Corruption's Advent, Lock down: Category 1

[Johnathan]

(OOC: The events of this thread are considered to take place after all currently in progress threads. Everyone is encouraged to participate in this event, although not necessarily within this thread itself. Details will be given in an announcement: here.)

In a reinforced room with no windows, one door, and a solitary security camera, a lone figure pounded on a steel door, knuckles bleeding after hours of the act.

"Help me. Let me out. What about my family?"

The man sobbed, all strength gone. Collapsing against the door he knocked weakly, his remaining strength dwindling.

No one would come to the door.

No one would let him out.

His family would die.

He would die.

"I'll do anything, please. I just want to save my family."

Static disrupts the camera feed and the large skyscraper completely looses power.

A female voice pierces the darkness and despair of the confinement cell.

"Anything?"



*****4:30 PM District 2 - Allar Military-Industrial Savale H.Q.*****

The streets of District 2 were abuzz with activity. Thousands of people were in the process of commuting, heading home from a busy day in the financial district. It seemed like any other day; warm with a clear blue sky, the sun beginning it's slow arc to recess.

And then the city shook.

With a thunderous explosion, every glass window in the massive Allar skyscraper burst, showering deadly shards of glass as far as the streets of District 5. The screams of panicked and confused citizens began immediately, only to be overwhelmed by the sudden hum of the city's automatic defenses. Countless small barriers and bursts of magical energy reacted automatically, wiping the glass from existence, and saving untold lives in the streets below. The situation within Allar Military-Industrial, was far more bleak.

Blood soaked the carpets, and smoke billowed from many of the massive sky scraper's floors. Amidst the destruction, there were no screams, nor please for help or mercy. Every life in the enormous building was taken in an instant, with one fatal blast. A dark and undulating creature of blackness and gray made its way to the windows, glaring down on the helpless citizens who gazed up at its handiwork in terror. With a minor exertion, it leapt from the building, trajectory aimed straight for the center of the busy street. Upon its impact with the ground, every human in sight evaporated into a black mist. With an unnatural growl, the mist was pulled towards the creature, swirling and coalescing to join with it.

Turning to the buildings lining the street opposite to Allar, it raised a twisted and deformed hand, as a massive surge of foreign energy built in it's palm. The screams of the terrified people within the buildings were unheard by the creature, the reinforced glass blocking all sound.

A chain swung down from above, tearing up the concrete in the arc of its path and winding firmly around the creature's raised arm. A figured cloaked in black landed in the street behind the creature, pulling on the chain forcing its arm towards the sky. The next moment a massive beam a foreign energy echoed out, making no sound and seemingly drawing the light to it, causing the city to darken momentarily. Overhead, the city's standard barrier and wards dissolved away like paper to a flame.

The creature gave a roar in sheer fury, as its attack was redirected. With incredible strength it pulled on the chains. The figure attached to them was flung in an incredibly swift arc, the whipping motion causing him to reach speed of Mach 10. Upon impact with the ground, the shock wave shattered the window of every structure on the street.

The chain was ripped away from the creature's arm, as within the impact crater Erebus rose to his feet. Wasting no time, he made it so that his voice would be heard over the city's entirety.

"Emergency lock down, Category 1! All maximum level defenses engaged. All lifeforms are to proceed to their designated evacuation points and await further instructions. This is not a drill. A possible Category 0 disaster is in progress. Prepare to abandon the city!"

Erebus tore away the bandages still covering his chest, as the powerful magical barriers surged into existence around every structure and major thoroughfare in the city. Eyes locked with those of the creature standing before him, Erebus spoke again, this time only directing his thoughts to the Academy's teachers and high level personnel.

Humanoid Corrupted shell confirmed within city limits. Level IX minimum threshold. Ensure restriction of student movements at once. I hope these barriers are as good as you claim Master.

