Mark: Soul Devourer

Mark: Soul Devourer
Date of Scene:	13 December 2012
Location:	Petrified Forest
Synopsis:	Luso, Reize, Faruja, and Melody gather together to take down a heartless that has been causing a near endless array of problems in the Petrified Forest. Afterwards, they are met with the source of it all.
Cast of Characters:	Luso Clemens, Reize Seatlan, Faruja Senra, Melody Ellsmere

---

Luso Clemens has posed:
It was about midday when Luso arrived at the Petrified Forest, riding on a chocobo gotten from the Ranch with the assistance of TIfa and the others who owned the place. It had been a wild ride getting there for certain.

First was the incident in Junon with Leida. To think that all he wanted to do was relax for the day and take a break. Instead, he ran into her and ended up having to watch as she turned several Shinra soldiers to ash, and then turn on him after.

...At the end of it all, the entire building they were in collapsed, he himself barely escaping. He was more than likely wanted by Shinra now for possible connections with AVALANCHE.

Not that Luso knew that of course.

Passing through the Mythril Mines and Targ Wood were no better either with all manner of heartless and other monsters out to try and eat him. But he stood his ground and got through in the end. Thank the gods for the Clan experience he had gotten back on Ivalice.

Passing by the Chocobo Rank and then stopping in at Goug were far less stressful and he has taken the time to rest for a day or two once in the town.

But now, here was here and it was time.

"Looks like this is the place..." The boy mused as he got off the back of his chocobo, fasting the rope to a tree in order to keep it around. "I wonder if anyone's gonna come..." Indeed, looking into the forest now, Luso couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy. It felt like the forest was 'watching' him almost. Waiting for one wrong move before it struck...

Stepping aside, he checked the weapons on his back before glanced at the forest's exit once more. "Alright, I'll give it a bit of time, then I'll head in!" He spoke to his chocobo, patting the bird on the beak, for which he got a happy wark for his troubles. "I left notices in Traverse Town, Fluorigis, Rabanastre, and Luca...hopefully someone saw it now."

And now, it was time for the waiting game.

Reize Seatlan has posed:
Luso would not be going through this journey alone. It was not Fluorgis that many of the Shard Seekers had been dwelling in. Instead, it was Traverse Town, due to the incident in Manhattan. Since he battle against an invadng program, Reize had worked helping with repairing the damages that one of the heroes had made. Irresponsible use of magic. The boy seemed very unrelenting on it. Sigh.

Of course, then Reize came across a posting requesting assistance on the matter regaring the Mark. It has been a hile since Reize and the Shard Seekers have done a mark together. Reize decided to round up his best knight and travel off into this Petrified Forest.

"Oooooooiiiiii!!!"

The voice calling out to the boy and the chocobo from the rear. Should they turn around, they would see the Boy With the Long Yellow Scarf, who is accompanied by a somewhat shorter nezumi in armor. The boy himself is in his normal adventuring garb, but wrapped around his antenna hair is a bandage. It looks like the antenna hair had taken a beating of some sort.

When the boy closes in, he waves, "Oh! Luso! It's you! I didn't expect for it to be you!" There is a grin that widens, "It is good to finally work with you on this!" Of course, his attention falls towards the chocobo.

Oh, right.. Reize and Faruja were supposed to take the chocobo, but...

CHIBI FLASHBACK TIME!

Chibi Faruja: Ser Seatlan, are you sure we should take one? Don't you have a bit of history with them?
Chibi Reize: Of course! *antenna hair flops around* They are fast and should get us here in no time.
Chibi Faruja: I know that, but--- O_O
Chibi Chocobo: *eyes Reize's hair* *CHOMP!* ^o^ *shakes*
Chibi Reize: OHGODFARAMGETITOFFGETITOFF! Q_Q
Chibi Faruja: *grabs at the legs!* Unhand him, fowl!
Chibi Chocobo: ^o^ *tugs harder*
Chibi Reize: ARGHWHY! Q_Q

Flashback end

Reize winces, rubbing his antenna hair. That explains the bandage.

Faruja Senra has posed:
He knew he should've just taken Arista, and then hoofed it within the Forest itself, rather than expose the poor boy to the stubborn birds. Poor, poor adventurer. At this rate, Faruja will drain his hip flask before they've gotten half-way through with this whole affair. At least, after securing Reize's hair from the foul fowl, he had a chuckle as he bandaged the boy.

On the bright side, the Burmecian Knight isn't alone with the young boy either. He's managed to drag along, of all people, a Baronian. Thankfully, the ratling isn't aware of any direct military leanings from the 'Healer', and so there's no possibility of her being a Witch. Or so he thinks, anyway.

"Good 'eve, Ser...Luso? is it. Lord bless!" The boy fought in Manhattan, and that's enough for him.

Melody Ellsmere has posed:

Melody Ellsmere, clad in a healer's robe over... armor of some kind (but really, that is just good tactical sense, right? you might get like, shot at or something) has been following the rat-man into the field, perhaps in order to show off to him about her profound and innovative healing techniques. With Reize involved, they may not be long in the showing.

"Tidings," she says to Luso, a little grumpily. The reason for this becomes clear when, during the momentary lull, she crouches slightly and reaches back to rub her calves. "Ugh..."

Luso Clemens has posed:
A pause was given at the sound of voices behind him, then Luso turned around to face the sources. "Oh! It's you guys! Reize and..." Pause. The boy stared at Faruja and Melody for a bit, trying to come up with a name. After a moment he just chuckled and started rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "I don't think I ever got your name! I know I saw you in Manhattan though!" He then glanced at Melody in the same motion. "But yeah! Nice to meet you! I'm Luso Clemens! (temporary)Leader of Clan Gully! I'm the one you put up that notice. It's good to see you guys took notice."

Reize is lucky that Luso's chocobo is currently tied to a tree as it seems to be veeerry interested in Reize's hair right now. In fact, it took a couple steps closer before reaching the maximum length the rope allowed, which was just short of taking a bite at the boy. Lucky him.

"Anyway, like the posting said, there's supposed to be an abnormally powerful heartless deeper in. According to survivor reports anyhow. So once we're all ready, then let's get a move on!" He cheered, throwing a fist to the air in excitement.

So much for self preservation.

Must be a hero thing.

Reize Seatlan has posed:
Once the group arrive, Reize brightens in good spirits. It is a good thing that everyone is together. Reize glances back towards the armor-cladded healer with a look of worry, "Ooii! Are you alright?" He reaches a hand back to scratch the back of his head sheepishly. Perhaps they should had taken the chocobo. Granted, it would ha been counter-productive if it kept trying to chew on his hair.

Goodness, what are the chances of Reize getting a chocobo of his own?

Nevertheless, Reize locks his gaze back towards Luso. "Oh! An abnorally powerful Heartless?" He furrows his eyebrows, then he slams a fist down against his palm with a smack. Determination.

