Times of Darkness

Inside

*Enkidu is somewhere in Helzol Palace when his eyes shift to red and a cold and deep voice echoes inside his head.*

[???: <Cyprus, report to the Grand Hall at once.>]

=====
Outside

*Five ice monoliths completely surround Aera, concealing her. Out of each of them emerges an Aera, and then they shatter, the original Aera having seemingly vanished.*

*One of the clones dashes towards the soldiers, large ice spikes bursting from the ground beneath them. Two clones cast monoliths around Rhea and RyzelL, trapping them. The surface of this ice has a silvery glow to it. Finally, two clones dash towards Kelphy, dodging incoming water blasts. One reaches her and she blasts her away, but gets punched into the ground by the second one, digging a crater in a cloud of dust.*

Ryzell takes Rhea by the hand and pretty much lifts her into a bridal carry, "Hold on tight Rhea I'm ending this now" blue flames swirled out from his body and into the ground bellow. The whole area became marked with Japanese writing and a chanting began to fill the air. It was like hell itself had begun to open up.

"Shin Youkai Waza: Naraka Sanjiva" flames traveled up the monoliths, licked at the air, and a feral shriek rang out. Ryzell covered Rhea's ears with his hands and his own ears began to drip blood.

It would be at this moment that Aera would feel as though her entire body was lit aflame even though no fire was visible. All of the ice seemed to be consumed by blue fire and the instant Aera tried to use her magic again a searing pain would tear through her entire being as if her very bones were being burned to ash. It would feel like death, a death that never came. Worst of all the pain would last long after she would leave.

"You should know Aera, this is the weakest of my True Youkai Arts. The Reincarnating Hell of Naraka is only the first of the eight burning hells. Shall I introduce you to the other seven one by one?"

Enkidu frowned and rose to his feet. He resented being ordered around- especially by somebody he could not see nor touch- but he was in no position to disobey the powers that be.
This had better be worthwhile.
He stretched his arms and twirled his staff as he walked to the Grand Hall.

Lumyr: (Hmm... will we even stand a chance with this many numbers??!!)

=====

*Winston quickly grabs the orb from him without a moment's hesitation and heads for the gatekeeper.*

Inside

*The Grand Hall was dark and silent as usual. The only person in it was a young man, standing atop the staircase, looking blankly down at Enkidu. He has long reddish brown hair tied into a high ponytail, light skin, red eyes, and is wearing black oversized funnel pants, a black trenchcoat with red and golden details over his bare torso, and roman sandals.*

???: <Almost all of the palace's best soldiers have been sent out to battle potential threats to our goal. You and I are left, and as it would appear a task awaits us.>

=====

*Crone takes back the orb and slaps him across the back of the head.*

Crone: <What are you doing? Just step on this portal. Sometimes I wonder if you people have never been sent on missions.>

*He pulls Winston on the portal and they vanish in a flash of light.*

---

Outside

*Rhea screams, as does Kelphy. Once the ice vanishes, the two of them are lying down, in pain. Aera's eyes are wide open in an expression of terror as she stumbles back. Suddenly, her body starts cracking up. She falls back, shattering into ice particles that drift away. A flash of light occurs and Crone and Winston stand where she once stood.*

Crone: <My, my. I always thought Lumyr might jump boats, but you? Isn't this an interesting plot of events.>

*Kelphy looks up, groaning.*

Kelphy: <(There are... more?)>

=====

*The wholesome of the army flash-freezes with looks of horror on their faces. Just. Like. That.*

Ryzell swings his hand and the pain ceases.

Then Crone appeared. The fuck Ryzell let out could split the earth in twain.

"Guess I'm not... done fighting here yet." Flames of seven different colors gathered around Ryzell. Crone said something about jumping ships and Ryzell just had to grin at that.

"Didn't Legel tell you Crone? I was never on your side. He had to brainwash me and even then he ultimately couldn't make it stick. If Legel is going to send goon after goon then I'll just have to stand here and lay waste to the whole army, till my body breaks if I have to!"

Enkidu quickly looked the boy up and down before turning away, "What task is that? What are we waiting for?"

