Into the Mountains: Maze of Magic

"I'll go next," Gom stated as he moved ahead of the group, following after the green haired man who now drew closer to the center, something the vampires did not want. The other two watched as Gom strode off, heading towards the next room with all speed, not scared of the fencer, even after seeing his slay three of their own. Gom's confidence in his skills was to be tested soon, and he could not avoid it no matter how hard he tried.

"Do you think he can win?" Nayc asked, floating slowly behind Gom's trail, watching the energetic warrior ready himself for combat.

"I do not know, but with his special skill he should be fine," Reztes responded, floating just behind Nayc, watching as Gom slowly caught up with the fencer.

The Aura Master, by now, had already drawn very near to the next room. Suddenly, an eerie shaking occurred beneath the swordsman's feet, and a loud noise occurred, followed by lines of spears shooting up from the ground in lines that stopped just in front of the fencer, followed by spears shooting from the ceiling that stopped at the same place, and were above the fencer's head by a few feet. As the one's that had shot from the ceiling vanished, another set had already made if half way, this one from the right side wall, and another set was just starting from the left side wall.

As the green haired man watched, he took note that the spike rows had no real order, and seemed to appears as they pleased, which was slightly unnerving to the fencer, but it didn't really matter to him, seeing as he could get through it with ease. The Aura Master shifted his foot and smiled as he began to run, leaping over the first set that shot from the ground and narrowly evaded the second group that came from the left wall as he landed. As the fencer rolled to the right, he saw the spikes coming from the ground again and leapt up, jumping over them with ease, but barely avoiding a set of spikes that came from the ceiling. The fencer summersaulted on the ground before landing on one knee and looking up, watching as a set from the ceiling came, and the fencer idly walked past this, making it through the hall and entering the next room. He was almost upon the center room.

Gom watched as the green haired man went through the spike hall and rose up from the shadows, looking down at the Aura Master as he entered into the next room. Nayc rose next to him and rested his hand on his shoulder, looking down at the empty darkness where the swordsman was. "Gom, you can defeat him, just do not underestimate him," Nayc warned, beginning to understand the fencer's power.

"I know," Gom shot at his comrade as he faded back into the shadows and quickly moved past the trapped hall and into the next room, and the fencer.

"Killing your brothers?" Nephilim soon realized what she'd meant and was on guard. "Who are you exactly?"

"Surreal Sadiablo, wearer of the GEM; Ice Silver Crystal. Don't be fooled by the weaker GEM," She declared with a smile. "He was inexperienced and Male. I know my Robe."

"Male? Just what does being male have to do with wearing a Robe?"

Surreal stared at Nephilim in shock. "You seriously don't know?" When the Angelic girl shook her head Surreal began laughing long and hard. "That's rich! You've come here for this and even fought against us and you don't even know the more basic things about GEMs and Robes?!" Surreal continued to laugh even as Nephilim pointed her cannon and fired it. Her arm returned to normal and she watched the dust cloud fade.

Surreal floated there with her arms crossed and a heavily cracked barrier in front of her. "My my, Sugar. You don't need to get angry." The Barrier disappeared and she stood to full, matching height with Nephilim. "GEM and Robes don't work well in a Male body without special modifications. Though Kartane wore one of the most powerful GEM, he was male and was inexperienced. Hence, why someone without a Robe beat him. Now it's time for you to fight someone with actual battle experience."

She reached up and a huge silver cannon appeared in her hands. "Load Silver Cartridge!" Her GEM glowed. Ice Silver Crystal. Attack: Silver Howling Wolf in; 3, 2, 1, Release! "Fire!!" She yelled as the cannon blasted a powerful sapphire beam at Nephilim. The Battleroid covered herself in her wing just moments before the beam reached her. The attack hit her wings and stopped, seeming to hit a barrier just over her insubstantial wings. The beam flexed wildly at a foot back from where the beam hit for several moments before deflecting at a 45° angle upward to hit the ceiling and punch a hole to the outside three feet wide. Nephilim was knocked downward slightly from the impact as phantom feathers were scattered from her wings and she was forced to correct herself before she fell too close to the lava. "Mother Night! But how is that possible!? Even Kenshiro, 'The Eternal Comet' and Wilhelm, 'The Immortal Tank' said themselves they couldn't block without serious harm and yet you- You not only blocked but deflected it away as well!" Surreal seemed overcome with disbelief now as she looked at Nephilim, who was perplexed. "May the darkness be merciful, just what ARE you!?!" She yelled.

" 'Prototype' model; Seraphim-class. Survival rank: BP-XX, Battle rank: BP-XA. Nephilim Mitsukai, 'The Lovely Angel', " Nephilim replied in Battleroid code. She didn't think Surreal would understand and indeed, she appeared to only register Nephilim's name and title in her mind.

"I'll remember that name. Even if I lose here, I'll remember that name!" She once more aimed at Nephilim, but this time fired a pink-violet beam of less intensity. Nephilim dodged above the attack and flew at Surreal only to dodge another beam.