"Then we'll have to make sure it isn't able to harm another person!" He extends a hand over into the air, "This way!" He follows after Luso.

...Considering the fact that the chocobo is about and his recent event with another, one would think that Reize would be more careful of nearing one. ...But, suppose a few more bites will teach him.

Melody Ellsmere has posed:

"Clan Gully, eh?" Melody says skeptically as she tosses her hood back. Taking a deep breath, she puts one hand on a metallically-wrapped hit and gives Reize a long, weighing look, before walking forwards - without much haste. She draws the wooden cigarette holder out of a pouch at her waist, loading another of the spearmint-smelling cigarettes into it and taking a long drag, exhaling with an unnecessary 'pah'.

"So," she says, "tell me what you know about this Heartless! Do you have a plan? Like... will we be flanking it out, or attacking it in its lair?"

Luso Clemens has posed:
Reize doesn't seem to learn. As he begins to pass by the Chocobo, and incidentally walking into it's biting range, the bird does just that, opening it's beak wide and taking another good chomp out of that ahoge.

Oh dear.

Luso meanwhile glanced at Melody, blinking a couple times at the sight of the cigarette. That's the first time he's seen any since dropping into this messed up world. It took him a moment of dumb staring before finally he snapped back to reality enough to answer the lady's question. "Oh! Well...Ahahaha..."

Another nervois chuckle, usually entailing that no, Luso had not exactly thought this through one hundred percent. "Well from what I've been told, this heartless is really big! And it seems to use dark magic along with it's own body to attack. Like tail whips and claw attacks!"

The boy crossed his arms then, tilting his head to the side as he pondered the matter some more. "...I guess if anything, we should split up into two pairs and surround the thing. If it's got as much range as they say it does, then it'd be bad for us to be in one place, yeah?"

At that moment, Luso noticed that Reize was apparently having trouble with his Chocobo. "...Er, you okay over there, Reize?"

Reize Seatlan has posed:
An important lesson: Never take your eyes off the enemies.

Given his history with the kind, chocobo may as well be his natural enemy. At least, for the fact that they keep going after his antenna hair.

The ahoge keeps moving aorund, flopping back and forth. Flop to the left, to the right, to the front, to the back---

-- *CHOMP!*

Reize's eyes become dots as he stands still. Silence passes while Reize just stands there. In way, he is paralyzed. As those few seconds pass before everything registers...

"ARGHGETEMOFFGETMOFFGETEMOFF!" Reize clutches against the beak, flailing his body around as comical tears run along his face. Why. God. Why!

Faruja Senra has posed:
"Temple Knight Faruja Senra of the Most Holy Church of Saint Ajora Glabados. Well met, Ser Luso of Clan Gully." Formalities over, he glances over the boy, ears perking to his companions for this little job.

Cough! Mel's smoking again. He manages to /not/ glare in her direction. Thankfully, she asks a rather important question.

"Flanking, then. May I suggest one healer with each person? I shall assist Ser Seatlan while Ser Luso assists Countess Ellesmere, if it pleases you both." He offers to the group at large, tail swaying behind him as he double checks his weapon.

Oh Faram! Chocobo! The rat's suddenly grabbing Reize, trying to bodily yank him from the bird's grip, one leg pushing at the creature. "Oh, Lord in heaven Ser Seatlan! Next time we encounter these birds, I am going to glue down that hair of yours! Off, beast! Let him go!"

Melody Ellsmere has posed:

At least it's minty fresh.

Melody gives Reize's conflict with a riding animal a long, slow look as she says, slowly, "Perhaps we should move in a group...? Well, it's your show; I'm just along for the ride, really~" And with that and a fluttering of her eyelashes at Luso, she crosses her arms loosely. "Please, lead on!"

Luso Clemens has posed:
Faruja's attempts at repelling the bird are largely successful. At the kick, or rather push, the bird warks and stumbles back a bit, letting go of Reize's hair in the process.

Freedom at last!

Luso in the meanwhile just laughed it up at Reize's expense. "Ahahaha! Oh man, that's gold right there!" He sputtered between laughs, striding forward to settling down his chocobo. "Phew! Okay, we'll be right back, so wait here, okay?" Receiving a nod from the animal, Luso pat it's beak before turning back to the group. "Alright! Sounds like to a good enough plan to me. We'll approach as a group and then split up once we reach our Mark!" A thumbs up is given to them all and then the boy grins, nodding confidently. "We'll get this none no problem! C'mon guys!"

And with all distractions out of the way and a plan in mind, they were off, striding through the beaten path of the forest...

Odd enough though, there was nary a sound of wildlife at all. It was deathly silent. A testament to how much this heartless had screwed up the local ecosystem.

Reize Seatlan has posed:
Why. Why. Why?! Why is it always the ahoge?!

Reize is flailing, comical tears rolling. After the moments of struggle, Faruja comes to his aid to fend off the creature. When the chocobo backs away from the boy, Reize is clinging onto Faruja, "Argghwhy...."

After the moment passes, Reize rubs his antenna hair, which looks like it has taken a beaten. Go on without it, dear Seatlan.

The boy shakes his head, then he blinks, "...Right!" He offers a thumbs up, then he starts wandering along the way, following the leader of the expedition. "So, we'll be ready for the Mark when it shows up." And when he looks around, the boy has a very wary. look He is within his element, but the forest itself is strangely quiet.

"Usually, even at night, there would be some wildlife. Some owls would be out to look around... and a wolf or two would be out for its night hunt. ...But nothing's around."

Faruja Senra has posed:
Faruja finds himself thankful for the ideals of humility instilled in him during his training as a Templar. Otherwise, this whole thing of 'rescuing boy from head-biting by chocobo and then being clung to' might be a touch beneath him. Instead, he does the right thing, smiling and trying to not laugh as he pats Reize's shoulders. "There, there. Mayhap we shall dye it green some time, hmm?"

Ahem! Hopefully restoring some small portion of dignity, he sets off with Reize, for once letting the boy take point. As he soon shows, the adventurer knows forests far more than the country-mouse ever could. "...Mayhap something has frightened the locals away, then?"

That 'something' being the Heartless in all likelyhood. "Lord in heaven, hallowed be thy name, grant victory to the righteous. Protect our souls from the lost, the damned, the Unholy. Guard us from the touch of the Abyss. Give us the strength to strike down the evil-doer, the Heretic, the Witch. Give us the resolve to stand, where others flee. Give us the courage to face the Darkness, in all of its forms." The Burmecian quietly prays as they're led along, occasionally glancing to the rest of the party and making air-crossings as they move.

Melody Ellsmere has posed:

Melody takes a last drag off the minty deathstick and rolls her eyes slightly, if from a position behind him, at Faruja's prayer. Packing up her bad habit equipment, the totally-non-evil healer slips behind Luso. Her armor, surprisingly, makes very little noise - now that she's walking carefully.

