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Post by Myrdraxxis on May 17, 2011 21:21:29 GMT -5
"I think you've caused enough trouble in this world, Jin." Ethan said, his voice surprisingly calm. The casual carelessness of Jin's use of magic always rubbed him the wrong way. For once he restrained himself. "You're going to leave this place, or we'll make you."
Ikarus and Illya said nothing, but exchanged a glance. The twins both prepared a spell that would summon their weapons. It wasn't a good place for a fight...but if need be they were ready.
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Post by Monika on May 17, 2011 22:13:20 GMT -5
"Remember when I told you that there would be people in this world who do not understand my goals?" Jin looked toward Tristezza and pointed at his 'old friends'. "These are some of them." Jin then turned to Team Friendship and his usual, sickening smirk appeared on his face. "So have my old friends finally become one with the good guys? Never would have expected this, especially from a vampire, Karl." he laughed. "Solarivelo." Jin waved his hand in front of him in a 'Jedi mind trick' sort of fashion. The invisibility charm over Team Friendship had disappeared entirely.
"W-When did he learn to use Light Magic?" Shadow Ella recoiled at this new revelation. "This might be a bit more difficult than I thought..." she muttered.
"Hmph. We really only came here for Safiria's body, Jin. It was in the airship you took from us." Karl growled, unfazed by Jin's new abilities. Shadow Ella, Cryon and Cid all stepped up beside him, glaring angrily at their former leader.
"It was my property. Once you left my team, you lost the right to use it." Jin sighed. "I'll gladly return it to you...All you have to do is ditch Dark Wing over there and stay out of the way of my plans. Simple enough, isn't it?" he smiled.
The other Team Friendship members all looked up at Karl, tempted to take Jin's offer. They had come all this way with no intentions to fight, only to recover Safiria's body and have a funeral, at which point they could all part ways back in Mundus Magica.
"It's your call, Karl..." Shadow Ella whimpered.
"Yea, I won't blame ya for yer choice. Just pick a good one..." Cid muttered
Cryon remained silent, but looked up at Karl with warm, childlike eyes that could probably thaw the heart of the most hardened criminals.
Karl shook his head, also smiling. I know I'm going to regret this. "While I'd love to take your offer, Jin..." Karl extended his claws. "...I would be doing a disservice to my team to surrender, especially when you're so outnumbered." Karl laughed loudly, dryly, as if victory was assured for the good side. "So, unfortunately, my answer is a resounding no. Crimson Lightning!" A red stream of energy materialized in Karl's hand as he shot it straight toward Jin.
Shaking his head, Jin raised his right hand and caught the stream of energy. Immediately, the stream dissipated and Jin's hand began to glow a dark red. "I gave you your chance. Remember this. Crimson Plasma! Jin pushed his hand forward and several arcs of red lightning traveled toward Team Friendship at, well, lightning fast speeds.
Thinking quickly, Shadow Ella dashed in front of the teammates and shouted 'Solaribarriera!' A dome of light energy erupted around the team to defend them from the attack.
Jin merely shook his head again and pushed his hand further forward. The red lightning grew in intensity and, within seconds, the light barrier was completely shattered, allowing Team Friendship to receive the full force of the Crimson Plasma spell, intensified by the fierce rainstorm.
"Not even...I know this spell." Karl choked as he struggled to stand, the red lightning coursing around him.
"He's...tough." Shadow Ella laughed, falling to her knees as the energy surged through her body. Likewise, Cryon and Cid both fell down, the latter with words along the lines of 'We should've taken the deal, darn whippersnapper..."
"I've been training." Jin smiled, pushing his hand as far forward as he could. The red lightning grew greater in intensity before disbanding completely, the force of the spell sending all of Team Friendship crashing through the window of the apartment behind him.
As the shards of glass flew throughout the surrounding area, Jin spoke. "I have only ever killed for three reasons. For self defense, to gather souls, and to prove a point. The rest of you would be wise to leave me alone while I have no reason to do any of them. Besides..." Jin motioned toward everything around him. "We are in the middle of the most populous city in the country. Engaging me here will do nothing but cause the deaths of countless Veritans."
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Post by Myrdraxxis on May 17, 2011 22:24:59 GMT -5
"Then perhaps we should take this elsewhere."
Ethan froze, halfway through an incantation. His blood ran cold. He knew that voice. it was a voice that had haunted his dreams since they had left the ruined fields of the Frostlands. A voice that exercised power and arrogance incarnate in every syllable.
He slowly turned his head to the right, down the street to the left.
