[center][h3][b]The Unexpected Meeting[/b]
[i]Mt. Jigger - Solus' Mansion
Night[/i][/h3]
[i]Collab: [@yoshua171] and [@Synthorian][/i]
[hr][/center]
His legs were shaking and unstable, he wasn't used to feeling virtually nothing down there. Then again, he never had his limbs blown off and shot in the head 4 times for good measure. It was a miracle he was alive right now. His new, self-proclaimed personal surgeon, Kain, said that Solus was the first living subject that he ever manipulated essence within in such a way. That thought alone made Solus hazily wonder what kind of fucked up experiments that machine man was doing before he got his rubber gloved hands on Solus. "God damn..." He grunted as his knees almost buckled under his weight. He grabbed a tree just in time, only for his arm to effortlessly rip a chunk out of it, making him to fall to his knees anyway. "Gonna get used to these my ass..." He mumbled, mocking Kain's earlier comment. He slowly got back up again, yet still uneasy on his feet.

As he walked the old forest of Mt. Jigger that he remembered well, both his natural senses, and his HUD, picked up a powerful presence in the forest. His own, biological senses, reminded him of someone he knew. And his presence here made Solus uneasy, especially when he was this weak. "Szayeis..." He mumbled under his breath.

[color=#00001A][B]"Solus,"[/B][/color] the nightwalker replied, his form bleeding upwards from the shadow of a tree only meters from the hunter, where it took to a position, with its back leaned against the tree. His features solidified into his human guise, eyes cast sideways to gaze upon Solus. [color=#00001A][B]"You're looking rather grey, you bite off more than you could chew,"[/B][/color] there was a certain smugness in his tone. As if he somehow already knew exactly what had happened.

"Well... Good to see you are up and about. At least now I know we have some extra time to save the world, and your sorry translucent ass. Couldn't say the same for myself though..." He replied as he stretched his cyberlimbs and back.

Szayeis chuckled, [color=#00001A][B]"You really do look pitiful you know. Was it that chimera that took you down a notch? I felt someone notable a few hours ago, thought maybe it was you. Guess not,"[/B][/color] he smirked and looked away, glancing up at the moon. [color=#00001A][B]"Nonetheless, weakened state or not, we have work to do. Things to discuss, so why don't we call it a truce for now and I'll help you back to your...house, if you can call it that. The place looks terrible you know."[/B][/color]

"Bah, I plan to demolish it anyway... Way beyond repair. Might as well start fresh..." He continued to walk, a little better on his feet now that relief of Szayeis not being dead, ironic and strange as that was, washed over him. "So... I'm surprised Inaniae hasn't consumed you, I'm guessing you found a way to keep him at bay..." He said casually, seemingly unaffected by Szayeis' presence.

[color=#00001A][B]"Mmm, if I felt like it I could snatch a nightwalker and force it to rebuild the whole thing using its own body as material. Then I'd kill the nightwalker when it was finished of course. Still, I'm hardly that nice,"[/B][/color] his expression was dry, as if he had rather quickly gotten bored with the idea. [color=#00001A][B]"As to Inaniae...heh, yes you could say that. A certain someone was nice enough to distract him just long enough for me to redistribute my focus. It was all I needed,"[/B][/color] the grin on his face showed just how pleased he was with the result. [color=#00001A][B]"Still, I don't know how long it will last exactly, so we're not even remotely in the clear."[/B][/color]

He continued to lead Solus, having draped one of the hunter's arms over his shoulder for support. While the closeness was slightly annoying, it'd be [I]more[/I] troublesome to wait for the hunter to get to the delapidated mansion.

"As long as he's still alive, we will never be." He agreed. He didn't really bother to thank him for helping him walk the rest of the way, there was no point. "So what brings you to this small piece of hell, hmm? Knowing you, you didn't just come here for a chat about our good friend, the Void."

[color=#00001A][B]"Oh no, I came to check on your wellbeing. Unfortunately the fate of the three realms, and thus my life, hinges on the success of yourself and several others. I'm sure you understand that it would be foolish of me to trust [I]only you[/I] with the fate of the world."[/B][/color] He led Solus to a couch inside the building and let him fall into it, walking several feet away before twirling his hand in the air,shadows swirling from their surroundings till they formed a chair, which he then turned and sat in so he faced the hunter. [color=#00001A][B]"In all seriousness, I am here to check on your progress. I also figured it would be prudent of me to make sure you had survived that nasty encounter you had later,"[/B][/color] the lord stated simply, shrugging.

"Hah..." Solus smirked as he sunk into the two century old couch. "I didn't know you cared. But whoever that bloke was, he was damn good."

[color=#00001A][B]"Yes, and I hope your failure to defeat that [I]damn good[/I] bastard isn't going to impede what matters,"[/B][/color] Szayeis retorted, his tone shifting to a more serious cadence.

