book on the roof.

"Stupid bird... Hmm, well at least we have the book... But I have a feeling we got more pressing matters." ''Drake looks at Silent Angel with a childish yet slightly worried smile on his face, regardless, he grabs the book and opens it. ''

It appears to be some sort of graphic novel, which Silent Angel quickly swipes back with an irritated look. "Very funny." He says shortly, then flies back down.

Drake looks up a bit, and notices the white dragon he had fought against when he first came here roosting on top of a high tower. Looking around, he sees the others all on their own towers, and then he notices one of the towers lacks an occupant.

"Hmm... That must of been Kado's Warlord... Wait, I'm counting seven, but Hiroshi is dead and Aoi escaped... How is this possible then?" ''Drake glances at the others and growls at them. ''"...I guess I'm lucky I'm not against them this time."

Noriko laughs. "Well, the truth is as long as a Slayer keeps them sealed, their avatar remains, regardless of wielder. Even though we have three members gone, those three remain because the Slayer is still empowered. The one within Kado's sword, the Goddess Kukyo, was released from her seal some time ago. I don't know how Kado's sword is powered now."

She looks at the eagle of pure lightning. "Do you know anything about them?"

"...They hit hard, really really fucking hard. Then again, if they're Gods, then what am I expecting? But now that I think about it, not really. So am I gonna bet getting another history lesson from teacher Noriko?" ''Drake laughs. ''

Noriko shrugs. "More like speculation. Few people actually know much about the Eight. We don't really know anything about what they really are, or where they come from. We control their power, but they're very defiant about us probing their minds. We basically know their names, but we don't have any actual facts about them. Just a bunch of myths, and no real basis. I can tell you some of the stories, if you wanted."

''Drake tilts his head slightly before smiling childishly and nodding. ''"Sure, I don't mind. We need something to pass the time anyways."

"Well, first off, we know their names, so I'll start with that. The first of them, Kukyo, the Dark Demon of the Void, is said to be the mother of the seven. She has always been depicted to have arrived on Echo first. The second, Kagayaki, is the Ethereal White Dragon of Light. He's over there." She points to the white dragon, which seems to have shifted its gaze towards them at the mention of its name.

''Drake looks at Kagayaki and growls once more, before looking back at Noriko. ''"I guess you could of said we've met before, but continue..."

"There is also the third, Hyōdo, the Eternal Titan of Earth, the fourth, Mikadzukikei, the Empress Lion of the Sea, the fifth, Saisei, the Phoenix of Wrath, the sixth,  Kitakaze, the Wolf of Four Winds, the seventh Kaminari, the Wings of Thunder, and my respective Warlord, and the eighth, Furīzu, the Queen of Glaciers.

A common theory is that they are simply the beings used to create Echo, nothing more, and then decided to try to take control. Another, less accepted theory, is that they were sent by God to be the guardians of the world. ....Which didn't exactly happen, so most people find the first more believable. Who knows... and you can stop scowling. They were just doing what White told them to."

''Drake pouts and then sighs with annoyance. ''"Fine... And I think there must be more purpose to them than simply creating Echo, but I guess I'm gonna stick to the first theory, because honestly... What kind of god just makes a thing then does fuck all? I haven't met one god that does that..."

Noriko is about to say something, when all seven begin to roar, one long tone that they hold for several minutes, then they eventually cease.

Noriko blinks. "Oh wow."

The CE's below appear restless for some reason.

Drake looks down at the CE's. "I wonder what's got them in a pissy now... It could be the roar but I doubt it, wanna take a look?"

White appears in a flash of light. "The targets have arrived. I shall oversee the battle, and at the right time, I shall begin our plan. Until then, you are to wait for my command."

She disappears in another burst of light.

Torrent chuckles. "And so the game begins."

''Drake looks towards out to sea before taking a look at the fortress he calls a prison around him, he goes into thought for a moment before speaking out. ''"Heh... I guess I gotta thank Phoenix for some things, even if I was trapped here like a rat." ''He chuckles. ''"Hell, I'm gonna miss pranking Mr. Emotions over there... Actually, the more I think about it, the more I'm gonna miss... Haha, what kind of stupid logic is that, ah well..." ''He turns to look at Torrent with a smirk on his face. ''"I bet I can land more hits on the two bastards than you."

Torrent scoffs. "You wish."

Noriko jumps on Drake, giving him a fierce bear hug. "Stockholm Syndrome! Yeeaaaa!"

''Drake almost tips over but manages to regain his balance, he laughs and pats Noriko's head. ''"Yes yes, Stockholm Syndrome has caused me to sorta like you maniacs, 'you wish'? So, are you saying you want to take that bet Miss. Mask?"

".....You remind me of Kado. ....How infuriating..... fine whatever, if that's what you want. A bet it is."

"Heh, so you're saying that I remind you of someone who could win against you? Thanks, don't worry, I'll tell everyone that you won so you can keep your dark and broody ego."

"Kado? He could never beat me."

"That was seven years ago Torrent, are you sure you want to keep to that statement of yours?"

"And in those seven years, only now does his power show potential. He will never amount to anything before the end."

"Probably..." Drake sighs and opens his HSC and casually scrolls through all of his stuff.

Five portals appear in the courtyard.

Noriko sighs. "It's time then."

"Apparently so... Let's just get this over with." ''Drake drops off of the roof and lands, he enters his Aura Dragon form and walks towards the portal, hesitating at first as he looks out at the ocean one more time but this time he notices someone flying towards the fortress. His eyes narrow down the person to make identification of who it is, as he does, a smile comes to his face as he walks past the portal, taking only a couple of steps before stopping. ''"So you actually arrived?"

''Daikeim lands infront of Drake with a smirk on his face, him and Drake bump fists before exchanging a couple of words. ''"I wouldn't want to miss this, even if I'm 'helping' Phoenix..."

''Drake laughs and lightly punches Daikeim's arm. ''"You're just gonna miss me you soft bastard!"

''Daikeim points at Noriko. ''"I'm the soft one? I'm pretty sure tha--"

"Don't even say it." Drake chuckles before walking back infront of the portal alongside Daikeim, the two then walk into their own portals.

Tension
All of Yosai Fortress is absolutely swarming with activity, the Seven Avatars stalk among the countless rooftops, and millions of soldiers are actively marching, not one place isn't being directly observed. A host of more than a thousand soldiers occupy the courtyard leading to White's Tower. The security of the fortress is at high alert, with the fortress shield at full strength, and the tower of White's is protected by a powerful Spiritual Barrier. As soon as White had been brought back, the organization had been preparing fully for any sign of an attack.

Either due to divine grace or some form of luck, a mysterious figure wearing a lab coat arrives at the fortress relatively unnoticed. He looks around before checking a large bag enblaisoned with a red cross. He puts the bag away, storing it in an unknown space before walking deeper into the fortress.

Once he arrives at the courtyard, the soldiers immediately turn and draw their swords, and overhead the Seven creep their giant heads into view, various half human half animalistic growls emitting from them.

"Identify yourself!" A lead captain barks, a heavy tower shield raise infront of himself, with a glowing sword of fire.

"Oh, I apologize," the figure says,bowing politely. "I am a wandering doctor that detected a potential patient... I do not wish to cause any harm if that is what concerns you." The figure raises his hands in a nonthreatening way.

"A likely story. No one is to approach the Mistress until she is well again. She already has a healer tending to her."

"Is that so? Tell me good sir, do you wish to ne the one responsible for White's untimely demise because you were too blinded by fear to allow a trained medical practitioner to aid in the healing process of your Mistress," counters the figure, annoyance present in his tone, "I'd hate to be in your position if the lady found that you hindered her recovery process... With that said, my offer remains on the board."

The captain glances at one of the Avatars, a glowing dragon of pure light, and it responds with a growl, then looks towards the tower. After a few minutes, the creature turns its head towards the figure. A consciousness reaches towards his mind, seeking to inform him of something.

She has sent an emissary to investigate your intentions.

The figure nods almost absemtmindedly. A small smile forms on his face and his posture becomes relaxed. "I appreciate the favorable response."

The doors open, though the barrier remains in place over the tower, and a woman with red hair with black tips and red eyes, and long red dress walks out, and silently looks at the figure, her mind easily accessing his and judging his honesty. After a long review, she narrows her eyes, and the barrier over the door opens.

"Come with me, but foul tricks will earn you no favorable advantage here." She says with an edge to her voice. Inside the tower there are even more guards lining a vast grand hall all the way to a series of double doors at the back of the hall. She turns and walks inside, but stops at the end of the hall, waiting for him to come inside.

''Ah, an interesting entity. It seems I was correct in my timing. I wonder of you can hear this, fair lady?''

"You wound me, milady! If my purpose was to cause harm, I would not be here," says the figure, following after the lady in the red dress. "My word is as heavy as my life in situations such as this."

She stops at the second door, and a barrier that had been invisible flickers and disappears, revealing White's extensive quarters. They walk into a central large bedroom with a ceiling higher than most giants could aspire to grow. Around a decorated bed stand 5 figures, one closer to the bed than the other, channeling healing magic. All five look towards the figure, a cautious light in their eyes. Some of them part to reveal the wounded White.

Her clothing has been moved aside, showing her graceful figure, but the most promient visible feature is the large gaping hole in the lower section of her chest stretching down near her belly button, the outer edge of the wound heavily burned, as is the inside, yet curiously it doesn't bleed. The healing magic is slowly healing the wound and preventing bleeding, but it's very small and minor healing. The reason for this becomes apparent as he steps closer, strong negative and postive energies are disrupting the healing magic.

As if a mask was removed, any cheer the figure displayed is replaced by a cold, business-like expression. "Explain the situation," orders the figure, addressong the healers, "I want to know everything, ranging from the wound's origin to why her recovery is being hindered." He glances at the lady in red. "Madam, could you inform the ones guarding this fortress to expect another guest? Her... 'unique' nature will be of use."

Her eyes narrow, and she stiffly nods.

The girl healing White looks over at him. "White was engaged in battle with our enemies, and was out maneuvered by a traitor of our organization. He possessed a strange power that whenever we bring the issue up, she referred to as 'Dual Nature'. From what I can gather the wound is being prevented from being healed by the residual energies. They appear to be spiritual in nature."

"I see," comments the figure, "Seraph will be needed after all. Until my assistant arrives, please restrain White as best you can. Something for her to bite would also be benificial." The figure summons his bag from thin air and removes several strange tools and devices, one of which emits a disturbing aura.

White manages to lift her head, her eyes slightly out of focus. "....Just who are you.....?" She says through her pain.

The figure smirks as he picks up the tool woth the strange aura, a circular stone tablet with a small indentation in it. "I would not speak if I were you, Lady White," replies the figure, "Nonetheless, I am Volmond Blatt to you, milady."

"Why is it that you're here? To foil all of our defenses and only be seen right at my front door.... I doubt anyone would trouble themselves with a fortress of this kind if they didn't have their own motives. ....What do you really want?" She eyes the tool with the aura with strong distrust.

"I wonder," says the doctor before chuckling, "Milady, your health is my primary concern at this moment. I may have an ulterior motive, but it is of no consequence unless you want more than being restored to your prime. Just accept my generosity before I have half a mind to rescind it."

The moment Volmond finishes his sentence, a young woman no older than twenty enters the room. Her hair is almost completely white, save for a black patch near her face. her eyes are covered by a black cloth while a white cloth is held around her neck. she wears a simple white dress with what appears to be ink staining parts of it black, oddly forming a split heart shape.

Volmond regards the stranger with a glance. "Ah, you've arrived Seraph." A faint nod is all the doctor is graced with.

White looks at Volmond with great caution, but slowly lowers her head and closes her eyes, and one of the 5 offers a brace, which she slowly bites into.

''Azula... if he does anything.... .....you know what to do.''

Try anything and you'll be the one to suffer, both of you, White.

Volmond mutters something before sliding a stony scalpel from the stone he held, revealing the true nature of the disturbing aura: the feeling of absolute pristine purity and cleanliness.

"White, this will be painful but not nearly as bad as what will follow," warns Volmond as he delicately touches one of the burned areas with his blade. "I'm going to scrape away all of the severely damaged tissue, which will probably feel agonizing. I also should warn you, you will bleed a lot, though I expect your healers to mitigate any blood loss while I work. At the same time, Seraph will begin siphoning away the clashing energies within you, which will not be comfortable either."

The doctor makes eye contact with the healers, confirming their roles before he swiftly, yet meticulously scrapes away the severely burn and otherwise damaged tissue from White's injury. Simultaneously, Seraph materializes a ball of swirling black and white energy on the same wavelength as the energy hindering White's recovery process, slowly drawing the negative and positive energy towards the ball floating between her hands.

"Blood Loss," barks Volmond.

The girl healing White is already blocking the blood from pouring out.

"Vitals," demands the doctor, "How's she holding up?" Not waiting for an answer, he continues with his precise, delicate and swift work.

Seraph continues to draw away the conflicting energies, now slowly seperating the ball into one of negativity and one of positivity. Volmond gives the girl a faint nod before he puts away his scalpel.

"Here comes the difficult part," he sighs, "get ready because you'll have three jobs for awhile: keeping her stabilized, reducing her pain and keeping her blood within her when it tries to vaporize in a moment."

The girl looks at him almost incrediously. "Vaporize? What are you planning to do?"

"An extremely advanced healing spell that takes nine people to properly cast," he responds, grabbing what appears to be a thermos of sorts and handing it to the girl, "Drink that, it'll sharpen your focus."

Without another word, Volmond starts chanting in a foreign language and begins to glow with bright darkness. A moment later all of the elements appear around him and form a brilliant ball of blue light. Volmond looks at the ball for a moment then thrusts it into White's injury.

From the ball erupts the sensation of burning in magma, being pierced by icy blades, being crushed and suffocated by the earth, being ripped to shreds by the wind, being drowned, being electrocuted, being gnawed on from within by darkness and being caressed by a loving light. n He senses her drawing on Aether energy to boost her effectiveness instead, and seems to be keeping up well, placing her hand on White's forehead to more properly channel her energy.

"You're probably the best assistant I've had in years. You're the only one whose been this prepared," admits Volmond as he glows a myriad of colors. Soon afterwards, a clone of Volmond emerges from him and places his hands on White's heart.

"Regulation of heart rate in progess," intones the clone mechanically.

She stays quiet, focusing on her work.

A second clone of Volmond appears, followed quickly by a third and forth. The first of the second wave of clones moves to White's forehead and places his hand over the girl's.

"Stabilizing and Amplifying brain waves."

The second clone of the three places his hands above White's lungs.

"Regulating Oxygen intake."

The third moves to Volmond's side and places his hands over White's stomach.

"Reconstructing damaged organs and tissue."

The girl takes a breath, and a faint green aura surrounds her and channels her Restoration aura into White.

Volmond's last four clones appear and swiftly move into position around White. The first touches White's collar bone.

"Reestablishing Nervous System and Sensor Network." Immediately after stating this, each clone goes rigid then speak in perfect unison.

"Guardian of the rebirth, we invoke thee. Mold our flesh into a form befitting power unmatched. Beginning full body restoration and modification."

At once, each clone shatters and coalesces into a shining light that envelopes White entirely, intensifying the feelings the spell initially wrought and causing her body to superheat. At the same time, Volmond is drawing sigil after sigil in the air, while Seraph continues to drain away the last of the clashing energies.

"Blood vaporization," warns the doctor.

She responds quickly, and one of the figures that had been standing back steps forth, a cold air sweeping from him, helping her cool White.

"Gradually," instructs Volmond as the light subsides, gradually merging with White until all that's left is a glow present on her form. "White, on a scale of one to ten, one being unbothered while ten is in excruciating pain, how do you feel?"

"I would say five. Then again, when one becomes the center point of a supernova, one tends to adapt to such pains." She says quietly, removing the object in her mouth.

"Good, that means you are mostly recovered and adapting to your new form," Volmond explains, "Try not to exert yourself for about two days, understand?"

"New form...?" She asks, her eyes becoming more focused.

"I wonder," asks Volmond, a sly, but not malicious smile forming as he puts away his tools and sends Seraph on her way. "See for yourself, milady."

She looks at her self and is slightly alarmed. "Why have you done this?" She says with a controlled sense of wonder and alarm mixed evenly in her voice.

"Boredom, because I dislike the hero always winning, because it was the fastest way to heal you, because I enjoy watching people's reactions. Pick from any of those, they're all true."

White closes her eyes, crossing her arms. One of the five brings her a black body suit, and helps her into it, zipping the back shut when finished, then placing a pearl white chainmail over it, then helps White back into the bed.

"What is your ulterior motive in all of this? Such things as this never come without a price tag.... the world is not such a charitable place."

"Simple, don't keel over too soon or else you'll end up broken like Seraph was," smile Volmond, "As long as you give the 'heroes' of this story of yours hell, I won't have any qualms with you or your misgivings."

White blinks, then sighs. "Very well.... leave me be, if that will be all then. Your assistance was.... appreciated." She rubs her forehead.

"Wait, I'll name my price if I am required in the future," he says. "I want her to act as my permanent assistant, she's rather well trained." He points at the girl. "Also, a parting... gift." In an instant, Volmond closes the distance between himself and White and plants a small kiss on her forehead before completely vanishing from the area physically.

''Remember that charity, kiddo. I won't forget it.''

White closes her eyes, sighing. "The beings that roam this world.... ....truely I tell you, Silent Angel. I believe secretly everyone is absolutely nuts, and we're all just living in denial of it... ....only way to explain that happens I guess."

Silent Angel bows. "Is there anything you would command of us?"

White waves her hand. "Not at the moment. Nezumi, Azula, remain here. Everyone else is free to go. The organization has earned itself a brief respite."

The other CE's leave the room, leaving the girl that had helped heal White, and Azula in the room.

"My lady?" Azula asks calmly.

White lays her head down and looks at her. "Yes?"

"What do we do now?"

White slowly closes her eyes. "Rest. In a few day's time.... we begin anew. Until then.... rest."

''Fate is not moving on my side... these long years will have been for naught. I fear that the time for Kado and I to fight and decide this battle may come too soon, and leave him or I dead... or even both. The family line remains uncertain.... ....For the sake of the organization.... I may have to take initiative to secure the future of Phoenix... ''

''Kado... become stronger.... ....your destiny demands it... and mine... demands I continue the line.''

''Two days.... ....We have much to do.... to prepare. We have....''

But one month....

"I wonder," asks Volmond to no one as he returns to his place of dwelling across the dimensions, "Does White realize that she's missing a tiny fraction of herself or that Seraph was truly unneeded in the operation because I could've removed the energies myself? I guess I'll find out when we next meet..." The doctor chuckles to himself, materializing a  small vial filled with "positive energy,"before vanishing completely.

The Heavenly Encounter
Not long after White finished her recuperation did another being disturb the militaristic order within Yosai Fortress. It was a day like any other, the armies of the fortress patrolled their normal routes on the ground while the Elemental Warlords stalked from high above. Everything appeared to be within the ordinary until...

A mysterious humanoid being manifested in the middle of a patrol squad in a storm of angelic feathers. Unlike the previous intruder, this one did not seem to fit a distinct role or position, rather he appeared to be a simple tourist. The figure looked at each of the soldiers, boredom flashing across his turquoise eyes, before speaking.

" I have been sent to request a favor from a being referred to as 'Lady White,'" he says in monotonous yet soothingly musical tone, "Where would I meet such a person?"

The soldiers look at each other. "You with that Volmond then?" A captain says shortly.

"Indeed, though something tells me there is something amiss here," replies the figure, "Did my creator do something strange?"

"What is it that you want with her?" The captain responds.

"To request a favor regarding Volmond's temporary assistant while he was here, as he put it," answers the humanoid matter-of-factly, "For what reason he wants this person, I do not truly know nor do I care to know."

The captain sighs with irritation. "Talk with White about it.... her quarters are at the central tower. Make it quick."

"Thank you," says the humanoid as he walks towards what he assumes is the central tower. "Also, do not rush. Your lives are short enough."

He walks in, into the grand hall of the tower, towards the double doors a throne of sorts sits at the end, where White sits looking down at a book, silently reading. At her side is Silent Angel and Azula, who both step slightly in front of White.

"Identify yourself." Azula says shortly.

White looks up slightly, and sees the being.

"You serve Volmond, is that correct?" She lowers her head back towards the book. "I can tell, you smell of him."

"I do not take orders from beings such as you," hisses the humanoid at Azula, his eyes flickering golden for a split second when he narrows them at her. He then turns to White and acts as if nothing happened. "Indeed. I am Volmond's creation, Helios Avant or Heaven. My creator has sent me to request a favor from you in return for what I assume shall be a future service. I do not care whether you accept or reject what Volmond asks for, only that you hear it so that I may return to him without hindrance."

"What is it that he wants? ...Though I feel as though I may already know."

"That makes you wiser than most then," affirms Helios, "Though I do not understand why he would want an assistant, I do not care either.Ah, I must tell you formally: My creator wishes to borrow his assistant from his prior visit in order to do something. What that something is, I do not know nor do I care, as previously stated, but it may have to do with the appearance of Forgotten Realm of the Gods."

Her glance goes to Azula, then back to Helios.

"She was placed back into stasis shortly after I recovered. Understand I have no desire to freely hand out my creations. I do not just willingly give such things out to others, even for Volmond, who offered me a service such as he has. I've already lost one of them to outsiders, I am not keen to part with a second. Their creation is not a simple, inexpensive, or quick affair. And for her case, I especially am reluctant. It takes time to create random variations of genetics, but for that specific being.... will take a long time to replicate. And time is something I am not willing to leisurely give."

She closes her book, making a resounding echo through the hall. "I will say this one thing. Perhaps I was desperate in my pain. But I do not trust your master. I will not so easily cow and blindly agree to such arrangements. I must have definative answers, and nothing less. I am no one's pawn, and I will not give a favorable answer until that point that I am satisfied. It was with great reluctance that I accepted his aid, and it shall continue to be so that I view him with caution."

Helios bursts out laughing and does not stop for several minutes. The moment he does, however, he smiles with an intrigued look in his eyes.

"Finally," he exclaims, covering his eyes with his hands. "Finally a person who doesn't just agree to that bastard's terms the moment he asks for something! Even gods have fallen prey to him because of how 'favorable' he acts in their presence. You, however must be special in some way for him to drop his ploy or admit that he has secondary goals." Helios' smile widens and his eyes fade to gold. His voice shifts and grows more melodious in nature as he continues. "White was it? Judging by your appearance, you're in your twenties, but your bloodline tells me that you are older. Additionally, you are a member of Phoenix, the leader, but you aren't the first White, rather a descendant.

" I won't question your choices nor your origin, but I will say this: be warier of Volmond. He's probably already gotten what he needs from you, but he respects you enough to ask for something... Strange considering how he rarely asks for anything. Then again, the fact that he did not come himself means that he is preoccupied with something he deems important. That also explains Asteria's orders... Hm? Oh, it seems I lost myself. My main point is don't trust Volmond, at least not beyond a certain extent. I may not know his scheme, but I know he will not betray you without a reason to do so."

Immediately, Helios' eyes and voice revert to normal as he watches White's reaction.

"...I see. My instincts are rarely wrong. Tell him of my response and that I will accept nothing less than a straight honest answer. ...And I have the means to ensure that I know the difference."

"'Kay," responds Helios, "I'll call him." His eyes change colors once again, this time a static green filled with numbers and symbols. He holds out a finger for a moment, then pulls it back as his eyes glow brightly.

"Volmond, White wants answers I don't have... No, I did not attack her or her annoying tool!.. Yes, I was diplomatic and no, you cannot speak through me! What!? You don't pay me to begin with, asshole!... Don't you bring Asteria into this- Stop changing the subject! You know what, NO! I will NOT Relay your message, you can do that yourself because I completed my task! I don't care that you created me, you know for a fact that I want to kill you for harming Asteria!... You know what, I'm done. You solve your own damn problem, I did what I was asked to do and the answer was no. You come deal with this!... Oh, you will? Good," Helios acts as if nothing happened before addressing White. "He'll be here in a few sec-"

Before the humanoid can finish his sentence, a disheveled Volmond warps into the room accompanied by a large desk covered in dusty books and ancient diagrams written in long forgotten languages. The doctor himself looks to be in less than perfect condition. His hair is a tangled mess and dark bags circle his reddened eyes. His coat sleeves are rolled up, revealing dozens of patch's with coffee cups printed on them attached to each arm. Various papers protrude from various pockets on his person and the pair of glasses he happens to have on are askew. The doctor sighs and closes the book in his hand.

"What do you want to know and be specific," he intones tiredly, "I have six-hundred different things at the forefront of my mind and thousands more in the back, I have no more coffee or tea(I need to steal some of Chaos'...), a headache and a realm to prevent from collapsing and destroying the Aether, Nether and opening Tartarus. Please ENLIGHTEN my to what you want, dear lady."

"You seem to have already provided some answers... ...What is it that you want with Nezumi? My creations are not something I can release into the world without great caution. The last time with her predecessor has left a sour taste towards me willingly allowing them to have autonomy, especially in the presence of beings like you."

"I have many enemies, and many who might seek to undermine my ambitions. I cannot readily trust anyone's word. Those who can easily get past my fortress's defenses and already come with knowledge of me have earned even greater distrust."

Volmond shoots an annoyed glare at Helios, who only smiles.

"I want your mousey friend's aid in a project of mine. It is not something I can explain in the short amount of time I have, but I can explain her would be duties," he sighs raggedly, "Essentially, I would need Nezumi to cast an extremely powerful, dangerous spell at the exact moment that the Void of Stars, the Forgotten Realm of Gods, is disconnected from this plane of existence. The spell itself is this." He gestures to the mess on his desk and waves the book in his hand. "While I can handle the research and preparation, I will be too taxed to actually cast the spell without some sort of unneeded repercussion. At the same time, Seraph, Heaven and Asteria will be busy severeing the realm from this plane and whatever else that entitles doing within the Void of Stars. That's where Nezumi would come in: Actually casting Grand Schism to keep the realm detached from this one. Of course, I would need to explain to her what the spell is and what it requires in order for her to understand how crucial it is. The longer you wait, the worse off it will be for you and your enemies, not just me. If the Aether and Nether are destroyed, there will be massive dimensional destabilization initially, something that will worsen once Tartarus spews into the world and releases the Olde Gods back into this plane. Worse though is what will follow: Everything will be brought to the realm of Nonexistence, where even the slightest of missteps will lead to your soul and body being devoured and unable to reincarnate or worse, you will become a dredge to the Lord of Inverse who will make permanent death feel like a pleasurable release from the suffering you will face at his hands. " As Volmond says this, a haunted look passes through his hazel eyes before they darken and he regains his composure. "White, I know you don't trust me. That's a given. Even so, why don't you trust me for now? I'll even throw in a few freebies like Kokua and my True Name."

White closes her eyes. "Azula. Silent Angel. Remain here." She glows white for a moment, then disappears.

Silent Angel and Azula look at each other, then Azula looks at Volmond. "She has gone down to the place where she keeps the others in stasis. She may need time, depending how fast Nezumi fell to sleep."

She closes her eyes for a moment. "She's coming back."

White appears in a similar flash of light, already sitting down once more. A mechanical noise can be heard as part of the floor next to White's throne opens, revealing a metal capsule with cold air pouring off it. A metal panel opens up, revealing a glass sort of display window with the girl that had helped him in the procedure inside. A metal device is being attached to the side of her head, being inserted behind her ear and shaped like black feathers, with red detail. She appears to be still sleeping, but on verge of waking.

Volmond remains silent before engulfing Helios in black flames without a glance towards the humanoid, who glares murderously at him before vanishing with the flames. He sighs, but a faint smile has crept onto his lips. His posture straightens and he smiles strangely at White.

"While she's stirring, I'll answer one or two questions," he says as the papers on his desk and in his coat begin to shift and move around while ink spills from a hidden ink well. The ink disperses, forming black globules that float above the desk, then spins into a ring.

Her eyes seem to harden, as she brings her hands together and lays her chin on her hands. "Why don't we start with what happened those few days ago. Particularly... .....I practice and utilize many sealing techniques. To seal entire souls along with the consciousness of the being, and refine them into the power of our Slayers.... an awareness of the soul is necessary. The reason I accepted your help partially involves my suspicion that you could have taken what you wanted, regardless of my consent. My point is. What is it that you're doing, drawing from my essence?"

The machine finishes attaching to Nezumi, and it slowly seems to be charging an energy, red lights slowly turning on.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told that it was to revive a person dear to me, would you," asks Volmond, his eyes remaining dark and unreadable. "It matters not and what's done is done. Of all the things to lose, you lost the least important part of yourself. You didn't lose your entire body or your life source. You also haven't suffered enough to understand my reasoning so telling you is rather pointless."

A strange smile crosses her face. "True... I suppose one could say I haven't suffered anything. Of course, it is impossible to claim such a thing without first being me. Both the light, and the dark, are equally capable of deception. It's a common misunderstanding that light is pure, and dark is corruption. The light can distort and produce something apparent, but if one were to touch it, it is only a trick of the light, as they say. And that of the dark, that is obvious enough. It obscures, and few know how to delve into its depths and not lose themselves. It is a complicated affair..... is it not?"

Her smile is rather tight. "I wonder which is more obvious that one is hiding something? The man in the shadows, who is veiled to all, or the man who can stand in the light, yet still none knows him?"

