Malantau Eremus Fault

[Cresselia92]

…Okay, the storm was starting to get overwhelmingly crowded, and yet things were looking oh so right and bright. Anxiety and excitement were now a nearly indistinguishable blend, a swirl of contrasting emotions that somehow managed to follow the same line of thinking: there was no way in any hell of any cosmos that Alexander would have been able to handle all of them at the same time.

It was over. Plain and simple. Only a miracle could save that snarling bastard from the fate that awaited him, but Silver seriously doubted he still had the blessing of any God or Saint or other superior entity he could pray to. Hence, in that forsaken realm, a damned soul roared and thrashed like a caught prey.

A very, very, very alone soul.

Once Silver made sure that Mhynt was alright - jeez, that blast seemed particularly painful! — he drew closer to the center of the storm, his entire body twitching with jolts of divine energy and predatory instincts. He paused briefly when Alexander spouted a particular piece of nonsense:

"I DID. I had Owen scout EACH ONE of you!" Alexander snarled. "Nova is the ace attacker!"

Even with his fuzzy mind, Silver was still sharp enough to process those words and Mhynt’s response, and he immediately connected the dots. They could mean two things: either Owen fed Alexander false information, or he gave true information but kept it vague enough so that the hydra couldn’t interpret it properly and unambiguously.

Whatever was the actual cause of this misunderstanding, it still proved to be a very costly mistake that contributed to Alexander’s downfall.

Silver snerk’d, thoroughly impressed with Owen’s trickery, and relished immensely the horrified look on Alexander’s faces. “Wooow. You really ARE a grade A moron!” he bellowed, his voice now thrumming with intoxicating Radiance. “Counting on only one source to make decisions?! Tsk tsk tsk! How idiotic is that? But that’s more than enough idle chatter.”

His claws flashed, scattering sparkles brimming with power, and nervine golden venom dripped from their tips. That same venom had been used to incapacitate Owen when they caught him, and Silver only deemed particularly appropriate to use the very same technique to help defeat the captor and real usurper.

“…Judgment Day has arrived for you, asshole.”

And so went the dancing claws.

Spoiler: Turn 6

Silver (168 STM, 8 TMP, +0 SPD, +4 ACC, 20 SHD, 34 RAD)
- Hone Claws (-18 STM, +2 TMP)
- Dash to Inner Spiral 1 (-2 TMP)
- AGILE Crush Claw @ Alexander (-24 STM, +7 TMP)
- Crush Claw @ Alexander (ACTIVATE: effect, Hex Maniac) (-16 STM, -2 TMP, +9 TMP)
- **Act:** RADIANT Focus (+5 TMP)
- CRITICAL RADIANT Dire Claw @ Alexander (ACTIVATE: effect) (-30 STM, -25 TMP, +10 TMP, +30 RAD) [Drowsy]
- Walk to Middle Spiral 1
Net change: -88 STM, +4 TMP, +0 SHD, +30 RAD
Net totals: 80 STM (131 after regen), 12 TMP, 20 SHD, 64

 

[Butterfree]

The dragon had lost one of his arms, yelling and screaming ineffectually like a cartoon villain. It was pathetic, really. The buzz of Radiance thrummed in Dave's veins alongside the cold Shadows.

He hadn't expected Gerome to burst in with doppelgangers of him and several others on his back; for a moment he worried it would turn out there was some kind of time fuckery going on, or that some of the Wayfarers had been doppelgangers all along, or whatever the fuck. But no, they immediately revealed themselves as... a bunch of Mimikyu? Okay. The 'Hexagon Brothers'? Were they supposed to have any idea who the fuck they were?

Whatever. They had a ridiculous fucking dragon to beat the shit out of.

Rock Smash to spread those cracks in his skin, steal his energy, cold steel, and a burst of Radiance for good measure. They would kick him to kingdom come. And then home, to sleep for a week.

"You know," he growled as he charged along the spiral arm of the vortex, "it's impossible to even take you and your bullshit seriously when you're obsessed with fucking soup."

