[hider=A while ago (Squad 0)][center][h1][i][b][u]A while ago...[/u][/b][/i][/h1] [sub][h2][i][u][b]Aboard the Bathory[/b][/u][/i][/h2][/sub][/center] [center][hider=Squad 0's ship: The Bathory][img]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ce/9a/82/ce9a828bbc3a45b6dfe34e06005d160e.jpg[/img][/hider][/center] "[color=green][b]Oh wow, look at that big ol' mark. Wonder if I got sick with something...oh, wait, it's gone now...Huh...[/b][/color]" This was the reaction of the little traitorous leader of Squad 0 as he stared upon the mark Nero left upon him. Oh it stung, boy did it sting, like the bite of a mean spider upon the back of his left hand, with a venomous bruise look to boot. The more superstitious would look at this and cry in terror, for Crowley knew all too well what a Black Spot means; in ancient times of the planet Earth, it was a mark of death for sailors of the open sea, and you can't get much more open a sea to sail than the vastness of outer space. Even normal people who didn't believe in such mumbo-jumbo would probably be left somewhat anxious over such a thing coming onto their hand without any known reason, and leaving it almost as fast. But Crowley was far from normal. He looked at that black mark on his skin with a similar look of interest and curiosity as a child staring at an insect doing something he's never seen it do before. Not an ounce of fear or anxiety over this effect on his body. But Crowley was far from a child in mind; though he has no idea what that was all about, he could definitely guess that it was an act of dark Underworld-Class Magic, and there's only a few people he could narrow down as being the one to cast it. With a childish smile that never left his face, he held his right hand over his and yelled towards his eight subordinates. The nine members of Squad 0, where Crowley is the only male... Each member of this team was made to counteract each and every class of magic there is. Though counting Crowley, that means there's three extra girls among them. These three - Eliza, Alexandria, and Mary - were known as the "Vetita Triangulum". The three odd ones out among the group. Some say they were merely left overs, while others say they're the Squad's own Triumvirate, leading the Squad after Crowley, what they were designed for is unknown, however, they seem to possess oddly unique forms of the class magics and are the only ones with no known Anti-magic for the six magic classes. [center][hider=Veronica - Anti-Time/Space][img]https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sPZDOru4ULU/hqdefault.jpg[/img][/hider] [hider=Ophelia - Anti-Underworld][img]https://w.wallha.com/ws/11/fGdC1tEX.png[/img][/hider] [hider=Terra - Anti-Mind][img]https://www.rpnation.com/gallery/anime-scientist-with-robot-dogs.27901/full[/img][/hider] [hider=Rain - Anti-Change][img]https://c4.wallpaperflare.com/wallpaper/166/424/862/original-characters-cowgirl-anime-girls-anime-wallpaper-preview.jpg[/img][/hider] [hider=Sakura - Anti-World][img]https://i.redd.it/9is287l5urw11.jpg[/img][/hider] [hider=Alexandria - The Knight][img]https://wallpaper.dog/large/10708822.jpg[/img][/hider] [hider=Mary - The Berserker][img]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ac/e0/0a/ace00a56fecaae158346c37414ead7fa.png[/img][/hider] [Hider=Eliza - The Mage][img]https://cutewallpaper.org/21/anime-with-girl-with-red-hair/28-albums-of-Red-Hair-Anime-Girl-Aesthetic-Explore-.jpeg[/img][/hider] [hider="Hey, Opheliaaa...! Can you come over here for a sec?" Crowley said.][img]https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/danganronpa/images/8/8b/Danganronpa_V3_Kokichi_Oma_Halfbody_Sprite_%2811%29.png[/img][/hider][/center] In response the black-veiled witch walked over to him as he shows her where the mark was on his hand. "[b][color=green]Had a black spot on my hand for a little bit, it's gone now, but any chance you can sniff out the trace?[/color][/b]" In response to this question, Ophelia got her face real close to his hand, and gave it a sniff. "[i][color=black]...This scent...I know it well....[b]Nero[/b]...Such a sour scent makes me feel so very...rapturous. ...Where is he...?[/color][/i]" She whispered eerily placing her dry boney hand - the kind of hand that has been brutalized by age - above Crowley's own. It was hard to see, but in between the two hands, coming out of Ophelia's own, was a line of smoke, a thin ethereal black chain connecting her palm to the back of Crowley's. From there she looked up, as if staring into space - though it's hard to tell if she's even had her eyes open with that veil covering up her face - and stood in silence, until she could feel it...a sensation similar to Nero's sense when dealing with the Black Spot. It was only for a moment, the clever boy closed the connection as soon as he noticed, but she felt it, she knew the direction of her dearest object of obsession at the very least. "[i][color=black]Nero...my sweet sweet Nero...Travelling, moving about...But I now know where to start, a faint direction, but it was there...Soon...Soon, you will be mine...[/color][/i]" She whispered to herself. Mary behind them looking at Ophelia with discontent.[/hider] [hider=A few minutes ago (Nuletta and Zebul)][center][h1][b][u][i]A Few Minutes Ago...[/i][/u][/b][/h1] [sub][h2][b][u][i]Galactic Bazaar - Rooftops[/i][/u][/b][/h2][/sub][/center] As it turned out, Nuletta and Zebul's positions during the meeting were essentially standing near the edge of the rooftop of one of the larger buildings of the Galactic Bazaar, looking at what little horizon could be seen from such a cluster of buildings around the place. As soon as the holograms aboard the Manfred were shut off, Zebul turned to Nuletta. "[color=cyan][b]...You didn't tell them about the boy?