So, shall we continue where 'we' left off then?

I dont know how much longer I can hold this back.... As you can see I am already failing. I need you guys to finish as quickly as possible. If you don't I will die also. Clutchfeind I need you to get your forces out of here quickly. The entire upper umbra is doomed!!! If I could move.... I would transport myself away from here... But its too late for that. You see the council has underestimated the power of the bed family.... (ooc: Ishad, Bethedral, and Samita from the first board battle.) Samita placed this mask apon me and used me as a time bomb.... To kill whatever and whoever removed my mask. In this case the council did directly after I was no longer possesed by Cerberis... So basically the bottom line is.... HURRY UP AND GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!!!!!

*Jihons grasp on his growing power suddenly slips and his aura consumes 10 more feet of the area.*

Soul Reaver redoubles his efforts against the Horned Council member. Blooddrinker flashes through the air, and after numerous blows are exchanged, the sword slices into the Horned One's arm.

The Horned One looks down incredulously as a stream of blood runs down Blooddrinker's edge. The thick liquid slowly disappears into the blade. Then, Blooddrinker shouts over the din of the battle, loud enough for all to hear with it's death-laden, hollow voice.
"Yes! Such sweet blood the Council has! And now, it will be MINE!!"

Blooddrinker begins to hack downwards at the Horned One, who holds his blade above his head to parry the blows. But Blooddrinker is now roused... the blade strikes faster and faster, with inhuman power. Every blow strikes faster and with more power than the previous one, and the Horned One is unable to do anything other than desperately hold out against the assault. And then, to his horror, he feels how every blow has leeched magical energy from his blade... and no normal steel is proof to Blooddrinker! The Daemon-blade smashes through the fine sword as if it were ice, slicing down through the Horned One, half way into his body. As he topples forward, the blade meets him again, slicing through the middle of his torso... the two halves slide apart as the blade comes down again, cleaving each half into another two pieces... and again, and again, and again, Blooddrinker now nothing more than a gory blur amongst the Horned One's body.

The ragged strips of flesh that fall to the ground hardly resemble the Council Member they once were... yet there is surprisingly little blood among it. Blooddrinker now roars loudly from within the steel confines of the Vortex Blade, the battle cries driving the sliver of fear into the hearts everyone on the battlefield. The sword is entering a berserk rage, and even Soul Reaver seems touched by its anger, obviously only barely holding it in check. He struggles to overcome the bloodlust rising in his body, and runs to Jihon, knowing full well what will happen if he does not help him immediately.

Yet, as he runs, a frail looking council member, the one with skin stretched incredibly tightly over his bones, appears floating in mid-air near one end of the arena. His always-grinning mouth is torn open into an even more insane gash as he cackles in insane glee. He speaks words that echo throughout the arena as he floats higher into the air. Motes of light appear in the air around him, slowly gathering into his claw-like hands. A powerful yellow glow builds in his hands as he raises them level with his chest. Then, with a final word, he unleashes a massive storm of dancing lightning among the warriors.

Hundreds of individual lighting bolts dance randomly over the battlefield, ripping massive holes into the earth, shattering stones at the touch, completely incinerating those unfortunate enought to be caught in their path. One burst rips past in front of Soul Reaver, the ground exploding upwards in front of him and throwing him onto the blood-soaked arena floor.

Cursing loudly, Soul Reaver hurls two powerful Darkbolts at the Council Member... only to watch incredulously as the spells explode harmlessly on a spherical barrier around him. How powerful IS he?!

Erecting a magical ward, Soul Reaver gets back to his feet and sprints towards Jihon. More powerful lighting bolts streak his way, only barely being kept away by his hastily erected magical barrier.

As he arrives near Jihon, the aura of power around him is massive, almost searing his skin even at a distance. Soul Reaver pauses momentarily, trying to think of a way he can help. He quickly looks back at the Concil Member. His mouth sets into a line of what might be considered grim amusement... and plunges into the midst of Jihon's expanding aura.

The Council Member laughs as he brings death and agony to everything in the area, but ends the spell in preparation of one last, massive conjuration. But as he raises his hands above his head, everything suddenly goes quiet... the air itself seems to darken, and the deafening roar of Jihon's expanding aura subsides, and the aura itself shrinks.

Soul Reaver can be seen standing with Blooddrinker held into the aura with one gauntleted hand. The other black gauntlet, fingers spread and twisted like claws, points toward the Council Member.

"Now you die."

Soul Reaver has concentrated and channeled the vast excesses of power being given off by Jihon through into his own body, where he has shaped and woven them. Now, he unleashes this power. A single beam of blinding crimson energy shoots from his gauntlet at the Council Member, completely enveloping him. Soul Reaver draws in more of Jihon's energy, directly channeling it into his spell. The Council Member screams as his sphere of protection shatters beneath the onslaught... a last bubbling cry escapes his lips just before he is vaporised.

