Arc 5: The Stars Against Anarchy
The rain was soon to fade over Walgonia, still concentrated around the Capital. And together under it all, lived and breathed the coming Siege.
Ryo {Who's that?}
The North of Walgonia was still holding strong, even with the coming Upper Pillars attacks, but the South of Walgonia was connecting together every moment. The constant war, meeting the endless rebellion and waves of soldiers against the Sect. With bands of soldiers lead by Leviathan members, Jong Long, and Lanner since separating from Leo's group. To continue taking hold of what they could, and to die trying to get what they couldn't. For Greenvale, it had once again become a more barren space. With only injured, new recruits, and once separated forces moving in to go back out into the war the second they could walk. And Ryo watched over it all with Gordon's absence, with help from Erline, but he had his things ready even then. He was a God of War after all, and he'd defend Walgonia with all he could, even if he felt sick to his stomach even thinking about drawing his blade.
Ryo {Have they returned? I sense Dema, no no but Gray isn't with them. It's just one of them!}
Ryo rushed from the balcony overlooking the resting Greenvale, flashing a bright white with Spirit mana. So he could jump off the air with a rapid fire of kicks, soaring over the cottages and yards in a flash, before landing in the backyard of Gray's home all the way across the village in just a few seconds. To see Dema sliding against the grass, and a pink haired prince smiling back.
Julius: "I have returned to send a message. One, sadly Muther did not survive Symbol. Two, Symbol was what could be considered victorious. Three, we faced and survived against Pandora, who is now confirmed to use Rosine Voria as her vessel. And four, it is safe to assume that the others united with the rebellion inside of the Capitals west side. So all that is left is to unite with everyone, and take back Walgonia. Should it be simple, correct?"
Ryo: "...I…I don't…"
Hearing everything all at once, Ryo couldn't help but freeze. As his heart fell into his stomach at just the thought of it all. But knowing the mission had been accomplished, he was forced to stand tall. Before facing up into the rain, the clouds slowly moved past the large, half full moon watching from above the clouds.
Ryo: "I don't know if it's simple. But is it possible? We just have to see. May the Spirits watch over us, and have mercy on us all."
Julius: "So what is next?"
Ryo: "I'll reach out to the others with my Spirit, and after, we get everyone together. And in a one, country wide battle, we destroy the infection that's taken it. So yeah, not simple. It's always a gamble. It's the Sect after all."
Julius: "So we do not have any time to waste."
Greenvale would soon divulge across Walgonia, and almost instantly at that. As Julius moved to prepare, Ryo instantly rushed to gather the others. Where everyone, from the Erline, Rick, Peter, and so many more inside Greenvale would have to rise up as the last line against the end. And yet the Capital was already brimming with rebellion. As Leo, Yui, Dershia, Carlos, Lanner, and even Walter moved through the outskirts of the Capital's Westside. Hiding under the rain, the broken walls, the disjointed streets. Getting closer and closer to the three battles that had just unleashed across the edges of the Capital. Edward, Grom, and Gray's group were all rushing. Screaming. Jumping into the fray. And while the Sect had yet to fully react, the others had moved full force.
Tim: "We crush them! Break the hold and then leave immediately! You understand!? IGGGON!"
From one of her two wands, Tim stood on the rooftop facing the building across the street. Pushing mana through the crystal toward the Spirits, she screamed. And now flying overhead, that Iggon had transformed into an even louder, brighter stream of flames. Rushing, bubbling, emerging into the head of a dragon. The flames poured into eyes, horns, a raging extended jaw, and a dazzling tail that smashed deeply into the stone of the building. Breaking the large glass panes, and sinking the flames like an infection across the upper half of the building. Melting deeper and deeper, collapsing further and further, before a few crescent shaped blades of wind further broke the building open.
Edward {MOVE MOVE MOVE!}
As the stone fell onto the anarchists below, others still rushed forward like a wave. Under the church-like manor sprinted Edward, smashing the cobblestreet in his pursuit, like a juggernaut across the street. Slashing through an anarchist, anarchist kicked another away before spinning until a vaulting slash right into the shoulder of a stone fleshed Demi-human. Crushing, stabbing deep into his arm, before Edward smashed him into two mages right behind him with his shoulder, and roared for the swarming members to keep on coming.
Joyce: "WOOOOHOOOO!!!"
It may have thrown him off a bit, but rushing by his side was Joyce. Her smile massive, her eyes wide, her heart pumping, and her already strong body was coated in a red, almost lighting-like aura. Causing her veins to bulge, her muscles to loosen, and joints to lock down. But in return her speed, strength, resistance, even perception had all jumped forward. As could any Charged Ravager. Using that speed to pivot toward the anarchist, tear through their chest and backs with her claws, and rush behind the next group to do the same. Aiming to shut them down with easy swipes, while Edwards blade smashed through the heads of the others. Allowing her to flow around him, cutting through legs and into sides, stepping together like a Ballroom of Blood. Before all of the bodies dropped, and the next swarm came in. Letting them get deeper and deeper into the street, under another blast of fire and volley of wind. To break through it all.