"The world ending. I know." Solus replied. "So, you wanted to discuss things..."

[color=#00001A][B]"Yes, exactly what steps have you taken in averting this crisis?"[/B][/color] The lord folded his hands before him, his elbows pressed against the arms of the chair, his white irised eyes gazing through the hunter.

"Well, I got Luciana back in action. Her powers should come in handy... once she gets them back, that is. I have also cooked a small plan to build some masks, not something you will care about, but specific masks will give anyone we bring along a huge advantage. And a bunch of other plans I have yet to get around to. Luciana getting her abilities back takes priority."

Nodding slowly, Szayeis acknowledged the man's actions. It was a start, [color=#00001A][B]"I have called in a few...favors, from some rivals and old acquaintances, Hazumi among them. I intend to meet with Lily tomorrow when she's more...available."[/B][/color] He closed his eyes, thinking.

"The Musicians won't cut it, you know that. Kids trying to contain a Primordial... Inaniae would be in hysterics." Solus countered.

Szayeis' lips curled into a grin and his eyes opened, a look of dangerous amusement in them, [color=#00001A][B]"You're [I]funny[/I] Solus, I thought you were smarter than that. The Peacekeepers are an International Organization concerned with keeping the peace, and maintaining Order across Surface. The Academy is merely one branch, even if it [I]is[/I] where it all began. I've done my research. I won't be asking Lily to send the children, I'll be asking her to contact the true leaders, the ones who could potentially summon an army of what amount to manipulaters of the psyche. If the children are also brought, I'll get to laugh as they're culled. It's a win-win situation really,"[/B][/color] his grin remained, eyes ever calculating.

[color=#00001A][B]"Nonetheless, I suggest that you take my choices a bit more [I]seriously,[/I] Solus. You may have killed Mephisto, but I assure you I am beyond him in ways you could hardly understand. If you take it for granted that I've been alive for over 5200 years, with constant opposition from [I]him[/I] in addition to the constant nagging influence of Inaniae, you will regret it. Presuming you survive this that is."[/B][/color] As he finished his eyes closed again and he returned to his thoughts.

"Like I give a flying fuck how old you are..." He retorted tiredly, and completely unimpressed. "Those instruments are far slower than a bullet to the head, or even a sword swing, but then again, Alerium bullets don't exist yet... and we will sure as hell need those if Aaurus' powers are anything to go by."

Szayeis merely shook his head, eyes remaining closed. The man was too stubborn for his own good. Oh well, he'd let the man learn the hard way, or die. Either suited his ends really. [color=#00001A][B]"The instruments can do what no bullet can. Namely, they can wrestle with Inaniae's psyche. If [I]I[/I] can do it, then a fragment of the Essence can do it, particularly if a great many do so. However, you're right on one point,"[/B][/color] his eyes opened, his gaze measured. [color=#00001A][B]"Alerium bullets would do more physical damage to him, than the musicians would. Nonetheless, I find both resources necessary for any measure of success. With one or the other, in addition to assuming your full combat abilities and my own, the chances of success are roughly 33.5 percent. Not terribly high. We'd more likely die, and leave the world with two less beings who could contest with the bastard, than make an headway."[/B][/color]

He made a mental note on another matter as he continued, [color=#00001A][B]"With Luciana's added assistance, assuming her abilities remain intact, would give us an additional 8%, putting us at 41.5% at best. Even then most of those who participate are likely to die even if we succeed. A minor sacrifice, but one I'd hope to circumvent."[/B][/color] He glanced at Solus a moment, before closing his eyes again. He was doing it for a reason, it wasn't just for the sake of mental focus, it was because it was night time, and this was the period wherein he could see, or be, [I]wherever[/I] he wanted. It merely required focus to maintain.

"What I mean to say is..." Solus began to explain. "They'll die before they can even use them. If I can kill one with my hands behind my back, Inaniae can kill a whole group with the snap of his fingers." He adjusted himself on the couch as he thought about another one of his plans for a moment. "Attempting to kill Inaniae, if he even can be killed, is a last resort. He'll just go back to the void and remember everything anyway, as Aaurus told me. The only real option, I feel, is to imprison him again. With a different method."

[color=#00001A][B]"You imprison him again and he'll find another way to escape,"[/B][/color] he did not open his eyes as he continued, [color=#00001A][B]"He survived a false evolution ritual shattering his soul into fragments, and that particular tidbit, from what I could glean from the bastard's psyche, was Aaurus' doing. If your [I]god[/I] knew how to imprison Inaniae, he would have done it already."[/B][/color] A small smile formed on his lips. It was amusing to think that either Aaurus was not giving his emissary all the information, or the supposedly divine being was unaware of a great many facts about the being that Inaniae was.

