Sovelis stopped when he heard yet another familiar voice call his name, Zapheta.

"Well, well, well... What do we have here? A bard who thinks that she can take on a swordsmaster? You really are acting big and brave, aren't you?" he mocked, turning and facing the young bard that had just called him out. She wears her heart on her sleeve, and her mind is as open as a book... will these young folk never learn? Sovelis sighed, and took a few steps forward. "I really didn't expect to see you here, Zapheta. Your the last person that I thought would fight in a war." he closed his eyes and shrugged at her, not caring if she attacked with the sword that she pointed at him.

"Why don't you come out with it already? You HATE me. My face brings your anger to a roaring boil. Every fiber of your being is screaming for me to die and for this entire mess to be brought to an end." Sovelis' eyes were now slits, and his grin had grown malicious now. "Arrika chose me, but you cannot choose to accept it. you'd rather think that I brainwashed her or something..." his grin now reversed, becoming a scowl. "She wants someone who can be more than a friend... someone that can give her the world. In my case, I can give here that... and oh so much more than anyone else can offer. She is mine, and I will not give up the last shred of happiness I have. I don't care who or what stand in my way. If you choose to raise arms against me, then I will have no choice but to cut you down..."

OoC: Just have Zeze dash in and impale him with her sword through his stomach or something like that... then they can fight. otay?

Zeze flushed with anger, her whole being aflame with a burning passion to kill. How dare he?! She knew that when anger took her, she was up and away - there was no coming back. All sense and reason fleeting from her, Zapheta swung her sword, creating a small whoosh. She yelled,

"Save your breath for later, old man!"

The bard jumped, her legs a blur as she ran, her sword's blade a flash of silver. Silently, Zeze swung her arm back, her momentum steady. When she was about a foot from Sovelis, she threw herself forward, the deadly blade coming right at Sovelis's heart.

Zeze pulled back her sword, smiling with savage pleasure. She expected the Tempest to fall at her feet or something like that... but the back of her head told her that this was only the beginning. The bard flipped back her flaming red hair as she spat,

"An inexperienced bard? I don't think so!"

Jormund Gobi stared down as new events unfolded. A skeleton appeared before Gobi, to defend Worru. "Your . . . son, you say? If that is so, then you must have the same blood as well." Jormund mused silently. His fist flew out of nowhere, and impacted Reginald on the side of the skull, sending the undead flying. "Or, rather, no blood at all." The Gobi said, waiting for Reginald to get back up. "By the way you destroyed that building, you obviously have the same eyes, the same power, as I do. Stand tall, comrad! Let us enjoy this clash of devils!"

======
"OOF!"

Cormoros, unfortunately, doesn't register pain. However, he most certainly can tell when someone else's foot is covered in his inner organs. Cormoros stared blankly down at the foot that was impaled into his side, and then up at Noval.

"Missed."

In a flash, a third arm grew out of his side, and grabbed Noval's foot, holding the former General firmly in place. At the same time, a fourth arm sprouted from Cormoros' Shoulder, and grabbed at Noval's throat. As he did this, he sword-arm was raised, and swung once again for Noval's head . . .

======
As for Wraith; it is time to be dissapointed. Awaiting the man was not some invincible god, nor was it some higher beast or even a well-armored warrior. No, what it appeared to be was a poorly designed Kasei puppet, much of the wood that made up it's frame was broken, and some of it's inner contraptions could be seen, as well as the darkness that powered it.

The mechanation limped on it's fragmented legs towards Wraith, clicking and screaching all the way.

"My my, what have we here? I do believe I recognize you?" The thing said as wings sprouted from it's back.

OOC: Alpha, take no note, other than negating attacks and a bit of fire, this thing has nothing left. You don't even have to waste a whole post to destroy it. Yes, I put it here so I could have a valid reason to make it stay gone, forever . . .

=====
Kairos approached Arrika, and lent his arm down to pull her off of Seth easily, at the same time putting up a barrier around him, preventing his escape. "In your condition, madam, you should avoid combat. Get to somewhere safe, this battle is almost over. The next few minuets should decide the outcome.

"Always gold for Gerudo..."

