Altered Tundra

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

This was not something that Francis thought he would ever do. If this was the day before, he wouldn’t even think about doing such a thing, but after meeting Shion and pretty much falling for her majestic beauty, Franics knew he had to do this. He couldn’t be a Judge while being with her, now could he? Nope, he most certainly cannot, which brings him to Hamut’s office. He already did what he needed to do with Roman.

As he was in front of Hamut, he stood there as nervous as he could and obviously the old man was not happy in the least. “So, what exactly does this mean, Francis?” Hamut asked him, trying to remain as calm and rational as he could.

Francis gulped. “It’s as you read, Hamut. I am handing in my resignation as Second Judge. I already did so to Emperor Roman and he has accepted it.” Francis said, “I know that I did not have to do so with you, but for as long as we’ve known each other, I thought it was only the respectful thing to do.” Francis finished.

Hamut was not happy, but for his friend’s sake, he would not show anger. “Well, Francis I can’t say that I’m entirely thrilled, but you are a man who goes by his word. Who am I one to stop you?” Hamut said as he stood up and placed the paper down on his desk. “Though, do enlighten me on why exactly you did this?” Hamut asked him raising a brow.

Francis inhaled and exhaled. “Why does any man do anything?”
“You met someone, didn’t you?”
“Well of course.”

Hamut smiled and laughed, and then coughed cause he was laughing so much. “Well tell me about her?”

Francis couldn’t help but laugh too. “She’s mysterious, bold, ambitious, sweet, aggressive — just everything my ex-wife wasn’t.” Francis laughed more.

Hamut grinned. “Ah, Annabelle, she was a prude, wasn’t she?”
“Hey now, that’s Michel’s mother you’re talking about.”
“Oh right, I apologize, but still. This woman sounds like a wonder.”
“Oh she is.”
“I guess I have nothing to say but to wish you luck my friend.”
“Thank you.”

After exchanging a hug, Francis would depart from Hamut’s office and the old man would keep his laughing going for a while longer. Even as he sat down at his at his desk, a chuckle would continue.

---

As everyone slept soundly, the yelling from Nadeline would wake them all up. Wesley would rub his eyes as he sat up from his bed and he would hear that Jaakuna was gone. That made Wesley prop up straight from his bed and onto to his feet, finding his clothes that he usually wears — his black longcoat, grey pants, and silver shoes. He would step out of his room and he would see Grant was up, asking where Jaakuna could have gone and Wesley didn’t know either.

As just about everyone was up, Savayna was still adjusting tot eh current noise levels and it took her a few minutes to get up and she would get up slowly. She was definitely taking her sweet-ass time getting her dress and armor on, as she just wanted to be ready for anything. Still, she couldn’t help but hear that Jaakuna went missing. When she got fully clothed, she too was out of her room and everyone was in the dining room by the time that she too arrived.

When Savayna walked into it, she saw a frantic Emiri pacing back and forth and just a bunch of confusion. “So, ol’ dumbass left huh?” Savayna said as she sat at the table, lazily resting her arms on the table.

“C’mon Savayna, be a little more caring than that.” Wesley said.

Savayna shrugged, but she really was wondering where golden boy was. “Why not just ask Iris?” Savayna suggested.

Wesley actually thought that was a good idea. “Iris, did Jaakuna leave anything for us before he left?”
“Master Jaakuna left a voice recording for all of you in case you wondered where he went.”
“Play it please!” Iris would play it and Jaakuna’s voice would be heard.

I know you all are probably hating me right now or are wondering why I left. Truth is, I couldn’t face any of you after the disgrace I brought to myself and every single one of you. I don’t know when I’ll be back, but I just needed to take some time away from everything. I needed to just find my reason again. It might seem selfish, but it’s something that I needed to do for me.

To Emiri, I know you’re probably feeling all sorts of emotions right now. You’re mad as hell at me for using Zodiark’s power, and you’re probably crying up a storm. I don’t want you to worry about me, babe. I’m going to be okay. I just need to find myself again. I hope that you understand. I never meant to hurt you. I love you so much.

As the recording ended, Wesley — and probably everyone else — looked to Emiri. Wesley nor Savayna would speak.

---

Jaakuna knew that leaving was probably not the smartest thing to do if he wanted to patch things up with his friends and Emiri, but in his current state of mind, he just couldn’t face them, at least not yet. He had to find a reason for himself again. He knew he wasn’t going to find it staying with his friends. That’s why Jaakuna left, just so he could find himself again, even if it meant taking a day or so away from them all.

As that was so, Jaakuna was in Rabanastre as he took another airship to Rabanastre that led from Archades. He was currently in the Sandsea Tavern, specifically at the bar. He was drinking shot after shot after shot of ale, and the bartender would clean off the countertop and eyed the lost Jaakuna. The bartender was a white woman with long brown hair and green eyes. She spoke with a rather country-inspired accent “What’s troubling you, sweetheart?”

