[center][img]https://66.media.tumblr.com/1108d0c66d4a75bfeaaabc36753b5894/tumblr_pg0y7o4hmx1w6599so1_500.png[/img][/center] Well this was unexpected. Before Eliza could ask Katelyn about the photos she took of her, another monster girl- er, boy, appeared behind the dragon girl and asked them for their wings. [color=mediumpurple]"Heeeey, who are you callin' Chicken Little? You don't see me screaming about the sky falling now are you?"[/color] she asked, giving Elroy an unamused expression. [color=mediumpurple]"Well, knock yourself out. Can't do much without it hurting anyways- Oh shit!!"[/color] before the witch could finish her sentence Katelyn had attacked the incubus with high speed, with the two of them ending up flying out the window. [color=mediumpurple]"Well fuck."[/color] Eliza stared over at where they disappeared, then painfully forced herself to stand up. And as things couldn't get any worse, reinforcement arrived for the monster boy, one of the girls fired apples at Eliza. She managed to dodge most of them, but one ended up hitting her on the head. [color=mediumpurple]"Okay, ow!!"[/color] The witch rubbed the side of her head, and looked over to the festive-looking magical girl. [color=mediumpurple]"Out of all the things you could attack me with, you use apples? Really?"[/color] She said with the same unamused expression as before. [b]”Silence!”[/b] Tonya drew her umbrella. [b]”I'm not leaving here until you part with that which makes you a monster!”[/b] She opened her umbrella and charged forward. [b]”Surrender your wings!”[/b] A flurry of acorns and leafs flew out of the umbrella. The leafs mostly just fluttered around, but the smaller, weightier acorns flew forth like small stones. [b]”Gaaaaaaaa!”[/b] Eliza quickly rolled out of the way of the girl's attack, and summoned a glyph of light to use as a shield. [color=mediumpurple]"I would if I could hun, but corruption isn't exactly easy to get rid off. Not this way, at least."[/color] she shrugged. [color=mediumpurple]"I mean, if you do get my wings, I'd still be a monster, right?"[/color] [b]”T-that's beside the point!”[/b] The acorns bounced harmlessly off of Eliza's shield. [b]”You'd be less of a monster without them, and we need them!”[/b] Tonya wasn't backing down. She proceeded to ram her umbrella into Eliza's shield, over and over again. Eliza was able to hold up her guard however. [color=mediumpurple]"But what for?!"[/color] Eliza asked Tonya. [color=mediumpurple]"You're supposed to be a part of beacon, right? So why are you helping a monster boy!?"[/color] [b]”W-wha?!!”[/b] For just a moment, Tonya seemed to hesitate. She backed off of her assault immediately. [b]”Did you just call him, a monster?”[/b] Tonya bit her lower lip. [b]”You think I'm going to lump someone like Elroy in with YOU!?”[/b] Her body seemed to be changing. Her flesh was starting to darken and crinkle, like the bark on an autumn tree. [b]”There is nothing more disgraceful than a monster who only sees other monsters around her!”[/b] Her voice was starting to strain as her transformation finished up. It seemed that Eliza would have a brief window of opportunity before Tonya's assault continued. [color=mediumpurple][i]Again, fuck![/i][/color] Eliza thought as she dragged herself away from Tonya. [color=mediumpurple][i]That's it, i'm getting out of here![/i][/color] the witch stood back up and flew away as quickly as she could, using the glyph shield to fire a beam of light at the other girl. The pillar of light slammed into Tonya, who was still undergoing her transformation. The bark armor softened the blow, but was still strong enough to throw her backwards, tumbling end over end. It would buy Eliza a few extra seconds, which she'd need going into the brawl outside. She wouldn't see it, but "Mac" Let out a sigh and followed after Eliza. No need to intervene yet, but that would change. [hr] At least a part of Katelyn had expected the chains to restrain her as she made her assault, although she had, to some degree, prayed the speed of the attack would prevent any such moves. At the very least, it confirmed a few of the speculations she had regarding the monster boy, namely around his specialization; he was most likely a metal user. It didn't explain how he was capable of sneaking up on the two of them, but she could figure that out in time. With the chain wrapped around her leg, holding her to the shield, the momentum carried her too out the hole in the wall and into the evening chill. But she could fly - the same couldn't be said for her opponent. The air from their surroundings circulated her body, as her tiny wings began to flutter as best they could to keep her from an untimely drop. It was poor mans flight, but flight nonetheless, and for