[color=#00001A][B]"Let me tell you something about Inaniae,"[/B][/color] Szayeis said, meeting Solus' eyes, he had found what he wanted. [color=#00001A][B]"Each of his fragments has been partially immortal, but primarily mortal in nature. The fragment only constitutes for a part of the soul, not all of it. Inaniae, each time he has overtaken one of his fragments, has absorbed this mortality. It is perhaps his only weakness. I have been capitalizing on it for a very...very long time. His body, despite its state of near perfection, cannot properly assimilate mortal essence unless it [I]naturally[/I] dies, and I can inform you that none of his fragments died naturally by the standards of the Abstract. If we can manipulate that mortal essence inside him to weaken his hold on this plane, make him temporarily a full blown mortal. We can kill him. He will not be able to return. He has been patient because he knows that had my predecessors discovered his influence on them, they would have done as I have."[/B][/color]

He paused a moment, as if collecting his thoughts. He knew he had to tell Solus these things, even if they might put him at a slight disadvantage. It was however, better to win the war, than the battle. [color=#00001A][B]"Should we merely imprison him, he will escape once more, as I said. Each time he escapes he will be stronger, and angrier. However...should we kill him, he will cease to care. Have you not realized that once something dies it loses itself? That is why angels come back without the personality of their former lives. They can't. It is why they struggle to remember, and it may drive them mad. It is not natural. Inaniae only possesses feelings of anger and betrayel, and a will to destroy this world, because he is incarnated in a partially mortal vessel. Only mortals truly have emotions. I know this for one reason. I felt a similar fear in Inaniae that I, while I hate to admit it, possess myself. Fear of cessation. Not death, but the fear that all that I am will cease to be. My identity. It possesses the same fear. I imagine I got it from him to begin with. Without personality, he will hold no reason to destroy this world, despite possessing the power to do so."[/B][/color]

Szayeis fell silent, watching Solus, listening for his response. If the hunter was so foolish to ignore [I]this[/I] than perhaps his assistance was not nearly as valuable as he'd initially presumed.

Perhaps he would kill him here were that the case.

After all, Szayeis [I]hated[/I] wasting his time.

"Alright... if that's what you propose." Nekro paused, wondering if the other threat below this very house would be an even greater threat than Inaniae right now. Hell, even the Vault failing and letting all of the boogiemen out would be just as bad as Inaniae. "Hazumi, Aaurus, and his opposite, the Terminus, are the only ones who could manipulate Inaniae's essence in said way. Hazumi has a strange... fetish... for the Gods and the Primordial. She would be easy to manipulate if Inaniae got his hands on her. Aaurus... an angry tantruming child, he would destroy the Three Worlds and have it all over with in no time, which means if he got involved, his anger alone would be our downfall. The Terminus. A clown in wolf's clothing who seemingly forgets everything and has to use paper notes just to remember what the fuck he's even talking about. I only met him once. He does have an interesting collection of Lieutenants though. However, Slyre, his former right hand Reaper, will be a massive problem for both of us... he was kicked out of Brom's little circle on quite a bad note." Solus presented the options available to them. A wacky collection of circus freaks.

The demon did not respond for a long while, leaving the room in silence. [color=#00001A][B]"Hazumi seems the best option. Some of her nature is still that of a tool, I think we can [I]use[/I] that,"[/B][/color] not to mention the fact that he knew she had recently made contact with Jayh--something that would not have happened unless he had told her what he had. His eyes opened and he gazed at Solus, [color=#00001A][B]"I presume you care about as much what methods I use, as you care about my age, yes?"[/B][/color] He smiled slightly, amused by the comparison.

"Methods and age, are completely different things." Solus replied, mentally, quite concerned.

Szayeis' smile did not disappear, [color=#00001A][B]"You understand that the well being of any single person pales in comparison to the survival of this world, yes? If so, I believe you will find that my methods are far more pleasant then existence's cessation. You may not fear death, or ceasing to exist, and you may not [I]really[/I] care that the world is ending, but I do not think you are so foolish as to not try to stop it through any means available. Or did I peg you wrong, Grim?"[/B][/color]

Solus outstretched his arms with a flaming, almost maddening grin. "I'm just here for the ride. Trying to save the world before I die? It's part of the fun."

[color=#00001A][B]"Good,"[/B][/color] Szayeis rose to his feet, the chair fading into shadows, which returned, seeming somehow thinner, to the places the nightwalker had drawn them from. [color=#00001A][B]"Is there anything else we should discuss? Will you attempt to contact the Terminus, or perhaps Slyre?"[/B][/color] He figured that despite Slyre being on bad terms with the man, that if [I]he[/I] could find him, he could find a way to work with him. Until then, he'd just have to have Hazumi locate the other fragments while he went and visited a friend...one he'd seen this morning.

