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.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0alqqrSXHY
This has gotten out of hand, I think it’s more important to get my powers back instead of gaining trust from either side.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoWRNWJ2ZC
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.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTw6gbLdsz
???: “Watch out!”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavyH11H6SC
Moryuu: “What the-”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBfgPfhU9X
I instinctively moved out of the way of the falling object which seems to be who I’ve been waiting for.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGD4Up6w2CL
Moryuu: “About time you showed up.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEzghgHbRJ
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. 777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD052PCKWqx
???: “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.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWltWSkL26D
Moryuu: “….Yeah.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE57fpbcfcH
???: “Well, don’t worry I’m sure her next self will be just as interesting.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ooMJpp0db
Moryuu: “Maybe, anyway now that you’re here Talon, what’s the plan?”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpxppkv1yQ
Talon: “Well, it seems that those guys forgot about the dolls I gave them, oh, here’s a refill on those poison vials.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHD96ts9B0a
Moryuu: “Thanks.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KgQv6YjYz
Talon: “Anyway, I think you had the right idea regarding your powers. Things are getting dicey, try not to kill any more people.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlffUzWYm8D
Moryuu: “Alright, I’ll try. What about you?”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fhCKIvBM5
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.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsB0OpLLCYD
Moryuu: “Right, after that maybe you can help the rest of those alive.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWARyYoxMtk
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.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbufHy7TOzu
Moryuu: “Let’s hurry, we don’t have much time.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwfoVD6Fqj
Talon: “Never time for a joke to lighten the mood I guess.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkh2doqsQg
Talon raises his hands and a yellow portal appears beside me.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoEFmKHdqm
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.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFvH6mE1Ho
I guess my powers are in the pillar Caecius was heading towards... terrific. 777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQC1Zvm1ZK
Moryuu: “You too, don’t mess with the Umbra Lord Gideon.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJDt7vSGNf
Talon: “You find him interesting?”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLIYZNDnqA
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.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjy1HyxDCg
Talon grabs his chest in a dramatic manner resembling the melodrama I attempted in my alter ego. 777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3W6UOeIQ4G
Talon: “You wound me good man, don’t worry If it’s one thing I’m good at it’s teleporting away.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbz2Nmyj74s
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. 777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJGWZF5oMl
I steel myself for the journey and take the right path, listening closely to see if Caecius is near.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWVgVbIriO
A wind mage is too much trouble for me now, especially since he can suffocate me which is pretty high level. 777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzPOKZbjMC
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. 777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuSSK4XFDx
Moryuu: “I guess you want me to follow you.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEBG3DeuET
I follow close behind the strange lantern until we find ourselves to what I imagine is the center of the pillar. 777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyX5kKDt3ZZ
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. 777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmCCQOx2hY
*Footsteps*777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqp6B5V32S
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.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7s0b8iVHJW
Caecius: “I feel powerful energy here, perhaps it’s really here. Surely it must be fate if I’ve found it so quick.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmG1HTPUNfY
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.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvnMHI8zb4
I’ll find a way to get the jump on him, maybe there’s a way to scale the walls. 777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYTd02oHVK
Caecius: “Mmmm?”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBW1ksmgcGL
I guess that makes too much noise, now what?777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ463tRSv2ow
Caecius: “I know someone is there, come out or I’m coming to you.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZefb6u4qun
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.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBEpwmb0XQ
Caecius: “So it’s you, the mysterious man. What do you want, come to fight?”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2yoZOjKGF
Moryuu: “Not really, I’ve come looking for something.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXGxiPLlPp
Caecius: “Oh, and what would that be.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaor9XzVngl
Moryuu: “Something that belongs to me.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBC5X9Fcgp
Caecius: “Depending on what that thing is, I might have to kill you.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7c2oeaQCb
Moryuu: “I expected as much.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRz081VFYcs
This is going smoother than I thought. 777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaUKbbvVeS
Moryuu: “!!”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqpuWEmVpI
Is what I thought until he shot a blade of air near my face, leaving a cut. 777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOK9Fb6Pec
Caecius: “There’s something else I need to know from you, who are you, and what’s your purpose?”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPhGC1bmz4
Moryuu: “Is that all, do you want fries with that?”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPTGwDbkVO
Caecius: “*Glare*”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmNoKMudGa
Moryuu: “I have no problem telling you the truth about this place, I wonder though if you’ll believe me.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJ85O8882X
Caecius: “No harm in trying.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkC924d07d
Moryuu: “Fine, the first part of the info dump is the fact that this is not the afterlife.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFiteYIzCS
Caecius: “!!”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgP0VoQD09v
Caecius: “Explain.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaJciNhReY
Moryuu: “I don’t know if your world has something similar but what we’re standing on is actually a dead eldritch god.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihWd7xpe2s
Caecius: “But….why and how are there dead people here?”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE71BVMUzf4
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.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasQgRpx2YP
Caecius: “….”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LAiZppyMe
Moryuu: “Don’t believe me huh?”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Ttu2bFZVL
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.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwXcg3T85C
Moryuu: “Yep, well, everyone except the Umbras for some reason.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dCeFC7Gs0
Caecius: “Impossible, this is too outrageous to believe!”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRoikBjBPcl
Moryuu: “Have you ever wondered why shifts happen?”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjQH5gJmpF
Caecius: “….”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8WVGXq58F
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.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpEFPEnjsM
Caecius: “Let’s say I believe you, why are you here instead of babysitting everyone else?”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8weJFL4kH
Moryuu: “Because there’s an item of great power that can help me do my job.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaomudVbmaX
Caecius: “….”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kwUUUeYVM
Caecius: “Sorry, I can’t risk believing you.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdgtpkyiN0
