CLOSED

[Rarek]

((Alright then. I edited so she's on her way, but not arrived yet so as not to interfere with Chico's post. She'll rejoin the fight if I get the chance in the next while.))

[Fortune86]

The sword that Maria was tugging on began to tremble. The vibrations grew faster and faster as though the entire arm was having some kind of spasm and then suddenly it split into two. Both arms had the size and strength of the original, although only one held the sword. The other arm followed suit, ripping apart and forming two arms, leaving the monster with a total of four.

 

The sword hammering at Kanya's barrier continued to do so, but its twin reached round to grab at Andromeda and her bird. The hand was so big it could hold the energy being like a canary.

 

Meanwhile, as the arm with the sword wrapped in water continued to struggle to break its weapon free, the final arm reached down to pluck Maria from the ground.

 

~~~

 

Zygard chuckled as Andromeda gave up and flew back to resume the fight. The girl was foolish, but determined. She made for an interesting spectacle.

Edited January 10, 2014 by Fortune86

[Chicogal]

Maria yelled as she was picked up. One arm was straightened toward the water pulling on the sword; if she let that go, then it could swipe her. Instead, she created water with the other hand, and five twirls of water viciously swirled underneath its fingernails, slowly, torturously, funnelling underneath. There was also a small twirl of water beneath her, intended for catching.

 

((Heard that was a form of torture. ))

[Fortune86]

As a creature of death the monster could not feel pain, but the water did start to erode away at the monster's hand. However instead of dropping Maria the arm holding her began to shake and once again split into two. One hand was under attack from the water surges but the other held Maria herself. The hand with the girl began to squeeze.

 

((@ Chico: It is not the monsters intention to kill Maria, just knock her out. I'd like at least one of your characters to make it to 'the next event'.))

[Chicogal]

((Is this alright?))

 

Maria felt the grip grow tighter, constricting her lungs. She... Couldn't... Breath... Desperate, she resorted to something she would usually consider cowardly: falling limp, she played dead. Maybe this would be convincing enough to slacken the grip. All the water had fallen to the floor, but had slowly started to gather together by a small movement of her finger.

[Rarek]

Andromeda screamed as she was plucked from the air. Her swerve she performed was too late, and only succeeded in orienting her bird such that it was crushed into oblivion by the massive hand, falling apart in a thunderclap. Andromeda herself was spent, her reserves of energy gone into her now destroyed bird and attempt to fry Zygard's glass, not to mention the immense energy it took to heal herself to the point where she could even function halfway normally.

 

She struggled, her arms and legs pinned, trying to ignite some sort of spark in her hands to knock away the monster. It was holding her so tightly, there wasn't enough space for her to do anything, nor the oxygen required for electrical charge to take place. She struggled further, her still glowing eyes gradually fading until they reached their inactive state. That was it. Nothing more she could give.

 

Andromeda slumped weakly in the grip of the being, forcing herself to stay awake. She felt hot blood running down her leg as her eggshell thin repaired skin reopened beneath the monster's hand. Dizziness set in.

 

Is this how it ends? It can't be. Andromeda decided right then and there that she would give up resisting the monster at that moment. She would conserve energy for when she needed it most.

[Fortune86]

With two of the three girls in its grasp the monster turned its attention to the third. The water that had tangled its self around the second blade fell away, allowing the weapon to be used freely again, so the monster began to use it to pound away at Kanya's barrier along with the first.

 

With both swords being used to relentlessy strike at the barrier it would only be a matter of time before it failed. The fifth partially damaged arm waved about aimlessly, being at the wrong angle to join in on the assault.

[DragonSpirit009]

Kanya desperately tried her best to strengthen her barrier but with each blow more and more cracks started to form on the dome. She didn’t know what to do nor was she sure how to survive this current situation, but all she know was is that she needed to get as far back as possible with in her barrier.

 