TIm {In and Out in and out! We can't waste a single second! I know Grom should be good at handling this quickly, but Gerald!? If we make it back to the base there's no telling what could be dragged back!}
On Grom's end inside the packed and walled up industrial street, he was moving exactly to Tim's mind. Leaping directly into a street of anarchists to crush them under his might, before the force burst out to throw even more back. He already had a trail of a few broken homes behind them, and had Sherly at his side rushing to take out any mages and archers distracted by Grom. Even if he was squeaking and screaming in fear, Boid was still slamming his fists against anarchists to throw them back. All to protect the small JJ, desperately rolling and dodging to stay afloat, while sending out his whip to throw off anybody going for his friends. A truly tight unit, maybe led a little too much by Grom, but still they were together. Under the rain, the magic, the arrows. All without getting hit yet.
Grom: "Go! Show me why you're worthy!"
JJ: "Got it!"
Boid: "Uhhh okay I guess!"
Sherly: "Quit talkin and act!"
And they'd keep doing it. To crush their networks, to crush their supports, and hopefully crush a wall to get outta here when the reinforcements come. But both groups were narrowing closer to the hardest part of these battles. And one of those groups had already fallen right into a trap.
[Gray]: "Who to kill first!? That man!? No, I'll save him! Ooh that girl? No no not first…THAT NOBLE! THAT FILTHY SCUMS BLOOD WILL GO NICELY WITH THIS CLOAK OF DARKNESS! AND THEN THE GIRL, OOH THEN THE MAN! YES YES YES YES! IT'S ALL COMING TOGETHER!"
Under his mask his eyes were tightened, red, swollen with madness. His mouth curved, drooling, leaking some blood along with his eyes. But as he attempted to rush down the dark hall, his twitching body became too much to handle.
[Gray]: "ENOUGH ENOUGH! WE HAVE TO KILL THEM! YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND! YOU WEAR OUR MASK! YOU WEAR OUR WITCHES CLOAK! YOU HAVE HER SOUL! YOU ARE AN UPPER PILLAR, AND IF YOU DON'T WANNA BE, I'LL USE THIS BODY AND DO IT MYSELF!"
His arm swung to the side, his leg buckled under, he twisted and jerked his neck, all while he crawled and shambled down the hall. Into old shelves, bookcases, paintings, before finally smashing into a cracked mirror. Throwing him to the floor, and leaving his mask to his side. Showing off his twitching, seizing face, thrusting and spinning around desperately trying to stand straight. Dragging at his skin, scratching at his arms, screaming and panting for all of the anarchists nearby to hear -
[Gray]: "STOP THIS MADNESS! NOBODY CAN RESIST! DO YOU HEAR ME!? YOUR SOUL ISN'T STRONG ENOUGH! YOUR MIND, YOUR CONFIDENCE, IT'S ALL SO PITIFUL! SO LET GO LET GO LET GOOOO!"
As [Gray] attempted to use a burst of mana in his arm, he couldn't help but instantly pull back due to the intense pain. Pain Gray had gotten all used to it. Causing his other leg to jerk back and push him to his knees, before his right hand swung an extending wrist talon directly toward his neck.
[Gray]: "STOP STOP STOOPP!"
Without any thoughts from either of them, the Cloak acted on its own. Grabbing hold of [Grays] arm to stop the wrist talon, before binding tightly around his body. Leaving him screaming, scratching, and dragging on the dusty wooden floor. Before a swarm of anarchists finally came rushing through the halls, all to help their Commander.
[Gray]: "I'LL TAKE EVERYTHING FROM YOU! YOUR OD, YOUR MIND! YOUR MEMORIES! I'LL ENGRAVE MYSELF SO DEEPLY ONTO YOU THAT NOTHING WILL BE LEFT!"
A few larger Demi-human anarchists surrounded [Gray], however they just waited. All confident Gray would be taken in moments. As [Gray] began to sink deeper into his OD, [his] body. To see flashes of Rosemary, Soku, Edward, before sinking deeper. Phrases on top of each other - "Take care of yourself", "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry", "YOU AND I HAVE KILLED KIDS DAMMIT! WE CAN'T COME BACK FROM THAT!" from all different voices, before he peeled back the layers of Gray Kyojin. And the Cloak finally pulled back, as Gray's eyes sunk into a dead white.
Anarchist: "We did it! We're definitely getting that promotion now!"
Anarchist: "Hey don't mess it up by sayin that!"
The building rumbled under the weight of the battle outside, pulling more and more of them away as [Gray] began to stand. Throwing his body back, ready to take everything. To see the Rebellion's base, Greenvale's secret location, the fall of Athens, Azalea, and -
[Gray]: "AEHEHEHAHEHG!"
The moment [he] attempted to see Earth, Gray's OD burst like a wildfire. Sending an intense, bright surge of dark purple mana around [him], before the Cloak surged outward to push the surrounding anarchists back.
[Gray]: "NO EUH PLEA -
Crying, screaming, holding his body in absolute despair from the mind burning pain. Not just from the mana surge, but from [his] own soul.
[Gray]: "You CaN'T!"
His eyes sunk back into a harsh red, but they were visible once again. His arms tightened, his legs went under his shoulders, and both wrist talons unsheathed. All before a massive influx of Spirit mana charged throughout his body.