D*mn, I can't get close! Not at this speed anyway, she thought to herself as she accelerated and continued to dodge around. Surreal was having a hard time keeping up and even lost Nephilim at times. I'm confusing her and I can still go faster yet.

"I got something for you," The dark guardian muttered and aimed straight up. "Load Flash Cartridge." Ice Silver Crystal. Attack: Blinding Wolf's Howl in; 3, 2, 1, Release! "Fire!!" A small ball of light shot up to the ceiling and exploded with a powerful blinding light that filled the room. Nephilim yelled out in pain as the light blinded her. She stopped moving and blocked out the light with her hands. "Got ya! Load Chrome Cartridge!" Ice Silver Crystal. Attack: Howling Destroyer's Wolf in; 3, 2, 1, Release! "Fire!!" A chrome shell shot toward the blinded Nephilim. Or, at least, half blinded. With her sharp hearing, she'd heard Surreal start the Flash cartridge and was only partly blinded due to the intensity for the flash nearly blinding her though her eyes were closed. She managed to see the shell coming and activated her Damage Guard.

A powerful explosion rocked the mountain. "Direct hit. No way she could have...Mother night..." The smoke cleared to show Nephilim halfway in the rock wall, unharmed thanks to her Damage Guard, but very shaken up. Even though she knew the physical attack wouldn't get through, it had scared her. Badly. "You... You're too dangerous!" Nephilim looked at the slightly scared Surreal in surprise. "If we let you get a GEM and materialize a Robe you could wipe us out! You might be able to now without one. I can let you get out alive!" Surreal was truly scared now and for some reason, it helped lift Nephilim's fears substantially.

OoC: I'm sooooo sorry for neglecting this for so long. ^^; *offers brownies to all*

BiC: Bella walked down the stone hallway, which sloped downward ever so slightly. It was surprisingly wide for a mountain path, two people could walk comfortably side by side. The light from her torch reflected off the walls, which glittered and sparkled. The walls were surprisingly smooth, the Hylian noted. She would have expected them to be of rough hewn stone, but they were perfectly smooth, no rough or uneven patches at all. The floor was the same.

"Hmm... that means I'll have pretty much no traction, if I have to run," the Hylian mused aloud. "But, with it being this smooth, at least it should be easy to spot a trap and avoid triggering it."

She walked for a good half an hour at least, the tunnel slowly going further down into the mountain. There had been no traps, no attacks, no problems of any kind. Strange... I would have expected some kind of resistance already. She scanned the tunnel in front of her. Something doesn't feel right about this...

