The Legend of Heroes II: Trials by the Light

[Fox of Spades]

Sand Pit:

Gods... things were getting worse by the second. With wide eyes, Xan watched as the sand cleaved through stone and maybe even flesh. She didn't really understand how Cole's transformation worked, but either way, it was a terrifying sight. And seeing the golem howl as it flailed its remaining arm around caused a wave of dread to wash over her. What would happen to Cole after he turned back?

"Do you reckon we'd be able to... pin him?"

The voice was Syed's and she turned to meet his gaze. The masked man didn't just control sand, he could turn his very being into the same fine particles and rebuild himself over and over again. Would they be able to pin him? She didn't know, but at this point, Xan would have ran with anything. "We might be able to... do you have some magic left in you, Syed?"

Seeing the determined gleam in his eyes, Xan dashed towards what had once been a part of the walkway and reached for the railing. She closed her hand around it, willed the metal to grow weaker then broke off a piece and frowned as the metal rod began to look more and more like a meter-long nail. Locking eyes with Syed, she tossed the nail into the air and watched as sparks danced around it, keeping it airborne.

It remained still, before a crackle of electricity sent it flying towards Grant.

 

[Warden]

In Which Grant is a Beach

As if Lute wasn't miserable enough, what happened to Cole's arm added a fresh new dash of guilt and horror. However, he couldn't do anything about it, having exhausted what last shred of magic he had in that all-out attack. The virtuoso tried to smile when Aria reassured him and reached up to touch her hand briefly. He dropped the expression when the illusionist turned towards Tobi and stared down at the sand-flecked scarf. It was difficult to fake any sort of cheer when the unearthly yowls of a golem, with Selan's gentle song barely surfacing from under the gravelly, dual-toned cries, served as an ambient theme.

All around him, people were jumping into action. Syed and Xan were coordinating some sort of attack, and Aria was planning to hit Grant's mask. Lute hated feeling useless, but he knew that he had just as much power as a red splashing carp right about now, so he kept his protests down and began to shake the dirt off the illusionist's scarf. Above him Delilah was staring directly at the battle, her mouth agape.

"Nooo! Cole!" The spirit exclaimed when it became apparent that the golem wasn't giving up so easily. The earth mage's dilemma struck a chord in the pair. He was a member of their team, and to see that happen so quickly… "Ugh, I wish we could do something! This is so stupid!" If Dellie had a body she would be kicking the sand up at her own face, but she had to be satisfied with floating erratically around someone's head.

Lute raised his head and focused on the brawl too, but his hands kept on their task. He thought, 'Cole can do it.' If he couldn't, they were doomed, unless one of them had another card up their sleeve.

 

[Pachamac]

Grandium: Underground Ruins: Metalwork Room
Kara, Don, Amy, Moira, Lucien, Lisette, Kapi, Nani, Thunderhawk, Marise, Quentin - Annabelle

With every single clash of their weapons, sparks rained down around them. Slowed down now as she was thanks to the troublesome Kara's time manipulation magics, Annabelle's speed and agility had become compromised enough that Moira was now able to keep up and - if Annabelle wasn't careful enough, hit her. This had now become less a battle of speed and one of pure power and skill, something which the two women were almost evenly matched in. Annabelle said nothing, and yet her face was beginning to betray her inner most feelings. Anger and irritation, at not only the Pride but herself for letting matters come this far. Even so she had the utmost confidence in her ability to win this, for losing against such a woman was simply unthinkable. And then, after that, she would kill the rest of them.

But the Pride were adamant in their resolve that Annabelle would never recieve such a chance, not as long as they were still able to stand. Even with Lucien and Don trapped in such a horrible state and the rest of them badly beaten and injured, they would continue fighting on until their dying breath, and such a breath would be long still to come. They would not lose. They would prevail!!

Thunderhawk's javelin came first, sailing through the air and almost striking Annabelle in the shoulder if she didn't spin out of its path just in time, parrying Moira's Greatsword with her scythe at the same time. She jumped and flipped forwards as well to avoid a successive swipe from Moira's fearsome blade and another javelin, to come head to head with a dual sword wielding Nani. The diminutive pink haired assassin barely had time to land and crouch in low to avoid Nani's swipes or the following attacks from Moira. Trapped inbetween both women, Annabelle's day had just gotten that much harder.

But even then she refused to bow down. Twisting around, Annabelle span her Magitech Scythe around just precisely enough to parry both women's attacks whilst almost slashing them with her Scythe's burning blade. So began a frenetic three way dance of blades.

Until a pale of water swept through the air and crashed against the back of her head at least, stunning the smaller woman. 'What?' Annabelle seethed, her pigtails becoming a flurry as she looked left and right for the source of the attack whilst still rebuffing Moira and Nani's attacks, this time on the defensive.

'Now!!' Lisette's thoughts screamed to herself, with Annabelle's back perfectly poised towards her. If Quentin's light and ultimately harmless attack wasn't enough to unbalance Annabelle's offensive, Lisette's more powerful one would. Her charged attack shot in a speeding blur across the room, once more striking Annabelle in the back of the head. She pitched forwards, groaning.

