Well, this is a mess. I watched the whole thing unfold from a safe distance, I didn’t think it was a good time to interfere but now…. everyone is underground.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqED75XMjCg
This has gotten out of hand, I think it’s more important to get my powers back instead of gaining trust from either side.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwN8fdvhOy
I look towards the many pillars in the distance and wonder which one could be hiding the Essence of Zeus. Just to be safe, maybe I should go to the one Caecius is heading. Don’t want him to get his hands on such power.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQqHfeJv7R
???: “Watch out!”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94hlMnuAda
Moryuu: “What the-”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJPNk6BJYS
I instinctively moved out of the way of the falling object which seems to be who I’ve been waiting for.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6RfvBGLR3
Moryuu: “About time you showed up.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhvu95OL75
The seemingly young boy dusted himself off and rose to meet me face to face. Considering our situation, I’m still surprised he would wear a normal yellow t-shirt and blue jeans like we’re on some vacation. 820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDM0HATODSt
???: “Sorry, it was hard forcing my way in here but the portal that girl’s bird made helped a lot. Sad what happened to her.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXGqEIV3be
Moryuu: “….Yeah.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjuzHI8J26
???: “Well, don’t worry I’m sure her next self will be just as interesting.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aCoRLkqgc
Moryuu: “Maybe, anyway now that you’re here Talon, what’s the plan?”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWtnDZbGTi
Talon: “Well, it seems that those guys forgot about the dolls I gave them, oh, here’s a refill on those poison vials.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFWh3DKfcQ
Moryuu: “Thanks.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkiSbhe5Ex
Talon: “Anyway, I think you had the right idea regarding your powers. Things are getting dicey, try not to kill any more people.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyIjd0Xw8N
Moryuu: “Alright, I’ll try. What about you?”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4b40mrvyJ
Talon: “I’ll try to find the sleeping bodies of the fallen by teleportation. Their souls should still be in there ready for the next round.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSzaxgOxw9
Moryuu: “Right, after that maybe you can help the rest of those alive.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdZQTKuf1X
Talon: “Of course, I can’t wait to actually meet normal people. Well, except maybe Jayden since his organization is similar to mine and I don’t want to be dragged back into that environment.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEzz1nlr8Z
Moryuu: “Let’s hurry, we don’t have much time.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ObfWQZMDv
Talon: “Never time for a joke to lighten the mood I guess.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMkOzxEuJq
Talon raises his hands and a yellow portal appears beside me.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4TDN57zTn
Talon: “It’s way easier to open portals inside this place than outside. This should take you to where Caecius is, be careful. Get your powers and leave, I can’t have either of you dying.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfnh6tlYgu
I guess my powers are in the pillar Caecius was heading towards... terrific. 820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvS9OK54x4K
Moryuu: “You too, don’t mess with the Umbra Lord Gideon.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIjHBz2l5S
Talon: “You find him interesting?”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVFwW6vltP
Moryuu: “I want a rematch with him after I get my powers back….and you’re no match for him. He’d rip you apart.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGH2KQhfs7
Talon grabs his chest in a dramatic manner resembling the melodrama I attempted in my alter ego. 820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn76HgRwmQw
Talon: “You wound me good man, don’t worry If it’s one thing I’m good at it’s teleporting away.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfc6K0ffXjs
I nod and enter the portal to find myself in a near pitch-black structure. There are glimmers of blue light to the right and left of me. 820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZXyHnjxF4
I steel myself for the journey and take the right path, listening closely to see if Caecius is near.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QcHeCmiX4
A wind mage is too much trouble for me now, especially since he can suffocate me which is pretty high level. 820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OfPyTAxc9
I creep through the dark corridor to come across the blue light from earlier that’s coming from a weirdly floating lantern. Suddenly the Flame begins to dance around and playfully flies deeper into the structure. 820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNToBLr1CJ7
Moryuu: “I guess you want me to follow you.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLg0cgSslQ7
I follow close behind the strange lantern until we find ourselves to what I imagine is the center of the pillar. 820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNTWGDZbN8