Jaakuna smiled. “I don’t know. Recently, I did something really stupid and I don’t know how I can come back from it.” Jaakuna said as he leaned against the countertop.

“It seems to me that you’re lost, sweatpea.” The bartender said.

She was right. Jaakuna was actually a little shocked at how right she was. “You’re right, but how can I find myself again?” Jaakuna asked her as if she could help him.

The Bartender felt for Jaakuna, she really did. “Whenever I’m feeling down, I take my ass to the Garif. They might be sociable, but if there’s anyone that they can help, it’s you hun.” She said smiling at Jaakuna.

Jaakuna would smile and down the remainder of his drink. “I suppose it’s worth a shot.” He said getting up. “Thank you.” He said as he left the Sandsea and would head to the Ozmone Plain, which was where the Garif resided at. Hopefully, Jaakuna would find whatever it was that he was looking for under the guiding and help from the Garif.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

As much as Jaakuna wanted to agree with them and say that they were right(except Grant cause what he said just was too obvious), Jaakuna just couldn’t do that. Not only was his mind in a place where he couldn’t see past what he did and how it obviously hurt the ones he cared about the most, he himself didn’t feel like himself. Perhaps Jaakuna wanted to just take time away from everything and get a clear head. Or maybe he thought he would hurt them at any given moment? Whichever the case, he would hear Emiri and nod and said nothing.

Wesley looked at how lost Jaakuna looked and while he wanted to say something, he knew that there wasn’t much that he could say. He would then hear Emiri and nod as Jaakuna had just did. “Yeah, I think it’s time we retire for the night.” Wesley said.

It would seem everyone just nodded as well, but Jaakuna didn’t do much else. He just walked up and went to his room, not even looking at Emiri.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

As Shion would speak, Jaakuna knew that she was right. He was fully-transformed with Zodiark’s influence and she still beat him. And she was right about the flower petals. She was right about how before all of them would fall, Jaakuna’s death would be imminent. She was right about how Jaakuna assured that she would be victorious the moment he decided to surrender himself to Zodiark. She was right about everything and it made Jaakuna sick to his stomach. Even now, as Jaakuna was behind all of his friends and his darling Emiri, he felt so ashamed. Though, to his surprise, one thing did come shining out of this. His clothes would magically appear on his back once more, as if being granted to him once everything had finished.

Looking at them, Jaakuna was going to say something, but what could he say? That he was sorry? That he shouldn’t have done it? That he didn’t know what he was doing. No, he knew what he was doing. He did it all voluntarily and he knew the risks that would come to it. Jaakuna knew it all and he was so disgusted with himself. Wesley would turn to Jaakuna, seeing the complete despair on his friend’s face. “Let’s go back to the airship.” Wesley said as he would start heading to the aerodome, as well as the others. Whatever they would talk about would have to be said aboard the ship in private.

As they would head off to the Aerodome, it would only take them five minutes as the airship was somewhat close to where they were. The five minutes that it did take them to get there was full of nothing but awkward silence. The girls were mad at the guys and the guys were so disappointed in themselves, that they really didn’t want to speak even if they were asked a question.

Aboard the Ifrit, and in the dining room, everyone sat at the table, silent. Wesley looked around the table and he didn’t even know how to bring up a conversation. He knew eventually the elephant in the room would have to be addressed and currently, that elephant was blonde and had just done something incredibly foolish. “I think--”

“Save it Wesley, I know.” Jaakuna said with the least amount of life in his voice. Jaakuna was still looking down, completely feeling like a husk. No, that’s not right. He was just so broken about what he did and about how he knew that on the inside, everyone was hurting cause of what he did and so goddamn angry at what he did, but perhaps the question they wanted to ask was why he did it. “I know you’re all thinking it and don’t even bother asking it.” Jaakuna said in the same lifeless-like tone. “I know what I did was beyond foolish. I know that nothing I can say will ever explain or justify it.” Jaakuna said, “I know that there’s no turning back from any of it.” Jaakuna said sighing and looking at everyone, but he would stop at Emiri, mouthing the words of ‘I love you’, but then he would just look at no specific direction. “I’ve decided that it would be best if I left..” Jaakuna said.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Michel just stood there and looked at the two sisters going back and forth about whether or not Lola was crazy or not. These two sure had a weird way of showing that they loved each other as siblings, not like Michel would know. He’s an only child and cause of that, he never knew the pleasure — or displeasure, depending on who the person was — of having a sibling. If anything, the closest person he has that could be considered a sibling would be Savayna and well everyone knew how that ended up.

On Meli’s cue, both Lola and Michel would jump into Meli’s shadow and they were gone from the area they were just at.

---

Oh boy, this is not good at all..

