Megumos

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Arina would find herself on an unfamiliar, barren land, the air thin, and the mountainsides steep and vast. there appeared to be little around to the untrained eye, and with the exception of a wispy atmosphere, the place she was on could be mistaken for a barren asteroid. She would notice little else about her, only sensing, perhaps, one other signature of energy, and hearing ominous whispers around her.
Elsewhere, Sona was waking up, hastily pulling himself to his feet. "What happened? I remember fighting some of chaos's forces, and then... nothing." He mused, unsure of his location. "man, the air's thin here...."

[agentaaa]

Abaddon, however, Rolled beneath Arina as she jumped, using a quick combat roll that allowed him to get back to his feet quickly. Steaming and slightly harmed in places, scratches all over his body, Abaddon didn't initially seem to be injured by his gait until one looked at the straightened manner of his stance and walking, wasting no energy in comparison to his earlier, more relaxed stance. Apparently, at the cost of taking little injury, he used a large portion of his stamina. "Excellent power - bad execution. It doesn't matter how strong your attack is if the ability's so well-telegraphed... "Get back, get back".... if you'd just shut up, you mighta killed me. It's not like that trash over there are worth keeping around anyway, with that kind of strength." Abaddon said, a sneer on his rocklike features. "hhhaaaahhh!" Abaddon yelled, as Ki was shown all around him, a murky, blackish Ki that would feel cold to those who could feel such things, in stark contrast to his naturally emitted heat. Waiting for the trio's next strike, as Sona and Aaron hastily scrambled to their feet from the positions Abaddon put them in, He taunted them. "Come on, show me more of what you got."
"Bring order, Balance of light and darkness". Aaron said, as now both hands held potent blades.
"Hurrrhhh!" Sona yelled, as a bit more energy flooded from him, not comparable to the strength Aaron pulled out, but enough to keep him from being at death's door.

[Wynn]

Abaddon, however, Rolled beneath Arina as she jumped, using a quick combat roll that allowed him to get back to his feet quickly. Steaming and slightly harmed in places, scratches all over his body, Abaddon didn't initially seem to be injured by his gait until one looked at the straightened manner of his stance and walking, wasting no energy in comparison to his earlier, more relaxed stance. Apparently, at the cost of taking little injury, he used a large portion of his stamina. "Excellent power - bad execution. It doesn't matter how strong your attack is if the ability's so well-telegraphed... "Get back, get back".... if you'd just shut up, you mighta killed me. It's not like that trash over there are worth keeping around anyway, with that kind of strength." Abaddon said, a sneer on his rocklike features. "hhhaaaahhh!" Abaddon yelled, as Ki was shown all around him, a murky, blackish Ki that would feel cold to those who could feel such things, in stark contrast to his naturally emitted heat. Waiting for the trio's next strike, as Sona and Aaron hastily scrambled to their feet from the positions Abaddon put them in, He taunted them. "Come on, show me more of what you got."
"Bring order, Balance of light and darkness". Aaron said, as now both hands held potent blades.
"Hurrrhhh!" Sona yelled, as a bit more energy flooded from him, not comparable to the strength Aaron pulled out, but enough to keep him from being at death's door.

Arina struggled to her feet, stumbling a bit as she stood back up. She was hunched over, obviously struggling to stay standing. She dropped her sword at her side, then drew her crossbow and took a shot that sent a volley of bolts at Abaddon. They would explode upon impact, but her aim was so shaky that none of them were actually on-target, and so simply exploded against one of the walls.. She would reload her crossbow and drop her shield on the ground as well. She held the crossbow with both hands now, and took an imperfect, but far more accurate shot that would actually have all three trained on him this time.

[agentaaa]

"Exploding bolts, eh..." Abaddon said, as he moved forward with startling speed. as Arina fired the bolts, he dived, knowing she'd likely not be of the strength to redirect them. He was suddenly restrained, however, as Aaron yelled "Bakudou four! Hainawa!" and a rope lashed onto him. the rope was not durable enough to hold, and indeed broke as the arrows hit abaddon full force, knocking him a good portion of the room away. the bolts each left a large indent on Abaddon's body, as he seemed to move unsteadily to his feet. "I've had enough!" Abaddon yelled, as he got to his feet. "No piece of [censored] softskin..." He said, charging energy suddenly in his hand. "will get the best of me!" he yelled, as he held the same hand forward, a fearsome blast of energy firing from the palm of his hand. the strike moved forward at an incredible speed, but was suddenly stopped by a massive stream of water. "Water style! Water dragon jutsu!" Sona yelled, as his knees wobbled. the dragon, just barely, overpowered Abaddon's blast, knocking him right into the wall. Sona fell down at that effort, unable to stay standing, And while Aaron was still up, he was breathing heavily and was very pale. All in all, it seemed a bad situation...

