Holy High - IC III - Open!

[Luminesa]

Joaquin nodded at Raphael, and he added, "Kinda presumptuous to think he's lost his faith, when in reality he's, oh, I dunno, mentally-scarred because of all the torture he's gone through! Gosh, how insensitive can you get?! He barely even knows where he even is, but you wanna go ahead and say he's at fault?! How would you like it if someone hurt you, and you were shaken like that, and people started saying stuff like that about you?! Huh?!"

She stared at him, and for a moment her eyes were completely empty.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry, Father... Please... Forgive me... Please, forgive me! I tried to stop it! I truly did!"

"Please, Father, please, have mercy--no!"

"You are not My daughter."

"Father!"

She blinked at him, once, twice, and then turned away.

"Why is mercy extended to some and not to others?" she wondered aloud. "Where is the balance in that? If one mistake is enough to condemn one person, should it not also be enough to condemn another? Where is justice? Where is mercy? Where is the world I knew as a child? When did it crumble?"

As she asked, she knew the answer.

She knew when everything had stopped making sense. How could she not know?

Everything had stopped making sense after her first painful betrayal.

Everything had stopped making sense after her personal midnight.

Everything had stopped making sense after her Fall.

"So what are you doing? Taking out your anger and your confusion on him, when he can hardly-"

Xavier had seen her go blank, and he slammed a hand over Joaquin's mouth. "Enough," he ordered. He then walked slowly toward her. "...Charlotte...you need to calm down...please...we're all on edge after this fight with Tharzidun...Please, just...let's go see what's wrong with Lux..." he suggested, carefully.

[Charlia]

She stared at him, and for a moment her eyes were completely empty.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry, Father... Please... Forgive me... Please, forgive me! I tried to stop it! I truly did!"

"Please, Father, please, have mercy--no!"

"You are not My daughter."

"Father!"

She blinked at him, once, twice, and then turned away.

"Why is mercy extended to some and not to others?" she wondered aloud. "Where is the balance in that? If one mistake is enough to condemn one person, should it not also be enough to condemn another? Where is justice? Where is mercy? Where is the world I knew as a child? When did it crumble?"

As she asked, she knew the answer.

She knew when everything had stopped making sense. How could she not know?

Everything had stopped making sense after her first painful betrayal.

Everything had stopped making sense after her personal midnight.

Everything had stopped making sense after her Fall.

"So what are you doing? Taking out your anger and your confusion on him, when he can hardly-"

Xavier had seen her go blank, and he slammed a hand over Joaquin's mouth. "Enough," he ordered. He then walked slowly toward her. "...Charlotte...you need to calm down...please...we're all on edge after this fight with Tharzidun...Please, just...let's go see what's wrong with Lux..." he suggested, carefully.

Abruptly, she turned and stared at him, her eyes piercing.

And by that, I mean that her pupils had been replaced with a literally blinding white that seemed to be cutting straight into his soul.

"Is suffering a form of justice? Is it caused by sin?" she questioned.

[Luminesa]

"So what are you doing? Taking out your anger and your confusion on him, when he can hardly-"

Xavier had seen her go blank, and he slammed a hand over Joaquin's mouth. "Enough," he ordered. He then walked slowly toward her. "...Charlotte...you need to calm down...please...we're all on edge after this fight with Tharzidun...Please, just...let's go see what's wrong with Lux..." he suggested, carefully.

Abruptly, she turned and stared at him, her eyes piercing.

And by that, I mean that her pupils had been replaced with a literally blinding white that seemed to be cutting straight into his soul.

"Is suffering a form of justice? Is it caused by sin?" she questioned.

"No, suffering is not always caused by sin. Sometimes innocent people suffer. Lux did nothing to deserve what happened to him, Charlotte, and even if he did he would be sorry for it. Look at him," he told her.

Very faintly, Lux could still be heard muttering over and over. "Father...Father...Father..."

[Azmodeus]

Azrael

Azrael set sahaquil down gently then walked away to lux "brother, what is wrong?"

the twins

The twins stood in front of Hyperion. "now can you explain to us what happened to our father?" Diamos said generally irritated of everyone dodging that question.

sephroth

Seph stood joining the twins and Hyperion standing there silently as his armor melted back into his spine

[Charlia]

Abruptly, she turned and stared at him, her eyes piercing.

And by that, I mean that her pupils had been replaced with a literally blinding white that seemed to be cutting straight into his soul.