Perhaps he'd have to lose that friend for his ends, but it hardly mattered.

His survival was more important than the Doctor's.

"Slyre wants us both dead. He's not worth talking to. The Terminus on the other had, he will be willing to listen." Nekro replied, the word [i]Slyre[/i] dripping from his jagged lips with venom.

Deciding not to query till a more relevant time, Szayeis nodded, [color=#00001A][B]"I see. How would we go about contacting a being such as he?"[/B][/color]

"The Terminus seeks to kill Slyre with my help. Once I get the word that he's ready, I'll mention our more pressing issue after the deed is done." Solus explained. "If Slyre isn't out of the picture, he will be just as bad as Inaniae..."

[color=#00001A][B]"Well, then you best take care of that then,"[/B][/color] Szayeis responded, walking to the door. He suddenly smirked and spoke as he exited the room, [color=#00001A][B]"Get well soon Solus,"[/B][/color] his laugh could be heard as he departed, walking through a shadow just outside the door.
[hr][center][h3][b]An Unsavory Distraction[/b]
[i]Loom's Outskirts
Midnight[/i][/h3]
[i]Collab: [@Synthorian] and [@yoshua171].[/i][hr][/center]
Returning from his brief visit to the hunter, Szayeis emerged from a shadow in a street at the edge of Loom's downtown area. Briefly casting his eyes about he began walking towards the outskirts where the last traces of the Doctor's essence could be found. The man must have hidden himself in some form of essence deadzone, or he'd easily be able to locate him. His form the same humanoid guise as usual, Szayeis walked lazily through the streets, his demeanor relaxed. He did enjoy the night. It was when he was strongest.

But something lurked in the darkness, something strangely equal and sinister. Szayeis would feel that same essence signature that he felt half a day ago, silently lurking behind him. "Going for a midnight stroll? No surprise. Less people, and the night makes you stronger. All the better, really. Makes it more challenging, and interesting..." Said a voice from behind him.

Szayeis didn't turn around, he just kept walking, almost as if he had not heard the man. He knew that essence signature, it was the same one that Solus had smelled of. He'd also felt it approach. After all, as the man said, he was stronger at night, not to mention the fact that Szayeis' grasp of shadow manipulation was so great that during the night he was omnipresent. The Nightwalker began humming quietly, it was something of a haunting tune, but also slightly jovial, like something one might've heard at halloween.

Suddenly, a humanoid silhouette appeared before him, standing a good ten feet away, appearing virtually out of nowhere. "You know, Szayeis... Ignoring your company is a very... very... bad idea..." The creature spoke again, waiting for a response from the Lord.

He didn't smile, [color=#00001A][B]"I hardly think you could be called [I]company[/I] and even if you were, not only would you be uninvited, you'd be unwelcome."[/B][/color] The nightwalker had stopped walking, his white eyes almost looking [I]through[/I] the chimera. [color=#00001A][B]"So, do you intend to offer your name? I see you already know mine, so I won't bother. If you're here for the same reason you visited Solus, I will inform you, that your essence, and whatever firepower you possess, is insufficient to kill or incapacitate me."[/B][/color]

"You won't remember my name if you're dead..." The Chimera replied.

[color=#00001A][B]"I won't need to. If you attack me. I will devour you, and you will know that death is a blessing."[/B][/color]

"Cocky..." Said the Chimera as a hand raised towards Szayeis, his palm facing the Demon, as if he was about to cast a spell. "Looks like I'll need to show you your place..." Just as he finished speaking a blast of energy escaped a Sigil on the palm of his hand, blasting towards Szayeis' ethereal body with a dispell.

Szayeis chuckled, throwing up a solidifed wall of shadow, then disconnecting it from his essence. The attack struck, then passed through the Logan's own shadow, attempting to strike him instead. [color=#00001A][B]"You're hilarious. You must be young. I've been alive for quite awhile, chimera. Your abilities are inferior to mine. Did you really think I'd easily let you hit me with that? Did you think greater beings hadn't tried?"[/B][/color] As he spoke his presence began manifesting in other places within the area. His body, in the same moments, becoming ethereal, releasing wispy tendrils of darkness. This would be amusing, he hadn't been truly challenged in quite awhile. It would be fun to actually use the power he so infrequently could.

The Chimera was already behind him, instantly reappearing with another spell discharge towards Szayeis' ethereal back. This creature was surely fast as the tendrils swiped nothing but air, the Chimera vanishing with each attack, seemingly stepping through Szayeis' own darkness.

The body dissolved into darkness, it was no longer the main one. [color=#00001A][B]"Predictable,"[/B][/color] Szayeis' voice stated, resounding from all directions. Within the space of 12 blocks, screams began to sound, as people were devoured by his shadows. He only kept his presence in any given shadow for not even a second at a time.