Blue light shines from the top that reveals another sharper pillar in the center of the room with 2 lanterns adorned on 2 of the corners. I guess this little guy is one of them but where’s the last one. 820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvbzPxkk0c
*Footsteps*820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhScvJTvzF
I dash to the nearest hiding place within the cracks of the jagged walls. As expected, Caecius comes walking in with the last lantern. I guess they don’t care who comes in.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9L5bEvFe48
Caecius: “I feel powerful energy here, perhaps it’s really here. Surely it must be fate if I’ve found it so quick.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAFGG18TFV
He inspects the sharp pillar in the center, searching for a way to unlock the contents of it I gather. I can’t let him get Zeus’s Essence.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYCwQlVM3X
I’ll find a way to get the jump on him, maybe there’s a way to scale the walls. 820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYiruIofwq
Caecius: “Mmmm?”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWao3IwofF7
I guess that makes too much noise, now what?820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhFMPzRevP
Caecius: “I know someone is there, come out or I’m coming to you.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAy7wbJQDi
Unless I have Zeus’s Essence it will be too risky to fight him. I come out of my hiding spot with my hands up.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiGRsWHddb
Caecius: “So it’s you, the mysterious man. What do you want, come to fight?”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHFwwZvoen
Moryuu: “Not really, I’ve come looking for something.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3UvgwKMtM
Caecius: “Oh, and what would that be.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNrYtqaNB9
Moryuu: “Something that belongs to me.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpl8jqFWXH
Caecius: “Depending on what that thing is, I might have to kill you.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwoik7aKM5
Moryuu: “I expected as much.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNkSnog5kE
This is going smoother than I thought. 820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaztnodmGe
Moryuu: “!!”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj74QtSGo0X
Is what I thought until he shot a blade of air near my face, leaving a cut. 820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweK9LCjvfU
Caecius: “There’s something else I need to know from you, who are you, and what’s your purpose?”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1QOnp8tY9
Moryuu: “Is that all, do you want fries with that?”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0HqNQoNe5
Caecius: “*Glare*”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtelDWSy88W
Moryuu: “I have no problem telling you the truth about this place, I wonder though if you’ll believe me.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMl1wNhdud9
Caecius: “No harm in trying.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ssvXxV5KK
Moryuu: “Fine, the first part of the info dump is the fact that this is not the afterlife.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMegHs58Ahu
Caecius: “!!”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLxVBTCDzZ
Caecius: “Explain.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLvRwYpleF
Moryuu: “I don’t know if your world has something similar but what we’re standing on is actually a dead eldritch god.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV68oM4mH7M
Caecius: “But….why and how are there dead people here?”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNybAN6jbd
Moryuu: “Well, an acquaintance says that the nature of this god is to drag souls from other afterlives into this realm that seems like one but with an added twist. Time loops, every time someone dies and comes back, a part of their soul feeds the god and with enough energy, it will revive and cause massive damage to our universes and much more.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkPKLocZsh
Caecius: “….”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKhTXRP1Te
Moryuu: “Don’t believe me huh?”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3ADVhlbHB
Caecius: “So you’re saying we’ve all died multiple times, came back in the warehouse without much power, and then did the whole thing again but slightly different.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuM8H9WpRG
Moryuu: “Yep, well, everyone except the Umbras for some reason.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPFRvLSkpp
Caecius: “Impossible, this is too outrageous to believe!”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cN4lc7hGX
Moryuu: “Have you ever wondered why shifts happen?”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRVLPmWrBd
Caecius: “….”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSHMuHISM8
Moryuu: “That’s the beast stirring, my job is to keep everyone from dying and maybe work together to do enough damage to it so it loses all the energy it’s been building up. After that, everyone can go back to where they belong.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyifBDfZQWG
Caecius: “Let’s say I believe you, why are you here instead of babysitting everyone else?”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPJC0ANlLV
Moryuu: “Because there’s an item of great power that can help me do my job.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0wUmj2L4k