Soul Reaver rushes to Jihon's side, now that the aura has been weakened enough to allow him to do so.

"Jihon... I could save you... but now that you are mortal... that attempt may well kill you. Are you prepared to die to save the others?"

"Halcon! Quick come here!"

*His uncle did not greet him with the words of greeting and his voice sounded urgent. The space between the two of them became nonexistent as Halcon rushed into the main hall of the shrine. His Uncle was waiting for him there.*

"Look, the bottles, they move as if they were alive."

*The bottles were indeed moving. They contained what was said to be part of the God's body, burned to ashes. They would constantly rumble and now and then, as it struck by some great force would jump and clang agianst each other.*

"Follow me, there is not much time."

*Halcon's Uncle had always been a cheerful man, forever with a joke on the edge of his tounge. But now he had a worried look on his face. He seemed more focused now than he had ever been. Halcon thought this odd and began to realize that something cataclysmic was occouring. His Uncle took him into a room that he had not been in before in the shrine. He never really noticed it until now. Halcon's stomach felt odd, as if he was nervous, but he was completely calm.*

"Look here. This is the secret of this shrine. The God that we honor here was not the conventional being. He was a fierce warrior and one of the most skilled maguses in the universe."

*Halcon's Uncle the turned and faced him.*

"He is your ancestor. His spirit runs through you and with that his power also surges through your veins. If you were ever tested, you would surprise yourself."

*He then pointed to the main hallway.*

"Those bottles, they warn us of something, something that has great power. The way that they shake... There may be a large group of them. There is only one way to find out."

*A finger that belonged to his Uncle was resting oh Halcon's chest. Deep inside he knew what it meant. He nodded and met his Uncle's eyes.*

"Here."

*His Uncle then walked over to a cabinet on the other side of the room and opened on of the drawers. He pulled out a glimmering sword and tossed it, blade first, at Halcon. Almost as if by instinct, Halcon's hand extends and catches the sword by the hilt.*

"Good, now lets get you some armor."

*He opens another cabinet and a suit of armor is hanging in it. He tosses it towards Halcon and he catches it, this time by his own will. Halcon then prodeeds to put it on. Everything is in place and he feels more comfortable in the armor than he has ever felt, almost as it he had found a missing part of his body.*

"Now, follow me, young warrior."

*His Uncle leads him into yet another new room of the shrine. A swirling portal is on the opposite wall.*

"Goodbye, and when you come back you must tell me of your adventures. Do not dissapoint me!"

*With that Halcon had been shoved into the portal by his Uncle. His mind is cluttered of thoughts of: Where the heck am I going? Why does my Uncle think that I am ready without having a day of training? Why do I feel so strong all of a sudden.*

*With a flash of light a portal opens on the battlefield. Soul Reaver had just moved towards Jihon and is talking to him. Halcon falls on the ground and looks around with horror. A green being yells at him, as if Halcon had done something wrong...*

"What? I thought our barrier blocked all portals to here! Nevertheless, you shall die just like your friends!" The green man yelled with ferocity.

"Huh? Where am I? Who are you? I have no frie-"

*Before he could finish his last statement Halcon was attacked by the green man. Instinctively he brought his sword up and parried the blow. The green man was enraged that his attack was blocked and he casts a spell. Green flames sear the air and launch towards Halcon. A blue barrier forms around him and the flames are deflected.*

"What the hell was that?" Halcon shouts.

*The green man steps back, amazed that such a rookie could block one of his most powerful spells.*

Tamrissa struggles to pull her feet from the quicksand. She grabs hold of her left calf and pulls only to be met with a faint sucking sound from the thick substance that holds her legs. Her eyes flick up to look at the oncoming, scarred creature that has stolen her powers, shuddering at the murderous glint that lies in his lava-orange eyes.

He is not Council, yet he has powers that rival the Council…there must be a weakness! she thinks frantically to herself. May all the Umbras disappear into the Void, I will not end like this! I will not die at the hands of this…creature!

She breathes deeply, watching as everything begins to move in slow motion, racking her brain for the solution.

“Gods, no,” she whispers as the lightening intensifies around the reddish-skinned man’s hand.

There! There was his weakness! Just now, when she had given up for a moment to realize that he was too powerful, she had felt part of her power returning. When she stood against him, he fed on her anger and her terror and used it to steal her aura and her magicks. Show no emotion and he loses that ability.

She suddenly stands straight, her eyes boring into her attacker’s and her face completely devoid of emotion. His blurred figure approaches with a battle cry, his hand thrown out, lightening pouring from it and into her body. Her eyes widen slightly, her body going tense and shaking as the electricity surges through her. A whirlwind hits her, choking off all air to her lungs and pulling at her, trying to rip her apart. She watches impassively, making gasping noises, but making no effort to defend herself.