"The better question is do the people wish to know either," says Volmond, "It may require some effort to see beyond the veil, but do people really want to know that the person that they've demonized is actually someone forced down a harsher path, but wants the same as them? Or that the person they've deified is corrupt to the core and simply wears a pristine mask? People are cowards, they stick to what they've grown accustomed to and stave off change because it may destroy what they've deluded themselves with. Those who branch from this are the ones who change things, for better or worse. I wonder where you stand in that regard." Volmond matches White's smile as two rings of black metal form beside him, one at each shoulder.

The glass slides open with a hiss, and Nezumi's eyes slowly slide open, looking at White and Volmond.

"....You.... awoke me...? My lady....?" She says sleepily, her head rolling to one side to look at White.

White looks at the rings, eyeing them with caution.

Volmond only smiles.

"Good day, Ms. Nezumi. How are you feeling?"

She turns her head towards him. ".....Sleepy..... ....Why are you here....?" Her eyes try to shake off the sleep.

"I temporarily require your assistance, madam," Volmond replies giving a quick, but dazzling grin to her and White. "If it alright with you and Lady White that is..."

White's eyes slide toward Nezumi, and Nezumi goes ridged for a moment, before closing her eyes for a moment. "I see. I understand, my lady." She slowly leans forward, and tentatively walks out of the pod, which closes behind her and retracts under the floor, the hole disappearing.

White looks back at him. "I would not have brought her forth if I had decided against it. Do not abuse this inch of trust I have allowed this time." Her eyes narrow slightly.

"I was seeing if you were having second thoughts, milady," Volmond replies, losing his smile before the murderous intent in the area spikes drastically and black flames erupt from around the doctor. "I do not plan on allowing any harm to befall Ms. Nezumi and should anyone attempt to harm a hair on her precious head, I'll butcher and mutilate them until nothing remains of their miserable existence, not even their immortal soul." With that, the murderous intent vanishes along with the flames and Volmond smiles again. "Sound good, milady?"

"I see." She sighs. "Be on your way then. I have things I must do."

Volmond bows, then takes Nezumi's hand and teleports them both, along with his desk back to his base of operations.

Siege of One
Yosai Fortress Perimeter. While not as heavily guarded as the interior, the outer reaches are no where near defenseless. Thousands of soldiers in dozens of squadrons, each with a different combat specialization, patrol and monitor the outer rim of the fortress, ready to defend against any attack against the fortress- Almost any.

Endlos vaults onto one of the many layered walk ways, his eyes smoldering like burning coals. A symbol on his arm akin to three intersecting circles with six lines weaving into a hexagram begins to burn with blue light while circled intersected by a cross glows on his forehead.

"Caess, Aoi, while you may be safe currently, I won't let those who harmed and threatened you get away without a scratch..." The king draws one of his swords and charges deeper into the fortress.

A deep rumbling seems to fill his consciousness, and as soon as he takes a first step into a large courtyard, a powerful voice that at first feels difficult to understand speaks in his mind, echoing and distorted, vaguely male.

.................Stop...............

"I would if I didn't have justifiction, in fact I would not have come here," states the king, "If you aren't directly related to what happened to my subjects, simply ignore me, I'd hate to hurt someone I don't need to."

Suddenly the ground ripples in dark waves, and all around him becomes deprived of anything, and it takes him a moment after nothing but darkness replaced the surroundings, that he is in a strange dimension, and he becomes aware of seven powerful consciousnesses lurking somewhere in the dark around him.

''The one who enslaved the two that you sought out to save is not here. ''

''Not here. ''The six other presences echo.

She has disappeared beyond these realms, to where we know not where she now lies.

We know not.... The other six intone.

''The one who took her, we know not his name. But we know his form.''

Before Lord Endlos, the image of the Doctor that had come before White crackles to being in multicolored energy, almost like static.

''If you see the one who harmed them, she is with him. Where we know not. Who he is, we know not''

''But.... ....if you insist on staying and attacking this fortress, despite this knowledge, the bindings which hold our forms will force us to fight you. She is not aware of your being here yet. She watches us closely. But she will soon. ''

"If it was possible, I'd like to simply wait and challenge her to a one on one duel- Er, two on two, assuming one of you follows her," says the king, "I'd really like to avoid harming you or vice versa if you aren't truly related to what White has done, but if that can't be arranged and we must fight, I'll honor you with the greatest battle I can give you, though I'd prefer not to. Speaking of which, I'd like to speak with Furizu and Mikadzukikei because I want to understand why they changed Caess."

A ripple of power rushes through the void, and seven beings come into form, all incredibly massive: A dragon made of radiant light, a giant of pure earth, a wolf of howling winds, a eagle of lightning, a armored samurai made of ice, a lion made of water, and a phoenix, blazing in multicolored flames.

It takes him a moment to notice, but the one that had been speaking to him had been the dragon, as its presence seems strongest.

''We..... don't remember..... ''

''Our wills are distorted.... disoriented... ''

We are torn in pieces...

We cannot sort them all....

Two female voices, heavily distorted ring out, coming from the direction of the samurai and the lion.

"I see... In that case, it seems nothing can be done until White returns," Endlos mutters, "...What would happen if I were to find a way to release you all?".

You cannot.

The Eight Blades are the chains.

''"Ah, so they bind you until something happens. In that case, I apologize for my own foolishness." ''The king doesn't realize that his voice has shifted to that of something... older.

All seven lurch unexpectedly, and suddenly all fire a blast of elemental power at him.

Flee....

"Force..." begins Endlos spinning to catch each blast with the flat of his blade, a blue flame-like aura coating it, "Buster!" The aura brightens then launches several blasts at each of the spirits. "Hah, couldn't wait any longer could you?" He directs his statement not at the spirits, but at the one controlling them. "Fine, I'll show you why you don't harm my subjects!" Instantly, the king is coated in silver and black armor that emits orange and blue energy from the joints. From his back extend eight ethereal tassels and to his side, a massive gauntlet materializes, swiftly followed by three larger swords and what appears to be a gothic, ethereal outline of a hand, all of which emit the same blue and orange energy. I won't go down without a fight at least, the seal's still active so I can't go all out...

The light dragon flies up high, as does the lightning eagle and phoenix. The giant, samurai, wolf, and lion create barriers of their elements, a landmass, ocean, sky explodes into being where Endlos' blasts meet their barrier, the center of the landmass a massive burst of elemental shapes. The lion and samurai jumps into the ocean, while the giant rips a mountain from the landmass up as a sword. The wolf howls, sending a huge line of tornadoes at him.

"Counter Force!" The king has the gauntlet fly towards the tornadoes and fire a spinning blast of the blue and orange energy at them before having it return to him. He then launches two of the giant swords at the giant, merging them into a large spiraling spear composed more so of the energy than the mysterious metal. "Discordia!"

The giant ducks down and dodges the spear, hurling it at Endlos. At the same time, the eagle charges it with lightning. The Samurai creates pillars of ice that start launching hundreds of ice blades and spears at him.

Endlos claps his hands together, forming a sphere of blue energy around himself to block the icy projectiles, then splays them, expanding the field rapidly. Upon coming in contact with the spear, the spear compacts itself into a ring then reverses its direction and and accelerates towards the giant, this time glowing eerily. "Algia."

Suddenly a blinding light blinds him, and he looks up to see what looks like a sun rapidly descending on the landmass, starting orange but changing colors into blue, and growing bigger every second.

Starkiller..........!

The star now appears to be speeding even faster towards him now, splitting into many miniature suns.

This is going to be a pain...

"Pain of a thousand worlds, millions of cries silenced by steel and flame. Embrace the pentence given and grant me your aid," chants Endlos as the star races towards him, his armor glowing brightly. ''"Witness the power wrought from turmoil and strife ended... Samsara." ''The king falls backwards as a vortex of the orange and blue energies forms. From the vortex emerges a ring of white energy that spreads out like a multi-layered mandala and begins to rotate clockwise and counter clockwise. The moment the star touches the mandala it passes through as if nothing happened, but ball of negative energy equal to the size of the initial star is hurled back at the attacker followed by a storm of oranage and blue lasers and a rain of the same lasers beneath the mandala. Just before the king is hit by the star, the ethereal hand catches him and wraps around him like a barrier.

Suddenly a massive planet sized boulder smashes into the negative energy ball and destroys it, and the star explodes on impact, completely destroying the landmass and ocean in a wave of pure destruction.

After the massive explosion, Endlos looks up to see the dragon silently flying higher than the lightning and fire birds, sparking with massive energies identical to that of the star.

"Grr, stupid seal," growls Endlos, "If this thing didn't have the protection clause, I'd be fine!" Soon afterwards, a voice wells from within the king, one that sounds much older and wiser.

''"If I may have a word, milord. The Protection Clause prevents you from using more power than is necessary in an ordinary situation, but imagine this situation happens. If the person who would release the protection clause is not here, yet you fight against them still, imagine what would happen if you fell and they uncovered you identity... Would your people remain safe or would they suffer? I'd imagine the latter would happen, endangering the very people you wish to protect... Food for thought my liege." ''The voice that temporarily wells from within the king fades away, but its work is done. The marks on his arm and forhead cease to glow and his eyes become an electric blue.

"Temporary Release Granted," he says rigidly, "Summoning Sylvanea's Sword..."

The light dragon roars and flaps its wings, as it does so, it generates a volley of blue stars which shriek as they speed toward Lord Endlos at lightspeed.

"High Counter," the King sighs as the ethereal hand enlarges itself to block eack star before closing and condensing the stars into a singular celestial body. The king then directs the hand to blast the star into the sea. At the same time, the Samsara Mandala fires a volley of black spheres equal in size, number and speed to the volley of stars sent by the dragon and releases a swarm of spiraling black and white lasers into the heavens and towards the land and sea.

Suddenly all of the seven gain strange glowing markings, and massive wall of spiritual energy forms into a barrier and begins trapping his attacks inside a sphere excluding them and causing his own attack to begin wildly ricocheting, trapped in the rapidly shrinking sphere and beginning to hit him instead.

The king rakes his hand down, black energy gathered around it, creating a portal, which he uses to escape the sphere then glares at the spirits he can see. The air around him crackles and roars with the sound of something gathering into a single point above the king. He snaps his fingers and over one hundred gaunlets the size of the one he already had summoned. He snaps again and all but twelve of the gauntlets race towards the earth giant and the wind wolf, glowing with explosive power.

The two rumble ominously, and the earth giant clenches its fists, two golden swords of energy form. The wolf howls, and a set of twelve halberds form, and the two begin attacking each of the gauntlets with unbelievable speed, not missing a single one and cutting each one down, utterly destroying its form, they finish with a growl.

Solaire Yang-Defiance Burst!

Lord Endlos's side is suddenly pierced by a glowing sword of light, and as soon as it does, a Yang symbol appears on his body and detonates, blasting open his lower torso. Before the twelve gauntlets can react, Kagayaki has already retreated, the glowing sword clamped in his jaws. He lets out a puff of hot air as he snorts in aggression.

"...Well then," notes the king assessing the damage dealt, "I'll have to stop taking things lightly... Hecatonchieres."

As the king's wounds seal themselves, the sky darkens. Above the clouds a ball of black and white energy forms and begins to draw in the elements as it swells to titanic proportions. Meanwhile, Endlos resummons the destroyed gaunlets and  has them move in a cyclical fashion, each distorting the air as the energies gather into a single stop.

"Planar Cataclysm." Spiraling cracks form in the air, across the ground and in the sea. The cracks widen, then shatter all that they have touched, allowing the ball to continue to grow in size.

The realm's world fades completely, replacing it with the empty void that was before, and the spirits look at each other for a moment, before their forms begin to condense into spheres, and begin to violently spark as they begin to orbit rapidly outside of the range of Lord Endlos's attack, their movements creating chains of energy that lash around and wrap around Lord Endlos, cutting off the power to the sphere. They suddenly dive down, and begin pulling him out of the dimension, and back into Fantasy, their return causing the elements to go breserk and out of control, writhing with primordial fury. The barrier around Yosai suddenly intensifies, and they maintain their chains around him as they begin to pull him towards Upnation at high speed, their violent and powerful aura disrupting the elements all in their wake, creating a elemental cataclysm as they speed towards the nation, various islands are raised and sunk by the maelstrom of power.

Endlos blinks, signaling for the largely complete ball of primordial energy to rocket after him and the spirits, quickly accelerating to light speed. The sphere still retains its pull and, just before the king can impact, he is torn from the spirits chains and passed by the ball as it continues after the spirits, still growing as time passes.

As the sphere closes in on the Avatars, they suddenly wheel around and spread out, creating a portal at the last second, which as the sphere enters, to Endlos' horror, the portal is opening up in the skies above Twin Valleys.

Just before Hecatonchieres can hit the valley, the ball is forcefully stopped several meters above it. The ball slowly rises back above cloud level, then jettisons itself in Endlos' direction, its pull greatly amplified as it flies.

"You have no idea about the amount of trouble you're in," Endlos glowers, his eyes  shifting to the color of burning coals as he materializes a black sword with a blade that swirls with a mysterious energy and a pillar of black, white, orange and blue energy erupts around him, obscuring the king from vision.

''You ignorantly attack my fortress and demand to challenge me, spouting nonsense about justice, then you cry and throw a tantrum when you are delivered punishment in turn. Ironic.''

A woman's voice rings in the air, being broadcasted by the Avatars, yet belonging to none of them.

"As I recall, I said would've simply settled for facing you, White," remarks Endlos, no emotion present in his voice, "You were the one lacking the gall to accept my offer and end things quickly. I also recall saying that I would not harm innocents to my crusade if I did not need to. As such, I've been trying to subdue your guardians rather than slay them, although I may have put quite a bit of force behind my last attack. Now, we stand here, at an impasse for the most part. What will your move be?"

''I don't give a damn about your childish crusade. Things such as justice are nonexistent. You cry about the innocent, when you cannot comprehend the worth of the sacrifice of the innocent. In order to achieve that which I desire for this world, sacrifices must be made. Aoi and Caess were just another sacrifice I was willing to make. Before my cause you have no righteousness to uphold you. The world must be made anew. ''

"If that is the case, you're going about things the wrong way. I will not say that sacrifice is unnecessary to fix the broken world, rather it is what and whom you choose to sacrifice. Above all, you must avoid harming the innocents, those whose support you may have garnered had you not used them as stepping stones for your goal, those who will ultimately have to live in the world you try to create from the ashes of this one. I will not presume to say that I know your goals or your plans, but the moment you involved my people you involved me as well. Fortunately, I am understanding, leave my people, including those you've already influenced, alone and I'll be out of your hair if you tell me what your goal is. If you choose not to, I could arrange to find you and settle this at that location.

"I know that I will most likely not persuade you to see things my way, but I'd hope that may words don't fall on deaf ears. I'd hate to suddenly start an all out war with you and bring along a couple of my... less than diplomatic allies."

''You would not understand what I'm trying to accomplish. I could say a world of peace. I could say a world of justice. I could say a world free of the oppression of Mythos. I could say.... .....a world free of the blight that is the human race. I will not agree to such an arrangement anyway. Aoi left the organization and betrayed me. Her role was not finished. Had she fulfilled her duty to me, I would have gladly assured their release and freedom unharmed.....''

But I do not forgive treason.

''Leave, Lord of Endlos'. Even if you were to come for me... you cannot be in two places at once... trust me when I say that if you come for me again, I can give you a new meaning of 'Mutually Assured Destruction'.''

"I wonder," says the king in a way eerily similar to how Volmond says the same phrase, "I assume that all of those are true in a certain sense, but it matters not. I do hope that you realize that the death of all humans will not be the end of the discrimination and foul treatment of our kind. It will only encite more fear and persecution from similar races such as the Kasterians or Antari. Then there will be those you disagree with your methods. Will you simply crush them as well? No matter how much you try to achieve this peace of yours, you will always have someone or something that prevents you from achieving it. I did not become the king of my race because I was the strongest or one of the eldest, I became king because I won the trust and favor of many of my people through my actions. With that said, I still have people who attempt to discredit me or fight against my way of handling things: confronting the issue at its source rather than sending another to do so in my stead. Even, if your ambition is fufilled the same will happen regardless of how many share your opinion, someone will always see your faults and stand in your way rather than at your side. Just as my actions affect my people, your actions will affect yours.

"Treason you say? From what I've heard, you never had her loyalty. Punishing someone who you forced to serve you is as logical as burning a shoe beause you stepped in dung while wearing it. The fact that you forced her hand in the first place justifies her actions more than your reaction to them. As young people these days say, 'get off your high horse and face the music yourself' or something along those lines... Oh and threaten my people again and regardless of what it will cost me, I'll make you eat your words.

"With that said, I guess I should take my leave. I have no real reason to continue this battle if you aren't here to face me yourself. Now before I before I leave, please give my regards to the doctor and his allies. I expect they are handling the situation well if the Aether Realm hasn't collapsed just yet." The king smiles and looks directly at White despite the dimensional and spacial walls between them.

''Your threats do not intimidate me.... .....I do not fear death. ''

"That's one way to take it and another way to put it, Oh Selfish One." With that Endlos gathers all of his energy then simple blinks out of the area.

A Return
White, or rather Shinwa, appears within her quarters, along with Volmond and Nezumi. She looks at the CE for a moment.

"Dismissed, Nezumi. Do what you will, but do not leave the fortress." Nezumi quietly walks away and out of Shinwa's quarters.

She sighs. "I have so much to do...." Rubbing her forehead, she sits on her bed.

"Yosai has a laboratory deep below, if you want a private workspace. I can show you around there, but I'd ask that you only touch that which is of your own making." She says quietly.

"My quarters also come with many levels, some including sectors dedicated to living quarters like this one, only for guests and servants, I have several available for choosing, if you ever wish to rest."

"Just call me if you need help," says the doctor, "I will need a lab space, but you do not have to worry about me bothering the works of others, I have enough to complete anyways."

She nods quietly. She walks over to a side part of the wall, which slides open and reveals a secret elevator platform.

"Follow me."

The doctor nods and enters the elevator.

"Hmm... Don't forget to call if you need anything. I'm rather good at granting wishes," says the doctor, "Oh. and do be careful..."

She enters the lift. "I have time enough to show you around." She hands him a white and black emblem of a bird. "That is your permission slip within this facility."

The lift lurches, and begins to rapidly drop down, until they are in open air rapidly descending towards the water below the fortress.

"Hmmm, interesting design," notes the doctor as they continue their descent. "Was this your idea by any chance?"

"The system was built by White V, as well as the underwater facility below Yosai. Yosai existed as an old fortress of the Mythos long before Phoenix lived here. When our founders found it, they re-purposed and restored it. To be honest,the CE Project was first started by her. I'm mainly responsible for the late Zeta and the Eta generations. White V she.... ....is the one who found the initial subject."

The platform smashes into the water below, though the water is merely pushed aside by the platform by a sphere of air, and they continue down, though they begin to slow.

Volmond looks up, intrigued.

"Initial subject?"

"....Let's put it this way. ....What did you think I meant when I told Nezumi to enter 'Archangel Mode'?"

"To initiate a protocol in which she would manifest the traits of an Archangel, part of her physiology. Why?"

The platform lands in an underwater facility lit by electronic blue lights.

"It is better explained in person." She guides him through the facility, and they enter a section of large corridors with many pods like the one he had seen Nezumi come up in, filled with both what looks like incomplete growing humanoids, and fully developed beings. Some seem to have nothing more than just ordinary humans hooked up to a strange metal tube connected to their necks.

"Hmm, very interesting indeed... Almost like the Advanced Chimera..." The doctor gets a misty look in his eyes, "Ultimate union..."

White approaches a wall at the end of the corridor, and it opens up to reveal a large chamber, where several beings are kept in tubes, a Endlos, Spirit, Aetherborn, and a strange half formed male of some description. The biggest significance takes the form of a single large tube with reinforced glass, with what appears to him to be a Archangel, deep in slumber.

"This is the initial subject."

"Ah... Hmm, would you care for an additional subject? I'm sure you will be quite interested in this being and its... Unique nature..."

Shinwa looks at him incredulously. "Additional subject...?" She blinks, confused.

"Have you heard of the Aetherae or Netherim?"

She frowns. "No...... why?" She says cautiously.

The doctor smiles, "Well then, would you like to meet the union of the two?"

"....Union...? What exactly are you planning on showing me?"

"Call it my thesis, a masterpiece in the works." The doctor draws a sigil in the air and space distorts around it. From the distortion emerges a large pod encased in crystal. The pod itself is ivory and gold in coloration and is covered in various sigils, glyphs and seals. Within the pod is a being with a multitude of different features.

The being is female in appearance, with pale flesh that fades grey in areas and white in others. Grooves are inlaid into her skin, forming crisscrossing lines across her legs and arms. The being's arms end in claws and its feet in talons. Long iridescent hair that fades to black at the tips covers her body. Eyes are closed in a peaceful manner as if dreaming. Several scale like grows emerge from her cheeks, forming what appear to be dimunitive whiskers. From her arms flow a blue energy that appears to be part of her body rather than an aura surrounding her.

"This is Taea..."

Shinwa stares at the being for a moment, not sure what to make of it. "I haven't seen anything like this.... what... how did you get a hold of her...?"

"You have your Chaos Engines, I have my Homunculi and Chimera... Taea is a mixture between both."

"So this is your... thesis? What, in that case, are you trying to accomplish with her? Is she incomplete or something?"

"Very incomplete. Taea cannot be controlled once awakened, even with a control module... Actually, I'm sure that the control module is the issue, maybe her conscious is rebelling against it... Ah, Taea is the secondary template, the primary template being... inaccessible. That being said, you may use Taea and this." The doctor tosses White a portion of the creature they encountered in the doctor's domain. "Maybe you'll find use for them."

Shinwa glances at Taea. "...Would it be possible to clone her? I have technology capable of extremely accurate dna replication.... the only question I have is it possible to replicate her? I'd rather not mess with a subject of your project. I'd like to avoid tampering with things that I don't understand, so if possible a replication of her dna would be preferable. As for that..." She looks at the sample of the creature. "I'll have to investigate these."

"Cloning is possible, Taea's base is highly replicable. The issue would be keeping the clones stable, assuming they inherit Taea's temperment..."

She thinks for a moment. "I could always sequence the DNA, and then create a modified version of the virus we insert into humans to transfigure them into CE's, and then just use the modified virus in one of the modifications to create a new being most likely keeping the victim's mentality and negating any... temperament inheritance."

"Worth a shot, try it. I'll get set up in the mean time. Once I'm done, I'll see what can do to help you out."

Shinwa looks at Volmond, and holds up a needle. "Will it cause any problems to extract DNA with this? I have other methods, but this would be the easiest."

"That should be fine. I put an extremely strong sleep spell on her, Shinwa. Just avoid touching the Exceed Nexus- the energy, or you'll regret it..."

Shinwa places the needle on a robotic arm, which draws a sample from Taea's chest, afterwards inserting it into a machine, which slowly hums with energy.

She also takes the chunk from the monster they encountered and places it within a different device.

"The devices requires time to fully replicate DNA, so in the meantime I may just rest." She pulls up a screen of the facility, and indicates a flashing point on the map.

"That space is unoccupied if you wish to set up." Her eyes close, slightly weary.

The doctor nods before moving towards the indicated area with such speed as to appear to have teleported there. Upon arriving, he draws several sigils in the air, causing his various tools, equipment and books manifest and rapidly organize themselves to consolidate and fit the given space. Shortly afterwards Volmond creates what looks like an ergonomic keyboard of blue energy from thin air and sets it before his desk after pressing a sequence of keys. A moment later several pods warp into the area, each containing beings similar to Taea though incomplete in form, save for one which holds the sleeping body of a woman with iridescent hair.

He momentarily hears Shinwa.

''Please do me a favor and rest every now and then. I don't want to have to worry about you depriving yourself of sleep unnessiarly. Feel free to use any of my quarter's rooms to sleep in.''

''Don't worry about me Shinwa, I've gone months without sleep before. I won't overwork myself. If anything, please watch over yourself, I'm quite a bit harder to kill than the standard immortal... If it makes you happy, I'll take a break every few hours to rest or converse.''

A mental sigh of relief can be heard, and he can feel part of her relief wash over him.

''Alright... I will speak with you later....''

On her end, Shinwa finishes taking a shower back in her quarters, then dries off, thinking silently.

''....What is it about him that makes me remember so much? ....I feel confused....''

She puts on a black nightgown, before walking over to her bed and crawling in, feeling the emotional weight of the past few days smother her, and she begins to wearily sleep.

"At least she's relieved... Now to map out a few things." Volmond looks around before getting to work, typing out formula after formula whilst havimg clones perform various jobs and experiments. "By the way, I know you're awake, Gaea." The doctor doesn't look up from his work as the woman with iridescent hair opens her scarlet eyes and frowns at him.

"You're more perceptive than usual, doctor," mocks the being in the tube. "I will be reunited with the missing fraction of myself soon... And I'll be happy to repay you for this treatment." The last words make the doctor stop working and look up.

"You mean the whimsical goddess," he drones, annoyed, "Even if she found me, I could fight her off as long as I kept you two apart. Besides, you aren't the only one strong enough to wipe this universe out, Gaea... After all, the hell I've endured made me stronger than anything you could understand. Now, sleep before I decide to ramp up the experiment pace and level." The contained entity scoffs, but closes her eyes nonetheless, falling into a peaceful looking slumber.

---

A loud knock at the door wakes Shinwa from her sleep, and she weakly groans. "What time is it anyway....?" Neither the less, she slides out of her simple bed and walks in her grey commoner's nightgown barefoot out to the front door.

"Who is it?" She yawns, opening it, then yelping in surprise upon seeing Furue, a long time friend and secretly, her fiancee. "Fu-Fu-Furue! Why are you here so early?!"

The light brown haired male shapeshifter cracks a smile in her direction. "Hey, I haven't seen you in months. Not since you joined that damn organzation.... what's it called...? Oh yeah, Phoenix. I heard you were back so I brought this!" He motions to the large wagon of food he had brought, causing Shinwa to gasp and practically collapse in surprise.

"FURUE!!! Why did you bring so much food again?!"

Furue only plays with her hair in response, and she faintly smiles, blushing. "You know why. Because I know my girl has the appetite of two dragons, and I love spoiling you."

Shinwa sighs, then laughs. "Alright alright.... let's eat. Before Father comes home with my little brother. You know how Father gets when he sees me eating this much in front of him."

Furue walks inside, taking off his shoes and socks, and begins cooking food, with Shinwa happily watching him cook, carefully watching how he makes each item of food. He eventually finishes, and starts setting down plates and food, and they dig in.

After they eat, Shinwa thinks for a long while in silence.

Furue looks over at her carefully. "You're weird today. What's eating you? Besides that black hole of a stomach of yours?"

She flickers a smile at him. "Oh, nothing. Just thinking of.... work...."

''....I don't want to involve him... ...today is the last day I am allowed before I have to go back... ...forever.... ....I have to leave without warning.''

--

Shinwa peacefully slumbers on, deep in memories replayed as dreams, and her mind for once open and relaxed.

"Maybe... Maybe I should consider my own happiness before I think about my revenge," mutters the doctor as he checks the status of several ongoing experiments. "It's not like they'll forgive me or anything, but I wonder if they'd understand my reasons and at least hear me before they tried to kill me... Probably not." Volmond sighs loudly before closing his eyes and thinking of the past...

--

"You're my Guardian Angel," scoffed the doctor, looking at the raven haired woman with electric blue eyes. "As much as I'd like to thank you, I can't humor a person who's not entirely there in the head. Besides, what God would utilize 'Guardian Phoenixes'?"

"If you will not believe me, I can prove my truthfulness," replied the woman, "Though it isn't exactly polite to call a lady a liar, Zwei." The doctor flinched. How could a woman he had barely met know that his current name was not his true name?

"V-very well then, prove it..." Volmond frowned, realizing he did not know the woman's name.

"Kokua," answered the woman, "And I don't lie." The moment the words left the woman's mouth, the air began to heat up until it ignited. The flames born, however, were an unnatural black color with licks of blue and violet as opposed to orange, red and yellow. In less than an instant the woman was engulfed by the flames which only grew and grew as the seconds melted away, finally swelling into a volatile sphere that undulated as arid air swirled around it. Volmond took a step back, both mystified and horrified by the events unfolding before him, watching the sphere continue to pulse and dance until it dispersed.

In the stead of the the raven haired woman was a massive bird that looked to be a cross between a raven, a peacock, a swallow and an eagle. Its body was an inky black color, housing the occasional red, green, violet and blue feather in its plumage, and was easily the thrice the size of an auto-tran. The bird's beak was hooked and pointed, but smooth as if regal, while its feathers formed a crest reminiscent of a crown on its head. The bird's tail separated into three pieces: a set of trailing "ribbons", the tail feathers themselves and several gothic blades attached to the tail feathers. The bird's wings were similar, they too had gothic armor and armaments attached to them, with flames trailing of of them in such a way as to appear as a cape of fire flowing from its body.

"Are you satisfied with this," questioned the phoenix, cocking a burning azure eye at Volmond, "Is this sufficient proof to back up my claim or must I 'return from the ashes?' In either case, I have proven my truthfulness." The doctor could only nod in response, having never seen such a being before, let alone up close. The phoenix huffed before dissolving back into her human form. "Was that enough proof, Zwei?" Again, the doctor could only nod. "Good, now let's get going. I ended breaking protocol revealing myself to you, so we must keep moving or else my superiors will be on our trail."

"U-understood," stuttered Volmond, following Kokua as she made her way deeper into the mountain range, unaware of the future awaiting them...