[Wynn]

"Exploding bolts, eh..." Abaddon said, as he moved forward with startling speed. as Arina fired the bolts, he dived, knowing she'd likely not be of the strength to redirect them. He was suddenly restrained, however, as Aaron yelled "Bakudou four! Hainawa!" and a rope lashed onto him. the rope was not durable enough to hold, and indeed broke as the arrows hit abaddon full force, knocking him a good portion of the room away. the bolts each left a large indent on Abaddon's body, as he seemed to move unsteadily to his feet. "I've had enough!" Abaddon yelled, as he got to his feet. "No piece of [censored] softskin..." He said, charging energy suddenly in his hand. "will get the best of me!" he yelled, as he held the same hand forward, a fearsome blast of energy firing from the palm of his hand. the strike moved forward at an incredible speed, but was suddenly stopped by a massive stream of water. "Water style! Water dragon jutsu!" Sona yelled, as his knees wobbled. the dragon, just barely, overpowered Abaddon's blast, knocking him right into the wall. Sona fell down at that effort, unable to stay standing, And while Aaron was still up, he was breathing heavily and was very pale. All in all, it seemed a bad situation...

Arina stumbled forward, still approaching Abaddon without fear. She lowered the Avelyn, taking one hand off of it to take her helmet off. She pulled it off her head, then threw it to the side. A small amount of blood could be seen coming from one of the corners of her mouth and one nostril. A bit of her white hair was also turned a pinkish color by blood on the top of her head. Despite looking weakened and injured, she stared down Abaddon with a fearsome glare as she raised her Avelyn again and took aim at his head as she strode closer, then fired.

[agentaaa]

Abaddon, watching the crossbow as she readied it, fired a ki ball to impact the arrow, keeping his hand even with the bow as she attacked. he seemed implacable, angry, and then...
"Go on through. I'm done." Abaddon said finally, sitting back down. "So long as you don't continue to bother me, you can go on to the next level."
"What?" Aaron asked.
"You managed to excite me, and if you cause problems for the guy at the top of the tower, it'll be rather amusing for me. I'm just here due to Exitius stationing me to this godforsaken rock." Abaddon said, smirking. "And this place ain't worth defending. Go on up, I don't care."
"So you're just giving up on the fight?" Aaron asked, seeming angry.
"Heh. you're exhausted, boy, and your friend there looks on death door - not just from the damage I gave him, I reckon. I've a funny feeling that whatever his condition is, he's not doing well here, so rather than arguing this, maybe you should hurry him out." Abaddon told him with a smirk. "Well, whether he lives or dies, doesn't really matter to me."
"Hang on, where's Argus?" Aaron asked, out loud.
"Last I checked, the roof ate him. The owner of the tower's got a nasty temper when it comes to disobedient subjects. Just another reason to hurry on." Abaddon said, smirking. "make sure not to leave the boy here, unless you'd prefer me to dismember him."

[Wynn]

Abaddon, watching the crossbow as she readied it, fired a ki ball to impact the arrow, keeping his hand even with the bow as she attacked. he seemed implacable, angry, and then...
"Go on through. I'm done." Abaddon said finally, sitting back down. "So long as you don't continue to bother me, you can go on to the next level."
"What?" Aaron asked.
"You managed to excite me, and if you cause problems for the guy at the top of the tower, it'll be rather amusing for me. I'm just here due to Exitius stationing me to this godforsaken rock." Abaddon said, smirking. "And this place ain't worth defending. Go on up, I don't care."
"So you're just giving up on the fight?" Aaron asked, seeming angry.
"Heh. you're exhausted, boy, and your friend there looks on death door - not just from the damage I gave him, I reckon. I've a funny feeling that whatever his condition is, he's not doing well here, so rather than arguing this, maybe you should hurry him out." Abaddon told him with a smirk. "Well, whether he lives or dies, doesn't really matter to me."
"Hang on, where's Argus?" Aaron asked, out loud.
"Last I checked, the roof ate him. The owner of the tower's got a nasty temper when it comes to disobedient subjects. Just another reason to hurry on." Abaddon said, smirking. "make sure not to leave the boy here, unless you'd prefer me to dismember him."