Wesley didn’t like this at all. Nadeline knew he kept a secret from her and a big one at that, not to mention that he didn’t even get the chance to tell her. What was even worse was that Nadeline would not stop glaring at him. He knew she was beyond pissed with him and without even saying anything(yet), he could just hear her words of disappointment and surprise(the bad kind) in his head. It wasn’t until Nadeline and Emiri would start speaking that Wesley could feel him shrinking and them getting taller and louder. Even when Grant would explain it, Wesley didn’t feel like it made things any better. Honestly, he felt as if it got even worse, specifically when he made a mention towards Emiri and her powers. Yup, none of anything being said was going to lower his heart rate.

“We can talk--” Much like with Grant, the words of Wesley were cut off by a rather horrific sight. It was the sight of a fully-transformed Jaakuna and Wesley couldn’t help but just stare, eyes widened and mouth dropped. Savayna was the same. Neither of them could understand how Jaakuna could give into such a beast like Zodiark.

As everyone was looking on, Jaakuna, fully-aware of what was happening, smiled, laughed even. He looked on first he saw multiple blue rose petals seemed to be scattering around and then Jaakuna couldn’t help but notice a bright light from behind her and then he saw her blade circle in front of her. As it came full-circle, there were twelve blades of pure light. Once she called out some word, the twelve blades instantly shot off to Jaakuna and from what he could gather, half of them surrounded him and shot off beams of holy light while the rest came in for a physical attack.

When the ones coming after him-physically, Jaakuna did all he could to fend them off as he would raise his right arm and try to blow them up using spontaneous bursts of black fire. A few times, it would miss, but the eventually the blasts would get them, but one did get by. It stabbed Jaakuna in the right thigh, and exploded on his thigh. Jaakuna could notice that in the place of the sword was his hume flesh. Eyes widened and Jaakuna understood now, but he realized it before it was too late. The beams of light that were firing from the swords circling him were starting to purify him. Each beam would hit him and each hit would cause a yell of pain from Jaakuna’s mouth. Even if he had got about three of them to explode due to the black fire that would come from his arms as he waved them, there were still three circling him and shooting off beams of purifying light.

By the time three minutes had elapsed, the swords were gone due to Jaakuna doing all he could to get them away from him, but the end result was that Jaakuna was more or less back at fifty percent of being transformed. The areas in which were gone was the right side of his head and neck, the left torso side of his upper body, and his entire right arm and left leg. It was when he was at this point that the border-like barrier separating Jaakuna and his friends were gone. Jaakuna himself was on one knee, panting and breathing heavily.

When Wesley saw that the barrier was gone, he didn’t even wait for anyone else, nor did Savayna. Both of them went in front of Jaakuna, Savayna with her weapon in hand and Wesley’s hands glowing white. He wasn’t going to allow Shion to attack Jaakuna anymore. The blonde in question looked up, trying to stand, but pain beyond his own comprehension went through his body and a yell of representation of that pain was released from his mouth. “You..don’t have to do this. I can take her.” Jaakuna said finding all the strength he had to just stand up, but his legs were shaking and using the strength he had to stand up would cause the rest of his former demonic self to crumble away, leaving a naked Jaakuna behind Wesley and Savayna.

Wesley turned back to Jaakuna. “Just shut up and let us handle this.” Jaakuna’s eyes were widened and Wesley turned back.

Magik Ther Was

After catching up on the posts, I will be doing mine either tonight or tomorrow. :D

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Continuing to heal Lola, Michel had no choice but to stop here and there from the words that the two sisters were exchanging. While verbal at first, Meli’s leg came into Lola’s gut a few times, thus why Michel had to stop at points, which made the healing go on longer than he had thought it would. Though, eventually Meli would stop her physical assault on her sister and just settle for verbal. It was cause of the ceasing of physical violence that Michel had finished. Granted, Lola would still be sore and probably not at full health, but her wound was closed and she would at least be able to walk.

Michel stood up and brushed dirt off his clothes. “Now that we’re done here, I think we should head to boss.” Michel said, “I’m sure you two felt that sinister feeling before. It’s Zodiark, but it’s weird,” Michel said, “It feels like it’s coming from Jaakuna.” Michel couldn’t place it.

---

Before anyone of them could do anything to stop Jaakuna, he had raised his demonic arm and sent a controlled wave of what looked to be black fire and had separated them from even trying to interfere. Wesley was more intrigued by this new brand of fire than worried. Of course, he was worried for his friend. He didn’t know if Jaakuna gave into Zodiark’s power voluntarily or if it was Zodiark doing it by force. Whichever was the case, Wesley didn’t like it. Even more so, he would see that Emiri was in some sort of denial or something and that she touched the border-like barrier of Jaakuna’s black fire.

When Nadeline had took Emiri’s hand and what it was, she would heal Emiri’s burnt hand and the brunette would then say that it was Zodiark and that he was giving into the King of Esper’s powers. That’s when Grant and Wesley exchanged looks. A bit relieved, but it still was very, very bad. The fact that Jaakuna gave told Emiri was good, but the fact he gave into Zodiark was just confusing for Wesley.