Lerick's eye twitched from a combination of disgust and sudden realization. Not only was this Gerudo practically straddling his mutilated ally, but she was doing it quite well. In fact, he was getting jealous. However, his strict training was urging him to stay focused, to put aside sexual desires and thoughts and figure out just what had perked his senses. The three apprentices were chuckling amongst themselves and conversing animatedly, the animation being several pelvic thrusts and a menagerie of other motions.

"Only gold for Gerudo..."

Gold...Something about Koura and Gold...What was it...He was feeling extremely anxious at this point--nothing felt right, but there was no way for him to get Yassen to stop fooling around. If only he didn't have to put up with this headstrong lout of an assassin...If Yassen were at least his underling, then he could beat some sense into the man, but the way things were...Well, maybe he'd get lost in a sandstorm someday in the desert.

...Sandstorm? Why did that ring bells? Gold...Koura...Sandstorm...No! His eyes narrowed and his teeth clenched as he leapt backwards, rushing to the edge of the building as quickly as he could. A jet of fire appeared where he had been, shooting across about three feet at head level. "All of you, run! You'll--"

"Always gold for Gerudo..."

His words were lost in the next part of her chant, and Yassen continued to run his hands over the Gerudo's body with a luster in his eyes. The three apprentices looked over at their frightened superior curiously, trying to figure out what the problem was. Urn, being the smarter of the three, decided to get back as he was told, and soon disappeared over the edge. "Do you want to die?" Lerick spat at the others as he, too, dropped out of sight.

"Goldforce Power: Gerudo."

Lerick felt the desecating wind whirl above him, the edge of the building shielding him ever so slightly. Calling Urn over to him amidst the din, he smashed through the wall of the building and retreated inside for shelter along with his companion. Across the alley, they saw the broken body of Len crash into a wall, mercilessly pelted by the harbinger the Gerudo had unleashed. How could I have forgotten that part of my studies...? The superior criticized himself as Urn's wide eyes revealed the shock in seeing his friend's mangled frame right before him. I let down my men...At least we're rid of Yassen...

______________________________

Perhaps it was because Yassen was in the eye of the storm, but he somehow survived. He had clung to the Gerudo desperately, unaware that his mistaken lover had caused the attack and hoping to get her through it. With his face nestled in her bust, he felt the searing pain of near death as the energy rushed around him, his cheeks stinging as he clung to Koura for dear life.

______________________________

Burlo was not having a good day. He had been hovering ever so quietly by Lerick, ready to blast him with a fire spell to the ear, when he had suddenly moved. The cleric was already half-dead as it was; it was only through luck that he had been able to breath through the holes in the debris covering him, and flying out in fairy form. Not only that, but after Lerick had evaded his strike without so much as looking Burlo's way, there was suddenly a deathtrap surrounding him. He was almost as small as the particles themselves, and in the first few seconds he was able to remain unscathed, gasping in awe at the sudden tempest of energy. Soon, however, he was hit. He exploded out of his fairy form, immediately being barraged with the strike. "'elp me...'elp..." He tried to shout, but alll that emerged was a whisper. Raising his staff, he put all he had left into its splintered surface, chanting weakly as he staggered across the roof, driven by the attack. The third assassin apprentice was being blown towards him, already dead. The drunk closed his eyes and braced for impact as he finished his chant; luckily, none came. When he opened his eyes again, he was inside a very faint blue barrier, the body of the assassin pressed up against it. This isn't going to hold for long...Please, Nayru...

A fake little copy of Kasei - that was it. That was what had managed to halt his Earthbound Hurricane.

Wraith spends many long moments looking at the creature, the 'being' that was able to stop him, however temporary it might have been. What was this thing, that it possessed the power to have accomplished such a mighty feat? Although, he has to admit as his crimson eyes flash over the frail wooden form, the dark energy powering it must have been quite a sight to behold; this thing must have lost a great deal in grinding the twister to stop so instantaneously.

Well, no matter. Not like it will need any of that power when he's done with it.

And with that, Wraith vanishes.

He reappears several seconds later, though the wooden Kasei would likely not see him: he was directly behind the contraption. But, should it be capable of the sense of touch, it'd certainly feel the cold shock of Wraith's staff as the Sheikah plunges it directly through the thing's head, allowing the electricity still raging inside his weapon to light its wooden form aflame as that element sees fit.

