House of the Iron Rose

Posted By Saber on January 16, 2010

It’s winter in Innsmouth. Snow has fallen and left a thin layer of powder white substance everywhere. It is a time for many to hibernate or stay home but when the IPA finally rolls into Innsmouth, there’s not a single living creature to be seen. The houses are empty and there are no lights even as the sun fades from the sky and the town is covered in the shade of twilight. It’s strange as there were people the last time the IPA was here. And local news reports include missing persons from neighboring towns who have disappeared in this strange sheltered place within the past few days.

As the team travels through, they will not that every street has been abandoned and there are footsteps in the snow. The prints start out as shoes but gradually become something much bigger and webbed and they will lead those following towards the bay.

Appearing is the Spectacular Spider-Man, dressed in his usual Spidey suit, but with an IPA surplus winter coat on overtop. What? It’s New England, man. Spidey has the fur-lined hood pulled up in Eskimo fashion, and is currently hanging upside down above the Dagon trail. His eyes follow the snowed in trail, whistling softly to himself, before talking to his fellow comrades, over com is they arent near him.

“Hey, which world has guys with feet that turn into octopuses. …Octopi? Octo….Hey. Which world has guys with feet that turn into squids?”

Jade Belmont buffs her POW to +1.
Jade Belmont buffs her ACC to -1.
Zack Fair buffs his POW to +1.
Kamea Living Rock switches armor modes to Lunar.

The moon is curiously absent from the sky above Innsmouth. This is the time when it hides its face from the world, and some of the locals might take it as a sign that no higher power will look upon their dark deeds in the night. But others know that the moon is never truly gone.

Kamea walks along beside her comrades, wearing her usual outfit, complete with enchanted armored buffcoat; her gladius and iron knife are belted at her sides, and in her right hand she carries an ornate yet functional fishing spear that may well be some manner of family heirloom. “That doesn’t narrow it down,” the Lunar says, to Spider-Man. One would think, she reflects, that someone who styles himself after a cunning hunter would prefer more subtle garb. “But yechh. Whatever made those prints is probably the spawn of the monster we’re here to kill.”

Maria…really wants that dagger destroyed. How much does she want this dagger destroyed? Apparently enough to think that going after the elder god supplying power to the weapon should be axed as an acceptable solution. Her reasoning in this isn’t without a selfish bent since it was this weapon that killed Shane.

Love justice she might, Maria does have the occasional ulterior motive.

“Perhaps…” Maria says, her breath visible in the air, “They became murlocks.” A jest, really, as she’s already aware that the ‘sea life’ in this world is a bit different than those creatures native in that other world.

Maria’s chosen to wear some kind of light scale armor for this particular mission, eschewing her regular business casual. Today was serious enough to merit a more protective layer of clothing.
Tierine Mayhew promised she’d come along, and so she did. This is not the kind of beach she likes to visit, though – to say nothing of the circumstances surrounding it, which make her especially unhappy.

Tierine is carrying a thick-hafted spear with what looks like a crystal spike for a head. She has no armour, as usual, but she does have a large satchel on each flank of her lower body, presumably with emergency supplies in case they need it. Also on the straps are a few crystal cylinders or rods.

She looks nervous. Ti still doesn’t really think she’s ready for this kind of thing…

It’s COLD! America shivers as he wishes he had’d worn another layer, but he supposes things could be worse. He rubs his gloved hands briskly as he looks around at the snowy surroundings as he follows along after the others. He supposes he should make the best of things- although he still didn’t quite understand the contents of the report, he has the general idea (so he thinks) for the reasons they’re out here. AND SPIDER-MAN is with them! How cool is that!
…plenty cool enough, apparently. Things would have been better if the place in question hadn’t been cold.
“…murlocks?” he blinks, glancing towards Maria inquiringly.

In the realm of the dead, Jade had made a promise over her own heart (quite literally, thanks to heartbeasts) to destroy Dagon, in exchange for the release of some of Mictlan’s bones. That’s part of the reason she’s here, now.

It’s mostly for the sake of revenge, though. It’s through some fault of the bastards here that Shane had to die in the first place, and even if he was alive now…
No excuses for that.

It’s colder here than she’d expected, even for New England in winter. Under her heavy coat, Jade shivers, swinging the wrapped sword-length object she’s been dragging around up to rest against her shoulder. Somehow, she’d gotten the thought that–seeing as the guy’s related to the water–it’d be a good idea to prep for potential aquatic combat. The bow stays at home.

Her mitten-encased free hand digs into a pocket and retrieves a watch. Popping it open, the Aztlanti absently checks the time, before glancing around at the assembled. “Well, whatever happened… we’re gonna end it.”

Though she was dressed warmly enough in a royal blue, fur-trimmed coat, Saber was hardly affected by the cold. It was somewhat colder than her own native Britain, but the woollen clothing helped to combat the chill. Yet, even if it had seeped into her bones, the Servant would not have uttered a word of complaint. Not only had she endured far worse things, but it was simply not in her nature to do so. She had, after all, borne all the suffering – along with all the hopes and dreams – of her people. The King did not complain.

Instead, her attention was on the ocean: in her era, it had always heralded invaders, and so she had always seen it with a critical, careful eye. And this day was no different: there had been something beneath the murky depths of the New England waters that posed a dire threat. The King of Knights was the sort of person who harboured no reluctance in taking the fight to the enemy: fewer innocents were sacrificed by taking such action.

Only, there had already been casualties, not only of innocent villagers beyond the limits of Innsmouth, but one of their own. And though he had been restored to the Agency, a simple artefact that could wound one of his own was nothing to scoff at.

The jade eyes turned to those who had gathered for this occasion, her calm belying the situation. They would not emerge unscathed, but she would guard her Master with her very existence and end this threat. Somehow.

Her outfit’s a little different today. Sure, it’s the standard TSAB uniform, although Sakura’s also wearing a sturdier jacket over it. And atypical tights and boots for the spellcaster, conceding to the weather. It’s a shame the Midchildans advanced past the need for bodyarmor, but then again…she has Saber. And Negi, to back up the King of Knights.

Lavender eyes take in the scene of the ocean, almost tranquil aside from the complete lack of sea life. No cries of a seagull, no sounds of beachgoers, simply waves upon the beach – as if it’d been the only sound in this place for five thousand millenia.

The though causes a shiver, as she stands beside Saber.

She glances to her friend, then turns to the sea again. The sense of water bursting forth from a dam, as she circulates prana through her magic circuit. “Abfragung.” It’s a simple spell, and as her eyes close the detection magecraft opens her senses to what is out there.

Sakura turns to Maria suddenly. “Th-the whales are there. And…there’s something else, approaching.” One hand, as she says it, raises tentatively to where Bright Song and her arrow supply are stored, in the usual underarm holster.

Zack is here because he said he would be. It was a promise. These days, he doesn’t make a lot of promises– not after so many things would happen to make sure he couldn’t keep his word. It had stung every time, having to explain why he’d failed, why he hadn’t been where he should have been. But this.. It didn’t matter how much blood he’d given to seal the deal, it didn’t matter that some underworld god or whatever was going to hold him to his promise, and it didn’t even matter that Shane was as fine as can be these days– he was not going to let his friend down by forgetting or neglecting a promise he’d made from the heart.

Wouldn’t stop him from being a little late, though.

The sound of heavy combat boots hitting the snow-dusted, frozen ground marks his approach, the clumping sound growing louder as the tall, well-muscled SOLDIER approaches the IPA-enlisted group, looking just slightly embarrassed for his tardiness, but not winded from however fast he’d run to catch up. Actually, despite wearing only his standard SOLDIER uniform (no helmet, no sleeves, nothing but his usual gear), he doesn’t even seem to be that affected by the cold.

A light scattering of snow has turned his blue-black hair to a dusty grey on top, and there is even a thin layer on the hefty grip and hilt of the Buster Sword on his back and built up in other nooks and crannies of his uniform and armor which, given the fact that the snow is not falling currently, may cause one to wonder just what he was doing that could have caused his tardiness.

There may or may not be a few Blizzaga-enhanced snowmen standing a fair distance from the Gate itself, out of sight.

Negi Springfield is a well-read genius. He knows, academically, that a mission like this is suicidal to the point of outright idiocy. A force that can supply power enough to kill a god…picking a fight with it for any reason short of actual necessity is madness.

But it’s the task today, and Negi has been asked by his Partner(s) to participate, and…well, surely they have a plan.

Negi appears along with the others, dressed in the heavy winter overcoat he wears occasionally – sitting sidesaddle on his staff, as it cruises alongside the cars and motorbikes and foot traffic of others. He looks around, visibly worried. This is not going to be an easy fight. But if they should win…Evangeline seemed interested to see how he would fair, and offered him a weapon, to aid the battle.

He finds the small ring on his right hand with his thumb, worrying it thoughtfully.