Spoiler: Turn 6

Dave (133 STM, 19 TMP, +0 SPD, +4 ACC, 54 SHD, 24 RAD)
- Walk to Inner Spiral 1
- CRITICAL Rock Smash @ Alexander (ACTIVATE: effect, Hex Adept) (-11 STM, -19 TMP, +8 TMP)
- Activate ability (Pickpocket) @ Alexander’s Atk
- CRITICAL Relentless Soul @ Alexander (-30 STM, -6 TMP, +8 TMP)
- **Act:** RADIANT Focus (+5 TMP)
- STRONG CRITICAL RADIANT Assurance @ Alexander (-28.5 STM, -9 TMP, +8 TMP, +15 RAD)
Net change: -70 STM, -5 TMP, +0 SHD, +15 RAD
Net totals: 63 STM (116 after regen), 14 TMP, 54 SHD, 39 RAD

 

[Weazel]

The Dewott met the Hydreigon’s eyes with a smirk, standing amid the carnage he’d wrought. The overconfident hydra was realizing all too late that he didn’t have half the power he thought he did. Not that Alexander payed attention to Archie long, even with three heads the monster didn’t have near enough eyes to keep sight of everyone amassed against him. Still, the Dewott planned to make the hydra regret taking his eyes off him.

“This ends now, Alexander!” he yelled, “Before this is over, you’ll beg us for mercy!”

There, a gap in the shadows, a path to the monster. He disengaged from the horde of void shadows and broke through, charging down the spiral towards Alexander. All he needed to find was one chink in the armor, one crack large enough to sink his scalchops into. Then he stabbed, wrenched, and tore, unloading all the bottled up horror, fury, and hatred he’d held for Alexander since that day in Silver Ravine.

Spoiler: Archie Turn 6

Archie (79 STM, 9 TMP, +0 SPD, +2 ACC, 20 SHD, 13 RAD)
- Walk to Middle Spiral 1
- **Act:** Item (Ether) (+60 STM)
- Dash to Inner Spiral 1 (-2 TMP)
- AGILE Sacred Sword @ Alexander (-37.5 STM, +5 TMP)
- Sacred Sword @ Alexander (-25 STM, +5 TMP)
- CRITICAL Night Slash @ Alexander (ACTIVATE: Sure Hit) (-13 STM, -11 TMP, +5 TMP)
- CRITICAL Slash @ Alexander (ACTIVATE: Sure Hit) (-13 STM, -11 TMP, +5 TMP)
Net change: -29 STM, -4 TMP, +0 SHD, +0 RAD
Net totals: 50 STM (94 after regen), 5 TMP, 20 SHD, 13 RAD

 

[Chibi Pika]

Whirling around, he sought out Zapdos and held up the orb, locking eyes with him. It was time for some long overdue revenge. "Zapdos! Let's show him our power. I'll soften him up, you kick his face in!" He slammed a paw into the earth for emphasis.

The orb shattered and sparks washed over the rusty soil, and Zapdos didn't waste a second, talons beating the earth as he bolted across the charged terrain, energy surging through his body. This was thrilling.

He caught Koa's eye and let out a crowing war cry before his attention zeroed in on the lodestone that'd been tossed his way. Then the Saint leaped high into the air—leg drawn all the way back, talons blazing with sunlight—before slamming the stone forward, whipping up a vicious cyclone of lightning and Radiance in its wake.

 

[Ambyssin]

"Who... undid it all? What right do you have?! All of you... have no power. This is not TRUE power! This is... the pointless flailing of the masses! All of you! I'll put you in your place!"

"I DID. I had Owen scout EACH ONE of you!" Alexander snarled. "Nova is the ace attacker!"

Nova tensed up. Radiant sparks flittered around his legs. "Oh, he didn't lie to you, Three Way."

He glimpsed his allies rushing in. Blazing with various amounts of their own radiant energy. "I can attack. But I'm the slow knife. The one that twists when you least expect it."

Gold flecks spread along his turquoise feathers. Drifted around his revving cheek bolts. He felt an invigorating spark from nearby. Grace tossing around some Celebratory confetti, probably.

"Power isn't about sheer force," Nova said. He crouched down. Gold energy swirled around his chitinous talons. "Real power is more than brutal attacks. It's having allies you can trust."

He spotted Dayle somehow making it through the rift and working with Gerome and a few others to get rid of Alexander's shield.

"Friends you believe in." Nova looked over his shoulder at Mhynt, Grace, and Astrid and nodded.

The golden energy erupted like a wheel around Nova's torso. "Friends worth protecting!"

Nova lunged for the center of the storm and swiped with radiant claws. "Real strength... comes from those around you!"

He bounced off the storm and, immediately, projected another shield. Just to be safe.