[/b][/color]" "[color=lime][b]It seemed irrelevant to the topic at hand. Besides, I think they suffered enough as is. A true sadist knows when to stop.[/b][/color]" She responded before sipping some more tea, which Zebul poured into her cup. It wasn't necessarily Lord Kotaro's part that seemed like the problem, although it's a reasonable worry that he's trying too hard. The [i]real[/i] problem was that he had [i]Ein[/i] give the second one. Those poor Admirals never stood a chance. Ein was indeed a genius in technology, of that there was no doubt, but his social skills and ability to read a room suffered for it. Thankfully, Annette was there to help them out of that awkward situation. She's quite quick on her feet, and seemed to comprehend what Ein was saying well enough - an impressive feat in itself; Nuletta liked that one. "[color=cyan][b]That aside, So what should we do about this 'Nero', M'lady? It was pretty clear judging by his reaction that he knows something about Realist, or worse may be part of the ones who took them.[/b][/color]" He asked. Nuletta sighed after sipping the last drop of her tea. "[color=lime][b]...Chase two hares, and you'll catch neither. We must focus on one big fish at a time, and save the other one for afterwards. We'll leave his crew alone for now... Focus on the priority target first.[/b][/color]" She said in response. As Zebul nodded and the two were about to head off to make their way off the roof, they suddenly felt a slight vibration that caught the two off-guard - like the feeling of an explosive going off in the distance - followed shortly by a bright light. in the distance, which made Nuletta have to unfold her umbrella for, while Zebul covered his eyes with his arm. When their eyes started to adjust to the light, they took a look and spotted a white pillar of light deep in the Bazaar. This being the Pillar of White Flames that exploded out of Alan. "[color=cyan][b]What in the world is that!?[/b][/color]" "[color=lime][b]Our target perhaps? Hmm... Zebul, I think it's time for a little recon duty.[/b][/color]" Nuletta said. "[color=cyan][b]Yes, M'Lady.[/b][/color]" Zebul said. From out of his white cape came a black mist that dispersed across this particular sector of the city.[/hider] [hider=Present (Maria and Alan)][center][h1][b][u][i]Present...[/i][/u][/b][/h1] [sub][h2][b][u][i]Galactic Bazaar - Burning Marketplace[/i][/u][/b][/h2][/sub][/center] As she stared at the pillar - as deadpan as ever as if this situation was a daily thing for her - a few things came to her mind. Of course one of them was questioning who or what could have been absorbed to make him burst out this much mana. However, another question was how his White Flame was exhibiting the heat it was, and causing actual flames to combust around them. [i][/i] Well, if the heat and fires around her weren't going to break her out of her train of thought, this Flame's voice certainly did the trick. Concentrating, she levitated far off the ground so as to keep herself in eyesight but away from the fire and heat, she opened up the communication channel to all Star Marines, as well as all the crew members of the Xuangang - she opened the channel to them as well as a way to make command coordination easier - and began to speak in their minds as well as Flame's. "[color=violet][i]Emergency situation: Alan has gone to critical mass, something pumped him with an overbearing amount of mana and is currently going out of control. We're attempting to drain the mana out skyward to prevent civilian casualties. But something's wrong, it's becoming an inferno over here. Backup is necessary; Alan will be unconscious when this ends. I repeat, Backup is necessary, but be careful...[/i][/color]" She said to everyone. As the one who was part of the reason for this unfolding how it was, she took it upon herself to oversee Alan's extinguishing and recovery. [i][/i] Now it was Ashton's turn, fairly fast reaction time - all things considered. "[i][color=violet]I'm currently hovering above the ground to evade getting caught in the flames. Use the extinguishers around the area and suppress the pillar itself, but don't hit Alan with it, I repeat, don't hit Alan.[/color][/i]" Maria said across the channel. This pillar was Alan draining out all the excess mana from his body, extinguishing him and stopping the process may be dangerous for him. It was around that time, however, that Maria heard the echoing sound of a voice out of the speaker. She turned around, and saw a few gunships belonging to the Bazaar security and apparently a few ground vehicles heading their way. ...Welp, so much for safety. "[i][color=violet]This is Maria...delay the last order, extinguish the pillar and Alan. Time is a luxury we no longer have.[/color][/i]" She said to everyone in the channel. It was around that time that she then heard Jude next. [i][color=9e0b0f]<'I can only freeze myself, so I think I'd be best helping citizens... Or fending off security. If we could have just one day off...>[/color][/i] "[i][color=violet]That voice...Is that you, Jude?