The figure was smaller than he remembered. Ostin's body, he remembered. But the air and poise was there. The hooded figure of the Mage of the Beginning stood in the middle of the street, before the assembled crowd.
The Mage had left the academy quickly, not wanting to spend time explaining (or killing) the local authorities. It was by pure coincidence that he found himself among his old foes. Truth be told, he should have expected to be found out eventually. Not this quickly, but then young Sorian and his friends were a talented bunch.
And of course, there was the necromancer Jin. If anything int he world could renew his belife that the world was a blight that needed destruction, it was this man.
He raised a cloaked arm and casted. The world around the group shifted and changed, until they were no longer on the streets of New York. They were now standing on a large floating land mass of rock and soil, floating in nothingness. The void extended into infinity around them.
"Well if this isn't a pleasant surprise."
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Post by Monika on May 17, 2011 22:31:15 GMT -5
"Another of my old friends..." Jin spat, contempt dripping with every syllable. "Haven't seen you in some time. Gotten shorter, have you?" he smirked. No less powerful, though, I'm sure...
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Post by Mizagium on May 17, 2011 22:33:26 GMT -5
Adden looked from Jin to the Mage to the defeated Team Friendship and wondered how things escalated so quickly. "What - What are you doing here?" intellectually, he knew that the entire reason he was back in Mundas Veritas (or wherever he was now) was because of the Mage, but it had always seemed like a distant goal, a destination that they would never reach. Now that the Mage stared them down, he couldn't even bring himself to Summon. Before this god of a man, he was but a child.
Cedric was never one to get all sentimental or awestruck about anything. He spoke simply to Jin. "Alright, mister fancy-necromancer. You want to help us take on this mother, we leave you alone for now. Alright?"
Tristezza on the other hand, was reduced to his knees under the sheer power of the Mage. "Who...What...is this man, Jin?"
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Post by Myrdraxxis on May 17, 2011 22:34:44 GMT -5
"You're quite confident in yourself." The Mage said evenly, directing his unseen gaze at the rogue necromancer. "I would have thought I put you in your place more than enough times already."
Ethan's mind was a whirlwind of plans and ideas on how to deal with the situation, most of which accumulated down to 'holy crap holy crap holy crap'
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Post by Monika on May 17, 2011 22:38:37 GMT -5
"Many Veritans believe in the concept of God, right, Tristezza?" Jin glared at the Mage. "This is the Magican equivalent. Sorry about getting you dragged into this. Stay down and watch the true power of sorcery." He turned to Cedric and, reluctantly, nodded. "A truce, for now. After this, our own conflict will resume."
Now, how do we get rid of someone just about omnipotent...This'll be a fun test of my new powers. Jin mused, his hands bursting into flames.
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Post by Damien on May 19, 2011 0:44:14 GMT -5
Izaak stood there awestruck. Seeing such power in front of him made him feel very out of place...out of place, but not helpless.
"Let's see if this spell works like my spellbook said it would!" said Izaak, his voice full of excitement and rage. "Luhzina crytufat bryhdycs!" incanted Izaak.
The air around the Mage hummed with power. The air grew dark and opaque. An amorphous blob appeared before the Mage, squirming and quivering. It then began to take the shape of a gruesome creature (use your imaginations please). The creature then latched onto the Mage, tearing into his skin with its razor teeth and sharp talons.
"Wow," said Izaak, completely shocked. "I can't believe it worked! I cast conjure phantasm, and it worked. I even infused it with shadowstuff, so now the illusion's real!"
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Post by Monika on May 19, 2011 1:37:47 GMT -5
Who in the world is this newcomer? Such recklessness before the Mage will be...rewarded, I'm sure. Jin smirked and decided to step a few yards back to see what the Mage of the Beginning would do in retaliation.
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Post by Myrdraxxis on May 20, 2011 14:01:16 GMT -5
The Mage stood for a moment, and suddenly the creature that the newcomer had summoned exploded -quite literally- away from him in a blast of pure arcane energy. He glanced at the creature's remains for a moment before slowly turning to look at Izaak.
Nobody saw him move, but suddenly he was standing in front of the illusionist. He grabbed the man's face with one hand lifted him off the ground. "And just who are you?" his voice was low.
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Post by Damien on May 20, 2011 17:33:13 GMT -5
Izaak's feet dangled above the ground, completely still. He didn't dare struggle as he knew that struggling would only cause him more pain.
"The name's Izaak," he said, his words muffled by the Mage's hand. "You'd do well to remember it."
