The War of Worlds

The RP Page for the Phoenix War Arc.

Doom Arrives
In one of the MPD Security facilities, a security station is maintaining surveillance of the Gates. Every thirty minutes a check is done to validate the safety of the Gates and the areas around them. Everything has been continuing as normal until...

"Alert, massive fluctuations typical of a large host moving into the Gates has been detected. Recommended Action: Send an Alert to all Agencies and the Government. Repeat. Massive fluctuations typical of a large host moving into the Gates has been detected. Level Five Threat."

"Someone call the President! This one his huge!"

The overseer of the station begins to phone the President on the emergency line.

The President: *picks up* Yes...

"Sir, we're picking up a Level Five event in the Gates! We think something big is trying to get through!"

The President: *takes a deep breath and sighs* Alright...I'll alert the other Agencies.

"We've already sent an automated alert signal. Should we make a national alert or regional?"

The President: Yes, send a national alert immediately. It's that time...

All across the nation, sirens begin to blare, with the following message:

"Alert, Level Five Threat Detected From the Gates. High Level Threat From Fantasy Detected. Repeat. Level Five Threat Detected From the Gates. Seek Shelter immediately. All Agencies prepare for a possible national emergency."

Everyone across the nation hurry to get to whatever shelter is available while the Agencies begin to get their equipment together for what comes at them.

The security station continues to monitor the situation, but another alert catches their attention.

"Detecting a gigantic anomaly above Arizona! The spacial disturbance is bigger than a whole fucking city! What the hell is this?!"

"Mr. President, there's sensor readings of a huge disturbance above Arizona bigger than a city!"

The President: Leave it to the Administrator...He's already there...

"...Sir, I don't... ...What is that thing...?" Something like dread and awe comes across the phone.

The President: What is it now? Is it them?

"...Sir, what looks like a flying fortress just dropped in over Arizona. It's... ...it's huge! Bigger than New York City at least!"

The President: *rubs his temple* This cannot be happening...Today of all days...Then you know what to do. Have everyone prepare and stand by.

"...You've got to be kidding me! President, order an evacuation of the capital! It seems to be firing at your location!"

The President: *is alarmed* What?!

"It's a high level energy pulse being charged by some sort of weapon! We're scrambling fighters to try and do something about it, but I don't think it'll be enough! Sending a request to the main branch for authorization for an orbital drop bombardment!"

The President: *gets up and leaves the office with his bodyguards*

''As The President is making way out of the White House he tells everyone else to evacuate quickly. Everyone scrambles and hurries to make it out of the building.''

In the horizon, a staticy white light seems to be barreling in their direction.

The President: Qucikly, everyone get out! We have to move!

''Everyone makes it outside including the President. everyone continues to run across the Capital Yard as fast as they can.''

As the President makes it past the lawn, suddenly a huge white static blasts everything behind him, throwing him forward and slamming him into a far building.

Looking back, he can see no sign of the staff, or the capital building itself, all that's left is an ominous void.

He goes to stand, but falls down, realizing one of his legs was destroyed in the blast.

The President: *groans in pain* All of it...All of them...Are gone... *tries to get up again but falls.* Gah! *pants* H-hello?!... Anybody?!...*begins to crawl*

A sonic boom overhead can be heard, as off in the distance, a large military style fighter jet seems to be screaming toward the site of the incident, eventually slowing down and landing nearby, and its dropdown ramp opens up, MPD officers in riot gear pour out and grab ahold of him.

"He's wounded! Get him to headquarters!" The officers begin carrying him to the plane.

The President: *continues to groan in pain*

They bandage his leg up, giving him painkillers as they board the plane. Upon securing him, the plan takes off.

The President: Quick! You must alert...The public...They need to know...

"Already transmitting an alert to get everyone into shelters."

The President: *continues to pant* Please, deliver us...

The plane eventually lands at the MPD headquarters, where a huge platoon of armored guards stand in a line to the bunker.

The President: Bring me, Isaac...Bring him here to me...

"Your safety is our priority sir. He's at the bunker already."

The President: Then you know what to tell him.

"You can tell him when you get there." They begin escorting the President to the bunker.

The President: *grumbles and groans*

After a while they reach the central chamber of the bunker, with the full roster of Directors present, Issac at the center of them, all seated.

The President: Isaac, I need you to send your personnel and search for Judah. Once you've found him, bring him to this bunker...If he's alive that is...

"...Judah...?" Issac says slowly.

The President: That man with blue-blocker goggles and has a stroke. He walks with a cane...Has a goatee. One of your fincial contributers.

Issac rubs his eyes. "Oh... right... ...forgive me, I'm tired." He types some commands on a keyboard.

"The order has been sent."

The President: Well, I'm tired and broken, but aside from us having a...Rather bad day so far, we must ensure the security of our government while we're down here. Granted there are very few probabilities that we'll be safe here through the entirety of this situation, as well as the possibilities of any of the candidates might still be living after this, but we must have a plan nonetheless. As you've all may have heard, the Representative Cabinet has been taken down and now we must assign new candidates to the seats. Any suggestions as to whom we trust to allow them to have a position in a seat?

"I'm sure I have very little business with that, Mr. President. Last I checked you were pretty cozy with the MCCP in the political arena. I'm sure you'd love to hear what they have to say over some backwater science facility dabbling in unpopular politics and economics." Issac says evenly. "We only serve the Washington-Oregon-California sector of the country after all."

The President: If I were any cozier, The Administrator would've been your president...Besides...Haven't you seen the broadcast...It is clear now that the M.C.C.P slowly succeeds from our control...Depsite, what you may feel, we all have our ways of solving our problems...You can't stop the other from what what he does just by telling him it's wrong...You have to prove him wrong... Despite this, the matter requires all of our opinions...It is a pivitol matter.

The impassive look fades, with a slightly jaded one taking its place. "No I haven't, President. I've been busy keeping the streets safe because of your fear. I don't have a television anyway. News? I know about that before even the news channels do. What point is there? Besides the point. You're the one who let that happen. You gave them as much authority as they have, so this is on you. The one thing you and the MCCP can't do that I can, is actually back my words with my actions.

If you want my opinion, use common sense for once in your life and stop banking on one plan. The MCCP was doomed to fail, you should have seen that much." Issac closes his laptop.

"Anything else before I oversee the handling of the situation at the Gates?"

The President: Have your men positioned and engage whatever might come out. I banked on the M.C.C.P because of you and every other agency decided to take the backseat to useless! The M.C.C.P have always been ready for action. I aswell the other have banked on them because of their long line of success through-out its entirety. But current events have pushed them...Especially knowing my true allegiance...I do wish I had not given them as much power as I did...But the others...They watch me...They look for anything that would get me kicked out of office...The people will voice who they want to be in charge...someone who will meet their wants. I can name a couple they would voice...I might not back my own words, but the M.C.C.P can...They will...It's too much to envision what they could pull off on their own terms. Being in charge of a hateful nation isn't the easiest job, Isaac. Especially not if I can't voice my own opinion directly to the public without having to get assaulted again.

Some of the other Directors seem to be indignant about his words.

"I've dealt with just a hateful public as you, fool. Maybe that just comes from you not putting your boots on the ground once in a blue moon. Seattle was hell before I took command. Watch your words President, or I'll have you find another person's bunker to hide in." He says coldly. "I'm the sole reason Seattle is how it is now. Like it or not, I've done more than you in terms of combating the hate of this nation."

