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.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80VzaFhfJo
This has gotten out of hand, I think it’s more important to get my powers back instead of gaining trust from either side.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4DQ7nrWmh
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.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCWzVLosSj
???: “Watch out!”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXp0JWoyyv2
Moryuu: “What the-”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdUi7gCDng
I instinctively moved out of the way of the falling object which seems to be who I’ve been waiting for.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQu4nqJuvZ
Moryuu: “About time you showed up.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2R8A7PbIOi
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. 740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡloDoZ0XSL5
???: “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.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4hW3tjRx0
Moryuu: “….Yeah.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WOZ4zD9FE
???: “Well, don’t worry I’m sure her next self will be just as interesting.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8H6blzUJE
Moryuu: “Maybe, anyway now that you’re here Talon, what’s the plan?”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfedpIIAg94
Talon: “Well, it seems that those guys forgot about the dolls I gave them, oh, here’s a refill on those poison vials.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27nZLpT6F6
Moryuu: “Thanks.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhr56TaLd2
Talon: “Anyway, I think you had the right idea regarding your powers. Things are getting dicey, try not to kill any more people.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNqDPdBq4K
Moryuu: “Alright, I’ll try. What about you?”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQtnmHjE1s
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.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rrrJrKX0k
Moryuu: “Right, after that maybe you can help the rest of those alive.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIweShhOQE
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.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VFtAh1Cl0
Moryuu: “Let’s hurry, we don’t have much time.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1Zd6o6SUN
Talon: “Never time for a joke to lighten the mood I guess.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjd80L90UpY
Talon raises his hands and a yellow portal appears beside me.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvG3hsKQ3ru
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.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTs68pzKlln
I guess my powers are in the pillar Caecius was heading towards... terrific. 740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡope95LCVFQ
Moryuu: “You too, don’t mess with the Umbra Lord Gideon.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPV1IC40tNJ
Talon: “You find him interesting?”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTF0rPolCz
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.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSg4Olhvvk
Talon grabs his chest in a dramatic manner resembling the melodrama I attempted in my alter ego. 740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PsR1CyzQD
Talon: “You wound me good man, don’t worry If it’s one thing I’m good at it’s teleporting away.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mEO7sl8XM
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. 740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbdd1JyBgO
I steel myself for the journey and take the right path, listening closely to see if Caecius is near.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaU8imnrKc
A wind mage is too much trouble for me now, especially since he can suffocate me which is pretty high level. 740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPjGjrXYkR
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. 740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKG0lmbt7dQ
Moryuu: “I guess you want me to follow you.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvK2cnCA0eJ
I follow close behind the strange lantern until we find ourselves to what I imagine is the center of the pillar. 740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXfKfy09O3
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. 740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuZoRUaeZf
*Footsteps*740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6EBKwoRJD
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.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGAZN4IAfd
Caecius: “I feel powerful energy here, perhaps it’s really here. Surely it must be fate if I’ve found it so quick.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdczAo2UlXm
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.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEetK26t1f
I’ll find a way to get the jump on him, maybe there’s a way to scale the walls. 740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UXc6FnVdw
Caecius: “Mmmm?”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZX1Xa1EhnO
I guess that makes too much noise, now what?740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWHsUfPxol
Caecius: “I know someone is there, come out or I’m coming to you.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxhaXBXcbb
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.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3NGSmNa3G
Caecius: “So it’s you, the mysterious man. What do you want, come to fight?”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFszJasKqw
Moryuu: “Not really, I’ve come looking for something.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OUXC3do7o
Caecius: “Oh, and what would that be.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeV1PxXqfl
Moryuu: “Something that belongs to me.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7JsIq4tdE
Caecius: “Depending on what that thing is, I might have to kill you.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTS0FnY4Ri
Moryuu: “I expected as much.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oHRG6i3HT
This is going smoother than I thought. 740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7ciq8rnUM
Moryuu: “!!”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxlJZT4pwQ
Is what I thought until he shot a blade of air near my face, leaving a cut. 740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLQ7Rc7Yfn
Caecius: “There’s something else I need to know from you, who are you, and what’s your purpose?”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnOAbqWuEA
Moryuu: “Is that all, do you want fries with that?”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNthRZwvtU9
Caecius: “*Glare*”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yRpL51ySy
Moryuu: “I have no problem telling you the truth about this place, I wonder though if you’ll believe me.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBlBHRO1qU
Caecius: “No harm in trying.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvgccYpcrM
Moryuu: “Fine, the first part of the info dump is the fact that this is not the afterlife.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveIxWN38B8
Caecius: “!!”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8j2EpZuRS8
Caecius: “Explain.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7f4lFqQ9r9
Moryuu: “I don’t know if your world has something similar but what we’re standing on is actually a dead eldritch god.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRjobEY99C
Caecius: “But….why and how are there dead people here?”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQqrv29JZe
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.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wfF2Sp2aE
Caecius: “….”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWdKVCUefx
Moryuu: “Don’t believe me huh?”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxl2STEuqX
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.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1riV1D6Yk
Moryuu: “Yep, well, everyone except the Umbras for some reason.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vtIIUdv9u
Caecius: “Impossible, this is too outrageous to believe!”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TU8pDqlms
Moryuu: “Have you ever wondered why shifts happen?”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1kxkNCSJw
Caecius: “….”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvoAmnqysu
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.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3amUvtp2Lu
Caecius: “Let’s say I believe you, why are you here instead of babysitting everyone else?”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxegBhKtXE
Moryuu: “Because there’s an item of great power that can help me do my job.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ntq1mf0Aa
Caecius: “….”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Jv5q2JX10
Caecius: “Sorry, I can’t risk believing you.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVI9TjRgZY