"Is suffering a form of justice? Is it caused by sin?" she questioned.

"No, suffering is not always caused by sin. Sometimes innocent people suffer. Lux did nothing to deserve what happened to him, Charlotte, and even if he did he would be sorry for it. Look at him," he told her.

Very faintly, Lux could still be heard muttering over and over. "Father...Father...Father..."

She didn't. Instead she countered, "Lux possessed you, nearly killed Amaterasu, and yet you say he has done nothing? Those were acts of sin. And even demons know the name of the Lord."

[Ranoria]

"No, suffering is not always caused by sin. Sometimes innocent people suffer. Lux did nothing to deserve what happened to him, Charlotte, and even if he did he would be sorry for it. Look at him," he told her.

Very faintly, Lux could still be heard muttering over and over. "Father...Father...Father..."

She didn't. Instead she countered, "Lux possessed you, nearly killed Amaterasu, and yet you say he has done nothing? Those were acts of sin. And even demons know the name of the Lord."

Ryujin, being his generally instigative self, decided to but in here, lowering his head and growling slightly. "Have you yet to let go of acts so long past> You beg your Father for forgiveness, and yet are unwilling to bestow it yourself. I'll admit to having held a deep-rooted mistrust of Lux, but even I have put it behind me. I expected you, of all of us, to sympathize with his troubles." The dragon's overbearing voice, despite the obvious weight of exhaustion, left no doubt to his authority, nor any room for argument.

[Free Empire of the Low Isles]

Abruptly, she turned and stared at him, her eyes piercing.

And by that, I mean that her pupils had been replaced with a literally blinding white that seemed to be cutting straight into his soul.

"Is suffering a form of justice? Is it caused by sin?" she questioned.

"No, suffering is not always caused by sin. Sometimes innocent people suffer. Lux did nothing to deserve what happened to him, Charlotte, and even if he did he would be sorry for it. Look at him," he told her.

Very faintly, Lux could still be heard muttering over and over. "Father...Father...Father..."

Raphael stood up and made sure that Otohime was left sitting okay, talking with Hamiri. Then he quietly slipped over to Lux and sat in front of him, a small smile on Raph's face.

"Hey, Uriel... What's wrong?"

[Charlia]

She didn't. Instead she countered, "Lux possessed you, nearly killed Amaterasu, and yet you say he has done nothing? Those were acts of sin. And even demons know the name of the Lord."

Ryujin, being his generally instigative self, decided to but in here, lowering his head and growling slightly. "Have you yet to let go of acts so long past> You beg your Father for forgiveness, and yet are unwilling to bestow it yourself. I'll admit to having held a deep-rooted mistrust of Lux, but even I have put it behind me. I expected you, of all of us, to sympathize with his troubles."

"...I am... not the same child who knelt praying for mercy so long ago. I am Justice. Shekhinah. Not Charlotte."

She shook her head.

"Justice is what I was created and justice is what I have always known. Harsh. Unyielding. Judgment."

[Luminesa]

"No, suffering is not always caused by sin. Sometimes innocent people suffer. Lux did nothing to deserve what happened to him, Charlotte, and even if he did he would be sorry for it. Look at him," he told her.

Very faintly, Lux could still be heard muttering over and over. "Father...Father...Father..."

She didn't. Instead she countered, "Lux possessed you, nearly killed Amaterasu, and yet you say he has done nothing? Those were acts of sin. And even demons know the name of the Lord."

Joaquin jumped back in, just before Xavier could stop him. "How can you say all this?! Do you really look at a suffering person and say, 'This one sinned, it's his problem?' What the heck is wrong with you?!" he screamed.

[Ranoria]

Ryujin, being his generally instigative self, decided to but in here, lowering his head and growling slightly. "Have you yet to let go of acts so long past> You beg your Father for forgiveness, and yet are unwilling to bestow it yourself. I'll admit to having held a deep-rooted mistrust of Lux, but even I have put it behind me. I expected you, of all of us, to sympathize with his troubles."

"...I am... not the same child who knelt praying for mercy so long ago. I am Justice. Shekhinah. Not Charlotte."

She shook her head.

"Justice is what I was created and justice is what I have always known. Harsh. Unyielding. Judgment."