Caecius: “….”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqT22ytkPo
Caecius: “Sorry, I can’t risk believing you.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tXWqmMkRa
He swipes his hands and shots a wide blade of air towards me and I narrowly dodge out of the way.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9ocmzd34w
Moryuu: “I knew it, never trust a mage, especially one hellbent on bringing back the dead.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjCwG4dso2
Caecius: “It can be done!”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV89lovNfby
Moryuu: “Maybe, but the dead should rest.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GKVXZ9EMp
Caecius: “Silence!”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAUsGnwKT1
Caecius continually blasts out wave after wave of air blades but I dodge them all. Still, it’s hard to maneuver in this-820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkNpAWSfNO
Moryuu: “!!!!”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0BCaVY3Ad
I'm….suffocating!820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibU8G8Ttl9
Caecius: “Enough of this game, I’ll kill you and get what I've come for.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzxeUVC0OJ
I throw 3 daggers at him and he blocks it with air but it did break his spell. 820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOak6znO3Xj
Moryuu: “*Cough* *Cough*”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQ70x4qT7S
Moryuu: “I guess you need concentration for that huh?”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzpn57Ns0o
Caecius: “I don’t need it to kill you.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupjLIS9320
He shoots more air blades but I jump high up onto the few bars that line the ceiling corners. I let loose more daggers at him from above but he blocks them again.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMsMRpBSSW
Caecius: “It’s useless!”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdRsvCP91H
Moryuu: “Is it?”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnPz1ibAgM
I close my eyes, breathe, and take out my tonfas. I jump down and slam into the ground causing a small crater. 820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpLZUWqBAH
Caecius: “You’re going to fight me with melee weapons, fool.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0T0CuVBSY
Caecius shots a dozen or so air blades at me but I stay still….and listen.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFBZ0SEw3D
The slight movements in the air, the whirling sound of blades, and the split second before impact.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAIqop1NTs
My instincts flair up to prepare for the assault.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGTcBA0re4
…820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1wN75LSDd
..820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAxVNa9WZJ
.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbHNlZauvZ
NOW!820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNtHe87Uz0
*Slash*820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBAtJ2pfIb
*Slash*820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypN53j9Os6
*Slash*820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0zuJuh5dD
Caecius: “Wha, how!”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyNNr4F69s
I knocked away all the blades of air, probably causing large gashes in the wall behind me. I was still cut all over but nothing vital has been damaged. 820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTgY41Cl2h
Moryuu: “What’s wrong, I guess you’re not the best wind user out there.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LLBxGKacF
Caecius: “You!”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqctk40WO44
I keep my eyes closed and anticipated the assault of air blades.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxFfm6i9QL
I dash forward and reflect the dangerous ones away right before they touch my body while letting others past my defenses so I can keep going.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EVUVEYTzw
Despite the many injuries, I make it right in front of Caecius and hit him in the gut with my Tonfa bypassing his wind barrier. 820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmvnonDgMs
Caecius: “GAH!”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5S1hg1UE9
He’s sent flying into the wall, still-820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqJgTE159y
Moryuu: “Tch.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLKPvQph9F
I’m not that well off either, I’m breathing heavily and I don’t think that finished the job. Damn, I should have attached an Anti-Magic Dagger to my Tonfa. 820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92mM1VM5mj
Caecius: “*Cough* *Cough*”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRodCXFkb17
Caecius: “No more playing around, I’m going to…oh my god.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdgroHoSB0
Moryuu: “What?”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWksfOQYJkH
I look towards what he’s staring at and behold, there’s the flask of Zeus’s Essence and….something else floating in the air. All where the pillar once stood, I guess it was sliced to bits during the fight.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNtepbgAb1
Caecius: “The Eye….”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIE0XGmmnv
He dashes to the object and I jump too, he can’t have either of them. Whatever the eye is it can’t be good if he has it. 820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWD46TB9B9A