Knowing she wouldn’t last much longer Kanya covered her face with her arms waiting for the blow. When the swords struck again the barrier shattered like glass sending Kanya flying backwards away from the descending sword. She didn’t expect the air to push her in such a hurtful way which caused her to be slightly winded. Even thou she was a good distance away the monster young girl had a hard time getting up from the ground which didn’t help as they monster was closing in.

[Fortune86]

When Kanya went flying backwards after her barrier shattered she actually flew out of range of her attack. The monster roared in frustration and used its swords to try and reach her, but to no avail.

 

With little other option the monster straightened itself up and began to shake all over. The spare arm that had been waving aimlessy around was sucked back into the monster's shoulder, but seconds later it reappeared, bursting out of the monster's stomach and heading straight at the fallen Kanya.

[DragonSpirit009]

Kanya finally got to her feet and was ready to run for her life when something grabbed around her waist. Looking down she noticed it was black and it could only mean that the monster had grabbed her. Kicking and punching the hand she tried her best to escape it but the grip was just to tight. Slowly it started pulling her closer towards the monster. Kanya was so afraid of what might happen now she completely forgot what powers she even had.

[Fortune86]

Now that the monster had all three girls in its grip it began to pull the arms back into its body. One after the other Kanya, Maria and Andromeda vanished into the dark red flesh and were consumed by darkness. It would be easy enough to hold them all prisoner there and let them suffocate, but that would not be necessary. The fight was over.

 

The giant gave a final roar and thick plumes of black smoke enveloped it. The dark ripples on the groud faded away and when the smoke cleared the monster was gone, leaving the only the girls on the floor.

 

Eli fell to his knees, panting hard at the ground. Even though he had created several Echoes before this one had been the biggest he had ever done. Preventing it from following its urges to simply slaughter everything in its path had been too hard. He had failed Alia.

 

With his whole body trembling with exhaustion Eli wondered if he might be sick when a hand was laid on his shoulder. Looking up he saw his father.

 

"Well done Eli" smiled the vampire. "You've done us all proud."

 

Eli allowed Zygard to help him to his feet. He realised that the barrier that had been protecting him from direct harm had gone. It had moved to form a wall across the arena that separated him and his father from Kanya, Maria and Andromeda. It seemed the Sorceress wasn't taking any chances.

 

Looking up over the arena wall Eli saw her standing in the observational box. She smiled and nodded in his direction, before indicating towards a door she had created on his side of the new barrier.

 

With his father holding his shaking arm Eli allowed himself to be steered towards the new door. Behind him he could hear the double arena doors start to grind open for the others, but he dare not look back and see if they were walking out or not.

 

((Can I ask that instead of heading straight to your rooms, you go to the common room first? August wants a word o3o))

[Chicogal]

Maria coughed in the smoke, already hauling herself up to her feet. That had been... Something. And yet, she was not dead. That was something to be proud of. She watched the two head out of the door, and then, turning her back on the others, she slowly walked out of the arena. She went to the common room, and immediately dropped into a chair, exhausted. There was only herself to worry about. she needed to conserve as much energy as possible, just in case.

[Rarek]

Andromeda realized her error as she was sucked into the monster. Her mind was frantic, and she considered ending her own life with her powers to potentially save the others, but it turned out not to be necessary.

 

She suddenly fell to the arena floor, eyes wide and gasping for air as the monster vanished. Her wounds she had hurriedly stitched up where the blade had sliced were open again, blood flowing a little less strongly than before, but still spilling substantially. She couldn't heal herself again in this state, no chance in hell.

 

The only things that registered for the dizzied Andromeda were the vampire Zygard standing next to Eli, and the sound of the arena doors. She spent her efforts on the doors, barely managing to stand and limping to them. A trail of blood followed her as she dragged herself in. She nearly collapsed as her powers disappeared, but she gritted her teeth and pushed through.

 

For some reason she went all the way to the common room without even thinking. She supposed the chairs were more comfortable. Andromeda flopped into a chair, half spitefully getting blood on it intentionally. She just wanted to rest after being humiliated in there.

[DragonSpirit009]

