This was becoming a pain now. Emiri was struggling, trying to get free. Jaakuna was physically stronger than her, sure, but having Belias out for as long as he did seemed to have weakened him just slightly. To make matters worse, Emiri was stronger than usual. Whether he was right about her being some kind of influence of Zodiark or not, the fact remained that Emiri was losing it, and her rage or adrenaline, was making her seem to have more physical strength than usual.

[color=ed1c24][b]“Emiri, stop it!”[/b][/color] Jaakuna shouted, demanding Emiri cease what she was doing. [color=ed1c24][b]“Lorenzo can handle himself.” [/b][/color]Jaakuna told her, but based on the look in her eyes and the way she kept on fidgeting,  trying to get out of his arms, Jaakuna knew that he had to say something drastic to get her to stop. [color=ed1c24][b]“You’ll only get in his way. In the state you are now, you’ll only be a worry - a distraction - to him. Better you stay here and let him do what he must do.”[/b][/color] JAakuna bluntly said. He didn’t want to, but Emiri wasn’t leaving him much choice, was she?

As Jaakuna told her that, he could hear what Lola and Lorenzo were talking about. Lola explained her boss, that blue-haired chick, ordered her to cause the explosion. Jaakuna wanted to recall that one,  but that bottom line was that he wasn’t really in his right mind. He does recall someone with blue hair, but most of that night where his influence under Zodiark was foggy at best. Still, as he would listen, Jaakuna couldn’t help but kind of put the pieces together. The boss was the blue-haired chick, and she was the one that ordered Lola to strike Stigma, but as she would mention The Chosen Few, Jaakuna was drawing a blank.

[color=ed1c24][b]“Chosen Few?”[/b][/color] Jaakuna repeated her words, confused somewhat.

[color=crimson][I]She means those who have conquered The Espers.[/i][/color] Belias said into Jaakuna’s mind, telling him what she meant.

[color=ed1c24][b]“What what?”[/b][/color] JAakuna was still confused, [color=ed1c24][b]“Lola has an..”[/b][/color] And this it clicked. But who does she have?

Jaakuna needed more answers, but when Lola said that someone had been talking to her. [color=ed1c24][b]“Damn it to hell!”[/b][/color] Jaakuna cursed himself. [color=ed1c24][b]“Yo, Big Tits!”[/b][/color] Jaakuna yelled out to Lola. [color=ed1c24][b]“Who do you got? Which Esper do you control?”[/b][/color] Jaakuna asked, raising his voice as loud as he could.
[hr]
As Savayna watched Wesley and his Esper, Hashmaal, Bringer of Order, fight side-by-side, Savayna wished she could help, but her mind was so focused on Grant’s well-being right now that she couldn’t possibly leave his side. Besides, what if Shion decided to forsake whatever honor code that she had and wanted to finish Grant off? Even though that seemed a bit unlikely, Savayna needed to stay with Grant. She was his only defense because obviously the princess wasn’t in any mental shape to do anything but feel sorry for herself.

[color=lightblue][b]“Yeah, you heard right, Grant,”[/b][/color] Savayna told Grant, [color=lightblue][b]“and here after we said all of those nice things about her being strong and resilient. And fuck, she even got a vote of confidence by Miss Huge Knobs over there - and the Queen Bitch Esper herself.”[/b][/color] Savayna kept eyes on Grant, [color=lightblue][b]“maybe she is weak. Someone who can’t believe that they have strength after four humes and a pseudo-god tells them do must be weak. And a bit of a prissy little princess.”[/b][/color] This time, Savayna was looking at Nadeline. [color=lightblue][b]“Maybe all Poor Little Rich Girl is good for is to be rescued by her strong, handsome prince. Or her strong - if not a bit arrogant and proud - uncle. Or some former general that hates to come to her rescue all the fucking time but does it for the good of the group.”[/b][/color] Savayna knew what she was saying would get under Nadeline’s skin. If it didn’t, then she truly thought she was weak, and Savayna said all of those mean - albeit quite truthful - words for nothing.

Meanwhile, as both Wesley and Hashmaal’s seemingly perfect attacks would come at Shion around the same time, it would appear that not all that it seemed to be. Hashmaal was sent flying several paces in the opposite direction, and Wesley’s attack was simply side-stepped. So effortlessly, Shion had evaded those attacks like they were a simple gust in the wind. Was this just a taste of what she had to offer? If so, then did Wesley make a mistake challenging her. No, he didn’t. Wesley knew in his heart that this was the right decision. He was doing the not only for his own honor, but for Nadeline’s honor. He was doing this for her.

As Wesley came to the sight of Shion, he words ringing true with him, Hashmaal had thus brought his large mass beside Wesley. His arms up, gauntlet’s radiating with a bright, orange light as if ready for Wesley’s command. [color=fff79a][b]“You are right about one thing, Shion the Blue Rose.[/b][/color]” Wesley said, his eyes on her. His sword down at his side, gripping it tightly. [color=fff79a][b]“Jaakuna was foolish to go after you in the state that he was in. Zodiark clouded his judgment and made him more arrogant than he already was.”[/b][/color] WEsley chuckled. In hindsight, Jaakuna definitely was foolish.[color=fff79a][b] “However, that is where he and I differ.”[/b][/color] Wesley continued, [color=fff79a][b]“It’s true that him and I have bonded since meeting in Rabanastre and I consider him one of my close friends, but I am not like him.”[/b][/color] he said, looking to Hashmaal, a nod given to him as well as a smile. [color=fff79a][b]“I know what lays in wait within my own reserves. I know what I am capable of, and I know when to stand down. However,”[/b][/color] Wesley chuckled, feeling something cliché coming soon, [color=fff79a][b]“I seem to have lost that understanding. I am no longer going on logic. I have no idea how this fight will end. Either I come out victorious and you will lay on the ground in a pool of your own blood, or I will be the one face-down, and you will become victorious.”[/b][/color] Wesley took his fighting stance, his Yagyu Darkblade in hand, [color=fff79a][b]“and yet I simply don’t care. I shall let my heart guide me. I shall let it lead me to victory. As for your proposition, I do believe Jaakuna would have put it something like this,”[/b][/color] he said pointing his sword at Shion, [color=fff79a][b]“you can shove it where the sun don’t shine!”[/b][/color] Wesley grinned that familiar grin that had shades of Jaakuna.

As he would stab his sword deep into the Mist-filled ground, pulses of magick were sent through it. Not even a minute later, the ground began to violently shake. [color=a36209][b]“I understand, Wesley.”[/b][/color] Hashmaal commented, keeping his stance where it was. His gauntlets, on the other hand, began to vibrate rapidly, spinning uncontrollably. Magick of brown, orange, and red gathered around them, giving it a magma-like shade. [color=a36209][b]“The depths of the earth will reign supreme, Moltaga!!“[/b][/color] As both arms came forward suddenly, a wave of fire and molted earth was shot at  Shion.

Wesley knew that Shion would either stay where she was or jump up. Either way, the heat from the Moltaga would still be too hot for her to [I]not[/I] be affected by it.