[Gray]: "HELP ME DAMMIT!"
The anarchists attempted to rush ahead, but Gray just kept pulling forth Spirit mana. Throwing himself into the Spirit sense, before immediately cracking the black layer in his eyes. Pushing closer and closer to his threshold in a matter of moments, all on sheer instinct.
Gray {YOU WON'T WIN DAMMIT! AFTER PANDORA, THE MAZE, ATHENS!? HELL EVERYTHING!? I WON'T BE THE REASON WE LOST! WE HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED YET!}
[His]intense, ear piercing screams of pain and resistance turned into a roar of courage. The [soul] was never able to take hold of Gray. Maybe it got close, maybe [he] was able to invade Grays OD, but after all of the failures, after Pandora had made him crazier with envy, he couldn't let anything overwhelm his Will. Not with Rosemary, or Walgonia on the line.
Gray: "NOW DO ME A FAVOR AND LET GO!"
The tight aura of mana, the dense and rising Spiritual intensity, on top of the intense pain left [Gray] unable to handle any of it. The mana, the incredible Spiritual sense, the strain the Cloak was having on [His] mind, sent [him] flying. Like tearing off a tick. And sending a large red and black pulse out from Gray's body, to finally give him full control once again.
Gray {NOW I GOTTA STOP THEM! SO PICK UP THE PACE! MOVE IT KYOJIN!}
Seemingly having pushed away whatever Potential Pillar took hold, and before the others could bash his skull in, he'd already leapt without any idea of where he was going. The intense aura of powerful Spirit mana left him smashing through one, then two floors, before he sprinted as fast as he could down the hall. Throwing out the enlarged cloak against the few anarchists lining the walls, all to slingshot himself forward through the others ahead of him.
Gray: "MOVE IT WOULD YAH!"
He pushed his legs farther with mana just enough to bulldoze through the few Sect members with his momentum, and ended up overshooting it right out of the window at the end of the hall. Where he lit a bright blue, and his Cloak sunk his mask back over his face. For all of the anarchists in the tight street to see, and for Rosemary, Gerald, and Luca to all rush with even more focus.
Gray: "THERE'S A PILLAR THAT INVADES MINDS! SO HOLD OUT, AND WE GOTTA FIND HIM OR HE'LL LEAK OUR PLANS!"
Gerald: "SHIT! WHAT THE HELL DID YAH DO IN THERE!?"
Rosemary: "THANKS FOR THE QUICK INFO THOUGH!"
Luca: "GUYS GUYS FIGHT GUYS! PLEASE GUUYSS!"
Gerald: "HUUUSHHH!"
Rosemary, Gerald, and Luca were all still lit by Luca's Mark of the Brave. Surrounded by knocked out or killed anarchists, and surrounded by even more living ones rushing toward them. From all of Gerald's injuries, the pain fueled his corrupted axe. Lighting the Axe of agony in a screaming flame under the dense rain. While Luca desperately rushed, slashing toward backs and legs to slay alive. Leaving Rosemary and her might for the denser waves, kicking four or five anarchists away in a single attack, or slamming her fist into the ground to slam a thick torrent of wind against them. But with each movement, she surged with pain, digging deeper and deeper quicker and quicker. And even if the Mark of the Brave was taking the burden, the moment that broke, she could be dead in the water.
Rosemary: "Keep our guards up! We might have to start thinking about leaving!"
Gerald: "HELL NO! WE BASICALLY JUST GOT HERE! WE AINT LEAVIN TILL EVERY ANARCHIST IS DEAD!"
Luca: "WHAT!? I'M BAILIN THE SECOND SHIT GETS ROUGH!"
Rosmeary: "What!?"
Gray wanted to join the battle, and he didn't have much of a choice the faster he fell, but his boosted Spirit sense was spiraling. He saw the faint white connection between Rosemary, Gerald, and Luca with Mark. He felt the dense rain, the pain, the fear below. And especially the corrupted signal from the building right ahead. Without a thought, and a single glance down to Rosemary, he sent the Cloak up toward a boarded window and held on tight. Stretching close toward the street, before snapping straight up into the air and throwing the window.
Gray {DON'T CHOKE NOW! HOLD THIS MANA! I GOT THIS I GOT THIS I GOT THIS -
He'd landed into a tight living room, where his Spirit sense flashed and sent him rolling under a swing from a towering horned Demi-human. He was old, balding, with a thick chin beard, grey skin, and a large set of teeth leaking drool, with eyes a dead blank white just like Gray's earlier. Screaming, smiling, forcing himself forward as hard as he could.
[Anarchist]: "WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!? A SEIGE!? A REBELION!? THE UPPER PILLARS WILL CRUSH YOU ALL! THEY DEFEATED KIOSHI! THEY CAN DO THE IMPOSSIBLE DAMMIT!"
He pulled back his fist with all he could, hurling it toward where Gray used to be. Where he was now, was right under his legs. Leaping between them with the Cloak snagging his legs, forcing him to the floor before Gray spun him through the couch, and right into the hallway of the apartment building.
[Anarchist]: "...Nothing! YOu're NOTHING!"
