[center][color=yellow][h3]Mad World - Epilogue[/h3][/color]
[@zarkun][@lazo][@kapuchu][/center]

As stumped as the watcher had been a minute ago, Panoptos' disdainful snarkiness returned in full force with remarkable speed.  His emerald eyes glittered as he hung his head with sarcasm, saying, [color=50C878]”I can see plenty well.  For instance, I can see that if you aren't within thirty meters of the seal within forty-five seconds, you'll miss your ride and be left in this stinking sky to rot.  And here I thought you didn't like this place...guess I was wrong.”[/color]  Cackling, the specter ascended as if shot from a cannon, a smoky trail left in his wake.  As he became a black smudge next to the glory of the Seal, which by now was flickering dangerously, his cheerily condescending tone echoed down to the group.  [color=50C878]”Before you get smart with me, try and remember who your lives are at the mercy of!  Didn't you hellspawn ever learn to not bite the hand that feeds you?”[/color]

As far as he was concerned, Souta felt gratified that he'd avoided Panoptos' rebuke.  As much as he loathed the stuck-up shadow, he was the smith's boss, and in his time on earth Souta had learned that one could either suck it up and work under a bad boss or lose one's livelihood.  Still, Panoptos' announcement of the Agents' impending time limit took him by surprise.  [color=teal]”Forty-five seconds?!”[/color]  Water sprang from his clothes and flooded across his arms into his hands, becoming both the rifle Deluge and a Trawler.  He jammed the butt of the hook into the barrel of the gun, took aim at the massive target hovering above, and fired.  The crystalline spike carried the hook with it to the end of its range, made possible solely by the magic projectile's lack of bullet drop.  When it got too close to the Seal's power, the spike exploded in midair, launching the hook into the Seal itself.  A few experimental tugs confirmed that the hook was jammed in, and with less than twenty seconds left Souta activated the Trawler to reel him in.  He zoomed upward at a dizzying rate, holding on to his weapon's chain for dear life.