<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man sniffles. “Cripes, its chilly here. What’re we doing again?”
<Fac-IPA> Kamea Living Rock says, “Killing a monster and its spawn before they kill anybody else.”
<Fac-IPA> Zack Fair says, “Keeping a promise!”
<Fac-IPA> Kamea Living Rock says, “And hey, if we’re lucky, it won’t have many subsouls.”
<Fac-IPA> America says, “Wha?”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “Monster, got it. This a, I like to kick babies kinda monster, or an eyeballs for toenails kinda monster?”
<Fac-IPA> Zack Fair cheerfully, “No clue!”
<Fac-IPA> Kamea Living Rock says, “I’m betting it’s a behemoth or something.”
<Fac-IPA> Zack Fair says, “What? No way, those are way too small!”
<Fac-IPA> Kamea Living Rock says, “Pssht.”
<Fac-IPA> Saber flatly. “A world-devouring monster.”
<Fac-IPA> Zack Fair says, “– see, that’s more like it!”
<Fac-IPA> Kamea Living Rock says, “The small ones are the size of whales.”
<Fac-IPA> Zack Fair says, “– wait.”
<Fac-IPA> Sakura Tohsaka says, “Saber’s right.”
<Fac-IPA> Ninten says, “A bee-moth would be real scary but I don’t think it would be very big.”
<Fac-IPA> Tierine Mayhew says, “…uh.”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “Well good gravy! Who’s supposed to be grabbing intel on this? …Wait, am I supposed to be grabbing intel on this? Because I didn’t get any me-world-eater, one of those.”
<Fac-IPA> Zack Fair says, “You must have some small whales where you’re from!”
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “I think it’s pretty big. This guy, not a bee-moth-thing.”
<Fac-IPA> Zack Fair says, “Anyway, size doesn’t matter, it’s how you u.. how you, uh.. take care of it. That counts.”
<Fac-IPA> Kamea Living Rock snorts.
<Fac-IPA> Ninten says, “Don’t worry, Mister Spiders Man! You’re not a world!”
<Fac-IPA> Ninten says, “So you’ll be okay!”
<Fac-IPA> Kamea Living Rock says, “What’s your name?”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “Zack? She lied, son.”
<Fac-IPA> Zack Fair says, “W-what??”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “What? I like your snowmen.”
<Fac-IPA> America slow and distracted- “Wait, whales?! Where???”
<Fac-IPA> Ninten says, “In the ocean!”
<Fac-IPA> Zack Fair says, “Oh hey, thanks!”
<Fac-IPA> Sakura Tohsaka says, “N-not real whales. Something a lot…larger. Mother Hydra, or Father Dagon.”
<Fac-IPA> Ninten says, “Whales is in the ocean.”
<Fac-IPA> Kamea Living Rock says, “Aya. You can sense them, Sakura?”
<Fac-IPA> America sounds disappointed. “Not real whales? We can’t make friends then?”
<Fac-IPA> Sakura Tohsaka says, “Yes, it’s faint but…there’s definitely what I sensed before.”
<Fac-IPA> Saber says, “No. Not real whales.”
<Fac-IPA> Ninten says, “Oh! Oh! I am read up about this.”
<Fac-IPA> Ninten says, “Hydras got multiple heads, an’ this is the trick.”
<Fac-IPA> Ninten says, “You got to punch all of the heads at the same time.”
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “Yeah, you use fire!”
<Fac-IPA> Kamea Living Rock says, “Handy. Thanks, Ninten.”
<Fac-IPA> America says, “…how many heads we talking about?”
<Fac-IPA> Ninten says, “You’re welcome!”
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “Fire works. Um, lots!”

The bay is quiet. For now. But Sakura’s assessment is correct. There is something is approaching but it’s not quite here yet. It needs more power. And that’s when a wind blows and the sounds of chanting can be heard in the wind. Voices seem to rise and fall with the tide. For those in the IPA, it appears that it’s coming from a nearby factory that drains straight out into the bay.

The chants go louder and the words are guttural and in no language every heard by man. The water in the bay starts to churn as the ‘whales’ beneath the waters add their own sounds to the chanting. Faster and faster, it rises in pitch and urgency and then suddenly there is a cry. “BLOOD FOR BLOOD! LIFE FOR LIFE! Great Father, your offspring have prepared you a bride! Great Father! The gateway is now open! COME TO US FATHER DAGON!” And the factory erupts in a beam of light.

A streak flies out of the light, settling over another portion of the bay as the water churns. Something huge is coming and about to emerge. The streak of light reveals itself to have a feminine body with wavering tentacles, six in all, coming from her back and she stands there larger than your ordinary human. She cries in triumph and the words she speaks make no earthly sound. “Ixkra! Ixkra lmbst!” And from the factory floods hundreds of scaly frog and fish like people.

“Mother!” They shriek. “MOTHER!” The water churns even more and a summoning circle forms. There is a rush of magical power as the circle spins and slowly a spiked fine appears from the middle of the circle. It’s a deep green and has more rise upwards, a pair of large fish like eyes emerge from the scaly head followed by a mouth filled with dagger like teeth opened wide with water pouring from every opening. The rest of the body follows, scaly and with massive clawed hands and feet. The creature roars and the being known as Mother responds with a shriek of her own. She grows to match the sea creature’s size and the fish/frog like men drop to their knees in awe. “FATHER! MOTHER! FATHER DAGON LIVES! MOTHER HYDRA LIVES!”

Mother Hydra and Father Dagon look at each other and then Dagon stops, casting his eyes to where the IPA stands. He roars his displeasure at these interlopers but he will eat them first or have his wife deal with them before he unravels the tapestries further. Mother Hydra crackles with an unseen power and lobs a ball of pure energy at the individuals in hopes of separating the heroes.

Spider-Man hops off his webline, dropping to the ground moments before the factory blows up. Spider-Sense lights up like a christmas tree, and “LOOK OU-…!!” is about all he can manage before the boom. Spidey is thrown back and over towards Hydra and the worshippers, cutting a Spidey-angel in the snow before he slows down to a complete stop. Spidey lays there a moment, letting his thoughts collect and hearing refocus from banana pudding, and in a snap, Spidey is sitting up in the snow, and firing off an ambush shot at Mother Hydra.

He totally put ice in that snowball, too.

The moment that the Elder Gods appeared, Saber’s civilian clothing was instantly replaced with shining blue and silver armour, her invisible sword already in hand. It would seem that the time for any sort of strategy is past; now it was time to end these vile creatures or meet her own – albeit temporary – end.

But even as she prepared, one of the two monstrosities took action, firing a mass of energy that, while Saber could dodge easily, her instinct told her that Sakura would not. She would have to act not as the girl’s sword, but as her shield.

With blinding speed, the Servant grabbed Sakura around the waist and leaped backwards and to the side, landing deftly on her feet before she moved to stand in front of the violet-haired magus.

“Master, your orders.”

“Murlocs?” Kamea asks, almost in time with America. “Never heard of ‘em, where are they from?”

Kamea has no idea how lucky she is to remain ignorant of this.

Sakura speaks up. Kamea frowns, and forces her eyes and mind to see what is there, but invisible to the unenlightened. The resulting display is brilliant, but not overwhelming; several of her companions are lightening up like beacons too, what with their artifacts and innate supernatural power. The Lunar stops in her tracks, gazing in awe and terror as the… the creatures complete their ritual. “…Fickle Lady save us all,” she breathes, as the enormous forms of Dagon and Mother Hydra rise into the sky.

Then, they attack. Kamea grits her teeth and allows Essence to infuse her body just so, giving her the grace and speed she needs to leap out of the way of Mother Hydra’s incoming energy blast. She hits the sand, rolls, and comes up to her feet, holding the spear tight. Her stomach is tying itself in knots; true, her kind was meant to permanently kill monstrosities such as these, but Kamea is still young, still growing into her power. To put it mildly, she is terrified.

“<Though I walk beneath a darkened sky, I fear no evil,>” she whispers, under her breath, in Old Realm. She scrapes out a line in the sand with the toe of her boot, a symbolic gesture of warding. “” The ancient prayer seems to buoy the young Lunar’s spirits. The hollow, silvery circle of the No Moon bursts into being on her brow as she attunes herself to the nature of the Essence flying about. Moments later, her anima joins it, shrouding her in a darkness that mirrors the darkened, moonless sky above. Outside the penumbra is a brilliant, shimmering ring of silvery moonlight.

“You’ve been a stain on this world for long enough, monster!” Kamea roars, in anger and defiance. “FLIGHT OF THE BRILLIANT RAPTOR!”

A large, brilliant bird of red light and rubies forms on her hand, perched there like a falcon sitting on a falconer’s gauntlet. A single gesture sends it flying towards Dagon, where it will, if it hits, explode in a firey cataclysm.

Kamea Living Rock hits Shane Fitzgerald with her Flight of the Enormous Special Effects Budget attack.

