P96 - Sick and Twisted

In the midst of anguish and peril, PB and Byakko stood there motionless but panting, being out of breath whilst in shock at the quick removal of their friend, Lewis

Raye, charging up another ball of light, walks slowly towards them, "You've gotten in the way, but that shall not be the case any more".

As Raye fires her Magic, Toku swoops from the side, deflecting the ball with his spear, sending it down a different path past them.

"Sorry I'm late, I didn't hear the ruckus over Val's snoring". Toku exclaims while rolling his eyes.

Byakko, struggling to stand on his own with his arm around PB's shoulder, "we'll assist you, she's too strong for just you."

"I don't think we've met yet, I'm Toku Mei, the holder of the Prismatic Divinity, but you can just call me Toku." Toku says, with a sarcastic Tone.

Byakko, in confusion, clenches his fist as he takes a deep breath in and says "Whatever you are, just let us hel-" but he is cut off by PB pulling him while he walks "It's up to you, Toku".

Kori, grabs a small knife on her ankle, before rushing towards Sin. Sin quickly lunges forward, moving his claymore in a crescent-shaped swing, but Kori quickly moves her body with only a small movement of her footing, dodging the attack, and before Sin could react, she plunges a knife into his left shoulder.

Sin grips his claymore with his right hand but is unable to life his heavy claymore with one hand in time for Kori to kick him in the back, pushing him forward and making him lose his balance.

"You're too slow to win this". Kori comments, with a mocking tone.

Sin, seeming powerless, grabs onto his sword and using his body's movement and force to swing it in a 180 degree turn, nearly sweeping Kori off her feet but her footwork saved her.

Kori quickly regroups by the Banshees, sending a few after Sin.

Sin, pissed off at his performance, yells loudly as he grips his claymore, running and using the momentum to swing his claymore around him, cutting 2 of the 3 Banshees in half, which he then drops his claymore, yanking Kori's knife that was still lodged in his shoulder out and stabbing the Banshee through its head, disabling it.

"I may be down a few kegs, but I'm not out." Sin grunts, as he groans with each movement of his body.

Nearby, Toku lunges quickly at Raye but she leaps backwards, sending a horde of Banshees forward, but Toku pierces through all in front of him, creating a path of broken corpses and bones.

As Toku approaches Raye, looking at her expression on her face change to a smirk, Toku turns his head to the left, where the main doors of the Academy are located, seeing a trails of Dark Fire Magic heading towards him, so he quickly jabs his spear into the pillar nearby, stopping his momentum, having the dark blast fly past him.

"You didn't tell me there'd be a fight before I get to my appointment." A strange figure says.

"It was unexpected, as the stars did not for-told that these pests would stand in our way." Raye replies.

"It's alright, as I have a bone to pick with his group anyways." The strange figure mentions.

Toku looks over, seeing the strange figure leap out of the darkened entrance, right near his face.

"I-I thought you were dead." Toku shakily says.

Raye buts in, asking "I know this isn't the one you wanted to kill, but can you please take care of this pest?"

"Since I came flying all the way in from Gelu, I wouldn't mind a little battle to ready me for my revenge." The strange figure says, equipping the blade connected to his hand.

Valentine, turning the corner while clenching his fists as he readies to take on the enemies, stops in his tracks upon seeing the strange figure, which results in him clenching his jaw.

Hoshina and LuLu turn the corner as well, with Glonk, Brant, and Jin right behind as well as the rest of PB's crew.

Banshees rush the newly-arrived group, "THEY'RE COMING" Valentine yells, as he rushes out first, throwing his fist through the first two Banshees that approached.

"Go heal Byakko and PB, we'll cover you" Jin tells Copia and Tobi as he unsheathes his katana.

A Banshee tries to grab onto Valentine but Jin quickly slashes through it with precision, but he was left no time to rest, as two more lunged at him, so Jin flips the sword around, pushing his sword forward in a quick but deadly slice, cutting off the heads of the Banshees in the blink of an eye.

Another Banshee mindlessly runs at Jin, but before Jin could swing his sword, Brant slices through it "I can hold these off, go after the others!"

"Looks like more of his group has joined in, surely we can take this outside where there's more air to breathe?" The strange figure mentions.

"Do as you wish." Raye sighs as she replies.

"Blow them away, Drakoryx". The strange figure commands.

A strange vibration is felt, as the strange figure, Raye, and Kori quickly back-off.

The walls shattered as a blue and gold beam of Fire and Ice flies through the Academy, with Valentine, Jin, Brant, Hoshina, and LuLu in its wake.

"WATCH OUT" Valentine yells as he pushes Hoshina and LuLu out the way.