Arina stopped striding toward Abaddon when he said that he was done fighting. However, she did not stop aiming the crossbow at him. She kept her ferocious death stare locked with him as he spoke. She listened, and looked at the others to make sure they were at least relatively unharmed.
She kept relatively calm, but when Abaddon brought up the dismemberment remark, the wall near his head would explode. Arina would quickly reload her crossbow, but wouldn't fire another volley. She kept the crossbow trained on him, then motioned to Aaron to help Sona, but kept her aim firmly trianed on Abaddon's head.

[agentaaa]

"heh he heh, touchy subject, I see. You feel responsible for that kid, somehow, or... Heh, oh that's just cute." Abaddon told her. "Don't try crap like that with me though. with how injured you are, and how healthy I still am, there's no way you'll hit me with that toy." Abaddon continued "well, you're welcome to think I'm lying here, but I have no real reason to lie to a bunch of softskins who look like they're about to die without my help anyway."

[Wynn]

"heh he heh, touchy subject, I see. You feel responsible for that kid, somehow, or... Heh, oh that's just cute." Abaddon told her. "Don't try crap like that with me though. with how injured you are, and how healthy I still am, there's no way you'll hit me with that toy." Abaddon continued "well, you're welcome to think I'm lying here, but I have no real reason to lie to a bunch of softskins who look like they're about to die without my help anyway."

Arina remained silent, keeping the avelyn trained on Abaddon while Aaron carried Sona to the door. She waited until they were through the doorway, then walked backward to reclaim the gear she had dropped a moment ago. While using one hand to continue keeping her weapon aimed at Abaddon, albeit a bit shakily, she picked up her sword and sheathed it. Then she picked the shield up and put it on her back. Lastly, she picked the helmet up, and just held it under her empty left arm. She then began walking toward the door.
Once she had gotten through and up a few stairs, she put her avelyn away and began following the others up the stairs. Everything was eerily quiet for a few moments, until Aaron would hear a sudden clattering of metal onto the stairs. If he turned to look, he would see Arina collapsed onto the stairs for a moment, then she shakily pulled herself back up. She continued onward with them, but she was leaning against the wall of the stairway the entire time.

[agentaaa]

"Arina, are you okay?" Aaron asked, watching her stumble. "Maybe we should stop for a bit on the stairs, there's no need to... Gah!" Aaron's shoulder now had a definite wet texture on his black kimono. "Drool! He drooled on me! Damnit... I'll have to wait to yell till he's conscious, I suppose..." Aaron concluded, sighing.

[Wynn]

"Arina, are you okay?" Aaron asked, watching her stumble. "Maybe we should stop for a bit on the stairs, there's no need to... Gah!" Aaron's shoulder now had a definite wet texture on his black kimono. "Drool! He drooled on me! Damnit... I'll have to wait to yell till he's conscious, I suppose..." Aaron concluded, sighing.

Arina stayed silent when he asked if she was alright and insted just kept walking up the stairs. Although when he mentioned the drooling, he might hear Arina snicker quietly a moment.

[agentaaa]

"It's not funny, dangit... I hope next time it's you who carries him and your armor rusts..." Aaron grumbled, continuing forward. Sona seemed to be getting paler, however, and his breathing began to be more and more labored...
"so, you have come at last." they heard that strange, dark voice they heard earlier, in the fight with Argus. "And it seems my guardians are all defeated, more or less." the creature continued, as they came up the final set of stairs. In the middle of the room, for them to behold, was a suit of armor, seemingly chained to the floor on every limb, and yet able to move, the chains and their attachment to the ground beneath moving with it. The suit seemed empty, and yet it was unmistakeable that it was indeed moving and sentient. in front of him, trapped in a magical barrier and seeming in immense pain, was Argus. "Don't mind us - we were just catching up."

[Wynn]

"It's not funny, dangit... I hope next time it's you who carries him and your armor rusts..." Aaron grumbled, continuing forward. Sona seemed to be getting paler, however, and his breathing began to be more and more labored...
"so, you have come at last." they heard that strange, dark voice they heard earlier, in the fight with Argus. "And it seems my guardians are all defeated, more or less." the creature continued, as they came up the final set of stairs. In the middle of the room, for them to behold, was a suit of armor, seemingly chained to the floor on every limb, and yet able to move, the chains and their attachment to the ground beneath moving with it. The suit seemed empty, and yet it was unmistakeable that it was indeed moving and sentient. in front of him, trapped in a magical barrier and seeming in immense pain, was Argus. "Don't mind us - we were just catching up."

Arina drew her sword and shield, seeing the horror before them, then ran forward a few steps before falling almost immediately from her exhaustion. She got up on one knee, but it was plainly obvious she was in no shape to fight. She sheathed her sword and began conjuring flames in her palm. A flame did ignite, but it was a flame barely fit for a candle.