In an instant, the Corrupted crossed the distance between them, lashing out with a claw that surged with malevolent energy. Erebus was able to get his enchained arms up in time to meet the strike, and was sent flying backwards at immense speed. The shadows pooled together in a fraction of a second in front of the large transport station in Erebus's path of trajectory. Twisting himself around, Erebus slammed into them feet first, wincing at the enormous impact. Crossing his arms Erebus grabbed hold of the chains covering them with both hands, before tearing them apart.

"Shatter!"

As the chains dissolved, a massive torrent of black energy arced to the sky. Black clouds formed immediately, blocking out the sunlight for miles in every direction. The creature vanished, charging forward with another blind attack. It's strike was stopped without leeway by Erebus's waiting hand, causing a massive impact wave to emanate out from their position.

Erebus's arms and torso were covered with the constantly surging black lightning. It cracked out wildly around him as if begging to be allowed to flow freely. His legs, and left hand which held the creature's own hand firmly, were surrounded by a malicious black flame. Anything that touched it was consumed in it's entirety, never to be seen again.

Erebus regarded the creatures resilience at withstanding direct contact with the void fire for only a moment, before drawing his sword in an instantaneous strike. The creature vanished, reappearing 100 yards away. To it's left, the metal of the Allar sky scraper shrieked in protest as it ground against itself. The entire top section of the structure began to slide off it's base towards the creature in the street below, following the arc of Erebus's draw.

The two regarded each other for only a moment, before exploding into violent and untraceable combat.

[Johnathan]

*****5:00 PM - 30 minutes after first contact*****

District 2 looked like it had been abandoned for decades. There was not a living thing in sight, and a large portion of the buildings were destroyed, or structurally unsound. It seemed the city's strongest barriers could not contain the might of the battle.

Erebus flashed into view, loosing his footing and sliding along a crumbled street that was piled with rubble. There was a violent slam above him, as the creature caught up. Ten putrid spears came forth from its back and faster than the eye could follow, lashed out at him. Erebus blinked forwards a short distance, narrowly avoiding strike. Rotating swiftly on the spot, Erebus drew his sword and with a flash of black energy severed the spears of corruption. A black flame took hold at the severed ends, and with a hand gesture from Erebus, it began to rapidly consume the foreign appendages in a race towards the creature. Howling with an unnatural roar, the Corrupted twisted on the spot, severing the link between him and the spears before the deadly black flame could reach him. It was all the distraction Erebus needed.

"All of creation is within my grasp!" Erebus shouted as he replaced his katana in its sheath, dropping into a low drawing stance. "Infinity Step:" Time and space warped around the two, and without moving Erebus appeared directly behind the creature. "Zero Point Strike!" Erebus's blade, surrounded by his malevolent energy tore through the creature and leveled the city behind him. In an instant three of the broken and battered blocks of District 2 were consumed by black flames.

With a flicker, Erebus vanished, putting some distance between himself and the Corrupted. Reappearing on the top of one of the few sky scrapers still standing in District 2, he breathed heavily, watching the creature sow itself back together with corruption, throwing away any part of itself that had been touched by the void fire. Taking what little rest he could, Erebus surveyed the city. The picture he saw was bleak.

It seemed that the city's emergency defenses could do little to stave off the force of corruption. If he did not take action , he had little doubt that it would be overwhelmed. Raising his hand to the sky a complex seal formed. Compounding on itself upward, it grew larger and spread in a cone until the entire city was overshadowed by its might.

"Reveal to my eyes the light that hides within. Selection of the Resonant Soul." In a blinding flash, the seal descended over the city. Any living being it passed through that was not inflicted with the Corrupted's curse was marked with a glowing eight point star.

Keeping his hand in the air, Erebus focused, exerting his energy on the space around him. A massive torrent of black lightning struck into the sky from his hand, saturating the cloud cover with the power of the void. Then, pausing for only a moment, Erebus swung his arm towards the ground as if it were a blade.

The city was consumed by his might. Black lightning struck with the frequency of rain. Anything affected by the corruption was cast into Oblivion by the strikes. Only those marked with the eight point star were spared from the onslaught. The force of the attack shattered the city's defenses entirely, but Erebus's hands were tied. Preventing the spread of the corrupted took priority; he would simply have to have faith in the ability of the citizens to survive.