<Fac-IPA> Kamea Living Rock says, “This is it! Fight well, everyone, and Fickle Lady watch over you!”
<Fac-IPA> Ninten says, “Go, Pickle Lady!”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “Aw, man. I think I got that eldricht horror in the ear with my icy snowball.”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “Nobody deserves that.”
<Fac-IPA> America says, “Dangit, I should have brought a tank. Or the airforce…”
<Fac-IPA> Kamea Living Rock says, “Fickle, Ninten.”
<Fac-IPA> Ninten says, “Swear jar.”
<Fac-IPA> Kamea Living Rock says, “Swear jar?”
<Fac-IPA> America spits out snow.
<Fac-IPA> Ninten says, “Swear jar.”
<Fac-IPA> Agrias Oaks sounds amused. “‘Fickle’ means ‘capricious,’ lad.”
<Fac-IPA> Agrias Oaks says, “Unreliable, in other words.”
<Fac-IPA> Ninten says, “…Go, Pickle Lady!”
<Fac-IPA> Agrias Oaks says, “…That’s ‘fickle,’ not ‘pickle.’”
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont distractedly, says, “…Huh?”
<Fac-IPA> Ninten says, “I’m not givin’ up on the Pickle Lady. I’m sure the other one is good too!”
<Fac-IPA> Kamea Living Rock just kind of laughs, stoically.
<Fac-IPA> Raspberyl says, “Humans are confusing sometimes, aren’t they?”
<Fac-IPA> Raspberyl says, “That’s why you guys are so great.”
<Fac-IPA> Ninten says, “Thank you, probably!”
<Fac-IPA> Oliver Eochaid says, “Hey, Ninten! Would you like some tutoring sometime?”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “There’s nothing confusing about it. The monster has ladyparts, and is floating above the ocean, which is brine. Pickle Lady. Perfect sense.”
<Fac-IPA> Oliver Eochaid says, “…Yes, it…certainly does!”
<Fac-IPA> Kamea Living Rock says, “I wasn’t talking about the monster, I was–”
<Fac-IPA> America says, “-why are we talking about food now?! I’m getting hungry and I’m pretty sure there’s no burger stand around here!”
<Fac-IPA> Ninten says, “I guess I could probably use some. I don’t do so good at mathematronics.”
<Fac-IPA> Raspberyl says, “You guys are fighting off monsters?! Bad-ass! Are they horrible vicious beasts that destroy all they come near?!”
<Fac-IPA> Oliver Eochaid says, “I can help you out with it sometime if you’d like! I teach elementary school.”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man, proudly, “I hit it with a snowball.”
<Fac-IPA> Ninten says, “Sure, Mister Earcrate!”
<Fac-IPA> Agrias Oaks, thoughtfully and mostly under her breath, “Perhaps the lad has a hearing problem.” Rustling of paper. “Ah, well. –I would offer my aid, but I cannot. …As it is, the physicians are giving me the evil eye just for my daily practise.” And her next statement sounds… disdainful. “They would like me not to engage in any dangerous activities for the sake of physical therapy.” Under her breath again, “Bah.”
<Fac-IPA> America says, “-ow ow ow…”
<Fac-IPA> Zack Fair’s radio emits a loud SPLASH, gurgling, another splash and then, “THAT’S COLD!!”

Before Sakura’s warning to Maria can be replied to, something happens. Everything happens. One part of her mind wonders, detached, if they’d been too late to save someone, if another sacrifice was carried out. And it’s all she can do to hold onto herself as the blast hits, though it feels less like an impact and more like being caught by an arm…

…and she blinks a moment later, looking up, to see a certain figure clad in blue silhouetted by the aftermath of the blast. “Saber…” It’s said in a bit of a hushed whisper, before the spellcaster climbs to her feet.

But meeting the green-eyed woman’s eyes, Sakura simply nods. It’s time for other things, and time to stand and fight. “Saber…defeat Dagon. I’ll support you.” A word summons Perfector Calculorum, which crawls with brutal and harsh mathematics. The equations shift, as Sakura herself drops to one knee and reactivates her Circuit.

“Sperre!” And a bounded field forms, simple but powered as best as Sakura can – hopefully something to keep the mob of fish away, and giving the IPA a suitable safe-zone.

Negi’s eyes widen at the screaming and the song, hissing in surprise. “It’s coming!” he shouts, kicking upright and…standing on top of his staff, his cloak billowing out behind him from the whip of energy. Energy begins pulsing out around him, and he silently invokes the Song of War onto his body, narrowing eyes over small glasses. “Two of them,” he murmurs. “I didn’t think–!”

A blast incoming. Negi throws out his arm, silently laying down a barrier spell that probably does nothing at all against the force of Mother Hydra, but hopefully at least provides him enough time to accelerate his staff away from the impending splodpocalypse, veering away and ending up hovering a few feet over where Saber and Sakura land. His eyes track, quickly assessing – ground-bound monsters, and the giant above. Someone will need to deal with both. Until Sakura gets it in gear…OK then.

“Sakura-san! Saber-san!” he calls down, not quite able to look Saber in the eye, sort of landing at her feet. “I’m activating the contract!” His hands dig into his pocket, producing a pair of tarot-sized cards, which he throws out in front of him, where they float under no apparent power. Fortunately for everyone’s concentration…what he says next will probably be obscured by the blasts and fighting.

“Partners: Tohsaka Sakura! Arturia Pendragon!
Show me the power hidden inside of you!”
“CONTRACT: ACTIVATE!!”

The force of the unsealed contract is immediate and intense. Negi’s been training to be able to power multiple partners while still fighting at full himself; as a consequence, the level of power he can bestow is increased, as well. The magic lines and magic circles draw themselves around all three Partners, power briefly made manifest before the transfer transfers to a more passive state.

Negi Springfield buffs Sakura Tohsaka’s POW to +1.
Negi Springfield buffs Sakura Tohsaka’s STA to +1.
Negi Springfield buffs Saber’s STA to +1.

Dagon casts a glance at his mate and nods his approval. He will begin to cast his own spell once these pathetic mortals have been dealt with. He begins to wade closer to shore, past his worshippers in the salty deep waters of the bay. HIs advancement is only temporarily halted by the presence of a brilliant red bird of light and fire. It slams into his chest, knocking off scales and burning flesh. The air stinks of burning fish as he is forced to stumble backs just a couple steps. His movement makes the water wave up and down again and he glares forward. How annoying.

It takes him a moment to regain his footing when Sakura’s shield effectively forms a barrier in the immediate area around her allies. It will hold. For now and the fishmen are still kowtowing in the ground, their strange chants echoing. The entire town is here and they are praying for their pray gives strength to their gods. Those who are able to make the most use of this deep faith are Dagon and Hydra at the moment. They feed on the faith to power themselves and with that power, they will unravel the tapestry and summon forth Cthulhu. And with his presence, he will help open the doorway for the Outer Gods.

He sniffs, sensing a sudden explosion of power from a cluster of three individuals. The firing contract attracts his attention and he lumbers forward. If he can use that power for himself…. Leaning in, he tries to swipe at Kamea with a single claw, the other hand reaching to grasp upon the other three but he encounters that barrier. From his throat comes a guttural sound of fury and that massive clawed hand tries to crush the shield. One can see, however, where that Dagger came from. There are many smaller claws aside from the main ones, embedded upon the webbing of that ‘hand’.

Shane Fitzgerald gets a glancing blow on Kamea Living Rock with his I desire entrails. +_+ attack.
Shane Fitzgerald barely targets Sakura Tohsaka with his Shatter shield shatter! action.

Dagon’s claw is enormous. It could cleave a mortal in two with no effort whatsoever if it hit just right. Fortunately, Kamea is not precisely a mortal–but that doesn’t mean she’s in the clear, either. The monstrosity’s talon rakes across her flesh, cutting through her buffcoat; blood drips down her chest, and splatters the sand. The Lunar cries out in pain, and then staggers back. Obviously she will need to haul out still more for this–the Brilliant Raptor was a wonderful opener, but… the monster is drawing power from its worshippers. Someone needs to do something about them. Kamea gathers still more Essence about her, moving her hands and arms in complex mudras that evoke the patterns of growing vines. Her anima flares again, growing brighter–it’s not in its full iconic glory yet, but it’s getting there.

“Sprouting Shackles of Doom!” Kamea cries, as she completes her spell.

What? That’s seriously what it’s called.

The plant matter around the cultists starts to come alive, twisting into long, sorcerously-augmented tendrils that reach out to grab and hold and strangle anything within reach. Some of the plant matter dangling from Dagon joins in, binding and suffocating its worshipers. It might be cold comfort to the fishmen that the tendrils stop strangling when their victims fall unconscious.

Then the Lunar dashes over to the shield, tryng her best to duck behind it without disrupting it; she saw the strange sympathetic magic between the…

How old is that, kid, nine? Ten?

“Luna,” Kamea hisses, that had better not have been poisoned.”

Kamea Living Rock misses Shane Fitzgerald with her VINES OF DOOM stun.

<Fac-IPA> Tierine Mayhew says, “Aah!”
<Fac-IPA> Tierine Mayhew says, “WHAT PULLED MY TAIL?”
<Fac-IPA> Tierine Mayhew says, “And I am going to be generous and assume it was aiming at my tail because that’s not what it hit!”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man titters like a schoolgirl.

Her Master’s command was all the prompt that Saber needed. But even before she stepped out of the shield’s protective embrace, she could feel the surge of prana as Negi activated their Pactio. She smiled slightly, thinly. That would help.

The wind kicked up the sand around Master and Servant as Saber darted forward at inhuman speed, blurring into a streak of silver and blue. Yet, the waters separating the group from the Elder God would not stay her hand; the petite knight had retained the blessing of the Lady of the Lake, even as a Heroic Spirit. Instead of sinking into the dark and violent sea, the King of Knights sped over those very waters themselves on an unyielding trajectory for the monstrosity that the worshippers had called forth.

Excalibur remained cloaked in the Bounded Field of the Wind King even as Saber brought the holy sword to bear on the creature with a fierce cry, waiting for a more opportune moment to release it as a weapon itself. It was already a foregone conclusion that Excalibur’s true power would be released this night, but it was a power best held in check until the ideal moment.

You critically strike Shane Fitzgerald with your Does Wind beat Water? I think it might attack.

While the fact that both her magecraft and Negi’s magic weren’t compatible put them at a potential disadvantage, it also meant they could support each other without interfering – as it is, Sakura and Saber’s boost provided by Negi is felt without the typical bodily rejection of magecraft.

She wonders how Saber feels it – but right now there’s not time. All they can do is split their attention; Saber’s own spiritual power the only thing that she knows of that can take on Dagon. And with Miss Tegawa elsewhere – hopefully alive…

Her left hand clenches tight around Bright Song, the three command seals bright against her skin. No, she’s got to save them…! But there’s still something she can do, and calls out the bow’s name. “Bright Song!” Something new that Vita had come up with is drawn – one of the Belkan magic cartridges is fashioned into an arrowhead, and the first arrow is released in classical kyuudo style, whistling through the air as it arcs towards the group. Hopefully the explosion of magical energy…

But before she can do anything further about the worshippers on the beach, a hand sweeps the stars from the sky. And Sakura instinctively ducks back, dumping as much prana as she can spare – not much, with Saber’s sudden burst of energy – into holding the shield intact.