---

Grandium: Underground Ruins: Sand Pit
Estelle, Marcus, Trixie, Cole, Tobi, Selan, Syed, Aria, Xandra, Lute - Grant

With a granite maw stretching wide open, Cole's Golem form howled and inhuman howl that reverberated throughout the entire cavern. Even despite a body composed of earth it had felt Grant's attack, and a powerful blow it was. So painful was it that it had almost pitched Cole's control over his body to the other side and become lost in a sea of red, were it not for Selan's soothing melody keeping him just barely on the side of reason. The cost however, was full awareness of just how painful the blow was.

Not even Cole knew what the repercussions of such an attack might have on his human form were he to be lucky enough to ever be able to revert again afterwards. This might have been the end.

So be it then. If he was to die, it'd be by taking out the Masked bastard with him.

"Gods, that was close!" Shouted Tobi, rushing out of the cloud of sand that had been thrown up into the air after Cole's severed arm had almost landed on him, Aria and Lute. Fortunately they had all managed to come out of it unscathed, which was thanks to luck more then anything else.

After bringing the weakened virtuoso to Selan's side, Tobi wasted no time in following after Aria and back into the fray. She brought up an intriguing idea as well about targeting Grant's mask... it was the only thing that seemed to have done him any damage. In the absence of any other good ideas, it was just something they'd need to go with it. "I like the idea," Tobi smiled towards his friend. "Let's try and hit the bastard there!"

Meanwhile, behind Grant...

Thanks to Dylan's trampoline, Estelle had been given enough lift to reach straight up to him, her Magitech Sword a firey blaze. She swung it downwards, aiming for his face, having had the exact same idea as Aria and Tobi did...

...and she would have struck it too, were it not for the burst of concentrated sand that blasted out from Grant's hand and slamming into Estelle's torso, pushing her all the way back into a bodily collision against one of the cavern's rocky walls. The solid arm of sand then dissolved, slithering back to its master, leaving Estelle in a tumble back towards Dylan and the ground below her.

What would it take to stop this man?!

Summoning the rest of his mental fortitude and strength, the Golem swung its other arm towards Grant's sand beast, blasting yet another large hole through its chest. Already it began to regenerate, as swiftly as it could, up until the dual tandem attack generated by Syed and Xandra hit its centre mass and haf, dispelling the rest of the sand monster's form in a shower of sand that rained down in all directions.

Even Grant was surprised by that.

"Very impressive," He remarked, as his body slowly began to fall down to the ground at a controlled descent. Even despite the Pride's sucess, he demonstrated no fear or discomfort whatsoever.

 

[Dannyel]

Grandium -> Underground -> SAND PIT

Dylan was already sketching seconds after Estelle had been knocked back, creating a comfy mattress for her to land on. Yes, it would still hurt, but it would keep her from breaking any bones. Even though sand was "soft" it wasn't made for landings like this. While the others took down the golem, Dylan made sure Estelle was safe.

"Very impressive," Grant remarked.

"You know what's more impressive," Dylan taunted, letting his mattress dissolve into nothingness as Estelle bounced back up. "The way you hid behind that construct instead of facing us directly. What a coward!"

Dylan drew again, summoning more metal missiles for Syed to launch. "Guess you were more afraid than you claimed to be."

 

[Capt. Blu]

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[BCOLOR=transparent]Grandium: Royal Palace: Underground Metal Room: Babysitting the Old and Young[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]Thunderhawk's javelin flew right past her, but Nani was still rushing forward, swinging her swords when she got close enough to reach. Unfortunately, Annabelle was still quick enough to dodge her and Moira's attacks, but neither of the two women let up. If they couldn't hit her, keeping her in one spot should have done enough for- [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]A direct hit! Two hits at that! [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]It was about time the tables finally turned. Both Moira and Nani were already poised to attack too, and they wasted no time doing just that- well Nani didn't. Instead of going for Annabelle like the girl probably expected, Nani decided to try and break Annabelle's grip on her scythe. Her not having a weapon would make it a lot easier for Moira to strike. Hopefully. If it didn't, she'd at least be close enough to try striking at Annabelle again. [/BCOLOR]

 

[Bunanigans]

Sand Pit

While his attack with Xan did not go exactly to plan, it was certainly effective. Thank Vayu they were all still alive and kicking. Sy immediately shook as much of the sand out of his hair as possible as it rained down, not particularly comfortable with it on him at all at this point. He gave Dylan a somewhat concerned look as he spoke. Please don't taunt the man who could probably still kill them all.

"All I want to know," he said slowly, as he saw Dylan's projectiles appear before him. They were fatter than Xan's, neater despite their hasty creation, large bullets compared Xan's large tack-like creation. "Is why." It was something he'd already asked, sure. But he really felt the need to know, the frustration of not knowing why was eating up at him almost as much as his continued use of magic was. He held his arm out, allowing his electricity to build up in his body. He wouldn't be able to last much more - especially without Selan's song. Even after all this.

"We can do this," he said softly, but loudly enough for the others in their group - Trixie in particular - to hear. He didn't believe it. But the memories, the thoughts of his friends... electricity seemed to almost merge with his hair as he gestured. The brighter you burn, the quicker you burn out. He aimed to take out Grant's lower body to give the others a better chance. He had never thrown two things at once like this before.