"How poetic! Are you a trapper of something?" she asks Reize, if quietly, gathering her cloak about herself and trending in Ruso's direction, prepared to break off with him as necessary.

Luso Clemens has posed:
Luso nodded at the others, crossing his arms as they walked through the forest. "Yeah, it's definitely got to be the heartless. There can't be anything else that could mess up one place so bad." He frowned in thought after, trying to come up with a reason as to why...and to no avail. He just didn't know.

With a shake of his head, he fell quiet and continued walking at the front, listening to Faruja's prayer in the meanwhile.

Once he had finished, Luso glanced back at Faruja curiously. "Are you some kinda holy knight? A paladin maybe?" He asks the knight, glancing back ahead to keep his eyes out for anything suspicious.

Reize Seatlan has posed:
"...Somewhat," Reize admits to Melody, "I was raised in a small village. It was in the middle of nowhere. However, surroundng the village were forests that could expand for miles and miles away. It would probably take 10 days to get into another sort of land, according to my father."

Feeling along the trees, he doesn't find anything that is really useful. However, he moves towards the grass and he kneels down. He reaches along the grass, patching it up to sniff it. Only a frown curls.

"...So, living in that village, all of the boys had to learn their way to survive and adapt in the woods. We all made an adventure of it. The boys and I could catch dinner for the village if they were old enough to!" A grin is rewarded to Melody.

Truth be told, it had been a long time since Reize had been in a forest. But strangely enough, it feels like home. His element.

Faruja Senra has posed:
Luckily, the half-blind rat is exactly that, and in front of Melody to boot! Thus, there's no retaliation from the rather outburst-prone Templar. Instead, all she gets is the occasional tail threatening to swipe at her cloak in its lashings.

At Luso's question, the Burmecian gives a short nod. "Quite. Holy Dragon Knight, if you wish to be technical about the issue. Something of a rare calling in the Church." Most, after all, don't see fit to combine three distinct skillsets! Nor do many Churchies have their own wyvern. Lucky rat, this.

Most of the Burmecian's attention, however, is on their surroundings. His spear pushes back the occasional offending tree branch.

"Mmm, you truly /did/ live in the 'boondocks' as humans put it. Still, there is something to be said for simple living. The town in which the Saint himself was born was not unlike your own, Ser Seatlan."

Melody Ellsmere has posed:

"What did the girls do?" is Melody's question to Reize on the whole matter. Other than this she glances around occasionally but seems to be keeping, more or less, to herself.

At least she hasn't broken out the notepad (yet).

Luso Clemens has posed:
"Holy Dragon Knight...? Sheesh! That's like three jobs in one! Must be a ton of work." Luso mumbled in appreciation. Sure, he had experience with multiple jobs, but it was a different situation. He learned each job one by one rather than all at once like he was assuming Faruja had.

Well either way, it would seem as if the time for discussion was quickly dwindling away.

The group eventually crossed over into a wide clearing, roughly made with trees plowed out of the way forcibly. It must have been done fairly recently...

T Over near the center was a huge mass of black, vaguely shaped like a canid creature. ...And it looked to be asleep? There was their mark!

Slowing down to a stop, Luso glanced back at the rest of the his companions, bringing a finger to his lips. "Shhh! I think we've got it? Look over there!" He said in a hushed tone, pointing towards the creature.

Reize Seatlan has posed:
"Most of the women in my village owned the shops, but otherwise tend to clean the catch that the men of the village made. Once per week, two men were selected to guard the entrance of the village to keep any creatures from sneaking in. Our population was about 36 people, which includes all of the children. The girls my age were led by someone who was considered my second in command."

It is the thought about his second-in-command that his expression became a bit dour, which leads him to think about the other villagers. He shakes his head, offering a faint smile.

However, Reize tenses when Luso quiets then. Reize turns his head, lifting up to follow after the leader of the expedition. His boomerangs retract from his side as he starts sneaking along to the leader. Peeking his head out, the boy looks over towards the black mass.

Eyes widen.

Faruja Senra has posed:
Faruja chuckles at Luso's mumbling, shaking his head. "No more than any other Knight's. 'Tis merely a question of training with specialists in each area. I can hardly claim to put forth more effort in self-improvement than any other Templar." When in doubt, play up his fellow Knights and downplay himself.

Twin ears perk as they make their way to the clearing. With the beast sleeping no less! Keeping himself as quiet as plate armor ever allows, he bends his legs, looking quite prepared to leap at the beast! "Positions, then." His gaze stays on Luso, as he waits for the group to split up, light filtering off of his spear as he clutches it in his hands.

Melody Ellsmere has posed:

"That's a very precise 'about,'" Melody murmurs dubiously. Nonetheless the news of female authority seems to cheer her up for a moment, though she does add, "Would she not be in charge now, then, since you're out /here/?"

The creature. They're even moving sensibly. She sidles around as per the breakup, sticking near Luzo with a faint scent of expensive perfume and burned spearment as she asks him in an extremely soft tone, "I don't know if they have bones, but aim for the base of the skull. If you can cripple it this fight will be even easier~"

Luso Clemens has posed:
"Right." Nodding to Faruja, Luso stepped off with Melody, moving around to the other side of the creature enough to surround it at the very least.

However, the combined scents and subtle noise from the group as they moved to separate and surround seemed to wake the creature, despite their best efforts.

A single gleaming yellow eye opened and the heartless beast looked out from where it lay, not moving it's head.

Four fools come to their deaths? How irritating.

The black beast growls in anger before beginning to rise up to it's feet, coming to about eight feet in height and nearly twenty feet in length, most of that due to the long, spiked tail beginning to wave about behind it. The most striking feature of this being however, was the array of purple energy visibly flowing through the thing's body, like blood feeding the body. And it all came together at the beast's chest, pulsating for a bit before flowing outwards again.

"...Oh crap. We've been found out!" Luso called after seeing the heartless begin to rise. With their moment of stealth failed, the boy reached behind himself for his swords, preparing to draw them.

The beast was faster however and roared angrily, turning it's attention towards the pair of Reize and Faruja as it leap towards them to strike with a series of shadowy attacks.

"Look out you guys!" Luso called, drawing the Kwigon Blade and Kotetsu. Well this wasn't a great start. Suppose he should take the time to steel himself for the coming battle. An orange aura began to surround him as he focused his energy...

Faruja Senra has posed:
So they've been found! The ratling does what a Burmecian does best, leaping up into the air as shadowy attacks slash through his body and grant the beast its first taste of blood. Hanging in the air a moment, he chants. "Absorb power in the sky and strike! Lightning Stab!" Falling down upon the beast, both rising column of lightning form below, and holy-infused spear will attempt to bisect the beastie!

"Ahh, but I do so prefer a frontal assault! Come, abomination! You shan't taint this world for long!"

Reize Seatlan has posed:
Before Reize could discuss more with Meredy about his village, it was time. They had to separate. That was part of the plan.