Spoiler: Nova Turn 6

Nova (126 STM, 27 TMP, +1 SPD, +0 ACC, 12 SHD, 0 RAD)
- Receive (Helping Hand) [Grace's Power Spot]
- **Act:** RADIANT Focus (+5 TMP)
- STRONG CRITICAL RADIANT Multi-Attack @ Alexander (-54 STM, -13 TMP, +4 TMP, +28 RAD) [Remove Heal Block, Body Press clause (+5 def)]
- Wide Guard (-24.75 STM, +2 TMP)
- **Act:** Call @ Astrid
Net change: -74 STM, -4 TMP, +0 SHD, +28 RAD
Net totals: 52 STM (96 after regen), 23 TMP, 12 SHD, 28 RAD
(TAKE COVER)

 

[Jackie Cat]

Powehi winced and grunted as he strode implacably forward. Void swarms piled up against his defenses like black waves crashing into seabreaks, but he endured with his teeth set.

With a flick of a bandaged wrist, he created not portals, but pathways through the thin parts of the world. Shortcuts in spacetime for Wayfarers and Saints and allies alike to step through. More shimmering windows in the air showed battles continuing elsewhere – Brisa and Sonora fighting void swarms in one dungeon, Escarpa warriors in another, Rangers in another – and at this, Powehi gave a satisfied huff.

"Hubris is such an ancient shortcoming, Alexander. Did nobody ever teach you this? Hmph... Allow me to instruct you."

 

[Phoenixsong]

They'd left one storm behind and barreled straight into another. More of those horrible swarms everywhere. The air itself seemed to writhe, making it nearly impossible to see what was going on. Except for Alexander, sat in the center of it all, the dungeon warping and fisheye-lensing around him.

Leaf hadn't broken stride since she'd charged through the rift. She was still aching and battered and burned, but she ignored it. Anxiety clawed and pleaded at the back of her brain, but she ignored it. More and more of them were pouring through from everywhere and nowhere and piling on to the monster, hell yeah, but the hordes were still massive, far thicker than they'd been back at the Thunderhead. Over and over they slammed into the ancient-looking lucario—Powehi, Beetle helpfully supplied. Muppet Baby's one-way ticket out of here. He was holding, for now, surely it wouldn't be much longer, but...

Cut through. Her horn scythed into the twisting horde, light tearing away streams of shadow-stuff. Dive in, hold them off, fight her way through and buy everyone time to finish this.

Interact: Help hold off the Void Swarm in Arm 2 for Powehi

 

[Sinderella]

Battered and bruised, Odette was still standing, and still very much set on ensuring Alexander felt pain. He was the problem. He was the problem that needed to be eliminated to ensure everything was back under control. They had to kill him. They had to.

As she launched her barrage of attacks, the sight of her current "patron" Saint caught her eye. Although she was panting, although her energy was depleted, an idea sprung up in her Radiance-laden head, seemingly pulsing a harsh glow through her. She smiled wildly at the thought, and gestured back to the Wrath bird.

"Moltres!"

She outstretched her hand as the Wrathful flames flickered across her fingertips. "You wanted to take Alex on head on? Let's take him on head on," she challenged.

Spoiler: Odette Turn 6

Odette (115 STM, 9 TMP, +1 SPD, +0 ACC, 20 SHD, 46 RAD)
- STRONG Play Rough @ Alexander (ACTIVATE: Sure Hit) (-24 STM, +4 TMP) [Use 1 Watch]
- Draining Kiss @ Alexander (-9 STM, +2 TMP)
- Ice Fang @ Alexander (-16 STM, -1 TMP, +2 TMP)
- Ancient Power @ Alexander (-14 STM, +2 TMP)
- Interact @ Moltres (-3 TMP) [FIERY WRATH HOES]
Net change: -60 STM, +6 TMP, +0 SHD, +0 RAD
Net totals: 55 STM (55 after regen), 15 TMP, 20 SHD, 46 RAD
(TAKE COVER)

 

[Inkedust]

Moltres cackled in response to Odette and flew towards the Nexus to lock eyes with and taunt Alexander to show that, even with his command of Shadows, he had no power over her.

She ensured to soar past Zapdos, locking eyes with him as to scream, 'Showoff! You call that an attack? Watch this!' With flared wings, the Saint drew upon dark fire and the shadows of the storm, igniting the shadowy rain that fell close to her like a crude oil. A concentrated blast of purple and magenta, aimed between Alexander's red, pinprick eyes, escaped her beak, lighting up the vortex moments before she doubled back with a laugh.