--

Volmond frowned. "I won't allow that to happen again..."

-

Night comes, and Shinwa cautiously gets out of bed, and dresses for her final trip away from home. One she would never return from. She quietly walks through the house she had always known and quietly enters the room of her little brother. She looks down at her two year old brother as he sleeps, smiling softly, a tear running down her cheek as she places a hand on his forehead, and casts a seal on her brother's forehead, one that would lock away her brother's memories of her forever.

"....Goodbye.... ....I'm sorry.... forgive me..... .....Kado....." She whispers, then slowly sneaks out of the house, closing the front door without a sound. She looks around at the empty streets of the small town she grew up in, and tearfully begins to quietly run into the woods.

For the first few miles, she runs, seemingly undetected, but then she hears a soft running behind her. She wheels around, to see Furue chasing after her.

When he catches up, he stops with a heavy pant. "Geez, you really were training tough.... you've gotten a lot faster since we first played tag.... ....What's going on Shinwa? I knew something was up. You've been.... ....too off lately."

Shinwa closes her eyes. "Furue.... it's over."

He blinks. "Shinwa? What are you talking about?"

She holds back tears. "This was the last time, Furue. I can't visit anymore. I am staying with Phoenix, forever."

He has a look of disbelief. "Shinwa, you're not serious! You hated the idea of joining Phoenix! What's with you?!"

She begins to cry. "Furue.... ....they showed me the future. About my brother. Kado...."

He looks confused. "Future....?"

"....Yes. In the distant future, he will aspire for power, and seek nothing but violence. He will come to kill anything and anyone, just to become more powerful. ....He will become like a demon.... and kill... and kill... and kill.... ....and never know happiness....."

She chokes back a sob. "I have to join Phoenix, and I must do as they say, to ensure he grows on the right path."

She begins to tell him of what she had learned, and what she must do, and Furue grows angry.

"Stop it, Shinwa, this isn't you! Don't listen to those people, they're a bunch of crazy psychopaths!" He yells.

Shinwa begins to turn her back on him, walking away. "I'm sorry, I have to do this. We can't see each other again."

He angrily grabs her arm. "Stop this right now, I'm taking you back to speak to your father about this, I won't let you do this to yourself!"

She pulls back against him. "Let me go!"

"No! I will never allow this! You're coming home with me!"

Breaking down into hysterics, Shinwa desperately attacks him to make him let go, and beats him repeatedly, without any sound coming from him. She shudders, as he suddenly stumbles back as he lets go. She looks at him in horror, as she realizes she's crushed his chest and snapped his neck, blood pouring out of his mouth, and she finds herself drenched in his blood.

Blood..... no..... no..... NO! I'VE KILLED HIM!!!

The sound of pure horrified bloodcurdling screaming shatters the silence of the dream, and of the waking hours of the night, as White begins to scream, bolting upright, staring at her hands in horror at blood to her has yet to be washed away, and begins to scream again, wildly rushing into her bathroom and locking herself within, pouring the shower as hard as it will go, yet the vision of blood burns her eyes, a lucid madness and fear consuming her.

She had forgotten her fear of blood.

For more than twenty minutes she panics, until she breaks down into wild, hysterical sobbing, tormented by her waking nightmare, the merciless shower stinging her skin.

"Shinwa!" Volmond phases into the room, an alarmed look on his face. "Calm down and look at me!" The doctor attempts to soothe White, eventually resorting to singing a mellow song in another language while cradling the woman against his chest.

She doesn't appear to notice him at all, looking at her hands in a expression of pure horror, her eyes seem fixated on her hands, as though something abominable was on them, and she appears to be listlessly attempting make a motion similar to washing her hands. Her mind is riveted open, and he can sense from her a mind dominating fear, and an endless stream of thoughts repeating saying:

''Blood! Blood! Blood!''

"I get the feeling I'm going to regret this..." Volmond kisses the shape shifter before drenching them both in a great deal of water.

She seems to start, mostly from the kiss, partially from the water. She begins to gasp heavily, the shock of her horror still coursing through her. She makes an attempt at speech, but she seems so disoriented that it is largely unintelligible. She lets out a high pitched squeak of distress and begins crying again, though she retains what little presence of mind she has, though she still seems to be partially having spasms.

"It'll be alright, Shinwa. I'm here... Calm down and breathe..."

She takes a while, but she eventually calms down, very light breaths and shaking the only remnants of her episode.

"....Why.... why am I remembering everything.....? ....I wanted to forget... why is my past haunting me now... why...?" She slowly sinks into his embrace, the sensation slowly soothing her distress, though she still has some tears rolling down her face, her shaking starts up again, only from the cold water soaking her.

Volmond sighs and has the air around them heat up to warm up White.

"The past has its ways of following us, no matter how hard we try to bury it. You have to learn to bear it and resist jts influence. If not, no progress can be made."

Shinwa weakly looks him in the eye, her eyes at first tense but it slowly seems to drain until her eyes begin to flutter and eventually close, letting out a breath that seems to carry his name barely above a whisper, and she falls asleep, her head coming to rest against his chest, her small horns lightly poking him.

Volmond smiles faintly as a memory stirs. Before he realizes it, he too drifts to sleep, still holding onto White.

Later that morning, a knock comes to the door, though White still slumbers on.

"White, my lady, are you in there?! We heard a scream but we never got permission to enter! Are you alright?!" A servant's voice echoes on the other side.

Volmond continues to sleep as well, completely unaware of everything excluding White's presence. He sleeps through his hair lengthening to beyond his shoulders and down his back and doesn't feel his armored wings grow as he snuggles against the Shapeshifter unconsciously.

White quietly stirs, tail and horns grown out significantly, the tail having subconsciously wrapped around Volmond's legs, which she embarrassingly uncurls with a faint blush. She cracks open her eyes and looks at the door, and weakly says in a very soft voice, "....I'm fine... I just.... had a very bad nightmare.... I just fell asleep in here, that's all...."

The servant reluctantly leaves, the footsteps fading quickly.

She blinks when she sees herself in Volmond's embrace, and notices his form's changes. She doesn't bother to move out of his embrace, just quietly laying there, occasionally noting with irritation her form had grown out of control, as her horns feel extremely heavy, and have almost turned gold and their full length.

''I'm just glad I didn't morph fully into a dragon.... ignoring the fact the room would have been destroyed, I might have crushed him by accident...''

"Hmm," the doctor narrows his closed eyes,as if he's having his own nightmare. The air around his superheats for an instant before he snaps awake. "...What happened? Are you alright?"

Her head tilts towards him slowly, to avoid knocking her overly large horns into the nearest wall, and her tail twitches. She blinks, dragonic eyes prevalent.

"....Thank you....I.... had an unpleasant dream. Thank you for comforting me...." She rests her head against his chest, having difficulty in keeping her head up from the weight of the horns, too tired to retract them.

"You're welcome, milady. I'll stay as long as you require me by your side," says the doctor, stroking White's hair, "Until then, rest and be at peace."

She lets out a sigh as he strokes her hair, and she ponders all that has happened.

One of her eyes looks at his face, and the dragonic pupil softens after a moment, and it looks away. She adjusts her tail, though it is still cramped by the space of the small bathroom, then finally after a few moments she says something.

".....I understand it now... ....why everything is coming back.... ....you remind me of him.... Furue..... ....we were going to marry a few months after I joined Phoenix except.... .....he tried to stop me from joining Phoenix and leaving everything behind.... ....I was desperate, willing to do anything to save my brother from the fate my masters had forseen... ....in my wild emotion, I ended up killing him.... I wasn't trained properly back then to control my dragonic strength, and it ended up killing him.... ...my own hands....

....I ended up killing the man I loved for the sake of the Cause.... In my horror at what I had done, I developed a incurable fear of blood." She looks at her right hand, and slowly clenches it. "...It was so severe, it prevented me from fighting. ...And in the end, the only potential cure was for me to seal away much of my memories, though I allowed the memories of the times I spent with my little brother to remain, to remind myself why I fight."

She closes her eyes. "....These past few days.... it was as if I could almost go back to those days...." A melancholy smile crosses her face.

"I see... I lost the ability to fear... That's one of the few things I never regained despite the time that's passed," mutters the doctor, "You know, you remind me of her... Kokua, only our roles are reversed... A long time ago, everyone I cared for was killed in a terrible accident. Only my mother and I survived, but soon afterwards she died from injuries brought about by her protecting me.

"I was named my family's heir, but many people believed that my status as the illegitimate son made me the culprit behind the incident and thus a target for their cries for 'justice' and 'vengeance'. Needless to say, I was innocent of the crime and allowed to return to the remains of my life... Until people decided to take justice into their own hands and attempted to kill me. Having no other choice, I ran, abandoning my name. Skip a few things and I met Kokua, my 'Guardian Phoenix'." A misty look enters the doctor's eyes and he sighs. "White, I will not let what happened to me happen to you. I will protect you, I will fight for you... I will comfort you as best I can, but I will never leave you."

She opens her eyes, a warm cast to them. "Right now, I honestly couldn't tell you how I feel.... ....but it's just like.... when I was in love with him... it's funny... ....Legna.... ...it almost feels like I remember how to live again...." The warmth of her eyes spreads to her face in a soft blush.

"....Am I... that important to you...?"

"You are, Shinwa," smiles the doctor gently, "You're that important and more to me."

Her eyes grow sharp and more serious for a moment. "I wasn't sure before, so I want to ask. Did I hear you say 'Why won't you let me love you'?" She asks, her voice a bit stronger, though her question and her intensity do not seem to have a hostile edge. She rights herself slightly in his arms, though the length of her tail as well as its width makes it slightly difficult to stay completely upright.

The doctor is silent for a moment, before answering.

"Yes... I did say those words and not simply in the heat of the moment... May I ask why you wished to know that?"

She closes her eyes. "So I could answer that question. Because I don't want to hurt anyone any more than I have to, Legna." She opens her eyes, looking at him quietly for a moment.

"I was absolutely set on my goal. To save Kado from his fate, give him one where he will find happiness. The world isn't paved with just niceties. So that others can be happy, others must be sacrificed, and some of those others willingly took on that role so that others might find happiness. That is the role I wanted.... what I want. A light drowned in darkness, and a shadow brought back into the light. Poetic, is it not?"

Before he can say anything, she adjusts herself successfully and looks at him almost level face to face.

"Yet now I almost want to be saved. Even though the wheel is already set in motion, and fate is cascading down upon me, I still somehow see the past and wonder if I can still have something beyond this. ....But I do not know if I can extend my hand to reach out for your outreaching arm, for fear I will in the end be swallowed regardless.

....I remember the sensation of love, and I feel so tempted to try to accept it again. ...But I do not want to lose everything, just when I've gotten it back. ....I am.... ....scared."

She says all of this with conviction, stronger and more like she was prior to meeting him, but laden with subtle emotions he can still pick up. Confusion, anxiety, hope, despair, fear, determination.

"At least you can admit that... All I can do is promise you that to the best of my ability, I'll try to make you happy and that I'll always offer my hand out to you. Don't forget that... Besides we walk a similar path..." A wistful look flashes across his face for the briefest of instants. "Time has the annoying habit of changing people..."

She leans over and embraces him. "That's all I need, Legna, and I appreciate you being by my side." She brushes her head against him, her horns becoming smaller and less sharp and more elegant, her tail finally adjusting to a more manageable size.

"If you truly mean to be by my side... then I can afford to open my heart once more."

"And I, you." The doctor ties back his hair and puts on a pair of glasses, continuing to stroke White's hair. "So, what is on today's agenda?"

Shinwa sighs. "Lots of things.... retrieving some of my members, picking out a subject to alter with the genetics I took from Taea, performing the said operation, lots of things. I'll have to have a meeting with the other members about the recent events as well..." She sighs.

"What sounds most interesting to you?" She asks dully.

"The second and third tasks."

She silently looks at the door, and gets up on her feet, and gestures toward the door, and it slams open, revealing an eavesdropping servant.

"What have I told you people about eavesdropping on me?" She says coldly, all traces of kindness wiped out and replaced with a cold steely aura laced with malice.

"S-s-sorry! I was just cleaning and I overheard you t-talking to someone so I-I-"

"So you want to die then?"

Volmond watches the interaction, giving the servant an uninterested look.

She walks up to the man and grabs his jaw, and a light crack can be heard.

"Get out before I change my mind." The man runs away in fear. She sighs. "When will they learn....?"

She looks over at Volmond. "I will be back shortly. I need to get dressed for today...." She says, looking at her still wet black nightgown, then walking out to her room.

The doctor nods then bathes himself in light, obscuring him from sight as he cleans himself. By the time White returns, his hair is back to its usual length and his wings are gone. He also appears to have changed labcoats and is slightly wet.

She appears in a varied version of her normal dress, modified to be more of a lab coat than a actual dress, though it is still significantly higher quality and more elegant than most lab coats.

"I might as well get started on the more interesting things in my day and slowly work out the more annoying ones as I go. Are you interested in joining me and overseeing the experiment?"

"Quite," says the doctor, adjusting his glasses. "It should be most enlightening."

White takes him down like before, but once they reach the facility, she takes a different direction, and eventually she opens a small door and enters what appears to be a observation room overlooking a large prison ward full of captive humans.

"These are the humans we captured during our invasion of Earth. We took largely healthy ones as well as some children, though we are keeping the children untouched from experimentation. We have.... other uses for them later on. The more grown ones we use. Do you have any recommendations as to physical condition before I select any? Such as weight, height, things like that? I'd prefer not to pick subjects that may not be capable of adapting."

"Not too heavy set or tall. Also, while you do not need to use children, choose younger subjects simply because they can adapt easier to certain changes and stresses."

White quickly starts typing, and a list of subjects appear, and she selects enter on one of the subject's names, and below, a girl around the rough age of eighteen starts as her door opens, and two guards grab her as she tries to run and gag and chain her, then begin escorting her out of the prison block, and Volmond can hear the footsteps approaching.

The door opens, and the guards drag her in even as she feebly struggles against their grasp. She appears to have light blonde hair, green eyes, and an average build for her age. White sizes her up silently, then looks at Volmond.

"Will she do, Volmond?" She asks him casually.

"Indeed. Should we sedate her first?"

"....In a sense. She motions for the guards to bring her forward onto an operating table, after they remove the clothing from her they strap her down onto the operating table.

"We have a sedative like drug that removes pain but keeps the physical sensations of change intact so the specimen can relearn their body quicker."

At the word 'change', the girl begins to violently struggle, panic and terror in her eyes. White looks at her calmly.

"Do not fear of the rumors those fellow captives of yours spoke of. I can assure you modification is almost 100% accurate and successful." She looks at Volmond. "They like to speak of experiments where I turn them into hideous monsters. It annoys me greatly."

"Ah, I can see why... Has any progress with the tissue sample?" Volmond turns to the girl. "Be at peace, soon this shall be a distant memory for you."

"It will take longer to complete, but I assume it should be ready in due time. I am most interested to see what becomes of the girl's modification."

She takes a needle from a shelf and inspects it, before injecting a orange substance into the girl's arm, and she slowly ceases moving as the chemical begins to cease her ability to move. White pokes her with a sharp claw, but the girl doesn't even flinch, unaware she had been jabbed.

"She's ready now." White attaches IV's to the girl, then lowers a robotic arm which slowly begins to continuously inject a dark grey substance.

"It is the retrovirus. It kills itself off once the human cells have been converted, as it has nothing left to feed on." Although the girl cannot move, Volmond and White can hear the girl's heartbeat intensify in strength and pace, a rapid dull thudding filling the room as the girl begins to be overcome by terror, and sweat rapidly forms on her, and White nods.

"It begins."

"Is there anything I should do?"

She thinks for a moment. "Does Taea's kind have a substance other than blood? Also if you wish, you may try to pacify her mind so that she does not become overwhelmed by the new data her mind will be forced to process as she gains power. Don't make her fall asleep, but try to steady her mind and heartrate if you can. The less medical issues we have to worry about the better."

"She has the Exceed Nexus, an energy array, but that forms naturally..." The doctor strides to the girl and places a hand above her head. "Peace." Volmond places a calming spell on her.

White nods. "Forms naturally isn't really the issue. Her body will probably try to reject her human blood as the change begins in earnest is all. We'll probably see her throw it up or something of that nature."

The girl's body beings to jerk and twitch slightly, as patches of her skin begin to change color.

"I could drain it..."

White looks at the girl for a moment. "No, wait until she's farther along. More time is needed before the rejection will become an issue."

As the patches of pale grey and white skin begin to grow to dominate much of her torso, the girl begins to cough, first slowly, then a bit heavier and faster as driblets of blood start coming out. White looks at the guards.

"Get the bucket ready." The guards fetch a while bucket and put it near the girl's head.

Volmond waits until he is required.

It's not until the change in skin spreads to her face and down her arms and legs that she begins coughing up lots of blood, which the guards manage to ensure lands in the bucket. Her coughing becomes thicker with a wetter sound.

"You may at this time slowly easing her blood out. Not all at once, slow as possible please, as to avoid accidentally killing her before she changes."

The doctor slowly drains the girl's blood, minding her bloodloss as he does so.

The girl's eyes begin to take on a nature similar to Taea's as does her hair, though they retain a trace of their original colors, and similar grooves slowly become apparent in her arms and legs, as the changes begin to reach her feet and hands.

"Anything we should expect beyond this point besides her continued transformation?"

White looks at the girl. "Provided that her behavior remains docile after her transformation, modifying her mind may not be necessary. Should the process incite her to wrath, we might have to resort to restraints, so while we still might hold no concerns, if you have a means to contain these beings it might be prudent to prepare such a means before the transformation and the sedatives run their course."

"The preparations have been made," says Volmond without moving, "Though, as you said, the need remains yet unseen. "

As her feet become talons and her hands become clawed, her body begins changing in other ways, growing slightly longer and wider, her face seems to also go a slight change combining her into more of a mix of her old face and Taea's, even growing the whisker like scales. The blue energy starts to flow from her arms, admittingly at first weakly, the girl's eyes roll back in her head, as the sedatives begin to wear off and the last few moment's worth of pain registers, she begins twitching for a few minutes, when it does, she breathes very heavily, the shock still coursing through her body.

White grunts in approval. "Subject modification successful." She slowly removes the IV's from the girl, as well as the robotic arm, and watches the girl carefully for a moment.

"What do you think of this experiment, Volmond?"

"It seems quite successful. Hmm... Now we wait."

The girl slowly stirs, coughing violently, before settling down, trying to sit up but the bindings on the operating table hold her down. Her eyes show deep alarm at the change of her body, now that she can move and see her modified body in full. She first becomes terrorized, almost hyperventilating for a moment, before sinking into a sort of gloom at the realization she is no longer human, and sinks down into the table, her eyes quietly despairing.

"It seems you have calmed down... Can you tell us your name," asks Volmond. Can you hear this?

She starts momentarily, then silently starts to cry, though she makes a vague nod. "......Na.....ki....." She says with a dry croak.

"Naki, how do you feel? Can you move everything or does a limb or two not work?"

Her head turns from them, looking towards the glass of the room out towards the prison block.

"....Like.... a..... .....freak...." She croaks again, and she shifts her position faintly enough so that he can see her move the vast majority of her muscles.

"What you refer to as a 'freak' is what is standard to ones such as I. You are unique, which is perfectly normal in the world you've been drawn into. It would be best to become acclimated to your new form and get used to the different world you are in, I'm afraid you will not be able to return to the life you once knew."

She starts to cry harder, and he can faintly hear her cry to herself, 'Why me' very faintly.

White looks at Volmond. "I'm not sure if I should confine her in one of the tubes like the other specimens, or give her limited autonomy...." She says in an undertone to him.

"Hmm... Let's try limited autonomy. If she makes a break for it, I can contain her and we can work from there. Besides, there are a few things to check for anyways."

White glances at the girl Naki for a moment, then gives the guards a peculiar look, and they blink, but they obey her unspoken command and carefully remove her restraints, much to the former human's shock.

".....W-why.....?" She croaks.

"Come with us, girl. As long as you do not attempt to flee, or dare I even say attack us, in exchange for some simple tests and occasional sampling, you can do as you please - generally. You may go anywhere except where we tell you not to, and you may do as you please, provided you remain within the fortress. Attempting to leave will make me... most unpleasant, and what limited freedom I'm willing to provide you will be taken. Consider us, the people of this fortress, your new family, and this fortress your new home. Think of it this way. You'll be able to always be guaranteed a meal, a bed to rest on and a roof over your head."

She starts to say something, and an irritated expression crosses White's face.

"And dear lord, someone get her a glass of water!" She snaps, and a guard scurries off.

Naki rubs her wrists, staring at her transfigured form.

"You'll get used to it," says the doctor, "Your transfiguration was far more pleasant than mine was... I didn't have someone like White to monitor the process and further it, I was nearly torn apart by the one who changed me. Be glad you didn't experience that."

She hugs herself tight, now curling up in a fetal position. "....What have I even become.....? ....What is this.... Monster.... this.... Thing! That used to be me?!" The guard returns holding a glass of water, and another behind him has white clothing with black details, much like White's and Volmond realizes it is the style of clothing all of White's personal servants wear.

"You are what could be called an Etherite, a being forgotten by time. You could say that, by that logic, you are a living legend. Eventually, you will regain your human form, but not until you accept yourself. Now dress yourself and drink the water."

The guard hands the girl her clothing, and she looks at it for a moment, slowly putting them on. She then slowly drinks the water, still looking a bit desolate from the events.

White looks at her, then sighs. "Stop moping girl. According to the records we have, you were nothing but a street girl along with your little brother. Now you'll be able to live a life you couldn't have before. A life of comfort, not disparity."

"There are perks to being like us, one of which is being more universally accepted and treated well for the most part," says Volmond, "As you are now, your chances at a better life are much greater than they were as a human. Besides, all you lost was your form, not your mind. In that regard, you are still yourself."

White walks up to the girl. "Enough of this, come along now. There's no point. You should have accepted something like this would happen to you and your former kin sooner, it would have been easier for you to accept this."

The girl bows her head for a moment, before she awkwardly manages to get to her feet, unsure of her new limbs and having to grab a nearby counter to steady herself.

White gives her one more look, then turns and walks to the door.

"Follow us now, we'll let you rest and become familiar with your new home and the quarters you will live in, give you some time to settle down before we start further tests."

"Further tests....?" Naki asks in a weak sort of despair, but continues inching along while holding herself up, though reluctantly.

Volmond follows White, keeping an eye on Naki as he does so.

She follows them, trying to keep pace with them without irritating the guards, who walk behind her and occasionally prod her along with a light push.

When they reach the elevator, White looks at Volmond. "Will you be going back to your research? Or will you be accompany me along with our new subject?"

She leans into his ear. "I believe you mentioned we could use this opportunity to check for a few things. Like what, I might ask?" She says quietly.

"The formation of a complete Shadow Matrix and whether or not she is hypercompetent. We should also check to see if she can replicate seen abilities," whispers the doctor.

White nods. "Understood, but let's give her time before we peer into it. Her emotional state could prove to be dangerous if she doesn't learn to cope with her powers."

"Agreed, we don't need that to happen, nor do we want it to."

She nods. "Naki, you'll be coming with me. Doctor Volmond, will you be joining us?"

"I believe so," replies the doctor.

The elevator lurches suddenly, and as it takes off, Naki screams and falls over, and pretty much loses her stomach.

"''BLARG!!!" ''She coughs. "How fast is this thing anyway?" She gags.

"It can go as fast as Mach Five at maximum velocity." White says simply.

"This isn't a bad speed actually," comments Volmond, nonchalantly, "It could be Mach Thirteen or Twenty... Those are fun speeds to travel at actually."

"I feel sick...." Naki groans, and the elevator slams to a stop outside White's room, and the secret wall door opens, revealing her large rather luxurious room.

"Try not to puke. It would be a bad thing to anger my servants on your first day here."

She helps Naki up and has her lean against her, though Naki initially flinches on contact.

"I'll only be hurting you if you act like an idiot. Relax."

Volmond pepares to say something, but stops himself. He looks at White. ''Are there any more elevators similar to that one or will we be utilizing that one again when we begin the next few tests? That could be the test for the Exceed Nexus.''

''There are elevators in select locations, but yes. There are more. Are you hoping she will learn how to get faster...?''

Naki looks about the lavish room. "This is.... a Mythos' home....? ....I thought they......"

White glances at her. "You are within an entire fortress controlled by Myths in Fantasy."

Naki pales. "F-F-Fantasy?!"

''No, it is a test to see if she has proper hyperadaptability. Speed and fluidity of movement will come naturally as she gains information... Something else we could test, though subtly. ''

"Why are surprised? Did you believe that we lived in caves or abandoned, decrepid castles hidden in fog? No, we are more advanced than many of your people. Name something from Reality and see if we do not recognize it," chalenges the doctor.

"Umm.... Umm... ....Sistine Chapel? The Catacombs of Paris?" She stutters.

''I see. I understand then.''

"Let us go upstairs." White walks up a nearby staircase to the next level, helping Naki along. "I will show you two rooms you can choose from and assign them as yours."

"I want to say Italy for the first, thought it may be in France or maybe Germany and I know that the second is within one of the most well known cities in France, Paris. Speaking of which, how is Europe? I know that London is in ruins, but what of the rest?"

Naki looks away. "I... I do not know.... I came from further West." They walk up the stairs, and they pass by a mirror, which Naki stops to look at, looking at her new appearance, looking both stunned, awed, and alarmed all in one turn.

"This is.... really me....?" She seems transfixed by her now iridescent hair and eyes, touching her hair.

"Yes, this is you." The doctor's eyes flash gold, signifying his slight annoyance. "On another note, it is less... Hm, what is the word? Humidifying? Terrorizing? Petrifying! It is a less petrifying form than quite a few are granted with, you aren't a monstrosity." He glances at White and raises an eyebrow. Is this common amongst subjects?

White cracks a faint smile. ''This is probably the first subject I've modified like this. I usually deal with already handy specimens. I wanted to be careful and not possibly do something foolish with Taea, so I went for a replication. I understand her distress though. I mean look at her, she's never seen herself in a mirror you know. It's one thing to see herself with eyes, but she's seeing her body in its entirety now. Personally, I almost think she is more awed at the appearance. This'll probably make her give in to her new nature.''

We'll see...

"Are you satisfied," he asks Naki aloud.

She quietly looks at herself for a while longer, before she closes her eyes, and an air of acceptance and resignation comes over her.

"....Yes." She says quietly.

Volmond nods. "Are we ready to proceed?"

She quietly walks next to White with her head bowed, and White continues escorting them, until she comes to a hallway full of doors. She opens one, revealing a decent sized suite inside, with a bedroom just visible at the back end, with a living room, kitchen, and bathroom also present. There appears to be various devices such as a TV installed as well.

"Each of these rooms are similarly fitted. There are rooms with blank nameplates, mark them with your names and they are yours."

The doctor watches quietly.

White looks at Volmond. "Are you not going to choose one? You can't just sleep in your office you know."

Naki slowly looks at a suite and writes her name on its empty nameplate, and White nods.

"Why don't you stay in there and relax for a while?" She asks softly, and Naki enters and closes the door with a nod. After which, White lightly places a hand on the door, and it briefly glows white, before returning to normal.

"Oh, I thought you were speaking only to her," says the doctor, looking up absentmindedly. He picks a random room. "By the way, what did you do to the door?"

She smirks. "A simple monitoring spell. If she leaves the room, I'll know for about an hour where she's going, until she comes back to the room."

"I see." The doctor stretches for a moment. "What is next on the agenda?"

White sighs. "Well, official business. In other words, a meeting with the other members. I doubt that is of your interests. We have to discuss an issue about deserters, you see."

She quietly starts walking towards the stairs. "Also, I will be making preparations for the next phase of the goal's completion."

"I see... I believe I will continue my research unless you think my input will be helpful."

A mask falls over her face as she deadens herself, and disappears down the stairs.

''It's time to prepare. So much left to do in a month...''

 The doctor returns to his laboratory space, his expression unreadable. He sits at his desk for a moment before pressing another thing on his ethereal keyboard, this time pulling up the design for some sort of futuristic battle armor.

"Infinity Engine. Begin Construction. Time Alotted: Thirty-Six Hours." The doctor sends the image away, but a faint mechanical whirring can be heard around his lab space.

Operation: Reclaimation
White sits at the head seat of the meeting table, looking over Torrent and Toma, as well as Azula and five other CE's, including Nezumi.

Torrent sighs. "So what's this about? Why are these CE's here?"

"That's a very good question. We have lost too many members as a result of defection. We have to put a stop to it. Therefore I am instigating a new policy of retrieval of all defection members."

"We shall recapture Aoi, this will be the responsibility of all of Eta Squad here, and Azula, who shall hence forth be their leader. We shall reclaim Noriko, whose duty to be reclaimed falls to you, Torrent, you shall go with one of the Eta Squad members I have designated as Kagerou." A white haired CE with a devious smirk bows.

"Your hero is at your service." He chuckles, and Torrent groans. "Great.... a idiot who deludes himself into thinking he's the hero."

"So you wish to dispute my worth? Very well, we are rivals for the title of hero."

Torrent's eye twitches. "I think I liked dealing with Noriko more."

White shakes her head in irritation. "And as for Naomi... Toma, you should be more than capable of handling her, right?"

Toma nods. "What of Kado? Will he not prevent it?"

White closes her eyes. "On that note, I'll be preparing something special in mind for him."

"...Then there is the issue of Daikeim. He and Drake both made clear their intentions. So now I will consider his actions worthy of retaliation. Silent Angel. Remember what I said?"