And then he drops to the ground, casually meandering off towards where the sounds of battle are still taking place.

* * *

Koura finds herself blinking in shock as her attack seems to pass directly through this idiot's form. This is kinda weird; she had pressed her hand directly against his chest, and the Gerudo Goldforce erupted solely from one's hand: if anything, he would have taken the full brunt of the attack. So how the heck is he still alive and squeezing against her even tighter than before?!?!?!?! (OOC: Seriously, Saber, I gotta know . . . I mean, he's not skilled in any way, shape, or form - unless you're including a stupidity skill - so how's he doing this?)

Well, no use trying to figure that out now. He's alive; and she plans on taking this pathetic little pervert's life. So she performs the best response she can think of: while still launching the Golden energy, she hugs him back all the tighter with her right hand, lets loose a scream of fright from her mouth . . . and hurls a scimitar straight at the man's back with her left arm, aimed with her usual pinpoint accuracy at where his heart lies in his chest. No way he'll dodge this one, not with the bear hug she's cleverly locked him in - or the way he's holding her, she thinks with a mental - not physical, mental - grimace.

* * *

'Missed?'

The import of those words comes a split second too late, as Noval abruptly realizes that just because an attack lands on its target does not mean that any damage has been done. How Cormoros has avoided damage isn't too hard to figure out: he's undead, so all those 'vital' organs that Noval had hit are completely unnecessary to him. Likely he keeps them for times such as these, just so he can lull any opponents that present him with an actual challenge into a false state of security.

Of course, by the time Richarn thinks of this his leg is already being firmly grasped by the newly sprouted arm, and another one is reaching out to clamp down on his neck. He almost drops his sword to the ground before realizing the final form of attack the dark general has launched: his opponent's own blade, homing in on him with a tangible desire for having brains for dinner. His right arm moves upwards, placing his Gilded Sword directly into that blade's path and stopping it cold, but his left hand is a mite too slow: he had hoped to use it to provide his neck with a shield, but not being ambidextrous takes its toll on him by allowing the undead's nasty hand to wrap itself around his throat, choking the life out of him as seconds pass.

And so he sits there: hands around his leg and neck, breath leaving him, and a sword that will doubtlessly pierce his skull once enough oxygen has left him and he can no longer keep it at bay. Not exactly the best of positions to be in.

Luckily, he has one final trick up his sleeve, the very energy that had drawn Cormoros to him in the first place: his Goldforce Power.

Funny thing about the Hylian Goldforce: based as it is on mental and telepathic abilities, one doesn't even need to speak aloud the words needed to launch one of its attacks. Simply thinking the words is enough, and it is definitely a good thing for Noval, as thoughts are much faster than words spoken aloud. So by merely thinking the words, 'GOLDFORCE POWER BEAM!', the image of the Triforce appears in the air, interposing itself between he and his captor.

The beam launching from the "fourth triangle" is like a beacon of golden energy, stretching high into the sky as the eye could see in a matter of seconds. And if everything has gone according to plan, as it has up to this point in the skirmish, Cormoros - or hopefully his remains - is now just as high, being carried along on a river of the holy energy of the Sacred Realm.

A smile split Sovelis's ever youthful face, blood dripping from his parted lips. He leanded his head on Zeze's shoulder and whispered into her ear. "You should have just run. Now... I'm gonna kill you..." His words seemed calm, for someone who had a sword stuck through their chest. "I'm not going to die from a wound like this... I tried to kill myself once in the same way... Not even my own sword, once stabbed through my beating heart, would end my life. How do you expect to do the same when you lack any kind of power?" The blood dripping from his mouth worked its way onto the Bards shoulder, the warm life-giving fluid oozed out of his wound as well, coating her sword and her hands.

He straitened himself and stood as tall as he could, looking down into Zeze's eyes. "I don't really want to do this at all... but you leave me with no other choice." Sovelis smiled at her again. His teeth stained with his own blood now, gleamed in the weak sunlight a deep crimson color. "But then again... your one of the few that might be able to take her away from me..." Sovelis dropped his own sword and wrapped his arm around the young bard, holding her in place so she couldn't run from the inevitable. He raised his free arm up, gathering a small ball of energy into his hand. "I don't even have to use allot of power to kill you... just enough to blow your head clean off of your neck will do...."