When Emiri told them that, Savayna couldn’t believe it. She was livid with Jaakuna for doing it, but even more so with Grant. No, she wasn’t as mad at Wesley(Nadeline would take care of him), but Grant, oh she was beyond livid with him. She would appear just slightly behind him, but on his side, and put her right hand on his right shoulder. “So, is there something you want to say to me, darling?” Savayna said rather calm, but she was everything but that.

In the barrier of black fire, Demonic Jaakuna could see Shion looking at him, as if she wasn’t even going to attempt to do otherwise. He would see her lift her two blades and the light of Ultima would grace both and combine into one single blade of ethereal white. Jaakuna smirked at the sight of it. He was impressed, but it didn’t mean much. He had more than enough power to handle this.

Jaakuna’s power was tested as Shion took her blade from above and struck downward at Jaakuna. Using only his demonic arm, Jaakuna raised it up alone and would try to block it. Instantly, bits of white light and black fire would meet. Jaakuna’s arm was being bent down as if losing the struggle, but then as he would dig more into his power, Jaakuna would raise his arm up more and shove the sword slightly upward. By doing this, the fire around Jaakuna’s arm increased in both overall strength, but intensity. It got to the point that Jaakuna’s arm was a literal arm of black fire. More so on that, a loud yell came from Jaakuna’s mouth, mixed with demonic sounds, and his body began to develop more of the demonic appearance he had, specifically his other leg was about halfway composed of the same look that his already-transformed leg had. Adding to that, Jaakuna began to walk forward and each step left a small trace of black fire.

At the point that Jaakuna took three steps, he was not only pushing back the Ultima Blade back(and Shion by result), but he was also slowly getting fully transformed. By now, the transformation had completely taken his lower body and was almost halfway up his torso, past his abdomens. “You..will not defeat me!!!” JAakuna yelled out as his arm then exploded in black fire, sending Shion and her sword back a few paces. In doing so, Jaakuna’s body was surrounded by pure black fire, the ground burning where he stood and his transformation was complete, much to the shock and horror of his friends and his fiancé.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Both ladies agreed that with how strong that Michel proved to be, it was most likely that the guys would need their help and that Meli would eventually make her way over to Michel as well. It was with that the two girls would start jogging their way over to join — and help —Wesley and Grant.

Wesley took in Grants words and he was right. In theory, the idea that Wesley brought up was right, but that’s all it was: a theory. Michel most likely has access to other powers like the wind he just displayed. If Grant and Wesley were really to wait it out, how exactly would they be able to? And if they were able to, would they have enough energy to face him? Yes, this was definitely something that they had to both consider, but for the time being, they had to just focus on surviving.

Just as Wesley was going to speak and respond to Grant, Savayna and Nadeline appeared on his right. “I take it you defeated Meli huh?” Wesley asked them.

Savayna sighed. “No, she vanished after Mr. Weatherman here,” She said pointing to Michel, “Went tornado on y’all’s asses.” She said slightly annoyed that Meli actually went away, but she was glad as Meli probably would have proved to be too much for her and the others.

Wesley thought hard as he placed his fingers against his lips. “Well, whichever the case is, I’m just glad your both safe.” WEsley said looking at the girls, but especially Nadeline. Though he would bring his gaze back to Michel, who was standing there, looking at the sky and admiring the stars.

Michel heard nothing, so he assumed that they were done. “Oh good, you’re done kissing and making up.” Michel said. As he would poise his body for battle, Michel felt something…off. He couldn’t place it, but with the absence with Meli and now the weird feeling he just felt, something didn’t feel right. Whatever it was, however, in his gut, Michel felt it coming from where the boss was AND where Meli seemed to be. Michel would then look at the others, and he sighed. “This is your lucky day.” Michel said, “I have something else to do, so you all are spared for the moment.” Michel said as in one second, he was gone from sight.

Wesley blinked his eyes a few times. “What just happened?” Wesley said just dumbfounded.

Savayna didn’t know either. “I guess he really had to go.”

Wesley would shrug as he would suddenly get a chill all over his body. “Did you guys just feel that?” WEsley said looking up to the sky and he didn’t see anything out of the ordinary, but the last time he got a chill like the one he just did was when he was last in front of Zodiark. “Let’s go. I fear that something bad is about to happen.” Wesley said as he didn’t even wait for a reply from his friends and fiancé. He just started to run off into the distance, Savayna and the others most likely were right behind him.

---

About five minutes later, Michel appeared in the area that he felt Meli’s aura at and he saw her next to a badly-wounded Lola. He shoot his head and could only wonder what Boss would say about Lola now. Michel remembered Boss telling Lola that she was not to play around with her pet anymore. Though, Michel would just put that thought aside as he could see a rather worried look on both Meli’s and Lola’s face. Of course, Meli was worried cause that was her sister and Lola cause she was badly hurt.