[agentaaa]

"Have no fear - now you've defeated my guardians, and he's won his freedom, I really have no more use for him. And, as I believe is your wish, I will open a portal elsewhere for you." the being said, releasing argus from the prison. Argus initially sprawled, only getting up slowly, a few seconds later. "However, there is a problem with this fact. As I am in some ways this tower, and it is me, I follow it's rules as well - to a point." the being continued. "Exitius does not, and he's already sent a large army in full force to dispatch you. Nor can I create the portal within this tower, simply on the outskirts of it. In other words, you've won, here, in my domain, and yet, you've also lost." the creature said, it's tone seeming to imply a lack of care about the situation.

[Wynn]

"Have no fear - now you've defeated my guardians, and he's won his freedom, I really have no more use for him. And, as I believe is your wish, I will open a portal elsewhere for you." the being said, releasing argus from the prison. Argus initially sprawled, only getting up slowly, a few seconds later. "However, there is a problem with this fact. As I am in some ways this tower, and it is me, I follow it's rules as well - to a point." the being continued. "Exitius does not, and he's already sent a large army in full force to dispatch you. Nor can I create the portal within this tower, simply on the outskirts of it. In other words, you've won, here, in my domain, and yet, you've also lost." the creature said, it's tone seeming to imply a lack of care about the situation.

Arina stared at the creature and then replied, "No, we will survive..." she said firmly. "Exitus can come for all I care, I've been hunted by all four of the gods at one point or another..." She seemed unimpressed by his 'empty threat.'

[agentaaa]

"Survive? most likely. Exitius knows of your powers just as I do - your death would not help him, though that of your friends might. - but it won't be a nice manner of surviving." the creature said, a short bit of gloating present in his voice. "as for your friend, well, a battle will be unlikely to help his condition." the lord continued. "Well, I'd say this doesn't sound like your odds are great at all, here."

[Wynn]

"Survive? most likely. Exitius knows of your powers just as I do - your death would not help him, though that of your friends might. - but it won't be a nice manner of surviving." the creature said, a short bit of gloating present in his voice. "as for your friend, well, a battle will be unlikely to help his condition." the lord continued. "Well, I'd say this doesn't sound like your odds are great at all, here."

"Coming from the same man who spends his days hiding away in his tower behind his guards? Doesn't mean much." Arina shot back. She struggled to her feet. "Have fun rotting here for another few thousand years." She turned and put her hand on Aaron's free shoulder. "Come on, Aaron. We're leaving." She began walking as normally as she could for the door they had come through a moment before.

[agentaaa]

The entity began laughing at that, a hollow, grim laugh. "You misunderstand. I am not hiding, in this tower. This is merely the form I use to speak. Guards or not, I am no less free of bondage than any other here. You've been in my depths long enough, however, and truth be told, I'd prefer to foil the plans of Exitius in this regard, that he might rush to recall me to his side." the being said, as the stones in the door shifted, the door itself suddenly having a shimmering, green energy. "this should bring you to the outside of my tower, at least. Perhaps it will give you a chance to escape before Exitius's forces overtake you. Or, perhaps not. I just wish to make sure both sides suffer as much as possible." the being continued, as the portal opened.
Unexpectedly, Argus rose to his feet and said "I thank you for this, el'betlam."
"go." the being replied. Aaron, unsure, finally dove into it's depths, and Argus swiftly came behind.

[Wynn]

The entity began laughing at that, a hollow, grim laugh. "You misunderstand. I am not hiding, in this tower. This is merely the form I use to speak. Guards or not, I am no less free of bondage than any other here. You've been in my depths long enough, however, and truth be told, I'd prefer to foil the plans of Exitius in this regard, that he might rush to recall me to his side." the being said, as the stones in the door shifted, the door itself suddenly having a shimmering, green energy. "this should bring you to the outside of my tower, at least. Perhaps it will give you a chance to escape before Exitius's forces overtake you. Or, perhaps not. I just wish to make sure both sides suffer as much as possible." the being continued, as the portal opened.
Unexpectedly, Argus rose to his feet and said "I thank you for this, el'betlam."
"go." the being replied. Aaron, unsure, finally dove into it's depths, and Argus swiftly came behind.

Arina followed them through the portal, but hesitated at first. She looked all around, then went through slowly with her hand on her sword.

[agentaaa]

"yes, yes, go. Kill even more of the living. It suits my purpose oh-so-nicely." the entity said as she left, at the last. "Soon, everyone will suffer, if my plans go well. Even Exitius will feel suffering, and the peace he's given others in death will be unwound. I'll make the universe feel our pain as their own. Hahahahahaha..." The entity laughed, in a deep, throaty voice, the laugh able to be heard even outside of the tower, as a pair of black portals opened up in the wastes.

