Infinite Justice: Beyond (Marvel,DC,DBZ X/Over, IC, Open)

[Imperial--japan]

Kika Xiones

Kika grinned at Kimiko's declaration of her allowance to kill the three magical girls in front of her. Her hands were clammy in anticipation as the look of confidence became a look of shock on the face of the magical girl with the Kusarigama. With the chain firmly snagged by the hook blade in Kika's hand, she yanked the chain forward with intense force, and darted forward to decapitate her opponent. Time moved in slow motion as the magical girl in front of Kika moved her hands in front of herself reflexively. It would be pointless though, as Kika would simply have to sever her arms first. Her foes didn't realize how unnecessarily gory they were attempting to make this. Before the hook blade made contact with the young girl, Kika found her strike blocked by a spear wielding Brunette with intense looking yellow eyes. Her clothes consisted of your everyday plaid skirt, and a red striped sweater.

"You're gonna regret that girly..," Kika whispered before suddenly turning around to kick the third girl, whom had tried to get the drop on her, in the side. The impact had left the girl flying towards the wall. Kika continued her spin in a three-sixty degree, and generated two more hook blades in both her hands. Between her fingers in each hand were three hook blades. The girl with the spear raised it to block the first three, but instead Kika ripped the spear from her grasp, and sliced at the girl with her other hand. She jumped back just in time, but received a nasty gash across her stomach. The kind that would let your insides spill out if you didn't have magic to heal it.

"You won't have to experience the pain of being a magical girl anymore. You wont turn into a witch and kill the humans you all still seem to value so much." Kika explained as she inched closer to the wounded girl. The foe with the Kusarigama was still standing, but she was shaking, and absolutely petrified.

---

Elena looked rather contemplative as she stared at Kimiko's weapon. The girl with the large weapon had dodged her arrows with ease, and was now charging at her. There were at least three ways she could handle this, but she would rather use the other two as backups. It would be better not to reveal her ace so early in the fight.

"The violence is indeed a shame, but I'll make sure your bodies are buried properly." Elena assured Kimiko. She raised her bow and fired another arrow. It shined a brilliant dark blue light before separating into seven smaller arrows. They all converged on Kimiko from different directions.

[Imperial--japan]

Kika Xiones

Kika grinned at Kimiko's declaration of her allowance to kill the three magical girls in front of her. Her hands were clammy in anticipation as the look of confidence became a look of shock on the face of the magical girl with the Kusarigama. With the chain firmly snagged by the hook blade in Kika's hand, she yanked the chain forward with intense force, and darted forward to decapitate her opponent. Time moved in slow motion as the magical girl in front of Kika moved her hands in front of herself reflexively. It would be pointless though, as Kika would simply have to sever her arms first. Her foes didn't realize how unnecessarily gory they were attempting to make this. Before the hook blade made contact with the young girl, Kika found her strike blocked by a spear wielding Brunette with intense looking yellow eyes. Her clothes consisted of your everyday plaid skirt, and a red striped sweater.

"You're gonna regret that girly..," Kika whispered before suddenly turning around to kick the third girl, whom had tried to get the drop on her, in the side. The impact had left the girl flying towards the wall. Kika continued her spin in a three-sixty degree, and generated two more hook blades in both her hands. Between her fingers in each hand were three hook blades. The girl with the spear raised it to block the first three, but instead Kika ripped the spear from her grasp, and sliced at the girl with her other hand. She jumped back just in time, but received a nasty gash across her stomach. The kind that would let your insides spill out if you didn't have magic to heal it.

"You won't have to experience the pain of being a magical girl anymore. You wont turn into a witch and kill the humans you all still seem to value so much." Kika explained as she inched closer to the wounded girl. The foe with the Kusarigama was still standing, but she was shaking, and absolutely petrified.

---

Elena looked rather contemplative as she stared at Kimiko's weapon. The girl with the large weapon had dodged her arrows with ease, and was now charging at her. There were at least three ways she could handle this, but she would rather use the other two as backups. It would be better not to reveal her ace so early in the fight.

"The violence is indeed a shame, but I'll make sure your bodies are buried properly." Elena assured Kimiko. She raised her bow and fired another arrow. It shined a brilliant dark blue light before separating into seven smaller arrows. They all converged on Kimiko from different directions.

Kimiko did not halt her charge for long, merely stopping for a moment as she used the time to move her halberd in a circular motion, slicing the seven arrows with her perfectly timed sweep. Not missing a beat, she once again charged her foe, pointing her halberd at her. "Why thank you." She spoke, then suddenly and viciously stabbed forward with her Halberd like a spear at her opponent. One might think this strike dangerous apart from the fact it was a mere fienght, as she then drew the polearm back, keeping momentum as she instead made a sweeping strike towards the other magical girls legs, intending to trip up her victim. "As for you and your friends, would you prefer to be buried or cremated?" She spoke, the smile indicating she was arrogantly only taking this battle half seriously, not even having resorted to her own magic,

Elena huffed at the arrogance of the girl before her. This wasn't the first time she had fought magical girls, and it likely wouldn't be the last. However, for her to be taken down so quickly and with such little effort would be absolutely unacceptable. As the halberd came to swing at her legs, the experienced Elena jumped up and back flipped to the wall of the church. Using magic, she stuck herself to the surface, and unleashed another hail of arrows. A solid twenty were making their way towards Kimiko this time, and at the very end of the volley, a large arrow consisting of magical energy converged on the girl. Blocking it would likely result in her being flung back, and any impact it made would result in area of effect damage.

"Well you're obviously not an amateur, but rushing in like that is a sure way to go yourself killed," Elena lectured the senior magical girl, hoping to get a rise out of her,

[Imperial--japan]

Elena huffed at the arrogance of the girl before her. This wasn't the first time she had fought magical girls, and it likely wouldn't be the last. However, for her to be taken down so quickly and with such little effort would be absolutely unacceptable. As the halberd came to swing at her legs, the experienced Elena jumped up and back flipped to the wall of the church. Using magic, she stuck herself to the surface, and unleashed another hail of arrows. A solid twenty were making their way towards Kimiko this time, and at the very end of the volley, a large arrow consisting of magical energy converged on the girl. Blocking it would likely result in her being flung back, and any impact it made would result in area of effect damage.

"Well you're obviously not an amateur, but rushing in like that is a sure way to go yourself killed," Elena lectured the senior magical girl, hoping to get a rise out of her,

There was then a flash.

Bright as it was hot, the arrows simply vaporized on contact with hot, fiery nuclear death. Pure heat and radiation consumed them like a fire would kindling. Then, there was the smiling Kimiko. Arrows gone, but her smile still there. She felt good whenever she use her power. Like some new age goddess of fire and death, though there were others more powerful than her in this world (For now) she still couldn't help but feel on top of the world after that.

Shame it had to stain her soul gem when she used it too much...

"Really? Because if your just going to pelt arrows at me from afar I really have little to worry about." She stood, smiling her cocky smile. "Should we discuss terms of your surrender again or shall I use your friends' intestines to construct your noose?"

How had she done that? How had this annoying upstart effortlessly blocked all of her attacks simultaneously? Elena slowly breathed in and out to calm the anger that was quickly making itself known. There was a snarl left upon her face, and her next assault was a bit sloppy. The magical girl raised her bow and charged it until its volume was three times that of the previous one. The arrow glowed white this time, and upon release, Elena followed her projectile from behind. When the arrow hit, she would follow up with a series of kicks to wound her opponent.

