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

Panoptos watched, arms folded and eyes bearing every indication of a smirk despite his lack of mouth and eyebrows, while the Agents under his command scrambled to get within 'range' of the Seal.  In only a few moments, every one of them had made his or her way up to the flickering icon, and the emerald-eyed specter looked away to scan the horizon.  His gaze landed on the bank of fog, now floating far away, through which the great being Ourakekem ferried his team only a quarter-hour prior.  Its surface broke apart, and through the vast cloud plowed what appeared to be a giant ship.  Twisted red and black and wreathed in flame, the flying vessel couldn't have been any more hellish, and the sharp peepers of Panoptos spotted dozens of demons lining its deck in the distance.  [color=50C878]”Looks like our friends are a little tardy!  I bet ol' Mundus won't be happy to hear that the Seal in Wit's End slipped right between his fingers, heheheh!”[/color]

He rounded on the agents, a surprised look on his face judging by the wideness of his eyes.  [color=50C878]”Oh, my!  Did the countdown expire while I was gawking at the hellions?  And yet...all of you are still here?”[/color]  A mad cackle escaped from him.  [color=50C878]”Whoops!  Guess I'd better warp us out myself!”[/color]  Still laughing at the way his underlings rushed to beat the imaginary clock, he snapped his fingers, and the entire Seal vanished in a whirlpool and pitch black and golden light.

The next instant, the world returned, and this time instead of the Undersky, an endless cavern of brimstone and lava stretched in all directions.  Not far away, the familiar outline of the Charred Citadel stood in a lake of lava.  Panoptos, still snickering, flew toward it at a leisurely pace.  Several seconds passed before Souta could get over the bothersome combination of frothing anger and warp nausea that troubled him in order to lower himself to the ground.  Around him, the corona of the Council's magic glowed faintly, protecting him from the area's immense ambient heat.  Barely had he lowered himself to the ground, however, than a clank of metal behind him caught his attention.  The smith span around to see none other than Uhelei, the Agents' technoorganic guide to the Undersky.  [color=teal]”Wait, didn't you want to stay in your world?”[/color] Souta asked with an eyebrow raised.

Uhelei shrugged.  Around him, the Council's corona shone as well, evidence of his brief stint spent as a captive here.  “In Wit's End, I would not last long.  The demons would have made scrap of me in a second.  Besides, my exile is not over.  I cannot return until I have served my time.”

Touched by respect, Souta found himself nodding.  [color=teal]”Huh.  I see.  Y'know what, you're a pretty cool guy, even if you can't fight worth anything.”[/color]

The eyes behind Uhelei's mask glimmered in confusion.  “I do not know what you mean.  At the moment, I am a warm guy.  If not for Council rune, I would be melting.”

Stifling a laugh, Souta clapped a hand on the warrior's shoulder.  [color=teal]”Yeah, yeah.  C'mon, let's get back to the fortress.  I bet the watchers will be happy to see us.”[/color]  The two began the trek back to the Citadel, their lingering, shared elation at the defeat of the Creatrix overshadowing their awkwardness.  

[i]MISSION COMPLETE[/i]
Style: 4/5
Boss Kill: 2/3
Objectives: 1/1