that she was grateful. As she began to ascend once again, preparing to re-enter the building, she looked down, to watch as the monster boy fell to his death. Except he didn't die. He didn't even save himself. Rather, she watched as another girl, with large, black wings, swooped down from on high to catch him. And then another one arrived, making her way into the building to fight Eliza, followed by a third one, who seemed prepared to confront the dragon girl herself. Katelyn wasn't entirely sure what was happening at this point. Four magical entities, tracking and hunting down presumably one of either her or Eliza? She could square it up in her head, as she rose to meet the same height as the new foe. Her laughter was grating, though not nearly as much so as the sudden, heavy increase in gravity that seemed to overtake her body following the confrontation. With the air pressing down on her isolated bubble of extreme gravity, she could breathe, or hear, and barely think. Her brain would have been a pancake if it wasn't for[i] someone else's[/i] interference, but she was unaware of her invisible ally. Regardless, she had an idea. With her vision blurred from the pressure, she could hardly see the glass flying towards her, but she didn't need to. She could see the outline of her attacker, and that was what mattered most. A surge of electrical energy charged its way through Katelyn's body. The pressure was too strong to actively utilize her Wings, but a strength benefit would be enough. The air that circulated her to allow her knock-off flight twisted into a directed blast around her body, and with her weight, she flipped herself end over end, swinging her leg, and by extension the shield, with her. As her leg came over, she swung it down into the air, an action reminiscent of an axe kick, and in the movement redirected the wind to the shield, using it as a fan to launch a massive gust of wind, directed entirely towards the newcomer. Similarly, the glass would find itself caught up in the blast, being dragged along towards the girl. Abigail definitely had to shift gears a bit with the glass shards being thrown in her direction. She opened her hand and pointed her palm at the incoming shards. This released Katelyn from her hold, but caught all the incoming debris in a gravity well. It seemed that Katelyn had bought herself a brief respite from Abigail's power. [b]”That all you got, lizard lips?”[/b] Abigail sent the shards back at Katelyn. By this point, Divina was circling around with Elroy again, only this time she had both of her arms folded around his chest. [b]”I will be your wings Elroy, please, be our shield.”[/b] She was flying slightly above Katelyn and Abigail this time, but was moving pretty fast. [color=c9272c]"I guess I can do that."[/color] He stretched out his arms. [color=c9272c]"But I'd rather be a noose!"[/color] With a shake of his arms, the chains of his gauntlets came alive. With the continued momentum from the swing, and her now free movement, Katelyn continued the arc, bringing her body upright once again, and forcefully dragging the shield down with her leg. It was starting to resist her now that Elroy was coming closer to it. She knew it was only a matter of time before the thing ended up completely revolting and returning to its master, but for now, she had an opportunity. The girls gravity magic had receded, leaving Katelyn with a greater range of mobility. And that was all she needed. Coupled with her lightning infused strength, she brought the shield up to a horizontal position under her, gathering the wind beneath its form as she planted both feet atop it. In the same moment, she initiated her plan. Arcs of electricity seemed to bleed from her muscles, surging and rippling its way around her body, before it built into a shining, blue-white comet of light. With the small distance between her and Abigail, almost no time passed at all. Even with the glass shards flying towards her, few would reach their mark; the energy surrounding her deflected most and destroyed most, though a few sliced across her skin. The thundercrack would barely reach the Beacon girls ears before she saw Katelyn appear in front of her, riding Elroy's shield like a hover board. With the momentum she swung her body around, aiming to smash the shield into the side of her head before she had even a chance to react. But while Katelyn was capable of near-instantaneous movement, the same could not be said for her spells. A magical girl who was adept at reading the magic of others would be able to tell exactly where Katelyn was going to wind up. There was one such girl in attendance. [b]”Abigail!”