He shoots a powerful blunt blast of air towards me which pushes me away but I throw 2 daggers at him and 1 from the blunt side at the flask as I fall. 820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnGPgKFYOI
The flask falls to the ground safely but Caecius grabs the eye. I shake off the pain of the fall and push towards the flash while he’s distracted. 820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8iY9Xc9Po
Caecius: “At last, I’m closer to my goal. Wait for me….Nieth.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RP6U1zpYB
Caecius: “It’s over Moryuu, now that I’m this close to my goal there’s no way I’m losing to you.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlgQJoRuWe
Moryuu: “Maybe before, but not now.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEf80mKFOk
Caecius: “What’s that, a potion of some sort? That’s not going to help you here.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3N4APC9qq
Moryuu: “Well, allow me to surprise you.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjz7xdQrcv
[ Music Plays: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojL5Y5HvOlE ]820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIlO1bs8tk
I down the entire flask and instantly, I can feel the power of lightning coursing through me again.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgj5Nppp9Z9
I’m lifted into the air, my body is electrocuted from within and I begin to feel the almost unbearable pain battering my bleeding body.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9haijQLbk
I’ve survived this before, I-I’ll....survive ...again!820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7ynPm7cSi
Soon enough, the pain subsides and the real power begins to form within. 820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwBu614hpN
My wounds heal and azure lightning strikes all around scorching the area around me.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNXRQLA2Wk
I float back down, my eyes shoot open to reveal a deep light blue color change and I push back my hair. 820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLmPsXLMBl
Moryuu: “Bow, you’re in the presence of a God.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6aTXO0Wvgl
Caecius: “Wha-What are you!?”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIQv5Ns53F
I blitzed past him in the form of lightning and grab the eye before he could register what happened.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOcfs406AZ
Moryuu: “The winner of this battle.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRd3UwHjP8
He hurried to fling more air blades towards me but I block them all with a lightning shield. 820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYS5UCfNlah
Moryuu: “Normally I’d kill a mage like you but I have a mission to complete, give up.” 820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56RcOtXPSe
Caecius: “I can’t….I need that eye….”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQEdf0EhYQ
Moryuu: “She’s dead, let her rest.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2FPSSyYcv
Caecius: “Rest? How can she rest?! She was killed before my eyes by the scum of the earth! Even if I have to move heaven and earth, I will give her the life she deserved.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5H1YS59i3B
Moryuu: “I’ve lost loved ones too, but I would not disgrace their memory and name by dragging them back from the dead.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQD4OqFOTp
Caecius: “Tch….”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHzzBm2S9z
Moryuu: “There are few things I hate more than Necromancy. That’s why I’m going to kill Shadow for not only betraying me but because he dabbles in such dark arts.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8A5ms73VXe
Moryuu: “We’re done here, I don’t want to kill you and you’re no match for me. I’m leaving here with the eye, maybe you should think about what I said.”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjRMXga6l7
I turn my back on Caecius and head towards the exit of this place. Now that I have my powers back, I can move around the place a lot faster and help everyone stay alive better. Well, everyone except Gideon and Shadow. 820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLRfyAaSEv
Caecius: “No….No….I can’t lose her again!!!”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYaigvUsAW
I turn around to see Caecius conjuring up a large mass of magical wind that would do nothing to me but would probably collapse the place. 820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQMDZ3roFc
Caecius: “Die!!”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBeQLPMD0P
He throws it at me, I know it won’t hurt me but….my killing instinct involuntary kicked in anyway.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQcr1VaupG
Moryuu: “You Fool!”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntgK0Ni9Hm
I shoot a powerful blast of lightning that rips through his wind and then through him causing a massive hole in the wall that leads outside and collapses a couple of buildings too.820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQRS7oYCXE
In the end, Caecius collapses on the ground charred black and….probably dead. 820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipzFNlIIzt
Moryuu: “….Damn it, why didn’t you give up….”820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLpbMqFKEG
1 Day Till Shift820Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBNaTO9OoB