He snorted, not really caring to continue the conversation, "Refer to it as you will, I call it self pity." The dragon lifted his head again, wings flaring just a bit as he sniffed the air, searching for a place to rest. Within moments, the dragon king had curled around Patriah's shoulders as a baby dragon, covered his head with a wing, and was sleeping soundly, thin, premature scales shimmering quietly in the light as his tail flicked every couple of seconds, egg teeth just barely protruding from his jaw as opposed to the massive, whale-rending fangs that were the norm.

[Luminesa]

"No, suffering is not always caused by sin. Sometimes innocent people suffer. Lux did nothing to deserve what happened to him, Charlotte, and even if he did he would be sorry for it. Look at him," he told her.

Very faintly, Lux could still be heard muttering over and over. "Father...Father...Father..."

Raphael stood up and made sure that Otohime was left sitting okay, talking with Hamiri. Then he quietly slipped over to Lux and sat in front of him, a small smile on Raph's face.

"Hey, Uriel... What's wrong?"

Lux heard the familiar voice, and he bolted to look at Raphael. His eyes glowed gold, as he looked at him in the dark. "...I am...afraid...Why does everything seem so cold?...Why do I feel so alone?..." he whispered, anxious.

[Charlia]

She didn't. Instead she countered, "Lux possessed you, nearly killed Amaterasu, and yet you say he has done nothing? Those were acts of sin. And even demons know the name of the Lord."

Joaquin jumped back in, just before Xavier could stop him. "How can you say all this?! Do you really look at a suffering person and say, 'This one sinned, it's his problem?' What the heck is wrong with you?!" he screamed.

She stared at him, and blinked, her eyes flashing with blinding, burning white as she doubled over, muttering almost incoherently in a tongue long since forgotten by all but the angels... and those even greater.

"When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." Whoever says to the wicked, "You are in the right," will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations, but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them."

She managed to regain her balance, and her eyes returned to their normal blue, although still the white burned in the center.

"..."

She did not reply to him.

[Free Empire of the Low Isles]

Raphael stood up and made sure that Otohime was left sitting okay, talking with Hamiri. Then he quietly slipped over to Lux and sat in front of him, a small smile on Raph's face.

"Hey, Uriel... What's wrong?"

Lux heard the familiar voice, and he bolted to look at Raphael. His eyes glowed gold, as he looked at him in the dark. "...I am...afraid...Why does everything seem so cold?...Why do I feel so alone?..." he whispered, anxious.

"Okay, come here!" Raphael said, immediately hugging his brother. "Everything is fine, shh... It's okay, I'm here. You're just having some sort of anxiety or an adverse reaction to Fuck-Stick McAdam... It's okay..."

The Archangel of Healing started feeding some reassuring energy into his brother.

[Ranoria]

Joaquin jumped back in, just before Xavier could stop him. "How can you say all this?! Do you really look at a suffering person and say, 'This one sinned, it's his problem?' What the heck is wrong with you?!" he screamed.

She stared at him, and blinked, her eyes flashing with blinding, burning white as she doubled over, muttering almost incoherently in a tongue long since forgotten by all but the angels... and those even greater.

"When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." Whoever says to the wicked, "You are in the right," will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations, but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them."

She managed to regain her balance, and her eyes returned to their normal blue, although still the white burned in the center.

"..."

She did not reply to him.

Shen Lung, still in his dragon form, laughed, a booming sound that echoed across the battlefield, Ryujin twitching uncomfortably in his sleep while Mourir forced himself to keep his focus on the smoldering Thanakron.

"What a load of rubbish, don't you have any self respect? Not that you should have any, mind you." he rolled his massive eyes, finding the scene humorous, while glancing over at Ryujin, lizard tongue running over his fangs, a blue, luminescent bolt travelling under his softer scales in excitement.

The sea god would be such easy prey in his sleep...

[Charlia]

She stared at him, and blinked, her eyes flashing with blinding, burning white as she doubled over, muttering almost incoherently in a tongue long since forgotten by all but the angels... and those even greater.

"When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." Whoever says to the wicked, "You are in the right," will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations, but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them."

She managed to regain her balance, and her eyes returned to their normal blue, although still the white burned in the center.

"..."

She did not reply to him.

Shen Lung, still in his dragon form, laughed, a booming sound that echoed across the battlefield, Ryujin twitching uncomfortably in his sleep while Mourir forced himself to keep his focus on the smoldering Thanakron.

"What a load of rubbish, don't you have any self respect? Not that you should have any, mind you." he rolled his massive eyes, finding the scene humorous, while glancing over at Ryujin.

