Golden Age: Revival

*Mordred smiles.*

Mordred<Well, he's not dead yet. I'd give him about ten minutes. That's my Father for you, always on time to barely slake a pyrrhic victory, & prolong the slow deaths of everyone around him.>

Arthur<...I admit, my negligence has brought chaos to more lands than one. But what were YOU seeking? You surrounded yourself with traitors & monsters, only to kill off your own family, & nearly bring about the end of the world itself. Is this the end you so desired?>

Mordred<It is not exactly as I had envisioned, but the final outcome will be the same. I will rebuild my strength, slay you & your few remaining knights, then take my place as the rightful ruler of the civilized world. But before there can be reincarnation, there must first be death on an apocalyptic scale!>

*Mordred points his sword in the air, at which point a blinding flash of light emanates from the tip. Once it clears, not only is he gone, but as far as anyone can see, it looks like an earthquake devestated the city, with some pieces of land looking as though they were never built upon.*
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*As Nero is swallowed up in darkness & the burning begins, he thinks to himself that he always knew he'd die at the expense of a bunch of ungrateful losers.*

Mimiru:<That idiot.>

*Taiyo conjures up water tendrils which stab into the monster (as well as soak the carpet) hopefully missing Nero which Azuma freezes.*

*Allina's hands are enveloped in light energy and she slams her palms into the monster.*

*Most of the shadows around Nero dissolve, but a single tendril darts up towards the ceiling. Nero lies there unconscious, covered in minor burns that are slowly fading.*

*Azuma throws an icicle at the tendril while water tendrils pursue it.*

*Allina kneels down, gritting her teeth in pain, and waves her hands over Nero, enveloping him in a healing aura.*

Noctis would have screamed, but she was too drained to even do that, "What... what has he done!?" She looked around, "My home is gone!"

Gilgamesh<I believe he activated a large-area teleportation spell to random destinations. It is difficult to say how far the damage extends. I wonder why we were unaffected?>

*Arthur isn't listening--he walks up to where Gallahad lies gushing blood from his chest & mouth.*

Arthur<...I-->

Gallahad<Highness...let's not fight over who failed whom. I fear...I haven't the strength for it.>
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*Once surrounded, the shadow kind of turns red & fizzles away into nothingness. Nero eventually regains consciousness.*

N"So. Either house spirits are real, or Allina has a bad case of termites."

"That's lovely."

Mimiru:<Mind sending some of the light over here? My arms getting kind of tired and blood is really hard to wash out of everything.>

Noctis makes her way over to Gallahad with as much haste as she can, "Gallahad, please be okay."

*Allina frowns and chuckles, lightly bumping her first into Nero's forehead before standing up and going over to help Mimiru.*

Gallahad<All things considered...could be worse. Managed to keep Mordred from you...until the King arrived. It's...enough....>
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N"How about some TV to unwind?"

*Nero switches on a late night news channel reporting about how New York city was hit by a strange phenomenon that is postulated to be a powerful bomb or a hitherto unknown seismic activity. One of the islands is covered in smoking ruins, as depicted by news copters flying overhead. Nero turns the TV off.*

N"...Or maybe we could just meditate."

"Thank you Gallahad. I'm just sorry I couldn't keep you from getting so badly harmed."

"I'd prefer to not be somewhere where there could still be something out to kill us lurking around, but why not?"

<Don't be...this wasn't your fight.>

*Gallahad closes his eyes.*
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E"...Even if we defeat the Illuminati, that won't be the end of it, will it?"

"I doubt it. Not unless monsters and magic suddenly disappear with them. But just think of all the stories to tell...somebody."

Noctis looked at Arthur, "He is going to get better, right?"

Arthur<...In a manner of speaking, yes. Gilgamesh, if you would be so kind?>

*The other man removes one of his shawls & wraps Gallahad up in it before hoisting him over his shoulder.*

Gilgamesh<I must apologize. When I suggested you split up, I did not think it would lead to-->

Arthur<Abandon your guilt. We all believed the tremors were simply the natural result of returning magic. Never did anyone suspect that Mordred was trying to return to the mortal realm.>
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N"I don't think it makes much of a difference. Humans lived with monsters & magic thousands of years ago. Now our societies are much more sophisticated. It'll be a rough transition, but we'll adjust."

"I doubt that, but you can be optimistic for a change."

Noctis looked around, "I've lost my home... Mother!" Noct dug in her pocket and pulled out her phone and tried reaching her mother.

*Allina slams her palm into her face, groaning.*

Allina: <The world's gone to hell.>

*She then continues working on healing her wound.*

N"Who said anything about optimism? We sure as Hell won't be around to see it. Not if the Illuminati has their way."
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*No one answers the phone. It cuts right to the messages.*

*Allina stands up.*

Allina: <I'm hungry, do you guys want to eat?>

Noct tries to get her bearings, and looked over towards where her mother's apartment should be, it was barren, a look at the direction of her office showed the same thing, "No..." Noctis fell backwards, "He... destroyed everything." Noctis furrowed her eyebrows as a seething rage washed over her. She looked up at Arthur, "Take me with you, I want to help."

E"Food would be nice, please."
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Arthur<Are you certain your family wouldn't object?>