---

Metalwork Room

Moira wasn't thinking straight, that was for certain. But there was one thing she could still do, despite everything. And that was fight. Just as the others were doing. The purple and the sharps and the wet and the green, all joining together. Or something. She was numbly aware of their voices, but it was like her ears were underwater.

As Nani aimed to grab the scythe, if that was at all possible, Moira stamped down viciously with her foot - hoping to hobble the girl. She followed it up with aiming to slam the pommel of her greatsword into her face...

...Providing Nani didn't get in the way. It wouldn't be her fault, but in Moira's state of mind she was unable to properly distinguish friend from foe in the heat of the moment.[/hr]

 

[Fox of Spades]

Sand Pit:

Their combined efforts sent sand spraying across the room, and yet, Grant remained as unfazed as ever when he sent Estelle flying. Thankfully, Dylan had conjured up a mattress for her. And while she recovered, the masked man hopped off his construct and onto the sandy ground below. Xan wondered if their attacks were hurting him at all, or if they were simply sucking themselves dry.

She was worried about Syed in particular, who looked ready to lob more projectiles Grant's way.

Honestly, she half expected Grant to dodge each and every strike. Maybe it was all for nothing, but with the world at stake, they had no choice but to push on. Still, she wondered if he would humor them, give them a reason to this madness. No one was evil just for the sake of it. He had to stand for something he believed was good, right? Xan narrowed her eyes at him as her prosthetic began to extend, morphing itself into a chain with a heavy metal ball at the end.

---

Leaning against one of the metal boxes, Lucien watched as the tides began to turn. Were they actually going to win this? He held Captain a little closer, his heart hammering wildly in his chest. You've got this, he cheered, we're all going home.

 

[Cephalogod]

Grandium: Underground Ruins: Nyan cat?

"Of course we can do this." Aria strode forward, eyes locked on the white glint of Grant's mask. "If we break the mask..." The words were just as much for her sake as they were for her friends'. If hitting the mask didn't end up doing anything... Well then she would be plumb out of ideas on how to defeat a person who could reform and remake their body at will.

Knives in hand she focused on her target as Grant's upper body fell- while she did want to know why these people would possibly want to destroy the world considering they were living in it, talk could come after he was no longer able to conjure up a giant made of sand.

She threw her knives just as she reached out to block his vision, smothering his sight with darkness as he slowly descended.

 

[Pachamac]

Grandium: Underground Ruins: Metalwork Room
Kara, Don, Amy, Moira, Lucien, Lisette, Kapi, Nani, Thunderhawk, Marise, Quentin - Annabelle

Buffeted by attackers on all sides, it looked obvious to everybody watching that Annabelle should have been on the ropes and that now, together, the Pride held an actual chance of defeating her. It should have been absolutely impossible for that not to be the case, especially after Kara, Quentin, Lisette and Thunderhawk's attacks worked in tandem to distract her.

And it worked.

Whilst Nani would have loved the opportunity to wrench Annabelle's Magitech Scythe from her hands, unfortunately she failed. As stunned as the smaller, pink pigtailed girl was, her strength was terrifying formidable and she held onto it firmly. Even so, Nani's hold on it made it difficult for Annabelle to properly utilise it and even move it to defend herself against Moira's attack. With a loud crack the butt of Moira's Greatsword struck Annabelle directly, breaking her nose in turn.

Payback was a bitch.

"Unn..." Annabelle's head swam from side to side as her legs transformed into jelly. To remain standing felt like a herculean effort, but even so Annabelle was adamant to remain firm even as blood trickled down from her nose. Bloodshot eyes shot up to glare at both Moira and Nani, both women having now graduated themselves from an embarassing fate like Don and Lucien's into one of death.

Ripping her Magitech Scythe free from out of Nani's hands, Annabelle twirled it about and then swept it forwards in front of her body, the laser blade burning twice as fiercely. She lunged forwards, swinging her Scythe about in one swift strike poised to end both women's lives in one final move.

War Eternal​

---

Grandium: Underground Ruins: Sand Pit
Estelle, Marcus, Trixie, Cole, Tobi, Selan, Syed, Aria, Xandra, Lute - Grant

"All I want to know... is why."

Landing gracefully back down upon the ground, Grant slowly turned and looked to all of the Guilders that surrounded him on all sides and the harrowing Golem that loomed above. Concern, fear or trepidation... none of those emotions seemed to exist from Grant's stance or poise of body. Nothing except a complete lack of concern, even as the Pride readied themselves to continue fighting. Electricity crackled all across Syed's body, the metal bullets conjured by Dylan hovering up from the ground. Xandra's arm transformed into a heavy metal ball and chain. Aria's knives, poised to throw. Tobi and Trixie's guns leveled towards Grant. Even a horribly weakened Lute's sword brandished, the enraputred in pain Golem readying itself to strike with giant earthern fist. Selan, ready to sing one more song. And Estelle, rising back up to her feet, Magitech Sword ablaze.

"Why." Grant repeated the word, considering it. "Why? We're doing this because it's neccessary. We're doing this for the sake of the entire world."