Kika was doing just as well as Kimiko now. Blood coated her hook blades entirely as the mutilated corpse of one of the former magical girls laid nearby. Her other two friends kept their distance, but were seething with rage. In response, she merely gave them a reassuring smile.

"The life of a Magical girl is rather hard. You shouldn't have changed your lives for some wish. Now I have to kill a bunch of runts like you," Kika spat the last part out, and charged towards her foes. Unsure as to why they were so slow to dodge, the two raised their weapons in defense. Unfortunately, Kika was vastly stronger and separated the legs from the body of the blonde one. The following screams were a delight.

[Imperial--japan]

Hungry.....Cold....

This was the only thought that the newly arrived Majin could comprehend as she stood in the middle of the empty village in Siberia. She had come to this planet two days ago in order to recuperate from her fight with that unknown warrior. Luckily for Sesa, the stranded Majin didn't have to look far for a food source. Near where she crashed, a small village laid out before her. Children were playing in the snow, and adults talked amongst themselves. Others stared at a nearby TV as though it was the only one in the village; it probably was. Grinning, she made her way towards the group of adults, and as one turned to point at her and scream, she pointed her hand out towards them. Sesa was quite peckish.

It had been two days since she had taken care of this village, and Sesa could tell she still wasn't back to full strength. Given how much of her power she sacrificed to escape death, who knew if it would even return to her on its own? There was no way to be sure, and it would be dangerous to remain in this weakened state if that warrior was to find her. No, she would have to regain her strength the way she had been all these years. This planet would sate her hunger, and its warriors would become a part of her. A greater being to be feared. As the fearsome Majin swallowed the last of her candy, she started her trek out of the village and down the crudely constructed road. Though, not before she blasted away the remnants of buildings with a basic Ki blast.

[Imperial--japan]

Hungry.....Cold....

This was the only thought that the newly arrived Majin could comprehend as she stood in the middle of the empty village in Siberia. She had come to this planet two days ago in order to recuperate from her fight with that unknown warrior. Luckily for Sesa, the stranded Majin didn't have to look far for a food source. Near where she crashed, a small village laid out before her. Children were playing in the snow, and adults talked amongst themselves. Others stared at a nearby TV as though it was the only one in the village; it probably was. Grinning, she made her way towards the group of adults, and as one turned to point at her and scream, she pointed her hand out towards them. Sesa was quite peckish.

It had been two days since she had taken care of this village, and Sesa could tell she still wasn't back to full strength. Given how much of her power she sacrificed to escape death, who knew if it would even return to her on its own? There was no way to be sure, and it would be dangerous to remain in this weakened state if that warrior was to find her. No, she would have to regain her strength the way she had been all these years. This planet would sate her hunger, and its warriors would become a part of her. A greater being to be feared. As the fearsome Majin swallowed the last of her candy, she started her trek out of the village and down the crudely constructed road. Though, not before she blasted away the remnants of buildings with a basic Ki blast.

Kandra got up, suddenly hearing the sound of a large explosion nearby. She frowned. The village she had went to was likely under attack. While she was by no means a hero, she had amazing powers and had little incentive to use them for humans. She was a tad bit cold and callous when it came to human lives, but had masked this well. But this seemed like it might be interesting. So she should at least investigate and see if there was anyone or anything worth fighting there. Besides, it'd help prove to herself that what she was doing was not true cowardice.

She moved towards the village with some speed. Flying towards the village and descending upon it at supersonic speeds. Sending snow flying when she landed, her hood being thrown back as she looked at her foe. Dark blue energy gathering in her hands.

"You know how hard it is to find a village out here with a TV?" She spoke simply, deadpanning it. Her eyes set on the pink thing she saw before her. She was quite taken aback by it. She wasn't sure what it was.

Sesa snapped around, not anticipating the arrival of a foe with a power level this high, and definitely not in what seemed to be in the middle of nowhere. Did this planet have warriors such as this one even in its more desolate areas? If so, the power she could accumulate on this rock would be more than enough to once more confront the man who had slighted her, but if there was any sense of unity among these warriors, then Sesa would have to be more subtle with her encroachment.

"Is that what the screen those humans were gathered around was called? If that was all they had to look forward to in their days, then I should think I did them a favor by giving them a greater purpose." Sesa explained. It was what her creator had told her when she first protested the killing of the laughably weak. They would be immeasurably happy in the next life with knowing they had furthered the ascension of an ultimate being. Sesa put her hands on her hips and walked closer to the Tameranian in question.

"Now then...lets become one...", she muttered seductively.

[Imperial--japan]

Ephilia - Fallen Goddess Of Rebirth

Golden Iris' stared out into the vast void of deep space. This galaxy had met its end, and it was time to move on to the next. A fresh batch of civilizations ripe for death and destruction awaited, and very soon the darkness would cover their worlds. Sky's would be blocked out from Ephilia's hordes, and entire suns would find themselves drained of all energy. Then when the time came, that Galaxy would return to the void. All traces of its existence erased in a single fell blitz. Heroes would always line up to oppose Ephilia, and as usual, heroes would fall before her like a row of dominoes. The false gods and lesser celestials would find greater purpose serving Ephilia, now a 'Greater Ilumni' as she called herself. More importantly, she considered herself the one true Goddess of this Universe. Given time, she would erase everything and start anew with her as the grand creator.

Now, with the threat of total Annihilation looming, a great army stood to oppose the goddess. Remaining Ilumni and the false Celestials of lesser species had gathered in a single, and desperate, final stand against the growing power of this 'ultimate evil' as many termed it before their demise.

It was like a dark cloud in the vast void of space. The cries of the damned could be heard from this mass of tendrils and abominations, and upon closer inspection, one could make out the constituents of the Black Horde. Fell beasts, and creatures deformed beyond repair made up some of the largest of the 'monsters'. Some beasts could be described as 'space kraken's' to a lower species. High above, commanding the hordes were various types of succubi and Incubi. At the center of the horde was armor clad individuals, the finest warriors of numerous races were as vulnerable to temptation as any mortal.

"How...exciting," Ephilia blushed and put a hand to her cheek in anticipation. All her lovely slaughters were terribly one-sided. It'd be deliciously wonderful to actually watch these folks, who believed they actually had a chance to stop her, fight with vigor and eventually lose all hope in the end. It was that look of defeat that Ephilia sought to invoke, but furthermore, she wanted to see their fear. Their screams and their moans as they succumbed to corruption. Extending a single hand, she signaled her vast forces to move forward and begin the battle.

[Imperial--japan]

Ephilia - Fallen Goddess Of Rebirth

Since the beginning of the conflict, Ephilia had watched on with amusement as the Celestial's launched strategy after strategy against the horde. Clever perhaps, but strategy meant nothing against insurmountable odds and nigh infinite numbers. The weight of hundreds of fallen Galaxy's slammed against the Celestial's defenses, and with time, cracks would emerge that they would readily exploit. For the duration of this battle, Ephilia had delegated command of the hordes to the Greater Succubi and Incubi. In the background, Ephilia would look for the commanders of the Celestial forces and deal with them herself. She wouldn't be waiting long it seemed.