Reize pulls away from Luso in order to join with the dragon knight. As Reize joined the burmecian, he offers his tailed friend a smile. "Alright, let's do--" Why did it feel like something ominous just happend? The boy's body had tensed considerably. Perhaps it is the sound of the beast's growl as it rises.

As the beast rises to its feet, the boy's eyes widen, "Whoooaa" It is a huge monste. That spiked tail doesn't sem to be inviting. As it shifts towards their way, Reize brings his bomerangs up to guard. He yelps when it leaps his way. The young boy attempts to leap back from the incoming lunge. However, the beast makes an impact against him, sending him rolling against the gound. "Guhhh!!" He twitchs in pain, then he winces while he rolls along his feet. That energy bleed off from the boy, who winces and shudders. Reize looks over towards Faruja as he charges with the spear towards the beast.

Reize decides to flank on the other side, making his way towards one of its hind-legs. "Time to take care of this ugly thing!" The boy lunges forward to release a roundhouse kick, then a spinning heel kick, joined by a double swing of the boomerangs. Last but not least, Reize tosses something from his pouch, hopefully something useful to strike against the beast's rear. "Take this!"

Melody Ellsmere has posed:

Melody tosses her hair back as others dive into battle. This is never quite her role. She slides one hand upwards, gloved fingers splaying out. They cross over her face as she says, "Let's see..."

'Now,' she thinks as she cycles a quick breath, drawing the energy up from her heels towards the crown of her head, then back down into the palm of her hand: "This works fine on me, so..." 'It probably won't kill him!!' And with that, she swings her hand forwards in a burst of shimmering amethyst particulate-light.

The crystals might as well be bath salts. Upon contact with Luso they will be immensely invigorating, making his muscles faster, stronger, better, harder. The world might seem slower, just a bit. Like he's been greased up and can avoid even powerful attacks more readily! Of course, look out for the crash.

Melody meanwhile: "Oohhh that feels so GOOD!" She, of course, aimed at herself as well.

Luso Clemens has posed:
The beast was as fast as it was strong. The combined assault of Reize and Faruja was met with nothing but air as the creature leapt backwards, gaining quite a bit of air as it backflipped and then landed several feet away.

With that, it let out another angry, debilitating roar. The sound of which assaulted the senses and disoriented any who were in range...which happened to be Faruja, Reize, and Luso.

"Guh--! Luso grimaced at the roar before glanced back at Melody, smiling gratefully. "Thanks for the assist! I'm gonna head out and help them out!" And with that, the boy dashed off, swords held back at each side.

Once in range, he lashed out with his trademark combination. A dualbladed downwards slash to create a pillar of ice and shatter, then spinning into a flaming horizontal slash, followed by a leap into the air, descending with both swords charged with lightning. "Haaaaaaaaaaaah!"

Faruja Senra has posed:
The beast's roar rattles the rat to the bone! Though not one to shrink back at all, unfortunately, his more permanent injuries aren't appreciative of the creature's actions. Almost immediately, the rat screams, Faruja clutching his arm and falling to a knee as pain both phantom and quite real assault his senses. Understandably, this makes it quite difficult to attack, so he focuses on assisting himself and his fellow Shard Seeker!

White light flashes over both Reize and Faruja, reducing their wounds, courtesy of one Templar-Dragoon-adin!

Melody Ellsmere has posed:

At this point, Melody cuts in. Is this - a quick time event?

She calls to the group, perhaps more generally, "Throw something at it! A spare glove or bracers or something! Try to get it to equip them!" She also helpfully points at Chocobo Food with an index finger, a quick green sparkle hopefully relieving some of his woes. Maybe.

Reize Seatlan has posed:
Guh! Reize was taken by surprise when the beast managed to evade the combination of attacks as Reize swings his feet out. "Buh?!" He spins around, wincing when the flames continue to lick against his body. Argh! The boy pats out the flame him. Or tries. Nope, still not going away.

The boy growls, but he shudders as he falls onto his knees as the creature shifts out a deafening roar. Instead of completely collapsing, Reize sought to spring up and perform a flip to punt the monster into the air.

Unfortunately, Reize does his impression of Charlie Brown.

"Arrggggghhhhhhh!!!!"

And the boy lands on his back, wincing at the deafening roar. His body shudders uncomfortably and he winces. Yet, when he ets back up to his feet, Reize offers a glance to Faruja. That white flash imbues him, mending him, "Thanks!" He turns back at the creature, growling, "You jerk!"

Reize winds his boomerang back and he quickly chucks the weapon at the creature. When Melody addresses him and rleases that green sparkle, his body loses the uncontrollable fear that the Heartless gave him, "Ooi! Thanks!" He brighten, then he throws anything he can find from his bag of tricks. Spare glove, bracer, a ball. Something. Anything from his unorganized bag!

Luso Clemens has posed:
With supreme agility, the heartless weaved it's way through the string of counter attacks, leaping back again. It watched as the others recovered, seeming to be sizing them up...

Unfortunately, this lull in activity caused it to fail at spotting Luso's combination until it was too late. The twin blades tore into creature's side in a flurry of blows. A growl of pain followed, but before it could retaliate, Reize came swooping in with his own attack.

"Alright! Now we're getting somewhere! Let's keep this up guys!" Luso cheered, stepping back to create some space and prepare for his next attack.

The heartless in the meanwhile was not going to take this sitting down, leaping back to activity, it spun around quickly, lashing out at the three with a tail swipe, followed by a flaming charge.

"Be careful guys! Dodge or defend and then bring on the followup! Come on!" THe boy called out as he dashed in the meet the creature head on with his on attack.

Faruja Senra has posed:
"Q..quite Ser Seatlan!" Faruja stammers out, his own healing magics somewhat quieting his rebelling body. The burnt ratling gets to his feet, glaring at the beast. The Templar can't quite rebuke Melody for the odd order, as it seems Reize is quite adept at chucking random objects at monsters.

"Excellent! Maintain thy assault upon the foul beast! Forward! Allow it not room to maneuver it's great bulk!" Even when he's calling someone fat, the Burmecian manages to make it flowery.

One ear perks, and the Burmecian can't help but raise a brow at Luso's adept assault. The young adventurer's more competent than he looks! Smiling, the Burmecian thrusts his spear as the beast's attack threatens him, incanting: "Life is short! Stasis Spear!" A falling column of ice will assault the beast, threatening to freeze him in place!

Unfortunately, that attack so happens to be fire. Once again, the rat is lit aflame, going down screaming for the second time in a few rounds. Tearing off his robes, the Burmecian quickly applies more healing to himself and his companion Shard Seeker. That done, and no longer ON FIRE, he takes a stance in front of Reize.

"Ser Seatlan, with me! I shall cover your advance!" Faruja calls out, one ear tilted the boy's direction as he gets into place for some traditional Holy Knight Covering.

Melody Ellsmere has posed:

The junk Reize helpfully throws onto the Heartless lets Melody wiggle her fingers. "So this is how Heartless work," she muses. "It'll be difficult if they're just using their bodies... it's like intelligent animals. Oh well <3 I'll figure something out!"