Walking over and getting down on one knee, Michel activated his green aura, though it would be obvious that he was struggling a bit. “Hold still, Lola. This might sting at first.” Michel used the healing properties of his Green Aura to at least heal the outside parts of Lola’s wound. It wouldn’t be much, but it would at least get her to her feet. He would be at it for five minutes.

---

Jaakuna couldn’t feel anything. He wasn’t sure if it was cause he gave into Zodiark more than he should, but he felt nothing. He could hear every single word that was said on the outside of what could be described as a shell of mistified darkness. As each word would be said, first he would hear slight whispers from his own voice to Zodiark, but then he heard Emiri’s voice. Jaakuna didn’t do nothing though. As stated, he couldn’t feel inside whatever he was inside and probably for the better.

And then it happened.

As if moments before he heard Emiri pleaded with someone — most likely Shion — to stop, darkness exploded. The shell that surrounded Jaakuna erupted forward, sending off any attack that would or wouldn’t come at him. The darkness, as it would fend off Shion’s now canceled out white light attack, would spiral around Jaakuna. Nothing could be seen other than shades of black, grey, purple, and dark green. About every other ten seconds, there was strikes of sinister lightning shooting off in every possible direction.

As the darkness and lighting would soon fade, as would the mystery of what happening. As Emiri and Shion would most likely see, Jaakuna it what looked like a partial, demonic form. One half of his body was normal. It had Jaakuna’s tattoos, his blonde hair(just longer), his hume skin, even his pants were there. However, the other half of Jaakuna was completely molded by a hard exterior that resembled Zodiark in many ways. The darkness seeping out from the edges and the way his eye looked on that half was a definite chill-sender.

Looking at the two women, Jaakuna looked to Emiri. He knew she was pretty mad at him, but Jaakuna didn’t say anything. He couldn’t say anything, no like there was much to say and explain what happened. It was pretty obvious that he gave into the dark temptation of Zodiark and was now half-transformed because of it.

“It would seem you four arrived just in time for the show.” Jaakuna’s voice said, though it was weird. There were definite signs of his usual voice, but it was underneath what seemed layers of twisted, demonic words.

Wesley and the others couldn’t believe what they were looking at. First thing was that Emiri was there, then there was some blue-haired maiden and now to make things worse, it seemed that the feeling that Wesley initially felt was Jaakuna. “What the hell happened to you?!” Wesley would shout out, taking a step forward.

As Wesley’s foot moved, Jaakuna’s demonic arm waved and flames of darkness would create a border of sorts to stop him and Emiri from progressing from where they stood. “None of you are to interfere. I have unfinished business with this cunt.” He said referring to Shion.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Keeping the tornado going for as long as he could, Michel was starting to feel his green aura get overtaken by his violet and blue ones. Slowly but surely, he was getting more electricity into his body than the freeness of the wind. With that being true, Michel couldn’t help but notice that Grant was using Gravity quite a few times to get both him and Wesley on the ground. Though, he did notice that the raven-haired prince didn’t look all that hot. At the point that they touched ground, they were barely able to stay on there. Michel smiled, but then the winds started to slow down.

As Wesley heard Grant ask him what they should do now as his magic wasn’t strong enough, it was as if on cue of his words that the winds started to slow down. It slowed just enough to where Wesley was able to stay on the ground without the aid of Grant holding his arm. Once he got stable footing, Wesley noticed his Sword of Order wasn’t in his hand. Just on reflex he held out his hand and from ten feet to his left it came, and telepathically responded to his desire to have it and it was in his hand a few seconds later. Wesley would then look to Michel with a slight smile, but he knew that the green-haired youth wasn’t done yet as he saw a mixture of blue and violet tracing around his body.

“Hey Grant, you see the same thing I am?” Wesley asked him. “His aura seems to be losing stability the more he uses it. Before, he could control the color and its elemental variant, but now it seems if he uses a lot of one, it becomes unusable.” Wesley said. “I’m guessing that’s why the winds stopped, cause he used all he could of it.” Wesley deduced.

---

Savyana knew that Michel had power in his body. She knew that from when they would clash back when he was her assistant and even from the times they would spar. She knew that he had the power of Aura manipulation, but shit! She had no idea that his power was that strong. Savayna found herself clinging for dear life as she had her hands gripped so tightly to the edge of a building. Yeah, she was forced so much off of her feet that she went flying into the sky and was barely hanging on the edge of a building with her body — excluding her arms and head — were facing the sky.