The tracker took a catious step forward, holding her torch out to throw light over as much of the path in front of her as she could. Her eyes pierced into the darkness far beyond the globe of light, and still saw nothing. Bella laughed abruptly. "Now this is just silly, I'm making myself paranoid over nothing! Best save my worries for when there's an actual problem, instead of inventing monsters in the shadows." She shook her head and walked on.

~~~~~~~~

Two glowing green eyes looked down at a dark pool, watching the red headed woman walk grinning down the tunnel. "Tsk... Bella, you should trust your instincts more," a voice whispered in the darkness.

OoC: There you are belle! Thought you left us *eats brownie* arigato ^^

BiC: The spirit abuser finally stopped screaming and summoned a cruel whip into her pasty hands, with nails and pieces of bone sticking out from in between the stitchings. She lashed out with it, stinging Iyasis in the back as she hung on to her on back, sword still protruding from her skull. Iyasis cried out in pain and fell off the spirit abuser, bleeding.

The Fire Dancer spun around and yanked the sword out of the back of her head and threw it viciously at the warrior's feet. She snapped her whip and scowled venomously as Iyasis struggled to her feet. "Fool." the demon spat. "You were never even worth the trouble. How DARE you hold his heart?!" she screamed, charging at Iyasis.

Iya's eyes widened and she leapt into the air, flipping to land on her feet behind the demon. Before her feet even touched the cold concrete floor, she unleashed a stream of silverish lightning into the demon's back. "It is not your place to decide upon where his heart shall lie!" she shouted back. "I dont care what delusions you surround yourself in, it is not your property!" Her silver eyes blazed as a sharp blade fell from her back from the whip.

The Fire Dancer stopped and wheeled on the warrior, fuming in rage. "YES IT IS!" she bellowed. "He belongs to ME, and you have no right to steal him from me!!" she ran at Iyasis, black fire in her wake.

Surreal was already leveling her Weapon when Nephilim leapt from the hole, wings glowing brighter. "Angel Feathers!" She yelled, unleashing the six energy disks from her wings at the dark guardian. The Barrier from from before appeared in front of Surreal to stop the attacks, cracking farther as it did to her worry. "It looked like that barrier won't help you much longer."

"Bite me!" Nephilim dodged a beam shot followed by two more as she ducked and weaved around her foe. "Load Silver Cartridge!" Her GEM glowed. Ice Silver Crystal. Attack: Silver Howling Wolf in; 3, 2, 1, Release! "Fire!!" Once more the powerful azure beam blasted forth from the beam cannon at Nephilim.

This time, however, Nephilim wasn't only going to defend or block. "Fire!" Nephilim yelled in response as she fired her cannon arm back at Surreal before moving her wings to block. Now, If this plan works Surreal should... The beam hit Nephilim's wings and once more deflected, this time straight down as Nephilim's surprise attack forced Surreal to block with her barrier and yell out in pain as it shattered and the excess force hit her body. "Protect Break!" She said as she came of the deflected attack and flew top speed at Surreal, sword pointed directly for the Dark Guardian's heart. Surreal opened her eyes to see Nephilim streaking toward as a pink bullet and gasped as she barely could do anything at this speed.

Metal tearing through flesh could be heard just before a loud dull thud. Nephilim's sword was buried to its hilt-The equivalent place of her forearm-as blood ran down her changed arm. Surreal coughed, bringing up blood thanks to the near mortal wound. Seeing the blood fall to the lava below, Nephilim chuckled before coughing up blood herself into her free hand. "What?" Her chest had a large wound match the one in Surreal's chest and blood ran from the wound, soaking her shirt. "What's going on?"

It was Surreal's turn to chuckle even as she was coughing up blood. "I told you I had Battle experience, sugar. Damage Mirror, the ability to copy your wound on your opponent. Too bad you missed though. It would his been worth dying to see you die with me." Surreal had been about to laugh again when she saw Nephilim's wound closing up slowly. "WHAT?! None of the others showed such healing!"

"I'm a new class. I don't apply to them very well," Nephilim replied smiling. She knew the only reason the would healed was that it threatened her life. Otherwise she would still bear it. Nephilim wrapped her legs around Surreal's waist to keep her from escaping to a range she could use her beam cannon. "Doesn't it suck to wield such a large long range weapon?" The angel said smiling and slugged Surreal with her left arm, how soon slugged Nephilim back with her right since she held the beam cannon in her other hand right for when(or if) she got free from Nephilim's leg hold and sword. They continued back and forth punching each other, Nephilim with the advantage of first impaling Surreal first so Nephilim could get free shots by suddenly moving her blade to cause more pain and bleeding. Surreal looked pale though she stopped bleeding soon after she started. It seemed she too, had unnatural healing though different from Nephilim's own.

"D*mn you! Let go!!" she yelled as she lifted her cannon and slammed the back of it down at Nephilim's head but hitting her right shoulder when she moved. The Angelic girl yelled as she felt her shoulder dislocate and pain run through her. Surreal was lifting the cannon to strike again when Nephilim's cannon arm was suddenly in her face.

"Checkmate!" Surreal was barely able to move her head out of the way when it went off nearly in her face. She gasped in shock and horror as her Robe suddenly dematerialized, revealing her to be wearing the same black garb as Kartane, at the same time Nephilim was knocked clear of Surreal by the recoil. Her GEM was shot through with cracks but seemed to still function...barely.