Arrika hissed at Kairos and nearly blacked out from pain when she hit the ground with a soft thump. "Seth- you little bastard- I'll kill you, you understand!?"

Seth wrenched out the dagger embedded in his shoulder with a sob and rammed into the barrier around him uselessly. "Sauron!" He called.

With a yowl the black Twili cat appeared as if from nowhere, a pool of shadows forming on the ground as he materialized. Sauron's eyes glowed and with a slash a rip formed in the barrier. Seth scrambled out and ran, Arrika's curses filling his ears.

Arrika was exhausted. She hated everything at the moment. The smell of blood and the dying clogged her senses. Dirt and blood covered much of her face, and her sobbing did not help. Nearly every limb was useless now- if only the blast hadn't made her collide into that wall, she'd only be half as injured.

The Sheikah thief felt herself losing consciousness, although she fought to stay awake, knowing how easily she could pass away in her sleep. The growling of a large dog brought her back to reality- Hiyagi had found her, and was standing between she and Kairos.
===============================================
"Seth!" Kobas looked up for a split second before chopping down yet another handful of soldiers.

Seth ignored him and sprinted past. Kobas called after him again but the thief had long disappeared in the chaos.

"Thorne. Go get him," Kobas ordered Thorne, who nodded obediently and timidly chased his green-haired friend.

"Looked like he was running from Death himself," Rhyss commented as he blocked an axe with his double-ended scythe. "Hiyagi- find Arrika. Can't have our little soldiers dying in their first war," he said, laughing, not knowing how true it almost was.

The blue-haired rogue said nothing, still pondering what might have happened to Seth.

Ooc: I found this pic of Zeze... it was so perfect that I couldn't help but share it with eevverrryyoonnee!!! =) http://s165.photobucket.com/albums/u74/ ... nt=137.jpg

Zeze stood still, holding in her breath. All of this felt like a dream, so surreal. Her life seemed to pass by her in a blur, her eyes slightly glazed. Sovelis's arm around her felt as heavy as lead to her, and maybe, if she moved just a bit, she'd realize that all of this was a dream. And maybe, she'd wake up to find tears dangling from her eyelashes...

The bard snorted, coming back into reality. She had no fear for this person, this mage in front of her, even though she knew she should. Zapheta hissed,

"Conceited much, aren't you? And suicidal, too... kill me, then, you damn traitor. I'm not afraid."

Her sword was still gripped on her hand, but she felt immobilized, stricken, paralyzed. A small, defiant smile crept up her lips as she muttered,

"But don't you think it's awful cowardly of you to use magic against a sword?"

Losing no time, the bard swiftly hooked her foot around Sovelis's knees, jerking them back. She hoped that the tempest would lose balance and fall... one of the cheap tricks that she learned as a young one.

"uugghh!!"

Xeon cried aloud, disgusted that such a filthy blade could touch him. He unsheathed his own sword, and swung at the mage. He was about to swing again, as he had missed the last time, when his head felt like it was going to crack open. He dropped his sword suddenly, staggering about like a drunkard.

"nnn..what..the..."

He fell to his knees, his eyes watering from the pain. What was this? From the corner of his eyes, he saw a flash of the blackest of black, and he wondered if it was a trick from the light. Soon, his head cleared, and he looked about again, his opponent and his chest completely forgotten.

Somehow, the black flash was so familiar. Where had he seen it before?

Suddenly, a pang went through him. He broke into a run, blinding dashing through the enemy, trying to look for the man with the black cloak.

OOC: Honestly, Alpha, I didn't have much knowledge of the Goldforce powers beforehand, seeing as how I just joined FoG. And it hasn't been moving very fast, either...However, there is a reason he is surviving this, and that will be revealed in the...Well, the way JaR is moving, probably the far future...

