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Defiance

"Great then!"

It took only moments for Dannisus to guide Lui and Aelih away from Devlin's deeds, and towards the innermost parts of Nadska. He pulled the small leather bound book from earlier out of his pocket moments after they'd begun on their path away from the tavern, looking through it carefully as they walked. Relief washed over the Myti as the scent of freshly spilled blood was smothered by Nadska's natural overtones. It was much easier to think, and less... Dangerous. "My notes are much less like stories, Lui. I've been studying magic for the past 5 years, exclusively. From weapon enchantment, to the removal of curses, I'd like to think I'm well versed on the various subjects surrounding mana, most predominantly, magical artifacts." Dannisus drew the tip of his thumb quickly across his tongue and flipped his way through the thin pages of his personal notebook. Although most humans couldn't read Myti script, a learned eye could make out a simple pair of words across the book's cover. 'Notebook 3' He stared at a page for a few moments, conflicted as to whether or not he should mention the potent smell of blood that urged him even further from the tavern. With a gentle huff, he decided against it, and began to drag his finger across one of the pages in his book. He hung his mouth open after a short gasp of breath, and glanced at Lui for a moment.

"Ehm, I have to ask, actually- You're not human, are you?" Dannisus implied with a subtle twitch of his nose, "You don't smell the same, or act the same, as any human I've ever met." He turned to Aelih for a moment with a little rise of his eyebrow. Dannisus wasn't all too bright when it came to spotting verbal hiccups or reading social queues, but even he'd been suspicious after her comment earlier. Surely Aelih had noticed it too. "You smell like wood." Dannisus stated bluntly, looking back at Lui with an innocent, almost guilty expression on his face.

Defiance

Dannisus glanced at Aelih and offered a small smile. The hair on his ears stood on end and he took a deep breath shortly afterwards, nodding to Lui. Rampant surges of Mana thrummed from within the tavern, and with it, the lingering scent of human blood. He looked over his shoulder, past Aelih, and then back to Lui, fussing over his left wrist with one of his fingers. "I'm awfully flattered that you'd take an interest in me, and I'd be more than willing to help you, Lui. But could we perhaps move away from the tavern, first?" He took a few steps away from the wall and spun around, glancing at Lui's lantern for a brief moment before beckoning both her an Aelih away from the soon-to-be crime scene. The mana responsible for spilling human blood was not unfamiliar. He'd been right to be weary of Devlin, and didn't want to be anywhere near that psychopath any longer, nor did he wish any harm to befall his new acquaintances. Although their intentions still remained to be seen, he saw no harm in leading them away from harm. "We can walk and talk, yes? I'm sure you'd both find my research fascinating, if nothing else!"

Defiance

Dannisus prodded at the loose dirt with the tip of his shoe methodically, moving pebbles and dust around while he thought on his panic induced retreat. He couldn't shake the feeling that something nasty was going to make its way towards Nadska, and soon. Unlike most, he wasn't too learned on the recent rise of beastly attacks across the island, least of all the effects it might have had on Sylsashia. Did they target towns rich with Mana? Or were they simply drawn towards dense populations? Or was it all random? Or did-

"Oh," Dannisus murmured, "Hello again." Looks like he'd been followed. Either that, or Lui was looking to get some fresh air as well. He sniffed the air between them quietly for a moment, noticing Aelih not a moment later. Aha! He was being followed! His left ear flapped anxiously and he pushed himself off of the tavern's outer wall.

A Hero Tale {Complete}

Nexus whipped his arm to the side, forming energy into the shape of a spear, whilst engulfing it in an array of electrical veins. Sparks, brighter than the armor he now donned, lashed out across the ground from the forming tip of his weapon and sliced through much of the approaching rocks like butter. But Nexus didn't rely on the brief surge of energy to protect him, and quickly burst out of the rising trap, bounding towards Bruce with his spear fully formed. The gigantic tip weighed heavily, and sent streams of lighting forward as Nexus pulled it back over his shoulder. Before he neared the ground however, he threw his weapon towards Bruce, and increased his body's gravity, landing in front of him long before the bladed weapon would reach its mark. On the ground now, he created several small tear-drop shaped daggers between each of his fingers, and tossed them forwards in a large fan, each weapon coated in a Ki-like energy that threatened to tear through rock and flesh as if it were not present.