When she heard Nadeline cry out something about fighting a tornado, Savayna didn’t know, but a minute later, and more screaming from everyone — minus Meli, cause it seemed she vanished — the winds would stop. Nadeline would be on the ground, Savayna would be resting on the building after letting a rather loud grunt from landing on her neck. Savayna would press herself up, shaking her head just so it was broken or worse. After spending a good fifteen seconds doing that, it seemed all was right with her neck joints. So, she then would glide down to the ground, to which she landed right next to Nadeline.

As she would look over in the distance, she saw that the winds had completely stopped, which was weird. Either Michel did that on purpose and he was planning something far worse or he ran out of juice and the boys would actually have a chance. Either way, Savayna would turn to Nadeline. “So it seems that shadow bitch ran away.” Savayna said stating the obvious. “We should take this chance to go help out the guys, what say you, Nadeline?” Savayna asked her.

---

As the tendrils would go up, Jaakuna saw that with a whip of her sword, Shion froze the tendrils and then a white glow would make them fade away rather quickly. Jaakuna couldn’t say that it surprised him. This woman was definitely testing him and may herself. Jaakuna couldn’t be sure, but he knew something about her actions was an indication that she was merely warming up. Still, Jaakuna could handle himself.

Jaakuna would take notice to one of the petals in the air fading away, seeds of new roses would bloom from their fallen position. Jaakuna also took notice to a small flower forming back into Shion’s hair. He thought that was a little weird, but he paid no mind to it. He instead watched Shion as she would slowly approach him, passing by one of the roses, swinging her sword at its head. The petals floated and faded into her sword. In its place, ethereal white circles. Shion then said that the more he dug into Zodiark’s power the more that her victory was decided. Jaakuna let out an arrogant — or was it ignorant — laugh. As he did, however, he would notice a brilliant white light coming at him. On instinct alone, Jaakuna raised his hand up and following its motion, a defensive wall of black magickal energy shot up from the ground to block it. While it defended around the attack successfully, Jaakuna was feeling something in his body. He couldn’t place it, but he didn’t like it.

“What did you do to me?!” Jaakuna breathily asked.

Jaakuna could feel the powers that he had tapped into from Zodiark being pulled from his body. Gripping his heart, the red sigils on his hands and waist soon would start to fade away as would the black armor-like skin. Bit by bit, it would be gone. At least, that’s until Jaakuna heard a laugh in his head that otherwise would be discomforting, but this time around, however, he was happy to hear it.

It seems that instead of wanting it gone, your heart desires more of my strength, Jackson.
Oh would you shut up. But I guess you’re right, at least for this fight.
All you had to do was ask, but I must warn you.
Yes?
Your body cannot handle that much of my power without some nasty side-effects. I know not what you wish of this, but you can’t say I didn’t warn you.
Oh just shut up and give it to me already.

Zodiark did not say nothing after that. He just laughed and then it was like time froze for Jaakuna. He felt his heart thumping louder, faster, and longer. Then, his vision was getting blurry. He was seeing two, three, four, six the times of Shions than before and his head was starting to hurt. He gripped it and found himself falling to one knee. Then, as he looked up, just for a moment, he didn’t see Shion, no. He saw the two people he did that one time he had that vision. He saw the Grim Reaper and the inverted version of himself.

“Your life is now dead.” Said the grim reaper in the same echoed, eerie voice.
“Your death is now unknown.” Said the inverted version of himself in his own voice, but echoed.

As he would stand up, the two would be gone from his sight, and he would only see one Shion. Though, now Jaakuna would notice something as would Shion. He would be surrounded by a thick, hard shell of a sticky and almost mist-formed blackness. Appearance-wise, the shell looks like a black and grey circular form of cracked earth. It was so full of evil and darkness that even if Shion had the light of Ultima, not even that would be able to revert what was about to Jaakuna.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Michel had to admit it to himself. He was actually surprised at how effective these two were against his own attacks. They've been giving him one surprise after an other, from Wesley using Earth Magick to Grant using Gravity Magick to completely make the tornado disappear. Michel just didn’t think that they would be this much of a challenge. That was just foolish arrogance on his part. Michel will not make that same mistake. He would land on the ground, five paces away from both of them. The air within the air started to circle around him, the speeds of the winds starting to shove Grant and Wesley back. Michel would extend his arms out and gusts of wind would randomly be shoved to the two princes. The wind would get so strong that it probably could start to be felt by the ladies who were about thirty or forty feet away from them.

As the winds got stronger, Wesley was doing all he could just to stay on the ground. For every pace he took forward, he was sent back three. Grant was no doubt experiencing the same thing and Wesley knew that this was a bad situation. Meanwhile, the two princes would see that Michel was like a Hume-sized cyclone. The winds actually got so strong that the air was starting to distort. The ground around him was being raised up and sucked into what looked like a vacuum. This was very, very bad. Michel just laughed. It was his emotions that were controlling it and right now, the green aura was showing slight signs of violet and blue, mainly violet though. For anyone who knew about Michel’s power, they would know that the space-time aspect of his violet aura was causing the distortion.