"....Yes ma'am. Do you wish me to carry it out?"

"Not yet." White smirks. "You'll be getting a special partner to deal with that issue, soon enough."

A mechanical voice sounds in

''''

Volmond looks up, "I see. In that case, continue the modification of Gaea. She has been giving too much lip as of late."



---

The assembled members of Phoenix gather in the courtyard, and Torrent, Kagerou, and Toma depart.

Silent Angel looks at White.

"What was this special partner you mentioned?"

Awake At Last
Amongst all the numerous CEs in one room, one in particular hangs from wires coming from its head, the wires release steam and its wires detach and the CE falls to the ground and is instantly breathing fast and heavily.

"Wha..what...? Where..." ''Looks around and sees numerous other just like him deactivated. ''"Who did this to us?" Feels his face but a mask is in between his touch and his face. "I'm a monster now, aren't? I I'm just like...one of them..."

''Epsilon 'Xenima' 330. ''A statement that oddly clicks as his name rings out in his head. ''You are to meet me in the courtyard. ''A mental map of where he is to go appears in his mind.

''Breathes heavily, get's up and begins to make his way to the courtryard. Passes down a few corridors and finally makes it.''

He sees a white figure dressed in a white dress, and has a stern but elegant air to her, and she turns to him. "Ah, he has come at last. This is Epsilon 'Xenima' 330, Silent Angel." She says to a tall muscular figure with white hair and red eyes, who silently looks at him.

"Ah, an Epsilon class? Is he in good condition?"

The woman nods. "He's never been activated to my knowledge. You, come over here, 'Xenima'."

His hand body abit at the sight of White and the hearing of his name, but walks up to them.

"You will be accompanying Silent Angel on a mission. I know about you in particular, which is why I'm going to ask you to behave. If I catch you disobeying orders it's not going to be pleasant for you. If you do behave, I may see about letting you remain active. And that's a generous offer, considering the alternative."

Slowly nods in understanding

"Ok then. Epsilon 'Xenima' 330, engage CE Mode and follow Silent Angel."

The man called Silent Angel sprouts six golden wings and soars into the air in a matter of seconds.

Xenima: * a jet engine embedded in his back begins to turn faster and faster until fire blazes out and he dashes off after Silent Angel with a tail of jet fire behind him*

White looks to Nezumi and a white haired girl with red streaks in her hair, wielding two dark iron blades.

"I have a task for you two.... see it done."

The two bow, and teleport.

''''

"Send them to my Storage space. How fares the Aetherae?"

''''

"I see," says the doctor, standing up and walking towards the lab's exit. "Continue as you are."



White silently walks back into her tower, and steps before her throne, and blue symbols glow, and a circular section of floor rises as a secret elevator heading straight up to the top of the tower, a fake floor sliding to conceal the real floor's disappearance. The elevator completely masks White's existence as she travels to the complete top.

Volmond exits the lab and enters the courtyard of the fortress. He stretches for a moment then proceeds to challenge a guard captain out of boredom.

The captain draws a multicolored blade of elementium in the form of a katana and cautiously tests Volmond's reflexes.

- Top of Yosai Fortress

A ring of eight thrones, one unoccupied surround White, seven colored cloaked figures observe her from the tall thrones.

"We must talk of your guest.... Shinwa....." A white cloaked figure speaks out coldly.

A yellow cloaked figure speaks up. "It's not out of context with the timeline. He could be useful in regards to the development of creating the Perfect Chaos Engine. Plus there is the generational value involved in their.... relationship."

White Cloak turns toward him. "....I suppose... but he bears much risk. The Whimsical Goddess is not a fool....."

Volmond moves almost lazily, as if he is putting no effort into avoiding. He looks completely calm, though for a fraction of a second his eyes take on an icy gleam.

"Not a fool indeed..... Oh, I'm sorry. I meant to ask if such blades were standardly issued here."

"Mostly. The lower ranks occasionally get them." The guard throws a smoke bomb.

"I see," notes the doctor, summoning a small cylinder into his hand as he manipulates the space around him to repel the smoke. "Are there any special qualities about them, aside from their link to the elements?"

"Elementium is incredibly resistant to breaking, and is very receptive to magic amplification. They're the base of all Slayers." The guard takes slightly more aggressive attacks.

"That sounds quite useful." Volmond lazily rolls the cylinder, a flash bang grenade, in the guard's direction before drawing three scalpels.

--

White Cloak sighs. "Regardless.... the one called 'Volmond' should be regarded with caution... despite his potential to aid Shinwa, he could also pose a problem. We must continue Observation."

Yellow Cloak chuckles. "You're always such a uppity bitch dear White Cloak. You should get out more often."

"Quiet you....." She growls.

Yellow Cloak suddenly disappears.

"Him and his interventions...." White Cloak sighs.

"In any case, Shinwa. As long as he provides continued aid, I care not if he remains in Yosai. If he oversteps his boundaries here, he shall be removed.... immediately...."

White bows before her. "I understand...."

"....Ignore what Yellow said about Generational Value. He oversteps too many boundaries."

White says nothing, but the platform descends.

"That child.... I hope he will not become an influence that is undesirable to her goals...."

"I wonder......" The doctor appears to be contemplating something before he vanishes and reappears behind the guard, scalpels lightly digging into his jugular vein. He has an absentminded look on his face and seems to be focusing on another thing.

He hears a soft bang, and White comes out of the tower. "Sparring with one of my guards or trying to slit his throat?" She asks calmly.

"Sparring," says the doctor absently. He puts the blades away. "Slitting throats isn't my preference."

"I see. How goes your research?"

"Two units have been completed, Gaea is progressing further in her testing and I believe I figured out how to use vibration and high frequency movements a short while ago. How was the meeting?"

"Well enough. Several of my agents are now being deployed in missions. Azula is still scanning for the likely locations Aoi may have been taken. When she finds her, all attention will be directed towards her acquisition."

White closes her eyes. "I have so much to do... ...not nearly enough time to do it all in."

"You need a Chrono Diver... I could help you out if you require my my assistance."

White opens her eyes. "Chrono Diver?"

She absentmindedly looks up at the sky, a wind blowing her hair.

"I wonder....." She says, trailing off in thought.

"A Chrono Diver is a time manipulation device. It allows the user to travel forwards, backwards and very, very rarely diagonally through time. It does not change events that happen, but it allows you to do more in a lesser amount of time, such as doing two separate tasks at once despite any issues regarding distance."

She lowers her gaze down towards him, and absentmindedly says, "I see." She begins to walk down the steps of the tower, but once she reaches his level, she simply walks past him without a word, simply walking out of the courtyard, heading westward.

''Is something wrong? You seem to be put off by something.''

The doctor sounds curious, but willing to drop the subject.

There is no immediate reply, but eventually as she continues walking away, he hears:

''There is no.... successor to the family line. The Dark and Light Slayers are practically bound to our lineage... should our goals in this generation fail.... ....there has to be someone left to carry the torch.... my brother.... he is too weak....''

He notices however this is more on the lines of a trailing thought in her mind, and his words were noticed, but were not directly addressed in the 'response.'

''I see... W-Well then... I was unaware of that, but.......''

The doctor's own thoughts trail off as he flushes red. He seems to be confused about what to say and rather embarrassed at the same time.

She appears to stop dead, realizing that he heard her. ''....oh..... .... .....my apologies... ....my mind has been.... all over the place lately....''

He hears her thoughts trail off to,  'Damn it, Shinwa you idiot!' 

She appears to slump and fall against one of the walkway pillars, resting her head and back against it, even from a distance she looks suddenly beleaguered and she is seen putting a hand to her head.

''....what future do you even seeing me have Legna? Because I cannot see anything but despair.... ....I want to believe you but.... ....it's still crushing me.... ....this despair....''

''That's what I used to think long ago... I used to believe that I was doomed to endless despair... That proved to be untrue. Shinwa, you're at a slump, at the deepest down you've probably experienced, I know the feeling. You have to look on the brighter side of things or else the despair will define you. Even if you don't see a light at the end of the metaphorical tunnel, you must have hope... As for a future I see for you, I see you happy and able to smile sincerely, not needing to wear the mask you've constructed for yourself.''

''I see you being able to live contently, not despairing. Able to see that as dark as the past was, you have a future ahead of you, one where you do not need to worry about damning yourself to save another. Most of all, I see you at peace and able to depend on another to help you rather than shouldering a burden by yourself.''

Her face suddenly contorts, and she wheels at him and to his surprise yells. "What happiness?! Being able to live contently?! What I have done has damned my existence Volmond! So what if those who want my head fail to kill me?! You will not be able to stop them from bringing this place down! They'll never stop until I have to go into hiding! And then what?! Live a life of fear and on the run! That's what! Between those you've wronged, and those I have, I will never have a home, or a place I can belong to again! Echo, Earth, Fantasy, they all want me dead! What kind of future is that?!"

"...White, on a scale of one to ten, how powerful would you say I am," Volmond asks, no emotion present in his voice. "Do you really think that, if I couldn't at least back up my claim or ensure that it remains possible, I would try to fill your head with dreams, ideas and hope? That I would try to show you an idealistic world without having the ability to bring it into reality or that I would let anyone with the intention to harm you within a mile of you in such a place? I may lie and take what I need, but if I promise to do my best to ensure something for someone, unless they break my trust, I will carry my promise through. That is my creed: Despite what grief I may cause, I will not harm those I have chosen to assist without a valid reason."

"Nothing.... nothing.... ...nothing.... ....is certain...." She chokes out, tremors rocking her body as her arms and legs start to wildly morph out of control into dragonic limbs, her limbs completely white, scaled, and end in large clawed hands and feet, and as her large wings burst from her back much bigger than they should be, he realizes the dragonic transformations are partially an indication when she's upset of her mental stability, and he figures she is now losing that mental battle and losing her humanoid form, as her tail and horns sprout, and then she collapses onto her knees and hands, a heavy and loud thud the result.

"Plenty of things are certain, it simply depends on your outlook... The bleaker you are, the harder it is to see the certainties of the world. I would ask you to calm down, but it would have no real effect... Just tell me what needs to be done and I'll handle it if it will make you feel better."

''There is.. nothing... ...nothing you can do... ...my fiancee... my love.... Furue... ....the whole in my heart... will not close... ...you cannot unmake that day... ....nor would even bringing him back heal my wounds... ...I cannot even bear to see his face in memory...''

Her dragonic transformation has slowed, but her dragonic limbs are grotesque in comparison with her slender shapeshifter body. She curls up in a ball, a shuddering white scaled half-dragon form in a fetal position. The scales have completely overridden her skin.

She lets out a half human, half dragonic whimper of pain. ''Legna.... it hurts.... my mind... my body... my heart.... make it stop.... make it stop.... please... please... please... how do I fill this empty hole that has become my heart?! ....it hurts... just make it stop....''

''You have to allow someone into it. If the void does not fill on its own, someone must fill it for you, Shinwa. If I could simply end your pain, I would, but you must allow me to before I can do anything.''

The doctor approaches her calmly, hand outstretched.

She remains curled up, her tail wrapped around her. He can see her momentarily looking at her transformed hand through her pain, and at first she meekily puts it back down, but she slowly and weakly makes an attempt to reach out, even with her clawed hand.

"L-Leg-n-na....." She cries meekly.

Volmond takes her hand.

"I'm here for you, do not worry."

He manages to help her to her feet, though her ability to stand seems diminished, and she is forced to lean against him for support. He notices in addition to her pupils being dragonic, her eye color has become a shade of lavender. Her face is wet with tears as she rests against him, her body radiating a strong heat from her internal fire.

"....Leg-na.... p-p-please.... ....make it stop... ...I can't hold on.... ....to myself much...." She lets out another whimper.

The doctor does his utmost to comfort and soothe Shinwa with both words and actions, not losing an aura of caring.

After a long while, she seems to calm down slightly, and the wings and horns shrink down significantly, as does her tail, though none of the features disappear, in fact she seems to be still undergoing a metamorphosis of sorts, particularly in her aura. He has a hard time finding a trace of the cold refined energy of White, but is sensing more of who she is as Shinwa, which he so far has seen glimpses of in her fits, though distorted, and in her dreams, though not as accurate as this feeling. He can almost feel as though the woman in his arms is the same one whose lover was tragically ended by her own hands, and had to bear the guilt of all of her crimes beneath the mask of lies that until now has been impenetrable.

She doesn't notice, but her tail is attempting to entwine around him out of her desire to be comforted further.

"Legna...." She cries in a much softer, lighter voice than normal. "What's happening to me? I don't understand myself anymore...."

"You've regained something you locked away," says the doctor, continuing to comfort Shinwa as best he can, "Just listen to your heart and don't feel sad about this..."

"Legna.... I don't want to be weak anymore.... I feel so weak.... I don't want to feel weak..." Her lavender eyes look up at him, like amethyst. "Why am I so weak.... I don't want to be anyone, I don't want to be anything! I just want to be a shell that can't feel pain! I-I can't live like this.... all the memories.... these emotions.... I want to be White VIII, I want to be strong! Not weak, helpless, worthless Shinwa....." She cries again, burying her face in his chest in despair.

"You can't be one without the other, they are both you. The only real thing you can do is balance the two sides... Even as White you aren't a shell and as Shinwa you aren't worthless... You will never be worthless nor will you ever be completely hollow... To admit one's weakness is a sign of strength, that the seed has been sown and is starting to grow."

As he continues to comfort her, her body starts changing again, her large scales all breaking down into very fine, almost silky soft feather like scales, her horns become much smaller and curled rather than pointed, and her dragonic limbs slim to the point she can stand on her own. Her tail wraps around their waists, and she quietly hugs him, her wings folding against her back.

".....Do you.... love me.... as Shinwa.....?" She asks softly, any trace of her voice as White seems completely worn away and smoothed into a much gentler, weaker, kinder voice.

The doctor nods and returns the embrace. I love both sides of you, Shinwa.

"....I.... love you... Legna...." She presses herself tighter against him, light tremors running through her. He suddenly hears a distinctive grumble from her stomach.

''And I, you. ''Volmond continues the embrace for a few moments.

"Maybe we should get you something to eat."

"I-I'll be fine, reall- *gurgle* ....see.... totally.... ....fine....." She stammers, as her stomach gleefully betrays her again.

The doctor chuckles.

"Come on, it's perfectly normal to be hungry."

The doctor feels a prickling sensation, and looks over to see Azula silently watching in the distance, her red eyes seem to be gleaming with a concealed hostility, not at him, but at Shinwa, her eyes almost look fire like from the intensity. She slowly turns and silently walks into the tower without a word, a faint aura of destruction energy around her, the ground cracking as she walks. Her red hair flows like livid fire.

''I see... That may be worth noting.''

Volmond tries to find a dining hall for himself and Shinwa, having grown hungry himself.

He finds one in the main hall of the tower, as well as the kitchen, after Shinwa points it out to him.

"What would you like," asks the doctor, "I'll go get it."

She blinks and thinks for a moment. She starts listing her favorite foods to eat for breakfast, which to his surprise, she seems to have an enormous culinary taste, in addition to a large stomach.

She pauses, blinking. "Oh... sorry... ....I tend to get real passionate about food...."

The doctor chuckles once again.

"It's fine, it's fine," he says before getting as many items that were listed as he can and a few others that weren't. "Let's eat."

Her stomach proclaims its agreement and she nods with a faint smile. "Yeah.... let's eat...."

Volmond eats quietly, though he answers any questions Shinwa has about him.

"Legna?" She asks as she eats, her tail twisting and weaving and whipping around in the air behind her, long and whip like.

"I know that you told me about her, and even pretty much said that I remind you of her... and that you love me, but what does that mean to you? What would you say the limit of that love is? Is it just limited to a desire to protect me? I have been in love before, but you're not Furue... ...you're Legna... ...and I do not know what Legna wants."

"Protecting you is part of it, but I also want to be able to make you happy and content. I want to be able to return your feelings and I want to keep you safe and anything that is part of that. While your safety is a priority of mine, that isn't the extent of my love nor will it be, not when I can do more than that."

She turns her head towards Volmond, and then has a surprisingly playful smile. "A question, how were you raised? As a girl born to an isolated shapeshifter clan, we tended to have our own unique customs. Strangely enough our customs tend to surprise outsiders."

Volmond's eyes shift downward.

"I was raised as the youngest of five. Of them, I was the illegitimate son and was treated as such by two of my elder siblings. The other two and my mother treated me just as they would a regular member of the family, correcting my mistakes and teaching me things. I had no father figure because my father squandered his own fortune long before I was born... when ever that was... Essentially, I was raised as a down to earth noble."

She looks at Volmond quietly for a moment. "You suffered because of something that happened to your family, huh? I can sense it in your manner."

"I guess we both had it rough at some point in our lives... espically when it came to family..." She closes her eyes. "I single handedly broke my family apart.... I don't even know what became of my brother and sister... ....Kado is the only one I know the fate of... ...because I've had a hand in the majority of his life... stirring him to hate me as an evil, cold hearted manipulative killer.... ....I even took away the love of his life...." She quietly opens her eyes and looks at a distant Azula, who is silently leaning against a pillar far off. She slightly opens her crimson eyes at the presence of their gaze.

"The part of my family that I grew up with, the part that I knew, was killed in a terrible accident... The details are fuzzy because I was hurt quite badly during the incident. I was the only survivor on my mother's side and had to abandon my name because of self-righteous fools who thought that I orchrstrated the incident... After awhile of running, I came across my father's family and stayed with them for a few months, thinking that they actually cared. They didn't. All they wanted was the power and wealth that I had in my name and my complete and utter obedience... Needless to say, that did not end well either side... It's painful when people betray you because they believe that they're in the right, but it's more painful to discover that the people you cherished as family only wanted to use you until you were an empty husk and would do anything to be able to do so..."

Azula quietly listens to their conversation, they're not able to see it, but she slowly clenches her hands into fists, slowly building the pressure until her knuckles are white, their conversation slowly drawing her buried conciousness to anger, but still powerless to do little more than listen.

White helps herself to some blueberry pancakes. "I see. I'm sorry you went through that."

''Don't.........fuck with...... m-m-me...... ''Azula's conciousness growls, but is unheard due to her bindings. ''They.........of all......have no right....to act like.......they even have..... a soul!''

"It's alright," says the doctor before changing the subject, "What is shapeshifter culture like?"

"The peoples where I come from live very much in a simplistic hunter gatherer kind of society. We grow our food, we hunt it, and we scavange it. Out in the wilds, our cultures vary from one clan to the next. Mine in particular was two clans in one village, divided by ethnicity. If you were born as I am, a dragon hybrid, you would be a Dragonclaw. If you were born as a spirit hybrid, the Spiritwood. Even though we have different last names, we came from the same household, the same mother and father.

We had very few rules, so few that most people from the cities or just more civilized locations would be astonished. I know I often had to share my bed with my older brother, because we only had three beds in the house, and whenever Furue came over, we had to share the bed as well. Father was alway strict about that. Now the city of Chinmoku? They're really sophesticated and they really are passionate about peace and things like that. It's a very tranquil place. The capital once tried to make universal laws over all of the villages, but that was quickly made impossible. Even though we are a empire, the nation's individual towns and villages are extremely autonomous."

"But just in general, Shapeshifters have always been a very lax, easy going race. When humans first appeared on Echo, it was our race that sheltered them and helped them survive in the harsh land. Of course they feared us at first, they were from Earth and all. But when we refused to fight them and showed them nothing but patient benvolence, they realized their mistake and we slowly grew a relationship that created the city of New Vince, and the collaborative city of the races, which is now Azure."

"I see... Hm, is there anything else you want to know," asks Volmond, nibbling on a raspberry tart.

"Those people.... Seraph.... Helios.... Asteria.... who were they?"

"Helios is, or rather was, a Rakshasas, a demon that devoured and killed humans for sport. We first met in Antiva, where he tried to kill me. When he failed to do so, I brought him from that realm and taught him many things, some of which allowed him to transcend from his original nature... Asteria is rather difficult to describe. She was formerly a goddess that governed life on a grand scale, but something happened resulting in her imprisonment. When I found her, her mind had long been rendered broken and incoherent from her time in the Tartarusian Quarter. I was able to bargain her freedom from her overseer and afterwards I had to repair her mind and give her a stable body to inhabit... Seraph is..." The doctor pauses, as if unsure how to phrase his next sentence. "Seraph is someone who I felt sorry for... After all of the things that she went through because of a single difference from the norm, it was hard not to feel pity for her. Now, fate seems ready to swallow her whole once more and I can only hope that she doesn't lose herself, it will not end well for the two closest to her."

"I was right in assuming you had interesting company. You certainly seem to be the focus of a lot of activity."

Shinwa puts down her utensils and just sits for a moment in thought.

Volmond stretches and sighs contently.

"That's one way of putting it."

He sees her irises turn black and her pupils white, and her dragonic features begin to disappear in mass. She gets up silently and pushes in her chair, then looks at Volmond and bows lightly. "Thank you for the meal, Legna."

She quietly walks toward the door leading to her chambers, and he can hear her murmur, 'I'm going to have to get this dress repaired.....'

The doctor nods.

"Call me if you require my assistance with anything."

Shinwa closes the doors behind her, and lets out a heavy sigh, taking off her dress, then scowling when she sees her black bodysuit is torn.

Didn't need this right now.....

She angrily takes off the bodysuit, leaving her in undergarmets, and she hears a wolf whistle, and she freezes.

"Oh dear lord in heaven, not you!" She cries angrily when she sees Yellow Cloak laughing at her.

"Still got quite the package, it's always amazing to think that's hiding under all those deceptive layers of clothing! Man, if only that bratty boy Drake saw this, he'd never call you flat chested again!"

Shinwa growls dangerously. "What do you want?!"

He cackles. "Oh nothin'. Just thought I'd pop in... ....give you a heads up on the good ol' future."

Shinwa blushes furiously. "Will you please let me get dressed you cloaked perv?!"

Yellow Cloak chuckles gleefully. "Alright alright. I give ya five minutes." He disappears.

She shudders. "Man that asshole.... why'd he have to come in without warning....?"

She irritably gets dressed, and as soon as she is done, he is back.

"That wasn't five minutes."

"You finished."

"You said, five minutes."

Yellow Cloak chuckles. "Oh you hate me don't ya?"

"You think so? I couldn't tell..." She growls.

"Alright then. To business."



Volmond nods then walks around the fortress.

"Place them with the Infinity and Burst Units."



---

"........And so in otherwords, that choice will mean the difference between you living and Kado dying, or you dying and Kado living. You know the rules. I can't say what exactly you have to choose, but the choice is acoming, so you better be ready for it. But oh yeah, there is a chance your knight in shining armor is not going to like one of the possible choices. Trust me, ya don't want to get caught up in that firestorm. But anyway, White Cloak's getting pissy at me again, so I'm gonna go. Remember what I said.

Oh, and you look more attractive without the dresses. Totally should go casual with tee shirts and jeans. Try the teenage girl look. He'll totally be caught of guard. Seriously though."

Shinwa growls.

"Alright alright I'm going! Sheesh!" Yellow Cloak disappears.

"....I can't go casual.... that would be embarassing.... I don't think I even have anything like that.... just.... ....dresses." She sighs.

"No, no, no. I am not going to try that.... espically because he said it...." She shakes her head. "Man I really hate that guy...."

She emerges from her room, wearing a dress with embroided rose designs over it. "I wonder what Volmond is up to.... perhaps I'll invite him to do some tests on Naki.... ....maybe I'll even get around to creating a prototype CE if we do enough work...."

Volmond continues to wander around the fortress, slowly growing accustomed to its layout.

As he walks, a yellow cloaked figure appears in front of him, blocking him off from continuing down the tiered walkway he had been traveling on.

"Oh hey there Legna - oh wait, you probably don't want me calling you that.... right.... so then, hello there, Volmond. You enjoying your stay?" He chuckles lightly, Volmond noticing the being's presence is superfical, he's not actually there, merely projected. From where, he cannot ascertain, the figure's features are completely obscured by his hood.

"Ah, you're the one from earlier," remarks the doctor, "I did not expect for you to project yourself to me at this point. I am enjoying myself rather well. Now, may I request to know why you chose to appear before me... Oh and 'Generational Value?'"

"I see I've wound up sticking my foot in my own mouth. Man it tastes bad. Heh heh heh, I'd rather not say. My fair lady will likely throw me into a star again. ....not that would actually do much, aside from be really hot.... ....let's just say I am a bit of a... ....rude joker. That's not the point though. Generally speaking I have to have buisness to appear to someone, but I do have my casual call ins....

Urggh. Hate beating around the bush. So I'll keep beating the bush til it's black and blue. Did you ever wonder why dear little Shinwa seems so.... ....fixated, so.... sure, that she's going to die? I'll tell you one thing, it's not an insult to ya, that's for sure."

"I've noticed... She mentioned closure for those that were harmed by her, so I assume that it has to do with that... But I also think that part of her wants to die or thinks that death is the best solution to her story... Either way, I disagree."

He hears a light chuckle. "I was insinuating I'm the reason she's like that.... sort of. You see, back when she joined the organization, she wasn't quite.... willing. I may or may not have shown her the future..... .....and oh boy she didn't like it. Fortunately I see multiple futures at a given time, so I showed her a more optimal one.... ....and she leaped at the chance to change the future. Oh how she took it like a meek little rabbit jumping for its carrot....

It's not that she wants to die.... it's because she knows she will die. The actions she's done lately have begun to create a perfect storm. She's been deliberately making enemies this whole time, Volmond. She set the odds in such a way that she would ensure all the key players would want her blood.... and it's only getting worse, Volmond. She's already initiated a plan to ensure the world will come for her. And it all comes down til the end of a whole month's cycle.... do you know what happens at the end of the month?" He seems to be slightly enjoying this for some reason.

"The calm before the storm ends abrupty and the final battle begins in ernest..." The doctor's tone is unreadable, though his eyes flicker between gold and blue. "Quite the smooth manipulator you are... Though there is a slight snag in your plan if you haven't noticed."

"If you hadn't noticed, all I did is provide the knowledge. What people choose to do with it is all them. So basically this is Shinwa's plan. But all the same, yes, it's you. None of us are idiots. ....No, mistress, I wasn't excluding me from that tally.... urgh. Interruptions.

I honestly just like seeing things run their course, I love all the little facets to how time just manages to arrive at the same conclusion many times, just in a slightly different way each time... to be honest you're many months too late to do jack about it now. Even as we speak, the future is very convoluted. So many possibilities exist for our reality. At the very least, there is a 90% chance of Yosai falling. A 98% chance of White dying. There are outcomes where she lives.... ....but those are negligible."

He looks off in one direction. "You're probably pissed at me right about now. I'll tell you this much. There is a chance. I won't deny that. There is a Fluctuation coming.... ....if this Fluctuation occurs, the remaining 2% chance occurs in which Shinwa will live. If it doesn't happen... ...and you'll know if it does or doesn't.... ....Shinwa. Will. Die."

Volmond's eyes settle on gold, but he smirks.

"Me? No no, I was referring to the shadowy force eclipsing the storm rather than my appearance. Indeed, I am too late to change Shinwa's course, but I was not referring her, I was referrring to your lady's plan. While I have no intention of interrupting that plan, someone aside from your group will benefit, that much I know. As for how this being will and when he will reveal himself, I do not know...

And you are right. I am very much so angry at you, but confronting your projection would be a fruitless endeavor and attempting to face you would cause more trouble than I am willing to deal with at this point in time. Instead, I'll thank you for your hint at a possibility and be done with the matter."

At the mention of a 'shadowy force', the figure appears to stiffin sharply, and a hint of his energy is released, cracking the stone around them. The energy released seems to indicate an agitation of some sort.

"....The Obscuring Shadow.... the one thing in the universe we cannot seem to track or trace.... it fills our visions with darkness. Such a thing shouldn't be possible.... ....If you know of it, then I suggest you beware it as well. Oh, a final note. Hate the game, not the messenger." He disappears.

"I watch my back rather well... Something I've mastered over the years... Ah well. Maybe Shinwa is no longer busy." The doctor returns to White's quarters.

He notices her just outside of her door, around the same time she notices him. As he approaches her, he swears he hears a dark, wispy voice speak to him in his mind, with no cause, origin, or reason for being, simply say,

''You are the key... ...only you can trigger the Fluctuation that can save her.... ....it must be within the next few days.... ...or it will be too late.... ....it is the only window you have.... ...use our warning well.... it is not an action that is the trigger.... ....look upon the transformation you have wrought in her and understand.... ...there is now a wellspring of life where once drought consumed the soul.... ''

The voice vanishes, before he can make an attempt to reply.

"Hello, are you busy," he asks gently, his eyes having since returned to their standard hazel. At the back of his mind he contemplates the voice's message.

Her eyes turn from black to gold in a matter of moments on hearing his voice, a tension seemingly lifted by his voice.

"No, not really. Enjoyed your walk?"

"Yes, it was rather enlightening. Is there anything on your agenda at this moment?"

She blinks. "Not really. I was thinking of possibly testing Naki or just going right into producing a CE prototype. Though honestly I don't actually have anything concretely scheduled. Why?"

"I was simply curious. We could test Naki or try to create a CE prototype if you want to do so." Volmond appears be thinking of something.

She looks at him for a moment. "Legna? Do you have something in mind? You seem to be thinking about something. What is it?"

"I was trying to think of a possible alternative to the experiments if that wasn't what you wanted to do... I'm not having much luck doing so."

