[center][color=6ecff6][i][u][b]    The Ice Maze    [/b][/u][/i][/color][/center]

For those who entered the elevators, they would find themselves at a veritable cryogenic catacomb. Tall skiffs, full of light blue colored, glowing liquid, lined almost every centimeter of the barely illuminated chamber, while a frozen mist hovered over the ground. The only thing breaking the grave like silence was the hum on the cooling devices and the occasional howl of some fiend encased in the ice but not fully asleep.

Navigating through it would be tricky, especially given that some of the pods looked like they were about to break and free and ravage whoever came across them. Maybe some time would have to be put into considering the best route to the faction elevator?

[center][color=9966cc][i][u][b]    Juno    [/b][/u][/i][/color][/center]

A faint smile still lingered on Juno’s face as she parted with Cely’s illusion, though this smile would soon turn into a grin of steely resolve. It was these eyes, determined to fight for what Juno cherished, that met Balrog’s murderous glare just as the Demon fired his crotch cannon at the purple-clad Angel.

[color=9966cc]“...”[/color]

The blast of demonic energy would be met with Juno’s extended hand, and a shield of dark void-like energy summoned by the celestial warrior. The force of the blast was captured by the power of Juno’s spatial aura and coalesced in an orb of blackness that was hurled back at its original owner. The sphere burst a moment before hitting Balrog, not intent to harm, but rather distract him as Juno dashed behind him and delivered a kick to the back of his knee, before backflipping away from Balrog, ready for a counter attack.

It was then that Juno remembered something important. [color=9966cc]“Hey, Hoho, we still have one card, right?”[/color] She looked up, as if facing Hohenheim, while asking.

[color=gold]“Yes, you do, for the Second Round.”[/color] The Alchemist replied in a none too excited voice, [color=gold]“The question is, who you’d like to use it on?”[/color]

[color=9966cc]“Can you do it for us?”[/color]

[color=gold]“Yes, I can, though I bet that with you Glorified Pidgeons’ luck, it be something like… Oh, for the love of myself!”[/color] Hohenheim’s exasperation was evident when she pulled the next card, [b][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/rolls/1739]The Star[/url][/b]. [color=gold]“I swear, there must be someone rigging these things. There’s no way your lot can be this lucky, heh.”[/color] One could practically see Hohenheim sulking because of the Angels’ dumb luck.

[color=gold]“Either way,”[/color] the Alchemist regained her composure once more. With a snap of her fingers the Angels that still remained in the challenge would find themselves being teleported, reappearing in a wide chamber, which had a portal right across the other side of the gigantic room. [color=gold]“Because of this your lot has been teleported straight to the last stage of the game. Beat the last enemy, or find a way around it and you win this challenge.”[/color]

[color=9966cc]“Whoa! That was easy. Thank you, Hoho!”[/color] Juno’s comment was sincere as she appeared on the Boss room, stepping before the other Angels while looking around as she waited for the final opponent to spawn and give them a chance to try to reach for the exit, which was still locked at the moment.

[center][color=daa520][i][u][b]    Iona    [/b][/u][/i][/color][/center]

[color=daa520]“The fact that you acknowledge those sins means that you have been burdened with their weight. Reincarnation is no excuse to cleanse oneself without seeking acts of genuine repentance.”[/color] Was Iona’s reply to Tatiana’s excuse involving she not being the same as her previous self, which made even less sense on the Nexus than it would in any other world.

When the effects of the noxious fumes began to affect Tatiana’s mind, Iona turned to face Bonesword, leaving the cloned girl to recover on herself now that the source of the gas had been removed from the room, with Sliske’s death. [color=daa520]“Your very existence in and of itself is an alteration of the natural order of the world. The fact that you cannot see even the most basic of the truths means that you need to think harder before convincing me that your virtues outweigh your vices.”[/color]

[color=daa520]“You understand that your acts were wrong but still stands by them even in face of divine retribution? That’s a proof of devotion that is worthy of being rewarded. However, do not misunderstand it, were it not for these circumstances, you would be taken under custody for the crime of betrayal even if the cause was just. Now go.”[/color] Iona freed Shizuka, allowing her to continue the battle, before finally turning her eyes to Ni-Mu who still stared blankly at the Angel. [color=daa520]“You are but a tool of destruction and tools cannot be blamed for the mistakes of their users. Until you are able to achieve sentience you cannot be blamed as sinner. However, freeing you would mean indulging the Machina’s hubris. Until your existence can be advocated by another, you’ll remain here.”[/color]
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