He swipes his hands and shots a wide blade of air towards me and I narrowly dodge out of the way.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKQqQa4StC
Moryuu: “I knew it, never trust a mage, especially one hellbent on bringing back the dead.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzyPOkzX0N
Caecius: “It can be done!”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9y51i6vGK
Moryuu: “Maybe, but the dead should rest.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXNwYkEGAh
Caecius: “Silence!”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2Usz8Ntrj
Caecius continually blasts out wave after wave of air blades but I dodge them all. Still, it’s hard to maneuver in this-777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvYzCcJI38
Moryuu: “!!!!”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vbCFd20oB
I'm….suffocating!777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFY6WFTIkNR
Caecius: “Enough of this game, I’ll kill you and get what I've come for.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNBgbM9Wcb
I throw 3 daggers at him and he blocks it with air but it did break his spell. 777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WBXRCdlPl
Moryuu: “*Cough* *Cough*”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEN7SYghbV
Moryuu: “I guess you need concentration for that huh?”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRPx8gYILl
Caecius: “I don’t need it to kill you.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Q73WqsieY
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.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsnS5qHWmE
Caecius: “It’s useless!”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWAZxRwgPf
Moryuu: “Is it?”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWbutnyO7U
I close my eyes, breathe, and take out my tonfas. I jump down and slam into the ground causing a small crater. 777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wnRWysE4u
Caecius: “You’re going to fight me with melee weapons, fool.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPq5Qv8SPn
Caecius shots a dozen or so air blades at me but I stay still….and listen.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Tws4NOs85
The slight movements in the air, the whirling sound of blades, and the split second before impact.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzLL0cgSg7
My instincts flair up to prepare for the assault.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTADAM7QAxG
…777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2d5OPn0cb
..777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzIRmLHJ4J
.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9e5sjzAMt
NOW!777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlOEbiiKU2
*Slash*777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMEXzWMUt4
*Slash*777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yLDukodna
*Slash*777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CSwXgbqN1
Caecius: “Wha, how!”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0WjTij9DM
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. 777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccDYetI2Da
Moryuu: “What’s wrong, I guess you’re not the best wind user out there.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LbfDmDXbX
Caecius: “You!”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGHije2bM8
I keep my eyes closed and anticipated the assault of air blades.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4UJbW5ZEs
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.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSPzFEBcjA
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. 777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgvSwxqZQu
Caecius: “GAH!”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrMJrQ0d8l
He’s sent flying into the wall, still-777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNttqFwslmD
Moryuu: “Tch.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6f2kG07EM
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. 777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DbuPjRIFE
Caecius: “*Cough* *Cough*”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzwXIMjcOa
Caecius: “No more playing around, I’m going to…oh my god.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG02gl4C5QI
Moryuu: “What?”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcyFmU8mYd
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.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBQL7MjxgB
Caecius: “The Eye….”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9oRwTBDAsh
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. 777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8GuIlwjpP
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. 777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnOio0PGuO
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. 777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWWZ1qkprN
Caecius: “At last, I’m closer to my goal. Wait for me….Nieth.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfG1Vnnv7k4
Caecius: “It’s over Moryuu, now that I’m this close to my goal there’s no way I’m losing to you.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoEddTOxYE
Moryuu: “Maybe before, but not now.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIK13ByRHz
Caecius: “What’s that, a potion of some sort? That’s not going to help you here.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46fKDfKKIc
Moryuu: “Well, allow me to surprise you.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHy1QwgZLfy
[ Music Plays: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojL5Y5HvOlE ]777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKx71DTgSA
I down the entire flask and instantly, I can feel the power of lightning coursing through me again.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPU6MXyoXhY
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.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbC3mdfhx2
I’ve survived this before, I-I’ll....survive ...again!777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSkYkIbPQV
Soon enough, the pain subsides and the real power begins to form within. 777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3Ef3TwRZq
My wounds heal and azure lightning strikes all around scorching the area around me.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTkuOzAsqc
I float back down, my eyes shoot open to reveal a deep light blue color change and I push back my hair. 777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUE2jFOCOr6
Moryuu: “Bow, you’re in the presence of a God.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIeXshMxAv
Caecius: “Wha-What are you!?”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSSVgAKjPz
I blitzed past him in the form of lightning and grab the eye before he could register what happened.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXb2PUl6Xk1
Moryuu: “The winner of this battle.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSnMFAaFZB
He hurried to fling more air blades towards me but I block them all with a lightning shield. 777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRV9tAcnvAO
Moryuu: “Normally I’d kill a mage like you but I have a mission to complete, give up.” 777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuewPuSevz
Caecius: “I can’t….I need that eye….”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9YVXneaTZ
Moryuu: “She’s dead, let her rest.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFMXKE3Yah
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.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyY4jgTqlQ
Moryuu: “I’ve lost loved ones too, but I would not disgrace their memory and name by dragging them back from the dead.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4nOGxUd93
Caecius: “Tch….”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6MRyceKdF
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.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1TIJeI8y8
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.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCC74MkVew2
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. 777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3zSh1RlJq
Caecius: “No….No….I can’t lose her again!!!”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbkwt0ilRI
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. 777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkij7N85N8
Caecius: “Die!!”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzljvGYV9qb
He throws it at me, I know it won’t hurt me but….my killing instinct involuntary kicked in anyway.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgO8GxmD2WA
Moryuu: “You Fool!”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9fVfTRQXn
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.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkyCnvg4vJ
In the end, Caecius collapses on the ground charred black and….probably dead. 777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kZvLSgsZQ
Moryuu: “….Damn it, why didn’t you give up….”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitqHBaa9FA
1 Day Till Shift777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujwHT6IgzC