The corrupted that were struck either vanished on the spot, or burned away in the black flames of the void. With a violent roar, the primary Corrupted finished putting itself back together, and Erebus knew his efforts would not be enough. The miasma continued to spread it's corruption once again. He calculated his odds.

I can spare the energy to cleanse the city five more times. If I'm unable to kill this thing by then...

Erebus snapped his fingers and beneath the massive city, a seal spread, encircling and encasing it. Overhead, the dark clouds began to rotate around a central point above the city.

I'll be forced to purge the city.

[Johnathan]

A small girl in a black dress ran quickly towards the border of District 2. Her long blonde hair fluttered behind her as she moved quickly, ignoring the creatures around. None of them were able to get within twenty meters of her without disintegrating. Reaching a building that still stood near the edge of District 2, Eirika slowed and pressed herself up to the wall. She peered warily around the corner, searching for the battle that could be heard across the city. Veronica phased into existence behind her. She snapped her fan open, using it to hide the bottom half of her face. She looked behind them and called out.

"You'd better hurry or you'll end up like the rest of these unfortunate souls." She cackled teasingly as she waited for Luca to catch up. "Of course, I wouldn't care under most circumstances, but since Master Erebus has requested your assistance, here I am being forced to keep you alive." Veronica placed the back of her free hand to her forehead and feigned dizziness. "Oh woe is me. This day could not get any worse."

[Horo]

Luca smacked a corrupted telephone pole away with a bow staff as he caught up with the duo. ”I wouldn’t be in such bad shape if you would end your silly games. I don’t enjoy having my skin burned off every time you suspect I have been touched by corrupted. I’m only It~ GAHHH!!!!! Damn it woman! That hurts!” Luca nearly collapsed onto the stone pavement as another small portion of his skill was forcibly removed in a small green flame. Luca slammed his staff into the ground to catch himself, noticing another corrupted, a large stone rollin towards him. He planted himself into a very wide stance, dropped down and struck the stone like a billiard ball. The force of the stone broke the staff forcing Luca to flip over it in a last ditch effort to evade being crushed. His hand touched the stone and read it. ”GAHHH!!!!!!!”

Luca landed in a fetal position on the ground. He slowly pushed himself back onto his feet and hobbled over to his companions. ”Still nothing good. Does burning the skin off even prevent the spread? Or are you just getting a kick out of it?” Luca took a moment to lay against the wall and catch his breath. He sorted through the data he had gathered, but none of it was good enough. He couldn’t access the minds of the creatures... He sadly needed to get to the source to discover anything.

With a deep breath Luca peeled himself from the wall. ”Alright, I’ve had my rest. Let us continue on.”

[Johnathan]

Veronica shrugged and turned away as the boulder dissolved into a fine mist.

"Who knows, but it certainly couldn't hurt." Veronica chuckled softly as she pulled Luca in under her arm and ruffled his hair with her free hand. "If you would stay close to me, we wouldn't be having this problem. But please don't worry, if you happen to turn into a corrupted I'll give you a quick death." Eirika spun to face the two, arms crossed and her face creased with an unhappy frown.

"We can't afford to be fighting right now. Veronica stop teasing Luca, he's the only one who can do this. If he dies we'll be out of luck." Veronica squealed and pulled Eirika into a tight hug.

"O~oh! You're so cute when your mad!" Eirika groaned as Veronica swept her into her arms and spun around to face Luca. "Look at this cute wittle face!" Veronica began rubbing her cheek with Eirika's. "You must be so jealous that you can't do this yourself." Veronica's smile grew a shade darker as she leaned in close to Luca. "Would you like to try for yourself?"

Suddenly, Veronica's expression turned fearful. In one swift motion she yanked Luca under her free arm and vanished in a wispy black mist. They reappeared two hundred meters away on top of a medium sized building.