Sakura Tohsaka hits Shane Fitzgerald with her twangggWHEEEEOOOOOOboom attack.

Negi opens the contract, and then the battle is joined. His eyes look up and he watches as the attacks slam home against the shield, but between his own energy and Sakura’s skills, it holds…for now. Negi tightens his fist. He’s pretty sure that if he gets in close to Dagon he’ll get torn apart. But…

He lifts up and away, for now, floating above Sakura while focusing on his energy. He casts simple, silent arrow spells, for now, firing single blasts down into the horde of fish men, while he contemplates his course of action.

Negi Springfield gets a glancing blow on Shane Fitzgerald with his 1 Arrow of Light xMany feint.

The growing vegetation brings a temporary halt to the worshippers chanting as they cry in dismay at being confined and strangled by the vegetation. They claw at their throats and are able to cut away most of the seaweed but not before Sakura and Negi have teamed up to mow them down where they struggle. The dual connection of light and raw magic rains down upon the bound fishmen. It punctures their flesh and cracks the hard shell around their skulls and sears the brainmeat underneath. Scores fall beneath this onslaught and Dagon howls as if he too is in pawn. Does he.. appear to be growing smaller?

Saber would be in the best position to judge the god’s shrinking size as she is right upon him. He did not think anyone would be foolish enough to engage him directly and yet here is this slip of a girl, barely big enough to be considered a snack and she is holding an artifact of great power in her hands though he does not know just what.

But whatever it is is dangerous. The invisible blade cuts easily through protective scales that are as thick as armor and pierces into the softer godflesh beneath. Ichor spurts and the god is forced to let go of the shield, rearing backwards in pain. This morsel is more dangerous than he had thought and with a snarl, tries to dislodge Saber by simply grabbing at her to toss her away.

The surviving worshipers stagger to their feet. Simply lying prone will not avail them now. They must show their Father their face! “Protect Father! Onward brethren! Onward offspring! We give life to protect Father!” The rushing horde, armed with little else save their own bodies and claws crash into the gathering magi.

Shane Fitzgerald successfully targets Sakura Tohsaka with his SHIELD BREAK action.
Shane Fitzgerald gets a glancing blow on Saber with his That hurt. A lot. D: Git. attack.
Shane Fitzgerald hits Kamea Living Rock with his Murloc stampede! attack.
Shane Fitzgerald misses Shane Fitzgerald with his Trampling over your own guys. Dude. attack.
Shane Fitzgerald critically strikes Shane Fitzgerald with his Trampling over your own guys. Dude. attack.
Shane Fitzgerald buffs his STA to -1.
Shane Fitzgerald buffs his POW to -1.

<Fac-IPA> Kamea Living Rock, over the sounds of a shield breaking, and enraged Deepspawn, “Sakura, get behind me!”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “Whoopsadaisy.”
<Fac-IPA> America blubs.
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “I overshot that one a bit. You ever scream for so long because you’re falling from a crazy height, and realize that you’re tired of screaming, and would wish the ocean would hurry and catch up to you?”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “Me either. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!”
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “Hey, can you swim?”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “AAAAAAAAAHHHHHH–Oh yeah, like a fish.” Spidey takes a breath. “..AAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!”"
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “Okay!”
<Fac-IPA> America GASP. “C-c-c-COLD!”
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “Yeah, it is kinda cold in there, huh?”
<Fac-IPA> Tierine Mayhew says, “That’s why I’m not getting in it!”

The shield falls. Fear nearly turns Kamea’s guts to water as the entirety of the situation sinks in deeper–she is alone, with only her wits and Exalted powers and sorcery to protect her from this vile beast and its spawn. She wonders if her mentor felt this way when he fought against the Lintha and their demonic cousins back in the twilight of the First Age. Instinct takes over where conscious thought fails. Kamea throws herself in front of Sakura as the spawn of Dagon charge, raising her spear to defend herself and her friend.

For a few moments, Kamea is nearly lost among the crowd of bodies–her anima is still flaring and visible, but she is not.

Two fish-men have her by the arms, and are tearing at her with their claws, while a third prepares its knife to stab her in the heart.

The Lunar’s eyes narrow. The mark upon her brow glows like the moon itself.

And then she changes. Skin toughens and roughens, and muscle cords beneath it; gills form at the neck. The shark-creature Kamea has become tears herself free, letting out a bellowing roar of defiance; her mouth is open wide, and the Deepspawn can likely see every last one of her dagger-like teeth. Kamea grabs her spear up, and promptly starts laying into monsters left, right and center, shielding the young magus with her body. “Don’t let up!” the No Moon roars.

Kamea Living Rock switches armor modes to Deadly Beastman.
Kamea Living Rock hits Shane Fitzgerald with her Sum lunur is 4 fite, n fite /strong/. attack.

Kamea Living Rock’s radio transmits static for five seconds before resynching. This is followed by an eloquent, gravelly curse in Seatongue.

For a moment, Sakura sees Negi’s blasts fly past her own shot, and for a moment, the magus smiles. But the sudden impact of a hand the size of a dumptruck against her shield causes a tremendous flare, and though she’d never actually used it like this in a fight – and never had it tested such. A voice on her radio gives a moment of courage, but her reply is drowned out as Dagon roars.

The bass tremor echoes through Innsmouth, and is followed by the onrushing cry of the horde of…things…attempting to get at them. It’s not enough to distract her, as the young woman gathers herself and focuses on the shield and keeping Dagon away.

The young woman fails.

The hand that eclipses the stars is joined by a mass of creatures, as the murlocs charge forward, and the combined onslaught is enough to overcome even Sakura’s spellcasting. The creatures burst through, and Sakura searches her mind for -

“verursachte Sache, kommen weiter!” The spell, more complex than what she normally is used to, requires a much more focused incantation. All she can do is leave Dagon to Saber, desperately hoping in the woman’s strength. Negi, at least, can fly, but Kamea’s being swarmed, and so is she.

Until the horde meets a sudden growth from the sands, from the leaves, from the shrubs, as insect life still prevalent along the beach – the only life, it seems, besides their own – erupts in a desperate tide. Chittering silently, they seek only one thing – flesh.

Sakura Tohsaka critically strikes Shane Fitzgerald with her they’re coming out of the damned walls! attack.

The Servant was unable to see Kamea fighting alongside them again, though she would have expressed her gratitude to the Exalt had she known. Instead, she couldn’t help but worry about how Sakura and Negi were faring, but she could only pray that they would be able to hold their own. The very Pactio they had formed seemed to be just for such a purpose, and she could feel the flow of mana through the links she shared with them. However, the King of Knights could only allow them her prayer; the monster before her demanded her fullest attention.

Just as the transformed Caster had, that evening of the Fourth Holy Grail War when she had cut down the monstrosity he had been transformed into.

And it was just as well that the King of Knights had her attention focused on the Great Old One. Wind cut through the preternatural flesh, but for only as long as it took for the creature to grab the knight and hurl her back out towards the deep. The pain was not crippling, however, likely from the combined attacks and the lessening of power channelled through the god’s acolytes. Nevertheless, it stung a bit.

But the Heroic Spirit wasted no time, flipping in mid-air to ricochet off the surface of the raging waters and back towards the Great Old One. Though her soaked dress clung to her tiny form, it did not so much as slow her down as Saber appeared to reach behind her, the very air shimmering as she launched the Bounded Field that concealed her blade at Dagon.

You get a glancing blow on Shane Fitzgerald with your AIR STRIKE! attack.

The horde slams home – shoves through that field, and pushes onward, trampling everyone…except for one person, who was above ground level at the time.

Negi stares in horror as the shield fails, and watches as the horde advances, and yells, “SAKURA-SAN!”, and—

And then he isn’t standing on the staff anymore. He just…moves, blurring across the gap between air and ground in a half of a heartbeat, landing on the ground in front of Sakura, his magical aura suddenly flaring defiantly. “You won’t lay a hand on her!” he cries out, and then he’s among them – striking with palms and elbows. He sees one come at him and slides inward, crushing its face with his elbow; another approaches, and he whirls and slams it in the throat with his palm. A third, behind; he rounds, and silently incants a single arrow of light around his fist as he connects with a bone-crushing uppercut, fit to send it flying.

Ku Fei is a grandmaster of many fields, including many-on-one combat.

Negi Springfield is a very, very fast learner.

Negi Springfield misses Shane Fitzgerald with his RECAP: The TEN YEAR OLD is fighting the FISH MONSTERS with his HANDS attack.

A grim sight indeed. A pitched battle between a being whose age was measure in aeons, and the hapless defenders who seem to be the world’s only hope. Slavering wastrels teem in their own besotten filth, their weak minds riddled by the profane echo of madness. But was an unseen onlooker to all this spectacle, one who’d been satisfied with mere observation…until now.

It begins suddenly. A thunderous roar soars out across the overcast sky, which seems to explode in a hail of what seem near imperceptible bolts of force. Their descent is merciless, piercing limb, flesh and earth with a force that shakes and craters the quavering ground. No distinction is made between the magi and the onrushing mutants, but it is the latter who seem largely the victims of this overbearing assault, if only because there are more of them. Opponents all around Kamea, Sakura and Negi should fall in a sudden shredding of flesh and bone amidst a thunderous clamor that strains the ear. Smoke disperses quickly from the various sites of impact, and one might see these seemingly divine missiles for what they were in truth.