He was gathering essence.

The Chimera stood in the darkness, casually pulling out a bottle out of some substance that looked like liquid Mercury. Gulping the substance down, the Chimera groaned as his insides twisted and turned, trying to reject whatever he had just swallowed. However the pain quickly subsided. Cracking his neck, he closed his eyes and scanned the essence around him, waiting for Szayeis to return to a nearby shadow. Soon enough, the moment he needed had arrived. His arm shot out towards Szayeis' nearby essence, as a beam of blue light snaked towards the Demon Lord, grasping his essence and pulling on it, preventing him from moving to another shadow. Szayeis may not have a physical body, but his essence has some solid form.

[color=#00001A][B]"Oh, that's cute,"[/B][/color] he said, another wall of shadow blocking the strike and disconnecting as before. Szayeis' essence grabbed onto the chimera's as well and as it did, it emitted its own dispell, striking point blank. He then attempted to pierce Logan with several hundred materialized tendrils of shadow. Both actions almost happening in the same moment. But the dispell did nothing, and as the tendrils struck, it was as if they smashed against steel. Under the Chimera's skin, crawled millions of nanomachines, dispelling, hardening his flesh, healing, doing everything simultaneously, making him practically immune. However, such power would only last a short time. The Chimera knew he had to make his move.

[color=#00001A][B]"Hmm, odd."[/B][/color] Szayeis disconnected the essence that the Chimera had grabbed and appeared elsewhere. As he appeared again his [url=http://th00.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2009/355/a/9/Weekly_Theme__Demon_Soldier_by_Ragaru.jpg]form[/url] had shifted, but he immediately noticed it was not as complete as he would have liked. While the shadow was there, the horns seemed damaged and various portions of his body were improperly formed. It had become his shattered path. He sighed slightly, materializing the massive shadow that was cast over the surface of the ground below him. It began to feed on the building he was standing on, devouring it at a rather terrifying speed. [color=#00001A][B]"I'll have you know, that you're not all that impressive,"[/B][/color] Szayeis said, sounding less amused, and more bored now.

"Just what Solus said, too." His right hand entered his trench coat pocket, and slowly pulled out a handheld device. "Ciao." He pulled a trigger on it and Szayeis suddenly felt an emptiness, not only below his feet, but gripping around his very soul too. A bright orange explosion was consuming... no... vaporizing the building right below his feet, and the orange flames were coming for him, fast.

As they came, he felt shadows be obliterated. His own cut off and he reversed its flow, curling it into a sphere around himself. The flames washed over the sphere, and oddly they never entered it. They should have torn it apart, due to the properties they held. Furthermore, the bombs within the parts of the building he'd already consumed did not respond to the detonation whatsoever. Instead his essence had already dissolved them, translated them into ultra pure essence, and assimilated them. He felt a rush of power flow through him. His voice emanated outwards, [color=#00001A][B]"Yes, but I am far more powerful than Solus is, and also more experienced than the both of you combined."[/B][/color] At his own comment he smiled slightly, despite his enemy's inability to see it.

He'd just noticed some other intriguing things about this individual.

If it were not for the nightwalker essence, the man would've felt remarkably like Solus.

Then it hit him, a nagging pain. He noted as it broke down essence. Smiling he slowed the process and isolated it within his vastness, watching what it did. He made no comment and gave no indication that the alerium worked on him.

"Now you can feel it..." The Chimera replied. "Why don't you just fight me, instead of prancing around like a little Nightwalker Princess."

[color=#00001A][B]"Meh,"[/B][/color] he said, appearing behind him and slamming his fist towards the man. If it missed or the Chimera attempted to appear anywhere nearby him, he'd be buffered by a powerful shockwave of vibrations, which would likely upset the nanomachines as a nice side effect of the ability. Szayeis indeed missed, but the Chimera reappeared at a decent range, immediately drawing his weapon, a large handgun, and pulling the trigger. A bolt of molten plasma. If it hit, it would melt the armor right off Szayeis' hide.

His hand swipped to the side and as it did a wave of force struck the bolt, hitting it aside. Szayeis turned and began walking towards the chimera. [color=#00001A][B]"I'm wondering why you even bother,"[/B][/color] the demon stated, almost as if asking a question. He was curious as to [I]why[/I] the man was attacking him to begin with. Sure, he had plenty of enemies, thousands probably, and was surely wanted dead by anyone who knew he was alive, but what drove this man? [color=#00001A][B]"I thought you were going to make sure I died."[/B][/color] He smiled slightly. The Chimera simply smiled in response, no point in answering a deadman's questions. Instead he continued to annoy Szayeis with pointless attacks, that was the plan after all. He wanted to see the Demon in full swing. His defence, and attacks, were child's play to him.