There was a thunderous crash as the building they were hiding behind fell into little pieces. Something flew through to the other side and collided with the ground, and another shape rocketed after it.

Erebus flipped out of the small crater his body formed in the ground just as the corrupted smashed into it. Planting his left foot back, his thrust his right palm forwards as the corrupted charged. His palm slammed into the corrupted's midsection and stopped it's inertia entirely, as an arcane seal spread across it's chest. Erebus rotated his palm a half turn and the massive amount of magical energy within the seal was all released at once. The blast was entirely focused out from the center of Erebus's palm. The force of it liquefied the stone beneath Erebus's feet and threw the creature clear across district two. There was a crack of displaced air as Erebus vanished on the spot and appeared in front of the group.

"Allar Military-Industrial." Erebus's voice was inhuman, and his figure was entirely cloaked by shadow and black fire. His presence seemed to drain all energy from their surroundings. "That is where the creature originated from. I need it's original human identity." Erebus spun around as a massive amount of black lightning coalesced into his sword at one time. He drew his sword at the same instant the creature appeared in front of him. Veronica dropped to her knees clutching Eirika and Luca to her chest, keeping her back to Erebus. A torrent of shadow rose from beneath and surrounded them. There was a horrendously loud, low pitch tone and the building vibrated slightly beneath them. As it faded, Erebus could be heard again. "With that, I can end this once and for all. Be quick, and we may still save this city."

The shroud of darkness dropped from around them. Erebus was nowhere to be seen. Half of the building they were on was nowhere to be seen as well. In fact, three city blocks behind Veronica had simply vanished and in their spot was a pitch black scar on the surface of the city. Eirika's breath caught in her throat as she peered over Veronica's shoulder.

"Whoa."

[Horo]

”Alright then, I’ll stay closer to you, But you must promise never to bring me under your smelly armpit again. I’ll sadly never forget this moment, but I certainly would not like to live it again.” Luca pulled away from Veronica as Erika began to scold the two of them. ”Your wisdom is beyond your years Erika. Let us be moving then.” Luca took a step forward as Veronica began her attack upon Erika. He sighed and waited as she teased more and more ”No Veronica. I’m not a pedophile and would not enjoy harassing the princess like that.” Luca turned his back to them and said playfully. ”I have patience, I don’t mind waiting until she is older.”

Luca felt an arm wrap around his neck and pull him backwards, he supposed he was about to be reprimanded for his comment, but soon they were away from that spot. He twisted his neck around and gazed upon the massive beast Erebus was in combat with.

. . .

Luca nodded and stared into Veronica’s eyes. ”There is no more time for games, teleport us there now. I need to focus...” Luca closed his eyes and began scanning through all of his memories. There was a spell he was looking for, taken once from Soleth after he had merged with a spell master named Tsuo. He located it and brought it to the front of his mind. ”In the name of those who came before. In the name of those who are now gone, bring unto me what once was yours, and give me hold of what now is mine, so I may control was will exist forever.” Luca began repeating the spell over and over, until he had said it 100 times. ”Collective minds all as one, share our fate when this time begun.”

The spell was a duplication spell that would split his body 100 times once he said the word ‘begin’

[Johnathan]

Veronica smiled slightly.

“Getting cheeky now are we?” Leaving her comment as is, the group became enveloped by shadows once again and was transported part way across District 2. As the darkness faded, they stood before the ruins of a once massive skyscraper. The once proud Allar building had been cut clean in two; its top half crushing a sizeable portion of the smaller structures in the District. The lower half showed clear signs of a great tragedy, and was a veritable monument to disaster and loss of life.

Eirika swooned, clutching at her head and tipping into Veronica. The woman clothed in black caught the girl gently and lifted her into her arms once again. The young girl shook her head slightly as she struggled to remain focused.

“This is definitely the place.” She commented distractedly. “I can see,” Pausing, Eirika shuddered violently. Veronica rubbed her head affectionately and covered her eyes.