He stands up. "You know fully well that the Kurk Family has a heavy hand in Pro Mythic politics. If you really want my opinion, ask my father or anyone in our family who has connections, which is essentially all of them. Oh, and by the way. Most of my funding is from my family, not you. We stick together. Government funding couldn't even keep our bills payed."

He walks out, without another word, and most of the other directors leave, save for a green haired man. He and the majority of the Directors present seemed unfamiliar to the President.

The President: *puts his hand over his face out of stress*

"You did sort of had that coming," The man seems to speak with a robotic text to voice communicator. "Issac and you both have similar problems, believe it or not. You should try not to alienate those who are doing everything they can under their circumstances."

The President: I wouldn't have to if I had more options...Not with these unsatisfied people.And a man who once ruled this world...Or was going to...It has always been my fault. I'm doing a shoddy job of doing it.

A man with a walking cane and blue-blocker goggles slowly enters the bunker

"Mr.President?"

The President: *turns towards the man* Judah...My friend...How are you?

Judah: Forget about me, sir. I heard what had happened to the Capitol Grounds on my way here. It looks like your in deep thought.

The President: I am...I want to ensure our possible future. When mankind manages to make it out of this situation...

Judah: I've seen darker ours, believe it or not. This will blow over just like the rest. *begins to walk around the bunker*

The President: You talk of this moment like it's some mere storm.

Judah: In my eyes, it is....Wars always change. Stakes will always be high despite possible circumstances. But you mentioned about ensuring our future. How would you plan to do that?

The President: I was trying to start off with possible candidates for representation, but the other agency directors wouldn't-

Judah: Comply? What for?

The President: They were upset about my over-reliance of the M.C.C.P., my Representatives being anti-Mythology, and my cowardice...

Judah: They are at fault aswell. There were no other options. Not one that could've appeased the people or provided another method of dealing with our problem. They back-seated themselves and the M.C.C.P took advantage of that.

The President: And the privileges I gave them...

Judah: Not quiet. They don't ask for much unless it to increase their effectiveness. Everyone gets pushed to the edge, Mr.President and these Third Worlders have pushed them. Hm. After this the Act might not be approved. Everyone will expect it to happen regardless. Other agencies antagonize the M.C.C.P for their approach. In my honest opinion, they have no room to talk with their lack of inactivity and input into this problem. They've had to work solo for decades with no help from any agency.

The President: That doesn't excuse their behavior and actions when it comes to taking on the myths!

Judah: What behavior? I see them doing their job just fine.

The President: Endangering human live?

Judah: Now I know their talk has gotten to you. When it comes to any mythic threat the situation is already dire.Too many casualties to count. The M.C.C.P are simply countering that the same amount of force they are. You see, I don't understand why they want to look at the M.C.C.P so critically when they are the only ones out in the field utilizing the threat. I don't see anyone else doing that. I don't see any other pro-myth politicians stepping up for  representation. I don't see what they could've offered to the field in the first place. And I diffinately don't see why they're so ignorant of the importance of our leader's life. If anything, their the reason you're in this corner. There was no one there to back you up but the M.C.C.P.

The President: .........

Judah: They followed you dutifully too. Have they ever failed you or the public?

The President: .........

Judah: And when have you noticed the difference in their behavior?

The President: ........

Judah: See there? You are too easily persuaded. Especially by the young minds such as these. Who don't know that 'good' is subjective to their ideals.But you've been playing your cards all wrong, Mr.President, but I can't say you didn't try to do your best for your nation. The same with the M.C.C.P.

The President: Why do you support the M.C.C.P so much?

Judah: Those who work deserve praise in my eyes. They've never failed me or this nation before and their the only ones who will do whatever it takes to secure humanity. They put in effort and progress in their work. More progress than the others. Even with the M.P.Ds rise in the technological field, they have yet to contribute much. Besides me and that agency are the same. We're the only ones who will back you up. You see? Every other director from every other agency left you out to dry. Again. Yet me and the M.C.C.P are here.

The President: *shakes his head slowly* The M.C.C.P...They grow out of my grasp...

Judah: Oh. Right. I've heard... That must've been a hard break for you. Here. *reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out some Tic-Tacs* Darn only two left...You want one?

The President: *eyes Judah for a moment before putting his hand out*

Judah: *puts a Tic-Tac in his hand*

The President: *pops the the Tic-Tac in his mouth*

Judah: Since I'm here, I can give you some suggestions on who to choose and it won't be one-sided.

The President: You promise?

Judah: You have my word.

"''Mr. President." ''A voice says from behind him, the intensity strong enough to send shivers down their spines. The green haired man is standing right there.

"It is quite rude to speak of someone standing right next to you. Might I point out that while the MCCP is suspected of breaking and enter our facility and causing critical damage to our off shore facility, engaging in conduct that is self serving, bleeding agents left and right practically on a daily basis at this point, all but committed treason against the nation itself, and even now has failed to respond to the crisis at the gates, we the MPD have remained dutiful in our efforts since Issac came into authority here, and not only forewarned well in advance of a high level attack on the nation, but rescued you from imminent death, sheltered you in one of our highest level facilities, and even now have repelled several assaults across the three Gates, and even more recently repelled a titanic giant from advancing onto our land!

Our cause has been the defense of this nation and will remain so. Mock our dedication and you will pay dearly for it. We brought stability and order back into our assigned territory and have reasonably prospered since, with an influx of those who are eager to serve our cause in the last few months. Not only are we growing, but we intend to serve our country with our finest resources. Something that not even you and your buddies over in the MCCP can hope to dream of, Judah."

Lux walks toward them. "I sense only the highest order of complacency in the MCCP, non of the resolve and strength of the past. But that's another matter for another day. Let us worry about the task at hand, gentlemen. If you really need to ask Issac political advice, you're asking the wrong branch of the tree. Speak with his father on that one. Hmm, look who it is who just checked in. Interesting. It seems Professor Issac Den Kurk of the Northeast Academy has arrived. I wonder who called him in. Oh wait. I did."

A door in the bunker opens, and a man with greying blonde hair and goatee and faint wrinkles walks through, wearing a trench coat and bullet proof vest underneath. He appears to carry a suitcase, and simply sits down at the table.

"Lux and Issac inform me you need some advice, Mr. President. I have many portfolios of able bodied minds who would love the opportunity to serve their country. All of well documented backgrounds and the highest prestige of our school."

The President: *ushers him to proceed*

The Frontlines [Day 1]
Outside one of the three Gates to Fantasy, multiple MPD jets land and begin setting up a defensive position around the gate, establishing turrets, sniper outposts, as well as several command centers. Issac soon is situated in one of them, with the Enforcers gathered around.

"Listen up everyone. You are going to need to give it your all today. Stick together and work as a team. We don't know what to expect so stay sharp."

"Understood!" Most of the Enforcers bark.

"Any questions before you get to your stations?"

Arnak remains silent.

Torikkumasuta: *raises hand*

"Yes Tori?"

Torikkumasuta: When is lunchtime?

"Worry about that later. In any case, be aware that we've called the other Agencies to get ready and in position, they should arrive in a few hours."

Torikkumasuta: *raises hand*

Arnak squints and shows clear anger when other Agencies are mentioned. "The MCCP wouldn't happen to be among these others Agencies, would they?"

"They will and unless you want to have problems I'd lie on the side of caution."

Arnak growls and nods.

Torikkumasuta: Will we also have a bathroom break?