Her beam cannon was still with her though and it was quickly pointed at Nephilim as Surreal began to fall. "LOAD ICE CARTRIDGE!!!" Her GEM cracked more but glowed. Ice Silver Crystal. Attack: Frozen Howling Wolf in; 3, 2, 1, Release! "FIRE!!" A small Azure beam fired at Nephilim, who immediately shielded with her wings. The Beam easily deflected away and froze the nearby wall solid with ice and the room temperature seemed to fall several degrees. "I'll be back!! I'll end you yet, Nephilim Mitsukai!!" She disappeared into the lava below.

"I hope not. That was too much." The door opened and Nephilim landed in the hallway, pausing to force her shoulder back into place so that she could change her sword back, before continuing on. "At least this time I'm not flying away from Lava."

Suddenly, the fencer found himself within another large room, but this one was far different from the other he had wound up in before. This one appeared more like an arena, and something about that worried the fencer. To make matters worse, his suspicions were proven true as he moved towards the other side and a gate shot up from both exits, locking the fencer in.

The green haired man jumped back, placing himself in the middle of the of the room and looked around, waiting for his new foe to appear; within no more then a second, a powerful bolt of lightning shot down from the sky, and standing before the fencer was a jester, and one that was familiar to him.

"It seems we meet again, eh fencer?" the jester mocked, pulling his mandolin close against himself, watching the fencer.

"You? Merv, the Troubadour of Hell, correct?" the Aura Master stated, placing his left hand upon the hilt of his blade, ready to draw it.

"Quite, my young friend. It seems you are still as jumpy as ever, so why don't we play a little game. It's called, 'Keep Yourself Alive,'" he stated as he burst into insulting laughter.

"That's it, it's time you shut up!" A voice piped up from the shadows as a vampire appeared behind Merv, who turned slowly to find a red bladed katana slicing him down the middle. "Man that guy's voice pissed me off," Nayc stated as a second shadow rose behind the fencer.

"I know, but at least he is dead now," Gom stated, a black spear shooting out of the sleeve of his shirt as the fencer turned, finding himself, yet again, surrounded by vampires.

"More vampires here to kill me, I presume?" the green haired man stated as he looked at the two of them, keeping a close eye on their movement.

Nayc slowly stepped to the left, and Gom mimicked the samurai armed warrior's movements. both moved their weapons into an attacking stance as the Aura Master slowly drew his sword, readying the golden blade for battle. Suddenly, the two stopped moving, both charging at the fencer at a high speed, both intent on stabbing their weapons through the fencer's body.

With a quick sidestep and a bend of the knees, the fencer watched as their blades clashed together, sparking as they did so. The two moved their weapons in opposite directions as they turned and thrust their weapons down at the fencer, who stepped back quickly and dodged again, watching the warrior's movement with great interest.

"So, how do you like our style?" Nayc asked, moving his left hand along the back of his sword, taking a thrusting stance.

"Yes, do you enjoy our ability to move and strike completely in sync?" Gom asked, taking the same stance and getting ready to strike.

"Very interesting," the fencer stated, watching as the two thrust their weapons at him again, but again, he was ready, jumping over them and turning, kicking the two both in the head hard enough to knock them forwards slightly, causing them to switch sides as the fencer landed. "But you aren't going to hit me with moves like those," he stated, taking a battle ready stance with his blade.

The two ignored him, quickly rushing in an arc to the sides of the fencer and stopping, blitzing the Aura Master again, and thrusting their blades at the top speed the two warriors could. In an instant, the battle was all over, and the two vampires looked at each other, both in awe.

With a single step forwards, the fencer had evaded the warrior's attacks and caused them to stab one another in the heart. "This can't..."

"Be!" The two said, basically in unison as they burst into flames and vanished.

With a loud clanking noise, the gates fell down, and the fencer walked past the room, heading into the next room, where he could see a bright light in the shape of a floating diamond. "The center, yes!" the fencer stated gleefully. He had made it.

Whilst Zorlo moved on, the last of the vampires watched him, ever more angry at the failure of his compatriots. "I guess that leaves it to me," he said emotionlessly, floating in to follow the fencer and hopefully end this battle once and for all.

'At least I'm not running from lava this time'. I wish I'd never said anything! Though I guess this is better then lava. Nephilim thought to herself as she flew down the passageway ahead of the collapsing ceiling. At least this time she just had a straight shot from the previous room. Already she could see the light at the end and a large crystal in the next room. "It's the center!! I've WON!!!" She yelled as she reached the end and shot into the much brighter center room. She couldn't see Zorlo until it was too late for even her reaction time to catch him since her eyes didn't adjust fast enough. All she could do was slowdown even as she was making contact with him.

The two tumbled a little before stopping. "Oww. That hurt." She opened her eyes to find herself on top of Zorlo, who was similarly surprised. Their eyes met and both turned a red matching the Angelic girl's armor before Nephilim hastily lifted off him and landed on her feet. "Ahh, I'm so sorry about that. I didn't see you there," she quickly blurted out somehow turning redder. Even her hands were pinker as she slightly turned aside.

"Ahh, It's fine! No one hurt or anything," Zorlo quickly responded. The speed she'd been coming in at seemed like it should have hurt her to slam into his Titanium jacket like she did, but she seemed unhurt. "Are you okay miss?"

"Yes, I'm fine. I'm much tougher then I look," she replied and smiled as her blush faded away though it was still slightly there. She seemed very body shy for her age.

"Okay then." Zorlo seemed about to go on when he saw her metal back and 'wing' generators. His gaze was soon drawn to the strange armor-like covering over her ears and then to her metal boots. "What are you Miss?"