Valentine puts his arms up, attempting to shield himself from the beam that plows through the building. Jin and Brant make it out by at the cost of Brant losing his left hand and Jin having a small gash on his side.

When the beam disperses, Valentine is seen still standing, facing where the beam came from. But the good thoughts left as everyone realizes his arms were taken off from the impact of the blast, with his torso in a bloodied shape. "That hurt.." Valentine says as he falls forward, passing out from the trauma his body quickly took.

No one was able to rest, as a large serpent slithered through the large hole it created in the wall.

Toku goes through shock and horror from seeing what unraveled in front of him.

Glonk punches his hands together as he walks towards the serpent. "This one is all mine, tend to the rest."

Glonk cracks his neck and crouches before creating a small crater from the impact of his own power, blasting himself forward with tremendous power and speed.

He swings his fist forward, hitting the serpent on its upper body, punching a large hole into it.

Glonk then lands before blasting up again, punching a new hole slightly lower.

Glonk lands for a second time but pushes off the ground at a slower speed and weaker impact.

After landing for the final time after several hits were landed, he drops to his knee in shambles, sweating profusely, panting, and shaking with blood-shot eyes.

The serpent in front of him, with 7 holes punched through its body, is as still as a statue, but a couple seconds later, its body regens, removing any sign it was damaged.

Hoshina tries to pick up Glonk but he pushes her aside, readying himself, but before he could, another strange figure appears in front of them, like they were standing there the entire time, as no sound or motion was heard or seen.

"You're too weak for an exiled god, maybe these humans weakened your resolve, Glonkmaleth." The strange figure says to Glonk.

"Caly, why are you-"
The strange being jabs Glonk back with immense force from a kick, blasting him back through the glass windows, throwing him off the mountain. "It's Calyxx now, you worthless traitor."

Without hesitation, LuLu flies out with her wings stretched to catch Glonk.

"Time to eat, Korrveth"

Another strange figure swiftly flies through the building and out the windows, chasing after LuLu and Glonk.

"TOKU GO HELP LULU!!" Hoshina yells as Calyxx grabs her by the hair and throws her across the large room.

Toku flies out the room and chases after Korrveth as Calyxx approaches Hoshina's bloodied self.
"Y'know, I've always wanted to fight you guys after I saw what happened at the Arena Games, but it seems you're all just as weak as you always looked."

"I accept I broke an Oath, but I swear to protect the person in front of me, so grant me power once-more, Pyrelux"

Calyxx quickly turns around as Brant jabs his sword forward with his hand, but Calyxx grabs onto his useless arm and swings him into the wall on the opposite side of the room with tremendous force, shattering most of his bones.

Calyxx dusts off his shoulders as he turns back around to Hoshina, to see her missing. He looks around to see Jin holding Hoshina up, with the portal behind him closing.

Outside, down the mountain and rocky cliffs, LuLu catches Glonk "Woah there, let's not spend all of your energy just yet". Glonk thanks LuLu as he looks up at her, seeing the shadowy figure right above her. "Eat... Food..."

Korrveth unhinges its jaw, as it bites into LuLu's wings, ripping one off. LuLu screams in agony

As LuLu struggles to get Korrveth off her while carrying Glonk, a projectile wisping through the air is heard "Projected Echo".

Korrveth looks up as LuLu finally pushes it off, allowing Toku's Harbinger spear to penetrate straight through Korrveth's torso.

"That outta do it," Toku exclaims, but Korrveth, with a gaping hole in its chest, flies upwards at quick speeds.

Toku quickly uses his 'Sonic Boom' to dash out of the way.

Korrveth shifts its movement and velocity mid-air without repercussion, catching Toku off-guard, throwing him into the mountain behind them. LuLu looks back to see her comrade thrown like a ball, slamming into the mountain.

She sees Korrveth's wound in its chest already healed up. "So its got insane regen huh..." She thinks

"Throw me aside, I'm dead weight..." Glonk mutters

"No! I will not abandon you." LuLu quickly replies.

"I didn't want to use this yet, but I have no choice..."

"For every cream in the dark, I command you to echo it back tenfold, Nocturne Requiem!"
LuLu summons 10 scythes that orbit around her. Each scythe, one after the other, flies into Korrveth, inflicting un-healable wounds, and exploding upon impact.

Korrveth screeched in agony as it tumbled towards the ground, before landing at the base of the mountain.

LuLu lands on a small ledge on the side of the mountain, panting and looking blue. Glonk kneels beside her, holding her hand as she lays down. "That zapped me of all my energy and mana... try to check on Toku."

Glonk traverses the rocky mountains, hearing metal clanking against metal, with magic abilities being spelled out, sounding like whispers above.

Glonk finally reaches Toku, picking him up and lays him down on a ledge nearby, his body broken but still breathing. "Come on Toku... get up... They need you... we need you..."