A Hero Tale {Complete}

~ Chapter 205 ~

_{Order's Ordainment: Put Me To Rest, Bruce!}

Nexus had abandoned use of his visual prowess. In a moment, Bruce would regain access to both the full extent of his Ki, and Arcane abilities. But as his powers returned, Nexus' only grew much stronger. Much stronger. Like a torrential storm lashing out with little restraint, the blue energy within his body emerged in the form of a brilliant aura. His armor shifted in shape and color until the once darkened blue steel plates were like a series of sapphire mirrors. The full breadth of his body looked as if it were fading into the very fabric of space and time like a visual marvel that defied the eyes.

"Ｐｒｉｍａｒｙ Ｏｒｄａｉｎｍｅｎｔ"

"Now it is a battle of sheer limits. I will not restrain our bodies any longer," Nexus finally announced, "Come at me with everything you have."

A Hero Tale {Complete}

"Tis' child of ill stock that begs and pleads to be pampered and guided through the harsh realities that they refuse to face openly," Yzeira chanted. Seven orbs emerged from his torso and began to orbit him slowly. He held one hand to his side, and from his palm, emerged a mirrored image of his body. They spoke in unison now. "A babe no more, when they learn of the advantages that plague a spoiled upbringing, at the cost of all better sense, Orbs of chaotic energy began to form around his clone's waist as well. From their bodies combined, a sudden spike in energy erupted, flooding the air around them with an oppressive aura. He revealed it then for the first time- The true scope of his power. It continued to rise and rise, with no sign of stopping. "Even before god they would scratch and claw and bite and scream, to their bitter end, ignorant and unyielding. For this they are quashed, snuffed out like a soaked candle by the overwhelming force that dictates right and wrong, good and evil," Then, just as quickly as it had been revealed, the aura shrunk, and was brought back into Yzeira's body, where it was maintained peacefully under his control.

"I will not try to reason with you any longer. Look upon my power and tremble, little boy." He lowered his hand, and the clone mirrored him.

"Or step forward, once more... Step forward and..." He paused and looked up at the rift in the sky.

"Try, if you must."

---

~ End Of Chapter 204 ~

A Hero Tale {Complete}

"Don't you dare speak of logic or trust before me!"

"Your audacity... It is absolutely astounding. Do not think, even for a second, that I have not been keeping on eye on your approach." Yzeira slapped the book shut and shoved it back into his pocket. "You bring a fortress, armed with technology that rivaled Prisma's arcane weaponry to my tower, and speak of trust? I allowed you to walk away so many times. I assured that many lives would be spared in accordance with that offer that I graciously placed before you. You've had a myriad of chances to accept my offer, and what of it? Rather than accept your weakness, a survival instinct with no shame behind it, and trust my offer, you choose an impossible path in defying me directly?" Yzeira's eyes began to thrum with overbearing energies, piercing the slanted rain like brilliant rubies. "You hold so dear, parents whom you've never known over friend and foe like they are to be worshiped like gods. A man who cared so little for you that he'd willingly put you in danger for an untrustworthy myth? A woman who's pride and selfish carnal desires ripped you from what could have been true stability? You demonize my actions and assume me to be some unreasonable tyrannical barbarian because of those working under my mask? And worst of all, you stand before me, an inferior child by comparison, and poise yourself to deliver lectures?!" His barrier flared outwards, creating a rounded silhouette beneath the rainfall.

"You know nothing of me or my history, that much is to be expected. But to know so little about your own self... I pity you. I pity your friends, family, and everyone who you swear so adamantly to protect. This world has my pity."

A Hero Tale {Complete}

"No," He hissed deeply, "If I were in your shoes, I would think and speak with reason. Instead of aiming to win, I would strive to bargain with what little leverage I held." He reached the bottom of the steps and stopped, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small book, and a pen. "I would have aimed to ally with my executioner- To work out a deal, one which I would not be so ludicrous to turn down several times." He opened his book.

"I still have it written here," Yzeira grunted, "The exact coordinates of your universe, Zelriane's universe, and Ada's universe." He spun the book around slowly, and revealed pages upon pages of text that detailed the specifics required to revisit past universes. "I can be dishonest, but there is no benefit to destroy the worlds from whence my thralls were conceived- Unless they wish it themselves."

A Hero Tale {Complete}

Yzeira's eyes narrowed and a small puff of air escaped his nose. "Amusing, that you would mention friends. I've heard it many a time before, from heroic symbols much wiser than you." There were many before him that spoke of the same principals with a great deal of wisdom. Jenso was but a child compared to the many that stood before him in the path of the order's monstrous force. Yzeira began stepping down from the tower's pedestal.

"You are not a complete idiot. You should know that facing me now will end in failure. What is it exactly that you are hoping for, here?"

Defiance

I'm in support of it. Usually on discord pretty much always.