“Beg me to end it, witch!” he says through gritted teeth, standing over her. “Show it in those pretty green eyes of yours! Show me!!”

A sudden flash leaves her heaving in great breathes and bent over. Her aura spills out too quickly, making her cry out. She looks up to see him staring at her with wide eyes. Smiling slowly, she throws everything she has into his twisted form, feeding him the power that he had sucked slowly from her into him all at once. When the fireworks and blasts of wind and cloud of dust disappear, all that is left is a burnt skeleton with tiny fires leaping around the bones.

With a sigh, she looks down at her still sinking legs. She uses her own magick to soften that quicksand even more and pull her legs from it. Crawling away wearily, she looks up to see Jihon, hearing his voice. Her eyes go to Soul running past to go to Jihon. She rolls out of the way as a few stray lightening bolts fly overhead.

Jihon, I am not running!! she shoves a lightening-crisped corpse off of her and tries to stands, removing a dagger from her belt to plant it in the chest of a crowd member. If you die here, I die here!

She makes her way towards Soul Reaver and Jihon, throwing a few kicks and punches and spells as she moves.

Thaimes: Oh My God!!! The beast has awakened!!! Nobody is safe here; Run while you still can!!!

*Thaimes then disappears, very frightened for some reason. Sabre Soldier looks no stronger than he did when he was normal, add a pair of claws. This is soon proven wrong, as he approaches the center of the colleseum, almost in a fanatic daze. Anyone who comes within contact of him, is instantly ripped apart, but yet he doesn't seem to swing at them. He approaches a group of Space Marines that are fighting off some daemons. Sabre Soldier approaches calmly, but then in an instant, a flash from within the group of warriors is seen, followed by a ring of dark shadows that follow around all of them. Within seconds, the Space Marine squad of 50 and the Daemon horde of 80, are instanly ripped apart all at once, and fall apart cleanly cut. Sabre Soldier reappears next to them with blood-soaked hands, and a pleased smile across his face. Not even the Space Marines power armor could stand against his infinite speed, agility, and beyond razor sharp claws. Sabre Soldier then looks around searching out another victim, and comes across the Giant Jihon. The beast within is very pleased with Jihon's power, and believes that Jihon will make an excellent warm-up. In an instant, Sabre Soldier bounds across the battlefield, where he lands in an earthquake, right next to Jihon. Jihon, hesitating slightly, attempts to attack Sabre Soldier, but right before his attack connects, Sabre Soldier vanishes, only to reappear right next to where he was. With a large swipe, Sabre Soldier sends Jihon through the side of the colleseum, on his back, a gaping wound in his stomach spilling blood all over Sabre Soldier, who licks his face. Sabre Soldier once again looks around, and finds Tamrissa looking in horror. Sabre Soldier then begins to approach. The red glow in his eyes, and the bared fangs make her feel very uncomfortable.*

If you were ever tested, you would surprise yourself...

"A test," Halcon thought. "This is not a test! It is a dagger trying to pierce through my heart! I must not allow this."

*Halcon's eyes go back to their original size and his face wears the look of determination. He can feel power surging through his veins. His soul embraces it and his ancestor and himself are as one. The barrier surges with power and the black lightening deflects off of it and hits the sword of a beast attacking a space marine.*

*With the threat gone, Halcon urges the barrier closer to his body. It stays as an aura around the young warrior. Out of the corner of his eye he sees Tamrissa and Sabre Soldier. He can tell that Tamrissa is someone that he should not be afraid of from her aura. The aura of Sabre Soldier is that of rage. Halcon rushes over to Tamrissa and shields her from Sabre Soldier. Even during a time like this Halcon remembers the manners taught to him by his Uncle.*

"Ma'am I can tell that you can hold your own in a battle, but this creature seems quite powerful. Allow me to assist you."

Tam...rissa.....you....re..m.in..d.....me....so....much.......of......Lil........

*In the middle of speaking Sabre Soldier closes his eyes, and falls to the ground. On the fall he reaches up, and holds her hand, but quickly lets go, as his hand passes by hers; He then falls to the ground at her feet. He looks up to see her once more and smiles slightly, and as out of a Horrific Nightmare, his presence dies from her, and the Amulet stops glowing. What stands in his place is the Teary-Eyed Thaimes, who nervously holds his sword extended....Thaimes, as if he seen a ghost looks at Tamrissa*

Thaimes: It was his own will that it be this way. I promise you that he will be back though someday.

*Thaimes looks up in agony and vanishes, leaving no trace behind him.*

"Sabre Soldier! What the hell are you DOING?"

Pillare takes this opportunity to attack cLuTcHFieND, but it is obvious that something has changed radically in the Space Marine commander. cLuTcHFieND absentmindedly points his left hand, paln outward, towards the oncoming Pillare, never once taking his eyes of Sabre. There is a blinding flash, and Pillare is blown into little flaming chunks. cLuTcHFieND's eyes are a blazing orange.