He tried to stand, holding a few broken ribs on the way up, but he couldn't react in time to Gray's charge. Getting stabbed in his shoulders by two wrist talons, and slammed through another wall. Where Gray stood over the [Demi-human], and prepared to slash down with all he could.
"Please don't kill us!"
But the screams of a scared mother, holding onto her sick son in the corner of their bed room. And looking at the cloaked, masked, mana swarming figure over the crazed anarchist, they couldn't help but stare in absolute terror. Sinking those eyes into Gray's soul, and leaving him open. Not for the anarchists below his feet, as he'd already passed out, but for the rushing noise behind -
Gray: "WOAH!"
Flashing almost too fast to dodge was another blank eye'd [Anarchist], but Gray still managed to side step the dagger. Until they vanished in an instant, rushing past and around the civilians before kicking off the kitchen wall, and smashed right toward Gray. Throwing him back out of their apartment. Yet Gray held the anarchist's arms back with his rushing mana, smashed his feet through the wooden floor, and pushed them back with all he could. To send them flying right out the back window of the building, and watch as they barely survived the high fall.
Gray: "SORRY SORRY! Wait, did he -
But the anarchist just shook violently, and as Gray tried to focus as close as he could on the Demi-human, the rushing Spirit Sense allowed him to see another red and black pulse arise from their body. A dense, corrupted aura, almost like a signal. And emitting that same signal was another room further up in the apartments. He could see it through the walls. A small, cursed source infecting the minds around them like a virus. Constantly trying to keep Gray back. But with that signal, Gray knew exactly where he had to go.
Gerald: "STEP YOUR SHIT UP! HARDER HARDER! KEEP UP WITH ME WOULDA YAH!? AT LEAST A LITTLE!?
Rosemary: "I think I'm doing here more than you! Stop screaming at us and lead if that's what you're attempting! Or just focus!"
Gerald: "UGH! YOU DON'T KNOW NOTHING GOLDENWIND -
Roaring toward Rosemary amidst the battle, he was smashed across the face by a hairy fist. Sending him rolling back for earth to pivot up and crash against his side, letting an arrow fly past his arm and graze him with a thick potion sizzling into his wound, and even gave a winged Demi-human the chance to soar down and clash with their thick mace.
Luca: "OH GEEZ!"
Even with the Mark of the Brave sizzling through his body, the weight of the battle was growing deeper through him. Especially with his left arm burning, flaring red, and sizzling in pain.
Gerald: "FOCUS ON YOURSELF!"
But his Axe of Agony just erupted with an even denser, brighter flame that stretched across his body. Allowing him to burn through the potion, stomp and crush the cobble road under his feet, and swing through the anarchists ahead of him in a single blow. Leaving Gearld almost barking for more, growling, oozing with vigor. Before lunging like a predator towards his prey. Slashing through backs, through fire balls and ice spikes, before lunging into the air and swinging right through a massive jaw. Turning to cut into a collar bone, kicked backwards to crush a sternum. And when he was kicked in the back, slashed across his shoulder, suddenly hit in the back of the head by a speeding Demi-human, that axe somehow grew even stronger. Giving him the surge he needed to slam the ground and send them all rolling back. Made even greater by the Mark of the Brave, stacking higher and higher as Gerald's Willpower exploded.
Luca: "There shouldn't be too many left! So we really need to start thinking of an escape!"
Rosemary: "I'm with you, but we need to regroup first! And start thinking of a plan!"
Rosemary just finished clapping her hands to knock back a few Sect members, looking back to see Luca barely slash the arm of a mage by his side. And yet, Luca shutters right after. Clutching his body as tightly as he could, while his eyes burned a bright red.
Rosemary: "Luca!?"
And in just a few seconds, as [Luca] gave a crazed smile, the Mark of the Brave shut down in an instant. Causing Rosemary to scream out in pain, letting go of her stages and getting kicked back across the street from the side. While Gerald almost vomited mid-battle, and got smashed back by a large hammer. Closing them both together, beaten, and trying to think straight, while [Luca] stepped back. Ready to cut them down with a crazed glee.
[Luca]: "If that brat wants to keep pushing me away, then I'll make sure I hurt something he cares about far more than himself. Even if it's the smallest cut, I know it'll break him! And then we can meld, meld into a beautiful Upper Pillar! It's great to insist on it!? ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL!"
Rosemary and Gerald moved back to back, Golden Stage to raging Axe, and prepared as the blank eyed Luca rushed head first toward them. Past one anarchist, then another few, before jumping forward with his blade crashing down. Using the little mana [Luca] had to overwhelm, crack, and crush the blade when [he] clashed against Gerald's axe. But Gerald, even in his immense rage, even when he was facing an insane [Luca] screaming and laughing with every breath, had to pull away. Allowing [Luca] to land and scurry forward. Tapping as many Sect members as he could before escaping, and letting them all burst brightly with the Mark of the Brave.
Gerald: "SHIT! Maybe leaving is a good idea!"
Rosemary: "Not when Luca's been taken! Now we have to regroup first!"
Gerald: "Ugh! Make up your damn mind! And get ready to fight or die! But you're not too bad, so don't lose that beautiful confidence!"