Moltres was already several metres away before the crumbling hydreigon had the chance to grab her with one of his remaining heads.

 

[Namohysip]

Turn 6
Player Phase​

"Power... of the Wayfarers?" Alexander echoed, blocking several blows. The Nexus had become not a shield but a cage as the Wayfarers and countless other allies encircled him.

Grace used Celebrate!
Grace called out to Astrid!
Grace called out to Astrid!
Grace's Acid Spray dealt 11 damage to Alexander!

Acid ineffectually dripped down his face, stinging the ichor beneath the surface and leaving him vulnerable.

Silver used Hone Claws!
Silver's AGILE Crush Claw dealt 151 damage to Alexander!
Silver's Crush Claw dealt 195 damage to Alexander!
Silver's RADIANT Dire Claw dealt a CRITICAL 467 damage to Alexander! It's ultra effective!

Silver's blasts splashed ichor into the sky, leaving gaping holes where scales should have regrown. It instead revealed that within Alexander was a body that was more Void Shadow than Pokemon. He could hardly be considered alive--more like a lich, hollowed out from countless misdeeds and tormented souls.

Dave's Rock Smash dealt a CRITICAL 67 damage to Alexander! It's super effective!
Dave's Pickpocket @ Alexander’s Atk!
Dave's Relentless Soul dealt a CRITICAL 178 damage to Alexander!
Dave's STRONG RADIANT Assurance dealt a CRITICAL 281 damage to Alexander! It's ultra effective!

"Do you really think... this is...!" He pushed back against Dave, gasping when the final strike meteor-shot him into the ground. A spatter of darkness against pale dust left something that would've been shown in an old psychological test of what one saw in an abstract splotch. In this one, the Wayfarers only saw victory.

Bellatrix's Obstinate Soul dealt 115 damage to Alexander!
Bellatrix's Focus Blast dealt 243 damage to Alexander! It's super effective!
Bellatrix's STRONG RADIANT Bitter Malice dealt a CRITICAL 407 damage to Alexander! It's ultra effective!

"Powehi!" Alexander roared. "They are... making a MOCKERY of your darkness! Do you not realize this?!" he roared. "The moment you turn against them... this will be you! Do not... give them this victory! Cease... your aid!"

Koa's Mach Punch dealt 77 damage to Alexander! It's super effective!
Koa used a Terrain Orb!
Koa's AGILE Ganbatte Soul dealt 45 damage to Alexander!
Koa's Mach Punch dealt 100 damage to Alexander! undefined
Koa's Ganbatte Soul dealt 68 damage to Alexander!
Koa's Thunder Punch dealt a CRITICAL 196 damage to Alexander!
Koa's Interact: Zapdos!
Zapdos' Radiant attack spun into Alexander, dealing a bonus 225 damage!

Alexander roared, this time fury giving way to pain. Something from Koa's onslaught followed by Zapdos' blast actually did something. His arms trembled. Mhynt came in amid the Radiant storm; Alexander saw it, and reacted, but was still too slow with his movements. Her blade sliced off his second arm, which was quickly replaced with a shapeless tendril of mouths and eyes and limbs. Spirits that Alexander had absorbed for power were rebelling from within.

Archie used an Ether!
Archie's AGILE Sacred Sword dealt 107 damage to Alexander! It's super effective!
Archie's Sacred Sword dealt 155 damage to Alexander! It's super effective!
Archie's Night Slash dealt a CRITICAL 149 damage to Alexander!
Archie's Slash dealt a CRITICAL 154 damage to Alexander!

More and more of Alexander's body broke away. Each wing-tendril crumpled and shriveled from concussive blasts and Wayfarer aura. He briefly grasped Archie in a series of tendrils where his arm used to be, pulling him close. "You should have died."

But his Night Slash easily freed him, leaving Alexander to roar and swing madly.

Odette's STRONG Play Rough dealt 294 damage to Alexander! It's super effective!
Odette's Draining Kiss dealt 115 damage to Alexander! It's super effective!
Odette's Ice Fang dealt 80 damage to Alexander!
Odette's Ancient Power dealt 67 damage to Alexander!
Odette's Interact: Moltres!
Moltres' dark flames rained upon Alexander, dealing a bonus 150 damage!

Alexander lost control of the Void Swarms! Powehi reins them in...