"Me?" She seemed to remember something and nodded. "Battleroid 'Prototype' model; Seraphim-class. Survival rank: BP-XX, Battle rank: BP-XA. Nephilim Mitsukai, 'The Lovely Angel', " Nephilim replied while smiling. When she saw Zorlo's mostly clueless stare something in her told her to explain. She couldn't think of why but she was also sure that she'd seem him somewhere before when she knew she'd never encountered him before this day.

"Here, I'll explain it a bit. Battleroids are humans that have been genetically and technologically enhanced to the point many don't even need air to live anymore. We can take many, many times the punishment a normal human could hope to and can surpass many war machines in all aspects." Nephilim waited to let that sink in. When Zorlo nodded she continued. "Battleroids have four main classes they fit in: Land, Sea, Air, and Space. Yes, some are made for space," she added at Zorlo's look of surprise. "The prototype model thing is because I'm not land, sea, air, or space but a 'Seraphim'-class due to my performance and angelic look." Her angel-like wings formed and she watched Zorlo seem to take this in stride. "The Survival rank and Battle rank are just what they sound like. My ranks are extremely high, XX being the known highest and XA being third known highest. As for the rest, you don't need my help to know that that is."

This seemed to impress Zorlo though she figured he didn't truly know the extent that ranking gave her power. She didn't like to brag though and left it were it was. She could also see why it was so bright in this room as there was a large hole in the ceiling and in the floor a distance away. "Man, where did this hole come from?" Zorlo asked as he looked at the ceiling while Nephilim looked at the hole in the floor to see the lava arena.

Oh dear... "Yeah, I wonder too," she lied and faked a smile. "Say, is that it?"

Zorlo looked back to where she pointed. "Oh. Yes it is. I'd nearly forgotten. You may use it first Miss Nephilim."

"Please, just Nephilim," she replied in a slight blush and walked up to the large floating black crystal. "How do you-"

"Another Mitsukai? Jeez, are you guys the only one's with the power to get here or something?" Came the voice of a woman. Two eyes the color of deep amethyst appeared in front of the crystal to look down at Nephilim. Soon, the rest of her body appeared to complete it. It was a female Neko, nude but for a pair of leather boots and fur that covered her private areas. She had short sapphire colored hair with blue-black cat ears and matching tail and fur. "Oh? Someone else made it too. Finally, I'll be granting more then just the whims of the Mitsukai for the first time in 4000 years!" She exclaimed as she laid down on the air to stare intently at Nephilim. "I think I know what you've come for, but lets hear it."

"Ah. Right. I want the ability to Materialize a Robe. To-"

"Yes, I thought so. Here, the final GEM in existence. I grant you, the Heavenly Pink Sapphire, and the means to use it." She blew Nephilim a kiss and two balls of energy appeared. One shot toward Nephilim and struck her right ear. The glow faded to reveal a pink Sapphire the size of a dime in a gold earring in her now pierced ear. The other floated down in front of her and flashed, becoming a large silver diamond four inches tall and an inch wide that appeared in the ball's place. It floated up to Nephilim's chest and sank in over her heart. She gasped as her chest hurt for a moment before the pain faded away.

"And now, the final thing to allow you to use your GEM." The Neko appeared in front of Nephilim and leaned in close. Nephilim started to step back as a blush lit her face. It looked like the Neko-woman was going to kiss her, but her head continued past until her lips were near the GEM. "In the name of your Master I command you. Materialize your Robe and show your power," she near whispered and kissed the GEM. It soon began to glow bright pink.

As she drew back, Nephilim took a deep breath. "Materialize!" Master Connect: Aya Mitsukai. Heavenly Pink Sapphire, Materialize: Start. Her clothing glowed brightly but then, nothing more seemed to happen as the glow faded other then Nephilim now wore pink gloves up to her elbows now and her clothing seemed stronger. "What happened?"

"Your Armor interferes a bit with Materializing a Robe. So your clothing becomes a Robe," The Neko explained. "Also, that GEM is special in that it has no Special attack of it's own, but can mimic the attacks of other Robes and materializers. Try it, I know you've seen some."

Nephilim thought about the attacks she'd seen and paled. "Later. I'll try where it's safer." That was true enough. "By the way, who are you?"

"Myouhime. A Neko-Demon that was forced by the Mitsukai to become the spirit of this thing as punishment for my deeds in life."

Again with the Mitsukai line.... "Thank you." She'd rather not know what the Neko did in her life and turned to Zorlo, who had been adverting his eyes from Myouhime. "And may I know who you are?"

He looked at her now. "Oh, I'm Zorlo, fencer of Tasogare."

"Zorlo..." The name rung a bell in her mind and she soon found herself clutching her throbbing head. Again? Is it Zorlo? But...why? It was becoming increasingly hard to think as she endured the pain. Her wings vanished and she sank to her knees.

"Nephilim?! Nephilim, what's wrong?" Zorlo started to move to her when he stopped as she threw out a hand and shook her head. "Myouhime! What have you done to her?!"

"Nothing. I don't know what's going on either." The Neko looked at Nephilim and Smiled. "I hope the little %%%%% dies anyway."

"What?!"

"You heard me Zorlo. I have no love to give a Mitsukai. I only do this because I have no choice. If I don't grant items, people stop coming and I'll be bored for the rest of eternity," she snapped back at Zorlo, showing a mouth full of sharp teeth.

|-*-_-*-|