OOC: So, is it too late for me to join back in again? Also, my sincerest apologies for disappearing into thin air in the first place.

OOC: Not at all, and it's all right. I said Cecenia came back after that mission. You can choose to be at Helzol, or maybe out on some mission. Maybe sent to help Ranmaru and Lumyr. Post whenever you're ready.

Lumyr: <What's going on, now?>

=====

*Winston smiles, and then flicks on the scanner on his helmet.*

Winston: <Hmm... a general, eh? Didn't think someone of such high rank would betray. He would probably make for an interesting subject of testing...>

Inside

???: <You. I'll be waiting at The Crossroads.>

*With this, he steps through the door.*

---

Outside

*They're all still frozen, and there's still no explanation for it whatsoever.*

=====

*Crone holds his hand out in front of Winston.*

Crone: <I know what you're thinking, and it's not going to happen.>

*He then tilts his head towards the partially wrecked palace towering over the scene, and whispers something to Winston. After this, he turns to Ryzell, smirking.*

Crone: <Don't be ridiculous, child. You wouldn't stand a chance in your current condition. Besides, I have no interest in you...>

*He waltzes over to Kelphy and pokes her with his right foot, causing her to whisper a groan, on the brink of collapse.*

OOC: Not possible he canceled the spell so she shouldn't still be in pain.

Ryzell steps forward and thousands of fox spirits rise around him, "Wanna test... that theory... Crone?"

---

"Dunno"

Enkidu watched him leave before following.
"I'm ready..."

*Lumyr is kinda confused, but then decides to continue through the town, picking up the pace a little.*

=====

*Winston could barely make out what Crone said since it was pretty fast, but he could still piece together what he said. He just stands there, waiting to see what would happen next, cannons charged and ready were something sudden to happen.*

Inside

*Once he arrives at the Crossroads, the man is standing on the swirling portal. The Gatekeeper, whom he knows to usually be found around here, is no where to be found. The man just stands there, giving him a frigid stare.*

---

Outside

*They arrive at the palace. The guards are frozen solid and the large door's been smashed to pieces.*

=====

Crone: <Not really, no. Settle down.>

*Crone takes his hand to his forehead, shaking his head and sighing. He slowly looks around before looking at Kelphy as she stands up. She walks backwards near Ryzell, and Rhea also joins them.*

"What do you want Crone?" Ryzell straightens but still wobbles.

---

"Something happened here."

What's he staring at...? I should ask for his name.
"Where's the Gatekeeper?" He asked the man.

OOC: What the hell. The forums never told me you posted, Astarte. Weird.

Inside

???: <We don't need him this time. I have the coordinates.>

*He holds out a marble-sized glowing red orb, a coordinates orb always needed to use the portal with the Gatekeeper's help.*

???: <Hurry.>

*Blinding streams of red and black energy start emerging from the portal beneath the man's feet, swirling around him.*

---

Crone: <I'm here to finish your mission, isn't that obvious? I was going to kill sweet princess Kelphy, but I assume the King and Queen will be enough.>

Kelphy: <What are you talking about? I-I won't let you!>

Rhea: <P-Princess, something's wrong about his-->

Kelphy: <Yes, I think I know you mean. Can you scan him?>

Rhea: <I'll try.>

*Kelphy takes a step forward and her eyes glow an intense light blue.*

Crone: <What, are you summoning your little tsunami again? Perfect! Let's destroy another distric.>

*Kelphy bites her lip, thinks for a few seconds and then shakes her head, proceeding with her casting.*

Kelphy: <Hydra, guardian of the Underworld!>

*A loud roar echoes across the area, shaking everyone off balance, and a water serpent dragon five times bigger than the usual ones emerges behind Crone, biting down at him. Kelphy stands there with her blinding eyes, surrounded in a magic aura. Crone smirks and leaps backwards away from the dragon, holding his arms out to cast a flurry of white feathers that slices the dragon to splashes. Meanwhile, Rhea crosses her arms over her chest and hovers upwards, a large orange gardenia blooming beneath her and expelling a sphere of orange energy that envelops the girl. Meanwhile, Winston has taken off.*

I've got enough prana left for one last spell, better make this one count.