"If you feel it appropriate, piss on the enemy if it bothers you that much." Issac says. "No more questions. Dismissed."

Arnak sticks with the others as they are dismissed.

Isa walks to the front defenses, as does Simon and Leo. Clare hangs back a bit however, and Issac is overseeing the entire operation.

Arnak joins Isa, Simon, and Leo on the frontlines, dusting off his coat.

"Nervous or excited?" Isa asks.

"Excited. I've never once felt nervous. This seems quite the big deal and will likely be my biggest challenge yet." He smiles. "Its going to be a lovely day."

Isa doesn't seem to share the same sentiments, and seems focused on the gate in front of them. Surrounding the gate is a sense of tension which steadily builds as if something was approaching.

Arnak simply waits to see what could come from the gate, occasionally looking back to Isa and feeling strange.

For the first hour, nothing happens but the air remains tense. Then...

Abruptly and without warning, several huge fireballs burst forth from the Gate and scream toward the assembled forces.

"Here they come!" A soldier shots, as several MPD officers dive out of the way before the fireballs can strike and explode on them.

Arnak quickly looks to the direction of where the fireballs came from, turning his hands into massive razor sharp claws.

Emerging from the gate is a large platoon of energy shield wielding warriors in white armor, behind them appear to be a line of magic casters who launch another volley at the MPD. Behind them is at least forty rows of heavily armored sword wielders.

Arnak tilts his head. "They seem rather primitive." Arnak creates a wall of psychic energy to try to block some of the fireball volley.

"They look different from before. It looks like a new metal armor type... they were red as well last. ...Odd."

The magic casters seem to hang back as the more heavily armed units move in, and soon the Phoenix troops start to charge with the shield wall to lead.

Arnak changes his claw hands back to normal, but then enforces them with bone like tissue that make them look somewhat larger and almost as if he was wearing gauntlets. "This should work better against shields."

The shield line crashes straight into him and several of the others, some are repelled by gunfire and counters from some of the Enforcers.

Arnak smashes his fist straight into the shields, repelling the ones closest to him back.

Torikkumasuta: *flies towards the white troops, trying to cut down as many as he can with his blades*

The magic casters launch fireballs at him, disrupting his flight path.

Torikkumasuta: *flies upward and has the tang of his blades face downward at the magic casters*

The tangs of both blades are tinged with shimmering light until a slabs of light extend from the two blades and heads downwards towards the magic casters

Arnak steps back and sends out a wave of orange energy, and a lot of the shields infront of him suddenly fizzle out, destroying the energy.

The spellcasters seem to glide unnaturally and evade Tori's attacks, now launching lightning at him, using the blades as a conduit.

Meanwhile the sheild wielders whip out katanas with a savage red light and several begin attacking him with high speed slashes. As one is about to slash his calf, Isa joins in with a psychic blade, blocking the strike.

"Got your back!"

All of the attacks instantly heal as Arnak's body reforms, and grins. ""Thank you." His whole body covers itself in dense bone like tissue, looking almost like armor as one arm turns into a large blade, and the other a clawed hand. "Lets repay that." He launches into some of the former shield wielders, cutting them down.

Some of them manage to dodge, while Isa gets a few extra. The ones that get back perform a hand gesture at Arnak, and the places where he was slashed detonate in loud bursts of fire.

As the smoke from the bursts of fire dissipate, he comes out completely unscathed, except for his coat. He looks down and his eyes glow a blood red as he looks back up to the survivors. "You're going to WISH you died at birth." He launches himself onto one of them, finding an opening in their armor and digging into their flesh, and onces hes done with the first he continues moving on to others.

At this time, Simon surges forward, his swipes with his halberd send rows of enemies flying thanks to Arnak's charge momentarily distracting some of the other enemies, and a lion's roar is heard as Leo changes into a lion and charges a soldier, sinking his fangs directly into the victim's face.

Clare meanwhile has gone in mano e mano with her fists, breaking jaws, ribs, occasionally striking the family buisness without mercy, her armor like skin protecting her from their blades.

Torikkumasuta: *flies over the soldiers*

His feathers begin to float down, but the feathers are gleaming red and by the time they land, small explosions go off.

Tori's attack is intercepted by the lightning, and he receives a full hit and is knocked to the ground from the jolt.

Torikkumasuta: Aayyyyeeeeeeeeee! *spins out of control and plumets to the ground*

A black tendril latches onto Tori and pulls him safely to the ground behind Arnak, where the tendril was coming from his back. "Stay to the ground, birdie."

Torikkumasuta: Birdman down...Birdman down...Need...Medic...

"Look somewhere else for one!" Arnak grabs one of the enemies heads and rips it open with his hands. "IM PREOCCUPIED!"

Tori is shot in the arm by a green needle, and when he looks in the direction of its origin, he sees the genetic scientist armed with a sniper rifle. Tori can feel the damage ebbing away.

Torikkumasuta: I-I think...I think I've seen you somewhere before...

Issac observes the battlefield. "..."

Meanwhile a series of soldiers have appeared on higher ground, bearing sniper rifles, and are now taking pot shots at various targets.

Arnak retreats ever so slightly to see how the fight is going.

One of the snipers seems to take notice of him, and a laser can be felt pointed at him as they take aim. The Enforcers are doing well, but their men are barely able to protect themselves against the stronger Myths. They seem like they may soon tire, and fatalities may start occurring if they aren't given enough protection.

Arnak remains still regardless of the snipers, noticing the lasers and a very slight shimmer is seen around him as he spots some of the lesspowerful men struggling against stronger enemies.

A shot is fired at Arnak and Tori from two snipers, while the others are shooting at random targets. They appear to be shooting two bullets at once.

The sniper that shoots at Arnak finds their bullet to be reflected and shot back at them at an even higher speed. Arnak smirks and makes his way to support the soldiers.

Torikkumasuta: *performs some hand seals and a spherical force field surrounds him*

The other snipers take note and begin focusing Arnak. Meanwhile, Isa continues fighting the enemy soldiers, and Simon is dueling with a few as well. The line on both ends seems pretty stable.

Arnak dodges between sniper bullets, occasionally sending some back in close calls. "I assumed this to be more difficult. It appears to be an equally matched skirmish..."

A few have wisened to him, and seem to switch out their ammo with something else.

Torikkumasuta: *tries to navigate through the crowdedness*

Arnak keeps wary of the snipers as he keeps moving and assisting in the frontal defense.

One of the snipers fire at him, the beam resulting from it causes everything in the line to ignite into white flames.

"For FUCKS SAKE." Arnak teleports out of the area and closer to the snipers, making his way towards them.

The ones that see him crouch in a strange stance and draw pairs of hellish red daggers.

Arnak growls and near the ones that spot him, shadow like whips pop up and start lashing at them.

They spring into the air and lunge at him with almost snake like movements.

Arnak does his best to dodge their attacks at they lunge at him while a dark purple haze emits from his mouth and soon starts to fill the area, blurrying the attackers vision and if inhaled, burning their lungs.

They appear to have gas masks on, largely ignoring the attack and continue their vicious assault. The move seems to have lessened casualties.

Arnak manages to grab one by the head and smashes it constantly into he ground before throwing the body at a different attacker.

One gets hit but the last one gets close and personal and begins swiping at him with the daggers.

Arnak makes it his focus to dodge the dadgers, eventually being able to grab hold of their arm and stab one of the daggers into his attacker.

The enemy screams as they explode into red ash. With the last of the snipers defeated, the MPD is able to focus on pushing back the enemy a bit, but they eventually entrench themselves with the aide of their spellcasters.