And that was all he was able to say before Aria struck, using her illusion magic to effectively blind the man whilst simultaneously launching her knives at the man's mask. Syed too followed up on Aria's assault by launching the metal that Dylan had created. Grant's answer hadn't fully convinced Syed in the slightest - there was still so much he wanted to learn and know. For the sake of the world? In what possible way imaginable could what they were doing possibly be for the world's sake? Irregardless it was too late now not to strike.

They would just have to go with it and hope... pray that this was enough to finish it. Once and for all.

Aria's knives were the first to hit, with two of the three clashing off his mask and falling harmlessly to the ground, the last striking through his eyeslit again, elliciting a repeat of the last time she had. Grant's body recoiled, a scream close to bellowing out from his chest before Syed's attack destroyed what chest there had previously been. Body teetering on the edge of toppling, Grant almost fell over completely, were it not for his ability to manipulate sand allowing him to hold his remaining body aloft at the same time his wounds already started to regenerate.

There was just no way to end this, was there...?

"Don't give up!!" Screamed Estelle, charging forwards. Xandra and Tobi followed her lead, charging forwards as well whilst Trixie began to pepper Grant's body nonstop with her uzi's bullets. If they could keep beating him, keep hurting him hard enough that his body's regenerating was simply overtaxed beyond recognition, then maybe... just maybe...!

But before the Pride could reach him, they were suddenly stopped in their tracks by the sound of something resembling an explosion from above, in the direction of the room's entrance the Pride had come from. A second later something came flying from without, meteoring through the cavern and crashing down into the sand filled room, hard. Both the Pride and Grant whirled simultaneously towards the strange object, surprise filling all when it was revealed to be none other then Annabelle herself...!

"What... what the...?" Estelle could scarcely believe her eyes. Grant, however, continued to say nothing, instead focusing on his body's regeneration as swiftly as possible. He turned and swung a right hand transformed into a blade of hardened sand at the exact same time to meet the sword swing of the blurring figure that had just appeared - both blades clashing together fiercely before the following shockwave propelled Grant off his feet and into the far cavern wall.

"Y... you!" Estelle exclaimed in disbelief. Standing in the middle of the sand basin, directly where Grant had just been standing was none other then the Golden Knight Captain of the Artar Kingdom himself... Gabriel Lockheart!

Sword drawn and ready to fight, Gabriel positioned himself into a ready fighting stance, fully prepared to continue his dance of blades against Grant and Annabelle.

Whilst above, in the metalwork room where the Pride had been fighting Annabelle...

"Well done everyone... you did good. Our apologies for arriving so late." Striding into the room and towards the assembled Pride was the hooded Rize, smiling and bowing apologetically to all those gathered. Walking straight up to Kara he wrapped his arms around her, a gesture which the time mage was fully appreciative and thankful for. For a brief moment she sank into his arms, before forcing herself to let go. Their job unfortunately wasn't over yet.

At the same time, a magical glow enveloped both Lucien and Don. Whether it was due to Annabelle's injuries from her surprise attackers and loss of concentration or something else, the effects of her magic upon them was reverting back to normal. Within seconds both Lucien and Don were as they should have been - healthy and young.

Don blinked rapidly in confusion. "...what happened?"

"Gabriel and I can take over from here,"Rize continued, unable to answer Don's questions for him. "Is this all of them here? Or...?"

 

[Capt. Blu]

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[BCOLOR=transparent]Grandium: Royal Palace: Underground Metal Room[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]While the attack wasn't in vain, it still wasn't enough to fully take down Annabelle. Nani's grip on the scythe had loosened and once again the reaper was ready to strike. The one-eyed girl scrambled backwards, as she tried to escape Annabelle's next attack. Her sword raised to her defense, but instead of an inevitable attack… Nothing? [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]Shockingly enough, Annabelle was sent flying out the room! But, Moira was right next to her- "Oh." Nani looked at Rize and Kara. She leaned against her sword again and sighed in some sort of mix of relief and exhaustion. "What a nice surprise." She looked behind her to see both Don and Lucien looking good as new too. Skipping Don's question and letting someone else fill him in (simply because all Nani would have responded with was 'There was a fight'), she answered Rize."S'just those two raisin' hell." Nani paused in thought. "...Were there more up ahead?" All the fighting going on now, accompanied by the multiple knocks to the head made her forget. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"Either way, we haven't exactly gotten past these two yet." Before she turned towards the others, she looked at everyone else. Boy did they have better days… She retrieved her bird from Lucien and examine the damages. Fortunately, he wasn't too bad. And everyone else was standing on two legs- more or less- so they could keep going- or at least try to.[/BCOLOR]

 

[Bunanigans]

Metalwork Room

Moira blinked as the pink blur was blasted away, saving her and Nani both from certain death. There was a moment of silence, a moment that was very much needed. The pounding in her ears, the heat in her veins, it all began to subside. Especially when she saw Don and Lucien back to normal. She started, noticing the blood on her pommel, before making nothing of it. Things always ended up kind of foggy coming out of a rage.

"Oh." In fact the whole place was wrecked, all large chunks of metal and rubber, sparking circuits and burning wire.