Meanwhile, Nephilim kneeled almost frozen in place at she found herself back in the vast plain of her mind. This time, she watched as the doors of Memory, Dreams, and Love opened simultaneously and images roared forth like wind from a tornado and swirled around uncontrollably. "What is all this!?" she yelled to no one in particular just before a force hammered her, forcing her to one knee. The storm dies as the doors closed and locked once more. "What?" she looked around before looking up to meet the gaze of a pair of reddish-pink eyes.

"So we meet, Nephilim. Though we know each other already," came a voice familiar to her but she couldn't place where. Her chest hurt.

"Who are you?" She asked, gritting her teeth as the pain increased.

"The time isn't right for you to know. Too long here will kill you..."

The eyes closed and Nephilim watched the area fading. "Wait!!!"

|+_+^+_+|

Nephilim came back to herself and took a much needed breath as the Neko looked angry. "Just a minute or two longer and I would have watched you suffocate. You couldn't even give me that much?"

"No, I couldn't," Nephilim replied as she picked herself up off the ground using her wings. "Have a good time distracting Xorlo, I mean, Zorlo?"

Zorlo couldn't have looked more indignant now. He glared at the Neko and she brushed his angry glare aside without worry. It wasn't as if he could kill her, being she was already dead. She remembered more now: her lover Xorlo that bears a striking resemblance to Zorlo, his death and her subsequent six days of attempted suicide. Her childhood and her first friends.

She stood on her feet and smiled at the two before flying over to Zorlo. "Thank you, Zorlo. You've given me more then you know." She leaned in closer to him but as he was about to protest, she gave him a sisterly kiss on the cheek. "I know, you have another. I can smell her on your clothing and body." Nephilim floated away, knowing her feeling wouldn't and couldn't be accepted or returned by Zorlo. "Again, thank you, Zorlo." She said and, with a wave, she flew up and out of the hole in the ceiling and landed outside. "I think I'll head to town for while before I head toward my Mother." With that, she floated toward town as a snowstorm began to blow up and a shadow tailed her.

As the six winged woman flew off, the fencer watched and sat silently, finally where he had desired to be, but something was on his mind at that moment. Okay, a whole life of women beating me up, and now, in no less then three months, beautiful women are seeming to fall for me... what strange luck I have. The Aura Master sighed and then looked back in the general direction of where the battleroid had flown off to. Aside from that, though, that girl was strange. Pink eyes and pink hair, the fencer muttered, grasping a strand of his own green hair. Not that I'm one to talk. Best hope that Nephilim and Selene don't ever meet under hostile circumstances, that would be bad. Now then, I guess I can leave, the fencer told himself as he slowly walked towards the exit.

"Forgetting something?" the Neko asked, staring at the fencer, who had utterly forgotten she was there.

The fencer turned, rubbing the back of his head, smiling embarrassedly, responding, "Sorry," I nearly forgot why it is I came here to begin with.

"So, what is it you desire?" she asked him, without emotion really.

He stared at her blankly, trying to think of something, but the fencer hadn't had an idea yet that would be effective for him to wish for. Oh crap! I have no idea what to wish for! I need to think, and quickly, before this strange woman gets mad and says I don't get anything. This is most troubling.

Suddenly, the Neko turned towards the entrance that the fencer had come from. "So, three today. This is a very unique day," the Neko whispered. "Show yourself, one who has entered, and state your wish, so I may grant it."

"Gladly," the vampire commander said, rising from the shadows he had hidden within for so long. "I come here with the desire to have nothing more then this fencer dead," Reztes responded, looking at the Neko, then the fencer. "What do you say to that wish?" he asked her in pure rage.

Reztes had a far more fierce appearance then the others. He had long, smooth black hair that went down to his shoulders, covering all but one of his black, dark eyes. His skin was pale as death, but could only be seen through the small opening in his hair. The vampire wore a long, black robe that flowed off of him, and moved in correspondence to the wind. The vampire also had a pair of long, black pants that were hidden under his robe, and the creature was very muscular. The commander had one feature that annoyed the fencer, that being that Reztes stood at about six foot six, nearly nine inches more then the fencer, and greatly taller then the most foes he would encounter.

"I'm sorry, sir, but I cannot grant that wish," the Neko told him, keeping her eyes fixed on him.

"That's okay, I can do it myself," the vampire told her, holding his right arm out, and suddenly, from the sleeve, a long, black sword shot out, and the demon grabbed it, clasping it tightly in his hand. "It has been a long time since I've had to use the Demon Blade," he explained, grasping the hilt with both hands.

The Demon Blade was an astounding appearing long sword. The blade itself was long and black, and was about five feet in length. The hilt of the sword was beautiful as well, and was also all black, but decorated with numerous stones and gemstones that all glittered off of the handle and hand-guard. The blade itself also seemed to run a black, electric like, energy through it. The vampire lowered his sword to where the tip of the black blade pointed at the fencer's eyes. "Are you ready to die for your sins?" he asked the fencer, his black eye glowing wildly?

The fencer drew his blade and looked at the vampiric warrior, who, more then anything, seemed to want to fight this battle. "Okay, but before we begin," the fencer started, walking to once side and looking at the vampire, who moved to the other side, forming a circular movement pattern, "why is it you want to kill me?"

"Why do I want to kill you? Why do I want to kill you?! At first, we were asked to by Xiaver's family, and we were going to be paid a very hefty sum to do it as well. But now, things are different. You've killed off my whole squad, and now I'm going to kill you for personal reasons; if it had been for that worthless piece of trash, Xiaver's family, I may have thought about it, but once you killed one of my men, I had to kill you, so I've got five friends to avenge. Get ready to die!" the vampire yelled, charging at the fencer.

