As Nadeline brandished her rapier, the Mist seemed to dance around them. It was nothing like she had felt before--even moving her fingertips felt like she could blow up a building. Still, at the very least she had Zodiark's attention now. She wouldn't allow him to torment them any longer. But even then, there was very much a possibility that she could lose. She remembered being just as determined at fighting Ultima...but this time, all she had to do was last five minutes. Five long...long, minutes. She seemed to be at peace with the deal--if she couldn't last five minutes now, she was of no use to her team.

"[color=darkorange]Give him hell, sweetheart,[/color]" Lorenzo surprised her.

She nodded, swiping her sword once, effectively clearing the new 'arena' free of her allies as they were pushed back and out of harm's way, lest Zodiark get any ideas. She eyed the orbs carefully. They could have been channelers for his magicks, or perhaps some form of weapon. Were they to break, would he be unable to cast? Or are they simply another means? [color=ivory]Don't make me regret this, princess,[/color] Ultima chided her, as Nadeline raised her rapier, a glyph forming underneath her. [color=ivory]Your goal is survival. Even now, you may not be able to lay a scratch on him.[/color]

[i][color=coral]So be it.[/color][/i]

Nadeline charged forward with such a speed she was momentarily surprised, though she would strike once, twice, her jabs a flurry of singular attacks that she couldn't even see her own sword move. She may as well see exactly what he was capable of.

[hr]

Emiri smirked at him--choosing not to use a weapon? Was he mocking her? She'd have to make him regret that decision, wouldn't she? As he moved, her eyes watched him. She dropped her sword, letting it melt into nothingness, though he seemed to catch her slightly off guard with his strike. Something was different about him now. Still, she wasn't about to go easy on him--he needed this beating. Catching his strike, she eyed him, though she would release him and disappear before his eyes, clearly having used her own time powers against him. If he refused to go all out, she would force his hand. She would reappear as his strike went nowhere, countering with her own, though without waiting to see if it connected, she would repeat herself, this time coming from below with her own kick.

[hr]

[i]Coming to a halt, Emiri would lean against the wall as she caught her breath. Everything was put in place--Chaos had put her trust in her, and now it was her turn. She wasn't sure how long Jaakuna would last, nor did she want to know. As she pushed herself off the wall, she could feel the dark magicks. Keiran was looking for her, but this time, she was also looking for him. She ran back to her cage, only to find it gone. Keiran was leaning against the wall, seemingly deep in thought. He would give her his attention as she neared him, chuckling to himself.

"[color=gray]What's the point of a miserable existence?[/color]" He couldn't help but ask her. "[color=gray]There's no point in anything. If it all turned to dust...who would care, really? I know you secretly agree with me. You and I are of one mind, after all.[/color]"

"[color=pink]You're wrong on that count,[/color]" She informed him, shaking her head. "[color=pink]You brought out my deepest, darkest thoughts...and used them to imprison me. Maybe at one point I really did wish everything was just gone, but that's just running away from the problem. Reality is harsh, but...you have to deal with it. Life goes on.[/color]"

Keiran looked at the ground, though he would stand straight, watching her. "[color=gray]You know I can't just let you go, right?[/color]"

She nodded, holding out her hand as her sword would appear. "[color=pink]I won't run away any longer. And if you choose to stand in my way, so be it.[/color]"[/i]