Weapons. The grounds was litterally razes with weapons of every kind. A spear here, a sword there, a halber and and axe…all of them radiating a power that brooked no denial, some more strongly than their fellows. It was an easy telltale sign to those who knew it, one that made no effort at all to hide itself. In all the countless stars of all the countless worlds, there was but one hero capable of devastation on such a level…or at least, he fancied himself as such.

“Hmph, pathetic.”

Gold-plated greaves crunch charred remnants of soil beneath without pause, as the King of Heroes himself sets foor upon the battlefield. Dressed in full golden armor, the First Hero needed no more introduction than he already provided himself. Without lifting a finger, he’ll aim to cut himself a path straight through the mindless horde, towards the edge of the lake.

“Pitious mongrels.” He snears, his regal visage twisted with disdain, “You shall not sully me with your touch.”

For the mages, there was not even the slightest acknowledgement of their presence. Scarlets eyes looked out only towards the lake and the battle the player out upon it’s shorn waters. A sigh crept it’s way from Gilgamesh’s lips, “A different day, a different putrid abomination, but so much the same. You never seem to learn, King of Knights.” He would not turn his hand against this filthy ‘God’, would not sully his treasures with the taste of it’s disgusting flesh. But neither would he stand by and let it make designs on what belong to him; A decrease in followers should resolve that little problem.

“Well, Saber?!” He cries out, arms crossed haughtily, “Even with a master, is this best you can do?!”

Oh yes, he knows about that. Totality of knowledge, it’s right there on the tablet.

<Fac-IPA> Sakura Tohsaka’s voice holds a moment of pain, a moment of horror, and a moment of wonder. “Gil…gamesh…”
<Fac-IPA> Saber issues a soft ‘tch’ of very clear disgust
<Fac-IPA> America says, “-hey, whales! ….ohsh-*fzzzt*”
<Fac-IPA> Tierine Mayhew says, “Uh… I didn’t mean to make it mad!”
<Fac-IPA> Gravelly Kamea Living Rock, over the sounds of fishman carnage: “The hell is that? Sakura, Saber…?”
<Fac-IPA> Sakura Tohsaka says, “It’s…the one that…we warned you of, sister and I…”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “America! Spit out my country!”
<Fac-IPA> Gravelly Kamea Living Rock says, “Shit.”
<Fac-IPA> Gravelly Kamea Living Rock says, “Picked a hell of a time to show up, too.”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “Don’t worry, guys! I’ll get em!”
<Fac-IPA> Gravelly Kamea Living Rock says, “D–d’you think Dagon’ll eat him?”
<Fac-IPA> Sakura Tohsaka says, “I don’t know if…he could…”
<Fac-IPA> Rin Tohsaka, eloquently and sort of subtly terrified, “…Shit. It’s Arclight, isn’t it.”
<Fac-IPA> Sakura Tohsaka says, “It’s…no, sister, it’s Gilgamesh…he’s returned.”
<Fac-IPA> Rin Tohsaka, just as eloquently, “…Shit. Do you need me to break away? If I run for the Gate, I might get out of merry old London in thirty minutes flat.”
<Fac-IPA> Sakura Tohsaka says, “It’s alright, sister…there isn’t time…”
<Fac-IPA> Rin Tohsaka hisses another curse, this time in Japanese. “Y-yeah. Dammit, I should’ve been there. Damned Association and their bureaucracy.”

The fishmen swarm to defend their Father and though some were trampled by the incoming rush and the press against the shield, a good number still exist. Their numbers are dwindling though, especially as Kamea transforms into a half man half shark like creature. And considering that her totem is a natural predator of fish, she does quite well. The transformed half human half deep ones surge forward to fill in the spaces that their fallen siblings left when Kamea fells them but a few are caught off guards by Negi’s quick reaction. He knocks them backwards, sending them tumbling into others who push forward and knocking their forwards back towards Negi.

It’s unbridled chaos with the fishmen trying to fight the two valiant warriors when there’s a skittering sound from the distance. The sound rises, echoing louder and louder until it falls upon the mob in waves of glowing back insects. The bugs climb over the fishermen, biting flesh wherever they find purchase and feeds upon them, even if their native diet were not flesh or fish. They devour eyes and tongue as fishmen scream and howl for mercy, hands raking over their face in uselessness. The distraction will allow Negi and Kamea to easily finish off the rest of the mob.

As this is all happening, Saber is still battling Dagon himself. The large god sneers the best a fish headed god with teeth can. He’s buffeted by the ferocious winds, knocking him backwards a few steps and it knocks a few scales off his massive body but it does not do much visible damage otherwise. Continuing to stomp forward, the god tries to claw at Saber and break her armor. He will eat this one first. He will need her power to regain what he has lost.

Shane Fitzgerald critically strikes Saber with his If a discarded claw can kill a Scion, imagine what a claw still attached can do to you. attack.

Shane Fitzgerald buffs his ACC to -1.
Shane Fitzgerald buffs his STA to -2.
Shane Fitzgerald buffs his POW to -2.

Sakura Tohsaka screams a name. “SABER!”
Spider-Man screams a name, but not in horror. “AMERICA!”
Saber grunts in pain. “I am fine. Worry not.”

Kamea has wits enough to keep up with the changing battlefield. As the insects swarm over Dagon’s worshipers, the Lunar backs off, keeping her spear raised in defense. She is quite bloody, but only some of it is her own–the monsters’ ichor tastes vile on her tongue, from where she bit one that got too close. “Keep at it,” the No Moon orders, “Their prayers won’t sustain him if they’re dead, and then he’ll be easy prey!” Normally she would be appalled at the thought of slaughtering an entire village, but these things are no longer people–they’re like the once-human things twisted by the crawling chaos beyond her world, maddened and vile.

“That’s what you get, devils!” Kamea roars, at the backs of the retreating fishmen. “Tell all your monstrous friends that /Kamea Living Rock/ gave you those scars!” The adrenaline rush of combat is enough to take the edge off the Lunar’s fear, and she turns to her impromptu companions–Negi and Sakura–and flashes them a smile that would be friendly if it weren’t for the fact that she is currently a shark-creature. “All right,” Kamea says, perhaps quoting something she saw on the picture box last night. “Let’s show this prehistoric bitch how we do things downtown!” Gilgamesh is worrisome indeed, but he can be dealt with once the greater threat has been taken care of. Kamea is worried, a little, on Saber’s behalf… but besides the fact that the asshole looks like the spitting image of a First Age Solar, orichalcum loot and all, how tough could he be?

More Essence gathers around Kamea’s form as her anima flares. Some details are visible within the shadowy penumbra, now, faint images of a seabed replete with coral and anemones and rocks. “Flight of the Brilliant Raptor!” the sorceress roars. Once again, the rubies-and-light firebird alights on her extended arm before taking to the sky and throwing itself at Dagon in a firey explosion.

Kamea Living Rock misses Shane Fitzgerald with her Flight of the I CAN KEEP DOING THIS ALL DAY attack.
Kamea Living Rock hits Shane Fitzgerald with her derp jab.

<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “Oh, hey, America? I totally threw you at the eldricht horror while you were still inside the whale.”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “….Just as a heads up.”
<Fac-IPA> America says, “….A LITTLE LATE-”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “Yeah, I guess I was kinda busy, what with throwing you at an eldricht horro while you were inside a WHALE.”
<Fac-IPA> America transmits a rather wet *Splut*
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “Better out than in, kid.”

Negi keeps his eyes on this – he keeps pushing the fishmen back, but Sakura’s surprise debut of KILLER BUG MONSTERS catches him by surprise, and he just kind of steps back, a little floored by the event. “Uh,” he says, looking up at Sakura. “… …” And then a big grin, and an affirmative nod. “OK! That’s the last of them! We’re good!”

…not so fast. The bugs weren’t alone in that final attack, and Negi looks up as he /senses/ the incoming barrage, throwing up his hand to cast a quick deflection spell, but it’s not actually necessary, in the end, and the field is scattered with blades. Negi’s heard of this. Negi’s seen this. This is–

“Gilgamesh–!” Negi hisses, as the Golden Ponce appears. He doesn’t even concern himself with them. OK. Then they’ve got a few seconds. Right. He looks up at Sakura, and murmurs, “Sakura-san, I need…fifteen seconds. Can you get me fifteen seconds?”

The taint of corruption that runs through her magic circuits – that replaces them, in some cases, erupts in fury. The effect of the implanted shards on her body forces her to double over in pain; her ad hoc counter to the surge of the Innsmouth denizens joins her partner. It works.

And just as the first of them reaches her, he seemingly explodes in icthyan gore, when the King of Heroes’ missiles strike home. Sakura stares a moment, before realizing the nature of this particular intervention, and knows it is far less than divine. Her voice, to noone in particular, is picked up by the radio. “Gil…gamesh…”

Kamea’s smile is returned, though as much out of fear as happiness. Well, the Lunar IS scary in that form, and considering the fish monsters…and the transformed woman gets a nod. Negi and Kamea, and her rapidly diminishing insect swarm, are holding the group back. Perhaps it might just work…even with the Golden King’s bizarre appearance

Except a sudden shift of prana inside her tells of something disastrous happening to her Servant.

“SABER!”

She spins, seeing the aftermath of Dagon’s strike, and knowing innately the damage it’s done to her Servant. She runs to Saber’s side, following the woman’s trajectory to earth. Saber can’t be that bad..!

Negi calls to her, and lavender eyes never leave the short blonde woman, even as she replies to him. “Right.,.I’ll do what I can!”