Thankfully Nani was sort of explaining it. Moira let her get on with it, before moving her blade so she could lean on it. "Yer were a kid or some shit I dunno," she said to Don, her voice sounding a little hoarse. "The others were fightin' the other guy, I dunno what's going on. We need to get em."

---

Sand Pit

"Captain Lockheart!"

In this split second reaction, Syed was downright elated. It was perfectly evident in his voice. Sure, the man had been fighting Rize earlier. But the fact that he was down here...! Perhaps Rize managed to get through to him. Or perhaps he knew of this place anyway. He was the highest ranking Knight, it was entirely possible.

Or perhaps there was more to it than that, a small part of his mind interjected. But whatever it was, he had batted Grant back. And he had appeared just in time. His fingers twitched as once more he willed his electricity to his side, willing to support in whatever way he could... except the ramifications of his sacrifice caught up with his body. Perhaps it was the split-second of relief. A split-second of weakness.

The electricity flickered into nothing as his legs became very weak - before he fell to his knees with a horrendous retching cough. One hand gripping the floor, he held the other to his burning hot face and did his best to hide the fact that he was coughing up blood. Oh Vayu. They couldn't lessen their guard yet![/hr]

 

[Taerinn]

Grandium: Underground Ruins: Sand Pit
Estelle, Marcus, Trixie, Cole, Tobi, Selan, Syed, Aria, Xandra, Lute - Grant, Annabelle
Selan hadn't been able to take solace in the reappearance of Gabriel Lockheart -- the Golem was enraged and striking the wall with its remaining fist, due to either the pain of its severed arm, the "usurping" of its enemy, or perhaps both.

"Cole, please...!" Selan pleaded, holding her arms palms-out toward the Golem. He was losing himself more and more. It was the calculated risk he chose to make, but she couldn't bear to watch it happen without at least trying to bring him to his senses.

Above them at the opening to the adjacent room, a distant, taller pigtailed silhouette flailed her arms, having nearly prevented herself from falling. It was faint, but her shrill voice carried just enough to be heard. "Waaaa~hhh! Are you guys okaaaay!?"

---

Grandium: Underground Ruins: Metalwork Room
Kara, Moira, Lucien, Lisette, Kapi, Nani, Thunderhawk, Marise, Quentin

Lisette returned to the center of the room, looking more than a bit lost. Where did the walkway go!? "W-What do you mean, 'take over?'" she asked. "Was that Mister Captain Lockheart down there? I thought he was... Or was he..."

Her tired brain was pretty much fried now.

 

[Warden]

Sand Pit

"Gabby!" Delilah shrieked when the sands settled enough for them to see their mysterious savior. She continued crowing in jubilation even as Lute strode towards a crumpled Syed. "Oh, man, I never thought I'd be this happy to see your mug again!" Of course, she would have to thank Rize later for convincing the guy, but it didn't mean she should ignore that he just saved their asses from a free sand mask! Wait, he did come here because of Rize, right? "I'd hug you if I had arms! Really."

The virtuoso knelt down while his familiar continued cheering overhead. He placed one hand on Syed's back and tapped him. He understood how it felt to be exhausted, and Syed had been throwing one spell after another earlier. When the mage lifted his head, Lute motioned with his free hand before forming a thumbs-up. "He thinks we're not safe here, with all the sand around," Delilah floated down and explained, "But he wants to know if you're okay."

Actually, most of them weren't fit to walk, much less fight. The spirit pursed her lips at the noises made by the raging golem. Would Cole bleed out if he returned to his human form? None of them even had the foreknowledge to bring medical supplies! Below her, Lute offered Aria's scarf and his handkerchief to his weary friend.

 

[Pachamac]

Grandium: Underground Ruins: Metalwork Room
Rize, Kara, Don, Amy, Moira, Lucien, Lisette, Kapi, Nani, Thunderhawk, Marise, Quentin

"They're not alone," Kara looked to her husband as she corrected Nani's response. "I don't know how many more there might be but these two are just a vanguard, aimed towards slowing us down. Remember the Masked Man's taunt from before?" Her eyes flickered between her allies one by one. ""The 'weapon' is still a little further on… but our companions will be there in no time at all to take it." is what he said. Meaning... we still have our work cut out for us yet."

"Gods..." Amy sighed with a shake of her head as she joined alongside the others with Marise's support. "More of them?"

"And with time rapidly running out." Lips thinning into a tightly drawn grimace, Rize shook his head from side to side. Following Lisette and Quentin's lead, the group emerged from the Metalwork Room and onto the shattered walkway that overlook the mammoth cavern beyond. Beneath them in a basin of sand were the rest of their allies and their two mysterious adversaries... alongside the pain enraptured, anger filled Golem.

Not a pleasant situation at all.

"Sel!!" Don shouted, poised to leap from the very top of the walkway until Rize moved in front and blocked the man off. He first looked directly into Don's eyes and then shook his head from side to side.

"Like I said before, me and Captain Lockheart will take care of these two. You all... I know none of you exactly feel well enough to do so, but..."

"We need to continue on," Sighed Marise, stretching her arms out. "We have no other choice."