"The Fae... THE FAEEEE... WHY EVEN HERE DOES IT PLAGUE ME?" he roared, swinging and missing at Odette with every blow. Moltres rained down next, leaving ashen piles behind. Alexander still did not fall.

Mhynt smirked. Alexander's body was far beyond broken. Any mortal would have not only died but have had nothing left to speak with. Yet Alexander was, if anything, persistent beyond physicality. "How durable," Mhynt said, training her Leaf Blade one last time, coating it in radiance. One head left. "That persistence... is the one thing I'll admit... you share with Owen."

Astrid received a Helping Hand!
Astrid received a Pure Call!
Astrid received a Call!
Astrid's Interact: calibrate Radiance
Astrid's RADIANT Soul Rocket dealt a CRITICAL 514 damage to Alexander! It's ultra effective!
Astrid's AGILE RADIANT Frost Breath dealt a CRITICAL 244 damage to Alexander! It's ultra effective!
Astrid's RADIANT Frost Breath dealt a CRITICAL 194 damage to Void Swarm B! It's ultra effective!
Astrid's RADIANT Draining Kiss dealt a CRITICAL 293 damage to Alexander! It's ultra effective!
Astrid's RADIANT Vacuum Wave dealt 187 damage to Alexander! It's ultra effective!
Astrid's RADIANT Vacuum Wave dealt 199 damage to Alexander! It's ultra effective!
Astrid received a Call!

Astrid's barrage was familiar to Alexander by now. He'd never forget such an attack. Yet, he was even weaker this time and blocked none of it. He held his arms forward and Astrid simply blasted past it all. "Stop!" he said--it almost sounded like he was begging.

But Astrid went straight through him--leaving a gaping hole where all of his insides should have been. Ichor seeped to fill in the gaps, leaving Alexander as little more than a Void Shadow coated in patches of scales. The only part of him that remained intact in any meaningful way was everything shoulders and up. Astrid and everyone else had obliterated his torso.

"No," Alexander hissed, wobbling back. "Fine. You win... this battle," he relented. "But I... have an escape--"

"NO!" Mhynt shouted, suddenly realizing which way Alexander had been ebbing backward. Straight to the Nexus depths--where he could go anywhere.

Alexander's smirk was all that was visible--but only for a moment. Mhynt reached out--but instead, had to shield her eyes from a sudden and blinding light.

"AAAAAAAAAAGHHH!"

The path Alexander had taken--a Dungeon path to somewhere, anywhere in Forlas... At the end of the path was a great, impossible light. A light the Wayfarers knew all too well: one of Radiance.

A Radiant Dungeon.

Mhynt glanced at Powehi. She nodded respectfully. Good save... though it would have only delayed Alexander's inevitable defeat if he tried to flee anyway. It was all bluster.

But that one last burn from that Dungeon of light... it tasted sweet. Alexander, roaring, flailed more, no longer with any route of escape or victory.

"Nova," Mhynt said, hopping on his back. "If we may do the honors."

Nova received a Helping Hand!
Nova's STRONG RADIANT Multi-Attack dealt a CRITICAL 446 damage to Alexander! It's ultra effective!
Nova used Wide Guard!
Nova called out to Astrid!

"GHK--!"

Nova's attack staggered Alexander completely. The Nexus shattered into nothing but black motes that flitted through the air like ash from an eruption. He'd taken enough damage to do him in twice over now. But Mhynt wanted to be absolutely, utterly certain. So she crouched, and, with the last of Nova's onslaught, kicked off of his back. She readied her blade just as Alexander reached the apex of Nova's impact and sliced upward.

Alexander and Mhynt made eye contact. He crossed his broken, tendril-replaced arms in a shielding gesture. He glared at her challengingly, daring her, do it, as if she couldn't.

But with the Wayfarers, Nova's speech, and so much of Forlas' elite behind her, she couldn't stop even if she wanted to. Without a doubt in her mind, her blade rippled with golden Radiance, doubling in size, and she pressed through.

She cleaved past Alexander and flipped in the air, landing on the dirt with a slight stumble. She spun on her heel to make sure her hit had connected... but she'd felt it. She knew she did.

Alexander was falling in pieces. His arms were cut in half. His torso, disconnected. And that final head, the main head, falling separate from all of it.

A clean cut. The demon would not recover from this one. Alexander's eyes were wide with surprise and, finally, that arrogant confidence drained from him. His head hit the ground first, rolling so he could glare at Mhynt. Then, his body slammed into the ground next, melting in seconds into more bumbling Void Shadows that he'd absorbed. Without a leader to control them, they were docile once more.

