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The queen stepped forward to the side of Thomas, recognizing his Golden Eyes. Something about this world told her that they were a manifestation of not only true power, but true destruction. A perfection, of sorts, of that. However he managed to obtain that, she wasn't sure, but it was indicative of something special. How... interesting. [color=hotpink]"Interesting... eh?""[/color] and just like that, before a monologue could happen, Akiko's attention was taken completely by Nephetos and Runa. The former was dying, and the latter was holding the former. 

And as the blood from Riku washed onto Akiko's back, Nephuna appeared. The fusion between two forms of the blasted code in this Godless Tower, which was crumbling apart bit by bit as this battlefield was formed. Even Katie was back, albeit hardly anything more than dead weight. 

As the world reached a violent stillness, in a brief moment, Akiko realized. This was the real battle.

[color=hotpink]"So this is how it is."[/color] Beings she was unfamiliar with spotted up around the arena. Erika, Esa, and Marianne. In short bursts she flashed through each of the new arrivals, learning their pasts with her eyes as Castle manifested on full display for practically everyone to see at this point, be it through Kanbaru's JSTR, Nephuna's special eyes, Thomas's Golden Eyes, and the newly arrived Vassals' sense of strength. 

[b][color=forestgreen]"We've got our work cut out for us."[/color][/b] Hellsword moved forward out of nothing, and alongside him did Akiko's Lorelai. [color=mediumvioletred]"Indeed. There's a lot of faces for the Queen to have to contend with, but none are as menacing as that... thing."[/color] As the spears emerged from the glitches, two of them were deflected from Akiko, who sat brooding as usual with Riku on her back.

[color=mediumvioletred]"We'll keep you safe, but I highly suggest you should start doing something!"[/color] Lorelai turned to Akiko, who had her eyes locked onto the sight of something in the distance. Sure, the group could stand and fight the actual demon here, but Akiko knew that it was hardly a task worthwhile. If anything, it'd serve as the distraction from the actual threat.

She turned towards Hellsword. [color=hotpink]"I need you to get me closer to that core."[/color]

[b][color=forestgreen]"Are you insane? You'd be fighting a losing battle!"[/color][/b] Hellsword lost it's cool for a moment, chastising Akiko before the sudden realization. She probably was, but she could also loosely read the code of this world, and nobody else was on the defense. Hellsword groaned, but extended out several vines to lift Akiko and start moving her through what lied beyond the shattered Abyss. As the queen neared closer and closer to the shattering world, she felt something itch from her pocket. Though she couldn't check it with her as she was, given she was still holding Riku, Castle and Akiko both knew what it was.

[color=red][ The arrow is calling to us. Beckoning for us to use it. ][/color]

A tentacle of Akiko unwrapped and held it in front of her. [color=hotpink]"Perhaps even in a world like this, the arrow holds more power than we know."[/color]

Over near the core of the Tower, as the Nephuna's took turns attacking it and shaking the world to it's very core, they would notice that the code started to rematerialize. Not perfectly, definitely done by an amateur, but the foundations of the code was solid enough to start blocking hits. From the familiar stardrop design, the same that matched a certain cat's brooch, it was clear who was starting to defend, though her attempts were merely postponing the inevitable for the current moment.

Back over to her serei, however...

[color=mediumvioletred]"Look at my mistress! She's putting herself on the line to make sure the others can fight and win! How selfless of a queen indeed!"[/color]

[b][color=forestgreen]"Yeah. Sure."[/color][/b]

[color=mediumvioletred]"Surely you don't hold doubt in her, Abigail?"[/color]

[b][color=forestgreen]"Don't call me that."[/color][/b]