As Michel would stop laughing, he would use the wind as he glided around both Wesley and Grant. He was going so fast and he was circling them so many times, that not long after he started doing it were they trapped in a tornado. The speed of the tornado would definitely cause them to be forced up and by the time they would get to the center of it, little blades of wind would start to slice their clothes and eventually their flesh. At the rate the tornado was expanding both vertically and horizontally, the winds would no doubt reach the ladies. Up in the sky, the funnel clouds were starting to form and that would be seen by everyone in Archades and even noticeable by the people in neighboring countries.

---

When Savayna’s own curaga spell finished, Nadeline would further her healing with a curaja spell and then she would stand up with Savayna‘s help. Savayna would hear Nadeline speak to Meli, stating that she was going down and even calling her a skank. Savayna chuckled. “Together, we can get this bitch!” Savayna said cheerfully determined. Savayna would then hear Meli let out a whistle, no doubt because of the sight that was Savayna’s Esper. She would then claim that it was a slutty mermaid. Savayna found that statement funny, but what she didn’t find funny were the lot of shadow clones of herself coming at them.

As Savayna would join the frontlines with Mateus, the Ice Esper would prepare to attack the shadow clones and Savayna would as well, but then they definitely felt something and it was the strong gust of wind coming from where Grant and Wesley were fighting Michel. Furthermore, they soon saw a tornado in the distance and it was only getting bigger as the seconds went on. The gusts of wind that came to them would send all the shadow clones flying and getting killed. It was no doubt that everyone aside from Mateus would be forced off their feet and tumbling in all different directions. Mateus, however, was hit by the gusts of wind and due to the damage he sustained(which was a lot), he would fade away/be desummoned.

“Damn, this is not good! I don’t know what’s happening, but if Michel doesn’t stop, we’re all going to die.” Savayna said rather dramatically.

---

As Jaakuna’s attack came in, Shion would match his attack with her own twin blasts of magickal energy, but inverted to Jaakuna’s own. The two attacks clashed. Black and white beautifully met each other and after a minute of a struggle, they both canceled each other out in a beautiful white and black explosion. Jaakuna, while shocked, couldn’t help but be impressed. Of course, he expected nothing less from the leader of Utena. Jaakuna heard Shion state that Jaakuna was not the only one with the power of an esper as his disposal. She said that her blade had been graced with the strength of the High Seraph. Jaakuna had to admit that he was a little shocked at this, but not all that surprising. Though, he did smile when she said that her strength plus her blade would be enough to do away with Jaakuna. Clearly she was underestimating him.

“I will admit, you are stronger than I first thought, but don’t let that cloud your rationality.” Jaakuna said as he saw the wave rippling through the ground and coming straight at him. Using his reflexes, Jaakuna dodge rolled out of the way to the right, the blast nearly missing his left leg. He looked on and saw the blast go for a mile, crashing through several buildings. He let out a low whistle and stood up, brushing off his clothes from any dirt that might have got on them. He would then sheath his swords and looked at Shion shaking his head. “Well then, you weren’t messing around.” Jaakuna said smiling.

Jaakuna found himself just smirking. The more he would use the powers of Zodiark, the more it seemed to shift his personality. He didn’t really notice. Or maybe it was that he liked the shift of his behavior. Even now, as he looked to Shion without his weapons, he wasn’t like he was a minute ago. Closing his eyes, Jaakuna would hold his arm out, and let Zodiark’s darkness cover his skin. It was like the more he gave into it, the more that a physical representation of it would be shown on his body. Soon he would start to show the bare minimum of Zodiark’s armor-like body. His arms were showing the armor, his bare chest was showing it, and the red sigils appeared on the center of his front waist and hands. Jaakuna then opened his eyes, and as he did, a shadow would appear beneath Shion and tendrils would shoot up so fast that there was only a three second interval between the tendrils rising and her being bound by them. All the while they shot up, Jaakuna was smiling evilly, as if he was enjoying what was about to happen.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Poised and ready to fight, the blue-haired maiden would echo what Jaakuna saying about wanting to know who she would be killing, though Jaakuna slightly laughed at that comment. He didn’t think that she would actually be able to kill him, but she did seem pretty sure of herself. She would then take out her blue rose from her hair . Jaakuna took notice to the flower glowing rather brightly. He would then hear her say that Jaakuna was a fool or desperate to accept Zodiark into his heart. He would smirk slightly. She wasn’t wrong. He was indeed desperate to even consider Zodiark into him.

When she crushed the rose in her hand, a shadow would appear beneath her and trading her heels for some kind flat-like shoes. Jaakuna paid no mind to that, but he did eye her intently, watching everything that she did and also watching the shadow wrap around her right arm. She would blow the petals towards Jaakuna and they would pick up speed, dancing around them. Jaakuna sniffed three times and the smell was very comforting. He always enjoyed the smell of roses. As he watched her extend her arms and with one hand reaching into the darkness and pull out what looked like a katana. The darkness was gone, but petals were still up and about flying around them.