Alexander still glared. He was still alive, somehow. Perhaps only for a few more minutes. But as far as the battle was concerned...

[] Final Objective: Defeat Alexander!
[] Special Objective: Keep Powehi's Fatigue from hitting 100!
[] Stretch Objective: Keep Powehi's Fatigue from hitting 80!

 

[Ambyssin]

And just like that... it was over. A couple of deep breaths were all Nova needed to dispel the bits of shadow and radiance he had. Despite all the time spent here fighting, Nova hardly looked all that worse for wear.

He walked over to Mhynt's side. "Flashy strike there." Nova lightly hip checked her. "Reminds me of Gene. But swap Leaf Blades for a giant spoon."

 

[Jackie Cat]

"Powehi!" Alexander roared. "They are... making a MOCKERY of your darkness! Do you not realize this?!" he roared. "The moment you turn against them... this will be you! Do not... give them this victory! Cease... your aid!"

The grizzled Lucario made no reply. He barely even looked at Alexander... though he did smirk to himself, so subtly that no-one would see.

He was ready when Alexander tried to flee, using the concentration he'd spared – with the Wayfarers' help keeping the swarms suppressed – to twist the dragon's escape routes into blinding-bright traps, dead ends for a being of Shadow. Somewhere on Forlas were rifts that shone like the sun, counterpart to such Shadow-rotted dungeons as Eremus Fault... and Alexander could not pass into them.

Elsewhere, a pillar of shimmering light shot into the sky, visible for miles around.

Elsewhere, arcane researchers marvelled at readings they'd thought impossible.

Elsewhere, plans were made to find the source of that precious light.

Powehi kept walking as Alexander ranted and raved, as Wayfarers and allies alike delivered crushing final blows, and as Mhynt performed her coup de grace. He nodded to the Grovyle in acknowledgement. Finally, he knelt down in front of the Hydreigon's head, looking somehow like a priest, or a coroner, or both.

"It's alright," he said, his subdued voice echoing strangely in the void. "This is only natural. You chose this end yourself."

Overhead, the maroon-clouded sky began to shift, imperceptibly, back to the somber ever-night of Powehi's Lethe.

The Lucario held out his paw as if to snuff out Alexander's life, then paused. Maybe he felt Alexander didn't deserve that mercy, maybe it was just caution, or maybe he was respecting Mhynt's wish to land the final blow. He seemed to settle on an alternative.

"I will close your eyes when you – finally – die. And although your memory merits only oblivion, I shall remember you nonetheless."

 

[Ambyssin]

"And what about us?" Nova said to Powehi. He gestured with a foreleg toward the various allies the Wayfarers had gotten help from. "Do you still believe we're going to overexert our wills on the world? Cuz I'd rather work with the folks that call this world home."

 

[Jackie Cat]

"Hmmph..."

Powehi gave Nova a dry look... but one that seemingly held a grudging respect.

"Don't misunderstand my misgivings, Nova. You won't be able to help it. You change the rules of reality itself, simply by existing in Forlas as the powerful offworlders you are becoming. It is no indictment on your personal character to say this."

He stood, already looking less pallid around the ears, the bloodshot fatigue in his eyes gradually receding. He gestured with his muzzle towards the dying, decapitated head at his feet.

"I will acknowledge, however, that you are a different class of angel entirely to... that one."

 

[Namohysip]

Mhynt nodded silently and marched toward Alexander. He stirred, just his head, a bit of his neck, as remnants of dark tendrils slowly emerged from where it had been severed. Mhynt readied her blade defensively...

Dark appendages formed, still lying prone, where his shoulders should have been. Two blobs that lay flat on the ground. A few more tendrils appeared and wrapped around these blobs, pulling them open. Alexander breathed in. The tendrils pressed. Alexander breathed out.

"...Stubborn to the very end," Mhynt stated.

Alexander smirked. The tendrils squeezed his makeshift lungs so he could speak. "Such pointless... platitudes... for a temporary world..."

Mhynt shook her head. "It's over, Alexander. You lost here. And you will lose in your home world next. Of that, I'm now certain."

The tendrils pulled so he breathed again. Alexander's eyes were wide with mocking spite. "Just a test," he said. "I wanted to see how far I could take it... before it collapsed. But the variables at play... this one, Powehi... Do you really think... your world has an ally with that same strength? In your world... I've already usurped its 'Powehi'... You won't win, will you?"

