[img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/772709776295067648/863973712209379338/Riku_3.jpg?width=1342&height=379[/img] There was not much of a fight for Riku to join. Ami's sudden reappearance and Kanbaru's power had made short work of the slimy crustaceans before Riku could reach them. She ended up sprinting nearly into Ami's fire. She skidded to a halt in the waters, taking a breath as she viewed the destruction from right up close. It was a stunning sight, a sign of Ami's passing. [color=ed145b]"Oh not you again...already!?"[/color] Riku quickly began to doubt her own power in wake of Ami's, the rivalry flamed up once more. She had managed to gain some power with the Serei card but it felt like nothing in the wake of such power. [color=ed145b]"Yeah, of course I saw that! It's Ami..."[/color] The princess was angry and upset, turning herself away to gather her feelings. She couldn't let herself be so sore over that defeat. [color=ed145b]"Seems like it's all taken care of now. Let's regroup with the others, and see what's the plan on how to handle this level." [/color] The princess would just have to prove herself later, she felt. However, she'd get a chance to test her mettle much sooner than she expected. [color=ed145b]"Wait a second...I feel something is wrong."[/color] The princess peered over her shoulder, checking her sides. A dark chill ran up her spine, a bad sense crawling over her. [color=ed145b]"Some other power is here. I don't know what it is. It's like, constantly blinking in and out. It's some sort of presence, like...a bad one. A demon of some sort!"[/color] Riku's voice rose as the details of the presence began to fill out. [color=ed145b]"There's something more than just these crabs here, be on your guard."[/color] ---- [img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/772709776295067648/873094734929879050/AA.png[/img] Nephy watched intently as the group decimated the crabs, with a display of power that greatly intrigued her. She ran a claw over her lips and bit the end of a nail, grinning for herself. She hadn't felt power like this in so long, her mind racing with new possibilities. Sitting on the sidelines was no longer an option, and with Runa off on her own scheme the wolf decided it was time to act. The white wolf would spring out from her perch out into the air, landing directly in front of Kanbaru, Ami and Akiko with a large splash of black water. Her madness tinged eyes would glance over them, then admiring the slain foes of the party. The wolf rose upward and stretched out her arms, cracking her neck. She appeared casual and calm, glancing her dark and sunken eyes over the cast of adventurers before her. She had a sharp smile with fangs exposed proudly. A deep scent of blood and an aura of malice was a detail in her every movement. Long and wild gray hair hung out from her head, dirty and unkempt with split hairs everywhere. A thick scar traced over her right eye, perhaps a wound or perhaps self inflicted. [color=bc8dbf]"Very impressive work here. Hmm. From some of you, at least."[/color] Nephy would cast some foul looks over to Riku and Thomas. [color=bc8dbf]"Creatures like me have been locked in here in the Abyss for a very, very long time. We're all just scrambling to break free. There are no rules here, and everyone is out for themselves. If you want to survive here at all, you'll have to test your worth against me."[/color] [color=bc8dbf]"Oh yeah. I'm Nephetos, by the way. You can just call me Nephy. I'd like to offer a challenge to you all. Fight me, and survive. Or, die and I eat your soul. Does that sound fun to you?"[/color] A pale and sullen palm came to rest on the hilt of her sheathed sword, prepared to move at a moment's notice. She took in each of her prey, eyeing them up from head to toe with hungry eyes. She saw the energies beyond mere flesh and blood, the very spirits that animated their bodies. She would rip them out, ideally with her victims screaming and crying before her. The struggle of life and death battle was a thrill onto itself. [color=bc8dbf]"I'm ready whenever you all are, don't be shy. I'll take you all on. I like to kill the weakest ones first and save the big strong ones for last."[/color] The true denizens of the Abyss were finally waking up.