Arnak goes back down to the front line, assisting the MPD with the spellcasters. The spellcasters start to show signs of strain.

Arnak starts to laugh. "Oh my, its funny. I expected more but it seems these mages are just going to die horribly!" He continues laughing.

A good number of soldiers start to retreat back into the portal, or off to the sides. Meanwhile Arnak can sense something large is moving through it.

He slowly stops laughing as he senses something large coming towards them. "This... Is a cause for concern." He starts warning people to move back.

"What's wrong?" Simon asks, standing next to him.

"Something is coming. That little army they sent wasn't the last of this attack. It's something very big and I REALLY am going to get pissed."

"Right then. Form up!" He calls to the Enforcers, causing them to all group up. "Let's hope this doesn't end bad."

Torrikkumauta: Squac-!*falls to ground then scurries to his feet* Here!

"It doesn't seem like we have much time to prepare for whatevers coming. Just means a proper challenge." Arnak turns one of his arms into a tendril like spiked whip.

Suddenly a gigantic demon's head emerges from the gate, and soon the rest of him follows, garbed in unholy armor, yet his six pairs of wings are pure gold. He appears more on the lean side, with a slight muscular build. An aura of red fire surrounds him.

"So... you are the ones who defy us... very well. We shall do battle."

He stands up fully, having to lean to walk through the gate, towering high above them. Arnak gets the sense that despite its demonic appearance, there appears to be a noble air about the being.

"I am Yogan, Familiar of Abeni, one of Phoenix's greatest Lambdas! Who shall step for the first bout?"

Arnak's eyes shine with wonder, excitement, ferosity, and caution at the same time in a mere matter of moments. "This giant is much larger than the one I faced in the Oni Tower... And making it fall will be even more satisfying." He turns to the other Enforcers. "However I am not mad enough to assault this one alone."

"You may have a Queen in this gambit but no other."

Arnak sucks his teeth as he hears what Yogan says before looking to Isa. "I'd prefer if you were to assist me then."

"''It has been decided." ''A ring of fire seperates Arnak and Isa from the others, anyone near the Gate besides Yogan, Arnak, and Isa are rejected from the area and moved outside of the ring.

"''Now we play." ''Things turn black, then Arnak and Isa find themselves standing in a strange large field with white and black squares, surrounded by six stone statue like creatures in a ring, with Yogan on the opposite side of the field, with equal numbers of pawns.

"''Do you understand what this is?" ''He asks. "If not, I will explain the rules, as it would only be fair."

Arnak clearly doesn't understand but looks rather curious as he shakes his head.

"How truly pathetic it is that man is so... very well. This is a very liberal form of chess. Since you know it not, adapting established rules to new may be easier on your mind. You are a King. You can move in any direction. Once. You can attack any adjacent enemy on an adjacent square. However, you are not allowed to bring yourself into checkmate. In other words, you cannot move in a way that will get you killed with my next move. Your Queen can move in any direction you command of her as many as you desire. Pawns may only move two spaces on their first turn, and from then on, move only one space. Those are the rock formations.

''Now here is the challenge. Hit me three times to best me in this fight, and I shall withdraw. However, every pawn defeated on the opposing side lets the vanquisher upgrade their pawn to become more powerful. Besides that, there is only one thing to keep in mind. There will be traps."''

The chessboard a few spaces ahead of them begins to flash from green to red randomly, until they stop and the chessboard returns to normal.

"Pawns will be destroyed immediately if they hit a trap. However the trap will also be destroyed. Pawns will respawn on your turn, but you only have six units besides your Queen at any time as well as yourself. Understand?"

"Its a rather...trivial and strange way to fight but yes, I understand."

''I am well aware of my enemy and their limitations... I will never fight at full power until my mistress does so as well.''

''Black or white? ''Yogan asks.

"Black. White is too distracting."

''"Then I move first." ''One of his pawns makes two moves forward. "I have made my move. Feel free to move as many as you wish."

Arnak squints as he moves two pawns, one a single space forward and the other two spaces.

When the other moves the two spaces, it hits a red mark that was previously invisible, and causes meteors to fall from the sky and strike random squares, one hits the space of the second pawn and destroys it.

Arnak puts on a face of disappointment and anger.

Yogan moves a pawn toward the space vacated by the pawn, once he does so, a new pawn appears in Arnak's side.

Arnak takes a moment to think before moving pawns in an oddly defensive configuration.

Yogan moves a space forward.

Arnak starts playing in a way where he appears to be trying to draw out Yogan's pieces one by one.

One of the pawns maneuvers toward one of Arnak's, just out of range.

Arnak moves his pawns that are near Yogan's piece in such a manner that most moves will end up in the piece being taken.

Another pawn is moved, further away than the other pieces, into the middle but away from Arnak's pawns. A green light flashes about it, and it seems to animate and draw a bow, shooting one of Arnak's pawns before resuming its idle pose, though it changes into a knight like statue instead.

"Knights can 'warp' forward and backward in an L pattern." Yogan informs him, before ending his turn.

Arnak 's face twists into discontempt. "You couldn't have explained this to me BEFORE the game?"

"I explained that units can evolve, and resolved to explain them as they come. Green tiles when hit give a free action that can be used, well, freely. They're mixed with the traps."

Arnak groans as he starts adjusting his pawns with the Knight in consideration, taking a risk and moving one of his pawns towards the middle.

The pawn trips a red tile, and suddenly a red flare like light flies up, and begins randomly zipping around the battlefield, each time it bounces off something, two more appear, until madness begins to ensue and both sides start taking hits.

"FUCK IT, GOOD ENOUGH! LEAST IT TECHNICALLY HELPED!"

The lights all abruptly stop and explode all at once, blowing up every single pawn on both sides, leaving Isa, Arnak, and Yogan awkwardly staring at each other.

Yogan seems dumbstruck. "I was... ...sure I removed that one."

Arnak's eye twitches. ".....You've got to be fucking KIDDING."

Yogan moves off to the left.

Arnak squints before moving Isa towards Yogan, and tells her to attack him.

Yogan snarls as she scores a hit, then the board flickers, and both sides have reset, though the damage to Yogan remains. Two pawns move forward on his end.

Arnak smiles while he arranges pawns on the offense this time, moving two of his pawns forward as well.

One of the pawns hits a green square and Arnak is presented with the opportunity to use a Chaos Action.

Arnak hesitantly accepts the use of the Chaos Action, and the pawn that landed on the space seems to throw out magic spells that take out two of the enemy pawns before turning into a Bishop.

One of his pawns move forward, only to explode in a pillar of fire, leaving Yogan to scowl.

Arnak moves his bishop back while moving forward another of his pawns.

One of Yogan's replenishes, and Yogan has a pawn move toward the center.

Arnak does the same with the pawn he moved before.

Yogan narrows his eyes before moving his pawn forward, and the tile glows red before an absurd number of flare like lights begin rocketing about the arena again, even faster. This one seems different though, as each piece on the board has a green glow.

Arnak's eyes widen. "What. The fuck. Have you done?"

Both side's pawns essentially annihilate each other, Arnak's Bishop is reduced to one health and Arnak takes a sting from one of the stray lights, but finally the chaos ends, though Arnak and Isa still have Chaos Actions.

Arnak pats himself down when everything settles down. He uses one of the Chaos actions and suddenly his Bishop starts rushing towards Yogan, causing damage to him and remaining enemy pawns.