Back in the Academy during that time, Copia and Tobi make it over to PB and Byakko, casting healing spells on them. Before Byakko's foot could be repaired, he sees the serpent charging up another blast, to which he runs forward, pushing Copia and Tobi out the way as PB dashes backwards, with the blast swallowing Byakko whole, leaving only a part of loose clothing.

PB, Copia, and Tobi stare in shock, at another one of their friends leaving the world without a goodbye.

Jin looks up to see another shadowy figure clamped to the ceiling so he closes his eye and sighs. "We have to retreat. They're everywhere and they're too powerful, especially when we're protecting the wounded."

"R-... Riku..." Hoshina struggles to say.

"We have to leave them, for now, as you're struggling to breathe, let alone speak. Valentine is also passed out nearby, Brant is bleeding profusely, Toku, LuLu, and Glonk are nowhere to be seen, and I'm hurt."

Hoshina has tears dwell up in her eyes as she struggles to accept what Jin just told her.

Finn returns from the collecting adventure he went on and tries his best to assist in battle. "I'm here, what's going on."

"Take the wounded and leave, I'll protect you guys the best I can." Jin replies.

"I'm staying to protect too," Sin mentions, walking over covered in his own blood.

"I fear I will not be able to convince you otherwise... here, go through this, it leads to the base of the mountain." Jin says as he opens up a portal. "Go... before my Mana runs out."

Finn nods whilst carrying an unconscious Valentine on his back and a broken Hoshina in his arms.

"That won't be necessary, Calyxx says, standing behind Finn, punching forward, slamming all three Hoshina, Valentine, and Finn into the wall ahead.

"Oh grant me the most powerful flame, as I shall use it for justice." Sin chants, covering his sword in a deep-red flame.

Calyxx looks back as Jin swings his sword, with Calyxx quickly dodging it, but he wasn't fast enough, as Jin seemed to have cut his neck slightly.

Calyxx wipes his neck and stares at the small amount of blood on his hands. "You might actually be fun."

Calyxx dashes forward, unsheathing long claws from his fingers.

Jin parries the attack, so Calyxx throws his other hand but Sin pulls his sword around, cutting a small cut into Calyxx's side. When Calyxx realizes his cut, Jin is already behind him, swinging his katana. Calyxx dodges out the way, with another cut on his left arm.

"For a small reward for cutting me thrice, I'll give you a taste of the legendary Calyxx, the Unmaker." Calyxx takes a step forward, disappearing in the blink of the eye.

Then Jin looks down to see Calyxx's hand piercing through his torso. "Oh? Did that hurt?"

Jin's falls forward, gasping for air and bleeding heavily.

Sin, still have the courage to defend his brethren, stands form, gripping his claymore's handle.

Raye walks up next to Calyxx, and walks calmly towards Sin, reaching out her hand. "Hold still little one. I will end your suffering."

Jin, reaches out to Sin's leg, using all of his strength to pull him back and down, making him trip backwards. "D-... D-Don't let her touch you..."

Sin stands back up, pulling Jin with him and back towards Brant.

Calyxx stands still and looks up at the ceiling.

A spear is flung thrown down, landing in front of Raye and Calyxx, almost like it was warning them to not step forward anymore.

"Come out, you've been hiding there an awfully long time." Calyxx yells.

"Akane, return to me". A voice calls out.

Calyxx quickly ducks, as the spear is thrusted forward.

"That was a close one there." Calyxx mentions.

The being with the spear appears, "I guess stealth has no trick on a daemon."

"To whom do I own the pleasure for such a delayed arrival?" Calyxx asks.

Sin looks forward and smiles.

"Nepheres."

Nepheres thrusts his spear forward, which hits Calyxx's side.

Calyxx jumps forward without delay, as to which Nepheres throws his spear and punches forward, catching Calyxx off-guard. "Return, Akane." His spear returns back, inflicting another cut on Calyxx's leg.

Nepheres swings his spear, hitting Calyxx's leg with the handle, then pulls it back, inflicting a deep cut with its edge.

Calyxx drops to one knee, grabbing at its leg. "Assist me, NOW!"

Another figure appears from the shadows, thrusting forward with a large sword.

"Kill this one, Thalrexion"

"Understood." Thalrexion relays.

Thalrexion dashes forward, thrusting its sword forward, nearly decapitating Nepheres.

Before Neptheres could prepare a counter-attack, Calyxx appears behind Nepheres, slashing at his back.

Nepheres grunts, "I figure it's about time..." Calyxx and Thalrexion both dash forward.

"Blood Scythe, grant me strength in return of my Rage." Nepheres casts.

Nepheres quickly dashes to the side then dashes back, "Crimson Slash."