In typical kyuudo style, Sakura fires two shots – the second is held in the drawing hand, while the first shot is loosed. In typical kyuudo style, this is done with a single target. Sakura, however, made a vow, and she intends to carry through on it. So while the first cartridge-arrow is loosed at Dagon’s head hoping to even momentarily blind the creature with the massive release of energy.

The second is aimed at the strutting fool she’d sworn her first promise to.

Sakura Tohsaka hits Shane Fitzgerald with her magical flashbang ahoy! attack.

Negi nods at Sakura’s confirmation, and begins whispering: “Ras tel, ma scir, magister–”

The rest is muttered, even as the someday-Boy Genius Mage focuses his attention on the battle. Gilgamesh remains neutral; that’s good, that gives him time. Sakura opens fire on Dagon, hoping to blind it…and on Gilgamesh (Negi can’t spare a moment to point out that that was possibly a terrible idea). Focus. Think. Ready. Ready. Ready–

“Septentriginta Spiritus Lucis Coeuntes Sagittent Inimicum! Sagitta Magica! Series Lucis!” Let the 37 Gathering Spirits of Light Shoot Arrows at the Enemy! Magic Arrow! Light Series! They form around Negi, and fire off, darting around and into Dagon – 37 arrows of Light-type magic energy, striking in too many places to readily defend. But…it’s not really what he’s intending to hit with.

Instead, Negi roars, “MEA VIRGA!” as the blasts of magic energy shoot away, and Negi hops up and lands with his feet on his staff, shooting up to the nightmare even as his arrows connect.

This is retarded, he reminds himself. …but that’s why it might work!

He gets close, and then LEAPS OFF HIS STAFF, right at Dagon’s nose, and screams:

“EMITTAM!!”

They appear behind him, 53 orbs of light, spinning around his back like a turbine, while Negi swings his fist around–

“OUKA HOKEN!!”

And 53 magic arrows, each one capable of shattering a boulder, and one magic fist, slam into Dagon’s face in the same instant.

Negi Springfield buffs his POW to +3.
Negi Springfield hits Shane Fitzgerald with his THIS IS A TERRIBLE IDEA super.

<Fac-IPA> Chamo, watching with binoculars: “I can’t believe he did that! But this is bad…a push like that, how much energy could he even have left at this point?”
<Fac-IPA> Rin Tohsaka echoes slightly, as though in a large hallway; her footfalls can also be heard echoing. “If you’re talking about Gilgamesh, don’t hold your breath.”
<Fac-IPA> Rin Tohsaka says, “He can summon swords all day long. And all night long. …You get the idea. Even though he’s an Archer-class Servant, his schtick is to hurl them — which in turn makes ranged weapons out of ‘em.”
<Fac-IPA> Gravelly Kamea Living Rock says, “And is that it?”
<Fac-IPA> Chamo says, “No, no, Bro! We might have to fight Gilgamesh after this, but Bro’s burning his energy through going against the big one, while supporting two Partners! I’m not sure he can keep it up!”
<Fac-IPA> Rin Tohsaka says, “…Ghh.”
<Fac-IPA> Rin Tohsaka says, “Hang in there. All of you.” Grumble. “And if you end up going after Gilgamesh, punch him in the face for me, if you get a chance.”

With the death of his offspring, all Dagon has left to keep him going is his own incredible might and the lifeforce of his mate who yet lives. She too is weakening, having consumed one of the whale like creatures that are in the bay around them. He would as well if he had such means but only she is able to take a life’s essence in such a manner. No. For him to regain his power without the use of worshippers, he must feed and feeding takes time; time that he does not have now.

The firebird flies again and he raises his free arm as if to brush it off. It crashes into the flesh there and he shivers at the heat but it does no permanent harm except to sear more flesh and make that part of his arm simply unusable. He can deal with it later though. Lifting the clawed Servant as if to eat her, he’s suddenly caught off balance by a surprise flash to his eyes. “!!!!!” He roars in furious pain. The light is blinding to his unprotected eyes. He can’t see a thing. All he can feel is that girl in his hand and he’s about to try and take her once again when something bright and sharp slams into his face, breaking heavy scales that are nearly as hard as plate. It bloodies his face, nearly toppling him over but he is a god. Even as weakened as he is, he is still a god. He will not let this stop him. But first, he needs to get over the pain…

Shane Fitzgerald buffs his STA to -4.

<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “Zack.”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “…Dare you to eat a piece.”
<Fac-IPA> Zack Fair says, “… ….”
<Fac-IPA> Zack Fair says, “….. you’re on.”
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “What’s it taste like?”

<Fac-IPA> Gravelly Kamea Living Rock says, “A piece of–”

<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man laughs through his words. “Oh-hohoho, maaan. You’re gross. That’s gross.”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “That is the coolest thing that has ever wanted to make me boot.”
<Fac-IPA> Gravelly Kamea Living Rock says, “Spider-Man, did Zack just eat a piece of the behemoth, or what.”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “Well…yeah. I dared him.”
<Fac-IPA> America says, “….”
<Fac-IPA> Gravelly Kamea Living Rock says, “Zack.”
<Fac-IPA> America says, “…suddenly, I’ve lost my appetite.”
<Fac-IPA> Gravelly Kamea Living Rock says, “Heart’s blood. I dare you.”
<Fac-IPA> Zack Fair makes a sound somewhere between gagging and ‘URRGHGHBLLLARGGHHBLEEGH AUGH PFFTGGG PLEH’
<Fac-IPA> Tierine Mayhew says, “Even I wouldn’t eat that!”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man laughs right through it. Oh, that’s okay dude. Better out than in.”
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “…Wow, that sounds worse than when I drank spoiled milk!”
<Fac-IPA> Maria Tegawa says, “YOU IDIOT”
<Fac-IPA> Maria Tegawa says, “WHY DID YOU DO THAT ZACK.”
<Fac-IPA> Zack Fair hurgh blgh. “Gnh.. he dared me..”
<Fac-IPA> Maria Tegawa says, “DO NOT PUT THE SPAWN OF ELDER GODS IN YOUR MOUTH!!”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “He didn’t! He put the brain of elder gods in his mouth.”
<Fac-IPA> America says, “…THAT DOESN’T SOUND ANY BETTER!!”
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “Ew, brains gotta weird texture.”
<Fac-IPA> Leon Freier says, “…so…”
<Fac-IPA> Leon Freier says, “…did it taste like Chicken?”
<Fac-IPA> Leon Freier says, “I’ve got a bet with Snorri, y’see.”
<Fac-IPA> Leon Freier says, “Loser has to buy the other a cow.”

The release of the Wind King had been intended primarily as a distraction, its purpose had been to slow the foul thing’s progression just long enough for Saber to prepare her next attack. But Even the force of several combined hurricanes did not slow the great fish-creature half as much as she had hoped, and its vicious claws raked cruelly through the King of Knight’s body before she could evade. Those claws hooked into her back as Dagon lifted her up with the intent to devour her, only to drop her onto the shore abruptly.

Bloodied and broken, Saber nevertheless struggled to her feet even as Sakura rushed to her side. “Stay…back…” she warned her Master.

It was then that things went from bad to worse; with the arrival of a most unwelcome presence.

“Gilgamesh…” the knight growled through gritted teeth. Though he did not appear to be interested in resuming their battle as of yet, the diminutive swordswoman nevertheless did not trust him not to make at the very least a nuisance out of himself.

The wounded Arturia forced herself to ignore the Golden King’s glib comment about her injuries, though she found his knowledge of her contract particularly troublesome, if not especially surprising. Better than anyone, she knew it would not have remained hidden from her nemesis for long.

Yet, strangely, the Golden King’s appearance had given her enough of the time she had needed to prepare for her final attack. Was it purely a coincidence, or were his actions intentional? She could never be certain when it came to the likes of the Fifth King of Uruk. Most likely, she considered, he was ‘saving’ her only to be broken by him later.

But for the moment, she would accept that opening. The Servant channelled mana into her now-exposed holy sword, its blade shining in a brilliant gold that reflected off the darkened waters. The crystallised prayer named ‘Gloria’, the hopes of her country and the dreams of countless soldiers on the battlefield, Excalibur bathed the ocean with its otherworldly purifying light. Its final release as she called out its True Name became a beacon to all who would witness it; the King of Knights bear any burden for righteousness, and would never submit to anyone.

Not the First Hero-King of Mankind…not even something worshipped as a god.

“Ex…CALIBUR!”

You switch armor modes to Excalibur.

You buff your POW to +2.

You hit Shane Fitzgerald with your EKSU…CARIBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA super.

<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “Man, this snow is awesome.”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “Guys! We need to get the scientists over here! For….snowball technology.”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “Shut up, its a thing!”

There is a faint whisper in everyone’s mind. It’s a woman’s voice. <Husband….>

The magic bolt Sakura sends by way of the King of Heroes does, amazingly impact him squarely. Perhaps he was too absorbed in watching his beloved battle, or perhaps he didn’t care to move. It seems he was to do either, as he shifts not even slightly in response: The magic arrow breaks itself upon his most resilient armor, leaving scarce signs of it passing. Hey though, maybe he just didn’t notice?!

Ah ha ha ha, no such luck.

“Foolish girl.” The King of Heroes mutters without looking back, “You are fortunate that killing you would be troublesome, at the moment. Restraining, however…” And, again, without taking his eyes off the King of Knights, bids several of the noble phantasms that stake the earth to uproot themselves and hone in on the Tohsaka magess for the most messy business of pinning one limb each to the the ground (Because he can totally do that, eff all of you), giving her and her fell sister something else to talk about.