Kanya froze as the monster pulled her in to its darkness. She felt sick and couldn’t breathe but just as she was pulled in she fell to the ground. Was she dead she thought to herself but when she opened her eyes she could see two figures walking away. Confused she pushed herself of the ground, standing wobbly feeling as if she might throw up any minute.

She heard the gates open and without thinking twice she darted out of the arena towards the bathroom. Her throat was sore from the smoke she had inhaled and her stomach twisted but still nothing came out. Kanya then decided to drink a bit of water and luckily she was starting to feel a bit better. Just as she finished rinsing her face Kanya stepped out of the bathroom noticing that both Andromeda and Maria was there.

[Fortune86]

After the three girls had left the arena the double doors began to swing close behind them. When they were finally shut another door opened, the one into the solitary roon, and August stepped out. Looking around at the three exhausted fighters before him and crossed his arms.

 

"You did well today" he said approvingly. "I did not expect so many of you to survive. Selecting you for the experiment was a wise choice indeed. However, the games are at an end now. I am here to present you all with a choice."

[DragonSpirit009]

Kanya was slightly startled when August appeared telling them they had done well. It didn’t feel like her is she had done well. She was feeling sick for what she had done these past days and the man told them they had a choice. What kind of choice? They didn’t get any before. There was something more to it.

 

“What kind of choice?”

Edited January 16, 2014 by DragonSpirit009

[Rarek]

Andromeda let out an audible groan of displeasure seeing August. She was still bleeding quite a bit, a puddle already in a very small circle around her feet. Her once white garment was stained crimson and covered in dirt. Her hair, which had come in clean and neatly placed was now loose and disheveled, dirty and matted.

 

She glared at August for a minute, then decided he wasn't worth the trouble, leaning back again and waiting for him to answer Kanya's question.

[Fortune86]

"A simple one" replied August with nonchalance. "You have the option of surrendering your freedom and joining the ranks of my master's forces, or death."

 

He looked at each of the three girls in turn.

 

"My master has been at peace for these last fifteen years, but now he feels quite ready to return his attentions to the rest of the world. Regrettably, many of those that served him are no longer up to the task, so he is in need of fresh warriors. If you elect to serve him you will do so for the rest of your lives, under supervision of course. Decide against this and you will be summarily executed."

 

"I understand that you may wish to consider your options, which is why I will return for your answers at dawn tomorrow. I will leave you to your deliberations, unless you have any questions? I woudl advise you all to consider this most carefully."

[Rarek]

Andromeda nearly fell out of her chair. Join Zygard's forces! Was this man really considering anyone would agree to this after all they had been put through? This man must be joking.

 

But the more she thought about it, she considered that there really wasn't much other choice. You can't escape when you're dead, no matter how hard you try.

 

Andromeda made the effort to stand, even using her mangled arm to do it. She stared August directly in the eyes, letting him know that given the third option to go home, she would take it.

 

"You need not wait til dawn. I choose to join Zygard's army."

[Fortune86]

August chuckled.

 

"I'm glad you feel that way...now. But the rest of your life is a long time. I'll come back at dawn, if you still wish to join us, then I will take you aside."

 

He looked at the other two.

 

"Dawn. No later."

 

With that he turned and left, closing the door behind him.

[Chicogal]

Maria stared into space, considering her two options. And she was just about sure of what her choice was going to be. She wouldn't like to be in Zygard's army, but she did not want to die either. Being in the army might also result in her being more powerful, perhaps one day being able to break free. But killing... Was she really a killer?

[Fortune86]

((Does anyone else want to make a post or should I skip forward to night time?))

[Chicogal]

((Night time is good ))

[Rarek]

((I concur ))

[DragonSpirit009]

Kanya couldn’t believe what she was hearing. This vampire man wanted them to join his army or something. It was crazy. Kanya could feel a fight within her starting to build but just as August left so did she. Returning to her room she fell on to the little bed, thinking on the options. It wasn’t long until she passed out of exhaustion.