"Oh man..." Quentin's entire body seemed to deflate. "Well... if we all hope together super hard maybe there's not that many of them left. And that they're not as tough as these guys were, yeah?"

Alongside silence a mass of judging stares from his friends' eyes all fell upon Quentin. With a despirited laugh he looked away sheepishly towards the entrance on the opposite side of the room. "Yeah I didn't think so either. But what are the chances one of them can turn us into either children or the elderly? Pretty low, right?"

"Lockheart and I will catch up as quickly as we can. This shouldn't take us long. And Lady will be along soon with the soldiers as well." Rize smiled. "Keep your chins up and your heads held high. We'll get through this, everyone. I promise."

"Right!!" Replied Don, slamming his fists together. "But... ah... how do we get to the other side?"

---

Grandium: Underground Ruins: Sand Pit
Gabriel, Estelle, Marcus, Trixie, Cole, Tobi, Selan, Syed, Aria, Xandra, Lute - Grant, Annabelle

Before a response could be given, the room was filled with a terrific, terrible tremor when the one armed Golem in its maddening thrash slammed its fist against the wall, initiating the raining down of yet more rubble upon the ground below. Lifting its mighty rocky maw up into the air it bellowed a fiercesome roar before clutching its face and eliciting a pained and anguished... sob? Then, suddenly before everyone's eyes it started to shrink, becoming smaller and smaller and eventually reverting into Cole's human form. Where his severed arm should have rested was instead an arm forged of rock and stone. Was this a replacement for his real arm of flesh and blood, or just the outer shell of his arm or...?

"Nggh... so... so close..." Cole collapsed onto his knees, still holding onto his head.

"Cole!" Selan immediately raced to his side and dropped to her own knees, supporting him as best she could from toppling completely.

"So close to almost losing it that time..."

"We need... to move on..." From across the room, beside where Estelle and Dylan stood, Marcus began to stir. Using the support of his staff he shakily lifted himself up to stand.

"Marcus!!" Estelle immediately turned and gripped him into a tight embrace. "I'm so glad...! Are you okay?! You need to rest, you know! You shouldn't be standing up...!"

"No... we need to keep going..." Marcus slowly shook his head from side to side. "We can't falter or stop. We have to keep going..."

"Go." Replied Gabriel, swiping his sword out in front of him and lifting it so the blade's tip pointed in Annabelle and Grant's direction. "I shall dispose of these two miscreants here. For what they've done to this Kingdom, and the harm with which they threatened Princess Elincia with... I shall personally make sure justice is served. They will never harm another person again."

"Go? We've... got to keep on going?" With tears brimming at the edge of her eyes, Trixie shook her head from side to side rapidly and in utter disbelief. "But we can't, can we?" She looked around to all of her friends and noting just how pained and injured they all were. Lute and Syed could barely stand or talk, and Marcus and Cole were even worse then that. She knew they had to keep going and fight, to persevere no matter how hard things were but...

"We can do it, Trix," With a warm and reassuring hand placed gently on the back of her head, Tobi looked down and smiled. With a wink that smile turned into a grin. "Trust in yourself, Wondergirl. We'll do this."

"You will do no such thing."

Grant's haunting voice stopped everyone in their tracks. Whirling about to face the once again standing Sand Mage, they saw both him and Annabelle together, looking on at the Pride with their usual discontempt. Annabelle in particular seemed to be more bothered by the sand in her hair then anything else.

"You will all die here. As I said before, this will be your tomb."

The sand filling the room's basin began to stir, with millions upon millions of fine particles lifting up into the air and beginning to whirl about the room. Slowly at first, but rapidly picking up pace. Around the room, various shapes of undescribable horrifying beasts began to coalesce and form to surround them all.

Until a fierce energy wave struck Grant and blasted his body into fine particles that slowly needed to once again reform.

"I think not," Replied Gabriel, coldly. "So long as I draw breath these men and women will pass. And you... you, sir, will pay for your crimes."

Opening her eyes wide and flashing Gabriel a vicious glare, Annabelle burst forwards, her body little more then a blur before reappearing directly in front of the Knight Captain and swinging her Magitech Scythe down with the intent of ripping the blonde knight's head clean off. Even at Annabelle's incredible speed Gabriel still saw her coming... and did nothing to react, instead remaining motionless.

For Rize appeared at the last second and rebuffed Annabelle with a simple swing of his short sword that crashed against her scythe's rod, sending her flying backwards through the room and crashing against one of the cavern's far walls.

"Marcus... can you...?" The Guild Leader looked towards the Wind Mage.

"I can, and I shall," Marcus nodded back. Then, to the surprise of everyone on the ground and upon the walkway above, several whirlwinds of remarkable speed and power emerged beneath the feet of his friends, lifting them up and pitching them up into the air at incredible speed towards their target destination - the room's exit at the other side of the broken walkway. It was there that they all landed safely despite the vicious speeds they travelled at, slowed down by a blanket of air.

"Sel!" Don immediately raced towards Selan knelt beside Cole.

"Amy!" Trixie ran directly towards the cleric, barrelling into her with a sob filled hug.