Yogan sweeps his sword, obliterating the Bishop with his swipe after being hit.

Arnak lets out a laugh.

Yogan seems to growl with agitation. The board resets.

"So, if I get one last hit on you, the game is over?"

"That is correct..."

Arnak flicks a fireball at Yogan. "I win."

The demon gives him a seething look as he is hit, and disappears, soon after the plane they are in collapses on itself, sending them back to the location they were before.

Isa looks at him with a weary smile. "...You did it!" The MPD seems to have quickly cleaned up house since they had disappeared, and are now entrenched, waiting for what comes next.

Arnak falls into a triumphant laughing fit. "Never said that was against the rules. Least things appear to have....gone stagnant."

The gate seems to surge with more energy again.

Arnak's eye twitches. "Isa I think it's time to see whether a bullet to the head will kill me because I'm going to attempt suicide if the energy I sense turns out to be more assholes."

A white haired woman with pale violet eyes and a long brown robe with twin black longswords walks out of the gate, seeming to draw recognition from the vast majority of MPD, though Arnak remembers her from somewhere else...

"....Hold on. Something isn't connecting to the pieces here. How is she with them when...?" Arnak is extremely confused.

She extends a pair of six wings and lunges forward toward the group, swords drawn at high speed.

"MOVE YOUR ASSES AND GET OUT OF HER WAY!" Arnak snaps his fingers as multiple explosions occur next to the woman.

She retaliates with a shockwave that sends them all flying.

Arnak quickly recovers from the shockwave, looking to the other Enforcers.

The sound of choppers whiring and metal moving across the ground can be heard coming from behind

The Enforcers have gotten back on their feet, Clare looks particuarly angry. Meanwhile the woman is merely watching the scene unfold now.

"So, they've come."

Tanks, moving turrets, automatons, and multiple soldiers wearing different uniforms and carrying different types of equipment begin to flood themeselves amongst the number of the M.P.D.

Issac looks at the advancing agencies. "Glad you all showed up. Listen. I want that one captured. Alive. Can we manage that?"

While he says this, Clare recklessly charges the newcomer. "You!"

Arnak scoffs. "The fuck is she doing?"

Something latches onto Clare's leg as she's running.

"Anything particular you are trying to find out of this thing, Isaac?"

"...Confirming a hypothesis on the nature of these creatures. They're not naturally made. Another, more advanced version was confirmed to have assaulted the White House a while back during one of the President's speeches. ...If I'm right, this woman in particular was... ...human. Human, and one of my own agents. I'd like to know for sure."

Tori grabbing Clare's leg distracts her long enough to be impaled in the lung.

"Gu-" She coughs up blood.

"Clare!" Issac yells. "Don't just stand there, do something!" He yells to the others.

Isa rushes in with a flurry of psychic attacks, forcing the angelic being to retreat and done a strange robotic armor.

Arnak makes himself larger than usual and makes extremely strong and heavy bone like growths on his hands, launching himself into the fray.

Torikkumasuta: Oh no, Claaare! *tries to get up as quickly as he can and tries to carry her away

''The other soldiers begins to fire bac while some begin to hastily set up the equipment they've brought. Some help Torikkumasuta carry Clare away to a safer distance. They begin to use the medical equipment to heal Clare's wound''

The angelic figure seems to ignore Isa and Arnak and is blitzing for Clare.

Torikkumasuta: Oh no! *instinctively covers Clare with his body and performs some hand seals which encases them both in an impenetrable dome*

She leaps into the air and grabs the dome, shattering it like glass, before blasting Tori aside with a shockwave and picking up Clare, choking her.

Torikkumasuta: *gets up and flies himself at the angelic woman and tackles her*

She slashes at him with her spare hand and sword.

Torikkumasuta: *blocks with his own two katanas and charges back at her*

A long tendril like blade whip pasts Tori, wrapping around the angelic figure and quickly pulling her away and another tendril grows from that tendril starts to lash at the hand chocking Clare, making sure not to accidentally hit Clare.

She suddenly drops her longsword, causing a burst of violet slashes to engulf Tori and Arnak.

Arnak quickly heals from the violet slashes and uses the tendrils to slam himself into the woman, but before impact making his body have even more density and mass to it.

Torikkumasuta: *is rolling along the ground squacking in pain*

She is forced to drop Clare, rolling along the ground before getting back up, her headpiece sparks and her red lights flicker.

Arnak takes note and digs his feet into the ground, launching himself at an even faster speed at the woman again.

This time she is ready and blasts him with a powerful shockwave.

Arnak quickly reacts to the shockwave by creating gigantic wings to make it so he isnt blasted back far, and flaps them extremely hard, causing large amount of bone like spikes to shoot out from them towards the woman.

She abruptly launches a towering fireball straight for him.

Arnak fires a somewhat darkened stream of water towards the fireball, completely dousing it as the water oddly almost corrupts the fire as it makes contact.

Torikkumasuta: *grabs one of his cut katanas and flies towards the woman and stabs her in the back*

She seems to freeze, before a pillar of light engulfs her, deflecting both side's attacks.

Arnak eyes turn from oragne to red. "Come the fuck on, why can't she just go down?"

The armor retracts, revealing the woman once more. She appears to be shocked as a voice speaks.

"Well, I believe that's enough toying around. Time for the main event. You've done well thus far Sukimu."

"Toying. Around. Call it toying around and I fucking assure you the only thing I'll be toying around with is that woman's head."

He only hears laughter.

"That voice... ...is the leader of Phoenix..." Issac mutters. "Keep on the look out!" He barks.

"No need for that... but did you really think that paltry invasion force was the real deal? Or did it not occur to you..."

Arnak squints before growling. "Considering you had a giant who could have decimated our front lines to nothing play a fucking stupid trivial game I'm going to say no, it wasn't the real deal."

High above Arizona, the floating fortress suddenly begins to extend thousands upon thousands of cannons, all aimed in various directions.

"Now then... shall I introduce you to the true might of Phoenix? I will give you all one last chance. Surrender peacefully or I will take my sweet time razing everything man has created."

Arnak looks to Isaac. "Not my call."

Issac glowers. "Nor mine."

"Very well then..."

At the fortress itself, Vzark and the scores of Chaos Engines aboard stand before White, pods awaiting them all to be loaded into cannons.

"Go forth to victory."

Vzark quickly rushes to one of the pods, getting inside. "I think I can get used to this, actually."

The cannons begin to fire the pods all across Earth, they slam into countless metropolitan and suburban areas, causing panic to those who had not yet sought shelter. A great number of these pods scream into the battlefield where the MPD and other Agencies have gathered, all around the protected Sukimu.

Most of the agencies including MPD are dumbfounded.

"...What on earth...?"

Arnak prepares himself for the worst as the pods land in the battlefield. "Is the plan still to capture her, Isaac? Or am I allowed to take...drastic measures now?"

Suddenly the pods begin to shake as the inhabitants inside them begin to break free.

"Going to need an answer Isaac."

"If you can, please spare her. She was one of our own." One of the pods break free.

Vzark emerges from the pod, clad in jagged black armor, adjusting his helmet ever so slightly before looking to see the enemy infront of him and then back to Sukimu. "This is going to take a while..."

Arnak grins. "No, it really wont."

Sukimu appears to be grimacing in pain as strange purple crystal growths begin forming on her skin and small horns are growing.

"Please no!" She screams

"Accept my reward."