“Just rest dear. We can just leave all of the hard work to our convenient friend here.” A thunderous explosion shook the District once again and Veronica did her best to remain completely calm for Eirika’s sake. Smiling to Luca, she gave him a reaffirming nod. “I’d rather not subject the little princess to this place any longer than necessary. If you’d please.”

Luca cracked his neck and fingers, looking at the building. “Leave it to me. I learned this spell from Alvion. Muscles!” Luca’s muscles grew rapidly for an instant before returning to their original size. The wind blew softly through the ruined city as the red haired boy took in a deep breath.

“BEGIN!”

Luca’s body glowed faintly as a magical circle appeared around his feet and spread out in a ten foot diameter. Soon, Luca copies were rising out of the ground and making their way into the building. “Veronica, I will be vulnerable while doing this. Keep the princess and I safe.”

“If I must.” Veronica replied with fake exacerbation.

“I’m sure you will. I’ll give you a kiss afterwards for a reward, but only if you do a good job.” Luca replied with a suave smile.

“Oh goodie, I can’t wait.”
Luca closed his eyes as the clones began patrolling the building.

//--Memory
Millions of images, sounds, smells, taste and pressures assaulted his body as the employees scurried through the building in their daily routines. Everything was like it had always been, but the illusion of safety was broken as the destruction began.
//--End Memory

Luca sent the clones out in separate directions.

Walking around, they touched every rock, tile, and scrape of civilization they encountered. Many of memories from living beings were retained in dead skin cells that they encountered. The clones began to follow the path of destruction up the floors of the building and down into the basements.

One clone came across a military General who had been visiting that day. It followed his paths and recovered scrapes of his old computer. It was the motherboard, rather intact but the HDD was nowhere to be found. Another clone worked up to the top floor, finding nothing that would be of use to the current situation, but plenty of government scandals. It tripped and fell from the top, crashing into a loose rock and opening a passage into a large crater that a majority of the building had fallen into.

Decided the crater would be of importance, Luca sent a team of 10 clones to investigate, they worked down around 20 stories of rubble before coming to a room oozing with corrupted energies. They pressed in and avoided what they could.

The room was small, square and made of atomic crystal Carbon lattices stacked one on top of the other until an inch thick. They touched the remnant of the camera and took note of a single man sitting in the room. Another made it’s way over to the chair, but upon touching it was vaporized.

Luca shook. “I think I have found the place of origin. All clones report priority levels of data.” Luca closed his mouth tight and sent another three clones down the hole to investigate the area surrounding the room. Pushing rocks and stones to the side they discovered another room, it was a file room. They began scanning the files. Sex offenders, war merchants, dicatorts, simple housewives, salesmen, teachers, serial killers, taxi cab drivers, lawyers, doctors, politicians. The people present didn’t make any coherent sense. The clones found the remains of the table that had been in the room. Upon it was the skin of the man who had turned.

//--Memory from interrogation room

The room was cold, his breath was present in the air. He shook with agitation or fear. The men before him are cruel, he pleads but they don’t relax their methods. “Terrorist” they call him but he always protest. They claim his family has been seized. HIs tears are uncontrollable as he pleads. They slam his head into the table. Demand he talks.
//--Memory from the file room
“He doesn’t seem to be giving into it. Maybe he wasn't’ the one we were looking for.” A tall black man in a black suit suggest. His face is flustered, his eyes cry ‘I didn’t sign up for this.’
“No he is the one. All the signs point to him. The sickness, the deformation on his lower back. The mixture must have gone to him. It is possible though that he doesn’t realize it.” the next man was short and stocky, his body was covered in tan fur and his mane surrounded his feline face.“He has our design for Pandora’s box and we want it back.”
“So are we just going to kill him and get it from his blood? Like the others?”
“Dean... I’m sorry, but I don’t think you are cut out for this position. I’m going to have you relocated starting tomorrow.”
“Where will I be going sir?”
Dean, the tall black man dropped to the ground, clutching his neck as the red liquid began to trickle out of his throat.
“The grave my dear boy. We can’t have you ruining how things have gone so far.”
//--Memory from the interrogation room
The door opened as the Lion Man from the file room entered. The suits already in the room stood at attention. “There is a mess in the next room. Clean it up.” The men nodded and rushed off, closing the door behind them.