"...I would ask if everyone was alright, but I fear the answer is already clear enough." Kara looked towards her companions with the utmost sympathy. "So I will ask instead if everyone is prepared to move on. Time does not look kind to us."

Turning, she silently looked down to the distant ground below, and the echoing explosions that rung out. For all the encouragement Rize and Gabriel had given her and the others, their victory over Grant and Annabelle was not an assured certainty. They would need everything they had, and even then...

'Be safe, my love.'

---

Underground Ruins:

Sand Pit
Rize and Gabriel vs Grant and Annabelle

Ruined Walkway and Onwards
Kara, Estelle, Marcus, Don, Marise, Amy, Trixie, Selan, Lisette, Kapi, Moira, Syed, Dylan,
Lucien, Xandra, Aria, Lute, Delilah, Nani, Captain, Quentin, Cole, Tobi, Thunderhawk​

 

[Dannyel]

Grandium -> Underground -> Ruined Walkway

He still couldn't quite believe it. Mere moments ago they had been fighting for their very lives, now Marcus was awake and had spirited out of harm's way. And in their place, Gabriel and Rize had joined the battle with Grant and Annabelle. It seemed…cruel to be so relieved, but Dylan shot a quick prayer to Aislin to watch over them. She was probably inundated with his prayers by now, but at least she couldn't doubt his devotion.

"...I would ask if everyone was alright, but I fear the answer is already clear enough." Kara looked towards her companions with the utmost sympathy. "So I will ask instead if everyone is prepared to move on. Time does not look kind to us."

"No, you are right," Dylan said, rubbing his sweat-soaked brow. So much magic had been used this day, and he didn't know if he could keep it up much longer. Still, he was better off than Syed, so he went to the electromage's side, offering any assistance that the man needed.

"You were incredible down there," he said quietly. "So let me help you for a bit."

 

[Capt. Blu]

[BCOLOR=transparent]

[/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]

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[BCOLOR=transparent]Grandium: Royal Palace: Ruined Walkway → Away They Go[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]That's exactly what they wanted to hear. There were even more the farther they went along. Maybe those sea gods Nani always mentioned would hear her curses/prayers. Quentin's failed optimism made her crack a small smile. As did her taunts and chatter, it sort of boosted morale- for her at least. Nani stood straight, stretching her arms over her head. "Don't worry Q.T. I'll try hopin' with ya. I mean, I've been doin' that this far and look, we're still alive." She patted his shoulder and then followed everyone else out towards the chaos that was the Masked Man. "A'right guys, ya heard the guy. Those two will take care of 'em." Everyone looked worse for wear, so Nani kept her eye open for any that needed a bit of extra help standing on two feet. Nani had, with great reluctance, sliced part of her pirate coat in order to create a makeshift bandage to stop her left leg from bleeding out. If she was going to be optimistic, she needed to at least keep the rest of her blood in her body. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]There was a minor...setback with Grant blocking the path, but as Gabriel and Rize promised, they took care of it. "Glad he's on our side." Nani sighed and then helped herd the Pride towards the exit- the exit towards the deadly weapon and of course whoever else that wanted to kill them. "As I always say, we're only done when we're dead. That hasn't happened, so we may wanna keep movin'- ya know, ta prevent the death part." She gestured forward for the rest to start moving, opting to be on the sides or tailing the group and helping the more sluggish ones. "I've got no time for death. I've got things ta do, ya know? Heh, like live." Nani let out a nervous laugh, glancing back at the sounds of the fight behind them. [/BCOLOR]

 

[Taerinn]

Grandium: Underground Ruins: Sand Pit
Estelle, Marcus, Trixie, Cole, Tobi, Selan, Syed, Aria, Xandra, Lute - Grant, Annabelle

Don...? Selan's face softened with recognition as Don moved between her and Cole. "You're feeling better?" Why was she always so surprised to see him bounce back from injuries so quickly? Don put Cole's free arm over his own shoulder and heaved him back up onto his feet, then offered his hand out to Selan.

She gladly took it and now stood on wobbly legs. It was rather disorienting to be on solid ground again after fighting for balance on a field of sand. But even more than that, her magic exertion was catching up to her. The color had drained somewhat from her cheeks, and her under-eyes had taken on a faint purplish tinge -- overall, she was looking quite visibly unwell. But more importantly, she could still move forward.

Lisette walked alongside Nani and Quentin, holding her shoulder. "The living part is my favorite part..." she said, breaking into a smile. It wasn't easy to stay cheery when they were walking into unknown and dangerous territory once again, but she sure wanted to try. With everyone either exhausted or injured or both, maybe it might help.

Kapi hitched a ride on Lisette's other shoulder, thoroughly unconcerned with anything beyond getting out of these ruins and into a nice water bath.

 

[Fox of Spades]

Escaping

"Yeah," leaving Gabriel and Rize wasn't the most ideal option out there, but they were powerful fighters and Lucien would have been lying if he said he wasn't relieved. Annabelle and Grant scared the crap out of him, and it was good to be back and so, so good to see everyone alive, worse of wear, but breathing. "The living part is my favorite too, Lisette." He flashed her a weary smile before his eyes finally flitted towards the rest of his friends.