Given no response, Szayeis sighed, [color=#00001A][B]"How smug of you."[/B][/color] The man was playing him for a fool, and clearly knew better than to think he was one in truth. [color=#00001A][B]"I'm not going to go out of my way to amuse you, nor to take you seriously. I have [I]far[/I] more important things to do than play with a [I]child[/I],"[/B][/color] each word was said with a certain amount of disdain. Meanwhile, Szayeis' influence continued to spread, the shadows being eclipsed by his power. A shell of pure darkness began to gather, the very air seeming to coagulate with a thick mire of essence. Szayeis' aura began to expand into the field.

He did not expect to terrify the man, the figure was far too aloof and had faced down Solus, so that possibility was exceptionally unlikely. However, his essence had other ramifications aside from fear.

One of them was chaos. Those who remained alive within the area were devoured by the terror as it swept over them, losing their minds, their forms twisting. Tonight there would be an epidemic of a sort. One that resulted in the creation of many sires of shadow.

The Chimera chuckled. "Nice trick. You want a name to remember me by? Well, here's one for you. Sundowner..." Suddenly he vanished again, only to reappear instantly right infront of Szayeis, a fist coming straight at him.

The fist connected with a surface, but it was merely a shell of darkness. Szayeis' form, moving just as fast as the Chimera had, and having started his motion at the same time as the punch--though non physically--grabbed his arm and sent vibrations throughout his body, not letting go. The material which made him up making it impossible for this [I]Sundowner[/I] to teleport away without dragging Szayeis with him, which he couldn't do. The Chimera whispered something familiar into Szayeis' ears, and just as he did so, Szayeis' hand was blasted off of him. Sundowner quickly drew his gun again, and fired, but not directly at Szayeis, just missing his head. Surprisingly the projectile exploded right behind it, threatening to cover Szayeis' skull in molten plasma.

The shadow snapped upwards in the air and struck the bolt aside, sending it hurtling towards a building. [color=#00001A][B]"You're still playing. If you continue, I'm going to leave you to someone who has time for [I]petty games[/I],"[/B][/color] he stated as his form re-materialized a few meters away, arms crossed.

"Yeah..." The Chimera said as a hand casually opened beside his hip. It was clearly time to cast the oldest trick in the book. Szayeis had become careless and bored, which was perfect for what he had in mind. The fool didn't even witness his essence fully, seemingly unware of the Miracle essence lingering within. "I'm done testing you..." A bright light began eminating from his hand, the buildings and the ground below their feet began to glow in a blinding white light, eliminating the shadows all around them in an area of 4 blocks, all but the sphere of darkness dissipated before the onslaught of light. With no shadow in sight, Logan pulled a pair of sunglasses from his pocket, and put them on, giving him the much needed reprieve from the blinding light. The surrounding and engulfing brightness would force Szayeis into a solid state, while it limited his powers, as the Chimera's own abilities were also limited. Steam floated upwards from the Chimera's body, as his bodily fluids condensated from the sudden 130 degree fahrenheit heat.

The nightwalker growled from the searing heat for a moment as the light burned at the sphere of darkness around him. He condensed it inwards over his flesh, making it conform to his body and as he did so he found himself smiling once more. [color=#00001A][B]"Amusing, so you have miracle essence as well as the others. A gross oversight, but one mistake I'll not be making again,"[/B][/color] he began walking towards Logan, his pace measured. [color=#00001A][B]"Shall we dance?"[/B][/color]

Sundowner spread out his arms in delight, "Lets." He began to walk towards the Demonic Lord at a brisk pace, which quickly turned into a sprint that lead him directly to Szayeis in moments. As he was about to be right on top of him, his right shoulder leaned over for his arm to grab the handle of a sword. He quickly pulled on it and revealed a blade of seemingly pure light, Szayeis would be able to feel the air literally being cut by its sharpness right as Sundowner swung his sword from unsheathing into an attacking slash in one fluid motion.

The Nightwalker's smile broadened, showing wicked, but orderly, teeth as he, at the same pace, began raising his arm. As the blade approached the dark mire that coated his flesh expanded slightly. The blade touched the arm that impeded it and began cutting the darkness, then slipped [I]into[/I] it, coming out as the strike finished, its momentum considerably lessened. Szayeis however, had not stopped moving and opened his mouth even as his fist moved to collide with the center of Logan's chest, moving at blinding speeds. The sound that emanated from his form was deafening. It shook the surrounding buildings, and the ground, sending clutter flying away, causing the air to ripple, glass to shatter, and anyone within eight blocks to suddenly collapse in pain as their eardrums ruptured.