He swipes his hands and shots a wide blade of air towards me and I narrowly dodge out of the way.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIdBvjGhHK
Moryuu: “I knew it, never trust a mage, especially one hellbent on bringing back the dead.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYIRYlqOme
Caecius: “It can be done!”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvMAMfc81H
Moryuu: “Maybe, but the dead should rest.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzk3cBsPz4
Caecius: “Silence!”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCa00Jn8fLX
Caecius continually blasts out wave after wave of air blades but I dodge them all. Still, it’s hard to maneuver in this-740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmhkUCQ4IN
Moryuu: “!!!!”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU90QpQz8C5
I'm….suffocating!740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpauT6azOh6
Caecius: “Enough of this game, I’ll kill you and get what I've come for.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93qkOtIIU7
I throw 3 daggers at him and he blocks it with air but it did break his spell. 740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMJ9EhuOJi
Moryuu: “*Cough* *Cough*”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHO9cGgOmhH
Moryuu: “I guess you need concentration for that huh?”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWmKh8RxLt
Caecius: “I don’t need it to kill you.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIrhODPDe2
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.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdbddN3A8O
Caecius: “It’s useless!”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2sj56C46G
Moryuu: “Is it?”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SUqd1pyRY
I close my eyes, breathe, and take out my tonfas. I jump down and slam into the ground causing a small crater. 740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLIib1EveM
Caecius: “You’re going to fight me with melee weapons, fool.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QFkR7OBR2
Caecius shots a dozen or so air blades at me but I stay still….and listen.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgObTxrAAPO
The slight movements in the air, the whirling sound of blades, and the split second before impact.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0jGH4r9nl
My instincts flair up to prepare for the assault.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXZByYfjRj
…740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Iriw5yATi
..740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4U7vgfD6KI
.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdS0IV9Qh7
NOW!740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCL892nmGsa
*Slash*740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhdWY0eJTX
*Slash*740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKrNdJ6T1C
*Slash*740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrPewGUzjP
Caecius: “Wha, how!”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuK2lYFWWK
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. 740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UGqntJiK0
Moryuu: “What’s wrong, I guess you’re not the best wind user out there.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPkIQhsYrF
Caecius: “You!”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7WaeOnMxF
I keep my eyes closed and anticipated the assault of air blades.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoioy8aAWLe
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.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngNbQlI6Pd
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. 740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgk213yq63f
Caecius: “GAH!”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsu6JqqTL9
He’s sent flying into the wall, still-740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23yBb2Ak19
Moryuu: “Tch.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zihFFiZ29
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. 740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnaKXuNv7m
Caecius: “*Cough* *Cough*”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0KIRKY4YO
Caecius: “No more playing around, I’m going to…oh my god.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjEdneoKzU
Moryuu: “What?”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pkZAvQHep
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.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgNcoA9kdx
Caecius: “The Eye….”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6zSeAs39V
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. 740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOnHYEytA8
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. 740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3j6rpIlIVK
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. 740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntWzPe5xNi
Caecius: “At last, I’m closer to my goal. Wait for me….Nieth.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkmSKzDU3L
Caecius: “It’s over Moryuu, now that I’m this close to my goal there’s no way I’m losing to you.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMNUa1HHTv
Moryuu: “Maybe before, but not now.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtYrcpERJh
Caecius: “What’s that, a potion of some sort? That’s not going to help you here.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI41dbpy6Ic
Moryuu: “Well, allow me to surprise you.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUSsiBvUDZ
[ Music Plays: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojL5Y5HvOlE ]740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDW8iiHs9Dy
I down the entire flask and instantly, I can feel the power of lightning coursing through me again.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrpcljHSTb
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.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbGRJVfcVn
I’ve survived this before, I-I’ll....survive ...again!740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuk6pPfzB0j
Soon enough, the pain subsides and the real power begins to form within. 740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDn1uGwPPS
My wounds heal and azure lightning strikes all around scorching the area around me.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwte39gvTO
I float back down, my eyes shoot open to reveal a deep light blue color change and I push back my hair. 740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAGdTzETpF
Moryuu: “Bow, you’re in the presence of a God.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NvUdPILLP
Caecius: “Wha-What are you!?”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5v3Kv1WGpo
I blitzed past him in the form of lightning and grab the eye before he could register what happened.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1bHkX52OU
Moryuu: “The winner of this battle.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOouBhZuqG
He hurried to fling more air blades towards me but I block them all with a lightning shield. 740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBL98fhulco
Moryuu: “Normally I’d kill a mage like you but I have a mission to complete, give up.” 740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrFGA9Srk9
Caecius: “I can’t….I need that eye….”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODEUMXulBa
Moryuu: “She’s dead, let her rest.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXC0FpnX1a
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.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1og4kuNaBM
Moryuu: “I’ve lost loved ones too, but I would not disgrace their memory and name by dragging them back from the dead.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TX7gSowc6
Caecius: “Tch….”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡer57trMDuq
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.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQhjkWBJGJ
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.”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7U579H5iop
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. 740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZ5B9g4rcT
Caecius: “No….No….I can’t lose her again!!!”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4tGIiV75w
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. 740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjruJs4V1pC
Caecius: “Die!!”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBqN7yboT2
He throws it at me, I know it won’t hurt me but….my killing instinct involuntary kicked in anyway.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJzxFlgDQx
Moryuu: “You Fool!”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1rS1yoXNr
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.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuv6LV7Lg9p
In the end, Caecius collapses on the ground charred black and….probably dead. 740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVgD7HxDbw
Moryuu: “….Damn it, why didn’t you give up….”740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSG3xUNhWP
1 Day Till Shift740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMsr7dGeFs