[/b] Divina's voice was shrieking. It wasn't much of a hint, but it was enough to provoke a response. Abigail instinctively reduced her altitude and lifted her arm up to her face. But Katelyn still hit Abigail's arm with a considerable amount of force. The magical girl was knocked out of the sky, roaring in pain as she fell. Shona had moved from her position and was able to catch the smaller girl before she smashed into the roof. [b]”Are you alright, Ma'am?”[/b] Shona lowered Abigail to the ground. [b]”I'll be fine, Grrrrr.”[/b] She took hold of a jewel on her belt and squeezed it, which caused her to be enveloped in a healing light. Warning Abigail wasn't the only thing Divina intended to do however. She knew exactly where Katelyn was going to end up, and would take full advantage of this knowledge. Divina barrel rolled to her right, and one of her wings took the shape of a massive bony axe. She was able to time it so that her wing would come down on Katelyn moments after she finished attacking Abigail. [b]”Bastard!”[/b] [color=c9272c]"I think you mean bitch."[/color] Elroy swung his chains at Katelyn's ankles. He was able to do little else with Divina holding him. But his shield was showing considerably more resistance now that Elroy was close. With the momentum of the attack, Katelyn swung back around, to find herself face to face with that same winged girl as had rescued Elroy. A million ideas hit her at once, but she knew what came next; there was no time to raise the shield, or cast an acceleration spell of some kind. This would be a hit she'd have to face straight on - but she would do it on her terms. Horizontal in the air, rotating around, the wing would have struck her stomach, but her reaction time and dexterity gave her an opening. Wind surged from the board to her arm as she raised it to take the blow, the snap of a bone breaking filling the ears of those nearby. It was a heavy hit, but a necessary one; no doubt if she had let the strike go unburdened, she may have lost the arm itself. That wasn't even factoring in Mac's illusions, which made Divina think Katelyn was just a bit lower than she actually was. With the force of the strike, and a small burst of wind, Katelyn shot away some distance, before slowing herself with the wind. At distance the shield seemed less active, but she had greater concerns. The broken arm was healing steadily, but wouldn't be finished for a while. [colour=DodgerBlue]"Five versus one? You must really want these wings."[/colour] she joked, lightly, as she stood up straight atop the hoverboard, arm hung limp beside her, [colour=DodgerBlue]"So you have metal, gravity, and whatever that bone power is. Winged one has Third Eye, and you two..."[/colour] her eyes shifted from Shona. [colour=DodgerBlue]"...I know nothing about."[/colour] As she finished her sentence, she raised her unbroken arm into the air, letting the surroundings be filled with a low hum. Electricity crackled between her fingers, and down her body into the shield, building for a good few seconds before a brilliant blew line shot across the sky, into her hand. Now clutched in her grasp was her Magari Yari, still surging with violent, electrical energy. [colour=DodgerBlue]"I'll take those odds."[/colour] Eliza sighed in relief when her attack managed to distract Tonya long enough to flee. She wasn't exactly in the best shape to fight, but the only thing that mattered was to complete her mission. So the witch was going to land and revert back into her disguised form...but the fight outside made her hesitant to do so. What if the other beacon girls saw her? Would they try to kill her too? Conjuring up a corporeal clone with her illusion magic, Eliza decided to try and help out one of the opponents, but who? [color=mediumpurple]"I'm gonna regret this."[/color] She sighed, aiming her rifle at Divina. [color=mediumpurple]"Hmmm..."[/color] Eliza hummed in thought as she charged her shot with light magic, then fired at the winged girl. Divina was pretty good at knowing her surroundings, but with so much going on it was even difficult for her to keep an eye out for Eliza's movements. She did notice in time to get her body out of the way, but the bullet ripped through her wing, causing Elroy and Divina to fall together. [color=mediumpurple]"Woo! Bullseye!"[/color] Eliza grinned as her shot made it's mark. Shona would not be able to catch them, but Elroy was able to land on his feet cradling Divina in his arms. [color=mediumpurple]"Aw man..."[/color] The witch facepalmed after seeing the monster boy catch Divina in his arms. [b]”This is why I love you Elroy!”[/b] Divina's voice shuttered as she hugged him. [color=c9272c]"And I love you, Beacon Buddies!"[/color] Elroy dropped Divina on the ground unceremoniously and folded his arms. Regina was still observing the battle from afar. [color=f200f2]"I find this dragon..."