Reize Seatlan has posed:
There is that. Reize had kept on tossing all of the items that he could to distract the beast. With that very creature caugh off-guard, it allowed for the group to rethink the next plan. However, the tail swipe interrupts him from getting more of his equipment out, "Gah!" The boy attempts to swing back from the tail, but it easily smacks him away, the flames licking his body to send him rolling against the ground rather harshly.

The grassy ramnents remain along his arms as they peel off of him. Getting up to his feet, Reize looks up to see the creature. As he woozily gets up, Reize starts laughing, "Hey, there's two of them..." He winces, holding onto his head.

And then, Faruja calls him.

Once Reize is told to take the advancement, the boy stands up to his feet. He feels the rejuvnating presence imbuing him. His will to fight... Sucking in a breath, Reize looks at Faruja, "G-g-got it..." Once the cloak is removed, he boy's eyes widen to see the armor of the Dark Knight. "...Buh?! A-A... Dark Knight?!" Guh, like Kaydin... Reize cants a head towards Faruja.

Of course, Melody's comment of a hick earns an annoyed look from the boy, "Ooooi! That's not nice!"

Nevertheless, back to the Heartless. The boy takes his stance, "...Here we go!" The boy shudders as he extends his right hand out and then slaps it down. A bright red glow shines from the boy as he reaches his Overlimit.

"This is my will!"

Both boomerangs are drawn as the youth says, "Faruja! Let's do this!" The boy makes a mad dash toward the beast. Accelerating his velocity, the boy is no longer visible to the naked eye. The boy charges past the beast with both boomerangs slashing across to the entire body to hack its defenses down.

....Everything becomes dark.

"Think I'm done?!" Breaking down into a fighting stance, the boy is gone in that second, reappearing to the side of the beast. He swings out his boomerang to smack against the beast, and then he disappears again and returns to launch a kick at the beast. Disappear, reappear, double slash with the boomerangs.

"I'm over here!"

This time, the boy moves in a blinding speed, creating a whirlwind surrounding the beast. Strikes are coming from everywhere, striking whereever they can at the beast. Not just that, but because of the sheer speed of the wind, the shattered flinders from the Shellbust stab will remain captured in the beast, seeking to smash against it repeatedly.

And then, Reize emerges from the 'whirlwind' to spin around. The young boy brings his form to a spin before he corkscrews his way down towards the beast to knock it down to the items.

"Storm's Eye!"

Luso Clemens has posed:
The veritable whirlwind of attacks from Reize, Luso, and Melody looked like it was going to be a sure thing. The burst of dark energies, the whirlwind of speed, the radiant blade....and yet, the creature simply glanced upwards and then...

...It just leap upwards through the eye of the storm. only getting glanced by the fercious combination as it then landed outside the range. The heartless' eyes gleamed with a golden light as it seemed to power itself up, a dark aura surrounding it.

And then all at once, it raised it's head and howled to the sky, causing the immediate area to plunge into darkness as a massive dark coment came sailing down from the sky, heading right for Reize, Melody, and Luso.

This wasn't going to be pretty.

In the meantime, Luso cursed under his breath at the failure of their combined assault. "Tch! This thing's fast! We've gotta slow it down somehow!" Thinking of how to proceed, the boy eyed the Heartless as it summoned the dark comet, noticing that the energy from the beast seemed to center on the bright pulsation on the chest. "....Hey! What about that part right there? We should try aiming for that! ...I think! Come on!" Having said that, he prepared himself to defend...

Faruja Senra has posed:
'Dark Knight' is just another reason Melody grinds the rat's gears, but Lord help him, she's a useful ally. Finding himself fighting alongside the woman only eggs him on, the Templar yelling back. "'Tis rude, Lady Countess! We are known as Nezumi! N. E. Z. U. M. I! We ARE NOT related to mere vermin! Where you humans find this idea, I have nary an idea! We look nothing alike!" Keep telling yourself that, Faruja.

"And hardly do you know of my dreams!" And oh, so many does the Templar have! Dreams of vengeance upon Alexandria, its army broken at the feet of his kind and the Church! The Church of Yevon thrown down from its blasphemous ways! The Darkness beaten down, the bodies of Shadow Lords fallen! The entire world together under the Church's banner...wild dreams indeed.

Even as Darkness and a rather interesting use of Shellburst Stab are employed, the rat's right beside his companion, guarding the boy from the beast! "Hah! 'Tis the beast slowing, do you feel your end nigh? For you, oh shadow of a creature, shall be PURGED!" Taunt go~

More locally to Reize, he shrugs. "...Not all who are lost are damned. Knowing the difference is key." He explains, on the Countess.

Back to Melody, however; "How curious, one who knows techniques of Darkness and Light. We shall /definitely/ have to speak more later, M'Lady." For the Templar, seeing a Dark Knight using Holy Sword techniques is quite disturbing, particularly when not under the Church's sanction!

But there's more immediate concerns. As their attacks fail, and Luso points out the boss' weak point, Faruja grins. "Quite! In the name of Faram and the Holy Son!'

A spear-thrust, and, the Burmecian incants! A column of light descends upon the beast, followed by more ice raining upon it's head! "Holy Explosion! Stasis Spear!"

Melody Ellsmere has posed:

"Well you can't bloody expect me to know your name for yourself when you're the first one I've /ever heard of/, goodness!!" Melody huffs as she folds arms underneath all those breastplates. Anyway, the beast itself is on the field, and it's coming towards her.

Melody's eyes cast downwards. She looks at one of the fallen trees the beast has to leap over to get to her. It bursts into splinters in a sudden shower of dead wood. Melody counts under her breath, and when it comes near -

"RETURN!" she says, with another upraised hand, and the log bursts back into existence again, throwing the Heartless aside! Not enough to do more than throw off its momentum, but that's more than enough for HER purposes. Tossing her hair again, she declares unto Faruja, "If you're asking me out you need to put it a lot more sweetly than THAT, dear!"

Despite this, or perhaps BECAUSE of this, she sweeps one hand around as she jogs towards the rest of the group, an air-burst of sparkling green-and-yellow filling the air. Hooray, healing!

Reize Seatlan has posed:
Landing on the ground with that dive kick, Reize huffs and he winces to realize that the deadly attack did not exactly make its mark. No, the monster was able to leap through the advanced technique. "Guh...." He makes a face, sticking out his tongue. Once the creature howled, the darkness came down over to the group.

"Everyone, watch out!" As the comet tarts coming down, Reize manages to leap off from the ground, reaching for a branch. The comet coming down sails past him. He can literally feel that dark heat emanate nearby as it sought to draw his soul away.

That... was too close. Way too close.

When Reize looks dow at the energy towards its chest. "...Okay!" The boy brightens, "I'll provide distraction!"