The last thing Ephilia expected was a counter charge against the horde. The zeal of the enemy was enough to almost shatter the morale of the advance legions, but it mattered not. For every fallen demon or 'fallen', seven more were ready to take their place. The Celestial's seemed to realize this as well, and while they put up a ferocious fight, they slowly began to falter against superior numbers. When cracks formed in the enemy formation, the horde would swiftly move to fill it and isolate parts of the Celestial's forces. From there, they would descend upon the enemy and crush them. It was a slow strategy, but in a battle of attrition, the horde was superior.

Despite overwhelming losses, Ephilia looked on with excitement at the carnage before her. Her fellow remaining Ilumni had aligned themselves with the defenders instead of joining her like so many had already done. While disappointing, they would prove a valuable addition to the casualty count. With luck, perhaps Ephilia would be able to add some to her collection.

Then the angelic reinforcements arrived, and Ephilia found that it was time to intervene a bit. With a bit of magic, she effortlessly opened numerous portals above the battle, and to the ire of the defenders, even more waves of of 'fallen' poured out. Dark Angels and Ilumni riding fell beasts sprang forth from their residence within Ephlilia's personal plane.

"Go forth, and deal with this interlopers who seek to disrupt my attempts at rebirth for this Universe!" She rallied her forces with such simple words, and horde found itself invigorated mainly from the magick's of their goddess. As the battle began to swing into its final phase with the reinforcements between each side clashing in a brutal engagement, Ephilia turned her gaze to the Ilumni who had managed to charge through her forces. Figures that it would take her own race to be able to confront her. The horde ignored the two Ilumni, instead focusing on decimating the remaining Celestial's that were putting up a 'glorious last stand'.

"Ephilia, I presume?"

The fallen Goddess smiled at her fellow Ilumni that stood ready to strike her down.

"My my my, how observant. Yes, that would be I. Now, since this battle is coming to a close, I recommend you yield, and perhaps you'll find yourselves content with your brethren in my new Universe." Ephilia extended her hand in welcome.

"I hope you'll accept my invitation. I'm sure you'll make wonderful additions to my new reality. Otherwise...it'd be unfortunate if I had to..." she narrowed her eyes and licked her lips in anticipation. "Get violent."

[Imperial--japan]

Ephilia - Fallen Goddess Of Rebirth

Since the beginning of the conflict, Ephilia had watched on with amusement as the Celestial's launched strategy after strategy against the horde. Clever perhaps, but strategy meant nothing against insurmountable odds and nigh infinite numbers. The weight of hundreds of fallen Galaxy's slammed against the Celestial's defenses, and with time, cracks would emerge that they would readily exploit. For the duration of this battle, Ephilia had delegated command of the hordes to the Greater Succubi and Incubi. In the background, Ephilia would look for the commanders of the Celestial forces and deal with them herself. She wouldn't be waiting long it seemed.

The last thing Ephilia expected was a counter charge against the horde. The zeal of the enemy was enough to almost shatter the morale of the advance legions, but it mattered not. For every fallen demon or 'fallen', seven more were ready to take their place. The Celestial's seemed to realize this as well, and while they put up a ferocious fight, they slowly began to falter against superior numbers. When cracks formed in the enemy formation, the horde would swiftly move to fill it and isolate parts of the Celestial's forces. From there, they would descend upon the enemy and crush them. It was a slow strategy, but in a battle of attrition, the horde was superior.

Despite overwhelming losses, Ephilia looked on with excitement at the carnage before her. Her fellow remaining Ilumni had aligned themselves with the defenders instead of joining her like so many had already done. While disappointing, they would prove a valuable addition to the casualty count. With luck, perhaps Ephilia would be able to add some to her collection.

Then the angelic reinforcements arrived, and Ephilia found that it was time to intervene a bit. With a bit of magic, she effortlessly opened numerous portals above the battle, and to the ire of the defenders, even more waves of of 'fallen' poured out. Dark Angels and Ilumni riding fell beasts sprang forth from their residence within Ephlilia's personal plane.

"Go forth, and deal with this interlopers who seek to disrupt my attempts at rebirth for this Universe!" She rallied her forces with such simple words, and horde found itself invigorated mainly from the magick's of their goddess. As the battle began to swing into its final phase with the reinforcements between each side clashing in a brutal engagement, Ephilia turned her gaze to the Ilumni who had managed to charge through her forces. Figures that it would take her own race to be able to confront her. The horde ignored the two Ilumni, instead focusing on decimating the remaining Celestial's that were putting up a 'glorious last stand'.

"Ephilia, I presume?"

The fallen Goddess smiled at her fellow Ilumni that stood ready to strike her down.

"My my my, how observant. Yes, that would be I. Now, since this battle is coming to a close, I recommend you yield, and perhaps you'll find yourselves content with your brethren in my new Universe." Ephilia extended her hand in welcome.

"I hope you'll accept my invitation. I'm sure you'll make wonderful additions to my new reality. Otherwise...it'd be unfortunate if I had to..." she narrowed her eyes and licked her lips in anticipation. "Get violent."

"Yield?" Akura laughed. "So, let me see if I understand this correctly. You think that we fought through your hordes, had most of our friends killed in front of us, so we could yield to you?" She asked. "Exactly, how far is your head up you own ass?"

"We choose violence of course." Spoke Thora, her whip of blood cracking by itself. "A little bloodshed never hurt anyone." She spoke. She cracked her whip at Ephalia, a whip that had seared through entire mortal armies with the same effort one gives to tearing tissue paper. Meanwhile Akura got ready to exploit an opening.

Ephilia's smile disappeared almost instantaneously following the insults projected by her fellow Ilumni. How dare they speak that way to her? She remembered when they were but little deity's, vying for control over their people. She remembered before they became full fledged goddess' of an entire people. Ephilia refused to allow this slight against her to be taken so lightly.

"I'll show little ingrates like you where they belong!" Ephilia shouted angrily. Extending her hand, she grabbed the whip and held onto it firmly. From where Ephilia was, a tendril of darkness began to slither down the whip towards Thora. It appeared as though it was consuming the whip itself and it had every intent on binding Thora in place. Using her other hand, Ephilia shot forth a bolt of pure black energy towards Akura.

[Imperial--japan]

Ephilia's smile disappeared almost instantaneously following the insults projected by her fellow Ilumni. How dare they speak that way to her? She remembered when they were but little deity's, vying for control over their people. She remembered before they became full fledged goddess' of an entire people. Ephilia refused to allow this slight against her to be taken so lightly.

"I'll show little ingrates like you where they belong!" Ephilia shouted angrily. Extending her hand, she grabbed the whip and held onto it firmly. From where Ephilia was, a tendril of darkness began to slither down the whip towards Thora. It appeared as though it was consuming the whip itself and it had every intent on binding Thora in place. Using her other hand, Ephilia shot forth a bolt of pure black energy towards Akura.

Now was a good time for her training to be used.

She was not the first leader of the Ilumni last alliance. The other was a much older being, who died not to Ephilia, but to a disease. Before that though, she taught Akura "Purification." Turning corruption to purity, darkness to light. But she didn't wish for her training to be revealed. No, she had to wait before she used it on Ephilia herself.

She quickly summoned a sheild, which blocked the bolt at the cost of the sheild. She then sped towards Ephilia before she could counter attack and summoned a sword, flanking her while she had one arm occupied with Thora's whip. She slashed at her foe, imbuing her blade with some of her purification power subtly.