[/color] Her eye twitched. [color=f200f2]"...And how she parades in front of my friends..."[/color] She balled her hand into a fist. [color=f200f2]"...Who insist on disobeying my orders..."[/color] Scales popped out along her neck and jawline. [color=f200f2]"...Absolutely..."[/color] Regina fret her brow. [color=f200f2][i]"...Disgusting."[/i][/color] Regina was surrounded by two dozen black mortars. They were so large and so numerous, that they didn't all fit inside her cloaking spell. They would be difficult to notice in the darkness, if not for their eerie blue hue. [color=f200f2]"I'm not putting up with this any longer!"[/color] Regina and Elroy simultaneously activated their auras, covering the area in flickering red mist. More noticeable than the faint red lights was the [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77hjz842Tfs&ytbChannel=RexTC]haunting tune[/url] playing in everyone's head. For Eliza and Katelyn, this was perhaps a bit unsettling. Otherwise it had no real effect other than for the Bates to demonstrate their massive power. But The Bates and their buddies reacted positively by being smothered in the twins auras. They were being empowered. Even Abigail, who had almost been taken out of the fight, was able to rise to her feet. Their auras blanketed the entire area, and possibly even adjacent areas. That was when Regina's black fireballs flew through the air. They all detonated in the sky, surrounding Katelyn in dark zones. None of them detonated on top of her, but that hardly mattered. The zones blocked all light. With twenty four of those expanding in the sky, almost all light had been removed from the area. Regina picked up her rifle and pointed it at Katelyn. [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lrls2gN45yY]"I've got you in my sights!"[/url] With the entire area shroud in shadow, Regina was free to shadow step to nearly any location she wanted. She fired at Katelyn from her current position, then fired from the hole in the side of the building, Regina was even brave enough to fire while falling from a shadow in mid air. It was impossible to tell where her bullets would come from next, and she was relentless in her attack. The black orbs had unsettled her, but she hadn't quite anticipated their effect. Even with the oppressive, and expansive, aura, that seemed to suffocate the surroundings, Katelyn didn't let her senses dull. The tune was a distraction, and that was it. She just had to block it out. But as the mortar shots detonated above her head, creating a sea of pure darkness, she felt her train of though slip. Or rather, she became distracted. That was all it took for one, then two bullets to strike her, the shots firing straight through one side and out the other in her shoulder and leg respectively. The moment they hit, she could feel their cursed effects; each bullet eroded her remaining mana. As the adrenaline dulled the pain, she cursed herself for dropping her guard. It was clear what this was intended to be, and she wanted little part of it. There was little time between each shot, but from the angles the first two were fired at, the attacker was constantly switching positions. Katelyn didn't have much experience with the darkness specialization, but she could make a guess at the kind of technique was being used. She wouldn't have a choice but to go on the defensive and wait for an opening. The moment the explosive echo of the rifle hit her ears, a propulsion of wind spun her in its direction. Her senses weren't as finely tuned as some other girls, but the mix of adrenaline from the pain and surges of electricity were enough to adjust her vision. Not to mention someone [i]was[/i] aiding her senses with illusion magic, as normally no one would be able to dodge a projectile like a bullet. The bullet wouldn't even have a chance to get close before a flash of lightning obliterated the projectile. She would keep up like that, similar to a sentry gun, destroying bullets, and with small bursts of wind, she would herself moving - attempting both to make herself a harder to hit target, while also hoping to catch opening in her opponent by altering their distance. Eliza tried to tune out the haunting melody, letting her weapon shift into it's new melee form, a war scythe. [color=mediumpurple][i]Was gonna wait on using this upgrade, but this is ridiculous.[/i][/color] she thought, using her magic to use the scythe's blade as a flashlight subsitute. [color=mediumpurple]"Here we go. Now to go help-"[/color] [color=c9272c]"I'll eat your sweat meats!"[/color] Before Eliza could do anything else, Elroy had discovered her in the dark. Eliza yelped in surprise as Elroy tackled Eliza to the ground. He placed his foot between her shoulder blades. [color=c9272c]"Alright chicken little! Say goodbye to those wings!"