Coming from Gerald it felt gross, but still it kicked her back into high gear. Flashing to the third stage, bordering on the forth, and staring back up at some commotion in the apartments behind them. Where Gray had just swung onto the back of the building, and smashed right back one of the top floors windows. Crashing right through, before sliding deeper into the room on a kitchen table. To stand proudly against a small young boy, and yet that young boy also happened to look like an incredibly old man. With an incredibly short, uneven, black bowl cut, deep wrinkles over a young appearance, and eyes completely white. Entering and controlling Luca, while the surrounding anarchists protecting him all stepped forward, weapons, claws, and wands ready.
Gray: "Oohh man."
"IGUM" - "WIGNUM!"
Two large Demi-humans, an intense fire ball and a water ball from two separate mages, and two dagger wielding anarchists all rushed forward. Leaving Gray to take in Spirit mana with fear, rush out regular manner with fear, and scream out with sheer hope -
Gray {PLEASE WORK!}
Pushing his hand forward, straightening his shoulders and legs, and trying his best to pull the Spirits together as tightly as he could, the attackers were frozen.
Gray: "WALNIC!"
In a flash of light blue, transparent mana, an uneven dome formed around Gray for a few moments. Long enough to stop the fire, water, two punches, and two slashes all at once. They'd attacked at the same time, and instantly broke the shield around him, but it still gave Gray the opening he needed.
Gray: "CENIC!"
And sent a thick cloud of smoke all around them. They screamed, smashing the floor to clear the smoke, and Gray screamed in absolute terror along with them. And yet he still charged forward through the smoke, dodging over them with his Spirit sense, before leaping right out of the darkness. Taking hold of the entranced anarchist, and smashing through what felt like the hundredth window tonight. To soar over the battlefield, and begin heading straight down to the street.
Gray: "DELIVERY!"
With the Commanding Pillar tightly in his arms, he used the Cloak like a parachute to slide across the ground. Right beside Rosemary and Gerald, but also right in front of a glowing swarm of anarchists empowered by the Mark of the Brave.
Gerald: "Who's that!?"
Gray: "The guy taking control of people -
Before Gray could say any more Gerald slammed Gray back, tagging hold of the unconscious man before preparing to crush his skull in an instant.
Rosemary: "Wai -
Rosemary rushed faster than Gray, but they were both too slow. However, somebody else had to. With a spare sword against his throat.
[Luca]: "If you kill me, Luca will have a short life."
Gerald: "But if yah kill yourself will you die in that body? Or will you just return to the one I'll kill anyway? That guy isn't all too useful. His Mark is more of a temporary thing anyway, and he's been using it for the whole battle. That many people? I wonder just how big the backlash will be."
Gray: "Both of you calm down! Maybe we can come to some kinda agreement! Something that doesn't get us killed!?"
[Luca]: "I'm sorry young Kyojin, but with monsters like these, that's never an option."
Gerald: "SPUH!"
Without a word or a movement, Gerald spent spit right into [Luca]s eye. It was a rash, incredibly risky move that left Rosemary and Gray about to scream in panic, but it worked. Pushing [him] back enough for Gerald to smash his foot down against his chest, forcing him to the ground while holding his unconscious body by the throat with ease. Ready to crush it in an instant.
[Luca]: "WAIT WAIT PLEASE! YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS! YOU -
Gerald: "HAH! I THOUGHT IT WAS NEVER AN OPTION FOR MONSTERS LIKE YOU!"
To survive the coming wave of anarchists, Gerald smashed the small bodies face against the cobble as hard as he could. Causing such an intense surge through [Luca] that Gray once again saw the massive pulse. It bounced through the anarchists, and yet it couldn't stabilize. Until it went through Gerald, Rosemary, and right back into Gray. Sinking around his Corrupted OD is far easier than the others, especially with the Stages and Axe of Agony protecting them.
[Gray]: "WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!? HOW COULD -
Screaming, stomping, surging, resisting with absolutely everything he had. Gray didn't get pulled down, overwritten, not for a second. He could pull in one last burst of Spirit mana, and hit his limit. Breaking past the Spirit sense, and leaving his eyes rushing with bright blue Spirit mana. Entering the Spirit Stage, at least for a few seconds, before all of the Spirit mana in his body erupted around him. Leaving back into the sky, and zapping him of his adrenaline. However the Soul was sent out of him yet again, and landed back inside the crushed body being crushed by Gerald.
Contie: "...I…Contie….won't be -
And with one last stomp from Gerald, he was silenced. Cutting off the wide spread Mark of the Brave alongside it, to cause a large swarm of the surrounding Sect to fall to their knees in a mass burst of pain. From [Luca]s broken confidence, and the fact he passed out after he got control of his body back. Nothing but another body for Gerald to carry while they backed up together, desperately looking for a place to run to.
Gray: "Go! We can't go back, not directly! So I'll twist around the North!"
Gray tried to move as fast as he thought, but Rosemary's hand held him back for just a second. Unwilling to let him kill himself, unwilling to let anybody else get hurt. Especially Gray of all people. But he just lifted his mask, and tried to give the most confident smile he could muster.
Gray: "Don't worry, I'll keep myself safe just like you said! I'll make sure to make it back around sunrise!"