It was almost sad how badly they underestimated Ephilia. The Goddess let go of the whip, but the tendril of darkness continued along the whip as though it had a mind of its own. It sought to devour whatever was on the other end of the weapon. Ephilia's instant transmission in front of Thora came as a surprise to the young Goddess and Ephilia smiled at her before planting a kiss on her lips. Her tongue expertly dominated Thora's as she sapped the willpower from the girl, and after what felt like ages to Thora did Ephilia break their kiss.

"I can assure you, there's much more where that came from my dear," she assured and caressed Thora's cheek. The look in the Goddess' eyes was almost lifeless, as if all form of resistance that she held before had been purged from her body. Thora nodded eagerly, and Ephilia gave her another peck on the cheek.

"Now, kill your dear friend. Will you?" Ephilia asked Thora and the latter nodded in ascent. The tendril of darkness, now merged with the whip, lashed out towards Akura at Thora's command. Ephila stood behind Thora, eager to see the former comrades fight each other.

"It's not too late little Akura. I can make you more powerful than you could ever dream. There's still a place for you in my new reality." Ephilia reiterated. She didn't expect Akura to relent, but it was worth a shot. If Thora was to fall in combat, then Ephilia would simply force Akura to become her champion next. It was a continual proccess.

[Imperial--japan]

It was almost sad how badly they underestimated Ephilia. The Goddess let go of the whip, but the tendril of darkness continued along the whip as though it had a mind of its own. It sought to devour whatever was on the other end of the weapon. Ephilia's instant transmission in front of Thora came as a surprise to the young Goddess and Ephilia smiled at her before planting a kiss on her lips. Her tongue expertly dominated Thora's as she sapped the willpower from the girl, and after what felt like ages to Thora did Ephilia break their kiss.

"I can assure you, there's much more where that came from my dear," she assured and caressed Thora's cheek. The look in the Goddess' eyes was almost lifeless, as if all form of resistance that she held before had been purged from her body. Thora nodded eagerly, and Ephilia gave her another peck on the cheek.

"Now, kill your dear friend. Will you?" Ephilia asked Thora and the latter nodded in ascent. The tendril of darkness, now merged with the whip, lashed out towards Akura at Thora's command. Ephila stood behind Thora, eager to see the former comrades fight each other.

"It's not too late little Akura. I can make you more powerful than you could ever dream. There's still a place for you in my new reality." Ephilia reiterated. She didn't expect Akura to relent, but it was worth a shot. If Thora was to fall in combat, then Ephilia would simply force Akura to become her champion next. It was a continual proccess.

"I'm no one's lackey Ephilia. War is no one's servant." She replied, parying the whip and wrapping it around her blade, which suddenly shortened as she Yanked thora her way, suddenly slamming a fist into the goddess gut, then one into her face. Then kicking her repeatedly untill she simply was knocked out. She had fed on the combat and rage here, putting her above the now unconcious goddess. But was it enough for Ephilia? "And I'd hate to leave a good battle half done." She then smiled.

"Come on Ephilia. Don't you want to say that you fought war herself?" She taunted. "I might even let you win if your fun enough."

Well that couldn't of been more anti-climatic. Thora was brutally beaten down until only Ephilia had remained to fight Akura. Ephilia wrapped her arm around her own torso and pursed her lips together as she thought about how to deal with Akura. It wasn't that Ephilia thought she couldn't defeat Akura, but there was just so many options at her disposal.

"Well, it's been a while since I've gotten my hands dirty." Ephilia was briefly consumed in a dark light that engulfed her entire figure. Upon its dissolution, the goddess was adorned in her personal battle armor. Not wasting anymore time mincing words, Ephilia charged towards Akura.

[Imperial--japan]

How had she done that? How had this annoying upstart effortlessly blocked all of her attacks simultaneously? Elena slowly breathed in and out to calm the anger that was quickly making itself known. There was a snarl left upon her face, and her next assault was a bit sloppy. The magical girl raised her bow and charged it until its volume was three times that of the previous one. The arrow glowed white this time, and upon release, Elena followed her projectile from behind. When the arrow hit, she would follow up with a series of kicks to wound her opponent.

Kika was doing just as well as Kimiko now. Blood coated her hook blades entirely as the mutilated corpse of one of the former magical girls laid nearby. Her other two friends kept their distance, but were seething with rage. In response, she merely gave them a reassuring smile.

"The life of a Magical girl is rather hard. You shouldn't have changed your lives for some wish. Now I have to kill a bunch of runts like you," Kika spat the last part out, and charged towards her foes. Unsure as to why they were so slow to dodge, the two raised their weapons in defense. Unfortunately, Kika was vastly stronger and separated the legs from the body of the blonde one. The following screams were a delight.

Kimiko smiled, though she had gotten a little lazy, the dodge she performed was too close, causing the arrow to graze her face. Not noticing at first, she proceeded to catch her opponents foot with her Halberd, blocking it and pushing her leg to the side. She smiled, then frowned slightly, she felt a stinging at her face. Bringing her hand up to her cheek she felt the sticky feeling of blood. The cut was shallow, but it was enough to make the girl stop.

She... touched me. She actually touched my... perfect face. Her fists clenched around her Halberd. That bitch cut me... She can't do that! She can't! She can't! I can't let her!

Her thoughts became erratic, but her movements became more precise, faster and with more force as her desperation to make sure her foe didn't have a chance to mar her perfect features further. She sped towards her foe, stabbing with her halberd forward in a strike meant to brutally skewer her foe, though she also sent a white hot burning ray of nuclear heat, death and radiation her way.

This battle was over before it began, but Elena had hoped she'd be able to skewer one of the aggressors before she was forced to leave her companions to their fate. Already, two of them had died, and the only ally she had left was demoralized and quaking at the sight of her mutilated friends. Using speed that she had been reluctant to reveal beforehand, Elena shot herself through one of the church windows in a desperate attempt to escape a grisly fate.

"THIS ISN'T OVER!" Elena shouted from a neighboring rooftop.

"I'll be back..." she muttered to herself before taking off into the night, leaving the single remaining magical girl in the church to her fate.

Said magical girl was awestruck at the sudden and brutal deaths of her compatriots. That this single girl could...kill them...with such ease was frightening. The power of these two was overwhelming, and in a panic she threw her weapon to the ground. She didn't want to die.

"P-Please....I-I'm sorry," the girl croaked as tears started to stream down her face.

"Please don't kill me....I don't want to die..." the girl then fell to her knees and started to bawl in earnest. Kika calmly approached her and placed a reassuring smile on the young magical girl's head.

"It's alright." Kika said while giving off a warm smile. The girl looked up pleadingly and with a glimmer of hope in her eye.

"I'll make it quick." Kika said with an ounce of glee in her voice. Then the young magical girl felt nothing as her world faded to black. Kika's hook blades had severed the young girls head from her body and left a trio of corpses around Kimiko's subordinate. Kika would be eager to show her best friend what she had done for her.

[Imperial--japan]

This battle was over before it began, but Elena had hoped she'd be able to skewer one of the aggressors before she was forced to leave her companions to their fate. Already, two of them had died, and the only ally she had left was demoralized and quaking at the sight of her mutilated friends. Using speed that she had been reluctant to reveal beforehand, Elena shot herself through one of the church windows in a desperate attempt to escape a grisly fate.

"THIS ISN'T OVER!" Elena shouted from a neighboring rooftop.

"I'll be back..." she muttered to herself before taking off into the night, leaving the single remaining magical girl in the church to her fate.