"HEY UGLY, OVER HERE!" Reize swings from one tree and then he flips over to the next. He grabs to the next set of branches and then he moves to spring to the next tree. "Over here!" He grabs a hold of the next one. And next, Reize comes down to land on its back.

"Yaaaahooooo!" The boy, seeking to land on its back, holds onto the dark form. Reize grabs an item from his pouch, and flings it over the creature's head to its eyes.
As the healing energy begins ebbing across the boy, he can feel that healing essence taking away the aching pain. "Heee, thanks!"

"Get on, doggie!" ...Probably poke it in the eyes.

Luso Clemens has posed:
"Whoa!" He cried, leaping to the side and tucking into a roll, avoiding the dark meteor entirely. "Sheesh! That thing's getting serious..." The boy mumbled, sheathing both Kotetsu and the Kwigon Blade. He needed to use his stronger weapons now.

"Alright! Thanks a bunch!" Luso called over to Melody, giving her a thumbs up as he felt the healing energies wash over him. "Now it's time for me to start pulling my weight! And I know just what to do!"

Grinning confidently, he reached behind himself again, grasping the handle of Excalibur, the Sword of Promised Victory. Upon being drawn, the intricately designed blade, immediately began to radiate a divine light, catching the attention of the heartless. A light that radiant would make for good devouring!

Of course, this unintentional drawing of attention caused it to completely miss Faruja's attack, and the creature was struck right around the head and chest area, letting out a primal roar of pain.

By that point, Reize's stupid decision to get onto the beast's back was met with immediate bucking, tossing the boy off and away.

"Nice going Faruja! Lemme follow that up with this!" Folding up Excalibur, the radiant aura from the sword began to expand, covering Luso's entire body before growing upwards, forming a much bigger phant blade complete with chains and a circular edge.

"Here I go! Everything I've got!"

He then dashed off towards the heartless, leaping into the air and then descend downwards, bearing down with the phantom sword. "Blade of The Rift! Haaaaaaaaah!"

Not going to be stuck sitting down, The Heartless expelled a shadowy aura before lashing with with it's own combination, hoping to defeat Luso's own.

Faruja Senra has posed:
Faruja will take healing. He tries not to think too hard about Dark Knights who cast magic. It still really, really hurts his brain. Then she /speaks/. "Perish the thought! Y...you...." A rather irritated squeak, leaves his muzzle, before he focuses on getting himself cured of any lingering effects of his various wounds.

That done, he retorts: "Grow a tail, M'Lady Countess, and I may yet consider it!" His mind drifts briefly to a certain Gargoyle. Ahhh~ Time to smash this beast as if he were proving his ratlyness to her!

"Tolerate not the presence of the Witch, nor the Heretic, nor the blasphemer! Let thy blade shine in the Darkness, a beacon for all righteous and true of Faith!" Around the ratling, holy energy gathers and falls off of him in waves as he psyches himself up!

Luso's display of a sword that any Holy Knight would know, by feel if not by name, has the rat pausing momentarily. "What...is that?" The Templar's briefly in awe, such a holy blade stoking his own divine fires ever higher as he witnesses the clash. Legs bend, and the Burmecian prepares his assault! Ignore the little 'C' above his head.

Which, of course, leads to him being put on fire again! Only this time, between the sight of Excaliber as well as having spent far too much time around a certain Black Mage quite adept at setting /herself/ on fire, he's at least not screaming this time.

Reize Seatlan has posed:
Not exactly the best idea for Reize. However, he is out of options. After all, he needs to help his friends out. This is the best that he can do. So, with that in mind, the boy is tugging against the creature as it tries to buck the boy off of him, "Whooooaaa!"

It succeeds with one more buck.

"Gaaaaah!!!"

As the boy is flung across the forest, he manages to grab onto the branch, keeping him in the air. This is enough for Reize to see Luso manifest a phantom sword. "...Whoa..!" Then, the boy moves towards the creature, now seeking to close the distance between himself and the beast. Then, he springs down to maneuver enough to strike the beast down.

He comes down with a diving kick, then he sweeps about to swing his feet out for a double spinning kick. Finally, the boy seeks to flip up into the air again to knock the beast into the sky. "Haaaa!"

Melody Ellsmere has posed:

Melody, who is left standing by as the two beings - Heartless and man - unleash their combination attacks into each other's faces, declares, "My... By Heaven, he's so fast... I can hardly see their attacks! Do you think he can come out on top in the face of this sort of a threat, Lisa?!"

Lisa?

Oh, she's talking to Reize.

She then slaps her own flank towards Faruja as he answers, saying in reply, "I'd say it's quite fine, myself, Mr. Nezumi!" Then back at the creature, and she raises two fingers to her nose, eyes narrowing. Her leg draws back, breathing rising, falling, rising again...

"Come onnnn--" Another flourishing strike forwards. THIS time the wave of force is aimed to work in three steps of rapid succession.

FIRST! Disrupt the form, however momentarily, with Darkness Wave!!
SECOND!! Reorganize the tissue - churn it up like a fresh yogurt treat!!

FINALLY!!! Restore it to true with a burst of restorative force!!

Faruja may get some ideas watching this trick closely, but you have to look /right/ at it. And that, honestly, may be hard when one is getting set on fire.

Luso Clemens has posed:
With the damage piling on now, the heartless' self preservation instincts seem to kick in, boosting it's reaction times enough to leap out of the way of the combo of attacks. Following that, the beast raised it's head to the sky again in a familiar posture as it howled to the sky.

"Gah! Watch out! It's doing that comet attack again!" Luso called out, reeling back from the earlier counter attack. Sheesh, that hurt! Sheathing Excalibur and ending the radiant glow, then drawing Flametongue and the Kwigon Blade, he prepared himself for another round of attacks.

It was almost down. Just a little more and they would have the thing! "Come on guys! Let's keep it up!" Luso called out to his companions before diving forward to attack again.

At the same time, multiple dark comets began to rain from the sky...

Faruja Senra has posed:
While Faruja does get some amount of watching on the Dark Countess' technique, the burning indeed has most of his attention. Trying to ignore fire renewing old wounds is rather hard, and paying attention on top of that? He'll have to see an example when he's less distracted.

Also flying Reizes, as the adventurer does a kick worthy of any Burmecian monk.

"Well done Ser Seatlan! Do not shrink back, the beast is nearly slain!"

Not feeling particularly inclined towards being smacked by comets, he does what any sensible dragoon does; to the sky! The Burmecian leaps, landing on one comet, and hopscotching across them to avoid being hit! With all of that Holy Light gathering around him, he floats in the air a moment, trailing waves of gathered Light before falling! Body's weight pressed into it, he plummets, seeking to plunge straight through the beast's glowing chest and release the explosive energy into the abomination's heart!

Reize Seatlan has posed:
Guh.

Reize is stepping into his fighting stance once more, shifting his eyes bck towards the beast. The creature was pretty quick on avoiding the maneuvers that Reize was attempting to dish out. Good lord, Reize looks over at Luso with a frown. "Guh! This creature is fast!"