She smiles after a moment. "It is often the simplest pleasures that endure the longest... Anything with you will make me happy at this point...."

"Would you like to star gaze then," asks the doctor after a moment, "We don't have to go now, but maybe tonight?"

Shinwa smiles. "That sounds lovely. I'd be happy to go with you." There is a slight light to her eyes.

The doctor cracks a rare smile at Shinwa then puts on his glasses.

"Until then, I guess we should continue with Naki."

Shinwa nods. "Do you want to test her then? What do you suggest first?"

"We should test to see if she adapts quickly to basic environmental changes and if she learns quickly. Those are the basic forms of her abilities."

She nods. "I have a facility we can test her in, a training chamber of sorts. It's reserved for CE's and main members only, but it will be fine for her."

"That seems to be an optimal solution. Let us go."

Re Purpose
Naki silently lays on her bed as she watches cartoons, in the vague hope of them cheering her tormented spirits.

''How do they even get human television here.....? Who are these people... these... things.... why are they doing all of this to us?''

She sighs weakly.

Volmond knocks twice before entering the room.

"Naki, it's time."

She silently looks towards him, then nods, turning her attention back to the tv for a moment before reluctantly shutting it off, then silently walking to the door and quietly looking up him, the man she now has to call one of her 'creators'. She can't help but feel a twinge of hatred for him as she looks at him.

"....I am.... ready....."

''No I'm not.... how could anyone ever be prepared for an existence like this?! I'm nothing but a lab rat! A glorified, helpless fucking lab rat!''

"You can be honest, I don't expect you to like your new form or what you've lost," says Volmond, "That being said, what was your worst subject in school, assuming you had a proper education on Earth? Also, are you any good with puzzles?"

Her face tightens slightly, but she answers, "I grew up on the streets. I didn't have anything. Money. Food. A home. All I had was my family. Then those armored bastards.... ...they killed us and tortured us and then stuck the survivors in those damn cages so you and that... that.... ......could treat us like animals, like toys....."

She convulses as she keeps back her emotions. "I'm just an uneducated street rat turned into a Mytho's pet.... the only think I knew was stealing for money and food..."

"I see... If only... No, that wouldn't have had much of an effect either. In any case, I am here to test your intellect and resourcefulness... Oh and how used to yourself you've become. I am telling you this because I'd like to establish an honest relationship between us, not because I see you as a simple experiment. Now, let us go." The doctor leads Naki to White. "She says that she is ready."

White looks at Naki for a moment, before leading them to the courtyard, where she reveals an elevator, which takes them down into a secret large pure white facility not too far down from the surface, a quiet electric hum in the air. She looks at Volmond.

"I will let you carry out the tests. This room is made to accommodate most circumstances asked of it."

The doctor nods before pulling out a wooden cube, a puzzle and four text books and setting them before Naki.

"We begin the intellect test. I will give you four hours to read through as much of each of these books as you can and relay what you have learned as best you can. Afterwards, I want you to try to disassemble the cube before you without breaking it, then reassemble it. Lastly, I want you to try and solve the puzzle before you without looking at the completed image. Understood?"

Naki stutters upon seeing the four books. "I-I-I can't read! Like..... AT ALL!! How am I supposed to read FOUR of those things?!" She cries out in alarm.

"Can you write?"

"N-no. How could I writing without being able to tell what I'm reading?"

"I meant in general, Naki... If it comes down to it, I'll teach both, but at such a pace you'll have to rely on more than your porous brain to understand what I mean." The doctor's eyes flash gold.

She sighs. "What did you expect from a street rat? I was more concerned with getting my next meal than learning how to read or write...." She meekly averts her gaze from him.

"I'll need your arm," says Volmond finally.

She slowly extends it to him, not sure of what he intends to do.

The doctor takes her arm, being careful not to touch the energy extending from it then touches one of the text books to the energy, followed by another smaller text book. At first nothing happens.

"Take a deep breath," warns the doctor before both books dissolve into the energy and flood Naki's brain with a vast amount information on writing, reading, mental storage and the types of learning.

She lets out a yelp as a sharp headache pierces her mind. "Ow ow ow! Holy crap! W-What did you just do? .....Ugh..." She steadies herself, putting a hand on her forehead. "...You've got to be kidding....." She says when she looks at a book and somehow understands its title.

".....Does that say 'Science?' on it....? ....No way.... I-I-I can.... read?!" She seems absolutely dumbstruck.

"It does," nods the doctor. "Now try to read from that book."

Naki grabs the book, surprisingly eagerly and begins to pour herself into reading it, looking for all intensive purposes to be like a child presented with a puppy for the first time, a look of wonder and fascination completely overwhelming her face as she reads, though she is reading thoroughly, she seems to be able to do so at a very quick rate.

White leans in towards Volmond. "....If she finds out we have a library, I have a suspicion that's where I'll be seeing her for the next five years."

"If we add my collection, eight years," he says, suppressing a chuckle. "I wonder how much information she will retain."

After about twenty to thirty minutes, she closes the book on the last page and looks over at them, surprisingly energized by the endevaour than calmed.

"Hm, enjoying yourself?"

She nods vigorously, the tension in her had left her face, she probably has forgotten she's being tested.

"Here, have a few more then," Volmond sets out several more text books and a few novels.

As she reads, White frowns for a moment, then closes her eyes. "Supervise her Volmond. Something's come up. I need to focus."

The doctor nods and keeps his attention on Naki.

She seems to be reading slightly faster than last time, engrossed by her new ability to read.

''Hmm, it seems she's taken quite a liking to reading... ''

The doctor calls forth a writing pad and several pens and pencils.

"Maybe you should try your hand at writing as well," offers the doctor.

She reluctantly looks up from her reading, not looking particularly interested in the pens and pencils.

The doctor chuckles.

"You remind me of a certain someone I know, only more expressive," he says, "I don't mean to interupt your reading, but writing is just as important, Naki."

Naki frowns, then sighs, slowly looking at the writing pad and pencils. "....What do you want me to write.....?" She asks, bored sounding.

"Anything you want. A sentence, a poem, your favorite line from a book, etcetera. Afterwards you can go back to reading for another few hours."

She sighs, and takes the notepad and the pencil and quietly stares at the paper for a while, eventually starting to write, though she doesn't seem to take nearly as much interest in writing.

Volmond waits until she is done before asking to see what she has written.

To his surprise, she seems to have written down the thoughts and sensations that she felt while being subjected to the experiment that made her this way, as well as occasionally delving into personal hatred towards the doctor and White, particularly White.

"I see... At least you were honest with yourself," says Volmond, "If you want to, you may continue reading, if not we could see if you have a knack for brain teasers and puzzles."

She sighs, then shakes her head. "....Let's just... keep going.... you'll only interrupt me more...."

Volmond presents the cube to Naki.

"This is a puzzle of sorts. The goal is to be able to disassemble it, then reassemble it... Oh and not break it, though I doubt that will happen. These are actually rather fun to do if you get into them."

Naki takes the cube and begins to carefully look it over, beginning to start taking it apart relatively quickly. She disassembles it in about a minute after starting. She looks up at him, then begins reassembling it, which takes her a little longer, about two minutes and twenty seconds.

"Good, now try it without looking at the cube."

She complies, taking a bit longer to do, but she carefully manages to pull it off.

He hears two pairs of feet land in the room, and he looks over to see Nezumi and Sukīmu, the second of them levitating some manner of red liquid, blood he assumes. She silently puts it in a bag and teleports it, and she looks over at White.

"Mission was a success. The target was healed, while at the same time a sample was acquired. A fight ensued later when my nature was detected, but I am fine."

White slowly nods. "Very well. Good work. At the very least, the project will be going smoothly once we begin full replications."

The doctor nods at White after praising Naki and presenting a jigsaw puzzle before the girl. "I will not allow you to see the completed image of this puzzle, but solve it nonetheless. If you do that, then there is one final thing before I take you back to your room with several dozen books to read. Is that alright?"

Am I required soon?

"Not at the moment, Volmond. I have plenty of time to prepare the specimens I will need. I will discuss it later though." She says calmly.

Naki pays them no heed, carefully and slowly putting the pieces together through trial and error, taking about twenty minutes before she sighs, putting the last one in place.

"I'm finished...."

"Still prefer reading over the other- Oh! No, I promised, so last trial." The doctor pulls out a set of cards, each with a distinct image on them. "I am going to show you these cards one at a time. When I do, say the first thing that comes to mind, no hesitation. Just say your first thought."

She blinks. "....Ok?"

Volmond shows the first card, this one depicting a mass of swirls and shadows.

"It reminds me of confusion."

The doctor nods then procedes to show the remaining cards slowly, waiting for Naki's response before switching to the next card in the deck. All the while, he is watching the lines on her pulse with a faint energy and her shadow, looking to see what ultimately forms from her responses.

He notice a creature forming like a humanoid, though thin and frail looking, with an oddly twisted spiral shaped torso, with a singular eye. The torso keeps going in the form of a tail, with a snake head at the end. It has no apparent legs. Naki curiously follows Volmond's gaze and her pupils dilate in shock.

"Ummm.... err.... what is that....." She says, clearly trying not to panic. "....Don't tell me that I made that thing....?!"

"It did come from your imagination, but it looks slightly incomplete," mutters the doctor, "Tell me, do you accept your current self or do you still long for your humanity? What is most important to you? What drives you?"

The creature curls around her body, then hugs her from behind, its head quietly peeking out from behind hers with its single eye peering at him, the snake head wrapped around her foot.

The movement at first startles Naki, but she quietly begins to relax after a moment.

She looks at the creature and then at Volmond, a bitter-sweet smile crossing her face as a look of reminiscing comes over her eyes.

"...I kinda think it reminds me of how I was... as a human... ....weak, frail.... .....always needing and wanting a hug to comfort me...."

She looks at her clawed hand for a moment. "....As much as I hate it.... .....this form it.... ....it's fascinating..." She becomes more melancholy.

"....I have all of these things... and become capable of doing things I could never do before.... ....I hate it because of what it took from me.... ....my identity... though now that I think about it.... .....what did I do exactly to even have an identity.... a purpose.... ......I guess I was just existing... and not really living.... ....nothing was important.... just... existing..... ....the only drive was to satisfy my aching stomach....." Her eyes dim for a moment.

"....I hate to think it.... .....but this is me.... the new me... ....no... maybe this me is the only one there's ever been.... ....the 'other' me... ...didn't even have a life worth living...."

Volmond, oddly enough, hugs the girl.

"As much as I've probably hurt you by helping make you as you are now, I understand living a shell of a life, not knowing if the day I was seeing would be my last... I'm sincerely sorry for what you went through on Earth and that we did not meet before your imprisonment... Seraph was in a position like yours..."

Tears silently roll from her eyes, and she closes her eyes, a weak grateful smile on her face. "....Thank you master...." She laughs weakly. "....Might as well call it like it is...... you two did create me after all.... ....I used to be a mere creature without a purpose... ....I guess it's to serve you both now..."

"I won't command you to do anything beyond these tests, not unless it is truly important. As much as I see you as a creation, I see you as your own person, so call me Volmond or Zwei not 'master', I am the master of machines and beasts rather than people... Now, let's figure out what type of books you like the best before we get you accomodated in your room." The doctor releases Naki and summons his rather large collection of books that do not contain research materials.

She lets out a high pitch squeak at the sight of all of the books, looking upon them with her hands cupped over her mouth and regarding them with her eyes as if they were a blessing dropped straight from the heavens before her eyes.

"It doesn't matter what books.... .....I'll try just about anything.... kyaaaaaaa- no no no no.... ....even though I want to.... I won't....." She seems genuinely excited to see them.

"Come on, I'll let you pick three dozen," says the doctor smirking. It's like the time I showed Seraph my computer network...

She eagerly looks at titles, when she finds one that interests her, she grabs it like lightning. When she gets too many to carry, the shadow creature grabs some with its hands, and when it can't carry anymore, it stops, and she looks at Volmond expectantly, smiling.

Volmond carries the remaining books and helps Naki back to her room.

"Don't stay up too late reading, sleep is important."

Naki only beams at him, while rushing into her room and eagerly setting down books on her bed and begins reading with barely contained excitement. Her creature interestingly enough appears to be reading with her, though it makes frustrated grunts when she finishes before it does in reading a page.

The doctor chuckles as he leaves the room, then heads to White.

He finds sitting on a couch in her room, and notices him coming down the stairs.

"I swear, like a child presented with a puppy for the first time... both endearing yet tragic at the same time."

"Indeed, though it is happy while it lasts," says the doctor, "Do you need my assistance with the CE prototype or will we save that for later? If so, it is about time for the constellations to be peeking out..."

White thinks for a moment. "I've got a special plan in mind for the CE Prototype. I'll need some more time before the other... genetics are ready. ....You could say we're jumping the gun on evolutionary process."

"I see... In that case, are you ready?"

She pauses. "...Ugh, I can't believe this, I'm actually taking a suggestion from him... Be back in a second."

She walks through doors which Volmond sees is a walk in closet, and comes out in a more casual style of clothing, but of course, white with black details as ever.

"Since we're going outside and all, I figured I'd bring something not so delicate."

"It looks quite nice on you," says he doctor, removing his lab coat and replacing it with a pea coat with two tails and his golden scarf. "Let us go."

She smiles, walking to his side. "Thank you, Legna. Thank you for offering to do this with me."

"Thank you for accepting my offer, Shinwa, smiles the doctor, bashfully, before leading her to a large open part of the fortress with a great view of the starry sky. The doctor nods then  lays down beside Shinwa and gazes into the sky.

She smiles and rests her head against Volmond's, one of her wings growing out and then covering him up.

The doctor smiles as well, watching the sky silently, but occasionally pointing out constellations he sees.

She contently stays there, smiling faintly. A twinge of gloom comes within her heart. ''I already know I'm damned.... heaven needs not to make a proclamation... ....for I damned myself a long time ago....''

She turns her head to face Volmond.

"Legna.... ....thank you for everything. ....I know that.... ....these last few months of my life.... ....with you.... ....will be the best thing I will ever get to feel.... ....I'm glad that.... ....I got to know you before I die...." She has a sad smile.

Volmond doesn't say anything for a moment, before finally asking.

"Shinwa, is death really the final answer? I'm not asking because I want to break your resolve, I'm asking because I wonder if there truly is no other solution... I'm sorry if this a bad topic, it's just... Never mind." He sighs. "I'll try to make these next few months the best I can."

"....An Angel learned of the CE's." She says above a whisper.

Volmond's eyes narrow.

"Maybe I should pay the Heavens a visit... A friendly visit where I can test out my toys..."

"No!" She says loudly. "No.... don't." She says more softly. "I brought it on myself...."

The doctor nods and puts his hands behind his head.

"Alright, but if Heaven attacks..." The doctor trails off, but the rest of his statement is obvious. "If it makes you happy, I won't harm them, but should they make the first blow, they will regret it..." The doctor ceases his train of thought. "I'm sorry, I'm just... I don't know. To be honest, I can't explain the complexity of my feelings entirely, it has been that long. Heck, meeting you has brought back enough of the things that I've lost for me to forget what drives me now... I... Who am I?"

She looks at him slightly concerned. "Are you alright, Legna?" She leans over and hugs him.

''I didn't even know him, and yet, because of my actions in the past... I'm ending up hurting him, even though he's been by my side this whole time...''

''Yes.... ....you're nothing but a sick rotten bitch... ....You can't do anything right except hurt others! But that's ok.... ....you enjoy it, don't you? The thrill of watching someone lose everything they are... And you're so good at it too.... the CE's... Kado, oh dear little Kado, man have you made that egg rotten! What's more, you're sending your agents to hunt down your misplaced agents.... ....Even though they just want to be free.... admit it.... ....you're a monster....''

''No.... I don't want this.... I don't want this anymore.....''

''What's even better is that what you didn't say, is that already you're hatching four new beautiful ultimate beings of destruction! Yessss.... the Lambdas.... Soon they shall emerge, and begin the ultimate evolution... what's best of all? They'll be practically unstoppable... and you'll make them destroy everything and subject it to your will....''

''No no no.... I don't want this, I don't want this.... I don't want this!!! I want to be happy! I want Legna to be happy! I won't.... I won't.... I won't be a monster anymore!''

"Shinwa, calm yourself," says Volmond, regaining himself upon noticing her distress, "I don't know what's eating you up inside, but I'm here for you..."

''Ahhh you don't mean that.... you are a monster! Just as you always will be! We're nothing more than a monster! A foul being detested by heaven who tortures the innocent and takes pleasure in it!''

''No! I won't do this anymore! I am Shinwa! I am not White! I'll never be White again! ''

Shinwa seems to be curling up into a ball, and Volmond notices the air is now severely hotter than it used to, thick steam starting to appear from her body due to the difference in temperatures.

Volmond sighs, getting a basic idea of what is happening. "Shinwa, White, calm down, please."

Suddenly a ring of white fire erupts around Shinwa, and a hand grabs Volmond and pulls him back.

"As much fun as it would be to see you burned by spirit fire, I'm gonna restrain you on this one. Watch." The voice of Yellow Cloak says behind him. "You're about to see something veeeerry interesting."

The white fire begins to spread onto Shinwa's body and burns at her form, and he sees blue curled lines of energy almost like a tattoo begin weaving into existence on her body, all over. Her back, legs, arms, chest, and face. From her back two large glowing wings of pure white energy in the shape of feathers, not dragon wings form. All the while, she is crying out in pain.

"Not the time, Goldie," snaps Volmond, spreading his golden scarf around himself like a layer of armor. His eyes blare with blue light as he slowly moves toward Shinwa.

"Goldie? Heh, that's a sign that we're bonding, you and I! The mark of a true friend is that of a nickname.... ....But seriously. You should stand back. Cause-"

BOOM!

A large explosion of Spirit Fire blasts them back, and when they look at Shinwa, her form has changed completely. The back of her shirt had been completely blown off, revealing a combination of thick scales and feathery scales that almost look like fur, her wings blaze with energy, and Volmond notes her hair now has grown down to her thighs, and he can see a fur and scale covered tail, her hands and feet are clawed, but delicately. Like before the explosion, blue lines run along her body, shimmering with spiritual energy. Her eyes are lavender once again, and she has small curled horns, a total of three. Her ears are also longer and pointed thin. The biggest thing he notices though is what's on her forehead.

There is a glowing aquamarine eye pattern on her forehead, and to his surprise it seems to fixate on him as though sentient.

"I'll let things play out from here...." Yellow Cloak disappears.

"Shinwa? Are you..." Volmond has a hard time finishing the sentence, "Are you alright?"

She doesn't respond, as a large black shadow suddenly engulfs her and Volmond, and a powerful male voice, one Volmond recognizes as the voice of the being that had spoken to him just after his meeting with Yellow Cloak echoes into being.

''You were deceived, Shinwa.... from the very beginning you've been strung along, controlled just as you controlled others.... allow me to show you the TRUE timeline....''

A many countless series of images flash before the two of them, a life with Shinwa's family, Kado, and Furue, all happy and alive. No sacrifice, no pain. No Phoenix.

''THAT was your true intended existence.... but..... the one you know as Yellow Cloak, the Observer of Time, Eien.... deceived you... the future you saw that day? One of many countless possibilities.... relying on you joining Phoenix.... The vision you saw of him becoming strong and surviving? Another alternate outcome. But now guaranteed to never come true.... and now... your soul is damned, hated....''

An image of the seven cloaked figures, cruely grinning and cackling twists around them as it continues relentlessly, even as Shinwa literally looks as if she could shatter in a mere second from terror, horror, fear, despair, grief, billions of emotions ravaging her mind, and Volmond can sense that the being's voice is driving her to the absolute breaking point.

''Yes..... they are the ones.... they wanted this.... all along, they've fed you lies of a future full of hope for your brother, while secretly they have brought you closer and closer to ruin, so now, your soul will never be redeemed by God! Their deceptions were all for this! So you could be ravaged for crimes you committed, all for the sake of a future and lies that would never be true! Do you see now?''

The darkness disappears just as Shinwa completely crumbles into a fit of absolute despair, beginning to shriek with a horrid scream many countless things, begging for forgiveness to God, cursing her existence, begging to her brother to forgive her, her mind broken by the things she had witnessed and heard. He then watches with horror as her form begins to blow blue and red, one half becoming pure red and sucking in the light, while the blue begins to glow with an incredible brilliance.

Her torment is so overwhelming, her soul itself is tearing in two.

Volmond's horror quickly turns into anger, his eyes immediately shifting from a determined blue to a blood thirsty red. Barely contained rage flashes through his eyes before the light within them dies, fading to black.

Anger can wait, I have to keep Shinwa alive!

The doctor attempts to keep Shinwa from tearing herself apart with everything at his disposal, magic, science, speech, energy...

I..... love......... you...... Leg.....na...... The blue half speaks to him, the voice of Shinwa both pleading with him yet reassuring him.

''It's too late for us as a singular being! We are to be born anew! The Fluctuation has been fulfilled Legna.... ....yes.... this is that Fluctation, the 2%! Meant to be triggered by you, and only you could make this possible.... you're the only one who could give her the strength to fight back against the emptiness she forced upon herself.... you inspired her with your words.... ....you made her whole again, but even more, you caused a conflict within herself, one that gave birth to me.... this moment.... ....It is Fated. Do not worry.... this is not death.... but rebirth! ''White, the red half proclaims triumphantly.

A crack begins to split the combined energies, starting at the head, the two halves begin to flesh out rapidly, the red's glow now brilliant, as is the blue's, and a powerful oscillating sound begins to vibrate the air as the birth of two new beings begins, as their forms rip apart from each other, a massive blast of massive spiritual energy is unleashed, a nasty hole in the fortress ground formed.

To his left, the blue half grows and repairs, now a solid blue being, as is the red on his left, both sprawled on the ground. The light they emit dims, revealing two women bare and sleeping, Shinwa, who has graceful blue lines accenting her body, looking softer, kinder, glowing with a soft white light, her closed eyes at peace. The red one, White, has sharp angular red lines dancing along her body, graceful in appearance, but less beautiful in a kind way and more beautiful in the way of a weapon, her face alone seems to convey a more sinister, cruel being.

He senses the return of the dark shadow, taking on a vague form between the two reborn beings. It looks at him with solid red eyes.

"The Fluctuation has come to pass. This outcome was desired by Eien. He knew you could accomplish this evolution's occurrence, and to assure that it would happen, he informed you of its existence, and subconsciously perhaps you desired that outcome he tossed at you, one where Shinwa could be saved. He did not lie. This time. Shinwa lives, as does White. But know that one cannot be reborn without losing something. White has retained her memories in full, but Shinwa, to become pure, was stripped of all knowing or awareness of her past.... ....she is almost like a newborn.... but fear not.... ....her soul remembers you strongly. She will unconditionally love and even know you.... when she wakes, she will still call you by name.... but she is completely stripped of her past."

The being seems obscured by some force he cannot see, preventing him from trying to figure out what the being is. It looks at him quietly for a moment.

"Will you choose to leave this place with Shinwa, and fulfill your promise to make her happy? For now fate has been decreed that White, the perpetrator of all of these crimes, these horrid experiments on innocents, still lives, and will still be killed in the coming storm. But her purity and her good soul has been purged of her wicked form... and so in that fateful battle, the innocent girl still lives... no longer haunted by her darkness."

"I..." The doctor falters. "If I am to go, I need to take another with me, besides Shinwa..." ''Naki, I can't leave you here, not if White has lost all dredges of the good in her heart... You deserve more than to be a simple experiment. ''The doctor casts his scarf on Shinwa and his coat onto White before picking up the former and warping to Naki's room. He knocks on the door with purpose then remembers the tracking spell on the room and casts a temporary jamming spell. Recognizing that White would react quite poorly to the lack of an Etherite subject, he summons another completed, unconscious Etherite from his lab and scrawls a quick note saying that while he does love both halves of her, he cannot allow Shinwa to be hurt so he must go and that he plans on sending her something to make up for his sudden departure. "Naki, we're about to go, grab as many books as you can. I'll get the rest."

The doctor sends a mental message to the being in his lab, telling it to send all of his not given research materials to storage, but to also leave the Arthurian Units for White.

A weak trail of thoughts enter Volmond's head suddenly, the last thoughts of the combined being that was Shinwa, though filled with static.

''Volmond....... please..... .....set the Archangel free.... .....I.... ....must make amends to the Lord.... ...please..... this is.... ....my last request.... ....Before I disappear, you must know.... ....the Lambdas are already being born.... Azula.... I ordered her to take four samples.... one from Naki, one from myself, one from the monster we faced, and the genetic material cultured from the blood of the Nephealm Demgel. It's too late.... to stop it.... Azula and her two sisters, as well as a brand new CE... ....I never named it... .....but that's not important.... please.... do not help her.... ....every second that passes as she grows within me.... ....the twisted thoughts coursing through us.... through ME.... ....Legna.... I do not know.... If I will be the same.... or if we will truly be together.... .....but I love you.... ....watch over me.... .....goodbye.... .....I hope.... I can wake up..... and see you again.....''

Naki looks at Volmond. "Master Zwei, what's happening? What happened to her? What was all of that outside?" She seems genuinely scared.

"I'll explain as soon as the things get settled, until then I'm going to send you and Shinwa to my actual place of residence outside this realm. Please watch over her until I return." Volmond doesn't wait before teleporting Naki, her familiar, Shinwa and the books to his domain, then warping to the lab where the Archangel was kept. "Big guy above, you are going to owe me one for this...."

As he examines the Archangel for a moment, he realizes the being's very mind is nonexistent, when he attempts to discern the reason for this, he notices a residual negative energy so powerful it is as if all of the malice of existence had been poured into the being's mind until the being's mind had been utterly erased.... not a surprise that the Archangel hadn't ever tried to escape.... ....it lost its consciousness, mind, and will forever.

"...Of course... Still, I gotta bust you out of here, so hold on." Volmond shatters the prison containing the Archangel with a blast of pressurized air, then grabs the being and teleports it to Heaven before warping himself out of the lab.

Reborn Malice
Silent Angel appears, ragged and wounded in one of the courtyards, and he pauses to catch his breath. ''Yeah.... I knew it... the mistress is down.... but how? Why weren't we told?''

He walks through the fortress, and comes to a dead stop at one of the courtyards.

''Is that.... White?!''

Lying on the ground, a bare woman partially covered by a lab coat is seen, red markings trailing across her body.

"A negative spirit... ....she ascended.... damn it...." He growls.

The woman slowly stirs, and Silent Angel feels his shackles restrain him just as he makes the decision to attack. Her body slowly rises to her feet, the coat haphazardly threatening to come off her form. She remains hunched over for a bit, before slowly rising to her full height and looking at Silent Angel, opening her eyes to reveal crimson eyes with flakes of gold decorating them. Just as the coat is about to slide off, she grabs it quietly and puts it on herself, though doesn't bother to button it just yet.

She walks up to Silent Angel with a quiet look in her eyes, staring him down. "It is still too early for you to be back. I assumed you would have at the very least defeated Daikeim, yet you come back looking like a damn wounded puppy sent to fight in a dog arena."

''No doubts.... it's White... but.... different. ''

"Doubtless because of you ineptitude, the Epsilon unit will likely be destroyed. Not that I care...." White says with a cruel smirk.

''I hate that damn look.... now it's even worse....''

"....Mistress..." He says, trying to avoid looking anywhere but her face, "Can you please dress yourself?"

White gives him another smirk, before buttoning the lab coat, though it only helps partially. "Is that better, you little sensitive boy?" She coos in a taunting way.

"....." He furiously thinks of glorious ways to kill this bitch, but none come to mind that don't end with her being able to stop him.

With a final smile she begins to walk away. "Oh, and Silent Angel? I may be giving you a promotion in the future.... ....I know you'll enjoy it...."

Those words make Silent Angel pale.

''Just how far is she willing to go... ....does she mean what I think she means....? If so.... ....The Etas will not only be obsolete... ....but maybe even upgraded.... oh God.... ....I don't want to be stronger.... I just want this to end....''

He collapses on the ground, pale as his mistress laughs into the night.

Lambda's Awakening
Deep down in the dark labs below the ocean of Yosai, four beings sleep, their forms shifting and changing. One of them opens their eyes, red with flakes of every color shimmering in its depths, giving her eyes a mesmerizing look. Her hair is blue with black tips, though it has a strange glow that radiates in a rainbow. From her back, six beautiful wings have begun to sprout, and sapphire blue scales, feathery and soft begin to grow on her skin, becoming patched together in various shades of white, though in the light her skin has a glisten of sapphire.

The woman lets out a gurgle of pain in the nutrient enriched liquid that the four can somehow breath in, as black and blue plate begins to grow out of her body and grows into a thick armor like covering that covers her arms completely, though a hole in the the lower arms open up and energy begins to flow from it. The armor also covers her legs and most of her chest.

Various blue symbols now dance about her form, and she begins to glow with an immense power. The combined powers of Aether, Ether, and Divinity produce a fearsome aura of dancing colors and as her claws and small horns grow, her transformation completes with a mighty blast that frees her at long last from her chamber. ''I..... am.... Lambda.... Lambda.... Azula.... digital reference code: 001.''

''I am.... Azula.....''

''Free me..... Kado..... .....What have I become?''