Rosemary: "I should come with you then! We can't be separated, especially not right now!"
Gray: "I need you to handle Gerald, I trust you to do that way better than me! And we gotta hurry!"
Rosemary hated it, but they couldn't just stand there as Gerald began swinging his axe toward the oncoming anarchists. So she flared with her stages to help push a few back so Gerald could run with her, while Gray surged with mana to leap over them. Moving down the opposite side of the street before gliding forward, calling on the wave to separate toward him. And as far away from their base as he could. Heading right over the crowd, to stand along the wall protecting their Command post. It's where he looked on through the thick rain, under the lighting, toward the screaming crowd of anarchists sprinting and scurrying toward him. And Rosemary, swallowing her fears as she watched him take the heat, before she kicked the ground to knock back some of the Sect. Aided by Gerald ripping through them with his axe, before he jumped ahead of her to clear even more, and clear a way outta there.
Gerald: "WE'LL BURROW THROUGH THEM! HELP ME CARVE ME OUT!"
Rosemary: "NO! We need to move!"
Without giving Gerald the chance to scream out, she just took hold of his armor, and leapt into the sky with a surge into her stages. It caused her enough pain to scream out, and almost crash through the roof of a building she'd just soared past, but she still managed to stay upright. Aiming up through the rain, through the sky, while Gerald held onto Luca as tightly as he could screaming in dismay, before Rosemary landed against the wall of a taller tower's fifth floor, and leapt forward yet again. Quickly bursting away far faster than Gray through the skies, while he glided across the streets. Before snagging onto a tall Tower, and rushed through the streets with a tight swing. Curving forward more and more before the Cloak broke from the strain, sending him flying with momentum into another narrow glide. Over the wooden bridges connecting the homes, over the rubble blocking the streets, over the crowds of anarchists chanting and screaming at him from down below. To get even deeper into the looming towers of the North District, and deeper into the Sects strongest hold in the Capital. Aside from the Castle itself.
Soku {I wonder how it's goin for the others! This shit sucks!}
Even with the hell Gray's side was facing and forced to flee from, Edward and Soku's team were fully entrenched in the battle. Without the burdens of mana auras, Marks, or Cursed Commanders taking over their bodies, they were able to keep the pressure against the Sect the entire time. From Soku rushing across the streets, knocking back and cutting open anarchists with quick blades of wind before coming to a halt as harshly as she could to send a thick blast of wind against a small crowd. Sending them flying, screaming, and crashing into the Church-like manor turned command post. Right into and through the broken stone walls, to slide by the bodies killed by Edward and Joyce amidst their own battles inside the building.
Joyce {This guy just doesn't stop! He really is a Helsing!}
Edward was focused, or focused as much as he could be, because he was taken by the Warriors Spirit. Roaring, breathing, rushing, slamming his sword with all he could. They moved through the building's large first floor, with stone tiles and a large twin staircase leading toward the second, third, fourth, and fifth floors above them. Rushing with anarchists from the ground, floor, upper floors, and flying through the sky. Tightly pacted and all living together, like a hive of anarchists ready to unleash against the West at full force. At what was supposed to be a hundred or two hundred looked closer to four, maybe five hundred. Leaking around the streets, onto the other rooftops nearby, and soon to call in reinforcements if the battle continued. Like Gray's side, and Groms, the patrolling groups ran forward to help of course, but it seemed all the other Command Post wouldn't let go of their hold to save another. As they'd do anything to keep what little hold they had, even if it was by burning themselves away. But still people would always act to their own accord; it was still a gamble as always.
Edward: "WHERE'S YOUR COMMANDER!? SHOW YOUR FACE, OR LEAVE AND SAVE YOURSELF! WE'RE HERE TO BREAK YOUR HOLD, NOT KILL EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU! YOU'RE PEOPLE OF WALGONIA, SAGA, NOT THE SECT!"
Looking on at the death, still rushing to slash and dodge toward what felt like endless waves of anarchists, he tried his best to control his rage. To at least try and stop this horror, before indulging in the bloodshed immediately. Dragging his Dragon stone blade effortlessly through chests, heads, thick or dense Demi-human forms. While his fist crushed the skulls of whoever he decided to smash into the stone floor. Clearing out the waves as fast as they came, no matter how much he had to scream away the building strain.
Soku {Alright, doesn't seem like there's any big waves coming through! But they've gotta pick up the pace, this was supposed to be in and out dammit!}
Inside Edward continued breaking open the bottom floor, Joyce began surging with even more energy while cutting toward the second story, but outside the Sect were still held back. Either by TIm, rushing ahead with an Earth wand, to scream forth with a burst of mana toward the Earth Spirits.
Tim: "Digvics!"
It was quick, a burst of mana clumping from dirt to a hard stone. Spiraling and forming through the air as multiple drills of earth that sunk and burst through anarchists like bullets. Leaving open a small space in the front of the manor, where she kicked back an anarchist and aimed her flame wand forward, -
Tim: "IGNAL!"