Twitch.

"It's Reize, not Lisa!!" His antenna hair flips around angrily.

And the comets come down. The boy... his eyes widen. As the comets come crashing down, the explosions everywhere are literally decimating him. Each battering comet crushes every core of his form, leaving him a wreck.

"Guhh...."

The boy sucks in a breath, staggering to his feet before he grits his teeth. He takes a more aggressive stance, sprinting towards the monster. He moves in to a closer attack, swinging his boomerang out and then he swings his feet out to kick at the creature's leg. With that foot, he is trying to climb up with just his feet to leverage him enough to give a spinning kick to the monsters snout and then he rolls down with both boomerangs slashing upward and downward at the Heartless.

"FANG BLADE!"

Melody Ellsmere has posed:

"What... does dark force not work very well on..."

Melody says, to herself, slowly and with increasing frustration, "Creatures... of... darkness..."

She throws the pointed hat on her head on the ground and begins just kicking it repeatedly and violently, saying as she does, "STUPID! STUPID STUPID STUPID STUPID STUPID!" in various tones and permutations while the others lunge into action.

"Lisa!! Be careful!!" she calls after the boy, throwing out a hand and sending a beam of healing force into his body. It broadens outwards with a wholly unnecessary flourish.

Melody Ellsmere has posed:

"What... does dark force not work very well on..."

Melody says, to herself, slowly and with increasing frustration, "Creatures... of... darkness..."

She throws the pointed hat on her head on the ground and begins just kicking it repeatedly and violently, saying as she does, "STUPID! STUPID STUPID STUPID STUPID STUPID!" in various tones and permutations while the others lunge into action.

"Lisa!! Be careful!!" she calls after the boy, throwing out a hand and sending a beam of healing force into his body. It broadens outwards with a wholly unnecessary flourish.

It is at around this time that a dark meteor smashes into her. From all the noise she's making as the force crunches her and smashes her into the leaf-littered ground, she'll probably walk it off, although there is a sudden loud and skeletal POP before it rolls off.

Laying on her face, Melody moans, "My... spine... I... How did it take away all the pain...?!"

Luso Clemens has posed:
With the combination of the three males bearing down upon it, the heartless found itself assaulted by Reize's combination of strikes. Faruja came in next with his powerful holy strike, but the creature, fearing the damage it would have done, leap aside just in time...

...Just in time to be hit by Luso's trademark elemental combination. "I've got you! Right there!" A flurry of slashes strike against the beast's chest, cleaning into it due to the critical damage Faruja's previous explosions had done.

With one last roar of pain, the heartless reared up, as if about to attack...and then simply flopped onto it's side, quite finished off. It's body began to slowly fade out of sight, and soon it was gone.

However, in it's place, right around where the chest was, a single black sword was embedded into the ground, periodically pulsing with dark energy...

"Whew! Alright, we did it!" Luso cheered, throwing a fist to the air. "Man, that was crazy! You guys are all pretty awesome! I definitely couldn't have done this without your help!" He spoke to the others, grinning good naturedly. It was then that he noticed the sword in the ground. "...Huh? Hey, look at that thing over there!" Pointing at the sword, he squinted in suspicion before taking a few tentative steps over to it.

"It looks like...a sword?"

Faruja Senra has posed:
Faruja lands, finally free of his burninating thanks to a good long Jump. Unfortunately, it seems his attack didn't have the desired effect! However, Luso is more than able to finish the job, and thus the Burmecian is free to tend to those hit by the wave of comets. Namely, everyone that isn't possessing a tail.

Curaga! Cura! Cure! They'll each get a litany of curative magics. Luckily, it's all the traditional type, and will do much for giant flaming rock related body-or-spine troubles.

"Well done, Dame and Sers! Ahh...pray that shall help." The comet'ing looked painful. "Mmm...mayhap you should like me to attempt your technique, Lady Countess?" The Burmecian walks closer to Melody, concentrating, looking close to attempting her pain-causing healing!

"Quite welcome, Ser Luso...Lord in Heaven!" Faruja exclaims. "The feel of it! Bah! Clearly corrupted. Give me but a moment and I shall..."

Pause. "COUNTESS ELLSMERE! Do you TRULY wish to lay claim to something such as that? Nay! Such a disgusting blade must be destroyed!" He might not yet know Hellcry Punch, but he's sure as heck going to use a Holy Explosion on the thing, seeking to blow it apart!

Melody Ellsmere has posed:

Melody turns around, clearly about to put her hand on her hip and say something cutting back.

Then she contorts in a pained way and sinks slowly to her knees. "Sh... Hnfff...!!"

Reize Seatlan has posed:
The creature is defeated..

Through Luso's trademark elemental combination, the boy watches the crature rear up. And then, it flops to the side. As the monster starts to fade, theboy eyes that dark sword pulsating with dark energy.

Victory is achieved!

As the healing energy resonates along the boy, Reize is feeling reuvinated. Reize shoots both hands in the air, cheerfully grinning. As the resounding cry of victory escapes the boy, Reize looks at the group, "We did it! We make a great te--...."

...The pendant glows ominously.

Reize grits his teeth, turning towards that ominous sword. "Nggh, that sword." And Faruja moves to destroy that sword.

His pendant glows omniously. Just in case.

Luso Clemens has posed:
"Wha? Hey! Wait! No way!" Luso called out after Melody who had strode past him and torwards the weapon in the ground. "I got the last strike! I should get it!"

Apparently whatever danger the weapon might present was lost on him. After all, it was a new sword!

A NEW SWORD!

But by the looks of things, this weapon was what was powering the heartless beyond normal means. Luso then glanced back at Faruja momentarily, tilting his head sheepishly. "Eh? But come on! It's just a sword! I bet it's pretty strong! Imagine if I had that thing in my collection?" Luso's question is met with a Holy Explosions which rocks the sword and kicks up a cloud of dust...

Once it cleared, they would see that the sword was perfectly fine. But the ground around it was marred by the explosion.

...Well then.

Faruja Senra has posed:
"Absolutely not, Ser Luso! Oh, Faram save me from the ignorant and foolish! That blade was in that demon! And you would USE such a thing? You are powerful, but please, for the love of all things hallowed, use sense!"

Melody goes to one knee, and Faruja's quick to leap up to the blade. With a visible wince, he gathers up the thing in what's left of his robes, otherwise not willing to touch the thing bare-clawed. "I shall take this to Holy Mullonde, where it shall be properly dealt with. It seems I am yet insufficient in strength to destroy it myself." That fact seems to irritate the little Burmecian. At least the pendant agrees with him.

Faruja isn't a jerk, however. "Are you quite alright, Lady Countess? Shall I carry you?"