Said magical girl was awestruck at the sudden and brutal deaths of her compatriots. That this single girl could...kill them...with such ease was frightening. The power of these two was overwhelming, and in a panic she threw her weapon to the ground. She didn't want to die.

"P-Please....I-I'm sorry," the girl croaked as tears started to stream down her face.

"Please don't kill me....I don't want to die..." the girl then fell to her knees and started to bawl in earnest. Kika calmly approached her and placed a reassuring smile on the young magical girl's head.

"It's alright." Kika said while giving off a warm smile. The girl looked up pleadingly and with a glimmer of hope in her eye.

"I'll make it quick." Kika said with an ounce of glee in her voice. Then the young magical girl felt nothing as her world faded to black. Kika's hook blades had severed the young girls head from her body and left a trio of corpses around Kimiko's subordinate. Kika would be eager to show her best friend what she had done for her.

Kimiko frowned as she rubbed her cheek. The cut was mending itself already, being quite shallow. Lucky for the magical girl, it wouldn't scar. She was still angered by it. She looked to Kika. "None left? Shame. I wanted to cut off someones head for this indignity." She spoke. She grabbed part of one of the magical girl dresses and used it to mop up the blood on her face. She then regarded Kika. "Good job though. Their leader was surprisingly quick." She frowned as she looked at the blood and managed to incinerate the cloth in her rage. She calmed herself. This outrage was unbeffiting of her and would cloud her soul gem needlessly. "We should dispose of the bodies and then find a place to eat. Wouldn't want to be hunting down our new 'friend' on empty stomachs now would we?"

Kika's heart fluttered at the compliment directed at her by Kimiko. The serial killer blushed a furious read and looked away. Kimiko really did like the way she killed those interlopers....and she wanted her to get rid of the bodies as well. In Kika's warped mind, this translated as Kimiko having a great deal of trust in the magical girl, and enough so that she'd give the younger magical girl the privilege of cleaning up their joint mess.

"Kimiko wants to go get something to eat.....this couldn't be...a date?!" Kika thought to herself as she smeared blood across her face in excitement.

"Don't worry! I'll have the familiars take care of it!" Kika threw one of her grief seeds in the air. As a wave of black light overtook it, a trio of familiars emerged and stood before hte magical girl duo. No words had to be exchanged as Kika telepathically ordered the drones to clean up this mess. They would oblige like the loyal servants they were.

"So!" Kika started and stared at her best friend excitedly.

"Where we gon' eat huh?"

[Imperial--japan]

Kika's heart fluttered at the compliment directed at her by Kimiko. The serial killer blushed a furious read and looked away. Kimiko really did like the way she killed those interlopers....and she wanted her to get rid of the bodies as well. In Kika's warped mind, this translated as Kimiko having a great deal of trust in the magical girl, and enough so that she'd give the younger magical girl the privilege of cleaning up their joint mess.

"Kimiko wants to go get something to eat.....this couldn't be...a date?!" Kika thought to herself as she smeared blood across her face in excitement.

"Don't worry! I'll have the familiars take care of it!" Kika threw one of her grief seeds in the air. As a wave of black light overtook it, a trio of familiars emerged and stood before hte magical girl duo. No words had to be exchanged as Kika telepathically ordered the drones to clean up this mess. They would oblige like the loyal servants they were.

"So!" Kika started and stared at her best friend excitedly.

"Where we gon' eat huh?"

"That works." Kimiko spoke with a smile. Quite the commendable solution to their problem. "Though we should also clean up the mess of blood on your clothes too." She remarked, being the neat freak she was she didn't like things not being tidey, much less the blood of those unworthy girls getting on her favorite magical girl friend. She smiled widely when Kika asked where they were going.

"Oh Kika we're going to eat well tonight." Spoke the magical girl. "We're going to go to one of the finest Italian restaurants in Gotham. The five star "Casa di Maria". I've never been, and I thought the eve of our victory should be a nice time to give it a visit."

"It should be quite the treat for the both of us." She spoke. "Doesn't it sound nice?"

Kika was practically melting at the sound of her superiors voice and her description of the wonderful 'date' they were going to have. At the expense of a miniscule amount of magical energy, Kika's clothes slowly began to look cleaner as the blood evaporated in what looked like extreme heat. Not quite how physics worked, but this was magic.

"Physics go fuck yourself," Kika muttered under her breath and gave a little twirl when her appearance appeared to be presentable. The familiars, meanwhile, were still in the process of cleaning the blood and corpses from the church, but they could easily handle it while the duo was gone.

"So does that mean I can get some of that Chicken Alfredo stuff? My Uncle used to make that stuff. Said it was a...limosuine...cuisine?" Kika rambled for a bit in order to entertain her favorite magical girl.

[Independent States of Tula]

It was a quiet night for the guards of the small FARC Camp in Western Venezuela not more than six kilometers from the Colombian Border. And that, that feeling of security was what the Winged Hussar loved, it made his job so much easier when the people he was paid to kill felt safe from any and all danger. Currently the camp consisted of only a few small huts and only two men were running perimeter sweeps, there was perhaps only another half dozen guerrillas in the camp with another two focused on watching one of the small wooden huts. Meanwhile the Winged Hussar was a comfortable hundred meters away in the treeline watching the proceedings as he had been for the past hour or so. His figured disguised with dark green fatigues and a Ghillie Hood obscuring his face and head.

Resting comfortably against him thanks to its strap was Winged Hussar's choice of weaponry for this job, a FAL OSW with a 1x Red Dot Scope attached to the rail and its folding stock extended and ready for use. Watching as once more one of the two patrolling guards passed by the edge of the camp in front of Winged Hussar he sighed quietly and decided it was finally time to act. Bringing the FAL to bear on his shoulder Winged Hussar stood up and began moving at a brisk combat pace with his Rifle pointed towards the encampment. Stopping at 50 meters distance the Winged Hussar pointed his rifle towards the back of the head of the one guard who'd passed by moments earlier and fired, the loud crack of the rifle startled everyone in the encampment except the man Winged Hussar had just targeted...he didn't have time to even realize he was dead as the M80A1 7.62x51mm NATO Round tore through his head at speeds up to 833 m/s and energy up to 3,304 J. ...Or in simpler terms...his head popped opened and sprayed happy red mist into the air.

"29." Winged Hussar whispered to himself.

With the camp now alerted thanks to the gunshot the other guard on patrol came running around the corner of one of the wood huts and started firing from the hip in Winged Hussar's general direction. Winged Hussar spun to his right and fired three rounds in rapid succession at the man, each round hitting him in the torso and creating neat little holes through his unprotected body and olive-green fatigues.

"28, 27, 26." Winged Hussar whispered again as he watched the FARC Guerrilla hit the ground with an audible thud.

Now the screaming in Spanish began as the remaining four guerrillas began moving in Winged Hussar's direction. The experienced mercenary knew this was what would happen and so he began sprinting towards the first guard he'd killed to re-position. As he was running though he came close to one of the huts and as he was about to pass one of the guerrillas came around the corner just at that moment. The two collided and the guerrilla flew a few meters before hitting the ground roughly, meanwhile Winged Hussar was merely stumbled slightly before he regained his footing and took aim at the prone man in front of him. As the guerrilla groaned and was starting to get up he was suddenly put back down by gravity as a M80A1 round blasted through his head.

"25." Another Whisper but the mercenary who spoke them wouldn't get to rest yet.