As Jaakuna would smile, the blue-haired beauty would inform that Jaakuna would die before the last petal dropped and reveal herself as Shion and that she came from Nabradia. He saw that she would grab one petal, and turn it to dust and she went forth with her attack as she leaned in slightly and came at Jaakuna with such fast speeds, it was like a blue blur. The next thing that Jaakna knew was that she was in front of him, sword raised and coming down. Jaakuna brought his two swords up, crossed like an X, laced with with his fire magick as if on pure instinct alone, and blocked her attack. Though, Jaakuna felt the ground below him starting to crack under the pressure. Jaakuna would try to hold his position for as long as he could. He felt his magick giving away, so Jaakuna dug into some of Zodiark’s power and his swords soon replaced the red and white from his own power to the pure blackness of Zodiark’s Influence.

As Zodiark’s Influence seemed to balance the scales, Jaakuna began to push her sword back as his body soon began to show a flickering black aura. The more he was lifting his swords up, the less the flickering happened and the more it would solidify. After a full minute of pushing her sword away, he completely did it, but in the process, Jaakuna’s body was now fully surrounded by a very evil-feeling aura. He was able to push her a few feet away and Jaakuna smiled. “You’re right, I was desperate when I gave into Zodiark. I admit that, for a while, I was hating it, but at the moment, I couldn’t care less. It’s going to help me defeat you and that’s all I care about, Shion of Nabradia.” Jaakuna said as he would embrace the influence from Zodiark. A single vertical slash from both of swords would release an eerie and evil wave of pure darkness to Shion.

---

Wesley smiled and chuckled when Grant would make a note that he wished he had his gun. Though, he would take out his hand bomb and toss up an oil bomb that would ignite as soon as it hit Michel’s fire attack, causing a stalemate between the two attacks. That left Wesley with an opening and he would take off in a fast dash to Michel. From the distraction that Grant provided and the moment that Michel took his eyes off of Wesley, he didn’t see the prince come at him from the side. Wesley had his Sword of Order to his side and as he swung it upwards, Michel looked at it and he would lean backwards, but that didn’t stop Wesley. The Dalmascan prince would swing downward, upwards, diagonally. He just kept doing it in reptition hoping one would get Michel.

After about five rounds of doing all of that, Michel was finally hit along his right arm. The sword had slashed the right inner-forearm of Michel and with a scream of pain, Michel spun around, using his free arm and a shifting of auras into the violet one, to repel Wesley away. However, the salt and pepper-haired man saw it coming and used his earth magick to block the repelling force from Michel and kept him in the spot he was in. After the raised earth disappeared, Wesley used his free hand to summon Holaga, which sent a wave of white magickal energy to Michel, sending him flying three paces behind where he was previously. Now Michel was on the defensive.

As Michel got up, he knew that he was in pretty bad shape. His right forearm was cut, he had bad burns on his chest from the holaga and he didn’t know how much juice he had left. It definitely was getting to a point where Michel probably was going to have to use drastic measures. Though, for now Michel would shift his aura into green, which was the healing one. It was within a minute, his wounds started to heal and he stood up, looking to Wesley and Grant. “Not bad, Wesley of Dalmasca.” He said as he used his Green Aura’s elemental connection and manipulated the air and he took flight. He would then extend both arms, winds gathering around them. He would then bend them as far back as they could and extend them in a fast motion and two individual tornados shot forth, swirling and combining into one moderately-huge tornado at both Wesley and Grant. In his instinct, Wesley manipulated the earth and brought up three large walls of earth, with the closest one being five paces away, but the tornado would smash through the one furthest from Wesley and Grant. If they didn’t do something fast.

---

It was too late. Savayna couldn’t stop her spell as she saw that Nadeline had been whipped by Meli. Even when the blonde princess would use Shell, it was too late. Savayna’s spell broke it and Nadeline was hit by the Waterga spell and Savayna heard Nadeline shriek out from the pain. It would also seem that Meli would capitalize on it as she would then go to impale Nadeline through the chest. Savayna, not wanting that to happen, extended her free arm once more, but this time it was not for a spell. A glyph glowed on her forearm, and in the seconds that followed, a trident would block Meli’s sword, and send Meli back a good five feet

Savayna would touch ground and she would use Curaga over Nadeline’s burnt flesh. It would progressively heal it and it took a few minutes to do so.. Meanwhile, she would look over to Meli, who no doubt was surprised. “I would like for you to meet my esper, Mataeus, The Corrupt.” Savayna said as Mataeus held up his trident, ready for round two. Meanwhile, Savayna would turn back to Nadeline whose injury was at least base healed. Savayna stood up, a hand out. “Can you stand?” She asked Nadeline.