For Saber, he can’t help but spare a smile as the pain and suffering she endures, still maintaining that same bright-shining will from ten years ago and incarnate in the power of her sword. It was just like then, in so many ways. “Yes…” He nods his approval, “Show it to me again, Saber. Your way of Kingship, you will to rule. The power of mankind’s hope!” All the more righteous when they shall be crushed, as light itself gallops into war at the bidding of the holy sword.

Even he must shield his eyes at the light, such is the intensity of the Sword of Promised victory. “So, this is your power under a master…” He laughed. It may be finally time…

Gilgamesh hits Sakura Tohsaka with his And stay down attack.

<Fac-IPA> Saber ‘s shout comes out over the radio as a massive light fills Innsmouth Bay. “Ex…….CALIBUR!”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “Hey, we killed ours. What’re you guys doin?”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “Ow! My sperm!”
<Fac-IPA> America says, “-TIMBEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEER!!!!!”
<Fac-IPA> Gravelly Kamea Living Rock says, “Trying to finish the other off.”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “Slackers.”

Spider-Man leaps out of the lighthouse, swinging over to the rest of the party, in time to see the huge beacon of light.

Spider-Man stares a moment, before his hands trembling go to cover his groin area. “Ow! My sperm!”

Too many bright searing lights, and there wont be any little Spideys running around in the future. But Spidey quits goofing, and looks to the rest of his group. “So! We busted up an Elder God like it owed us money. What could we possibly do to top this?”

That faint whisper sticks in the back of Kamea’s mind. She knows what’s happened–Mother Hydra has fallen, and that means that Dagon is likely going to be pissed as hell. The Lunar keeps her guard up, standing between Sakura and the titanic Elder God, even as Saber’s sword lights up the bay. It’s impressive–no, beyond impressive–and for a moment, it gives the Lunar pause.

“Flight of the Brilliant Raptor!” Kamea roars. For the third time this evening, the glorious garda bird forms, perched on Kamea’s arm–and then it takes off with a shriek, flying in a suicide dive at Dagon. Then Gilgamesh strikes at her ward. The Lunar’s eyes narrow to little slits, and thoughts of impaling Gilgamesh with his own weapons until he dies start to creep into her mind.

Kamea Living Rock hits Shane Fitzgerald with her seriously I need more combat spells attack.

<Fac-IPA> America says, “-whoa, thanks!” He pauses and chuckles uneasily. “-please don’t throw up on me- had enough of that today…!”"
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “Man, my costume’s all torn up. I guess I’ll have to make another one. Maybe something different this time…”
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “…Dammit, that’s right. Hey, what’s a good part of her to take?”
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “I gotta take a body part.”
<Fac-IPA> America says, “…wha?”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “Somebody said heart’s blood earlier.”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “That sounds badass.”
<Fac-IPA> Zack Fair says, quite seriously, “Bllgghh hrgh.”
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “Hey, actually, that’d be perfect!”
<Fac-IPA> Gravelly Kamea Living Rock says, “Heart’s always a good choice– Godsdamn, Zack, are you dying?”
<Fac-IPA> Leon Freier muses. “Teeth or arm.”
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “This thing ain’t a knife. Anyone got a knife?”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “He’s fine, he only ate alittle.”
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “–It ain’t for me, Leon!”
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “I gotta give it to a god.”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “Cowboy up, Jade, just go rip it out.”
<Fac-IPA> Leon Freier says, “Oh.”
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “I can’t cut with my fingernails!”
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “I bet her heart’s all big ‘n stuff, too. Maybe bigger ‘n me!”
<Fac-IPA> Leon Freier says, “Yeah, just rip the heart out and put it in a tupperware jug or a ziploc bag. Hell, I know I never leave home without at least one of those heavy duty ziploc bags. Never know when you’ll run into a giant, y’know?”
<Fac-IPA> America says, “….”
<Fac-IPA> Leon Freier says, “…Look, it makes sense in context, okay?”
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “I don’t got nothin’ like that!”
<Fac-IPA> Leon Freier says, “…Hmmmm. Are you strong enough to punch through walls?”
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “What?”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “Lady, she’s a giant God. Anything you take is gonna be huge.”
<Fac-IPA> Leon Freier says, “You could just punch through the chest bone. Messy, but effective.”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “I dare you to take a boob.”
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “I ain’t takin’ a boob!”
<Fac-IPA> Gravelly Kamea Living Rock says, “Please, that’s tasteless.”
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “Hey, Zack! You can cut, right?”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man laughs. “Dude, totally give your God her boobs.”
<Fac-IPA> Zack Fair nauseated, “Uhh.. yeah?”
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “Cut her chest open, okay?”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “For the boob.”
<Fac-IPA> Zack Fair says, “… … uh…”
<Fac-IPA> America says, “…I can’t turn this thing off, too slippery….”
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “No, I’m not takin’ a boob!”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “Dude, dare you to give her a boob!”
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “C’mon, please?”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “Double-dog.”
<Fac-IPA> Zack Fair says, “… … you’re on.”
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “Please cut her chest open?”
<Fac-IPA> Tierine Mayhew says, “That’s disgusting!”
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “–Zack, don’t give me a giant boob!”
<Fac-IPA> Tierine Mayhew says, “Like seriously disgusting. ALso I’m on fire so I can’t come get you, Maria.”
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “I ain’t givin’ Mictlantecuhtli that!”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man just laughs. “Oh, man. It’s like Christmas.”
<Fac-IPA> Zack Fair says, “Well, I’ll just cut it up and you pick out what you want or somethin’”
<Fac-IPA> America transmits pitiful scrabbling noises.
<Fac-IPA> Zack Fair’s radio emits pretty gross wet crunchy splorchy noises. “And you owe me like.. eighteen cases of beers, Spider-dude.” He audibly grimaces. “Pronto.”
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “Okay, lemme get in there–eww, christ, it’s nasty.”
<Fac-IPA> Maria Tegawa says, “It’s okay, Zack has me.”
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont transmits ICKY NOISES
<Fac-IPA> Gravelly Kamea Living Rock says, “Jade, you need part of the other one, too?”
<Fac-IPA> Gravelly Kamea Living Rock says, “Y’know, just in case?”
<Fac-IPA> Tierine Mayhew says, “Okay. Uh..”
<Fac-IPA> Tierine Mayhew says, “…are these actually dead? Or are they summoned? Because if they’re summoned, they’ll just go home…”

The two arrows fly true, and Sakura can only watch, one hand on Saber’s shoulder. The massive flare of magical energy speaks well of ancient Belkan technology, and then she can only stand in shock as Saber stands – and fires Excalibur.

The draw of energy was incredible, and between the pain from the corrupted shards implanted through her body and the sudden massive surge of prana demanded by the need to keep Saber supplied when Excalibur fires, she practically collapses behind Saber. Which makes her the perfect target for Gilgamesh’s blades.

A quartet of steel teeth bite down, pinning the woman down. Nothing strikes anything truly vital, but even the wounds she suffers still cause a scream of pain. Despite everything, despite their trump card, despite Kamea and Negi and Saber’s own strongest attacks, the god still walks. Sakura screams, a scream of pain, defiance, and anger.

Something in her will not let this end with her impending death. Even the legacy of Zouken Matou wishes to live.

As she’s struck by the blades, one in each limb, her shadow stretches and turns a black as dark as Excalibur’s light was white. It arcs toward the eldritch horror, sprouting a number of black ribbons fringed with scarlet. These ribbons twist and sprout new ones, a fractal pattern that seeks to surround and spear into the beast’s heart, to blossom from within like a flower.

What it will do to Sakura is incidental; she was never a significant factor in his plans.

<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “Yeah, I think I pro’lly do. Ugh.”
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “Okay, I think I got it. Uh.”

Negi punches Dagon in the damn face, and the recoil of the attack gives him enough backwards momentum that he’s able to board his staff and dart away before Excalibur goes off, Negi soaring up into the air – and watching in awe the release of that power. Excalibur…so it’s really true. Some part of him had doubted, even still, but…

It’s not his. Not from his world. But some part of him still wants to bend knee.

But that powerful shot – that unbelievable blast that tears heaven and earth open – is not enough to unmake the Father Dagon on its own. Negi’s got to save some, he knows —*

…because GILGAMESH HAS NOTICED SAKURA ARRRGH. Negi can’t blow his trump card just yet, even though he feels it straining inside him. He looks back at Dagon, and…has to pray the damage done to the monster is enough. He shifts stance on his staff, and hisses, “Acceleret!” to cause the staff to dart forward – away from Dagon, to go do what he can to help Sakura: “SAKURA-SAN!” Negi calls out.

Sakura Tohsaka hits Shane Fitzgerald with her ICKY BADNESS super.
Shane Fitzgerald has been knocked out!
Sakura Tohsaka hits herself with her oh why not super.

<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “Anyone wanna help me carry this? I don’t wanna drag it.”
<Fac-IPA> Tierine Mayhew says, “…It might burn.”
<Fac-IPA> America says, “…I…guess I could…. I’m taking one hell of a shower when this is all through though. Yeck…”
<Fac-IPA> Tierine Mayhew says, “I’ll get it, okay, I’ve got telekinesis, but my head is going to hurt a lot later.”
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “Hey, thanks, Tierine! I owe ya.”
<Fac-IPA> Zack Fair half-mumbles, “Mine already does.”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man laughs.
<Fac-IPA> Tierine Mayhew says, “Also you have to carry my bags.”
<Fac-IPA> Tierine Mayhew says, “The straps burned through because I’m, uh, burning.”
<Fac-IPA> Spider-Man says, “1 2 3 Not it!”
<Fac-IPA> Tierine Mayhew says, “Oh come on, they’re not heavy. They have bandages and things, you can use some.”
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “Sure, I’ll get ‘em.”
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “Hey, can someone carry this for me? It ain’t heavy.”
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “It’s really sharp, though.”