A guerrilla let out a war cry as he charged from Winged Hussar's right with a knife in hand, the mercenary spinning to find the man already to close for him to get a shot off. So instead the mercenary dropped his rifle which was caught by the strap over his shoulder so as not to fall to the ground, the mercenary brought his right arm up to block the raised guerrilla's arm holding the knife, stopping it in midair and away from the Winged Hussar's body. Before the guerrilla could even try and slice the mercenary's arm he found himself suddenly with a few broken ribs and his body flying almost ten meters away before it smashed through one of the wood huts' walls. His neck snapping on impact with the hut and only breaking further as it hit the inside wall of the hut with audible snaps. By this time Winged Hussar knew there were two more guerrillas in this little camp of their's, he just had to find them.

Guessing on a hunch where at least one of the two Guerrillas would be the mercenary carefully stayed away from the hut that had been guarded earlier as he went about searching the other two. The one he'd thrown a man through just moments before was clear if the hole in the wall that provided a perfect look inside was anything to go on. As such that left two other huts, one of which Winged Hussar knew was occupied. As such he looked to the one he was already next to and began moving around the hut towards the doorway before stopping halfway when an idea hit him. Looking at the wall Winged Hussar pulled back his right arm before shooting his fist forward...straight through the wooden wall.

Quickly dragging his fist back in the mercenary peeked through the new hole to see a terrified guerrilla just now moving to point his weapon towards the intrusion from his place in the corner. The mercenary wheeled back around the corner he came from as a hail of fire hit his peephole, however now he knew where the second guerrilla was as he quickly took aim at the corner the guerrilla was hidden behind and fired five times into it.

"...20." Came the counting as Winged Hussar began moving for the doorway into the hut.

Looking in he saw his rounds had hit their marks and the guerrilla was now lying in a pool of his own blood. It was time to finish off the last one and get what the mercenary had been sent to grab. Approaching the doorway with rifle raised the mercenary was not surprised to see it was closed...however a kick was quick to solve that issue. However the mercenary hadn't been expecting the gunfire that followed, 8 pistol shots rang out, all 8 hit their target in the torso. However the guerrilla's surprise was probably worse than the mercenary's as Winged Hussar looked down to his chest to see he'd been shot multiple times by the man standing in the middle of the hut with another mind tied up with duct tape over his mouth held closely against him.

The guerrilla's shocked eyes moved down to his spent Makarov pistol and then back to the standing mercenary, however what was different this time was the mercenary was pointing his rifle straight at his head...he didn't get to process what that meant for very long. The hostage who's captor had literally just hit the floor dead was yelling and struggling with his bound hands as he too dropped unexpectedly.

"19."

Moving over to the man Winged Hussar roughly pulled off the tape on his mouth and asked "Are you Garcia Mauricio? Son of Victor Mauricio?"

"Yes! Yes! That's me!" The man replied.

"It's your lucky day Garcia, I'm here to get you back home. Now relax while I cut your bonds."

The mercenary's survival knife was useful with this endeavor as the two men were quick to leave the camp and head west. Several hours later, after hiking through the south american jungle a green flare shot up on the Columbian side of the border, a helicopter could soon be heard afterwards, and before anyone knew it two men were whisked away towards Bogota and away from the hands of FARC. Lechosław Sierzant and just won himself another payday.

[Isle of Lithonia]

The Wages of Sin
Jacelyn Grim, Missoula Falls

---

"Mors Cum Terrore Novo Venit"

Scratching. Burning. Drilling. Biting.

Bad men in white rushed around her. Machines poked her body, needles stuck her. They muttered incoherently, her mind in awake sleep. Fluid rushed into the girl, helplessly cabled down to the table. Wires snaked to her head, under her arm-skin, drilling their biting heads into her muscles.

Gnawing. Cutting. Ripping. Tearing.

Roar of monstrous blades pierced her ears. Slowly brought close to her, they cut. Muscles ripping, her bone exposed. Her body felt like it was being torn apart.

Fighting. Screaming. Bleeding. Crying.

Tossing her body against the bonds, she fought to be free. Screams tore her throat, begging the pain to end. Blood dripped slowly from her wounds, caking the ground in crimson iron. They would never leave her. She would never be free. "Momma! Momma!" Tears poured down her face, mixing with the drying blood.

ENOUGH!

Her eyes shot open.

---

Explosion.

A bright light exploded as the ground blew outward. A massive cloud of dust and smoke mushroomed upward, energy and ash spit out from the base. Windows shattered, and buildings were blew over, careening to the ground. Those unfortunates caught in the blast radius were instantly erased from existence, blackened ash the only remaining testimony to their death. Chaos reigned as all ran frantically from the source of destruction.

Metal and concrete rained from the sky, shot forth like flechettes and artillery shells. Screams drowned by the roar of the blast, innocents cowering in abject fear.

---

Death.

Jacelyn lay in a pile of rubble. Lost, alone, confused. Standing up, everything spun around her, making her fall on her face. Pain shot through her body, tears unbidden came. It was like a dream, she didn't, couldn't know what happened.

Pushing up, she stood again. Glass cracked under her feet, cutting and biting her soles. The blood came. But she didn't notice. There was light pouring from the gaping wound in the structure above her, bidding her follow.

Mindlessly, she walked on, climbing the rubble before her. Nothing was understood. What was real?

Blood stained where she walked, a trail of crimson behind her. After eternity, she exited into the world.

The light blinded her, and she curled into a ball on the broken streets. It all hit at once. And she sobbed.

"Momma! I want Momma!"

"MOMMA!"

Energy burst outward, spraying pavement all over.

Then silence. Nothing but the wind could be heard as it blew around her naked body, chilling to the bone. No screams. No shouts. No machines. No bad men.

Tired and scared, the girl cried herself to sleep.

[Isle of Lithonia]

Jacelyn Grim

Crimson raindrops fell upon the girl, staining her face, filling her nostrils with a pungent smell. Legs tucked beneath her, hands covering her whimpering mouth. Eyes locked ahead, tears shimmering. Shaking uncontrollably, she unconciously bit down on her hands, drawing blood.

Daddy was coming back. In this other world, he was here. He would come, and do very bad things to her. And Jacelyn was scared.

A warm light burst into existence, chasing away the shadows. The crimson rain stopped, and Jacelyn was dried. She didn't know what happened. But...She wasn't so scared anymore.

And into that broken nightmare of hers came the soft voice of her lost friend.

"Jace...? It's me... Lula...?

At the sound, Jace's head slowly turned. Standing so near was her friend. Afraid that Lula would disappear, Jace shot up and ran over to the tiny girl. Tripping and falling, she latched onto the girl's waist, sobbing. The words wouldn't come, she was so sad, and happy, and confused, and hurt. All of these emotions slammed into her, and she didn't know what to do but cry.

Tears staining Lula's dress, the tortured girl finally managed, "Lu.la! Don't leave me again! I'll...I'll be a good girl now! I'm sorry!" Her sobbing melted into short gasps and hiccups, even her soul being spent. "I don't want to be alone! Daddy...Brothers...the bad men...They did bad things! I lost baby! She was in my tummy, and.and.and..." She started sobbing again. "Th.they took her away from me! I was alone, and you weren't there! Please don't leave me again! Momma left me, but please don't leave me! I don't want to be alone anymore!"

Tightening her grasp so Lula wouldn't go again, she buried her head in the girl's dress folds. She couldn't do it anymore. It was bad. Everything was bad. And she didn't want it.