“Please, I haven’t done anything. Let me go, let my family go! We are not terrorist!”

The Lion looked at him, disgusted. “We will let you family go soon. It seems that they indeed were not terrorist, but sadly our man performing the investigation got a little excited and told them something he shouldn’t have. So while they will be let go, I don’t think you will really want to be going with them. The sharks this time of year... Well all the food has migrated, so they are rather hungry.”

“No! You, you can’t do this! We are innocent!”

The Lion roared with laughter. “My boy... No one is innocent. They will be dead by tomorrow and they you will join them. If you are the terrorist you will try to save them with your power... But they will still die. If you are not, then they will die but you will have not tried to save them. You will then live out your short life alone and in shame.”

//--Memory from the File room
The Lion left the room and returned to the file room as the man fell against the wall. Dean was cleaned up and moved away. Another suit approached the Lion as he watched through the two way mirror. The man had fallen to the floor, slumped against the wall crying. “Sir, do you really think he has the serum in him? Wouldn’t he have used the powers already?”

The Lion laughed “The serum is nothing more than a liquid. It would have to be absorbed into the bloodstream and then incubated for a few weeks. He has a few days before he gains the regenerative powers and strength it provides. Anger and need we have found speed up the process. If he indeed does have it, we can coax the abilities out. All other subjects we have found gained a darker look in their eyes but none have grown more the 100 times more powerful in terms of physical strength with regeneration that can be canceled in a radiation field. IF he awakens we will kill him. If he does not, we will kill-”

Luca’s eyes flew open as the memory stopped. The people after that moment were vaporized. “Erebus, I found him. His name was Brian Taylor!”



Erebus’s pace did not falter as he heard Luca speak the name. He allowed himself a slight smile as he deflected a piercing strike from the creature over his left shoulder with his blade and followed up by cutting the Corrupted in half.

”Humanity, mortality, emotion; I cast these things aside to blur the line between this world and the next.” The black lightning began to strike Erebus from the sky with intense frequency. An outstandingly complex magical seal spread out above and beneath him as the entire city shook. ”Naraka, Diyu, Tartaros, Niflheim, Yomi, Gehenna, Duzakh, Kasanaan, Ansharad; From you all things are born, and to you they inevitably return. Hear the command of your master, I call you forth.”

With one final burst of dark energy, the clouds that had been spiraling above the city blew apart, revealing not the sky, but a massive gate. It’s surface was covered with all manner of arcane inscription and seal, as well as with the visage of many an eldritch horror. Erebus had become shrouded by a cloak of pure darkness. It flowed from his head down to the street beneath him without motion, like the smoothest silk on a day without wind. Behind him stood a skeletal figure in a similar cloak, twice his height. In its right hand was and ornate and beautiful black scythe. In it’s left hand was a massive and ancient tome.

Finished with sowing itself together for at least the hundredth time, once again the corrupted charged. Erebus simply gestured with his hand and millions of ethereal arms burst forth from the ground all over the city. They latched on to any and every being that could be considered as living, and forced them to their knees. Not even the corrupted could be free of their eternal grasp.

”Bound to this world you are, as all things, by a thread of existence, a chain of fate. Through the invocation of Samael’s law I call that which should not be to the material world.” The skeletal figure behind Erebus slammed the end of its scythe on the ground a single time. Over the city’s entirety, millions of ornate chains, just like the ones Erebus wore shimmered into view. They extended forth from every entity, no matter how big or small, living or deceased. They spiraled and wove together seamlessly creating an awe inspiring tapestry that extended all the way to the gate itself.