To instantly form a wave of flames around her, forming a tight dome that erupted as quickly as it hardened. Taking the attacks of the thick waves around her, and throwing them all back with an aura of flames eating through their cloaks. All while Soku slid in from the sky using her wind, to throw out a large spiraling slash threw a few Sect members. Jumped up to shoot wind right beneath her feet and push even more back, kick forward through the air and slam her sword down against a larger Demi-human. Before spinning round and round with a flash of her Mark, to copy Tim's spell, and send them all flying back around her. Into each other, flaming debris, or into the air to smash down across the street.
Tim: "Keep holding the line! As long as we're not overwhelmed we'll crush the inside and outside! But if you get cornered we'll go back into the manor and work as a group, got it!?"
Soku: "Yeah yeah I got it! But I'm more focused on not dying right now! This rain makes everything so slippery with my wind!"
Tim: "Hey it's making talking to the Spirits hard for me too! Stop complaining and focus! Not everything needs your sarcasm! You're young, not stupid!"
They were both forced to leap away, dodging a massive wooden club smashing into the street and a burst of flames from two mages working together. Before Soku turned back mid-air, tossing out a quick volley of slashes to cut against the backs of some anarchists. And Tim opened up the ground with her landing, kicking the face of a shorter anarchist with her prosthetic before holding her Earth wand right against the cobble street.
Tim: "Digval!"
She was trying her best not to use any higher level spells to save on mana, but even with the few base level ones she'd fired out, the strain was showing. The sweat, her breath growing harder and harder, even the trembles across her tightening arms. All because of her draining mana, and yet she used another spell. Sending a bright green pulse around the ground, before the tight area screamed with quakes. Shaking a few mages, swordsmen, Demi-humans all circled her, and burst right after. Forcing the earth upward and bending back to clear the space, and give Soku an area to rush toward. Slashing the backs of an anarchist on her left, then right, then left again, before reaching Tim's side after kicking off the face of a three armed Demi-human.
Soku: "I dunno! It feels like we're already losing!"
Tim: "Don't tell them that! Just hold out, if things go bad I'll use all my strength before you're hurt!"
Hearing those words, Soku couldn't help but feel the harsh pains of the past. Ophelia, Al, Musashi, Kioshi, Toll, and listening to Tim, it all felt far too familiar. So instead of letting her take the front line of the converging anarchists all around them, she rushed behind Tim to place her thick gloved hands firmly under her back.
Tim: "Hey! Sto -
And with a rush of wind along with her steps, Tim was sent flying and flailing around in the air. Giving Soku the chance to swell her Mark with power, holding down her arm with the weight of the burden, and twirl. Trying her best to gather some more wind without overwhelming her body, and let off a massive slash of wind pressure. The bright green wave cut shook and pushed around her, while bursting right down in front of her. For the many anarchists caught in the blast, they were overwhelmed by the mana. Covered in slashes before all being sent flying into other anarchists. And the resulting damage smashed through through the front of the already broken manor, to collapse the front end and open up the battlefield. But it had also rushed back around Soku, cutting through her thick gloves and into her chainmail. Leaving small cuts instead of deeper ones, and she'd do it again without thought, just to keep them all going a little longer. But they'd all do the same, just like the Sect; they'd all fight, until nobody was left standing, as long as it meant a greater victory.
Soku: "Edward! How's things on your end!?"
Edward: "DOIN FINE! KEEP FIGHTING!"
Tim: "CATCH ME CATCH ME!!!"
Realizing she'd forgotten about Tim, Soku rushed into the air to grab hold of the screaming woman with all she could. Before realizing she'd over done it, and rushed deeper into the battlefield, right inside the manor's first floor. Near the roaring Helsing breaking through chests, sides, skulls, armor, and any weapons they swung at him. Still he was smashed in the side with a large fist, hit on the back of the leg with a flail, kicked across the face by a burst of mana, until he leapt to bring down his sword and continue the massacre. Using the pain to fuel his Warriors Spirit, to drown out the world, and focus on only surviving the horde. Up above, racing and rushing across the open second floor, kicking off the walls and overlooking railing was Joyce. Using her slashes and pushing out even more bright energy to further she went. Causing her veins to bulge, her eyes to go blank, and only her constant laughter left under the battle. Cutting through earth, flames, armor, while never stopping her pursuit. She'd leap into the air to bite through the neck of a flying anarchist, land and roll to cut two different heels, before turning and flipping back to land on a massive Demi-human to claw the sides of his face.
Joyce: "WOOOOOOOH!"
Blood and bodies were constantly falling, the manor was constantly shaking, and the rain wasn't letting up yet. On Grom's end, still back to back with his companions, they saw the same thing spread across the destroyed street. But they also shared in the fear slithering down their spines, as the Commanders stepped forward to finally put an end to the chaos.
Boid: "Come on! We can't fall behind them!"
JJ: "I'm tryin I'm tryin! I don't have the stamina you three got! I'm just a dude with a whip dammit!"
Boid kicked an anarchist back, while JJ sent out his whip to throw off a mage mid-incarnation to give Sherly the chance to cut through him with her daggers. But it was Grom who truly led the way. Swinging his fist down through an entire crowd to break and blast them back, before turning the stomp the street behind them and continue crushing everything in his path. For the other houses trying to prepare weapons, armor, anything for the sudden attack, Grom just shoved his dense hands into the ground to hurl a large chunk of earth right through the living room. But stepping through the debris and dust covered alleys, was a slender woman with silk dripping from her fingers. A tight, iron hard spider-web that shot right toward the back of Grom's neck.