[Isle of Lithonia]

Jacelyn Grim

Held in the tiny goddess' arms, the girl was torn apart with sadness. For an eternity, she'd spent every single second of it in the darkest of hells, all alone. Nobody was there to hold her hand, comfort her, carry her, tell her that everything was going to be okay. All she'd known was the most excruciating pain, the most debilitating fear, the most harrowing of torture. And since Lula had left her, she'd forgotten what love, kindness, and happiness was like.

Would you blame her for not being able to be happy, even now that her only friend had come back?

The dream had become wonderful, full of life, happiness, and the nicest of things. You may have thought that this would change her, make her happy. But it didn't. She still was afraid that Lula, the only support she had in those twelve years of hell, was going to leave her again.

Her eyes betrayed a deep madness, formed through years of inhuman torture and abject dread. Clinging to Lula as if it were her life at stake, she just stood at her side, whimpering like a wounded animal.

Over and over, she muttered, "Don't leave. Don't leave. Don't leave." It was like a scratched record, looping mechanically and lifelessly. The world began losing its color, balloons fell from the sky, animals moved sluggishly. Wind howled, blowing the grass flat to the ground.

The world began to warp and shift. Space started to contract, assuming a cube-like shape. And everything began to morph into the world wherein Jacelyn had spent her undying days.

Nothing. No emotion. No life. Nothing but an ear-piercing scream ripped through the death-world.

[Isle of Lithonia]

Jacelyn Grim

Those eyes of hers were empty. Words would not reach her.

Arms dropped at her sides, and her body went limp, back hunching over. Slowly, she stood straighter, hair obscuring her face. Mad chuckling dripped from her lips. Wind blew, revealing the monstrosity behind the veil, smiling at the dream goddess.

Dark energy blasted the tiny girl backwards, the black scene unfolding.

Little Jacelyn was tied to the chair, wires snaking to her head, arms, legs. Lights of many colors flashed, blinding the little one. Daddy entered, needle lifted. Swiftly it was plunged into her side, the girl screaming in pain. "Daddy!!! No!!!"

Engorged on its victim, out the needle was pulled. Blood dripped from the tip, marking the floor.

Glitching, the scene faded. Demon-girl Grim walked towards Lula, head cocked unnaturally to the side as if with a broken neck. Louder grew the laughter, the smile only madder.

Two naked boys entered, smirks on their face. Jacelyn saw them, tried to reach towards them.

Brothers, they will save me!

Tear-stained eyes, she cried to them.

Grabbing hold, they ripped off her clothes, exposing her body. Touching, groping, biting, they marked her as their own. Her screams cut through the darkness. Womb was filled.

Head twitching rapidly from side to side, the demon came ever closer. A trail of crimson streaked down her lips, dripping from her chin. The laughter turned to a pained gurgle.

Her belly had grown, a baby knit within. Straining against the bonds, her body ached. She was a momma, and her baby must be protected. Sobbing, tearing, the girl could not break free. Everything was falling apart. The time was coming.

It had been so long, and baby hadn't moved in her. Silent, she listened for it. Nothing. Baby in her tummy was stopped. "Baby? Baby, it's alright. Momma is here." She cried. "Please Baby. Its okay. Momma... Baby?! Ba...Baby?!" Holding her belly, she tried to feel it. Nothing moved. "BABY!!!"

In they came, Daddy and the bad women. A hand reached in her. "No! Wha...What are you doing?!" They held her still, legs spread. It was in her, pulling. And she knew. "DON'T TAKE MY BABY AWAY!!!"

Blood poured from her eyes, the demon-girl coughing and crying. The mad smile did not fade.

All alone. Baby had been taken. Daddy left. Brothers left. The flashy lights blinding her. Tied to the chair, she sobbed. There was nothing for her. Why couldn't she die?

"I want my Momma," she whimpered. "Take me home to Momma."

Hand stretched to Lula, long claws extended. A small flash of life entered the demon-girl's eyes, and Jacelyn, lost and twisted demon-Jacelyn, whimpered out, "Help me."

[Isle of Lithonia]

Lula slowly backed away, a look of sadness on her face. "Please Jace." She spoke. "You can do this. You can fight them! You're stronger than these visions. You don't..." She saw it again, guilty welling in her as she saw what they did to her. What they did to her. The horrible things they... hurt her...

Stay.... calm... Just a dream. Not real. Not real.

A parade of her sins. Her ultimate guilt. In truth, she could have stopped this. She could have. She could have put them all to sleep and taken Jace far from there. She should have. She had been with her since the begining, even if she didn't know. But she didn't. She didn't get involved. She had just watched.

It's not real! They're gone! They're not here!

She had done much worse things to much kinder people. She could have trapped them in eternal loops of the most horrifying dreams. Broken them to her will with but a single memory... such weak minds humans had. it would have been so easy... She hated them so much too. For what they did to Jace. Special Jace. Wonderfuil Jace. They didn't deserve to exist. They...

Jace stepped closer.

Please let this stop. I... I did a bad thing. But... I'm trying to be good now.

Trying to be... good...

Trying to be good...

"Help me."

A pause. The entire dream seemed to stay still for a moment.

"Okay Jace." Lula lifted her head, her face, her eyes, her hair had changed. "I'll help." A smile was on her face. Not the same one as before. But the one of someone who had cracked.

Next was blood. So much blood.

---

Before Jace could turn around, the bodies of her father and her brother were now gone. What was left was a floor full of blood. Lula was back to her normal self. But she was shaking, trembling, shivering. Her white dress now soaked with blood. Though she willed it to be clean and so it was.

"They're gone." She spoke. "They may come back. But I will deal with them." She explained. She had to cover her mouth to stop herself from laughing crazily. She cleaned the blood from the floor. And also the eyeball she was holding by the nerve. She turned back around to face Jace.

She was crying. Eyes full of tears. "I... I think I should go..." She spoke. "We... I... wanted to have... some fun... with... an old friend... but I ruined it... like I always do." She sniffed. Obviously very upset. She had given Jace a glimpse of her ugliest side. The one she kept hidden and bottled up under the cute dresses, the happy smile and the kindness. Trillions of years of life breeds such hate, such anger such.... horror that it was best she kept it within. In her experience, it was only a matter of time before you discovered that side of yourself. She just wished she had died before she discovered hers.

She frowned. She doubted Jace would want her around now. She waved her hand, brightening up the dream world, making it pretty and happy again. The same field. She turned to leave, but didn't. She was having trouble bringing herself to do it.

Jacelyn Grim

Pale arms wrapped gently around Lula's neck, a tall but thin body cuddling her. The whisper of a tired woman brushed through the goddess' ears. "Thank you, Lula."

Turning her around, Lula was shown the form of Jacelyn's ego, "Sharp-Teeth" as she was known to Jacelyn. A sorrowful smile marred her otherwise pretty face. "These nightmares have haunted her for so long. I tried to help her, to shield her from these horrors. Her mind is so broken and weak, she lost her grip on reality long ago. It was only possible for me to save a small portion of her sanity, and that through much pain and effort. My protection was beginning to falter, and...now you see what happens when I lose power over her."

She pulled the girl into a warm embrace, a tear streaking down her cheek. "You came just when she needed you the most. You've saved her from breaking completely. Thank you."