"It seems I can talk no sense into you," the fencer muttered, an emerald green flame beginning to cover his body, "so that means I only have one choice, to defeat you!" The fencer cried as he charge in opposition.

The vampire made the first move, swinging his sword down quickly, but the Aura Master blocked the sword, and then knocked it away with his own blade, before thrusting the golden rapier at the vampire. The nocturnal creature moved quickly, sweeping his blade upside-down in front of his body and deflecting the fencer's attack. With a quick spin of his sword, the vampire fighter swung down, powerfully, again. This time, the fencer moved his sword to block, and the two blades locked, the fencer being forced to his knees by the shear force of the attack his foe had just dealt him.

The vampire looked, bloodlustedly, with his one eye, pushing the Demon Blade down, trying to either crush the fencer, or to cut him in half. "How does it feel?! The pain of my comrades whom you so mercilessly slew?! WELL?!" he asked, pushing his blade harder.

"I see now, you are intent on killing me for their sake. Sadly, I have to much to gain by defeating you to let myself be killed here," the fencer responded, looking up at his foe and pushing Apollo back, slowly moving the vampire back a bit. "I can't lose, because I have to return to her!" the fencer said, pushing his blade with all strength, and throwing the vampire's blade back. The fencer pointed his sword at the monster, ready to strike again when the moment was right. "Had enough?"

"Hardly, I'm just getting warmed up!" the vampire responded, charging at the fencer again, and the fencer responded in the same manner, charging at his foe with all speed. The two began to spin rapidly, their swords clashing, and their spins being broken by the occasional slash here and there by both combatants, but suddenly, the made powerful swings, their blades clashing; the warriors were now blade locked, making an attack with their swords incapable. When the blades had hit for the blade lock, green flames shot behind the vampire, and black lightning flew from behind the Aura Master. The two pushed their blades with everything they had, trying to over power the other again.

Suddenly, a massive surge of power emerged from the vampire's sword as he tightened his grip upon the blade and moved his sword back slightly, before pushing it forwards with all the power he could muster. The force of the attack threw the fencer back, and his weapon from his hand, and blade first into a nearby wall, up to the hand-guard. The commander pointed his black blade at the fencer and looked down at him. "I've defeated you, now then, give up!" The creature ordered.

"Never, like I said, I can't lose, for their is someone out there waiting for me. I'll defeat you yet!" the fencer retorted, readying himself to come up with some kind of attack.

OoC: Hooray for climactic battles! Iya and Belle, we are the only ones left in this battle, so let's have some fun with it!

The spirit abuser came at a dead run at the mage, and made a deadly slash with a sharp blade. Iyasis sucked in her breath and jumped over the blow, stabbing downwards with Aroklia as she sailed over the demon. The demon dodged it and backed a few steps as Iyasis landed, smirking. Iyasis watched her, the smirk making her uneasy. The torches suddenly went out, leaving only black firelight on the far side from Iya. Her silver eyes took a moment to adjust as they began to glow their own light.

The black fire spread out to the sides, running completely from wall to wall. The fires rose, and began to dance into their own shapes. Figures. Iyasis watched nervously as the fire grew to large human-shaped forms, all carrying flame swords that gleamed with death. Iyasis swallowed, and took on a fighting stance, spinning her sword before her, ready for the challenge.

The Fire Dancer's smirk grew and she spread out her arms at her sides. Streamer-like ribbons shot from her sleeves and she lifted a leg and began to dance, twirling the black and red streamers. The light that they reflected from the black fires made the ground look blood-soaked and shifting. The fire-figures danced along for a few moments, then spun their swords and charged the unicorn.

Iyasis cried out as the line broke her own and began madly slashing and slicing at her body. She went on well for a while, holding her own efficiently. But more of the enemies were formed by an unlimited source of the demon's black fire. Soon there would be too many, and the immortal knew it. She hesitated and looked around, realizing that she was in a tight circle of them. Suddenly she threw down her sword and got on one knee, closing her eyes. The figures did not hesitate and jumped on her.

The Fire Dancer laughed as Iyasis fell beyond her sight from underneath her minions. Then she stopped laughing suddenly, sniffing the air. Without warning, an enormous orange inferno blasted explosively through the pile, quickly incinerating the enemies. When the explosion cleared, a single woman stood. Iyasis opened her eyes, and they shone bright gold, a defiant gleam within them. She was breathing hard as she raised her arms. The orange-red fire from the explosion steadied and formed its own wall to wall barrier. She glared at the spirit abuser viciously.

The Fire Dancer hissed in anger and brought up her arms abruptly. When the streamer tips fell to the ground, the few minions left vanished in puffs of smoke. Iyasis never took her eyes off the demon to see, however. She would not take the risk.

Out of nowhere the demon vanished in her own puff of smoke. Iyasis blinked, and she looked around quickly, raising her sword. Though she was half-exhausted already, it was still too easy. It couldn't possibly be over...

Iyasis gasped in surprise as the demon appeared but a few inches in front of her, and thrust her hand deep inside Iya's chest. Blood rolled down her wrists as she snarled. "GIVE ME HIS HEART!!!!" she shrieked. She thrust her hand deeper, up to the wrist, reaching inside Iyasis where her heart should be. The demon smiled as she reveled in the immortal's screams as they echoed through the stone.