Meanwhile the other pods are breaking free, and soon Kagerou, Silent Angel, Koruda, Nezumi, Lyre, Tanoshimi, and a male with long brown hair, brown eyes, walks out with light armor and robes adorning them. They appear to be carrying a longsword behind their back.

Kagerou seems to size Arnak up. "I have a feeling this one will be fun to play with. Vzark! What say we do some teamwork! I'll even let you be my sidekick!" He calls out with a grin.

Vzark groans. "Im fine with teamwork but if it means you doing your annoying hero villain and sidekick bullshit then no."

Arnak is noticably getting annoyed.

Clare's normally blue eye turns a pale, dangerous yellow, and Arnak sees her grow metaliic, silver colored scales on her neck and face, a haunted expression of rage on her face at the sight of Sukimu's pain.

Vzark outs his hand on his sheathed Novas Wrath. "Who're we going for first, then?"

Kagerou has already taken out his chainblade and is attacking Arnak with an overhead slash.

Arnak quickly dodges and retaliates by forming his arm into a blade and quickly taking a lunge with it at Kagerou's stomach.

Kagerou inhales sharply, a white light glowing briefly in his chest before he lets out a jet of white flames at Arnaks' face.

Arnak headbutts Kagerou straight into the bridge of his nose, which oddly enough sends Kagerou back quite a bit. Arnak's face is notably scorched and his eyes look like hes about to go into a frenzy as his burns heal.

As Kagerou flies back, he makes an odd gesture toward Arnak and he feels very heavy all of a sudden.

Arnak changes his mass to offset the sudden change in heaviness, looking to the other Enforcers. "As much as i'd love to im not going to be fighting these assholes alone."

Simon appears to engage with Silent Angel, who greets the challenge with his spear idily. Clark has launched herself in a craze toward Sukimu, Leo has turned lion and lets out a loud roar as he charges toward Vzark. Isa appears to be in a duel with the brown haired CE. Kagerou launches a bolt of lightning at Arnak.

Issac appears to be hanging back, looking at one of the pods yet to open further back in Phoenix's line. "...Something about that one worries me..." He mutters.

Arnak counters the lightning bolt with one of his own before looking to Isaac. "Then we kil-...INCAPACITATE them before that one opens."

Vzark leaps over the charging lion, creating an intense wave of fire at the lion.

The lion simply rolls out of the way, while something incredibly heavy and metallic crashes into Vzark, tearing its teeth into his arm, snarling viciously.

Sukimu suddenly lets out a violent cry of pain as an explosion of violet light erupts from her, blasting anyone close by away.

Kagerou begins slashing at Arnak in a mad, almost unpredictable fighting pattern. Meanwhile, another group of pods open, turning into what look like giant tanks with four legs, and a single, very large cannon on their front. Some begin to lock onto targets, one of which is Tori.

The attacker finds that Vzark is suddenly gone and a powerful slice hits it in the back, with a glowing marking being left behind.

Arnak eventually yells in rage as in the blink of an eye he crouches and sweeps Kagerou off his feet with a kick, quickly standing up and punching him square in the nose. His eyes are noticably red as he pounces onto Kagerou, snarling and barring his teeth.

Flares are shot into the air by special cannons set up by one of the agencies and spread apart into different flares which descend towards the opposing force

The quad tanks aim at the cannons and let loose blasts of light which with just one of the shots, decimates several squads of the agencies with their blast. The other shots begin to rain down on the other cannons, and one is fired on Tori.

The metalic attacker appears to be some sort of caninid machine, which recieved little to no damage from the attack, and turns and opens its mouth, releasing a cone of ultrasound causing intensive pain to anyone within the blast of the cone.

Kagerou is able to bar Arnak's attacks with the same amount of speed, he begins to spark with electricity as he continues his relentless attacks, the electricity making sharp crackling sounds, eventually creating a disorienting noise.

The mark on the robots back gflows as a small star like sphere appears, creating a bright mini explosion that knocks it straight into the ground, abruptly stopping the noise.

The disorientating noise only sends Arnak into even more of an enraged frenzy, causing his attacks to become even faster and stronger as he digs his teeth into Kagerou's shoulder.

Torikumasuta: *sees the flare coming at him* SWAAAAAAAA-! *flies out the way*

Black spike erupt from Kagerou's shoulder as Arnak attempts to bite him, impaling Arnak's jaws and parts of his head.

"Hmm, wonder if I make it worse...?" Kagerou ponders, as the lightning now travels into Arnak's body via the spikes.

Arnak's body doesnt respond to the electricity at all, seeming unphased by it as Arnak pulls his head off the spikes, quickly healing as he juts his claed hands into Kagerou's arm. "LET ME FUCKING DESTROY YOU, YOU BASTARD!"

Kagerou deforms into a black cloud and reappears a bit further off, now cackling with a dark edge as he reforms, his blue eyes starting to turn red. "Oh, this is going to be a fun war..."

From the aftermath of the explosion comes an amythest colored being encrusted in crystal, bearing six wings of lavender light, and an overall dragonic knight sort of appearance. She now appears to have six arms, each with its own black greatsword, each having a violet glow. She begins to approach Clare silently.

The mechanical canine is transported away, but soon following it appears a woman in black armor with red lights on the leggings and arms, with long black hair and blue eyes, over which is a white labcoat.

She scowls at Vzark, before pointing a strange cannon in his direction. "You hurt my precious creation. My name is Geira. Now you die." She fires a beam of high speed right light at Vzark with a scowl.

Horns seem to be poking out of Arnak's head now. "KEEP LAUGHING YOU UNDERDEVELOPED EXCUSE FOR EXISTANCE!" He bares his teeth once more as he launches himself into the ground, dissapearing.

Vzark quickly sprouts large wings and flies out of the way, and once the beam fires he divebombs Geira, aiming his sword at her neck.

Kagerou simply flies up into the air and drops a huge boulder down at the location.

Meanwhile, Geira simply blocks with one of her armored arms, which point small gun muzzles at him and begin rapidly firing bullets at him.

Arnak bursts out of the ground before the boulder can hit, crashing straight through the boulder and destroying it, slamming his fist into Kagerou.

Vzark ducks under the gunfire and knocks her arm in such a way that the muzzles are aimed at one of her robots.

The bullets harmlessly deflect off the canine, and it turns and blasts Vzark across the battle field with an ion discharge from a cannon in its mouth.

Vzark uses his sword to absorb the ion discharge, and the sword glows as Vzark jumps back and sends out a wave of Novic energy hits both the canine and woman, blasting them back instead.

Simon, who has been watching Vzark, suddenly deflects one of Silent Angel's affliction spears in Vzark's direction towards his back while he is doing this.

Geira takes out another cannon, which pulses green, causing her to flinch, before a huge green burst overrides the Novic energy and barrels straight into Vzark's chest with a mighty discharge.

The Vzark that was hit with the spear and discharge fades away like sand. Vzark is no where to be seen.

Sukimu flies at Clare, and suddenly encases herself and Clare in a huge violet crystal, though Sukimu still seems able to move, and begins to choke Clare again.

Arnak takes notice and diverts his attention to the crystal, starting to run towards them as Vzark suddenly intervenes from nowhere, descending from the sky and taking a swing at Arnak, who dodges.

Clare's body begins to grow white scales, at the same time, her eyepatch falls off, revealing her yellow eye, which causes Sukimu to start.

