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[sub][color=goldenrod][b]L[/b][/color] o c a t i o n   •  Lakefront
[color=goldenrod][b]I[/b][/color] n t e r a c t i o n s   •   Everyone[/sub][/indent][/indent][/center]

[indent][indent]As Vivian started to come to, her head pounding like she was run over by a truck, which has actually happened to her once. Her groans were muffled by the screeching cries of the shadow creatures. The only thing she could hear was the numbing echoes. However much time must’ve passed from when she last remembered running to the point in which she was starting to come to, the blonde demigoddess was very much in a lot of pain.

She hugged the tree that she was starting to remember. There was blood gushing from the side of her head and it took her a moment to realize how bad it was. Instinctually, her left hand pressed hard against it. Pain seared through her body, the cut itself deep and very sensitive to touch. Without a warning, her hand lit up in golden light. She wasn’t able to completely heal it. She wasn’t a Demeter kid, but at least, the girl could stop the bleeding momentarily. And unlike a Demeter kid, Vivian’s healing powers didn’t numb the pain -- only closed the wound. She [i]still[/i] had a throbbing headache and she still felt dizzy.

After struggling to hold herself up, Vivian found her footing. Her legs were no longer wobbly, though her movements were still slow. Despite closing up her wound, the combined bumps she had taken lately proved to build up. She wasn’t a doctor but Viv was pretty sure she had some kind of head trauma. 

[color=daa520]“Get it together, Vivian! Stay alert!”[/color]

And stay alert she tried. She saw some of OA’s best fighters take on the beasts one by one, though the regenerated almost as quickly as they were slain. And she hated that she couldn’t do anything. A useless daughter of Apollo she was and her usefulness could be measured about as much strength it was taking her to just stay on her feet while her back was against the tree. 

And then, as her sparkling blue eyes slowly blinked, as they came back open, Vivian saw a shadow creature coming for her. It lunged at the unsuspecting Vivian and she couldn’t do anything. But just as she thought it was the end for her, from her own shadow came a man cloaked in a deep purple skin, the fist connecting with the snout of the beast, shattering it back to its place of origin.

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[color=6c697e]“Might want to be careful, Vivian Lucasta,”[/color] Damien’s voice calmed her nerves. 

She looked up at him, noticing his sister right next to him. It was hard for her to remember things right at this moment, but she knew that Emma and Damien were never too far apart.

[color=6c697e]“Seems like the others want a piece. I guess we’re going to have a little fun, Emma.”[/color] Damien liked his lips as he raised up his arms and shadow tendrils shot up from the ground, impaling the beasts.

Elsewhere, near the lake, the numbers were gaining on the OA students. Even with the arrival of students who missed the pre-party. With the usual gang of Dallas, Bekah, Jonas, and all their band of merry men and women were doing what they did best, the numbers were growing and growing. It was like when Hercules fought the hydra: destroy one and three more pop up in its place. Even with the impressive feats, these demigods were in possession of, there was still no sight of it ending.

Only, the beasts soon gained something they hadn’t shown for nearly ten minutes of nonstop slaughter

Intelligence.

They adapted and soon learned the way of fighting but more than that, the beasts ceased everything and huddled together, casting a ginormous shadow that threatened to swallow all light in the immediate vicinity. Until it took a shape. Soon the hundreds upon hundreds of beasts that seemed to be coming from nowhere stopped and ended as only one beast remained. It was a haunting image, towing over two stories. Its form now completely solidified, a massive tail spiked with sharp tendrils moving as though it was sentient. It wore shadow like a rouge wears drapes to hide its real form. It had bulky arms and legs, each with three claws that were both covered in an ooze-like substance that polluted the ground it stood on, but what was even worse, it was now able to speak.

[color=black]“Pitiful.”[/color] The husk in its voice was eerie and sinister, it demanded attention and attention it received.[color=black]“You are merely demigods, children who do not deserve the gifts they have been given. I will end you without even flinching. Come at me if you dare! Come and attack [url=https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ca/8c/83/ca8c83d1d88c7e404c649f752a1b40ba.jpg]Shadow[/url] if you have the strength!”[/color] 

And it stood there, a smile seen from under the layer of shadow it had for a face. And it simply waited, patiently playing its own game. It was cocky and saw victory in its future.[/indent][/indent][/color]