”He who is known in the mortal tongue as Brian Taylor, reveal thine thread to me.” The skeletal figured raised the ancient tome, and through some unseen force, it opened. It’s pages were turned rapidly by the same force, coming to a stop on a page that hissed with a foul smoke. A single chain from the massive tapestry fell down into Erebus’s waiting hand. Its appearance was very different than that of the rest. It seemed to be plagued by rust and decay, and it’s links were so thin it was as if they would fall apart at any moment.

”You who have been judged a danger to this world; your soul will be offered no reprieve. I sentence you to be erased from the annals of time henceforth and forever.” Erebus’s hand closed around the corrupted chain. In one motion and without another word, he crushed it in his hand. The chain dissolved away into nothingness and the creature released an unworldly shriek. From the center of its being, came forth the black flames of Oblivion. With a howl, it thrashed against the ethereal arms which bound it, all to no avail. The flame which consumes all slowly spread erasing all that it touched. After not more than a minute, the flame had burned out; no remnants of the creature to be found.

”So it is written. So it shall be.”

Behind Erebus, the ancient tome slammed shut, and when it closed, the chains, the gate, the ethereal hands, the skeletal figure, and Erebus’s robes vanished all at once. Overhead there was a flash of lightning from the dark storm clouds, as the first of the rain began to fall. The influence from Erebus’s power was gone, and only a normal lightning storm remained. Across the city, all corrupted entities dissolved away. With the source of corrupted erased from existence itself, nothing remained to sustain them, and so they faded.

In the ruined streets of District 2, Erebus fell to his knees as the rain soaked the earth around him. His chains were once again loosely wrapped around his arms and legs. He clutched his own body as he doubled over, screaming in agony. The stress on his human body as of late had finally caught up with him. Crumpled in a heap on the muddy ground and unable to think through the pain, let alone move, he attempted to stifle his cries as the rain poured down around him.

[Horo]

Luca took a deep breath and fell backwards onto his rear. His clones had watched from many angles how Erebus had conquered Brian Taylor in a matter of seconds once he had only a name. The data flowed into his brain and was stored into the correct folders and positions within his mental file system.

”Time End”

Luca’s clones burst into dust and blew away with the wind as his muscles reverted back to normal. His hair provided padding as he laid down on the blood covered ground. ”Hey Veronica, I’ll trade that kiss if you’ll teleport me back to my bedroom. I’m tired.” Luca looked up at Veronica and smiled. ”You can send the Princess away with me and then be the gallant knight who saves Erebus! I’ll protect the Princess, my bedroom is a very safe place for women. “

Luca turned his neck until he could see Erika and gave her a large and kind smile. ”You wouldn’t mind spending some time with me, would you Princess?”

”I, what about-” Eirika was gazing off into the distance where Erebus had falling. Her features gave away how concerned she was. Veronica showed her an affectionate smile and set her gently down on her feet next to Luca.

”Eirika, sweety, leave Master Erebus to me for the moment. Once he’s safely back in the city and recovering you can go to see him as often as you like. Does that sound ok?” Eirika turned slightly away as she fidgeted nervously with her hands. She finally nodded in agreement. Veronica smiled and rubbed her head once again. ”Please wait back at the school with our friend Luca. I’ll come to get you once I’ve taken care of Erebus.”

The shadows rose up around Luca and Eirika and once they had dissolved, the duo had been transported to Luca’s room back at the school. As soon as they had arrived, Eirika collapsed to the floor and began to sob.

Luca smiled and sat on his bed, looking kindly at Erika. He thought for a moment and decided to force her to think of something other than her brother. ”Hey, Erika; would you like to play a little game with me?” He asked standing up and walking over to his closet and pulling the game monopoly out of a stack of games.

It took the small girl a moment to calm down enough to replay. Sniffing back the tears, she rubbed her eyes with her sleeve and nodded feebly.

Luca smiled and set the board up, giving her a strange token to play with. ”Now, in this version of Monopoly, to avoid copyright claims, we use small metal robots and purchase space stations and stars. That robot is the one I made after meeting you for the first time.” Luca chose a smaller robot that was colored with a red line down the silver. ”This one represents me. Or, that is what I tell myself.”