Arnak notices Sukimu's reaction and creates a shadow whip that starts violently lashing and crashing against the crystal, causing Vzark to rush Arnak, slicing through his arm that quickly re attaches and heals, where Arnak counters by turning his arm into a large blade, bringing it down onto Vzark who blocks with his sword.

The crystal, not of Arnak's doing, suddenly shatters as Sukimu staggers back, howling in some form of agony. Vzark hears in his head...

''Automatic Distress Signal from the Eta Sukimu Unit detected. Unknown anomaly causing communication interference.''

Vzark gets distracted for a moment, and Arnak leaps onto him, biting at his face while Vzark quickly pushes him off before Arnak can do any damage, moving towards Sukimu and looking to the other Etas. Meanwhile, Arnak continues his pursuit, sending out like bone like spear projectiles at Vzark, who deflects them with his sword.

As Vzark gets close, his mind is bombarded with fuzzy data akin to images, images like memories, Sukimu 's memories, painful and bombastic, exploding through both minds with incredible violence. His own CE system begins to blare exceptionally loud warnings and alerts, trying to shut it out and drive him away.

Vzark grimaces as he quickly moves back. "Christ, what the fuck is going on?"

Arnak seems confused as well by the panic.

Exploring Familiar Ground
''An arcane circle forms ontop of the rooftops of Upnation, Drake quickly appears soon after with his hand firmly on Kurai's handle. He glances around and takes a second to sense the presence that surrounds him, he faintly sighs.''"And already a welcoming committee."

The presence seems to be getting heavier, until a faint blue light appears on the horizon, and begins to swiftly grow. He can hear a faint fire like crackling noise.

"Ebony." The black shield appears on Drake's left forearm as he times the oncoming attack, just as it's about to strike, Drake shouts a command and a black sphere that spans a few dozen meters surrounds him.

Nothing happens, as the force continues to approach at a steady pace until. "Destructure, Magic."

Drake feels almost all of his power rip into nothing as while the power fails to utterly annihilate the shield, it DOES succeed in expelling it from Fantasy altogether, removing the shell from his arsenal, leaving him with few options as the blue light now 'stands' before him directly, the intense presence originating from it.

He just shakes his head and looks up at the light."Nice to see you too, Azula. Kado says hi, he misses you etc etc et-fucking-c." Drake glances at his runes, noticing that they've faded. "So you've took away my spell casting, yeah this'll be a pain..." He 'scans' her and slightly shudders."Yeah... You're a problem."

A intense form of dread looms over him as for countless miles around them in a radius, every animal and living being begins to panic and flee in mass, as though a terrible omen of disaster was about to strike.

"Well it was rather quick for me to chime in, wasn't it?" ''A wide wave of Exeon energy blasts into Azula and paralyzes her for enough time for Daikeim to strike her with multiple bolts of lightning, sending her a mile away. He hovers down beside Drake, but before Drake can say a word Daikeim interrupts him.''"Let's focus on surviving first, shall we? I'll explain stuff later." Drake only nods and prepares himself, as does Daikeim.

The Exeon energy literally explodes into nothing the moment it leaves Daikeim's immediate vicinity, as well as the lightning.

"Destructure Phys- I-c-s..." Her voice breaks up and crackles with static as around her for countless miles, white static begins to flicker, and as it does so, screams of countless lifeforms in the area can be heard as gravity and all forms of logic collapse within the area, in one burst everything is endlessly assembled and reassembled in such a way that whole new atomic structures and elements are created and destroyed, and when the burst dissipates, nothing is left alive or even truly existent save for an alien landscape of iridescent unstable matter with no properties understandable by the mortal mind.

All that is left of Daikeim and Drake's spirits are empty shells of souls now trapped in the cold dark abyss.

"Hahah... Sorry, not happening." ''In a twist of fate, just by a split second paradox, Drake and Daikeim are hovering around in a void. Drake just looks around, slightly confused. ''"So... This is nothingness?"

"Yeah... Being in a void is kinda scary, don't you think?" Daikeim responds, faintly glowing gold as he attempts something.

"Sorta, I've seen the effects of this by others and it's rather jarring... So do you think we have time to talk yet?"

"Oh we have plenty of time, hold on." ''Daikeim creates a table and chairs within the void, he takes a set and pours them a drink from a teapot that he created from the void itself. ''"Take a seat."

''Drake does exactly that, sitting down and pulling a cup towards him. He takes a sip before actually looking at Daikeim, he places the cup down and his tone is more serious. ''"So where have you been? The last time I saw you, you were escorting civilians away, then you disappear without a trace. Only to come back now? I thought you would have prevented what's happened, Daikeim."

''After a sip of his drink, Daikeim gives a faint smile. ''"I was in a happier place, learning a lot, obtaining a lot. I wish I could have brought you along, but I was denied that so I had go to alone. And yes I wanted to prevent what's happened but what I was learning mattered more, but nevertheless, I'm back now and I'm going to do all I can to stop Phoenix... So what about you? I can easily tell you've changed."

"Oh, just a bit." Drake looks at himself, the wings, the tail, the runes and arcane circles."I've effectively become a god, pretty cool, right?"

''Daikeim slightly tilts his head at Drake. ''"And how did you obtain this?"

"Simple; the God Pit." Drake responds as he takes another sip of his drink.

''This forces a sigh out of Daikeim as he leans over. ''"So Valeric gave you permission?"

"...No, I had to do something in order to get what I needed." ''Drake opens up his HSC and pulls something out, causing Daikeim to stand up in shock upon sight. Drake dangles the trophy of Evoh's head over the table, looking at it with pride. ''"I killed him... In brutal fashion, it felt... Great." He tosses it across the table, it stops right in front of Daikeim who looks at it once more before looking up at Drake.

"Yeah... You've changed, but I can't say it's for the better." Daikeim's voice is of concern of his friend, who looks at him in confusion.

"What are you talking about? I killed a god and in return I became a god as well, it's not like you tried to go into the Pit too, chasing after that scum. Besides it's not like he came to me, I hunted down Valeric and demanded he let me get the power I need."

"Why would you need that power though? You were fine beforehand." Daikeim asks, sitting back down and pushing the head back to Drake who stores it away.

"Because I needed it, I wasn't fine before... After what happened with Noriko, I couldn't stand how worthless I was in that fight... I needed every drop of power I could get my hands on just so I could make sure for myself that she was fine." He sighs.

"But this isn't you, Drake..." ''Daikeim looks at the soul itself, and by the looks of it, the soul is cracked and rapidly changing between red and black but before he can get any more information, Daikeim starts feeling an intense pain which forces him to stop. The concerned expression now ever more present as he looks at his friend. ''"You're not pure, focused, and clear, you have all these emotions running around you... It's like you're living a war with yourself."

"I know." ''Drake responds sternly. ''"Trust me, I don't feel like the best when my biggest opponent is myself... But everyone makes sacrifices, I basically sacrificed my inner peace and what purity I had left in exchange for the power I need to bring my loved one back to me. I don't care if it's not 'me', I'm not a hero like you, I want Noriko back and I will go as far as I need to get her back."

"That's the thing, I'm worried about how far you are willing to go... You'll disregard help, you won't think through plans, you rely on your powers and your perseverance to get you to your goal, that's what you've done... But what if you start taking lives of people who are willing to help you, taking lives of innocents and friends alike? And what happens after that? Noriko loves a loud mouth Cyanican who was there when she needed him, not... This."