"In my world," Mhynt said, "you have Owen and I under your surveillance, and you are still panicking... because you know he has you at his mercy." Mhynt marched. "It must have been nice to enjoy the luxury of controlling him... up until you realized he gave you false information. He tricked you even here."

That staggered Alexander's smirk. The tendrils expanded and contracted, slowly, as he tried to think. It seemed to be getting harder. There was no salvation for Alexander--he would die. The Wayfarers had nothing to worry about with him anymore now, aside from having to listen to him for a few more minutes.

 

[Ambyssin]

Nova nodded his understanding at Powehi. That was as... good of an answer he could probably hope for from the guy. Maybe if Gene were here, he'd— oh, who was he kidding? Gene would just piss him off.

Ah, Alexander was still talking. Joy.

"If you ask me, I think... the spirit never forgets." Nova clicked his tongue. "Even if you don't consciously remember anything that happened here, this loss will stick with you. Deep down. And once you're back home, your core will be rattled. Maybe you'll overlook something. Or make a careless error. Either way... I believe you'll meet your end there soon enough."

 

[Inkedust]

Little care or sympathy would be expressed from Bellatrix. She watched the following exchange emotionlessly, taking the time to ground and reorient her aura from the excess shadow and radiance.

It was over, they had won, and it was increasingly clear in Bellatrix's mind that this would be the very last she would see of Alexander, the last she would ever have to think of him – beyond some mild speculation on how he would've contended with the forces of Kythra should she humour it.

With little interest in watching Alexanders final moments, Bellatrix turned to leave but not before she expressed the final thing on her mind.

"Just a test?" she echoed. "Is that what you tell yourself to deny your failures and cope with the humiliation? How pathetic."

 

[Cresselia92]

Silver was by no means a squeamish guy and all he felt toward Alexander was nothing short of sheer contempt, but even he couldn’t be totally unbothered by the sight of a torn creature dying slowly as the last bits of oxygen stopped flowing into the now empty lungs.

Bubble after bubble, his dying breath became thinner and thinner. The cold death gripped at his ankles and dragged him deeper into the abyssal ocean…

Silver winced, barely restricting the tiniest of gasps. No. Don’t think about that now. It happened, but you’re okay. He sighed. I’m okay.

Still shaking from the excess of Radiance, he pried his gaze away from that macabre scene and breathed deeply to get his emotions back in check, but still kept his ear trained toward the center to listen to the last words. Then, Alexander could rot in whatever hell waited for the dethroned king, for all Silver cared.

That jackass got what karma had in store for him. Don’t look at him — he doesn’t deserve any of your attention.

 

[Tetra]

Koa stared at Alexander's dying form, unable to look away. It's over. The thoughts kept going through his head over and over, like a song stuck on repeat, and he could feel the beginnings of exhaustions creeping over him now that the adrenaline of the fight was fading. Finally.

A spectral dragon, rising from the inky darkness, swallowing Cyrus... He wasn't sure if he was supposed to feel something. Sympathy? Pity? Instead only one feeling occupied his thoughts. Good riddance.

 

[Weazel]

Archie folded his arms, grabbed his sleeves with his paws, his muzzle pulled into a tight frown. This was their big moment of triumph, Alexander reduced down to a pitiful shell of his former self. Less a dragon, more a worm, insignificant and small. Honestly, it made it hard to savor the moment, the Dewott never liked feeling like he was punching down. As much as Alexander deserved it, prolonging things were just going to bring the mood down more. Still…

"You should have died."

“Funny how things work out,” the Dewott said, staring down at the Hydreigon. His expression was impassive, unreadable. He released the sleeves of his coat so he could grab one of his scalchops. Extended the blade of his Sacred Sword, pushed the tip against Alexander’s one remaining skull. He could end the hydra right now with one good thrust of his blade. He wasn’t going to lie and pretend he wasn’t sorely tempted…

But then he looked over at Mhynt, her own blade at the ready. He sighed, and returned the scalchop to its place on his hip. Best leave the job to the person with the most emotional stakes. Archie turned and walked away, why waste time on Alexander he could be spending saying goodbye to Seth? His friends were much more deserving of his attention. But, he couldn’t resist one last comment spoken over his shoulder.

“Guess I’ll just have to keep on living.”