<Fac-IPA> Gravelly Kamea Living Rock says, “Dagon’s down.”

<Fac-IPA> Gravelly Kamea Living Rock says, “We need a healer here yesterday, Sakura’s in bad shape.”
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “Awesome! We did it! –oh, uh.”
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “Can any of you guys heal?”
<Fac-IPA> Tierine Mayhew says, “…no. There’s bandages and some ointments in those bags, but that’s it.”
<Fac-IPA> Zack Fair says, “I’ll go.”
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “I can do some first aid stuff, but I think that ain’t gonna–”
<Fac-IPA> Jade Belmont says, “Thanks.”
<Fac-IPA> Gravelly Kamea Living Rock says, “I’ll do what I can until Zack gets here.”

In spite of how much of her mana she had channelled into Excalibur, it had not been enough, and even as Saber heard the ghostly gasp of the other god, she realised the battle was not yet ended. But would she have the time to summon enough mana for one more attack?

Even that concern was waylaid the moment swords pierce the limbs of her Master, and Saber cursed herself for turning her back on the King of Heroes. But more than herself, she cursed him…and the calm, stoic mask shattered as her face twisted in rage.

She was too wounded and exhausted to fight Gilgamesh equally, but that did not matter to the enraged Servant as she lunged at him with a hoarse cry. Excalibur’s bright blade was brought up to bear on his shining figure, threatening cleave him in two with her remaining strength and speed; though weakened, a Heroic Spirit was still stronger and faster than any mortal. In the back of her mind, she could sense the dark energy emanating from her Master, fatally rending the form of the Great Old One. Yet it seemed a distant thing. In her singe-minded fury, there was only the enemy she despised most before her.

The last thoughts, as Sakura slips into unconsciousnes, are of confusion and sadness. Lost in pain, she stares in horror as Rin’s chest explodes, scattering blood across her face. The elder Tohsaka’s scream echoes in her mind, as her life is consumed by the swordlike tentacles of the younger.

And she can’t explain the strange sensation of vindication, either; the feeling disgusts her as much as it pleases her. No, that’s not…that isn’t the way it’s supposed to be!

Dagon falls. The death of an Elder God is a truly impressive sight, and this is the first time Kamea has seen a being of that sort… just die, before. She has more important things to worry about, though, such as Sakura–who is hurt worse than Kamea thought, between the swords and whatever the hell she just did. The Lunar did not get a good look at it, and she is kind of glad she didn’t.

The No Moon stands over Sakura, surveying the damage; she’s going to have to pull those swords out, but if she’s not careful about it, the magus could bleed to death before Zack can help her, and feeding Gilgamesh his entire arsenal is looking real good right about now–the best she can manage is to rest a large, web-fingered hand on the young mage’s shoulder, and whispering a “Hang on. Please, hang on.”

Saber attacks Gilgamesh. This will give Kamea the distraction she needs to help save Sakura. The Lunar grabs two swords by their handles, gripping firmly and tearing them out in a single, swift motion. The other swords receive the same treatment; the No Moon tosses them aside like garbage. Then, she starts to improvise–makeshift tourniquets are formed from torn strips of Sakura’s clothing. Kamea is still in good shape, relatively speaking, and if necessary she can get the hell out of dodge with Sakura over her shoulder.

From the other side of the bay, the SOLDIER Zack Fair approaches, running at a respectable speed as he distractedly digs through his bags, searching for a familiar materia. It’s not often that he fights without a Curaga or Restore equipped, but given the size and capabilities of his comrades, he’d assumed it would be more prudent to equip others in its place– he’d seemed to be right until the call came from the other front that it was needed.

Vision a little blurry, a headache pounding in his head, Zack finally locates that materia and swaps it with another one (he probably won’t need Thundaga Blade immediately), dropping the other back in the bag and putting it away. He’s close now, and thankfully it’s pretty easy to see the one in immediate need of his attention.

Picking up the pace, the SOLDIER bites back a wave of nausea and closes the distance between them, throwing out his arm in a flash of glittering green even as he runs past the girl– just a short distance, to put himself between her and what his experienced mind defines as a possible threat.

The effects are immediate– the bleeding slows as skin and veins knit themselves back together, her body gaining a little more color as the magic flows through her, repairing what it can. It’s not going to return her to tip-top shape, no, she will need to be taken to a hospital because the magic won’t hold her forever, and as its power wanes he will have to cast it again to keep her stable.

“Get her out of here,” he calls over his shoulder to Kamea. They can’t really afford to linger.

<Fac-IPA> Gravelly Kamea Living Rock says, “Thanks, Zack. You come back safe too, okay?”
<Fac-IPA> Zack Fair sounds cheerful, if a bit off, “Always do!”

A frown marred Gilgamesh’s features, scarlet eyes slit at the result of Saber’s ardor. “Not enough…that Saber I know should have been able to destroy that disgusting thing in a single blow.”

Perhaps wounding her master at the last minute hadn’t been the wisest choice. Ah well, no matter, it seems that other grail still had it’s uses. And for her to be Saber’s master now too…hm….there might be some complications with that.

But he can ruminate on those matters later, when the object of his desires is not attempting to spit him like a pig. Ah, he’d missed her so!

ut that legendary blade wings for naught, clasing soundly against a shimmering blade of like design that loses several good inches of steel to Excalibur’s finer edge, “I see you’ve still enough mana to pull up a fight.”

The King of Heroes does not move an inch, fitting Saber with that all-consuming leer he does too well, “But why rage at me? Your mongrel of a master was fool enough to think she could harm me and suffered the King’s justice. Be glad she is your master, else i’d have gone further.”

Not satisfied with that alone, the Golden King reaches forward to grab that holy sword itself, afforded enough protection by his armor at the moment. “What then?” Being completely uninjured and at full strength, he’ll lean fully into pushing that eager blade at bay, “Shall we settle things here and now? Your blade against my greatest treasure? Will you finally submit, and become mine?” Not a shred of mercy exists in that blood-tinged gaze, not even for her. If she continues this now, he won’t hold back, “Take your time if you must. I understand women are fickle in these matters, though my patience wears thin.”

As Gilgamesh speaks, Kamea remembers what her mentor told her of the twilight of the First Age–its leaders, in turn, brilliant, arrogant, and utterly given over to their egos and whims.

Well, in Gil’s case, he only qualifies for two out of three, but two out of three ain’t bad.

Zack speeds by. This is the first time Kamea’s run into the guy, much less in person; she’s surprised, a little, to see just how he heals Sakura. Once she’s sure that the magus can handle being transported, the Lunar hoists her up over her shoulder, picks up her spear, and proceeds to run like hell back to the rallying point. Her anima is still ablaze, but Essence speeds her steps. Sakura will get back safe, she’ll make sure of it.

Negi flies overhead while Sakura unloads…Darkness, real darkness, somehow deeper than anything Evangeline had ever unleashed at him. His heart hammers in his chest as he feels it, like ants all over his body, and he momentairly slows to a halt, watching that titanic, unbounded final strike.

“Sakura-san…” he murmurs, turning back with deep worry etched in his face…

And then he darts the rest of the way down without hesitation. He’s not in time to beat Zack to healing her, but truth be told, the SOLDIER is better at it than him, anyway. Instead, he grabs the blades and yanks them out – with surprising force, for a boy, tossing them aside and grabbing Sakura up onto his knees and hands. He glances up, scowling at Gilgamesh. His magic energy…Chamo was worrying about how much he has left, but truth be told, he still feels alive with power. Evangeline has been training him hard, incredibly hard – he could probably power Saber through a fight with Gilgamesh and fight alongside her besides…if they chose to take that battle here.

He glances up at Saber, biting his lip…and calls out, “I will support you..if you want it.” Their pactio isn’t efficient like the one between Sakura and Saber, the two using two not-quite-compatible systems. But Negi is the son of the Thousand Master; he will find the strength.

The haughty king’s only answer is gritted teeth and renewed resolve. Even as she fought back with all her reserves of strength, she pulled what mana she could into matching his overwhelming strength. Under different circumstances, she would have been concerned and her eyes would have reflected only the determination to prevail against him.

But his insults to her Master overrode all other concerns, and his taunts only served to stoke the fires of her anger further. As he caught her blade, she continued to press ever forward, too enraged to face him in her usual collected manner. Gilgamesh never failed to make her angry, but she had never wanted to kill him even half so much as she did now.

“You…are…disgusting,” she managed to spit out before she roared.

“I will have your head!”

But her finely-honed skill and strength were much better served with her normally cool head, and the only things that kept her upright were her anger and sheer willpower.

She would have simply ignored him and continued pressing forward had it not been for Negi’s shout. He was there, in lieu of Sakura, offering his strength to her. That was when it dawned on her; she had already drawn a dangerous amount of prana from Sakura already, and she would need it to heal. The realisation cooled the fires immediately, and with a final kick out at the gold-armoured Archer, the King of Knights leapt back to join Negi. She could not, however, resist a parting shot.

“Mark my words, King of Heroes. You will fall by my blade. This I swear to you upon the name of Arthur, King of Britain.”

Category: Innsmouth
Tags: America, Gilgamesh, Jade Belmont, Kamea Living Rock, Maria Tegawa, Negi Springfield, Ninten, Sakura Matou, Spider-Man, Tierine Mayhew, Zack Fair