(Collaborative post between myself, marra mistborn, and dedonus)

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As the Iron Knight made his taunts the darkness below continued to billow and spread out within the false light of the barrier. The only sound that came from within it after the crash of the pilum and the taunts was a long and terrible laughter. It was a sound that gurgled and bubbled as if it was issued through the throat of something so clogged with phlegm and slime that it was nearly unidentifiable. And yet there was a sense of malevolent amusement in the sound, a sense so strong that even the garbled sound was recognizable. 

"YOU POOR DELUDED FOOL. YOU THINK TH-" The dread voice that resonated and made the world shudder issued forth once more, but before the words were finished another series of beams of light arched downwards and slashed through the darkness in precise sweeps that should have caught anything within it of the size nightmare had to be. A glance would show that the metal angel had procured another of the spears that had previously been thrown into the darkness. Where it had come from in a suit that seemed so cramped was uncertain, though clearly a genius of Archangel's caliber had figured out some trick to allow it.

The darkness actually faded away for a moment, it ebbed as several of the slashed parts vanished to reveal nothing save scorched concrete where the lasers had burnt into the ground. "Be careful" Archangel's voice sounded in the silence within the Iron Knight's helmet, broadcasting over a feed that was likely highly secured seemingly effortlessly. "He likes to play dead."

[color=C0C0C0]"Like a opossum?"[/color] Iron Knight proposed.  While the mechanical knight has seen some bizarre things so far, like a metahuman giving a whole city a complete makeover or his own sister morphing into a Lamia-like human hybrid, this Nightmare thing topped them all.  Iron Knight tried to use the 'opossum' simile to try to keep himself calm, but the billowing nature of this being was just over the top.  How was it scientifically possible for this thing to expand and contract like that?

Seconds later, as if the darkness sensed that it's ruse had failed once again the tendrils of shadow launched upwards and outwards again, three heading for each of the armor clad heroes. The metal angel's spear was raised and spun in a fluid motion that seemed to predict where each of the shadows was going to be, severing them effortlessly with graceful motions. A plasma blade flared to life, severing two of the shadows that approached the Iron Knight. The other one however struck the man and sent him reeling before the suit could recover.

Before the Iron Knight could reenter the fray with the darkness a spear struck him from behind, while it failed to penetrate the armor it marked the entrance of another to the fight. A being stood atop one of the roofs, the harsh light of the false sun making it gleam and shine so much that for a moment the glare made it difficult to tell what it was. As the glare receded details became visible, the shine was that of polished bone and what stood atop the roof seemed to be a knight or lord of some kind clad in armor made from bones. 

[color=C0C0C0]"Oh great,"[/color] the Iron Knight mumbled to himself, [color=C0C0C0]"First, we have to fight some Monster Blood from Hell, now we also have to put up with Skeletor?"[/color]  The modern knight stumbled back to his feet in order to face his new assailant, getting back into a ready stance so that he would be prepared to respond to this new opponent's attack.

The bone clad man laughed and stretched out his arm as a hail of spines began to erupt from his armor and shoot out like shotgun blasts towards the hero.

[color=C0C0C0]"Oh hell,"[/color]  he muttered, seeing the spines darted towards him.  [color=C0C0C0]"Computer, shields up!  Again, shields up!"[/color]  The energy shields began to flow around his, encapsulating the Iron Knight in a protective bubble.  While the majority of the spines were deflected off the shields, a few were able to get pass before the shield was entirely complete.  While the spines did not cause any critical damage, it was still damage none the less.

Meanwhile the darkness and the metal angel had not been idle. Continuing the deadly dance of light and shadow the darkness was slowly expanding and while the spear and rays of light continued to slash through every tendril that launched upwards towards the angel it was clear that Archangel was losing ground.

What was not so evident was the careful, calculated way in which Archangel retreated, the epicenter of the darkness moved continually as she drew back. It was when the metal angel had drawn the darkness to the very center of the projected light that she suddenly stopped her retreat and did not react as the tendrils of darkness raced towards her, they had nearly reached her, and likely caused concern in her ally as the seeming doom bore down. But in the instant before the tendrils could reach Archangel a light that put even the field to shame blazed down from the sky with a force that sent a shock wave rippling outwards and left a crater in the street below.

[color=C0C0C0]"Angie?"[/color]  The Iron Knight asked over the secure line to his ally.  [color=C0C0C0]"Everything okay down there?"[/color]

For a moment there was silence as the dust settled and Archangel's voice sounded in the Iron Knight's helmet again. "I hope that worked. He does not make sense." The voice sounded tinged in confusion and surprise at the fact of confusion more than the events in question.

[color=C0C0C0]"Oh, thank goodness you're still there!  What the heck just happened!  Well, on second thought, it looks like you're going to have to fill me in on the fly because I'm kind of staring down with an angry looking Stalfos up here."[/color]