Luso Clemens has posed:
"....Whoa." Luso whistled, seeing that the sword was perfectly okay after that divine blast failed to even scratch it. "...Now I HAVE to have that sword..." Saying that, he began to approach the sword, kneeling down to grab the handle of the weapon. "And up we go...!" Lifting the implement of destruction, the group would see that the sword was quite something. An oddly shaped weapon at that. It was entirely black throughout, the pommel, handle, hilt, and blade. And it continued to periodically pulse with black energy.

This was the Sword of Engulfing Shadow, Apocalypse. A terrible weapon meant only for the destruction of all life and prevalation of darkness.

"....Whoa......" Luso spoke in awe, holding the sword up in clear view for Reize, inadvertently of course.

Melody Ellsmere has posed:

"My back - I - G, get one of those two to hold my legs and then pull on my shoulders," Melody says, her voice clearly in agony.

Even as her eyes are flicking to the Doomtastic Sword of Darkness.

Welp, that's going in her report.

Reize Seatlan has posed:
There is a frown when he sees that the sword is still fine. It seemed to have resisted the great heavenly strike. Reize looks over towards aruja, frowning over to his friend. "...It didn't work..."

Then, there is a frown when he sees Luso with that sword.

He can't use the spell. Not with Luso holding it. Reize can feel that negative energy.

"...Luso." There is a sad smile on his face, "... That sword needs to be destroyed. Something like that..." He can feel his pendant reacting negatively towards it. "...It's one of those weapons that drive the Heartless.."
It is then that the pendant radiates.

A tarot forms.

"... Are you really sure that you want to hold such a sword?"

Luso Clemens has posed:
".....Man..." Luso sighed, looking over the sword. Even now, he could feel the darkness gradually seeping into his body, attempting to corrupt him. The only thing keeping it at bay was ironically, Excalibur, which he also was in possession of.

"...Yeah you're right. It's an awesome sword, but it's evil...It's gotta be destroyed, yeah?"

A sigh ed given as Luso stabbed the sword back into the ground before stepping back. "Man, it sucks letting such a crazy sword go, but it's for the common good, right?" With a shrug and a sheepish grin, Luso stepped back some more, letting Reize take point and attempt to destroy the thing.

"You're up Reize! Show that sword what's what!"

Faruja Senra has posed:
"Perservere but a moment, Lady Countess!" Poor Melody. She's going to have to agonize a moment longer.

"Are you dea....Faram help me! No! Release the blade, Ser Luso! Curaga. Such a thing shall only taint your soul! Cura. Allow Ser Seatlan to purge the unholy blade!" And, then, Luso agrees! Faruja beams.

"Good man, good man! Coming, Lady Countess. Now be still, I can manage this with a tail. Grip the leg, the arm, and....pulllll!" Tail and arm both go to Melody's limbs, trying to properly set her injured body. Thankfully, he's well practiced in such things.

Reize Seatlan has posed:
It is then that the boy lifts the tarot into the sky.

The spiralling tarot breaks away. Every bit of energy draws forth and the boy draws upon he power of the tarot.

"Flickering blaze, burn."

The boy ponts his finger towards the sword. "FIREBALL!" Through the pendant's power, three balls of fire appear, and then they merge into one giant fireball. It seems to impact against the sword with the intent to destroy it.

Melody Ellsmere has posed:

Crick crick crick POP

"Ahn~"

Melody slumps afterwards, before saying, while still laying on the ground, "You know, just because it's 'Dark' doesn't mean it's necesarily evil or going to eat your brains out or something like that. This is a piece of important equipment and I'm not sure why you want to hide it so much!"

She'd speak more cogently or even contest the item if she wasn't laying on the ground, waiting for her spine to decide 'OK... OK, we're good now.'

Luso Clemens has posed:
The fireball impacts with the sword, creating another explosion. Luso shields his eyes from the following dust cloud and once it clears, he and everyone else can see...

...The sword was still untouched. But hey, the ground was taking a mean beating!

"Sheesh, how exactly do we destroy a sword this powerful now?" Luso asked, glancing at the others; Reize, Faruja, and Melody, whose seems to have been fixed up, much to his relief. "Any ideas guys? I get the feeling that anyone who holds this is gonna end up a heartless."

He crossed his arms then and nodded. "Yeah, I felt it when I was holding it. The darkness trying to creep into me. But Excalibur held it back."

Faruja Senra has posed:
"Dear Countess, I know evil when I smell it!" Faruja responds, letting the poor woman lay there for a moment. The Burmecian frowns as Reize's efforts fail as well.

"Indeed, Ser Luso, I do. This is a matter for an Inquisitor. And I know just the sort. But a moment, let me see if she is awake."

Taking out his Ma Belle, he dials up a number, the ratling's voice growing cheery. "Ahh, good 'eve Inquisitor Diamond...yes, M'Lady I know what time it is. Please, please just get up. We need a team down here, swiftly, if it pleases you Lady Inquisitor. A Heretical blade beyond my ability to destroy has been recovered. Mmm? Five minutes? Yes, bring Sister Rose and something to keep this damn blade contained!"

Turning to his companions, he nods. "For now, we wait. The Lady Inquisitor shall avail us of her services."

Melody Ellsmere has posed:

"I certainly hope they're going to study what might be the veritable key to the Heartless phenomenona and not just sit on it until it hatches!" Melody huffs. From the ground.

She may not be going out with you any more Faruja, deal w/ it

Reize Seatlan has posed:
It seems that his pendant is still weak. For as strong as it is, it is still weak to the whole ordeal. This sword is more powerful than he expected. As for Melody, Reize frowns, "Perhaps so, however, -this- sword is evil."

Blink.

"...Maybe if you use Excalibur to smash it."

 !!!!

"Let's combine our forces!"
Then, a glance is given towards Faruja as he contacts someone through Ma Belle, "Well, that works too!"

Luso Clemens has posed:
Luso nodded to Faruja and then knelt down, arms hanging over his kneels as he observed the sword's activity. He continued to do so until randomly he spoke up again.

"Man...I really can't have it?" He spoke up to the others, grinning like an idiot. Probably half joking. "I mean, I've got Excalibur with me! I won't turn into a heartless if I keep it! ...I think." And then came Reize's idea.

"Oh yeah...Why didn't I think of that!?" Oh well, it was too late now. Far be it for them to do the job and displace the knight's coming associates, wasting their time.

Faruja Senra has posed:
A rising brow, and the rat nods. "Yes, best not to irritate the Lady. Besides, marring such a holy blade upon that? A tragedy." Walking over to the Countess, he'll lean down, picking her up.

"There we are. Rest yourself, M'Lady, allow me to get you comfortable. Worry not over tainted blades."

-Five Minutes Later- A rather disgruntled looking red-robed woman teleports in, a trio of white mages with her. They set to work, wrapping the blade in glowing golden chains, and performing other prayers and incantations. The older blonde addresses the group. "Well done, all of you. The destruction and sealing of this blade will be a boon to all. As shall studying an artifact of the enemy." It seems this one thinks along Melody's lines!