Cole and Marcus looked terrible and were Syed and Lute okay?

Xan caught his worried gaze and attempted a reassuring smile, but Lucien could see how forced it was and ended up worrying even more.

The summoner made his way towards Syed, Lute, and Dylan and frowned. "Hey, do you guys, need another helping hand?" They didn't look well at all, and had the world not been at stake, he would have demanded they at least take a break. Cole and Marcus looked like they needed it very badly as well. Gods, if they had to face even more psychopaths, Lucien was worried they would fall flat on their faces.

 

[Bunanigans]

Onwards

"Hah... thanks," Syed smiled to Dylan, his voice raspy. Much like Selan, he looked downright ill at this point. He really did not need to look any more gaunt. He quite readily threw an arm over Dylan's shoulder, trying to subtly wipe his mouth clear of any blood. "We all were really." He smiled to Selan while he was at it, as without her he'd probably be on the floor by now. She had pretty much kept the whole group going.

"I'm glad you're okay, Lucy," he grinned as Lucien approached, as much as he looked... well he didn't look particularly injured physically. But there was something about how he carried himself, that Sy knew there was something off mentally. What had he been through? But there was no time to fret or even really catch up - as desperate as he was to ask about Cole's arm, as him not being able to reform it properly did not look good in the slightest - so he gave Kara an affirmative nod and off they went. Deeper into the bees nest. He supposed it would be too much to hope that Grant and Annabelle were the two strongest members of this group.

He cast one last look back as they went, worried for Rize and Gabriel. Although, he supposed, if anyone was to be able to take those two on... it would be those two.

"He said something about doing this 'for the sake of the world'," Syed said aloud, pondering. Of course, he didn't believe it. But it was food for thought. "It was insane, but... what could make them think that?"

Moira meanwhile didn't say anything, her eyes fixed ahead. She stuck close to Amy giving her a quick visual once-over, but otherwise she didn't say anything. Although her maintained proximity to Amy said it all. She was not happy, she did not think they could withstand much more, and the sooner they got out of this death machine the better.

 

[Pachamac]

Grandium: Underground Ruins: Corridor

Being tired, injured and mentally exhausted meant none of the Pride were in a fit and able state to continue on against the danger that loomed overhead, but like it or not none of them had a choice. As painful as their wounds were and the debilitating effects their battles with Grant and Annabelle had upon both their mental and physical fortitude, they needed to press on and fight no matter what. For anything less could spell the end of everything. They had all gotten here together so far... the times were tough, but they'd make it through no matter what.

They would be victorious, of that there could be no doubt!

"Thank you... Don... Selan..." Cole coughed meekly, doing his best to support himself into moving and put less of a burden upon his friends. His whole body felt numb, and his arm felt like... well, there would be time for considering his arm later. For now they needed to concentrate on what awaited them up ahead. "We'll get through this... I'm... certain..."

"Of course we will, bro!" Don thumbsupped in that typically childish but spiriting way of his. "And of course I'm alright!" He whirled towards Selan and gave her the same thumbs up. "Why wouldn't I be? Although being turned into a little kid again was kind of weird..."

Cole and Selan's silent but stunned expressions spoke volumes. Don had to have been kidding of course. A result of being hit in the head, surely...?

"Easy, Amy, easy." Stepping in and throwing the whoozing cleric's arm over his shoulder, Thunderhawk strived to help carry the blonde healer as well as he could. Which, considering his own wounds wasn't very well at all. But it was better then nothing, and in her own tiredness not even Amy could summon up the strength to throw a disparaging comment back in the Ranger's way. Instead she simply settled for a 'thanks' and focused more on the path ahead.

"Aw, craaaap..."

"Trixie?"

"I'm almost out of ammo," With a pout, Trixie lifted her pouch up and down with a vigorous shake, only to reveal her pouch as being completely empty. She had one last clip for each of her uzis and then that was it. "Amyyyyyy you need to buy me some more after we get out of here~!!"

"Shut up, Trix."

"But Amy I need ammooooooooooo~~!"

"Goddamnit, Trix, I said shut up!"

"But Amyyyyyyy~~~~~!!!"

"I'll buy you all the ammo you need when we get out of here," Winked Marise as she patted Trixie on the head in mid run. "Promise."

"Yay! You're a much nicer blonde lady then Amy is, Miss Mari! Prettier too!"

"Okay, someone has just revoked their healing card. Have fun surviving on what you've got left, brat."

"But Amyyyyyyy~~~~~!!!"

Meanwhile, up ahead at the front of the pack sprinted Estelle with Marcus in tow, the flame haired swordswoman holding onto her partner's hand. "Are you sure you're okay, Marcus? That guy... he hit you pretty bad..."

"I'm okay, Estelle, I promise." He smiled back weakly. "Don't worry about me. Focus on what's ahead, okay?"

"Al-alright. I promise." She nodded, and turned her sight away and to the faintly illuminated corridor before them. Like the previous rooms they had visited this one was littered with the broken remains of yet more machines and the scarred remnants of battle lining the walls and floor. There could be no doubt that others had definitely made their way down here. The question on everyone's mind was how many, and how far away were they?