IC: The entire time, the storm had seemed to be ending at Yassen's form and continuing past and around him, without causing him any harm whatsoever. In his mad struggle to survive the Tempest, his body changed position--the Gerudo girl's hand was now placed against his stomach, not his chest. Still oblivious to the true form of his attacker, he clung desperately still to the Gerudo, crying at the top of his lungs, "LERICK! URN! LEN! OTHER GUY! WHERE ARE YOU?!?!?" Then he felt his skin break. A hole appeared in his robe, and it didn't take long for the attack to penetrate his skin and organs, passing out through his back in a split second and continuing to blast away at his innards. The sudden pain caused him to jerk away, changing the location of the scimitar's target, although not by much. The blow would still be fatal. However, when Koura's blade came within three inches of Yassen, a small orange flash, possibly to quick to be seen, emanated from the blade, and the weapon was pushed aside by just a margin; it now embedded itself in the upper ribcage of the assassin, and he gave a piercing shriek--as the floor beneath him ruptured.

________________________________

Urn's frightened eyes roved the walls, wondering if the structure would be able to hold up to such an incredibly attack, especially one sustained such as this sandstorm was. He met Lerick's gaze--the superior nodded reassuringly at his charge with the ever-cool glare. "We'll be fine. She can only do this for so long, I'm sure. As for the other three...well, that's what happens when you don't pay attention. A pity it took something like this to teach them. Although Yassen should have learned this long ago..." Just then, his comrade's plea reached his ears, and his eyebrows rose. "How is he still...Of course..." Drawing his bloodstained katana, Lerick bit his lip. "The lengths he goes to to protect that idiot...Urn." The last word came out much sterner than the previous sentence, and the trainee came to attention quickly. "You are one of...those units, correct?"

The unit in question gave a small grin, and answered with a falsetto that fit his slinky stature. "Yes I am. What do you need...?" Lerick looked upward. He doubted that Koura would have moved much after starting that attack, and if they were to help Yassen..."Take the ceiling out. Right in the middle, front quarter. Where the Gerudo and our lovable bumbling friend were."

In less than ten seconds, it was done. The twenty foot in diameter section of the ceiling was flying apart in a minor explosion, and Lerick was leaping up through the debris to meet the combatants above.

____________________________

Burlo's staff was held weakly before him, the stream of blue energy channeling between the wooden ends and the faint barrier around him thinning. I don't have much time left...

OOC: Fear not, Saber! I'll get to JaR soon!

. . .

eventually . . .

And I believe this will be my second-to-last post. The rest of you are free to use this topic to finish your stuff up.

IC:
Everywhere, all over town, it was becoming evident; this was a Hylian victory. The hoard was being pushed back everywhere. Hylians were now focusing less on defeating their opponents, and more on helping their freinds lying among the rubbel of the town.

-------

Bam

That was it. That was all it took, and the false Kasei had met the end of the line. The fool had underestimated his opponent, and paid for it with death. There was no dramatic effect as the thing fell to the ground, soulless. It was over for that thing.

Elsewhere in the battle, Cormoros sneered. He barely cared that his army, which he had took the time to put together, was being lost. Heck, he hardly cared about anything right now; except his hand grasped on Noval's throat.

"I got ya now, sonny!" The corpse said, seconds before it's blade would pierce it's victim.

A bright light.

Cormoros felt it instantly, a powerfull attack unlike any other. He didn't even know where it came from. Still, he knew the meaning of pain now; the left side of his body was instantly rendered into nothingness, and his right was following suit.

Eyes open wide, the undead made a grasp for Noval. "Y-you! No. I. Can't . . ." The zombie muttered, and then was silent. The few pieces of flesh that were left on his body tumbled over. Cormoros the dark general was no more.

-------

Kairos looked down at Hiyagi. The man seemed unfazed by the hound. "Move, beast. She needs tending to." Kairos said, as the dog was thrown aside by his magic, letting Kairos move forward to begin healing Arrika. . .

OOC: Yeah, it's short. DEAL WITH IT, 'cause it's over!

YAY!

Now, just Worru needs to post . . . in the meantime, i'll put the second topic up.

Xeon kept running, ignoring the obvious Hylian victory. The whole battle meant no more to him than a passing weather now. The fighting was obviously over, and his father could be here. The Necromancer jumped over a fallen wall nimbly, his dark eyes almost reducing to slits as he scanned the battle fields with a keen eye.