__________________________________________________ ________________

Iyasis felt the demon's white-hot fingers searing through her flesh, getting dangerously close to her heart. She dare not try and remove her; it was too risky. The area was too delicate. So what could she do, really, but scream in the hot pain as it lit her soul on fire. She felt a heart that was not her own beating inside of her contently, and she clung to it desperately. The demon's bony fingers were getting closer to it. Inside herself, Iyasis wrapped her entire self around that heart protectively. She felt the fingers prodding her harshly. She felt herself weakening. A tear rolled down the immortal's cheek. Ayalmar, she whispered inside. I'm sorry...

Finally, Iyasis felt her spirit tear through, and her body ached and burned with pain like she had never felt.

**

At that very moment, somewhere so far away, a man screamed.

OoC: Okay, I'm going to end this battle for myself. Too few remain, Iya, its just you and I. It was was fun! ^_^

BiC: Silence was all that remained as the fencer sat on his knees, awaiting his foe to deal the last blow. Despite how strong this commander was, the fencer believed he could kill this foe, and all it would take his time. The green eyes stared at the one visible eye of vampire, rebellious, even at what seemed to be the end. Neither warrior moved, and the Neko simply watched, seemingly enjoying this battle.

"Are you ready to die?" Reztes asked, raising his sword and readying it to bring it down in one final strike. "Don't worry, I'll make it quick. Just a single stroke, and it will all be over. My comrades will be avenged, you'll be dead, and life will move on. Now then, die!" the creature called down, swinging his black sword down violently, but something was oddly amiss.

As fast as the vampire's sword moved, the green haired man was ready, unsheathing his short sword and intercepting the attack. The powerful clash threw the fencer's secondary weapon skidding out of the room, and a barred gate fell, trapping the weapon behind it. Even so, the vampire had been thrown back by the counter attack, and the fencer made his move, punching the creature in the face with all his might and knocking the creature back.

The fencer stood up, breathing hard but still battle ready, and looked around. His rapier was stuck, his short sword lost, and now he had no weapon. In this moment, that was what he needed. "I need something to fight with. Something that will protect my hands and serve as a good offense and defense weapon" the green haired man said lowly as the Neko appeared in front of him and placed her hands on his wrists.

"The I have just the thing," she told him as his hands began to glow bright green. Her magical power slowly manifested itself, taking shape slowly into something the green haired man didn't expect: a pair of gauntlets.

The gauntlets slowly formed, being three layers of different material. The first was a soft, light green, silk like material that fit the fencer's hands very well. He clenched his hands, and suddenly, the second layer appeared. It was a green chain-mail glove over the first, but the two were bonded, designed to never be broken from one another. Finally, the last part appeared, consisting of green plate-mail armor over the chain-mail.

First, the plate-mail appeared from his mid-forearm until his wrist, which was simply a metal cuff with straps to tighten the gauntlets around his arms. At the wrist, the cuff linked with the main plate-mail, which covered the entire back of the fencer's hand, his palm, and covered over all of the back of his fingers. All the joints were very expertly made, designed for full range of movement, so anything the fencer could do normally he was still capable of doing.

Moving his fingers, his wrist, and his arms about, the new hand and lower arm armor proved itself to be most interesting. It shined, all parts of it a very plane green, in contrast to his dark green jacket, but still was beautiful nonetheless. "Gauntlets?" he asked her, examining the beautiful works.

"They are called Mercury, the messenger. They will allow you to focus your energy into them, and they shall even slightly project it from them. They cannot be destroyed by anything, and will never rust. Take care of them, for they are one of a kind," the she told him. "Now then, finish your battle," the Neko whispered, disappearing again.

The Aura Master turned towards his foe, his aura flaring up as he did so. "Let's dance!"

"Surely!" the vampire responded. The undead quickly charged, swinging his sword down again and clashing with the green haired man's gauntlet, which merely deflected it, allowing the fencer to punch the warrior in the face again, sending him flying backwards.

"Wow, these things rock!" the fencer told himself, looking over at his sword and moving towards it. Quickly, he punched the wall, making a hole in it and ripping his sword from the wall, readying it for use. Before he would end this battle, there was one last thing to recover. The green haired man dashed towards the barred door and shattered one of the bars with a punch and collected up his short sword, sheathing it quickly. He turned now to face his foe and end this battle.

The vampire had already began his charge, and the green haired man gripped his sword tightly, getting ready for the opening. The vampire lifted his sword and got ready to swing down. Now was the time, and the fencer took it, rushing past his foe and cutting him in half at the waist. The battle was over.

The green haired man turned to the Neko and bowed, thanking her. "Thanks for the help, but now I don't have anything to give Selene... well... I guess it is what happens," the Aura Master whispered, turning to leave as something in his hand glowed. He opened his right hand and found a diamond ring in it. He looked back to thank the Neko again, but she was gone. "This will be the best present ever," the green haired man told himself as he left the mountain.

OoC: That was fun, and now that is done. Iya, if you want to finish, you can, that'd be cool. I'm just happy I finally got this done. ^_^