[h3][center][b][i][color=f6989d]Hibiki[/color] & [color=6ecff6]Shizuka[/color][/i][/b][/center][/h3]

The further they went in, the hotter the area around then became. While Hibiki wasn’t privy to everything happening to the fortress she could tell that there was some sort of leak in the power core, and if what Dawkbreaker said was true then trying to blow it up prematurely was going to be harder than she had planned. Hibiki had a few workarounds to send her payload where it needs to go but it wasn’t going to be foolproof. Namely, she would stick her bombs onto one of her drones and activate a barrier on it, but the energy from a leaking power core might eat through the barrier before the bombs got close enough. She needed something stronger.

Fortunately, it seemed like Grafdakka wasn’t entirely useless, as one of his minions had managed to get deep in the fortress for Hibiki to find them. She didn’t know the specs to his “Killa Kans”, but if they were even just a fraction as tough as Graf himself, then she could use them to deliver her package into the inner core. Though still invisible, Hibiki sent them orders over her command line, directing them towards the power core. Before they left, she planted her bombs on one of them as well as her barrier bomb, and let one of her drones escort them to monitor their movement.

As she was setting that up Hibiki noted that her Bastion turrets had found an enemy. [color=f6989d]”Shit!”[/color] The first foe Hibiki saw was some sort of mech, not one on their side despite what it was. Hibiki didn’t detect any friendly signals from it, so she had no issues letting the Bastion turret shoot it down. However shortly after it arrived, Henry from the demon’s side had arrived. Hibiki knew all about him and some of his abilities from the last battle, and she knew he possessed silver eyes. Sure enough he used his abilities to defend himself from the turrets and launched a few explosives at them. [color=f6989d]”You’re not the only one who can play with bombs…”[/color]

Unlike the last battle, Hibiki made sure to plant bombs effective for both demon and angelic forces, knowing that this chaotic situation might attract both. A few explosives went off, damaging no one but it did throw the acid bombs off course and allowed the Bastion Turrets to continue their sustained fire. Shizuka sprung into action at that point and Hibiki spoke towards Titania. [color=f6989d]”I’ll escort these mechs to the power core myself. Return to the teleporter room and provide assistance to Shizuka. Don’t hold anything back, one of the demon’s commanders is there, and he has Silver Eyes.”[/color] Hibiki and the KIlla Kans moved towards the power core room, only a two minutes away. Once she can ensure that her explosives will make it, she’d have to quickly return to the teleporter room and assist the others.

Shizuka had maintained ritual long enough that it no longer needed her concentration. As long as she stayed in the room the ritual will be complete, allowing her to properly defend this place. And sure enough shortly after she was finished someone arrived. Although they arrived in a mech, Shizuka didn’t recognize who it was and neither did the turrets. They fired upon the robot, unleashing a hail of bullets. However it wasn’t just the mech who arrived, but Henry, one of the demon commanders. How he managed to get this deep into the fortress, Shizuka didn’t know, but he demanded that Shizuka be taken prisoner. [color=6ecff6]”No.”[/color]

It was just as an explosion occurred that Shizuka noticed the bombs that Henry had fired at the turrets. Not wasting the opportunity Shizuka took to the air, large golden wings at her back. With one beat of these mighty wings, she blasted a gust of air strong enough to throw the bombs back towards Henry’s general direction. [color=6ecff6]”Leave this place at once. There is nothing for you here. Neither victory,”[/color] Drawing the Valkyrie's Sword and Shield, Shizuka leveled her blade towards Henry as the Bastion Turrets continued to roar. [color=6ecff6]”Nor mercy.”[/color]

[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZBoiW460nU]An ethereal choir, accompanied by spectral instruments, boomed throughout the room.[/url] They continued the chanting that Shizuka began, and even the instrumental parts sustained and empowered the ritual, as well as Shizuka herself. Hearing the music filled the lone maid with determination, knowing fully well that there was more than just her personal safety at stake here. So much about this mission was riding on chaotic factors that no one had any real control over. Just powers that Shizuka couldn’t hope to grasp. But she could grasp her sword, and with it, she’ll overcome any of her enemies.

[@Flamelord][@The 42nd Gecko][@floodtalon]