[/color] And then with a sharp tug, Elroy yanked out two fist full of feathers. [color=c9272c]"Hah!"[/color] He looked between both of his hands. [color=c9272c]"Victory!"[/color] Of course, Elroy [i]thought[/i] he had pulled off her wings wholesale, but this was Mac's doing as well. Elroy wouldn't realize he was holding feathers untill a bit later. Katelyn's magical reserves were put under quite the strain. She had a broken arm and a few bullet holes her regeneration was tending to, she was trying to stay afloat with wind magic, blowing apart Regina's projectiles with lightning magic, using teleportation at great frequency all while Regina's curses ebbed away at her mana. It was a harrowing situation for any magical girl, but Katelyn was too proud to try and flee. She opted to weather the storm, as she was the howling winds and cracking thunder that dwell in the clouds. It was simply a game of what was going to last longer, Katelyn's tricks or Regina's trap. Regina's dark zones only persisted for about ten seconds, but that was a long time for a battered, hurting magical girl. Even if she was a monster. The beacon buddies were trying to find their way in the dark. Until Divina spoke up. [b]“Oh no!”[/b] she cried. [b]“There's a third girl approaching! I can sense it, it's a dark magical girl!”[/b] It was impossible for anyone to see Shona, but she looked towards Divina. [b]“Do you think they are all allied? It's not impossible for this to be a trap.”[/b] [b]“A counter trap for our trap?!”[/b] Abigail snapped her fingers. [b]“Why does everybody pick on Beacon?”[/b] [color=c9272c]"Ladies, relax!"[/color] Elroy shadow stepped among them. [color=c9272c]"I got chicken little's wings. We can leave with our head held high."[/color] He held up the feathers in his clenched fists. Not that anyone but Regina could actually see. Tonya had approached the group in the dark. Hearing Elroy's voice calmed her down. [b]”Well I'm glad you got that one's wings. She said some nasty things about you.”[/b] [color=c9272c]"I should probably take my shield back now."[/color] With a wave of his hand, Elroy banished his shield. This happened just as the dark zones faded out of existence. After which, Katelyn would find herself falling. Though it was because of a force far stronger than earth's gravity. Rather than attempting to crush Katelyn, Abigail was using her magic to sling her opponent to the streets below. [b]“Okay guys.”[/b] Abigail turned to the rest of her friends. [b]“I'm almost out of juice.”[/b] She wasn't, but you know, illusion magic. Regina shadow stepped her way over to the group. It was dark enough out that such a thing was possible. [color=f200f2]"Elroy, girls."[/color] She folded her arms. [color=f200f2]"We are going to have a [i]very[/i] long discussion about tonight."[/color] She raised her staff into the air. [color=f200f2]"Now get us out of here!"[/color] When she slammed her staff into the ground, the entire group was encompassed by a large, black dome. There was nothing different about it from the outside, but once it faded, the bates and converted beacon girls were nowhere to be seen. Eliza sighed in relief as she noticed that the twins and their minions had disappeared. Standing up, she assessed the damage that was dealt to her wings. Other than the missing feathers Elroy stole, they appeared okay. "Expected worse, but I'll take it..." she said. Yet she was still badly injured, and now she was tired, so the witch decided to meet up with her patron, and hunt Shion down once she recovered. With the darkness above them dissipated, and the combatants fleeing, Katelyn stood herself up from the street. With some adjustments to the wind, she had prevented herself from being completely thrown against the asphalt, but it was far from enough to keep herself from falling. As she stood, she twisted her arm, feeling the since repaired flesh and bone click back into their proper places. The group was strong, and there were six of them... something she'd have to keep in mind in the future, no doubt. She couldn't help herself wondering on why they needed to obtain the wings of a monster. but there were more pressing issues. Namely, the remaining, Ebon Mint girl. The state of her wings suggested she was injured, and distracted. It was a prime and perfect opportunity to finish the job she started, but leaving her alive had merits. If the Mint knew about the group through her inevitable report, they might choose to seek them out and deal with them. It was a long shot in the greater scheme of things, but there was a chance it could work. A chance... giving the Mint a chance, how funny. With the adrenaline wearing off, Katelyn was beginning to feel sore, and with the addition of her still waning mana supply. she likely couldn't sustain a fight for too long. Her movements were slower than before, but empowered by wind and lightning, they were still much faster than most other girls. So she half lept, and half flew towards the retreating Mint Operative, aiming for a strike at her head with the pommel end of her spear. The witch had forgotten about her original opponent for a moment after the fight. But before she could look over to see if Katelyn was still standing, Eliza was knocked down by a swift spear to the head. [color=mediumpurple]"You gotta be kidding me..."