With a thought, Izaak created an illusory copy of himself in the Mage's grasp, turned himself invisible, and snuck out of the Mage's hold. Since the copy was forged from shadowstuff just as his phantasm had been, it felt completely solid. He ran behind the Mage and about a hundred yards away.
Your move, biznitch, he thought, laughing on the inside.
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Post by Myrdraxxis on May 20, 2011 18:23:55 GMT -5
"Foolish." The Mage was once again suddenly in front of Izaak. "I am the Mage of the Beginning. The Lifemaker. This entire realm," he swept his hands wide, "is a dominion of my creation, outside of the realities of Mundus Veritas." He snapped his fingers and suddenly Izaak was sunk into the earth, down to his waist. His hands froze in mid-air, inhibiting the illusionist. "Now then, seeing as I have no busines with you,"
He turned back to Jin and Ethan's group. "What to do with you?"
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Post by Monika on May 20, 2011 20:18:13 GMT -5
"Look, Mage..." Jin scowled, crossing his arms in slight annoyance. "Ever since you so kindly ruined my last plan-" Jin's eyes flashed a bright red as the silhouette of Umbraceon, God of Destruction, appeared behind him. "-I've been on good behavior. You really don't have a reason to fight me."
But if you do, I'm ready for you...
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Post by Damien on May 20, 2011 20:22:04 GMT -5
"Well, fine then," said Izaak. "It seems I was mistaken. You're not a biznitch after all."
Then he said the incantation to dispel the magic holding him in the ground. "Vinlana hiitan miyt neghal." A bright light flashed around him, and Izaak was again standing on the ground. He walked to the back of the group led by the one everyone called "Ethan".
I wonder what I'll be able to do to help if this turns ugly, thought Izaak.
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Post by Mizagium on May 21, 2011 22:59:01 GMT -5
Adden barely kept himself from pulling his hair out. "You, newcomer, STOP ANTAGONIZING THE GOD-LIKE PERSON. IT. WILL. END. BADLY."
Yolanda was currently being supported by Torran, who was also breathing heavily. "His power is like an oppressive heat - only much worse. I can't...breath almost."
Cedric seemed to be able to shrug off the worst of the Mage's power. He felt it, but he could steel himself against it. Even Adden had to fight to breathe.
How can he stand there, confident? Adden wondered. He...how powerful is Cedric? Why do I get the feeling that there's much more this gladiator than any of us suspected?
"Jin. Do you know how to get us out of here?" He didn't take his eyes of the Mage.
~~~~~
Stella angrily stuff clothes into the pack Izzy has given her. She wasn't angry at the mission - hell she wasn't even angry at Izzy (actually, she was, but for different reasons) - no, right now, she was angry with the one person she thought she could never be truly angry with: Krysta.
How could she just run off and try and save her like that? Without even letting her in on the plan? How could she...be so reckless? How could she...
Stella felt tears as she buried her face in the clothes. "Damn her," she swore through her sobs. "Damn her, damn her, damn her. She never thought about herself, not about what might happen to her. Only about me. Why?"
"Because she is a selfless person."
Stella whirled at the sound of the voice. There Asher leaned against the the door frame.
"How did you find me?" Stella demanded. Then, "How did you get in here?"
Asher smirked and faded into a swirling mass for an instant. "Air clone," he said simply. "I'm supposed to keep an eye on you." He cocked his head. "And apparently since you're going to Mundas Magica, I have to go with you."
"I don't need your help."
"Oho yes you do. You've been to the World of Magic, then? Seen the cities of the Confederacy and the Federation? Seen the endless expanse of the Frostlands? The deserts of Cebrus, the jungles of Elborn? The Altinor Mage Academy? The ruins of Ossen? No? I thought so. You'll need a guide, and you're in luck."
Stella narrowed her eyes. "Fine. just don't get in my way."
"Wouldn't dream of it, lovely."
She narrowed them into slits. "Go tell Jones you're coming with me. I'll go tell Izzy I'm leaving. Meet me outside his shop."
"At your command." He gave a theatrical bow and dissipated. Stella finished packed and left for Izzy's shop.
~~~~~
Do you know me, cousin?
"I do."
Speak my name.
"Vi'ir Gae'om. And mine?"
Volitar Halal.
The young chronomancer made sure his room door was locked. The spectral form of Vi'ir appeared. "Cousin Volitar, how long has it been?"
Volitar swallowed. "A long time. Not since the war. I...always hoped you'd survived, Vi'ir, but..."
"I did, I survived for twelve years in the ruins of Ossen. I didn't' die until about six months ago - but that's a story for another day. The important thing right now is...we need your help."