In an identical pod to the woman's awakens a younger man. His hair is an iridescent blonde with the ocassional completely golden strand and his cobalt eyes gleam with both intelligence and laziness. As his form begins to shift, he drowns out the pain and awe of the transfiguration with thoughts of his surrounding and his awakening. Finally, he notices his wings, four near identical golden limbs, each covered with a flexible layer of small golden scales, that were more draconic than the woman's. By this point his armor, thin yet durable ivory and cerulean plates, had grown out along with graceful claws and golden markings almost identical to lettters.

Squinting, the man watches as the pod containing him began to crack, slowly then rapidly, as a violent whorl of energy forms around him, finally shattering the equipment containing him and allowing him to stumble out of it.

''...Core functions appear to be in working order. Verifying identity as Lambda Unit 096: Nanashi... Verification complete. Releasing Analysis Mode.''

''Well then, it seems that I have changed quite a bit. It will be annoying, but I'll have to grow used to this.''

The woman who emerged before him turns to look at him, her eyes now changing to a deep blue like the rest of her, curious.

"You are newborn.... am I right...?" She asks quietly, but even with a gentle tone her voice carries great power.

"Yes... I do not recall this being my initial form, only that I was... different at some point prior," he responds. Despite the confusion in his voice, he is doesn't seem really bothered by his form.

"It isn't.... my sisters are due to awaken soon...." She says quietly, though there is a hint of sadness to her tone.

"I see... That appears to upset you. Is it not a happy ocassion when a family is brought together," he asks, processing something before he speaks again. "Ah, I believe I partially understand as I am now. It will take a moment to separate my processes from my thoughts and inquiries."

She closes her eyes. "It is good to see my sisters after so long...." She places a hand on one of the tanks and looks into the contents sadly. "But unfortunately we are slaves and are but weapons of mindless destruction to her.... ....our creator."

"We may be beings of great power beyond measure.... but we are still bound by that woman's cold grasp. A family reunion, tarnished by the tears of slavery." She opens her eyes, blue pools teeming with sadness.

"I used to be free. There was a man I loved... ....love.... ....but now I am denied my existence and made a weapon. As are you and my sisters on verge of birth."

The pod she had touched begins to glow red and cracks.

"I see," a genuine emotion enters his voice. "You may use my shoulder if you wish. If our situation is as dire as it sounds, we must foster some form of comradarie to keep us stable... I wonder...." The younger man has a thoughtful expression as the pod glows brighter.

The woman steps back as the red light grows blinding and the glass shatters, revealing a tall woman with white hair with iridescent glow, orange-amber eyes that look as though burning. She wears a thicker armor that is pure red with spikes on the shoulderpads. A tail whips from behind her with an axe like blade, and four blazing wings made of fire burn from the woman's back. She is far more muscular than her sister, having a much more generous form as well. Her claws are much larger than the first woman's, meant for heavy fighting, though they shrink and retract into normal hands with a reddish skin tone and scales, ones that gives her a red glow in the light. The energy that flows from her arms looks almost like fire rather than normal ether, though it still is, oddly enough.

She sweeps her much shorter white hair out of her face, and cracks a merry smile at the first being.

"It has been a very long time, my dear sister. How have you been, Azula?" Her voice is stronger and proud, almost defiant and unconcerned of her status as a slave to their unseen master.

The woman called Azula closes her eyes. "....I wish it were better... I saw the outside world.... I was happy... but...."

The woman puts a hand on Azula's shoulder. "We're sisters, Azula. Nothing will stop us. We'll pull through. Alright?"

".....You are always so confident.... Abeni...."

Abeni smiles. "Don't worry about it. Someone's gotta stay positive, and we both know that isn't going to be you!"

Abeni finally notices Nanashi. "Oh hello there. What's your name?" She says in a friendly voice, though her power gives an edge of a firestorm to her tone.

"I am Nanashi. It is nice to meet you, Abeni," he replies, a scowl forming when his voice comes across as mechanical. "...This will take time to adjust to."

Abeni laughs. "At least you weren't malformed and barely alive for several years. ...I'm impressed at this body though, it's not exploding from all of this power. I'm tickled impressed."

"That must have been unpleasant. It does appear that these forms are quite sturdy... Ah, fully restored." Nanashi blinks a few times then shakes his head. "Alright... Hopefully, that should stop the issue."

"Say, when we finally get free, what should we do with ourselves? We can't be enslaved forever you know. I wonder just what we're capable of."

She looks over at one of the other pods, and there is a faint green. "Ah yes, Gurīn the late bloomer. Did she really just now start changing? Man, her body is stronger than ours, Azula. Though then again, I did wear down the fastest, they said if she had just a bit more enforcement, she'd be a normal CE, but now she's got a body so strong it's slowed the darn process down. Hey princess! Wake up!" She knocks on Gurīn's tank.

"Enforcement? Is this related to physical stability?" Nanashi watches and waits.

Abeni nods. "Our bodies were torn up by our first transformation. They got carried away once they made Azula and thought we could handle acquiring all the genetic traits of a CE at once. ...We nearly died. They managed to salvage us and keep us alive, but it was torment for years. The pain we experience now is nothing. Nothing compared to be held alive by a wire thin rope."

A heartbeat like noise can be heard as the green light grows stronger.

"I see... I barely have any recollection of who I was before this. My processes inform me that they were active throughout my transformation, but I was not." Nanashi sighs. "I guess I'll figure it out someday, but until then, I'll figure out what I can about this form."

To their surprise, the glass begins to break in pieces, and through the holes grow thick wooden vines that begin to sprout leaves and flower blossoms.

Nanashi watches silently, not entirely concerned or worried.

Gradually, the pod completely collapses as a dense growth of vines, ferns, and small trees grow out of it, and tangled within the mess is a girl with green hair, with naturally iridescent flowers growing amongst her hair. She has yellow eyes, and what seems like normal skin turns out to be scales as well, with many green undertones almost making her camoflagued. Unlike her sisters, she has very little in the way of plate, except on her fore arms and lower legs, both her arms and legs are that of an Etherite, though she has a total of eight, the other three grown into a combinaiton of humanoid arms and an arch angel's wings, though the angel wings are tinted green.

The only clothing she 'wear's is a dense interweaving carpet of moss and vines that only barely provides adequate covering of her body, and she also has the prominent whisker like scales on her face. The various plants all seem to be growing naturally from her, as if they were a part of her, rather than just created by her. She is also noted to have various spines growing out of her body, and Ether naturally emits from her eyes and appear to cover even her feathers, of any of them she seems to be producing the most Ether of any of them. The strong heartbeat they hear is now very much louder, and they notice while the tank has shattered, she isn't actually awake, despite her eyes being open.

"Gurīn. Wake up sister." Abeni calls out to her. The girl Gurīn merely closes her eyes, letting out a soft whisper of a breath as she sleeps.

"Hmm..." Nanashi looks confused for a moment. "Late bloomer indeed..."

Azula carefully walks up to Gurīn and lightly places a hand on the girl's cheek. "Hey sis, wake up. It's me, Azula. Are you alright, sister?" She speaks softly. A vine touches Azula's cheek in response, and Gurīn awakens.

"Sister? You're.... we're.... alive?" She speaks in a soft airy voice.

"Yes, now come out of there. It's been so long since we last saw each other."

".....Ok..." The vines, flowers, and plants all begin to retract into her body, and the arms modified into wings shrink and disappear, leaving her with just two arms. Four small wings of green light protrude from her back, and Azula helps her out of the remains of the pod.

"Gurīn, this is Nanashi. Nanashi, this is the youngest of us three, Gurīn. She always liked plants, but I didn't think she'd be able to... grow plants. ...She was always an odd ball on occasion...."

"I'm not odd!" Gurīn protests.

"No, you're my special sister who I love dearly."

"Aww that's- I am not special!!"

Azula sighs. "Well, you get the idea. Younger sister."

"I do, I was the eldest brother in my situation," he says as he begins to flex his wings. "...I wonder what happened to him after the accident. He wanted to be a doctor so badly..." Nanashi looks bothered by something, but shakes it off. "At least my memory is returning."

They notice Gurīn undergo more changes, as the plate on her arms and legs spread up all the way to her neck, creating a full body armor, and her hands and feet become humanoid. The Exceed Nexus of her arms shrinks down considerably, and the wings disappear. The armor becomes black and her hair becomes a dark shadow of purple, almost black, and her eyes are now red like how Azula's were before. She appears to be a much younger looking Azula almost, except for a few facial differences.

Azula blinks. "You look passable for at least an Eta.... ....and your power.... what happened to it? Did she degrade or something?"

Gurīn blinks. "What are you talking about? I don't feel different...."

"I think it is being suppressed or sealed until the right conditions are met," chimes in Nanashi. "If she feels the same, then it means nothing was lost or taken... I think." He shrugs and leans against a wall.

Azula blinks for a moment, then says sadly, "Our creator has summoned us.... ....to show off to her subjects the perfect weapons she has finally created....." She says bitterly, then begins walking in a certain direction.

"Follow me. I have been in these halls too many times to ever get lost...."

Her two sisters promptly start walking after her, though Gurīn elects to walk nearby Nanashi a little bit further behind than her brethren.

Nanashi follows, giving Gurīn a curious glance.

Gurīn walks alongside him for a while, not noticing his gaze initially, but eventually turns her head to look at him as well.

"Am I interesting to you, Nanashi?" She asks, as a vine of some sort grows out of her hand and a beautiful purple flower blooms, and she pulls off the whole stem and hands it to Nanashi.

"Do you like flowers?" She asks.

"Interesting is one way to put it, though to be honest everything about this situation interests me on one level or another. You three are more interesting though," he says, accepting the flower, "And flowers are nice, though they're hardy and strong as well."

"I hope if we ever can be free, that we can be companions, and not by force. A flower should be able to bloom of its own accord, it should never be forced into blooming for another's pleasure or self gain...." She trails off, closing her eyes.

"That applies to all life," says Nanashi, "Forcing one down a path they did not want is... Distasteful. If you force a flower to grow in the wrong soil, it will not grow properly... " Nanashi looks upwards. ''Freedom... Do I truly understand that concept?''

Dark Rising - The Twin Darkness
White stares at the newcomer for a moment.

"Well now.... I never imagined to see you here, Kake."

The hooded man smiles. "Ya got me there." A pile of corpses lay behind him, and the ground is soaked in red blood. His Slayer drips in the crimson liquid, and his clothing is stained deep red.

"So... I take it that you intend to take me back to the village? I'm sorry, but the only interest I have in going there is to dissect worthy specimens. I have no emotional ties to it. You might as well leave and find the weak child that sprouted from me, Shinwa."

''So it's true... I thought I sensed something odd. Very well then... change of plans....''

Kake points his sword at White. "Shall we have a dance, dear sister? It's been a long time....."

White lets a evil smirk loose from her lips. "Sure thing, brother!"

They fly at each other in a massive blur of black and white, towers and pillars blown down and walkways shattered as they clash, a primordial ringing of steel endlessly jars the silent night, only broken by the screams of men as the clash of the two combatants sends them flying to their deaths in the cold ocean waters below.

The endless drone of combat is suddenly shattered as Kake delivers a massive blow to White, sending her crashing through countless towers, bells ringing ominously as they crumble to the ground, ringing forth their final tolls as they plummet. She leaps forth from the destruction and kicks Kake into the ocean outside of the fortress' limits, causing a great tidal wave to erupt forth.

She descends to deliver the killing blow, but is stopped by Kake's hand no less, and the two duel further, giant waves of water blasted from the epicenter of their fierce duel.

"''Hahahahahha!" ''Kake cackles with savage glee, his breserk nature taking hold of him.

"I think you're enjoying this too much!" White sneers and unleashes a flurry of stabs at him, to which Kake only laughs more.

"''Of course I'm enjoying this! I haven't had the pleasure of ripping someone else's guts out in years! Let's dance some more, sister!" ''He roars with glee, their blades clash again and again, the furious clash of light and dark creating massive blasts of pure light and dark which can be seen even from the shore of the three nations of Fantasy, the sheer strength of the explosions audible like great mighty bombs.

After many hours, the fight does not let up, and Gurīn quietly watches the fight from a tiered walkway, her eyes soaking in the insane clash as massive flashes of light and darkness explode into being, glaringly powerful even from this distance.

"They're still going at it," comments Nanashi, finishing up a side project he took up out of boredom. He yawns, "At least I got the gamma stage of testing done. Now to release it to the public."

Gurīn looks at him in faint curiosity, another flash of light almost blinding them. "Project? What have you been working on?"

"I got bored so I created an application that I sent to the App Stores of Earth," he says, "The app is a simple game that involves drawing sigils to defeat your opponents and their armies, while they try to do the same to you. There are no In-app Purchases because you can't really 'buy' sigils, only learn to draw them and memorize them. It's called Magus War and currently has.... twelve thousand downloads. Huh, that's rather fast..."

"....App Store...?" Gurīn asks, confused. Below them, White and Kake fly apart, sheathing their swords and clenching their fists as light and dark energy form in their fists, Kake's darkness appears almost flame like, while White's almost flows like electricity. Their fists clash, and the two arms channeling the energy are each blown off, leaving the two combatants both missing one of their arms.

"Hmm... How would I describe it... Ah! Basically it is an information network that allows you to acquire usable electronic, mobile games and programs, either for free or by paying with regional currency, that work in almost any place or situation," Nanashi says, faintly glancing at the battle. "I wonder... should we do something about that?"

Gurīn looks down at them. "She says no. The situation is still in control."

"What's games, electronics, programs, and currency?" She asks with genuine innocence regarding her question.

The pair's arms grow back, and the two begin to change into larger, blackened versions of themselves, and long tendrils of spiritual energy form with blades on their ends, and the two beings begin to clash even more, the many blades letting out massive bursts of pressure as they collide with each other, the spectral fight growing in intensity as the fight draws on longer.

Gurīn looks onward silently. "They are getting tired. She says to wait."

"Games are means of killing time and having fun, fostering rivalries and having competitions wrapped into one. Programs are basically information sets that perform certain tasks when activated or interacted with. Electronics are machines. They can perform a multitude of tasks or very specific tasks and require certain amounts of electricity to work. Too much destroys them, too little has no effect.... Currency is a tradable material, not necessarily a natural resource, that people appear to value for some reason. It can be physical or immaterial, but it holds value none the less. I'll send you information regarding all of these subjects." Nanashi's eyes glow before he touches Gurīn's forehead. "Transfer complete."

She blinks, surprised at the information in her head. "I see..."

The two Slayers leave their Spiritual Forms, both crackling with Negative energy and panting.

They draw their slayers again.

"Kake... ...you know I have no interest in coming with you... ...if anything, the only thing I'd be willing to do is use the clan for experiments. Why is it that you know this, yet still fight?"

Kake chuckles darkly. "Isn't it obvious? To destroy you. In any case, I suspect if Kado is anything like he used to, I want to at least make sure there is one less roadblock in his path to victory. Namely, you. I want to bring him home in all honesty, but he won't rest until you are destroyed."

White chuckles. "But he won't come with you if he hates you for killing me... ...also... ...how will you stop him from tearing himself apart? Didn't you know?"

Kake's face straightens and becomes dark. "Know.... Know ''what?!" ''

White has a cruel smirk. "He became a Dual Nature... ...as I expected him to..."

".......You.......! You....! YOU....! YOU! YOU BITCH!!!"

Kake roars, a titanic black armored demon rising up from the ocean in a savage roar. White smirks, a massive white dragon of pure light rising up to reply to the demon.

"DARK-"

"LIGHT-"

"PHOENIX MODE!"

"Should we move? I don't think I'll have time to draw the Unbreakable Sigil," notes Nanashi, already in the process of drawing said sigil.

The two giant begins absorb Kake and White, and in less than a second, the two disappear faster than they can blink, only moments later a massive explosion fills the horizon, countless smaller continuous ones also go off, monsterous tidal waves are whipped up, smashing into the barrier of the fortress, shaking everyone violently with every impact, the barrier each time barely holding as massive cracks form, and gigantic amounts of water crash inside and smash into sections of the fortress.

Nanashi continues drawing the sigil, barely completing it as the shaking worsens. A moment later, what looks like a forcefield covered in seals and glyphs appears around him, Gurīn and anyone else within its radius.

After a few long, but nerve wreaking minutes, the waves slowly subdue and the fighting comes to a cease, White appears with Kake collapsed on the ground before her.

"As.... I was saying.... heh heh, ...join me, Kake. I know of Kado's location. If you wish to save him, it will require the effort of multiple spirits to manipulate his soul back into one."

"You can... do that...?" Kake asks reluctantly.

"Of course. The greater the number of spirits, the stronger the effect one's manipulation can become. With the help of the Avatars, we will surely be able to bring back the brother you desire. After that, you can have your way."

''As if... ...Origin was destroyed... Kado can never become his old self. His true self. That fool Demgel has guaranteed that Kado will spiral helplessly out of control until his own power destroys him. If he doesn't tear apart, his need for energy to continue to exist will grow until he needs to drain from whole cities to maintain his overwhelming power... ...but that's assuming he has the will to exist. And THAT. I know he doesn't. Once again... ...I have you to thank for that... ....Demgel... Origin was the last vestige of Kado's original will... ...the good, and the bad... now Origin is no more... ...for eternity.''

But Kake doesn't know that....

Kake closes his eyes. "You win... I couldn't even deny you at this point."

Checkmate.

Nanashi lowers the barrier after a moment, assessing the situation to make sure that things are safe before does so completely. I get the distinct impression that the lady is gifted with a silver tongue...

White walks away with a slight limp to her quarters, and Gurīn looks after her curiously. After a moment a green aura envelops her, and spreads to the whole fortress, restoring the damage to the place slowly but steadily, until it is completely restored.

"If only this place had more gardens...." Gurīn says almost woefully.

"Why not grow one," asks Nanashi. "There should be ample space for one..."

"...She won't let me...." Gurīn says sadly, her crimson eyes unhappy. "She says I'm not allowed to grow... to grow anything."

"Buy one then?"

"....With what money? ...Chains... Chains... So many chains..."

"I can handle that... I think I still have that code for a platinum card or two..." Nanashi checks his memory. "No, only a black card... Hmm, that could work."

''Do not take her anywhere outside of Yosai, and do not buy her plants. At all. ''White says in his mind sternly.

''I was going to order them online, but fine, lady, as you wish. I'll buy fish or a developer's license. ''

Gurīn seems to be inspired by the mention of 'fish', and begins to walk off with a slight spring to her step.

Nanashi stands perfectly still for a few minutes before he blinks. "Transaction complete," he says, "Tracking package and verifying certification... Oh! Now I can further customize Magus War and add in a few new things! And seventy eight thousand downloads, solid progress!" He calls up a blue, ergonomic ether keyboard and begins typing furiously for the next couple of hours.

Gurīn walks to the outer reaches of the fortress, and quietly walks down to the ocean levels, where she quietly stares down into the ocean's depths.

Xenima: *flies over fortress and looks into the waters and looks at himself again and clutches his fist* The White Witch will pay...*turns towards the forest and flies into the fortress and begins to make his way into the many corridors*

He eventually hears quiet walking noises following him, and when he turns, a girl with black plate of some sort and black hair and soft crimson eyes is curiously regarding him, an overall innocent air about her is immediately apparent. Before he can respond to the sight, she quietly yet quickly half walks half skips over to him and starts walking beside him, still regarding him with an open curiosity, touching his machinery with almost childlike interest.

Xenima: *pulls himself away* Can I help you? Nanashi finally finishes his work and sends out an update for his app before sending out a message to the Lambda units besides himself. ''Attention: I am sending a large packet of information to the three of you. This will detail how to connect to electronic networks, the ability to directly absorb information via the Exceed Nexus and how to duplicate and share said information and how to access the Shadow Matrix. It is your choice to accept this information, but it will be sent to you nonetheless. That is all, thank you.''

Azula appears to silently accept the information, though he cannot sense anything except a sense of static, Abeni accepts it, he can sense a strong overwhelming aura of tension in her mind, as though complications are occurring in her mission. Gurīn accepts it thoughtlessly, seemingly interested in the recently arrived Xenima.

"Are you one of our brothers?" She asks, still following him.

"Information sent... Now what... Oh, the library or the weird signal from beneath the fortress..." Nanashi contemplates this for a moment.

''Lady, permission to investigate the strange reading beneath the fortress... Inside of the labs, I believe, please.''

She appears before him, still wearing nothing but the lab coat she was given. "You do, if you bring me along to see this 'strange reading' you speak of. You act a little too... ...freely." She says quietly, her red eyes dim. Strangely, despite the intensity of the battle, the clothing is untouched.

Xenima: I suppose I am... *continues to walk down the corridors*

"That is acceptable, but... Hm, a Sacred Treasure... Interesting. That coat bears a very strong, almost impregnable defensively quality... Oh, one moment," Nanashi grasps a sleeve of the coat and applies his aura to it, causing the outer layer to form into armored plates with red eye like markings before it shifts into the form of a Gothic dress, "That should do it... My behavior stems from my nature. The more information I have, the stronger I become, though I can regulate what information I fully retain despite absorbing information constantly... Now, to the signal... I get an eerily similar feeling from it as I do from that Sacred Treasure..."

She blinks, then glances at the dress. ''...I almost rather liked the labcoat more... ah well.''

She follows Nanashi as he investigates the signal.

Gurīn keeps following Xenima, as though a child following an adult. "What's your name?" She asks curiously.

Xenima: My real name is D'Ranjo. But I guess my name now is Xenima.

"The dress form better suits the defensive properties, but reverting it is no issue," says Nanashi as they reach the lab containing the signal. "The signal's source is within this room... Ah, identifying source. File downloaded. Unzipping..............! Lady, there is a message to you along with information regarding a set of machines collectively known as Arthurian Units that are within the area. Would you like to hear the message?"

She thinks quietly for a moment. ''Him... yes, this is where he set up his workspace....''

Her eyes grow a stronger shade of red. "....Yes." She says, her voice stronger than normal.

"Dorango? What an interesting name... so, what is your favorite color?" She asks.

Xenima: The only colors I know are black and white.

Nanashi goes rigid. T-this voice! "Message XY-728:

White, I'm assumimg that you know that I've left amomg things. I'll keep this short: Goldie- Yellow Cloak isn't giving you the full story. As for what that means, you'll have to figure that out. Secondly, your Ark Angel is gone as of your request before you split completely. I do not doubt that you have already completed the next set of Chaos Engines by this point, so that should not really deter your plans. Thirdly, I have just downloaded several different tactical programs into whom I'm assuming to be Nezumi, the one relaying this message. In any case, they now hold the ability to utilize and activate the Arthurian Units.

Lastly, please try to keep yourself in good shape. I may not be there, but your well being- the well being of both side of you- is important. I'm letting you keep the Rho Aias, the coat I gave you, because it rivals Aegis in terms of defense and effectively gives you seven lives while you wear it. Please watch over yourself.

Zwei ." Nanashi clutches his head. "My head..."

White quietly leaves the laboratory, the few guards who see her in the dark halls shrink from the incredibly blood red glow of her eyes as she swiftly moves past them like a dark ghost, headed in a certain destination.

Nanashi trails after her before a set of armor like beings bar his path. One touches his forehead and his eyes glow until the being removes its palm. It and the others take to their knees and seem to swear their alliegence to him before compacting and combining into a layered bracelet that floats onto his wrist. ''That was..... Legna... He is still alive?''

White practically slams open the door leading to the specimens, where she stops dead and bares her fangs in rage at the empty container.

"''Bassstard!" ''She snarls.

It looks like I have extra work to do.... Her mind monstrously snarls as a red and black aura of negativity surrounds her as she leaves the room, the door disappearing behind her.

Nanashi leaves the labs and looks for a place to clear his head.

Dark Embers
As Xenima continues walking, Gurīn continues to follow him unabated, still asking questions and in general continuing her child like curiosity towards the machines on him.

Xenima: Stop it! Listen, I have something I need to do and I don't need your constant barrage of questions from preventing my duties. *continues to walk*

Gurīn flinches and gets a hurt look and stops, her crimson eyes dimming. The flowers in her hair wilt, and she quietly walks in the opposite direction sadly.

Xenima: *opens his hand an a near-microscopic bug-like mechanism flies out of his hand and it flies down the corridor and finally makes it into the lab he came from and looks at all the Epsilons a he makes his way through, he reaches to wear he was activated*..........*clutches his fist and slowly reaches up to his mask and slowly tugs on it. He finally begins to slowly removes it, but puts it back on and turns and leaves the room*

Right as he does so, he bumps right into Abeni, who quietly looks down on the smaller CE.

Xenima: You're a tall one, aren't you?

Abeni simply stares him down. "Yeah yeah. Listen.... ....you hurt my sister's feelings. Do you know what I do to shrimps like you who make my sister cry?" She says coldly.

Xenima: Kill them. Nothing new.

"Let's not have this issue and say we did," suggests Nanashi, popping up from around a corner, "We really don't need internal turmoil... Besides, the Lady would probably have a fit if this went any further, she's already raging about my... brother's presence..."

"Hmmm.... not the choice of words I would choose- Oh hello again Nanashi, you were just in time to see how I treat people who have the brain of a newborn."

She kicks Xenima in the groin strong enough to break the metal covering his body with ease.

"For starters, I would rather make you squeal like a little girl." She then dislocates his two arms, then starts dragging him along the lab floor, headed to the elevator.

"And after reminding you of your place on the food chain...." She says as they come to the surface and she dangles him over the side of the fortress and drops him onto the bottom level just above sea level, and is there to greet his return. She then picks him up and carefully breaks all of his fingers and toes.

"You're going to go apologize and then hope I don't send you to hell." She spins him around, and he is face to face with Gurīn, who blinks before smiling and waving.

"Hello again Dorango!" She says with a friendly smile, Abeni standing right behind Xenima.

Xenima: ''I'd rather be in Hell right now. Hello...''

"An interesting bunch I've met," comments Nanashi, before shifting his armor and attire into something more casual, though with the same ivory and cerulean coloration, though now faint indigos and violets are present. His armor has become a white hoodie with gold trim and indigo stitching over a shirt that appears to be black, but is actually numerous deep shades of blue, with white chains designed over it. His leg armor becomes similar to that of his hoodie, though gold and silver metallic plates appear around his waist and knees. "At least that's over and done with... Now, can we all be nice to one another?"

Abeni leans in Xenima's ear. "A, I can hear your thoughts. Don't make me take that as a challenge. B, That's a start, but how about an apology now?"

She looks over at Nanashi. "Oh, I'm just giving him a friendly warning." As she says 'friendly' she snaps Xenima's arm.

Gurīn frowns. "Abeni! Don't break people's arms, that's not nice! Don't hurt metal man!"

Xenima: I apolgize from earlier..I shouldn't have snapped at you like that...

Nanashi blinks. ''M-Metal Man... Ouch for the pinned down guy...''

"I'd agree with Gurīn, that isn't the most pleasant of things to do..." he says to Abeni before looking a Xenima, "Dude, don't be an ass, especially not to girls or women. Especially when they have you outclassed. Just saying."

Abeni looks over at Nanashi. "Well I could always eat him or dissolve him in Chaos or Ether... This is just a mild coperal punishment so he keeps in line."

She lets go of him, walking away. Gurīn looks over Xenima, touching his arm and a green aura covering him as his body begins to heal.

"There, that should make you feel better!"

Note to self, Abeni has mother's temper... Nanashi nods. ''I was always the one who was called too nice... I wonder how Legna is doing. Has he been eating well? Has he exercised enough? Has he been taking care of himself? Eh, if we meet someday, hopefully in a situation that isn't tense, we can go over that...''

"Get well soon," he says before following after Abeni.

Abeni looks at Nanashi quietly. "....He better enjoy himself while he still can.... you saw what was in his mind right?" She says only loud enough for Nanashi to hear.

"I did," he says before pausing. "I'm going to try something, hold on." Accessing Etheric Knowledge...... Etheric Knowledge Sychronized. Nanashi's Exceed Nexus begins to glow brightly and, after a moment, so does Abeni's. Is this working?

...If you mean if I can hear your voice, then yes.

'Good, I DID figure out how to communicate via Exceed Nexuses then. Hm, this means information transfers and relaying would be so much easier and more efficient as it isn't an electrical network... Oh, sorry if I "nerded out" on you, Abeni.' He scratches the back of his head. "Now to ask the Lady for permission to test the new technique I came up with..."

''...When the Lady gets back, Azula is probably going to be back as well. ...Once the mistress gets back, Azula will have to tell her about the guy. ...Then he'll probably be killed. ....Violently.''

''Is there anything we could do about that? ''He doesn't ask in a hopeful tone, but a resigned tone. P''robably not, I reckon... I'm not much of a fighter, not compared to you or Azula... At least I doubt that I could hold my own... ''He shrugs. ''I'd hope we won't have to be there if or when the Lady decides to end him... I also hope Gurīn doesn't have to be there...''

''As her most powerful, I have no doubt one of us will be the ones to do him in. I doubt Gurīn will be chosen, but you or I or Azula... most likely will be ordered to execute him.''

Nanashi sighs. ''Great... I dunno how to summon a weapon, only Sigils... Is there any particular way to call out a weapon?''

''Well.... Azula and I can weaponize Ether. Maybe you can make blades out of it? Do you know what kind of energies you can manipulate?''

''...I can find out? I know I can make Sigils that blow up things and the like, but not really much besides that and drawing things into being.''

''Well if you can access my mind, surely you can also access my knowledge. I don't really mind, you can study how I make the blades if you'd like.''