[/color][/i]" She asked. Needless to say, it practically caught her off guard to another Star Marine she hasn't seen in a while. But it was a pleasant surprise nonetheless. As someone in the back line during the wars, she had little interaction with Jude on a personal level, but she has seen their capabilities both in magic, in strength, and in durability. ...For the moment, that last one's the most important. "[i][color=violet]...Listen closely Jude, I have yet to see your experience in heated conditions, especially when it involves heated mana, so your instruction is two fold. If you feel your armor's capable of it, stay close to Alan and be ready to grab him and run. Alan is in a state where he will be unconscious the instant the drain's complete, we'll need to grab him as soon as the fires are faded and make a run for it. Otherwise, go to the frontline and keep the security busy. In which case: no casualties, and do not overdue yourself.[/color][/i]" --- Alan couldn't answer Klein at the moment, on account of his mouth spewing out as much fire as his hands. Unlike everything else, this was actually kind of painful, not just because of the fact that his arms were tiring out, but this power felt so...very wrong now, and he could feel as the dust within him was reacting - not a pleasant thing to feel. Maria looked towards Klein, noticing the fear welling up within him over the situation. "[color=violet][i]Keep calm and stand by, Klein. If they get too close, deal with them, but not a second earlier.[/i][/color]" She communicated to Klein.[/hider] [hider=Meanwhile... (The Pirates)][center][h1][b][u][i]Meanwhile...[/i][/u][/b][/h1] [sub][h2][b][u][i]Galactic Bazaar - Stock Trade Center[/i][/u][/b][/h2][/sub][/center] While the security was absolutely busy trying to deal with the magical mayhem going on outside, the Stock Trade Center was essentially deserted and shut down. It might seem like a mistake from the outside looking in to leave what was basically a mini-wall street unmanned, but all the necessary aspects to steal away were all digital and confined to a server outside the galactic network, all the data inside was professionally encrypted ten times over. Some in the Ascendancy even joke that Hackers would have an easier time accessing military databases than they would the stock exchange. Even without that, there were supposed to be guards and sentries walking about, the building itself not being that large compared to the actual Wall Street. Any attempts at hacking into it activates a silent alarm and gets everyone and everything a running towards them. However, the guards were mostly called to action, and what small amount stayed, the Professor and lizard made quick work of, the sentries were taken of entirely by the Professor's own nanomachines, which returned to him posthaste. "[b][color=silver]That just leaves the Silent Alarm... Hmm...Damn, it's light-signaled. No way to take care of that without going down directly to the server and breaking the light.[/color][/b]" The Professor said, staring at the computer that mysteriously activated in front of him - by his design by the looks of his lacking of surprise. A voice echoed through the area through the room, one would assume it the message of alert, but it lot more casual a voice, more natural, more... [i]childish?[/i] "[color=pink][i]Well, why don't we have our rrrough and tough rrreptile go down and smash it!?[/i][/color]" The voice said, a rather mid-high pitch like a boy in the middle of puberty, purposely rolling his words. "[b][color=silver]There's a kill switch program laced to that light, break it, and the whole system locks down. Break the server, and there [i]is[/i] no system, this area loses its purpose as a Trade Center, and the Ascendancy stocks remain safely unchanged.[/color][/b]" The Professor said, stroking his mustache as he contemplates how to get around all of this. ...A feat that's effectively made difficult with the Captain being heard chowing down and making a mess of the cafe area, grabbing all the food and snacks he could find and scarfing it down like a starving beast. After he was finish making a mess of the area, the boy-captain stood up and took a deep breath. "[color=blue][b][i]~When the main sail set and the anchors weigh, there's no turning back from any course that's laid.~[/i] ...We'll just have to ride the winds Bones, this here's a trove we can't just walk away from after all the trouble to get it.[/b][/color]" The boy said. Despite being practically a generation or two older than the boy, the Professor - known to Arron as "Bones" nodded in acknowledgement as if he was his superior. "[color=silver][b]...Very well. We'll just have to go quickly. We need to get in and out before the silent alarm draws attention back here. ...R, Commence the decryption process and open up a dark connection to the Network; this will mean nothing if it's not saved and officially shown. Extract 75% from the primary target and 60% from secondary. Arms, you cover us after the fact.[/b][/color]" Bones said. The Lizard named 'Arms' gave a chuckle as he leaned back on a wall. "[color=orange][b]With the element of surprise I have in store for them.[/b][/color]" He said with a smile. Arron simply looked at his crew with a smile, eating what's left of the bread he stole from the cafe, while looking out the window towards the Pillar in the distance. --- Unknowing that outside, not that far from the Trade Center, The third person, and only non-suspect of the three/four visitors of the Circle of Hell that day, Agent James Carmichael was running about. It seems he was on the hunt for the pirates as he was before. Using dynamic theatrics to distract from the actual crime is practically the Cerulean Eclipse Pirates' calling card. But more concerning was what he heard when he patched into Bazaar Security communications and found out that the one causing this were magical children like him. It's possible they're in on it, but more likely... Arron Falcon used them as a distraction from his real goal. "[color=green][b]...You won't get away from me this time, Falcon.[/b][/color]"[/hider]