"We?"
Twelve more spectral forms appeared in the room. "Us. The Lost Legion. Guardian spirits of the land of Ossen. A terrible power is arising in the broken land of Nostia. The Mages cannot feel it yet, but us spirits can."
Volitar frowned and sat on his bed. "Then why come to me? I'm nobody. Why not seek the...who's in charge of Ossen now?"
Vi'ir shook his head. "We are not spirits in the conventional sense. We are earthbound spirits, tied to this land, and this land only. Ossen is our domain. We cannot travel to the other nations." Then he gave a lopsided smile. "And you remind me of a young Adden."
Volitar couldn't help himself but to smile. He might have been young, but he did remember Adden. Always reading that one. He gave his stack of books a guilty look. "And chronomancers are hard to come by - don't forget that part."
Vi'ir laughed. "You got me. Chronomancers are rare these days, especially in Ossen. The capital's not to far from here, I need you to go there and wait by the Gate. A young Veritan woman will arrive there; you'll know who she is."
"She'll be the one who looks out of place," Volitar supplied, running a hand through his black hair.
"Right. Bring her here. We will talk to her then."
Volitar exhaled sharply. "Alright. I'll tell my parents I'm going to the library. They'll believe that, at least."
Vi'ir laughed again. "Just like Adden. He's alive, by the way - "
"But that's a story for another day, right?"
"Right. Now get moving, cousin."
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Post by Monika on May 22, 2011 0:37:49 GMT -5
Nick Faulkner decided to use this opportunity to mentally 'WTF' at everything that just happened, crippled by the sheer power of the Mage of the Beginning, and confused as to who he should have been fighting. He crawled his way over to the unconscious Team Friendship (one member in particular) and collapsed.
Weaklings... Jin rolled his eyes in disgust. Why has this one yet to fall under the Mage's presence? He stared at Cedric for a moment with a raised eyebrow before responding to the question. "Dimension altering magic has never been my strong suit, unfortunately." Jin looked down at his hands, which were still on fire, and tapped his foot a few times in thought. "Ah ha!" He snatched a necklace with a prism like locket attached to it from around his neck. "Sealed inside here is a...friend of mine..." Lyceras, to be precise. "As a Spirit Realm creature, he has access to a sort of natural teleportation. If I combine his power with my own, I might be able to take us all out of here. I'll need a bit of time, though." Believe me, if I could take on the Mage and cast this spell at the same time, I wouldn't bother helping any of you.
"Hellfire Barrier!" Jin ran toward Tristezza and grabbed his hand, surrounding them both with a protective orb of Hellfire, much like the barrier that had safely gotten them from the Empire State Building. Hopefully this barrier will deflect any stray spells that come our way. Levitating the barrier a presumably safe distance away from the battle scene, Jin clasped his necklace in both hands and began channeling magical energy into it.
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Post by Myrdraxxis on May 22, 2011 1:13:37 GMT -5
Ethan stared hard at The Mage, trying to think of SOMETHING. They had all nearly died in the final assault on the Mage's Frostland stronghold.It had been Ethan and Adden that had struck the final blows, their Celestial blood allowing them to actually fight the Mage. Which very damn well limited their options this time. Ethan had no idea if the same rules applied here.
The Mage regarded the young Sorian for a moment ,already planning on how best to destroy them. Young Sorian was an amusing one. He had all the courage, talent and moral standard of his ancestors. The more The Mage saw him, the more he was reminded of his old friend, from ages past...
"I have a different idea." The Mage said. Ethan paused. He had been just about to attack with a spell, figuring there was nothing for it.
"What?"
"It pains me to even consider it, but given the situation, I fear I must. I seek your help."
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Post by Monika on May 22, 2011 2:39:56 GMT -5
((PLOT TWIST OH SHI-))
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Post by Damien on May 22, 2011 11:51:55 GMT -5
((Should I be worried?))
Izaak looked at Adden. "Like I told Mr. Almighty-pants over there, the name's Izaak," he said, "so STOP CALLING ME NEWCOMER! This isn't Super Smash Bros. Also, why does most everyone seem tired all of a sudden? It's like him just being here is oppressive. He seems like every other normal person I've ever met...minus the ability to teleport...super-strength...and the ability to make me sink into asphalt like it was quicksand...."
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Post by Monika on May 22, 2011 14:07:55 GMT -5
Jin lowered the barrier slightly, his eyes still on the Mage and his hands still channeling magic into his necklace. If ever I had a reason to shout 'IT'S A TRAP'...
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