Furthermore, and likely more immediately worrisome to his opponent, the very essence of miracle light shuddered and simultaneously a shock wave erupted from Szayeis' fist even before it collided. It appeared that while the removal of darkness certainly nullified some of his more basic abilities, it did nothing to lessen the sheer amount of destruction he could wrought. All it changed was the scope of such.

Of course, to Sundowner that did not truly matter. His artificial ears immediately shut off, leaving him deaf, unbeknowst to Szayeis. However, the attacking fist connected with the Chimera's chest, with the shockwave passing straight through his body in such a way that the back of his trench coat bloated and fluttered behind him. A powerful blow, against a powerful opponent. Sundowner wasn't all flesh, below the skin the nanomachines within him continued to do their work, as his carbon-nanotube ribs absorbed the blow. The cerebral chip in his head, getting a much needed dose of Adrenaline to charge its abilities. Pain fueled his technological capabilities. And this was all he needed.

With a sudden burst of speed and near immediate recovery from the blow, his own fist charged towards Szayeis' face-plate, and if he attempted to counter it, the limb would simply change direction, maintaining it's momentum and stopping power.

Suddenly, due to Logan's poor decision to not dodge, the vibrations that had been emitting from Szayeis' mouth and all sound within the radius he'd been emitting the vibration ceased. There was a sound like a thunderclap as all of the vibrations snapped into the nightwalker's body and conducted right into Logan's. The nanomachines may have healed Logan, but if they were disabled, then he could hardly heal him again. As such, the nightwalker took the blow to his face plate, augmenting it by redistributing a portion of his mass. Furthermore, as Logan made contact with his body his fist only partially punctured the [I]shadow[/I] that coated the lord's form. The force behind his blow was lessened by over half and the nightwalker's smile grew as he continued with the momentum from Logan's strike to make distance.

As he slid back the nightwalker spoke, [color=#00001A][B]"You're going to have to pull all the stops, [I]Sundowner[/I] if you want to kill me, because what you're doing now isn't even close to enough."[/B][/color] The nightwalker slammed his foot against the ground, sending essence into it.

Nothing happened. Szayeis rushed forwards again, moving to close the distance between them, any damage he'd taken, already healed. While the lord could tell that the chimera and him had the same amount of raw essence, whether the fool could kill him or not was not a matter of power, it was a matter of skill...and it was far from likely that the man had as much as Szayeis.

After all, he'd been amassing his for over 5200 years, it was hard to top that.

[i]Auto-Repair Nanites disabled[/i] was the message that flashed across Sundowner's artificial eyes as the thundering sound wave shattered the nano sized machines to pieces. No matter, they were about to shutdown anyway. Now that Szayeis' form was solid, Sundowner's weapon would now be deadly.

He quickly reached over his back to grab his 40mm Railgun, and all he had to do was nail the bastard with a Uranium Rod. His aim was instant, the holographic dot resting right over Szayeis' rushing body as he pulled the trigger. The magnetic coils surged in power as the 4cm thick rod was mass accelerated out of the weapon, leaving the barrel at a speed of Mach 10.

It was too bad Szayeis was no longer there. The poor little chimera had forgotten some details, which was funny because his prime consciousness derived from one of the lord's kin. Granted, most of his kind never used this tactic. Too bad, as it was terribly simple.

Remerging directly behind the chimera, Szayeis' claws raked upwards at his spine whilst his shadow expanded outwards to engulf the man. He wouldn't [I]kill[/I] Logan, and he decided he wouldn't devour him either. No, he decided he'd teach him a lesson instead. It was rude to [I]assault[/I] your betters, and it seemed this [I]Sundowner[/I] had never been taught proper etiquette. His mouth was slightly ajar.

The Chimera was already reloading his weapon as he felt Szayeis' essence 'fade' behind him despite the abundance of light. An interesting trick, but the self-proclamed Sundowner had his own. As the shadows surrounded him, he suddenly 'fell' through the asphalt road below his feet, as if the very earth swallowed him. Szayeis would notice a peculiar blue aura that vanished as quickly as it came right where Sundowner once stood. And almost immediately, the felt the cold steel of his Railgun, and the click of the trigger being pulled.

Szayeis sensed the vibrations around him, the essence, and the darkness inside and upon all things. It was thus amusing as the railgun [I]pressed[/I] against his flesh. The projectile fired, but it never hit, instead the shadow ate it, then spat it out the other side of Szayeis' body even as he thrust his foot backwards and likely into his opponent's rib-cage. His mouth remained open.

The kick connected, but not to the intended target. Szayeis felt a sticky substance against the sole of his foot, and then a sudden detonation of an explosive, electrical charge.