Taking Lula's hands, Sharp-Teeth looked deep into her eyes. "Please do not leave her now. She still needs you, for I cannot help any further. You can be the friend she needs, the support. I know you blame yourself for what has happened to her and that guilt hurts. But you must let this guilt go. What has happened cannot be changed, no matter how much you desire to do so. All that can be done is to help her now, and not leave her. It will be difficult, for I am the last of her sanity. But she is such a weak and scared girl, and if you will love her, protect her, and show her the comfort she needs, perhaps she will not be lost forever.

"Now go to her, help her through this night."

The woman's form shimmered then disappeared. But a few feet away lie Jacelyn, curled in a tight ball, softly sobbing tears of blood.

[Itium]

Portland, Oregon, United States, Earth, The Milky Way galaxy, the universe, space and time

"Hey, Benny? I think something's wrong with the Book of Stuff." John Cross said, flipping through the leather-bound tome.

"That Is Not What It Is Called"

"Yeah, yeah, shush. It just keeps saying "You're Fucked" in all caps." He set down the Book of Stuff and started flipping his lighter over and over, something he found oddly calming during stressful times. The Book of Stuff was meant to give him an idea of where all the spooky, dangerous type of stuff was going down. It was not meant to be sprouting expletives on every page. "So Benny, you know this thing better than me. What should we do?"

"I Don't Know There's Not Much I Can Do Being A Skull And All"

"Fair enough. The usual it is. Someone's going to have to throw a monkey wrench into whatever's making the book like this, so we're going to be the wrench."

[Itium]

Cross stepped out of his crappy office building. It was cunningly disguised as a building marked for demolition, with the sign and the run-down-ness and everything. Nothing unusual about a guy walking out of an about-to-be-demolished building carrying a human skull."So, where should a couple of monkey wrenches like us go to first?"
"You Should Erase The Evidence Of You Being Here That's What I Would Do"
"Man, you know me too well."
He cast a quick summoning spell, bringing in a tank of gasoline from one of his bases.
"I think this one's from.... Portugal? Wow, didn't know we even had a base there. Even more surprising that no one's messed up the summoning circle."
He hummed a quiet tune to himself as he emptied the contents of the tank all over the building, leaving a trail of gasoline all the way out the door.
"That Was A Waste Of Gasoline"
"Yeah, but this is going to look really cool." He said, taking a long drag from his current cigarette before dropping it into the gasoline trail, making absolutely nothing happen.
"Nevermind. The Mythbusters were right about that one. Better do it the old-fashioned way."
John snapped his fingers once, producing a spark. The building went up in flames.

[Itium]

Portland, Oregon

"Do You Have To Check Your Phone Every Minute You Look Like A Suburban White Girl" Asked the skull from inside John's man-purse knapsack. Cross didn't answer immediately, deciding to finish scrolling through the page first.
"Excuse you, I happen to be checking the news for anything spooky. You know, the usual kinds of stuff we have to deal with." Truth be told, there was a distinct lack of spook going on in the world right now, as far as the news was concerned.
"If I said we're going to New York, would you ask why?"
"I Don't Think I Want To Ask Why We're Going To New York"
"It's the superhuman capital of the world, basically. Stark, Pym, Strange, all the big names are set up there. More likely than not, we'll find work."
He stood still and starting reciting the words for a teleportation spell, drawing strange looks from civilians. The looks intensified when he vanished.

New York, Westchester area

Out of all of John's bases, the New York one was by far the worst. Literally a cardboard box in an alleyway, with a teleportation circle drawn inside it. Therefore, John re-appeared inside the box. Far from his most dignified entrance.
"Benny, welcome to New York."

[Itium]

Revelations

Kensico Cemetary, Westchester, New York

The situation could only have been more cliche if it was raining. John strode past rows of headstones, bearing the names of dead heroes. None of the big names though, they'd be in a more central area, if they didn't end up with a monument. The names here were mostly X-men, as well as a few who'd tried to help the mutant heroes, and hadn't been entirely successful. Two or three supervillains were buried here too, probably members of Magneto's brotherhood. John pulled out a cigarette and flicked his lighter open, then stopped himself. Smoking in a graveyard would probably be considered disrespectful to the dead as well as the living. The dead certainly deserved respect, when they had the decency to stay in the ground. He stopped in one of the less impressive headstones, and opened up his man purse knapsack. "This one's yours, right Benny?"

"Yes That Is My Headstone The Same One You Found Dug Up Ten Years Ago" The Skull answered. John checked to make sure no one was watching (no one was). He drew a quick summoning circle in the dirt on Benny's grave, conjuring a small-ish bouquet of sunflowers.

"I Don't Like Sunflowers That Much And Where Did You Bring Those From Anyways"

"Had them in one of my offices. Now that I've paid my respects, I have to ask you something."

"Shoot"

"Seeing as I fixed up that debacle involving your corpse ten years ago...." John's nerves overtook his sense of decency. He lit up a cigarette, breathing in deeply, then exhaling the smoke. It was mildly calming, and he was a dead man anyways, so no lung cancer.

"John You're Dramatically Pausing That Can't Be A Good Thing"

"....Then why have the other ones been disturbed?"

[Jeinasi]

David sat at the edge of a building looking down at the police station. It's time to find out who could have killed them, He thought. There was a database that held information about every case. It's now or never, David thought. He leaped off of the building, the air rushing in his face. He then flew into the station as fast he could. Once he was inside, he created afterimages. For every afterimage he created, he chopped a pressure point on one of the cops bodies, knocking them out.
Once he saw most of them were knocked out, he looked into the database. **Fingerprint ID Required**, it read. He picked up the moaning body of a cop, and put their thumb up to the fingerprint scanner. It then read, **ID Accepted**. It then showed a record of all the crimes committed in recorded history. David scrolled through. Murder in East City...One week ago... BINGO! He thought as he found the record for his parents death. Robbery turned to murder...Suspect resides in Gotham City. "FREEZE!" A cop yelled, aiming a handgun at him. His hands were shaking, so the cop was scared. David was surprised as he turned around.
"Put the gun down." David told the fearful cop.
"NO!" The cop generated some courage to say. "Put your hand behind your-" At that instant, David chopped a vein in the cop's neck, knocking him out. He told him a silent apology as he put him down. Before David could attract more attention to himself, he flew off towards Gotham City.

[Jeinasi]

Suspect is heavier built, and lives in a medium sized house on the outskirts of Gotham City,David thought trying to remember the police report, The subject is suspected to be in his mid forties, about 6"1, with a birthmark above his one of his eyesHe landed outside of a House. There weren't many houses in the outskirts Gotham City, so it definitely narrowed the list down. David landed near a brick house, which was away from a main highway. He landed. Here goes nothing,He thought. He walked up to the door and knocked on it. "Who is it?" A gruff voice answered.
"Dad, that better not be work." he heard a vibrant voice, the voice of a little girl. Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. The door opened, revealing a man in his mid-forties with a birthmark above his left eye... it's him.
"It's not, my latest business trip to East City was it. Now I can stay home with you.Now," He turned to David, " What do you want?" Any doubts David had about him being the murderer was gone after that sentence. David went close to him, a hair's length from the his face. "Hey! What are you do-" David grabbed him by his neck. The murderer started screaming, "HELP ME!" SOME ONE!" David tightened his grip around his neck.
" I bet that's what my parents said" David told him. David then threw him into a wall, breaking it.
"DADDY!" A little girl appeared to view and ran to the body of the murderer. She looked straight at David hatefully. He looked at her and her groaning Dad. What have I done?He thought as he looked at his hands. He flew off into the distance, thinking about what he had done