''T-thank you... ''Nanashi seems uncomfortable with being able to actually enter a person's mind, but does so gingerly until he finds the information. In exchange he trades information regarding defense and offense strengthening sigils. He practices for a bit before summoning a sabre comprised of Ether. ''I guess I'm not simply useless now... Hmm? Oh the little guys are talking... Hmm, Sealed Cursed Blade? Why is it both Sealed AND Cursed?... Oh... I guess that makes sense... I'll try that later. Thanks Arthur, Merlin!... So did I mention I found potential Mar Wachines? ...War Machines.''

''No you didn't. Also if you need information or help from us, don't be so shy. We are 'comrades' or that's how you decided to put it.''

''I just dislike the feeling of entering people's minds... So much information... I'll ask if necessary, thank you Abeni.''

Xenima: * looks down at the water then sees something dripping in it. He checks under his chin and water is dripping from under his mask. He sits down and looks out amongst the waters*

Gurīn sits down next to him, putting her hand in the water, and as she does so, fish of many countless colors start to appear near the surface, idly allowing her to stroke their bodies. They even see a shark, which lets her stroke its back.

Xenima: I see that the animals have a fondness for you...

"You can pet them too if you'd like. Just be gentle with them or you'll damage their coating. Don't be aggressive with the shark. He'll think you're challenging him."

Xenima: *shakes his head* No. I'm good.

Gurīn looks at him quietly, her eyes hard to read. "Do you not like me? You had a lot of mental turmoil in your head, I thought it would be nice if I could help you out..." She trails off, looking a little sad.

Xenima: Help? Help with what? Cope with what happened to me? I doubt it. Last thing I would expect is a brainwashed slave to help me.

Really, you can't  try ''to play nice? I really don't think that's gonna get you anywhere good...'' Nanashi appears from a flash of blue energy and crouches on the water's surface. "Heya, just making sure this trick actually worked."

The skies darken faintly as thunderheads rumble ominously, and a bolt of divine lightning smites Xenima.

Gurīn looks up at the sky. "It is said that bigger siblings have a sixth sense.... ....You didn't have to do that!" She calls out.

"She's just looking out for you," says Nanashi, "I'd do the same for my little brothers and sisters... Or younger brother, seeing how he's the only one left."

Xenima: Yoo want me to play nice? Where I came from there is no such things as nice! You either kill or be killed. If you don't die today, chances are you'll die tomorrow. My life was never nice, nor will it ever be. Say the lady who brought me back as an abomination to life itself. And you want me to be nice?! I never asked to be here! I never asked for any of this! I am not your brother! I am just a freak amongst a family of them! And why should any of you care? I'm only here to be the help! Nothing more! *looks up into the sky* Come on! Kill me! I know you want to! That's what you live for, right? To kill others, because you were made to do so! I'm no different! I'm just like those you want to kill! So if you're gonna kill them! Then kill me too! Strike me down where I stand now! I know you want to because I'm challenging you! You hear me! I CHALLENGE YOOUUUUU!

Nanashi strikes Xenima across the face, hard, before grabbing him by his collar and warping to the airspace above the fortress.

"Listen and listen well," growls the normally nice person, "I'm trying to look out for you, trying to make sure that you don't die in a brutal manner before your time. I don't care about your past nor about your experiences, I'm just trying to help you out because that's the thing I like to do, idiot. I wasn't calling you a brother and I sure as hell wasn't comparing you to my brother. Now chin up, clean your face and cooperate with the others before they have a reason to off you!" Nanashi warps Xenima back into the sea with Gurīn. "And apologize for being an asshole!"

A large flash of brilliant blue light appears in the sky, before Azula appears, right along the time Abeni does.

Azula stares Xenima down for a moment, before she silently begins walking toward him.

"Sister.... what are you doing?" Abeni asks cautiously.

"We're going to have a chat... ...between an Epsilon and the leader of the Chaos Engines..." She says dully. She grabs Xenima and flies him to the tallest tower of Yosai and lands on top of it. She stares at him quietly for a moment, then...

"You need to leave. Now. Go somewhere, far, far, far away. The mistress is busy, so this is your own chance to flee before I'm forced to report you when White comes back. I know everything you've done, who you're working for, all of it. You can try to lie, I'll see the truth for what it is. And if you do get away before she comes back... ....don't ever stop running... ....because you won't escape us if you stop running.

We're more than killing machines D'Ranjo. The reason we can keep on living is because we have hope. I suggest you find that. Or you're nothing but a machine that you yourself created. Now go before the mistress comes back."

Xenima: *his jet engine levitates him* Mark mt words. Your mistress will pay for what she's done to me and many others Why don't you do the same?

"Because she will know if I leave. You're different from the rest of us.... Leave. Also... ...regardless of your situation, what's happened to you... ....it is better to seek the comrades of those like you rather than to isolate them. Our hope for the future and our ties to each other give us the strength to walk every step, no matter how wretched our path."

Xenima:...Every comrade I knew has died...I just can't stand to loose much more...Me being...this...it has drove me insane...and the memory of my death...it's fuzzy....it messes with my temper not remembering how I died....but I now The White Witch had something to do with it...Why can't you fight the Witch? We outnumber her and we have multiple physiologies that outdoes her. Why can't kill her when we have the chance?

Azula gives him a tired look. "Don't ask questions. Unlike you the Epsilons, whose control mechanisms are present as the machines that surround your body, the Zetas and beyond... are controlled biologically. White controls our actions, even if I were to travel realms away, I could not escape her range of control. I could not kill her even if I wanted to. Any thoughts toward the mere idea are instantly suppressed. Leave while you can. The mistress is resuming her attention. I will likely be behind you soon if you do not leave now. This is the only warning with guaranteed time to run I have left to give you."

Xenima: *sighs* Alright. But whether we are in the eve of battle or in the dawn of each other. We will be free. *flies off*

At least thirty minutes later White appears behind Azula.

".....Lambda Squad.... ....please assemble." She says both mentally and out loud.

Nanashi warps to the designated location, having figured out how to summon a weapon for himself besides an Ether Sabre among things.

"Follow him, obscure your presence, and once you see who he truly is loyal to, destroy the two of them." She says to Azula, Nanashi, Abeni, and Gurīn, they instantly receiving the full scale of her intent: the destruction, absolute destruction of the rogue CE, his master, and the master's people.

Nanashi doesn't nod or bow, only turns around and vanishes in a flash of blue energy.

Abeni, Azula, and Gurīn fly after him quickly, Gurīn changing into a minor version of her Awakened Form to fly. All four Lambdas are encased in their robotic armor, the armor eliminating all thought processes except those necessary to function and the success of their mission:

Eliminate or capture the escaped CE and punish his master.

Nanashi blasts after the escaped CE but remains stealthed by staying within a different dimension where distance is calculated differently. He supresses his presence and the presence of his spacial distortion to nonexistent as he begins to gather information on the area and the target.

Xenima makes it to a barren flatland. Everything seems to be scorched as sparks blow away in to the wind. and the sky is filthy brown. The ground itself seems to be scorched. He walks up to a puddle and slowly takes off. His right eye is streaming with endless tears down his face and the other half of his face is robotic, with his left eye shining red and metal snags branch out from his face. There is a large cord in his mouth that goes down his throat. He looks at himself a little bit more and closes his eye and puts the mask back on. A buzz-saw appears on the wrist of his hand and he slowly cuts the only available flesh on his arms. Black substance drips for the cut and clouds the puddle water. He realizes that it isn't blood, but oil. A single tear drops from his mask and into the black puddle.

Nanashi watches Xenima, from the other dimension, but remains completely hidden within the different dimension.

Azula uses his observation to direct Gurīn after him, but then veers off course along with Abeni in a different direction...

''Secondary objective determined to be Drekavas of Upnation. Proceeding.''

''Observation phase pending completion. Proceed to Primary Objective?''

''No.... Gurīn shall proceed. Orders are for you to observe... intervene if somehow necessary. ''

Gurīn uses the data he's gathered to teleport herself high above Xenima...

The puddle where Xenima had been crying in has been growing steadily at a massive rate. Grass all around him has begun to grow, and the starts of trees and flowers can be seen everywhere, the soil around him becoming soft dirt.

Xenima: *looks above him and sees Gurin, then looks down at the puddle and has a flashback of himself on his knees crying with endless tears running down his face that his tears begin to rise up to his knees. Everything begins to get all fuzzy and he feels his head in anger.*

A soft touch on his mask startles him as a being glowing green with long green hair and leaf like green glowing wings, and yellow eyes smiles at him, standing on the water in front of him. She gently pulls his mask off and touches his face, the green glow starting to spread to his body and over to his metallic parts, where a furious itching begins. Before he can pull away, vines of various flowers grow from her arms and sprout strange glowing flowers and release a powerful aroma that sedates him and he falls into her arms, the green glow spreading to more of him, an overwhelming sense of comfort and safety taking over his mind, as the being's vines soothingly wrap around him.

Xenima: *is slowly loosing consciousness* Wh-what are you- Why are you-...*falls asleep*

Vines gently continue to wrap around him as the being wraps her arms around him and places him in her lap, the green glow seeping into his body and into his soul, changing him in complex ways from physically to spiritually. The vines become a soft blanket for the sleeping Xenima, as his life becomes slowly bound to the being's own and he is gradually transformed into a human with no metal parts at all.

.....

When Xenima wakes up, he feels the soft vines gentle wrapped around him, and can feel the gentle presence of the being as she gently keeps him up against her, a supernatural warmth comforting him. All around them the area has been completely changed, a large lake with a vast jungle has sprouted up around them, and a great mass of trees, roots, flowers, and vines all seems to come from her, as though the transformation of the area came from her.

In greeting, the being gently kisses his forehead, and whispers, "Good morning, you've been sleeping for a whole day. Are you ok D'Ranjo? Or do you prefer yourself Xenima now?" Her arms unwrap from around him, but six beautiful wings of green light wrap around him instead. Many beautiful and overwhelming smells are in the air from flowers he has never seen.

D'Ranjo: *looks at himself* Wh-what ....what did you do to me...?

"I sensed hate of yourself, hate of what you had become. I made you of flesh and blood, because I thought it would make you happy. Was I right in assuming you were once a human?" Her voice has a soft echo, gentle but with a hint of power beneath it, as though he could hear the voice of nature itself from her lips.

The vines begin to crawl about, weaving into shapes that become a complete set of clothing. After this, the remaining vines gently release him from the being, allowing him a clear look at her for the first time since the brief encounter. She appears to be attached to the large mass of trees and assorted plant life sprouting around and underneath them like an explosion of flora via a complicated web of vines, trunks, leaves, and flowers. The various plants seem to literally grow from her body almost seamlessly.

D'Ranjo: Why? Why would you do this for me?

She gives him a light smile. "Does kindness need a reason? I saw you were hurting so I helped you." Her face, the more he looks at it, is vaguely familiar.

D'Ranjo: *comes to realization* You...

She smiles weakly. "Don't worry. White isn't after you. I helped you of my own will. You're safe in my garden."

D'Ranjo: Whether the Witch will find me or not, I still need to find away to free all the others, who have been taken and turned into these abominations. They deserve just as much freedom. I cannot help them though, like this.

She closes her eyes sadly. "You alone can't save any of us. Me, Abeni, Azula... none of them. Not one person can do it alone. This isn't even my final form, or the extent of my powers. I am nothing compared to Azula... there is a union of those who wish to put a stop to her organizing... ...though I cannot help you or willingly let you leave my garden. You are free to do as you wish within my garden, and my essence I have implanted in you will make the plants bear food for you to eat, and my essence purifies all water here... ....if you are displeased with your being I can shape it to whatever you desire... ...but I'm not allowed to let you leave... ....I am sorry. I pushed the limits of what I was allowed to do as it is. If you wish to escape, you must pray for a miracle, for I'm afraid nothing can happen here without my knowing.

...My name is Gurīn.... ....and I wish to be your friend... ...please... allow me that much..." This last thing she says she pleads with sorrowful eyes, as though hoping the extension of friendship will pacify any anger he may have toward her.

''Observation Phase Over. Requesting permission for interaction.''

D'Ranjo: Haven't you wanted to live outside of being what you are now? The horrors of taken innocent lives and reverting them into something monstrous. Haven't you felt the same way? That 'Why did this happen to me?' or you wanted to get back at the person who took your life away? Your sisters lives? I know you claim not being able to fight of your mistress, but I don't want to sit around while, my fellow man await being brought back into this world as a machine of destruction. *sighs* But thank you still, Gurīn. For giving me back my humanity, but it's worthless if I spend it selfishly on my own, living my own life while others have to spend it everyday lamenting on how much they despise what they are and what they are forced to do. Not knowing their lives and only knowing the one they woke up in. It's a sad existence no one should have to re-live through. Not even someone like you.

Gurīn's eyes are sad, and soon close. "....I don't feel any desire for vengance against White... ....I couldn't raise my hand against anyone. ....I am sorry, D'Ranjo. I hope you can forgive me, but I cannot let you leave. The jungle alone is vast, and even if you reach its edge I will be forced to pull you back to this central point, and erase your knowledge of how to leave. ....There is no way out. I can sense all that interacts with the elements, and the living things, from the birds, the animals, to the plants. From the earth, the water, and the air... I can sense your being... ...there is no way to fool me. ....Please.... ....forgive this reluctant jailor.... ...I wish I could let you be free... ....but with all the powers I wield... I cannot fight Mistress. The chains that bind me are stronger than that you are familiar with."

''If that is what you desire... ....but please... ...do not aggravate him... ...I do not wish to make him more resentful.''

I will attempt not to, but I cannot  be sure as to how he will react.

Nanashi enters the the area silently, his weapons no longer present. He sits down and acknowledges both of them but says nothing.

D'Ranjo: *sits on a vine* Whether by my hand or not. The White Witch will pay...And one way or another, I pray for your freedom...

Her eyes close sadly, as a mass growth of vines cover her, slowly growing into a tall tree. The only hint of her presence is a general sensation of surreal tranquility in the jungle, and a soft green glow emitting from the tree, and occasional whispers of her thoughts.

''.......If you need something.... gently pull on my vines... the ones with the purple blossoms......''

D'Ranjo: I forgive you...

Nanashi remains quiet for a while longer.

"You desire our freedom," he says after a moment, "I do not think that will be so easy... But thank you nonetheless for the thought."

D'Ranjo: It's not a promise. It's something I intend to do.

"Good luck then," says Nanashi. "Hopefully your words will ring true..." With that he vanishes in a flash of blue energy.

D'Ranjo: You all will see...You all will be free...This I swear!

A vine lowers, and a single pink flower quickly grows into a large red apple, and neatly drops into his hand.

D'Ranjo: *looks at it and simply holds on to it*

Bittersweet Night
Sukimu quietly walks to the edge of the fortress, looking out to the sea, while countless starts sparkle across the reflection of the water. The sight is dazzling, a sea of stars, something few could ever hope to see. She could almost forget her problems... except she can't.

"That angel.... ....how was it that he knew me... was he from my past life....? ...If so, he should realize I'm beyond saving..."

"That's not necessarily true," A voice says behind her, and she turns to see Silent Angel.

"Oh, good evening." Sukimu says quietly.

"Yes, a good evening indeed. What troubles you? Are you still worried about that angel? Stop. Won't do any good. Besides, he hasn't shown up recently since then, so he's either lying low or avoiding you. Either way, when he comes back, we'll deal with it. But let's not worry for the time being. You know what time it is right?"

Sukimu sighs and looks away. "Christmas, I know. A celebration I'm not interested in. It's a celebration of hope, something we can't have."

Silent Angel sighs. "Stop acting like that's true. There is always hope. Even for rejects like us."

Sukimu turns irritably. "Enlighten me. I don't see it."

Silent Angel looks out over the water. "Well, if Daikeim could come close to beating me, then there's hope yet for us. Perhaps he'll be the key. Who knows? There are possibilities, you just have to search for them."

"You mean like searching through a haystack to get to a single needle?"

"....Geez you're difficult...." Silent Angel rubs his head. "Will you at least join us tonight?"

Sukimu considers his words for a moment. ".....Fine... I'll go...." ''No sense in being alone... ...at least it'll make the night go faster...''

Meanwhile, Toma is staring at a sphere of water, with the image of Torrent visible.

"You doing ok?" She asks with a smile, seeing the snow filled scene.

"Oh just great, Kagerou is a genius at teleportation, I think he deserves a.... what's it called? Nobel Peace Prize, for being a right dumbass!!!"

Toma chuckles. "That bad huh? Well, take care of yourself. Try not to kill each other before you find Noriko. I imagine White would rather be angry if you went and did that."

Torrent sighs. "Alright alright I will... geez, you sound like a mother hen...."

Toma waves goodbye, before dispersing the orb. She sighs.

"Man that guy has a temper... ...sure is a lot more quiet here than it used to be..."

She walks through the halls of Yosai, coming to a large pool in a courtyard, dipping her feet into the cool water.

"Hm? Someone else is here," asks Nanashi, floating in the water with his eyes covered in blue, glowing bandages. No liquid seeps from them as he floats in a relaxed position with various ethereal tendrils flowing around him. "You aren't another visitor are you?"

"No, I am Toma, the Water Slayer of Phoenix. I'm a Nymph hybrid. You're one of the new CE's, is that correct?"

"Ah, I am Nanashi," he says, "Yes, I am one of the Lambda series. I was just making sure there wasn't a second visitor tonight, the first one cost me my eyesight for approximately another half hour..."

"I see..." She says as she slowly lowers herself into the water, allowing herself to merge partially with it, gaining a more fluid, flowing shape as she changes more into a nymph.

Nanashi continues to relax in the water before asking. "How are you fairing?"

"I'm fairing... well I guess. It's been a long few weeks. The place feels less like home now that so many are gone now..." She says, a hint of a bubbling to her voice.

"I see, much must have changed," he says, "Why not spend time with the others who remain and forge stronger bonds?"

"The only member in Yosai right now besides White is me... Torrent's on a mission, and Kake, apparently the new guy, is probably off resting... also the Eta's are probably not fond of me."

"Hmm," Nanashi seems to ponder something, "I guess we could continue to talk, if I'm not bothering you."

"I don't mind. You're not bothering me. Anything you don't know that you'd like to know? I can answer most questions, not all, but most."

"What is our real goal," he asks after a moment, changing his position in the water to appear to be looking at her, "The visitor seemed quite adamant about there being something we're supposed to do... Ah right, I need to send the Lady that report once it is complete..."

"The visitor? Something we're supposed to do? Can you explain that for me? As for real goal, you mean Phoenix, or you CE's?"

"Phoenix in general," he explains, "The visitor came via a time disortion, hoping to enter then leave the area without anyone noticing. I was unaffected for one reason or another and confronted them while the distortion was still in effect and managed to repel them from the area, though I doubt I completely stopped them. I also managed to damage one of their eyes, but at the cost of mine in return... Said visitor was highly adept in both magical and physical combat, knowing even Sigil based magic and able to utilize both phantasmal movements and near instantaneous spell casting without incantation, the latter being something I was able to acquire, though I am certain that was not the extent of their abilities... The only things that eludes me- rather, that puzzle me- are their identity and objectives."

"I see... You should report that to White as soon as possible. She'll probably want to hear that. Anyway, Phoenix, as White has stated, is made for the specific purpose creating a new world. A world where Mythos are free and can lead their own lives, under the guidance and protection of Phoenix. As humanity is the greatest threat to this new world, the Second World, the Second Birth as White calls it, White desires their total annihilation. I don't hate humans, but I believe judgement must be passed down upon them. The Chaos Engine project has been a long running project, since White the Fifth I believe. From what I understand, it's to create a power source for the Spear of God, don't ask, I don't know. That and to create a race of 'perfect or superior beings'. From what I understand, I think White believes the Lambda is the personification of that goal."

"Ah... I wonder," he says thoughtfully. "...Hm, what do you enjoy doing?"

"Mmmmm.... swimming... atheltics, reading, watercolors. Those things. Why?" She sinks lower into the water, her shoulders, neck and head all that's visible above water. The rest of her appears to have melded into the water itself.

"Just curious. Why should humanity be judged?"

"What they've done. They have done nothing but make war upon each other and them. Nothing! Want to know what's the worst? We received intel that one of their agencies took the savior and turned him into a sick machine. A machine of all things! I can't rest, knowing what they've done, and no one is willing to stand up for change. In fact they execute them like madmen and criminals. Mythos are treated like animals to be hunted for sport. I cannot allow myself as someone who desires justice in the world to let it go by any longer."

"I see... It seems like much has transpired since the time I come from... To think they've changed that much..."

"Much has changed, but little has changed for humanity... it's always the same with them. If it's not one conflict, one war, it's another." She says dismissively.

"Don't remind me," he sighs, "If not for that, I wouldn't be here in this time and neither would my brother."

"Funny... dispite the control Water Slayer gave me, I can't be in my Nymph form without getting pulled apart in the ocean... as my Nymph form, I can hold my form in lakes... ironic how there is so much water, yet I cannot safely take my form as a Nymph... save for these pools... I need a break some time.... doubt I'll get much of one these days..."

"You never know..." Nanashi pauses, then sighs. "I was right... It was him." Lady, I am sending information to you regarding an infiltration of the fortress, though you may wish to wait before accepting it, lest something happen...

''....Lest something happen? When you're finished, would you mind speaking with me in person? There is something I wish to test, the others currently are not present to test it, so it leaves you. Take the time to heal your eyes though. I don't want to see what they look like now.''

''Well the infiltrator was Legna, so I assumed it would be a good idea to let you wait a moment, but if you so choose to see the report now, I can send it... My eyes should be restored by the time I arrive if I walk to your current location, Lady, so I'll head over there now. ''He gives Toma a nod.

"The Lady has called for me. I'll return later if I am able to." With that he proceeds to White's location, using his Ether to guide him in the proper direction in tandem with his memory.

When he arrives in White's chambers, she looks up at him. "So you've arrived. Is your sight any better?"

"Completely restored, plus an upgrade or two," he says, removing the bandanges, "You required me for something?"

There is a blond haired boy in White's lap, his eyes are fearful, her hand is on top of his head, clamped down. Despite how gentle at first it looks, the slight flickers of pain in the boy's eyes tells Nanashi that White is secretly being forceful.

"Yes, this boy. I wish to partake in an experiment regarding him, but it involves you."

The boy's eyes flash with fear at the word 'experiment'.

"I see... Will he be harmed at all?"

White's faces gains a cruel smile and the light in her eyes gleams with hidden sadistic intent. "That depends on your definition of 'harmed'. Not that matters at all..."

"..........I really have no choice in this, do I?" He sighs loudly, "Fine, but afterwards I'll be going to Earth to take care of business." I hate the idea of having a kid get hurt because of me...

"No, I rather believe you don't. I want you to infect the boy into a Lambda. Normally this wouldn't be so bad of a issue, if it weren't for the fact it's only safe to operate this kind of complete soul and body transformation when they are at least seventeen. Poor boy is thirteen. I wonder how well intact he'll remain... you may proceed..." She says with her continued smirk. She pauses for a moment.

"I do believe Lambdas Azula and Abeni are now in position to strike..."

"Kid, first off, I'm really sorry about thi- Lady, I have proposition to make, but I'll tell you in a moment," says Nanashi before placing his hand on the boy's chest. Several sigils and symbols appear on the child, one of which with a particular glint to it, before golden circuits spread from Nanashi's hand onto the boy. ''Kid, I'm directly connected to your mind right now. I'm going to numb your pain receptors and dampen the rate of change as to prevent your body from entering shock. I'm also setting up a ward of sorts on your mind to prevent any information surges. Blink once if you understand me, in which case clench your teeth.''

The boy shows immense signs of fear, beginning to gasp rapidly in fright, but blinks, but still very much fearful of him, slowly clenching his teeth, small tears beginning to well up in his eyes.

''Just to let you know, if I had a choice in the matter, I wouldn't be doing this. I hate any harm coming to children... So, I apologize for this... ''The circuits of lights branch over the boy once Nanashi removes his hand, changing him swiftly on the outside, but gradually and painlessly from within. Nanashi grits his teeth, but says nothing.

The boy is now at least a head taller, but is still young by comparison to any other CE made, something remarkable of its own right. His blonde hair is now a more metallic color, while his skin has gained a silver sheen from the scales. His eyes are pure gold spheres, flickering with an iridescent light, wide with horror at his fate. He has small claws and small taloned feet, unusually he has four arms instead of two, ether flowing from the arms. Two curled horns of gold gently curl from the sides of his head, and a dragonic tail sprouts from him as well. He has six, small gold wings, and a very light black and gold colored plate on his back and chest, the boy now shrouded by a faint gold glow. The last feature that catches Nanashi's attention is a strange glowing eye symbol. When White sees it, she has an unusual smile.

"Hmmm... very good... so both you and Abeni have the ability to alter living creatures into Lambdas... I'm pleased by this. Very well, that is all. What is this proposition you speak of, Nanashi?" She says strictly.

"Him, I want to take him under my wing," he states, his eyes completely serious, "In exchange, I can pursue and temporarily incapacitate Legna or at least limit his involvement, especially with the newest trick up my sleeve. If that's too much for you, I still plan on heading to Earth to take care of business either way."

"Hmmm... well, taking him under your wing... ...I rather am cautious of you, you know? But that's why I was prepared..." She takes the boy's head and tilts it so Nanashi can see his neck. There is no organ like other CE's, but a distinct metal object is present, grafted into his skin. She then places a metal collar around the boy's neck.

"But if you're worried about me using him in combat, I can assure you I have no interest in child soldiers. He is, in fact, the first civilian class Lambda. I am not going to control him like I do you. He is, put with many asterisks, 'free'. I am still capable of remote control, but his is less... permanent. I at the most can forcibly order him back to the premises, but other than that he is free. Aside from emergency restraints, of course. Can't have you giving him ideas. Regarding Legna, I will allow you to pursue an answer as to what he was up to down there, but wait for an order before you engage in a fight. We already know the details of your injury, now don't we?"

She smiles for a moment, then looks at the boy. "In a way, you could call him, 'The Prince of the Lambdas'. He's a special boy, you see."

"Lady, with all due respect, you underestimate me," says Nanashi, "The reason I was injured was because I realized who the intruder was and pulled back, not because I was entirely outclassed. Besides, I didn't want to damage the fortress so I chose to repel him rather than forcefully incapacitate him, though I admit that with his level of power, you and Azula would even have difficulty with that. Then again, you two fight much differently than he and I so it is easy to see why..." He turns towards the boy, "I'll show him around before I head off."

White chuckles. "I'm not unfamiliar with Legna... he was my 'partner' before he left me for that damn Shinwa... not that I care... I rather don't need him anyway. No use for traitors except target practice, at least. Take him if you wish, it's no concern of mine."

The boy looks at Nanashi in fear.

Nanashi smirks at White's comment, but leaves the room with the boy before White can ask why.

"I take it you're overwhelmed, kid," he says, leading the boy around the fortress, mainly the dining areas, living quarters and scenic locations before showing him shortcuts and secret routes between areas. "I'm Nanashi, may I ask your name?"

The child Lambda merely quietly looks away from him. Eventually he mumbles, "Nageki..."

"Nageki... Again, I apologize for your fate, but for now try to embrace it, it'll make thngs easier to cope with. Oh and if anyone gives you trouble while I'm gone, let me know. There are somethings that I will not tolerate, orders be damned." He leads Nageki to a vacant room and hands him a name plate. "Put your name on it and try to remember the location so that you don't get lost... Now I'll be going, don't get yourself in trouble with the Lady or else you'll really regret it..." With that he ruffles the boy's hair, then vanishes in a blue flash of light.

The boy Nageki silently looks at the spot of where Nanashi disappeared, and gingerly takes the name plate and puts the signed nameplate on door, though the action feels alien to the child now, as though he is merely signing someone else's name. He numbly begins to walk off towards his bed, and buries his head in the pillow, beginning to cry heavily.

--

As best as he tries, D'Ranjo finds himself frustratingly walking in circles, despite his best efforts to keep track of his location. Each time he sets out from the grove where Gurīn's tree grows, he inevitably finds himself right back at the grove.

''I told you D'Ranjo... ...it is pointless to attempt to leave the jungle... it grows by the hour, it will eventually completely eclipse the desert beyond. All I need to keep you confined here is a slight nudge to your brain to keep you from even laying eyes on the jungle border... ....I am sorry... I cannot let you leave... ...unless you allow me to erase your memories... that is the only way you may leave... as so my mistress says.''

D'Ranjo: As much as I am grateful to be human again...It's not the same! Especially when there are others like me who are under the Witch's thumb! If I were to leave...I couldn't save them like...this...

''Humans possess power they don't understand... imagination, the ability to change, the ability to change others... technically everyone has it, but humans were basically one of the first... you don't have to be a hero... if you wanted, I can always change you into something else. It is within my power... all the living things in this jungle, including you, since you have become a being of my soul, I can change at a whim... I can cause evolutionary change in beings which would normally take many countless years of time. It's all arbitrary to me really... ...but me changing your body and powers won't change your ability to leave.''

D'Ranjo: I am no hero...I am only a soldier...that's all I know how to be...So...If there's anything I could think of being...other than this...It would be...This may sound weird....but there is one thing you change me into ...can you turn me into a Lambda class dragon?

''You... ....want to become a Lambda? I thought you hated being... ....I can't.''

Before he can respond, she speaks again.

''....I can't, from where you are. Making someone a Lambda... ...I can't do that from here. You have to come to me. But... ...it would kill you, unless you were attached directly to me. My body produces a massive amount of energy, but you are not linked with me the way I am linked with my Lambda kin. In short, in order to make you a Lambda, and not kill you, I would have to keep you attached to me. But the change requires monstrous amounts of energy. For this situation, since I rely on natural energy... it would take me four days to change you while keeping you alive with enough energy stores. I'm sorry, but... before I can do this... I have to ask... ...why do you want to do this?''