Orange flames tipped with blue appear at Ryzell's feet and he drags his heel along the ground before spinning in a complete circle. Runes spread out in a circular formation all around the area. Ryzell bites into his hand drawing blood before crouching down, smiling a sarcastic smile at Crone, and slamming his hand down.

"Youkai Waza: Sereiiriguchi - Rashamon" Ryzell falls over as exhaustion finally overcomes him and he passes out.

However his job had been done. Red runes engrave themselves all over the castle walls, the guards, Kelphy, Rhea, Ryzell himself, and anyone else he considered an ally. Crone and Winston weren't such people and a booming voice echoed.

"BEGONE!!!!" before oni like spirits invisible to anyone with a rune slammed into them forcing them outside the ward Ryzell had erected. Even a wizard of Crones skill could not shatter this spirit ward. Not without time. Time that Kelphy and the others could use to regroup.

---

OOC: Spirit Gate - Rashamon.

Enkidu stepped over to the man's side and placed a finger on the orb.
"What is your name?"

*Lumyr nods and proceeds to head for the smashed gate.*

=====

*Only the sound of a "Clunk" could be heard as two bodies lie dead in front of Winston. It would be none other than the king and queen themselves, the king roasted so much that he would be barely recognizable, and the queen full of bullet holes, the bullets still fresh with steam pouring from them. A murderous grin lies on Winston's face as he radios in to Crone.*

Winston: <What you've asked has been done, Crone. Both the king and queen have been killed.>

Outside

*A flash of light occurs and suddenly they're standing in a dark swampy area, with so much smelly white, green, and purple mist drifting around that they can barely see each other. A huge darkened forest of giant tropical-y trees towers over the area. The man looks around and then stares at said forest.*

???: <I am... Soul. This is as far as our army's been in this area. We're North of the kingdom of Nymphe, at the Northern peak of this world. This is a cursed land not even the Nymphians have dared to explore much, and so it belongs to no one. I was told we are to scout the forest ahead and see how difficult it would prove to cross it.>

=====

*Entering the great hall, the Queen is frozen solid looking at the thiefess from before, who was also frozen solid while bowing to the Queen, a preoccupied look on her face. Any guards around are obviously frozen as well, and there's a thin layer of ice covering everything.*

=====

*Two new Hydra heads spring from where the other one had been destroyed just as the ward spreads across the area. Crone smirks, his eyes flickering red, and disappears in a flash of light before it reaches him. Elsewhere, Winston all vanishes, leaving behind two greatly injured monarchs. Rhea lands and stumbles around.*

Rhea: <I tried to scan him but... something kept pushing me out. He has so much power... my head hurts.>

*Kelphy rushes to her and helps her stand.*

Kelphy: <It's okay... Thank you for trying. And thank you so much, Ry-Ryzell. It ... It is thanks to you this kingdom is sa-safe and sound. Welcome to Nymphe.>

Ryzell somehow manages to hear this and smiles in his sleep while murmuring, "Rhea... I'm so glad."

---

Ranmaru flicks one one the guard personcicles cracking it apart. "Looks like Aera's been here."

*Lumyr walks up to the frozen thiefess and sees her harmless, frozen body up close.*

Lumyr: <This is... such a cruel way to handle things. I was planning on killing as few as possible, but to massacre the whole kingdom just because...?>

*Lumyr thinks in his head for a second, ongoing turmoil between staying loyal to Helzol or breaking these people free and betraying them.*

Lumyr: (What do I do...?)

Outside

*The frozen thiefess explodes, splashing purple acid all around. Some of it starts eating up the ice around the queen, while the rest corrodes the floor and potentially Lumyr and Ranmaru. They hear a laugh and, looking up, they could see the real thiefess hanging from the ceiling upside down, her feet held by solidified purple goo.*

=====

*Rhea smiles and a guard comes to pick up Ryzell, carrying him inside after the ladies. Arriving inside, they see several guards have been shot dead. Kelphy darts up the staircase and into her parents' bedroom to find them both breathing their last breaths. She screams and Rhea runs to meet her. The guard puts Ryzell down sitting against a wall and runs to help as well.*