[Wynn]

"yes, yes, go. Kill even more of the living. It suits my purpose oh-so-nicely." the entity said as she left, at the last. "Soon, everyone will suffer, if my plans go well. Even Exitius will feel suffering, and the peace he's given others in death will be unwound. I'll make the universe feel our pain as their own. Hahahahahaha..." The entity laughed, in a deep, throaty voice, the laugh able to be heard even outside of the tower, as a pair of black portals opened up in the wastes.

Arina would see the portals open and stop on her tracks, realizing that it's the forces of Exitus arriving. She turned to look at Aaron, and despite that the shadow from her helmet hid her face, he would be able to tell what she's thinking: 'we have to move!'

[agentaaa]

Even as Arina finished her sentence, a pair of dragons burst forth from the portals, along with reapers, A few judges, Some inguisitors and Grim Keepers, and a trio of scythes. strangely, no dark elves or similar creatures were present as well - only exitius's darkest and most loyal subjects.

[Wynn]

Even as Arina finished her sentence, a pair of dragons burst forth from the portals, along with reapers, A few judges, Some inguisitors and Grim Keepers, and a trio of scythes. strangely, no dark elves or similar creatures were present as well - only exitius's darkest and most loyal subjects.

Arina mumbled something quietly when she saw the dragons burst forth, likely a swear considering the circumstances. "We need to move!" Arina exclaimed. "NOW!" She drew her avelyn and began taking a few potshots at the dragons, hoping to hit them despite the massive range between them at the moment.

[agentaaa]

"Damnit!" Aaron yelled, already running from the creatures as fast as he possibly could. "even were we to be all recovered and ready, we couldn't take these guys out, but we'd at least be able to get to the portal fast enough. There's no way we'll get there in time. Damnit!" he yelled, throwing back a lesser binding spell, attempting to hit a dragon with it and at least slow the creature, but a reaper that had taken to the air managed to get in the way.
Suddenly, Argus stopped in his tracks, no longer running, but standing. "Go." Argus said suddenly.

[Wynn]

"Damnit!" Aaron yelled, already running from the creatures as fast as he possibly could. "even were we to be all recovered and ready, we couldn't take these guys out, but we'd at least be able to get to the portal fast enough. There's no way we'll get there in time. Damnit!" he yelled, throwing back a lesser binding spell, attempting to hit a dragon with it and at least slow the creature, but a reaper that had taken to the air managed to get in the way.
Suddenly, Argus stopped in his tracks, no longer running, but standing. "Go." Argus said suddenly.

Arina stopped, and turned to look at him. She took an instinctual step forward to stand and fight along side him, but stopped. She looked over her shoulder, then back to Argus and looked down at the ground before turning to run.

[agentaaa]

Argus smiled at Arina and Aaron, who suddenly stopped.. "No, don't worry about me. I've got nothing for me on the other side of the portal anyways. You 3 still have hope, dreams, people to get back to. I'm already living my dream - the capability to make my decisions for my own. go, make the universe know who you are. I'll just make sure you get to live to make that happen."
"damnit..." Aaron said, Suddenly running away. "Damnit, damnit, damnit..." he continued, a scowl on his face. "I didn't want to free you, just to make you a sacrifice... damnit!" Aaron yelled, as tears streamed down his face. "I... still can't change anything, damnit!"
Argus turned away, a smile still on his face. "No... You managed to bring compassion and kindness to this world. You've changed more than you know." he said, despite knowing that Aaron would never hear him. "you've given an old man a reason to keep going, and fix his old mistake."
Argus ran, and kept running, unable to face the terrifying creatures that appeared in front of him. He and many others fled the lines immediately upon seeing these terrifying wraith creatures, only a few standing back to hold the line against them. He wished so badly that his feet would stop and move in the opposite direction, towards them rather than away, but they would not regardless of how hard he tried. "I'm such a coward..."
Taken to the tower, meeting the entity for the first time, he felt soul-wrenching pain as his very essence was pulled from his body. "A runner, eh? But a most powerful runner. Very well then, you will be my gatekeeper. In death, you will do what you were incapable of in life, and hold the front lines for the rest of eternity, keeping my tower from disaster...
Argus suddenly shook himself out of his memories, looking before him. "I am the gatekeeper." he said to the horde in front of him as he drew out his spear. "None get past me."
And then he charged, and was hidden from sight by the throng facing him.

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