D'Ranjo: I grew up where power was an issue....we were defenseless and tried to make most of what we had...what we lacked was the spirit of sacrifice...we fought for freedom...I fought for freedom...that fight has never stopped...I am willing to sacrifice my humanity to become like you. Though I won't be able to leave, once I do I know I can atleast do something to help the others. I chose a dragon because through out mythology dragons are one of the most powerful singular mythical species that do not derive from a spiritual nature. The dragon represents two things. Protection and Destruction. In other terms, I will protect my kind and I will destroy the White Witch or die attempting it, but my kind come first. They may not be human anymore, but they still have a chance at life. Not under servitude like I was, but different.

''....I.... ...very well... ...come to me... most men... most humans... they would not have the courage to see the other side... ....but perhaps this event in your life has opened your eyes to what most cannot see... ....you're a good person... I... .....I want you to be happy... safe... ...I don't want others to sacrifice themselves... ....it hurts... ...my heart...''

D'Ranjo: *walks towards Gurin* Hurts my heart to see others I have fought for being robbed of their freedom. I don't claim to be good. I'm just being a soldier.

When he arrives at the base of the tree, the thick tendrils of wood that comprise the tall twisting tree slide open to reveal Gurīn, who appears to be sleeping.

D'Ranjo: What must I do now?

A soft sigh comes from Gurīn, as her eyes slowly open, regarding him sadly. "Come to me, D'Ranjo..." The vines around her open partially, seemingly inviting him closer.

D'Ranjo: *walks up to the vines and stands waiting*

The vines gently pull D'Ranjo in, where Gurīn quietly hugs him, soft and caring. The large tendrils that had opened before now close, sealing them inside, and at first it is dark, but he becomes aware of a soft green light that gently streams around them. He then begins to feel various burning and digging sensations, as the vines covering and attached to her body begins to weave into D'Ranjo, as they do so, he begins to feel his body synchronizing with hers, beginning to beat with one heart beat and breathe with one breath, even their minds begin to partially become shared, as the vines wrap them into a tight cocoon, and the energy of the entire forest and Gurīn herself begins to flow into him, as she begins the four day transformation of his body. Although the pain he feels is intense, he is somehow aware of the fact that Gurīn is sharing his pain to dilute it.

Eventually most sensation and thoughts are reduced to simple processes, his body receiving nutrients and energy, almost as though he was the forest. However, sensation eventually returns to him with the first noise he hears is a weak gasp from Gurīn, and they spill out softly into the soft grass, the sensation almost bizarre after being connected to the ecosystem so long. The vines slowly unwrap from his and Gurīn's head, allowing him to see for the first time in a few days. Gurīn's face shows a weakness, a frailty that didn't exist before, the change of his being had taken a large toll on her, her eyes are slightly dull. One of the first things he can immediately tell is he feels a vast well of energy within him, though he isn't able to see his physical modifications yet.

D'Ranjo: *looks around* Heads free. That's a start. Was that even 4 days? I wonder if i should just wait to get out of this...

The vines slowly fall away, largely limp. Gurīn herself seems to be extraordinarily weak, a minute after she fell away from him, he notices her hand weakly trying to reach out to him, and she opens her mouth. "D'Ranjo...." She whispers weakly.

D'Ranjo: Yea? You don't sound so good. The process must've taken alot out of you, huh?

"...S-stay.... s-stay.... with me.... I-I-I... I'm so... sleepy..." Her hand continues to seek him out,an expression of her frailty and loneliness, wanting someone to be by her side.

D'Ranjo: *sits next to her and sits her up next o him* Got nowhere to go really.

Gurīn quietly rests her head against him, her eyes slowly fluttering into sleep.

D'Ranjo: *is abit uncomfortable at first but eases up* ''I'll find away out. Or God delivers me out himself. *sigh* I don't care if I don't help them myself. Some one needs to. Anyone needs to. Hopefully Drekavas knows where I am. Wait. This is my chance to escape...She's too weak to stop me!...but I can't leave just yet...she needs to be free too...she's one of them...Hmm... ''*just simply looks at Gurīn for a while then puts his hand on where her organ is and streams of light course through her and while it does the lights go away* Hopefully this means you'll wake up a free woman. I wonder if I should still leave?

Gurīn suddenly wakes up with a faint scream as the CE abruptly is disabled, a violent fit of fear causes a mass of earth and thorny plants to rip up at him defensively. He can hear a shuddering gasping from the other side, as Gurīn enters a light state of shock.

"What's...? What's.... what's going on?! I... can't... hear... that voice....!" After a few minutes, she seems to calm down. "....D'Ranjo.....? W-Where are you?" She calls from the center of the mess. When he reaches her, her form has changed again, six green tinted wings sprout from her, teeming with a vibrant energy. Her eyes have become a yellow gold color, her feet have become taloned like a bird, her hands end in claws, soft green scales give her a soft green sheen to her skin. Her hair and eyes have a slight iridescent hue to them.

D'Ranjo: *looking slightly shocked* Never knew harpies existed...

Gurīn laughs very weakly. "I'm largely... *cough* a Etherite and Archangel... a few others too... D'Ranjo... take me to... *cough* the tree... please... I need to... rest..."

D'Ranjo: Alright. *takes hold of one of her wings and helps her over to the tree*

Gurīn quietly is rooted to the tree by vines into her back, and her eyes start to close again. "Thank you... ...if you wish to leave... that is fine... ...it would be though... ....sad to be alone.... I will... probably awaken in a few hours..."

D'Ranjo: As much as I want to. I can't. Not just yet.

Gurīn quietly smiles. "Thank you... ....you're... a good... friend..." Her eyes drift off to sleep. "Azula... ...be safe...." She mutters.

D'Ranjo: *sits and thinks for a moment*

Gurīn's consciousness links with D'Ranjo's and directs his consciousness to Drekavas, much to his surprise.

D'Ranjo: Drekavas!

Drekavas: D'Ranjo. Not only are you're safe, but you've also been reverted....no. You reverted yourself back.

D'Ranjo: I had to. I was changed back into human for, but I realized I couldn't help the others being only human. So I chose to be a Lambda class dragon. Since no doubt the others that are currently active will try to stop me.

Drekavas: not half-bad of a choice.

D'Ranjo: Problem is I don't know how to use this new found power. I need you to train me.

Drekavas: Things have been...rough on my end. I might not be able to help you with that, but the other one there might help you. What better way to learn, than to learn from someone the same as you are.

D'Ranjo: *looks back at Gurīn* Yeah...

Drekavas: Besdies, you'll find your way around it. I must be off, D'Ranjo. Keep well. *his consciousness is gone*

D'Ranjo: Drekavas? *sigh and sits back down*

Gurīn sleeps peacefully, various flowers slowly start to come into bloom from the vines gently blanketing her, a peaceful smile on her face.

D'Ranjo: Many people like her, who are taken from their lives just to be tools of decimation...it never stops...It will never stop...neither will the fighting...such a cycle is overbearing...

With the sunrise, she finally wakes again, letting out a small yawn.

"D'Ranjo, are you well?" She asks quietly, as the vines slowly release her.

D'Ranjo: *is doing push-ups with his hands in a fist* I'm doing fine...

Her form seems to have a stronger vitality than the night before, he can sense a vast well of energy within her. She looks at him and smiles faintly.

"I'm glad... is there anywhere you wish to go or anything you wish to do? I'd be happy to teach you teleportation."

D'Ranjo: *leaps onto his feet* Show me everything. Teach me everything.

"Steady your horses there, I can't show you literally everything. Besides, I'm not really a combat type... I'm more... creative than destructive." She says with a nervous smile.

D'Ranjo: Then show me as much as you can and teach me all you know.

Gurīn looks at him for a moment, then sighs. She slowly feeds information from her Exceed Nexus to his at a steady rate, and suddenly he begins to learn knowledge of many things, and how to do them.

"Ok, we'll start with teleportation. First, imagine a location."

D'Ranjo: I've never been to the outside world. Never seen skyscrapers or none of that. Never seen the wilderness neither. There's not much I can imagine going.

The Battle's Aftermath
Nanashi reappears in White's office in a luminescent bloody mess, critical damage present over his entire form. His eyes flicker between several colors before he collapses.

White sighs in irritation. "You went and well, went nuts. I told you to be careful damn it. ...Whatever... Nezumi, get to work on him right now. This needs to get dealt with as soon as possible. I'll talk to him personally when the moron wakes up." Nezumi appears, and with a heavy grunt lifts him up and begins to take him down to the lower levels.

Several hours later Nanashi awakens, his eyes no longer blue. Instead they are emerald in color. Additionally several black lines have formed on his face and his armored form has lost bulk. "All information processed and updated... Huh, seems like I overdid it, though I got a few new tricks as well." He stretches and assesses his condition. "And I'm mostly recovered, minus that attack to my neck which hasn't recovered or worsened at all..."

A hand pushes him down onto the operating table. "Please, sit down while I finish. I'm almost done." A girl in front of him says, with white hair with red tips. "My name is Eta Nezumi 365. White ordered me to see to your repair. It appears you've taken damage to your central unit, she wanted me to tend to the issue at once. May I see your neck?"

"It may not be that easy... The damage has remained the exact same, which tells me it may be an unnatural injury," he says, but turns over to give her access to his neck nonetheless.

The girl feels the damaged area, using her Aether manipulation, also using her hands to lightly press the area to determine the type of damage.

The injury is cursed, preventing even high magic from restoring it completely without heavy reprocussions. Other than that, the damage is decisively pinpoint.

"Alright then... White, instructions?" ''Disable him and ready him for surgery. Here is the code...''

The girl, Nezumi, looks at Nanashi. "Nanashi, instruction: Self Shutdown, Authorization: Valid. Unit to Respond, Nanashi Lambda 096."

"Duration, until activation code authorized."

"Terminal Error in Shutdown Process, Force Rebooting Mainframe," drones Nanashi as his eyes dull to a dead grey, then glow a faint green once every five seconds.

Nezumi sighs, and lifts him into a containment pod, and it closes and seals him inside, automating Nanashi's brainwaves and functions to minimal required levels to keep him alive, sending him further down in the depths of the fortress. It receives a signal, where the pod arrives at a secret chamber at the very bottom of the complex, deep below the crust.

White is waiting. "So many times I have overlooked your actions... so many times I let things slide... ...but you crossed me for the last time... I don't know what you were planning with that curse... ....but you should have left it with Naki and Shinwa... the Archangel was the last chance... now... I think it's time I took something too."

The pod opens up, and White injects the contents of a needle into Nanashi's veins. "If I can't have him... ....you won't either... ....say goodbye to your brother's soul... this time forever. System, prepare to devolve subject Nanashi Lambda 096, reclaim all genetic material. I may as well recycle."

The pod disappears again, into the hidden machinery where the facility begins a painful process of removing Nanashi's organ, while stripping his body of the valuable Lambda genetics, the injection beginning a painful slow burning away of Nanashi's identity.

"I have no use for trash..." White says, disappearing. "I will simply find another more suited to my goal..."

Something strange happens to Nanashi as the process continues, his armor and form dissolves into light particles, ejecting all foreign matter. He reforms outside of the pod, his hair darker and his eyes a bright green.

"Damn you're impatient," he grumbles, his voice and mannerism distinctly different, "I was rerouting the data network to work at optimum efficiency when you shut down all of the core processes. Anyways, I'm not simply trash, nor am I a moron. You try getting punched across a solar system, then absorbing the data of a thousand extinct species and see if you're in one piece directly afterwards... Anyways, Legna is highly incapacitated. He won't be interferring unless someone effectively fuels him with a star or is willing to sacrifice their life to undo the seal I put on him... Which I doubt will happen unless your other side is that altruistic or someone actually owes him their life."

White appears again, though very transparent. "You're alive. So much for self satisfaction at getting back at him myself... ...regardless." Her voice is now harsher as she says the last word. "I believe I told you to ask of why Legna was intruding in the fortress, did I not specifically tell you that? I would have been fine with him being, I don't know, knocked out for a while... I didn't ask for you to make him a corpse. What exactly did you do? And also, why are you alive? You're becoming just as much of a liability as that foolish Epsilon."

Nanashi chuckles darkly.

"He was acting out a role that he was apparently given a long time ago, though he was also checking up on you and Nezumi," he says, not caring for the change in tone, "And I didn't kill him, I beat him into next week and severely weakened him if that's what you mean. I also read his memories, learned his strengths and weaknesses and copied all but two of his abilities. As for why I'm alive, blame my Units and absorbed traits. Also, try having the hardiness to survive being blown clean through six planets and the ability to naturally dampen damage from all sources thanks to your body developing layers of interweaved scales rather than layers of plates. Any other questions?"

"....Role....? Tch... and checking on me... and... Nezumi...?" Her voice is agitated, though in what exact way she keeps guarded.

"Yeah, Role. I'll let you figure out what that is," he says, "And yes, he was checking on you and Nezumi outside of that role- at least he was trying to until I interrupted him." He has something more to say, but refrains from doing so when his hair reverts to normal and his voice and mannerisms return to normal. He rubs his forehead, "I get the distinct feeling someone tried to off me... That's not really something you should do... Oh, I'm back at the fortress, I must've blacked out after I sealed Leg's abilities."

Her gaze maintains its potency. "It isn't a wonder. After all, you have always been a wildcard with your remembering. Something I am not pleased with in the slightest. If I was wiser, I would have rewiped your memory the first time I saw it coming back. You're not predictable, and that is too dangerous to allow. My point stands with you escaping me 'trying to off you' as further proof of that. So in that case, I ask you, what am I to do with you now? You're not an idle threat I can ignore anymore."

"Threat, me? As much as I find your actions disagreeable and confusing, like your care to an extent for Legna despite him crossing you on purpose or not or you allowing Epsilon to escape only to have us track him when you could have bugged him and found out what you wanted likewise, I'm not really a threat. A wildcard yes, but with my luck, both amazing and terrible, it's to be expected," he says as his eyes shift to an annoyed golden color, "As for the thing about you trying to off me... You've seen that that will not work out the way you want it to. You could try again, but I really doubt that's a good idea, even with your abilities in tandem with the Light Slayer. Your best bet is to let sleeping dogs lie, better than them waking up and snapping at you for disturbing them. That and I'd prefer not to fight or be imprisoned, I'm at the point where I can't necessarily say things won't backfire because of my luck or an accidental oversight oversight. Plus getting punched through a planet or six is not enjoyable, nor is converting your lungs to allow you to breathe in space..."

Her eyes seem a much stronger red than usual. "I hate him," White venomously hisses. "He has taken the basis of my research away from me, and so vexingly sided with my former positive half! He has even volunteered to help my enemy bring me down... grrrrrrrrr...." She turns away from him, a strong desire to destroy... anything really emits from her aura.

"Please leave these chambers now, lest I lose what little temper I have yet to hold back... it would be unfortunate for you and your brothers and sisters if I were to have an... ...episode...."

He shrugs, phasing to the top of a tower, "He's really after the person he refers to as Goldie and did try to mend things..."

"Hmmm... don't know anyone named ' Goldie' , but I CAN say that trying to reason with a woman is like trying to reason with an erupting volcano." A voice says from behind him, and a yellow cloaked man is floating on his back with his hands behind his head in a relaxed position. He chuckles for a moment upon Nanashi seeing him.

"I reckon dear Vol's probably more pissy than a goose right now."

"Actually, he's about ready to perform mass Xenocide, but he should be cool down by the time he can do that," he quips, "That and I've met nicer erupting volcanoes... That being said, he's referring to you when he says or said Goldie. He also thinks that your boss is probably going to eat her own words at some point or that she's really going to royally screw herself over." He shrugs. "His words, not mine."

"....My.... boss.... ....fraid I don't know what you're talking about there... eat her own words? Screw herself over... fraid I'm not quite clear on that... define 'boss'. Besides, I'm not the sort of person you can just... kill... destroy... which ever works for you..." The figure chuckles.

"Frankly, Ol' Vol doesn't quite know enough about us to really be stepping into the field... could be covered in mines you know..."

"Eh, you'd be surprised at how quickly he picks things up," he says, "He means who I'm assuming to be White Cloak. He considers her loosely to be your boss. As for you, his plans don't specifically go into killing you, more so him booting you into some plane filled with White Noise after he has a 'talk' with you about White... And next time, he probably will use the full extent of his power, not the basic stuff to prevent his opponent from learning his really dangerous stuff."

"Well, he certainly blew plenty of chances to have a 'talk'. Like the time I was o so busy building a world and about two billion souls from scratch... and I'm afraid the only advice I can give at this point is to look in the damn shiny mirror. You even know who I am, boy? And yes, I'm calling you a boy, my boy to be specific. No I'm not your father, but that's a pretty close description to... our relationship... maybe I'll give you a treat if you guess right." He laughs for a moment, but his mouth becomes visible, and the grin fades to a frown.

"But seriously though... it's so damn typical, little arrogant brats like you and your brother..." His frown is slowly evolving into an annoyed scowl.

"I would jokingly say that you're an estranged uncle, but you're far closer to the creator of all Chaos Engines, explaining why White's control is listed as secondary," says Nanashi, closing his eyes and  massaging his forehead, "And yeah, Vol is arrogant, but he's also willing to get things done, even if it damns him further. Me, I'm emotionally drained and borderline raving thanks to the amount of information I'm processing at this moment, the process having reset when White ordered a Force Shutdown... Out of curiousity, how old are you? I'm still trying to figure out how much of a living dinosaur fossil I am."

The figure chuckles. "I don't know how old you are, or at least, the person that was you. How old you were doesn't matter to me. But biologically, all CE's are more or less by nature almost eternally young. In a sense. I wouldn't usually pick old dying men for a specimen. Not exactly the best base material... as for me... well... I predate White the Fifth's reign. If that tells you something, there you have it.

But by arrogant I mean you prattle on and on about your power, with no real understanding of who you're talking to. I ain't one of those chumps you're used to. Question, how would you like to be squished between two planets the size of Jupiter?"

"Define squished in this context specifically and I'll give you a valid answer," says Nanashi, continuing to rub his forehead, "As for 'my power,' I don't really care about it beyond the ability to get what I need to get done complete. Sure I like a couple of the new abilities that I got, but I don't care much as of the present. That being said, If I were to put effort into it, I wouldn't be a 'chump' myself. I do not fancy myself an invincible being or a god of destruction as you seem to be implying I think of myself. I see myself as a book with no determined number of pages because the story or whatever message within has yet to be complete."

The figure makes a small laugh. "An excellent way to look at one's self. I like that. 'A book with no determined number of pages, because the story is yet to be complete.' That's many things right there. People, Time, Fate, History, it's a good thought. I like that very much." The figure sits up, then stands up.

"Listen, I want you to tell your brother this. And for him not to forget it: Sure. I done wrecked up Shinwa's life. The optimum way her life could have gone got broken. Big time. Yes, I lied. I'm not gonna defend myself, only offer one of those cryptic phrases, in the hopes he gets the bill."

The figure sighs. "Few can see the true extend of the timeline. Us, we can see it just fine. But we don't  see everything. We're not all knowing, but to say we are limited would be disrespectful. We know many things, Nanashi. For instance, what if, just a stretch though, the end of the world happened because what has transpired in this world never happened? What if, in the grand scheme of things, White becoming what she is today, Shinwa and White, was the better outcome, not for her, but for the world?

Again, I am not justifying anything. But I question his right to judge, frankly. And you know what I'm kinda sick of? Do you honestly think, that I take pleasure in destroying peoples lives? I do not. In fact, lately I've been trying to help poor unfortunate souls. They really disliked my help, but let me ask you something. Disregarding what has happened in the past, was it not I who coaxed Volmond and Shinwa into a position where Volmond wouldn't have to go through the loss of someone he loves? If it weren't for me, Shinwa would never have had to go through this. That's true. But I say to him, don't ignore the gift I offered to him. If it weren't for me, Shinwa would not have been saved. She would die, alone, hated, reviled, and doomed to have her soul judged. In the end, she has a chance of happiness, because I gave a damn. Now I say, 'get the stick out of your damn ass and be grateful for whatcha damn have'."

"You're almost preaching to the choir," Nanashi sighs, "Vol's... Shall we say driven... That's a nicer word for it. Long story short, he got the short end of the stick one too many times and sort of, basing this on his memory here, lost the person who was most important to him thanks to some sadistic interdimensional jackass that apparently eats gods. Long before that, he became so disenamored with other people that trust and loyalty became the two things he justified his actions upon- before he added revenge and logic to the mix for an interestingly volatile yet stable cocktail. His real basis for his anger towards you is based on... Huh. This part of his memory is completely obscured despite taking place here a few days ago... There's a dark figure then everything blacks out until Shinwa and White split...

Anyways, he's not really angry about your actions resulting in the split, but because of what you told her that led to her current lifestyle- Well previous at this point. Indeed he's not looking at things with logic beyond his plans to revenge, in fact it seems that for one reason or another he would have been happier... Not meeting her because- Oh gods no! Enough!" Nanashi jerks backwards, his face suddenly redder than a beet. He summons a stone and smashes it against his forehead before spraying himself with frigid water. "Did. not. Need. To. See. THAT!"

"Well-" He stops and starts laughing with an insane degree of cackles. "Daaaaaaaw, it seems like the elder brother is a bit, 'sensitive', ehh?" The figure cackles mockingly.

"Ahaha... ahaha... eehhhh... yeah. Ok. Done now. Anyway. Like I already said. You can't be sure what events cause what to happen. Ultimately, it may prove that while indeed I did a cruel thing, won't lie, it may ultimately prove that my actions were what was right for the world. And you can tell him, again, to get the stick out of his ass and be grateful for what he has. Everyone loses something. Sometimes they never get it back. But maybe he should consider just how different things are, and just how much worse life could have been. Who knows what possibilities exist? But I'll tell you now. If he's looking for me here, I only show up for official business. Otherwise I'm out there somewhere, doing whatever I please. If he wants to play cosmic tag, fine by me. But I won't be treating him to any respect, and he can forget about a 'talk'. I have no desire to speak with an arrogant fool who's so self righteous they're blinded to any form of reason. If he is not going to relent, I won't blame him, yet ever shall I regard him as a toddler crying over spilled milk."

The figure turns his back to Nanashi.

"Fine by me... I'm beginning to see why I was called the saint of he family," Nanashi says to himself before dropping from the tower, landing on his feet lightly upon touching the ground. "Such indecency... Gah!"

''Oh, before you ever get any ideas, Nanashi, understand that if you disobey White, if you've managed to break free of her, that I will deal with you. Play nice, ok? It would be a shame if I had to.. ...discipline you.''

''You're telling this to the person who would rather talk his opponents down than fight. As for White... I make no solid promises for once I'm fully restored emotionally. I can say I will try, but I can't guarantee that everything will be idealistically smooth or realistically without issue.''

''Oh, yes, and I can also control you, in a much simpler way than with those little organs of White's... ...so don't get cocky kid... I could make you do the waltz or the goosestep for hours and you'd be helpless... ...or maybe as punishment I'll send you some... indecent images. I hear someone's a saint around here... *chuckle*''

''I wasn't being cocky, only making a statement based on my most recent interaction with White. That and I do not know whether or not part of me will be bitter or annoyed once my emotions return. That is the basis of my statement... Also, what are the waltz and goosestep?''

There is a depressed air from the figure's mind. ''That's... depressing.... on so many levels... you know, I might just convince White to have CE's have a proper education system... ...that's just sad. Me, the great and mighty is depressed... congratulations.''

... I apologize?

''I mean really, come on, my own creations, dumber than bricks, don't even know what a dance or a army marching technique is... pitiful... and I thought I was was impressed by your knowledge of sigils, now I'm just impressed you can know that and not know what a dance is...''

''I've never liked dancing, so I didn't apply myself to anything except Samba nor did I learn anything besides that and Baroque, which I was forced to learn. I was never interested in the military or fighting either.''

The figure disappears.

''Well, it looks like I'll have to deal with another fool besides that Drake... only this one is less reasonable and more powerful. An Almighty Idiot, one could say... well, whatever. If he comes after me, well, I have my own creative measures as insurance...''

Nanashi shrugs before contacting White.

Unless you have something you require me for, I'll be heading to Earth again, I need to arrange a few things and gather few resources that'll benefit the fortress.

''What exactly are you arranging, and what resources do you mean? ''She says irritably. I dislike your anonymous behavior...

''The first thing is more of a show don't tell type of deal, you would have to see it to believe it. As for resources, I noticed a lack of shielding and defensive options for the top and underside of the fortress so I'm getting a few things to alleviate that, namely Galtite and Adamantite and a few other choice metals along with a device that may or may not be useful depending on whether or not it still works and works the way I believe.''

''.....Very well... ...damn that brat is still crying.... I can hear him from here... so annoying...''

Nanashi sighs, ''I'll handle that after I get back from the sunken continent... Besides, not everyone is like me, who didn't care about the transformation. Wasn't really doing much with my humanity at that point anyways...''

He warps out of the fortress in a phantasmal burst of energy.

Several hours later, Nanashi reappears in beam like flash of blue and gold light. ''I'm back. Is Nageki still crying?''

''Good. You're back. You can help by getting a bucket or a few hundred. I swear the kid has two modes. Deathly quiet and Hurricane Season. In other words... DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE DAMN BRAT BEFORE I CHOKE HIM!!!''

''...Please take a "Chill Pill" and do something else like listen to music or draw or write... ''He warps to Nageki's room. "Hey Nageki, not ignoring what happened to you, but you need to really calm down. White's hanging on by a thin thread and you don't want to be on her bad side... That and crying won't solve your problems, you've gotta cope with what you are or life will be worse than a living hell. You've gotta be strong, how else are you going to impress your big sis?"

"Big... sis...? But... they... she... took her away, she never came back! I'm... I'm... ...all alone now..."

"You aren't. Your sis is still alive, she's just not here anymore thanks to a certain person... If you can stay strong, I know you'll see her again... Miracles like that are possible."

Nageki blinks incredulously. "How can I trust what you say? What if you're lying to me? I... I..." He bows his head, too exhausted to continue even crying.

"What am I.... what did you even do to me...?"

"I give you my word that I do not lie. If I am, may I be struck down by a stray meteor," vows Nanashi before sighing, "I did something I didn't want to do... I made you like me to an extent, minus the power to do terrible things like I can... I'm truly sorry for changing you. You can hit me if you'd like, I won't defend myself or avoid."

"....Sis... I hope she's ok...."

"Last I heard, she was going to school but worried about you too, kiddo. In better circumstances, I'd offer to deliver a message from you to her, but I can't with Rancor White breathing doen my neck as if its her personal territory and scratching post..."

''What do I care if he talks to his sister? Not my problem. Can't let you take him to her, that's just asking for trouble... anything to stop the damn crying.''

"I've been okayed to relay a message from you to her, so if you have anything you want to write or say, prepare it."

"Well... I... ....I want to know if she's ok, how she's been, what she's been doing... and also that I miss her...." He hugs himself and starts looking sad.

"Anything else, Nageki?"

"I....I don't know... I just really wish... I could see her..."

"I'll see what I can do, within reason. I can't take you to her or vice versa without a mark being placed on my head by White... I'll be back soon, until then try not to cry."

He nods quietly, and tucks himself into the sheets and curls up.

Nanashi vanishes in a beam of blue and gold energy.

Nanashi returns to the fortress, his Ether now dissipated. he gives White no return message, instead walking to Nageki's room and knocking on the door.

"Come in," Nageki says quietly.

He enters the room and sits down.

"Good News, your sister is doing alright," he says, "She said that she misses you and that she loves you. She also wants you to be strong until she can see you again."

Nageki's eyes glisten, but he says nothing, covered by his blankets. "Nanashi....? Do you think... we'll ever be free?

"It won't be easy, but yes... I'm mostly free myself, but I have a bigger, more tedious boss to worry about as opposed to White."

"A bigger boss?" He asks.

"Mhmm, someone with more power over me than White did. That's all I can really say abut him."

Nageki sighs. ".....I'm... ...hungry..." He mumbles.

"Then let's head to the mess hall, I haven't eaten... Since a few days ago actually," Nanashi shrugs before leading Nageki to the food hall.

There is food laid out, and at the far end of the hall on the opposite side of the table, White sits, eating quietly, then looks up.

"I figured you two would be coming in here." Toma is also present, eating some noodles.

"I'm not really here for myself, only to make sure that the Kiddo gets a good meal," says Nanashi, "That's the good thing about being me, among things."

"Well since you're here, you might as well eat as well. Don't make this a debate."

"Already doing that,"  he says, having already gotten and eaten several large plates of food. He downs a glass of black and white liquid, then some sort of green shake.

Nageki quietly picks at some meat, then slowly starts eating, while White largely seems uninterested in them.

When he's done, Nanashi readies his plates for cleaning then, with wings of gold and blue energy forming, launches himself into the sky upon leaving the cafeteria.

White carries her plates to the kitchen, a door across from her. After washing them, she sighs, and walks to her bedroom chamber and closes the doors.

''I need a nap... too much nonsense....''

Several minutes later an explosion rings out, followed by a loud roar followed by a "No, bad! Stop that Neptis!" which is met by another roar. Several minutes after that a loud rumble is heard and there is a spike of elemental energy. Shortly thereafter, White senses a barrier forming around the fortress and noticible decrease in outside noise.