Grom: "Everybody! We -
And he froze. For the other webs to take his shoulder, his wrists, his hips. Taking every joint like a puppet, before the Cloaked figure rose into the rain over him. Dragging one of her four arms back to pull Grom's massive arm right over his trio.
Grom: "RUN RUN! I CAN'T STOP IT! MOVE DAMMIT!"
Sherly grabbed hold of JJ before leaping out of the way, barely saving herself from the harsh smash to the face Boid got. As he was far too scared to move, and was left skidding across the street with a harsh bruise on his face. Dripping blood along with his dripping mind.
Boid: "....Oh shit…I knew something like this was bound to happen…"
All frozen in fear, all surrounded by anarchists, they could only stand under the might of his shadow. And hold each other tightly as he desperately resisted, and failed to free himself from her constantly binding, wrapping, tightening webs. And was forced to raise both of his arms into the air, and even put his back into it, to blow away everything in front of him.
Grom: "EVERYBODY! RUUUN!"
Everything was going to hell, breaking apart, and then for Edwards group, it all followed the same path.
Joyce: "JUST GIVE IT UP ALREADY!"
Flickering beaten opponents, getting faster and faster the more vigorously she fought, Joyce was almost uncontested. Until a flash faster than her carved past her aura, past her armor, and deeply into her leg. A swift chop.
Joyce {SHIT!? WHAT EH WHAT IS -
The veins on her leg instantly began to sink deeply, tightly against her leg, beating a bright red just like her aura. Draining from the drizzling wound through her entire thigh in moments, and causing her so much pain she was forced to get hit by that same finger. Kicked right in the chest, so hard she flung past a few anarchists and right through the railing.
Joyce: "GUYS GUYS -
Her vision was quickly clouding, her eyes bursting with tears as she quickly plummeted. And yet it all felt like slow motion. It was just how much it hurt, how much it burned and screamed inside her blood. Her bones. And just how quickly it spread. Through her torso, across her bottom half, spreading up to her constantly swaying arms. Reaching out toward the overlooking anarchists, and the Commander who infected her, before that cloaked commander leapt down along with her.
Soku: "I got it, I got it!"
Kicking up above Edward, above the battle and rushing with bright green wind, Soku desperately moved to catch her. Even if she could have brushed off the fall. And it was the worst choice she could have made.
Joyce {WHAT IS THIS!? I DON'T I CAN'T I CAN'T -
Clenching her teeth so hard they bleed, crying so hard it bleed, filled with such an intense pain it completely over took her the second Soku took hold of her. And when she kicked a blunt blast of wind under her feet to land, that pain had all transformed into something far more feral. Her cries, her claws, her aura, it all spiked. Into absolute agony, absolute rage. And without any control left, she swiped at Soku.
Soku: "HEY BACK OFF!"
She rolled back, but Joyce was ready to pounce. Right until some anarchists got closer, and some completely lost focus. Lunging like a rabid beast toward their face with her claws, before scratching toward the next. Leaving Soku to back closely toward Edward and Tim, before they all looked back at the Commander. Ready to infect them all with a murderous madness that would burn away until there was nothing left.
Gray {COME ON!}
The Stars were all being crushed under the burdens of reality, under the horrors of the Sect yet again, but then there was Gray. Squealing, racing forward, and still looking back to see if there was anything he could do to help. With his Cloak tightly spun against the edge of a tall tower, he rushed over the anarchist filled streets, under the rain with so much strain in his arms. And yet he hadn't gotten too far from the battlefield, not far enough for [His] reach to fail.
Gray: "I -
High over the air and under the moon, Gray felt that intense pulse through his OD one last time. Causing Gray to surge and clench his entire body in both fear and pain, and interrupting his Glide. Causing him to soar down in fear, smashing his left shoulder into the side of a tower before smashing onto the top of another tall building in the North. Where he groaned with his hands against his head, screaming out while the anarchists rushing to him were soon to make their way up to the building.
Gray: "STOP! UGH GERALD KILLED YOU! HOW ARE YOU DOING THIS!?"
He laid in the rubble, his face crushed and bruised, his teeth shattered and missing. Coughing in the pool of his own blood. But his eyes were blank, and he was smiling brightly. Bashing against Gray's head like a toxin, a migraine, shackles dragging his arms down. Forcing him to his knees from the weight, forcing him to scratch and claw at the gravel rooftop. Where his scraped arms bled into, what stained his armor, what left him hyper ventilating under his mask.
[Gray]: "THIS BODY! I WON'T GIVE IT UP!"
They were roaring with horns, their voices, stomps. As they broke inside to rush upstairs. As they began to fly up the sides of the building, leap, crawl, climb. Anything they had, and Gray was trying his best to pull in Spirit energy. To scream against Conti's last will. But everything was on the line. So close, so close to connecting all of Walgonia. They just needed to get over one last hurdle, and make it back to the base victorious. As a group, as a true army. But there he was. Screaming, crawling, fighting against his own mind under the rain. While a battle was brewing, and rushing toward him.