*cough* *cough*

The mage looked up, his breath getting caught in his throat. The coughs were raspy, dry, and short. They came in small spurts, powerful while they lasted, and receding to nothing in seconds. He beared his teeth, and hissed,

"Come out...now..."

"....You..."

A shadow flickered across Xeon's face, and his body crouched in a tense movement. A man clad in a thick, stiff black cloth stepped out from the walls, his figure merely blending into the shadows. He remained in the darkness of the wall, and retreated from the light with a hiss. Xeon gasped. His father - a Necromancer in full power.

"Fa..."

"Don't even bother to say my title. I am not worthy of it."

Xeon clenched his fist.

"I guess you do fill guilty about abandoning me, huh?"

A silence fell in between them. Suddenly, a flash of black crashed into Xeon's chest. He called out, falling over. The figure whispered,

"That is my parting gift to you, Xeon. It will keep you off my track for a while."

With that, his father slipped away, becoming nothing, as if he had never been. The Necromancer looked down upon his chest, and noticed a small glass vial on a chain, lying there. He picked it up delicately, pinching it between his fingers. He saw that it was filled with black blood.. the cursed, evil blood of Necromancers. He opened it quickly, and put the cool, glass vile to his lips. He sucked greedily, feeling the bitter taste run down his tongue, his throat... leaving its path burning with heat.

The Necromancer clenched and unclenched his fingers, feeling renewed. The prophesy had said that by drinking all of his father's blood, he'd become powerful - the most powerful Necromancer in the known world, even... and this was only a small drop, a small ounce of it. Xeon felt immense greed burning inside him. Already, he felt the blood's potency fueling him. He felt so good. And he knew that he must have more....

He must drink his father's blood, lock his soul into this small glass vial...

OoC Edit: http://www.ffrebirth.com/mp3/ff7ac-onewingedangel.mp3
Lets set the atmosphere, shall we? Since Nogare is gone, someone has to do it. Sakiko, Lets have a wicked sword battle now. okay?

Sovelis felt his legs slip out from beneath him, sending his body toppling to the dusty ground below. "Tricky little minx, aren't you?" his smile widened even more as he crushed the ball of magic into his hand, re-absorbing the power that he had planed on killing with. With his mechanical arm, he caught himself, and flipped back onto his feet. "How many times must I say it to everyone? You need to do better than that to do me in..."

He pointed at his own discarded sword, and motioned at it like he would a person. The curved steel weapon floated back to its master instantly and he caught it in his right hand. "Your right though. I should give you a chance to fight back, so that I still have a shred of honor left. And its no fun killing someone instantaneously when you can carve them into small chunks." Sovelis pointed his katana at Zeze and walked at her, closing the gap. "You can stab and slash at me all you want, your blade isn't sharp enough to cut my or my ambitions. You cannot win..."

"Yes, let's.", he said, not from the body that had been crushed in the remains of another building. It came, instead, from the body of bones that was forming in front of the giant man. The scythe returned to the skeleton king from the remains of the wreckage, blade as sharp as ever.

He, knowing full well that his swings would not damage the man in any way, continued to strike repeatedly, his only desire to protect his only son, his only child.

His last line in this world.

OOC: so short and cheesy, I know.

Zeze spat on her blade, all fears and all hesitation fleeting her. The Tempest looked so worn and tired from the battle that she suddenly realized that he was not untouchable, unconquerable as she thought. The steady, dull light of the sun ran along her liquid like sword gleefully, as if pleading for more blood. The bard smiled bitterly at Sovelis, her green eyes unwavering - frozen in time. She laughed with a razor sharp edge slicing through its rings.

"It's strange how much a dead man must say before he meets his maker, huh?"

The bard rushed forth, swerving around expertly to step around Sovelis. She grasped it with two hands and fell to one knee, cutting through the smoky air, and hoping that she cut through something else, too.

---------------------

Masakazu dropped his sword, shocked and angry at the same time. He yelled with fury burning his very words,

"Coward!"

He spat on the ground, and grinded the dust. He muttered,

"...worthless...piece of..."

He didn't get to finish, as he saw the Hylian forces overtaking them. He swore under his breath, every curse falling from his lips with a hiss. As he knew that his attempts were futile, he decided to retreaet also, swearing to win the next battle...