"Then tell me where I was when she was taken... I'll tell you, beaten and bloodied and left for dead, I woke up in a tower on the edge of Echo all while Noriko was taken back to the prison known as Yosai. From the second I stood on my own two feet after being defeated, I knew I had to get as strong as I could to save her, and I've reached my peak... All that's left is to get her back, and nothing is standing in my way."

"And it's that stubbornness that will eventually get you killed, please just take it from me, take a step back and see the bigger picture. Like how what you'll do affects others, what your actions has on everything else... This world doesn't revolve around you, there are others whose lives matter just as much as yours, as everyone else’s. This selfish thinking will be your downfall, Drake, if your carelessness causes Noriko's death then what do you do? You'll be nothing but a god with no one, nothing at all, wandering the plains for as long as you live."

''Drake's stare turns into a glare. ''"Take it from you? What, someone who had it easy until one little upset?" He tightly clenches his fists."What did you have to lose in all of this? Elanore? Home? Your friends?" He stands on the table and looks down at Daikeim."...Let me tell you something, Daikeim." He flares up, yelling at him.

"EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE, I HAD TO EARN IT. THE ONLY THINGS THAT WERE GIVEN TO ME WERE MY SPELLBOOK AND MY WAY INTO THE RYUNEXO MERCENARIES, EVER SINCE THEN, I HAD TO BUILD MYSELF UP. I EARNED EVERYTHING, I EARNED MY RIGHT TO FIGHT, MY RIGHT TO LEARN, MY RIGHT TO BE PART OF THE MERCENARIES. I BECAME A PROUD AND SUCCESSFUL MERCENARY WHO PARTICIPATED IN A WAR AND WHAT HAPPENED? YOUR FUCKING FATHER AND HIS MERRY BAND OF GODS BANISHED US, FOR WHAT? SAVING THEIR PLANET!"

"AND THEN WE ARRIVED ON EARTH, AND SURPRISE, IT'S STILL A FIGHT TO GET SOMETHING, I HAD TO FIGHT JUST SO WALK ON THE GRASS, I HAD TO FIGHT TO LIVE IN A TOWN, THEN WHEN WE PARTED FOR THE FIRST TIME, I HAD TO FIGHT TO RESCUE MY FRIENDS, I HAD TO FIGHT TO BREAK OUT OF A COMA THAT I WAS PUT IN, I HAD TO FIGHT WHILE I WAS TRAPPED ON YOSAI, I HAD TO FIGHT WHEN I WANTED TO BREAK FREE FROM THAT PRISON, I HAD TO FIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT NORIKO WAS SAFE!"

"BUT NONE OF THAT MATTERED BECAUSE IN THE END, IT WAS ALL TAKEN FROM ME, EVERYTHING THAT I EARNED, I LOST! I'VE LOST MY FAMILY, MY FRIENDS, AND MY RIGHT TO BE BACK HOME, MY PRIDE, PURITY, INNOCENCE, MY GUARDIAN ANGEL AND THE LOVE OF MY LIFE. I HAVE LOST EVERYTHING BECAUSE I DIDN'T REALISE THAT I WAS TOO WEAK, AND YOU'RE JUST TELLING ME TO STEP BACK BECAUSE I MAY DIE?!"

"YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND A FUCKING THING! EVER SINCE I LOST NORIKO I'VE DONE EVERYTHING I CAN, I EVEN BECAME A FUCKING GOD JUST TO HAVE ENOUGH POWER TO SAVE HER, I THREW AWAY EVERYTHING TO GET HER BACK, I EVEN DID WHAT YOU COULDN'T, I DID YOU A FAVOUR BY KILLING EVOH AND YOU DARE CALL ME SELFISH?! I'VE MADE SACRIFICE AFTER SACRIFICE, WHAT HAVE YOU SACRIFICED, DAIKEIM? AND LET ME FINISH THIS WITH THIS; THE WAY I ACT, THE WAY I FIGHT, THE WAY I GO THROUGH WITHOUT A PLAN IS BECAUSE UNLIKE YOU OR ANY OTHER FUCKER IN THIS UNIVERSE, I HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE NOW!"

''Drake falls back into a seated position and a massive sigh escapes his mouth. ''"I have nothing to lose now... She means everything to me and I need her back... What bigger picture is there for me? All that matters is her."

''He goes quiet before laughing to himself. ''"Call me a fool, call me insane, call me pathetic... But no one, can not call me determined... A lso I don't have time to think of plans or to get help, every second she's in agony and I can't just stand by thinking through with a plan. "

''Daikeim looks towards Drake, a faint smile on his face as he lets out a laugh as well. ''"...Are you done? Because we have someone to deal with."

''Drake's wings flare out and his runes glow. ''"Yeah... I'm done, so I'm gonna assume you have a plan."

"Heh... No, not really... But how about we just work together for now, right?"

They start to hear footsteps, the table and chairs do not really last long, being in the void makes them corrode almost immediately, and they feel incredibly drained just for doing so.

"''So then... you're here too then, what a party this is..." ''A strangely familiar yet alien voice rings out around them. Without any sign or means, a yellow figure composed of yellow light with an almost shattered glass appearance stands before them, and it's only after Drake feels its energy that he becomes aware of the fact that this is Eien.

"Hmm, bit off a bit more than you could chew then... Not surprised considering it's my creation you went against," He remarks simply.

"''Thankfully for me, I have my doors still open. You two..." ''He tsks. "You two look to be in a spot of trouble."

"No, not really." ''Drake blankly responds. ''"If you couldn't tell, we were having a conversation. If that looks like we're in trouble then you need glasses. Actually why are you even here, like, in front of us."

"Moron." The voice clears up and Eien retakes his form after a strange green glow briefly envelopes him. "You're Nonexistent. Soon to be less than even that."

Drake and Daikeim literally begin to crumble away, very slowly but very painfully. "You won't even remember your own names in the next half hour I'd wager. Even if you made it past that length of time, they will consume what's left." He pauses, and eldritch voices can be heard whispering, they can hear just the raw desire to consume in their voices.

"If you want a way out, you're going to have to decide how much existing, Noriko, and well, everything is to you. Because you are going to need my help..."

''Drake starts to distort once more, but achieves nothing, Daikeim's own Exeon is piecing himself back together. ''"First of all if you think you can stay fine in this void and watch us fade away then you're dead fucking wrong. Second of all why are you eve--"

"Drake, you can ask questions later, we need his help like it or not." Daikeim reluctantly responds.

"...You do realise he is basically my version of Drekavas, right?"

"I don't care, we need to get out of here and if he's saying that he can help us then we don't have a choice."

"...I'm gonna hurt both of you, really badly once we get out." ''Drake growls then glares at Eien. ''"Alright then, you better keep to your word this time."

"First of all, Minor God, don't even try to bring reality distortions into this. You'll make it worse..." He says as Drake's deterioration accelerates to a startling level.

"Told you. And honestly, you should have just let yourself die the way things are going. Meddling like you are, you're going to meet a very bad end, even worse than the one Azula would have given. At least that was a quick... painless death."

Eien gets right in Drake's face. "And by the way... you owe me everything you are for now on." He says as a green light begins to surround them all, and begins to work its way inside of Daikeim and Drake's souls, fundamentally changing their compositions to make its wavelength.

''Daikeim just looks at the two and shakes his head. ''"So what exactly is this."

"Oh you know, being recreated by a certain life goddess of mine... this is the pleasant part."

"...Azayakana..." Drake mutters under his breath.

"Hahahahahhahahahaha, no." A blinding light consumes them and for a brief time they feel nothing.