"I don't care what is wrong with you. You killed my friends, and they were HELPING YOU!"

cLuTcHFieND's eyes and aura suddendly turn to a blood red color simultaneously. He begins to run towards the beast that once was Sabre Soldier, oblivious to everything but the rage that consumes him.

“Sabre,” she whispers lowly, breathlessly as she feels the power emanating off of him. “Sabre…Fei…stop this.”

She stands still, keeping eye contact with him as he leans close. Her eyes move over his pale face and deep red eyes. The intensity of his stare makes her hold her breath, waiting for what is to come.

Suddenly, her jaw drops open, her eyes wide in horror as the pain strikes sharply into her shoulder. She gasps in a breath, wavering a bit on her feet, held up by the sword. Her gaze goes to the blade piercing her, the color draining from her face and blood beginning a slow trickle down her arm.

“No,” she mumbles, hearing Sabre echo her gasp of breath.

She looks back at his face, watching his eyes fade back to their bright emerald color. His face goes slack as she looks down at the sword entering his chest. Tears begin to fill her eyes, part of it from the intense pain and part from the realization that he has been destroyed. Her hands go to his as he touches her cheek, her whole form trembling as she feels him slowly slipping away. She cries out as he falls, dropping to her knees beside him soon after.

“Sabre, no!” she reaches out her hands as if reaching for that presence which is being pulled from her.

She falls forward, pressing her hands to the wound at his heart, ignoring her own pain. Trying to stop the blood from gushing from the fatal wound, she suddenly feels the emptiness that has accompanied his death. Her head droops, her form shaking, leaned over the still body beneath her.

“How could you!” she looks up with red-rimmed eyes, her face extremely pale. “He would not have harmed me! I could have helped him!”

Her bloody hands grasp one of the corpse’s hands, holding it to the amulet around her neck. She points a finger at Thaimes.

“You! His friend! You have slain him!” the ground begins to tremble. “Do not show your face again to me, Thaimes! The next time I see you, I will kill you…or die trying!”

As he disappears, she turns back to the fallen Sabre. She reaches down and touches his face, caressing a lock of his hair that lies across his brow. Until now, she had shown no affection for the man, but the emptiness has affected her judgment, her good sense to continue fighting. Her attention is on mourning that presence that she had lived with for only a short time.

"Stay away from him!" she covers the husk that was Sabre with her own body, her eyes moving to ClutchFiend. "I am warning you!"

The earth continues to shake, the remaining pillars that were intact starting to crumble as the effect of her magick.

"Dead? but.........he.........DAMMIT!"

cLuTcHFieND throws down his sword and whips out his comm.

"All ships, this is Force Commander Aileron. This battle is pointless. Get the hell out of here. Starblade, prepare to transport me to bridge."

cLuTcHFieND turns to Tamrissa.

"I'll let it go for now, but if he lives through this somehow, I'll be back to settle this."

cLuTcHFieND spots Kalana standing next to Jihon.

"Kalana! Are you coming or not!"

Kalana stands beside the fallen Jihon adn Soul Reaver.

"I understand your anger. Leave. I'll take care of Jihon. Just go."

cLuTcHFieND takes one last look at his long time companion. He then looks at Jihons fallen body.

"Sorry I couldn't help, Jihon. Kalana will take care of you. But this battle is pointless now. I don't fight with allies who kill allies. Goodbye old friend."

cLuTcHFieND salutes Jihon and pulls out his comm, flashing one last look at Tamrissa and Sabre's corpse before depressing the button.

"Starblade, transport me, now. All ships, jump upon my arrival. GO!"

cLuTcHFieND dissapears in a blue flash, and warp rifts open up in the sky in front of the three ships. They move into the rifts, and the rifts close, leaving no trace that they were ever there.

"Master Reaver, what can I do to help?"

"PLease Leave me... I will survive this get out while you still can... Tell the others to leave as well."

*He then looks at Soul standing in the middle of the almost desolate battle feild. All but few of the warriors are done fighting. His arua grows at a much faster rate consuming some of the bodies that line the arena floor. It draws closer to the others as it gains strength. Kalana is forced to step out of the doudle helix and walks backwards away from the growing aura. Jihon looks at Tamrissa from his current position and smiles weakly. he yells to her as she approaches.*

"Leave the dead and the evil to me. The only thing you can do is get the hell out of this damned dimension. I cant hold back anylonger. Get out of here and find the next Antidevultian! Ive got things here under controll. You have to promise me you will leave or I will let it go and kill the others as well!!!"

*Jihon hears a sudden blast from the opposite end of the arena. He sees the second wave of Upper umbra soldiers entering.*

"GO NOW ALL OF YOU GET THE HELL OUT!!! I am loseing controll...."

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