Neptheres clashing forward, cutting a line down Thalrexion's arm.

Nepheres then quickly thrusts forward, bringing Thalrexion with him out the windows. As Thalrexion begins to plummet, Nepheres hovers, preparing to throw his scythe. "Enraged Projectile." Nepheres throws his scythe with massive force, piercing straight through Thalrexion.

"Return to me, Akane." Nephere's Scythe returns to him, inflicting a fatal wound to Thalrexion.

Before Nepheres could catch his scythe, Calyxx is already above him, about to carve out a gash with its claws.

"UNBOUND ZENITH"

A spear travels straight through Calyxx, piercing them and causing it to fall.

The original strange being swiftly catching Calyxx and brings it back up in the blink of an eye and lays it down beside Raye.

"Rest here, you've done well, my creation."

The being walks forward towards the ledge of the Academy's windows where Nepheres is hovering.

"So it's just you now huh?"

"Not just yet." Nepheres replies as Toku flies up beside him.

Nepheres turns to Toku, "I only got about 9-10 minutes left before I'm out of juice."

"That's perfect." Toku replies, ascended as Veyruan, the Prismatic Being.

The being interrupts, "You've seem to have grown stronger since we last met, Toku."

"As have you, Zavren."

Zavren thrusts forward, nearly hitting Toku.

Nepheres slashes forward, hitting Zavren but only inflicted a small cut.

Zavren retaliates and punches forward, throwing Nepheres back.

Toku quickly thrusts his spear forward "Tempest's Thunder".

He hits Zavren, shocking him.

Zavren clenches through the pain and grabs onto Toku's Spear, spinning around and throwing Toku's grip off his spear. Zavren attempt to throw it at Toku but the spear disappears from his hands and reappears in Toku's grip.

"You tricky sh#t". Zavren says, sounding slightly pissed off.

Toku flies forward as Zavren throws forward a small knife.

"Gale Roll" Toku casts as the knife is intercepted.

"Skyfall Impalment" Toku casts as his spear thrusts forward but only able to crack Zavren's armor.

"That did nothing, again, you weakling." Zavren mocks.

A windstrike hits Zavren in the same spot as Toku's last attack, cracking the armor further. Toku then thrusts forward towards the crack, hitting it with a second wind-strike damaging the area more.

Zavren grunts in frustration.

Nepheres flies back up beside Toku. "Grab hold of him, Imma use all of my energy in my next attack." Nepheres asks as Toku nods.

Zavren rushes forward, as Toku casts "Unleashed Hurricane", pulling in Zavren, rendering his movement useless. "NOW!"

Nepheres, positioned high above flies down at Zavren at a fast speed.

Zavren breaks free but Toku casts "Open Sky", holding Zavren in place for one more final moment, as Nepheres drives his spear into Zavren "ENRAGED-", unleashing a sonic-flash around them "-METEORIC-", sending Zavren down to the ground far below with immense strength "-SLAM!".

When Zavren lands, a large crater formed from the impact, with an explosion occurring, swallowing any trace of Zavren.

"Head back up, Imma check on the others I see on the ledge."

Toku heads back up and stands near the ledge, looking down at the crater.

"T...TOKU!" Jin Yells with all the breath he could gather

Before Toku could react, a hand grabs onto Toku's left arm.

Toku sweeps his spear around him, with Raye getting knocked into a pillar nearby from the impact.

"...Toku... I'm s...sorry I couldn't warn... you in time" Jin struggles to say.

"Enjoy your ending, and return to nothingness." Raye says, coughing up blood.

Toku looks down at his arm, as cracks crawl up his shoulder and across his body, cracking and shattering.

"W-... WHAT'S HAPPENING TO ME!?" Toku yells, scared and confused.

"De...Decay Magic... I'm sorry... forgive me... I'm so sorry..." Jin says, letting out tears as he grips his katana.

Nepheres brings LuLu and Glonk back up, as they all 3 watch Toku crumble and fall over.

LuLu, struggling to stand, crawls over to Toku's disappearing body.

"I've... fought gods... daemons... and survived death itself... but this is my end huh?" Toku says calmly.

"You did g-good..," LuLu replies, voice and body shaking.

Toku's body beings to turn grey where his body still remains.

"Did I atleast go out flashy?.."

"You went out better than anyone else in all of history, you were the c-coolest... Toku."

Toku smiles as his neck begins to decay.

"Tell Rikushi that I thank him for everything..." Toku closes his eyes.

"I had many more things I wanted to do and places to visit..."

With one final breath, Toku sheds a tear and whispers "What a Sick and Twisted way to go out..."

And with that, Toku's body turned fully to dust. LuLu clenches her fists and cries out, with Glonk trying to comfort her as he holds back his own tears.