Luca dealt out the money and handed the dice to Erika. ”Ladies first.”

Eirika timidly took the dice in her hand and studied the board for a moment. Turning back to the dice, she rotated them in her hand for a moment until she was satisfied. Throwing them onto the board, she rolled a twelve. Moving her piece, she looked up to Luca.

”That means I can go again right?”

Luca smiled and ruffled Erika’s hair, ”Yes it does.”

Eirika once again took the dice in her hand and studied them for a moment before rotating them. Throwing them onto the board she once again rolled a perfect twelve. She moved her piece and prepared to roll again. Once more she rolled a twelve. Smiling slightly, she nodded to herself.

”Dice games are simple once you understand the principles of friction, rotation motion and probability.”

”They are, but eventually you will have to roll something else and the turn will be mine, and I will catch up... It all depends on what you purchase.” Luca lifted his arms behind his head and watched as his body learned how to roll the dice in the exact same way she did. So long as she didn’t buy everything and rob him of his money he would be fine. Even if he took a few fines he would eventually reach a piece she hadn’t bought yet. Then the tides would change.

Or so he thought.

Eirika crossed her arms and smirked smugly.

”That’s only what you think. From one glance the easiest way to win this game is clear.”

Luca smiled and pushed his hands forward and under the board. ’EXACTLY! FLIP THE BOARD!” He lifted the board slightly before setting it back down laughing. ”Just kidding. You were saying Princess?” Eirika pouted when Luca pretended to flip the board. Her frown only lasted a moment and was quickly replaced by an excited smile.

”No boy,” A seductive female voice whispered into Luca’s ear as a blade was pressed to his throat. ”You need only remove the competition.”

”Veronica? If you killed me, then you would not be able to go out for nights on the town. Who would keep the Princess company?” Luca thought for a moment. ”Actually, I might be doing the men of the town a favor if you couldn’t go to the clubs at night. I’d be a hero! Saving men everywhere from a succubus with a single moment’s worth of work.”

Luca turned his head up and showed a defiant smirk to Veronica. Veronica pretended to think for a moment.

“Well, that would be an issue; if I didn’t have a master who could reanimate your corpse. Actually, that sounds much better than the way things are now. We could get rid of that impetuous attitude of yours.”

”Oh, when you reanimate me, can I talk like a pirate all the time? I’m sure there are fewer things that would piss you off more! Actually, if you are going through the trouble you should give me some more strength to make my abilities stronger. Would help with my protection abilities.”

Luca thought for a moment, no longer knowing if he was serious about this joke or not. He pondered for a moment before letting it go. ”Well, I would annoy myself if I always talked like a pirate.”

Eirika had jumped to her feet and rushed forward to hug Veronica. The woman in black made sure to remove the blade from Luca’s neck before she was collided with.

”How is he?” Eirika asked sheepishly as she hid her face in the folds of Veronica’s dress. The dark woman rubbed the small girl’s head comfortingly.

”He’s going to be fine, but it seems like he’ll be in quite a bit of pain for awhile. He needs to rest for once. Veronica sighed heavily. ”But we all know he’ll never listen to a word Chrystaline says.” Eirika couldn’t help but giggle at that.

”We’ll have to stand guard and make sure no one bothers him, right Luca?”

Luca scratched his head with a smile. ”I think we’ll spend more time making sure he doesn’t try to get out of bed.”[/colo] Luca laughed slightly as he stood up from where had had been. He walked over to his dresser and pulled out a new shirt, quickly changing into it. ”Alright Princess, ready to go greet the hero of our tale?” Luca bowed and offered his hand to Erika, looking up slightly.

Veronica snapped open her trademark fan to hide her face.

”Well, I wish you the best of luck with that boy. Your potential death will no longer be a joke.” Eirika laughed happily before grabbing hold of Veronica’s hand with her left, and taking Luca’s hand with her right. She nodded and led the group out the door.