There was a prickling sensation, it flooded through him, dispersing outwards along his flesh. Rather than move his body to regain his stance, his foot suddenly was just in place again. There had been no movement, not even a flicker. Had he eyes and assorted facial features, the nightwalker would have raised an eyebrow at the action. [color=#00001A][B]"You're an idiot,"[/B][/color] he stated bluntly. His mouth didn't entirely close after he'd spoken.

The nightwalker stood there, amidst the miracle essence...and sighed. The blinding essence began to gradually dim. Szayeis sighed once more, [color=#00001A][B]"You're beginning to bore me again."[/B][/color]

He suddenly felt a palm slap against his lips as a glass capsule entered his mouth and broke, releasing some truely foul tasting fluid that, against his will, 'crawled' down his throat. Sundowner walked around into Szayeis' view, simply stating. [color=#00001A][B]"Should have kept your mouth closed."[/B][/color]

The lord briefly choked on the substance, then his body noted what it was and immediately he opened his mouth wider, the amorphous [I]shadow[/I] being devoured by his body. He shuddered, [color=#00001A][B]"Disgusting,"[/B][/color] then he felt his shard react. It did so just as the miracle essence was fully pulled into the ground. If his body had been larger the sensation of two infinitely immense forces wrestling each other might not have been as sickening, but that was not the case.

The face plate shifted away from his visage, lengthening the horns and revealing his eyes which burned a furious white. [color=#00001A][B]"I am...going to make you suffer for that,"[/B][/color] something more pure and untainted than darkness, then substance itself, began to billow and flow from his form. The shadow he devoured had taken to his shard and the shard had done something that terrified him. It had caused the connection to Inaniae back in the Citadel to open. Purity beyond the concept of pureness flooded the shadow, within him, intercepted the taint that was trying to use his essence to spread. Split it apart, isolated it, and then he threw the shadow up.

He couldn't get all of it, but most of it was out. He clenched his teeth and then his form began flickering, from its grey, black, and tan colors, to pure white. The shadow released the taint, but not back into reality...somewhere [I]else[/I]. Szayeis hadn't even known it could do that, but it nonetheless did. The shadow was pure again and it slammed into him, infusing into his physical form, but as it did so he shifted colors again...flickering between what seemed his Origin State and...something else. He glanced upwards, though there was no movement for him to do so as he had no pupils and hardly needed to move his neck.

His body straightened. [color=#00001A][B]"It won't be today. Or tomorrow, or even within the month,"[/B][/color] the demonic lord growled, his form shifting more frantically, settling on the [I]white darkness[/I] more often than it did his alleged Origin State, [color=#00001A][B]"But I will take you, and your entire organization apart. I'll let them know I'm doing it, I'll let them feel the disappointment as everything falls through their hands like sand. I'll make sure they know they're powerless first, [I]then[/I] I'll slaughter them."[/B][/color] His form made the final shift, becoming a pure white silhouette, the material billowing upwards from his form as if it were [I]burning[/I].

It was.

He walked towards Sundowner, the moon shining overhead...but seeming to dim as time passed.

"My objective has been completed... Kind regards from the One, the Elder of Deceit. You have just joined a War that has been long in the making... and your Master Inaniae, won't save you forever..." His words echoed in Szayeis' mind. An Elder, an abomination that Inaniae's first son created with his own hands, was here, on the surface, living among the people. Plotting, watching, waiting... for Illmasi's return. That prospect alone, is something you don't just worry about, it's something you immediately begin preparing for. With the darkness restored, Sundowner attempted his retreat into the shadow, yet, it failed. [i]Impressive.[/i] was his thought, as he just discovered a new evolution that stood before him. 

One moment Szayeis was far away, the next he wasn't. He stood, unmoving, before Logan, then he smiled. The same [I]speed[/i] the same instantaneous action and the chimera would feel about as sick as Szayeis had. A small amount of the taint dripping to the ground from the man's lips...even as [I]smoke[/I] billowed from the same place. [color=#00001A][B]"He is not my master, [I]filth.[/I] now begone, before I decide you deserve [I]more[/I]."[/B][/color]

The taint, and the tiniest sliver of void had been implanted into Logan's body. They would feed off his essence, growing, and unlike what coursed through Szayeis, the bit of void had no intention of [I]helping[/I] its host.

Nothing would get rid of them and nothing would tame them either.

Szayeis was done, and he vanished. The moon flickered, becoming invisible for the briefest of milliseconds. Its light taken so completely that the eye didn't see it, before it returned again.

Sundowner felt it deep within, the rise in an essence far beyond his own. "You have no idea what you have just brought about..." He mumbled as he slowly began to walk. Curiously, he never casually walked, but the sudden overwhelming feeling of divinity made him do so.... The pain that he should have felt was numbed by the shock and the awe of the visions that coursed through his brain, he would feel it later... But no matter... HE was coming....