[/color] she facepalmed, then blasted a beam of light back at the dragon girl. The counter-attack by the witch girl may have been nigh instantaneous, but by the time Katelyn had struck Eliza over the head, she was already transitioning into the second stage. As quickly as the pommel connected, she flipped the spear a hundred and eighty degrees, pointing the head at the girl. People usually acted the same if they stayed up from a harsh blow to the head; they took the initiative between their opponents strike to capitalise on the opening. So all she had to do was account for that. A surge of violent electricity ran through the hollow spear, building up considerable electromagnetic force in less than a second. In the time it took Eliza to recover from the shock of the hit, and fire off her own attack, it was met with the explosive force, and speed, of a railgun, as the head of the spear exploded from the shaft, traveling at several times the speed of sound in a near instant. It would meet the beam of light, and no doubt shear clean through it. Eliza cursed under her breath, and flew out of the line of fire. [color=mediumpurple]"Just get away from me!!"[/color] She yelled, swinging her scythe at Katelyn. As powerful as her Railgun was, it was equally as inaccurate. Some slight adjustment on Eliza's part allowed the projectile to skim right past her, careering off on its trajectory into a nearby building. But it didn't stop - rather, it kept going, cleaving through the walls of the bottom two floors, and scattering dust and debris across the field. The same, perhaps, too, could be said for Eliza's scythe - though it was powerful, it had an equally long windup time to attack, as with any heavy weapon on its calibre. It would only take a small movement on Katelyn's part to escape the swing, and yet she hesitated. Just for a second, though that was all the time she needed to miss the window of opportunity. In the next second the scythe was upon her, forcing her to raise the shaft of the spear to defend. It would clash against the handle of the scythe, impeding its progress, and a mere moment after, Katelyn forced a gust of wind between them - shooting her back out of melee range, but kicking up the dust from the nearby destroyed structures. She could feel herself weaking - the curse of the bullets had sapped more of her strength than she had originally anticipated. [colour=DodgerBlue]"Tell them I said hi."[/colour] she called out across the street to her foe, before banishing her weapon, [colour=DodgerBlue]"Follow me and I'll kill you, Eliza."[/colour] was the last thing she said, before leaping off into a nearby building. [color=mediumpurple]"...How did she know my name?"[/color] Eliza thought out loud, after seeing Katelyn leave. [color=mediumpurple][i]Either way, [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfBuvRk1thQ]I'm glad that's over.[/url][/i][/color] sitting down by one of the buildings, the witch rested her head in her arms, trying to fight the urge to pass out from fatigue. [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/NgWhiMr.png[/img] [hider=Tonya “Mac” Murphy] [b]Age: 24/11 | Gender: Female/Female | Illusion, Gravity Body | Power of Friendship, Regeneration, Third Eye | Moirai Coercion, Soul Jar, Martial Training, True Sight, Parasite, Gifted, Awareness, Mystic Artifact Magical Overload, Paragon, Blessing, Gifted Item | Monster Form, Big Brother, Arrogance, Vendetta Redirected Magic, Second Specialization | Non-Standard Limbs, Destroyer[/b] STR: 05 | AGI: 04 | VIT: 05 | MAG: 03 | LCK: 03 STR: 10 | AGI: 08 | VIT: 11 | MAG: 17 | LCK: 05 Earnings this post: Managed to force four beacon buddies and three monster girls to retreat. 10 Silver 14 Bronze Total: 2 Gold, 95 Silver, 96 Bronze [/hider][/center] Mac had spent more of her time helping Katelyn than Eliza, but the desired effect was achieved. Regardless, she didn't think she was going to finish that shower today. She sighed and walked back to her apartment, where she would rest up and finish her shower tomorrow. There was no rest for the wicked, after all.