The sea god would be such easy prey in his sleep...

"Not that you should have any, mind you."

"Whore."

"You are not My daughter."

"Shut up."

"Why are you so pathetic?!"

"Why are you crying?"

"Just shut up!"

"Stop crying, you little whore! No one will hear you!"

"You're just a pathetic whore. Stop pretending to be anything else."

She started flickering with light.

[Luminesa]

Joaquin jumped back in, just before Xavier could stop him. "How can you say all this?! Do you really look at a suffering person and say, 'This one sinned, it's his problem?' What the heck is wrong with you?!" he screamed.

She stared at him, and blinked, her eyes flashing with blinding, burning white as she doubled over, muttering almost incoherently in a tongue long since forgotten by all but the angels... and those even greater.

"When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." Whoever says to the wicked, "You are in the right," will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations, but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them."

She managed to regain her balance, and her eyes returned to their normal blue, although still the white burned in the center.

"..."

She did not reply to him.

Joaquin walked over to her, and he slapped her across the face. "I was hoping I wouldn't have to do that again, witch. Hope you're happy the poor kid's crying in a corner, now. Talk about justice all day long, but all you did is break someone who actually gave a care about you," he hissed, contemptuously. He then marched away and looked at Raven. "Can we leave now? We need to get out of here, this place is disgusting."

Xavier was aghast at Joaquin's actions, and he turned to look at Charlotte. "Charlotte, please...don't freak-out...Please, we're all stressed after this last fight..." he tried to warn her. He knew what was coming, and it was going to be painful.

[Free Empire of the Low Isles]

She stared at him, and blinked, her eyes flashing with blinding, burning white as she doubled over, muttering almost incoherently in a tongue long since forgotten by all but the angels... and those even greater.

"When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." Whoever says to the wicked, "You are in the right," will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations, but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them."

She managed to regain her balance, and her eyes returned to their normal blue, although still the white burned in the center.

"..."

She did not reply to him.

Shen Lung, still in his dragon form, laughed, a booming sound that echoed across the battlefield, Ryujin twitching uncomfortably in his sleep while Mourir forced himself to keep his focus on the smoldering Thanakron.

"What a load of rubbish, don't you have any self respect? Not that you should have any, mind you." he rolled his massive eyes, finding the scene humorous, while glancing over at Ryujin.

The sea god would be such easy prey in his sleep...

A quiet cracking came from somewhere near Shen.

It was cold ice, slowly working it's way up the dragon's fore leg and to his torso. Genbu, his black robes fluttering in an invisible wind, stood nearby, the frosty tendrils extending along the ground from him to Shen.

Shut up, you disgrace of the Heavenly Mandate. the turtle God said quietly, the words floating on the wind like shurikens from a ninja's hand.

[Charlia]

She stared at him, and blinked, her eyes flashing with blinding, burning white as she doubled over, muttering almost incoherently in a tongue long since forgotten by all but the angels... and those even greater.

"When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." Whoever says to the wicked, "You are in the right," will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations, but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them."

She managed to regain her balance, and her eyes returned to their normal blue, although still the white burned in the center.

"..."

She did not reply to him.

Joaquin walked over to her, and he slapped her across the face. "I was hoping I wouldn't have to do that again, witch. Hope you're happy the poor kid's crying in a corner, now. Talk about justice all day long, but all you did is break someone who actually gave a care about you," he hissed, contemptuously. He then marched away and looked at Raven. "Can we leave now? We need to get out of here, this place is disgusting."

Xavier was aghast at Joaquin's actions, and he turned to look at Charlotte. "Charlotte, please...don't freak-out...Please, we're all stressed after this last fight..." he tried to warn her. He knew what was coming, and it was going to be painful.

Falling back, one hand flew to her face.

Or it would have, if it wasn't made of pure light.

[Ranoria]

Shen Lung, still in his dragon form, laughed, a booming sound that echoed across the battlefield, Ryujin twitching uncomfortably in his sleep while Mourir forced himself to keep his focus on the smoldering Thanakron.

"What a load of rubbish, don't you have any self respect? Not that you should have any, mind you." he rolled his massive eyes, finding the scene humorous, while glancing over at Ryujin.

The sea god would be such easy prey in his sleep...

A quiet cracking came from somewhere near Shen.

It was cold ice, slowly working it's way up the dragon's fore leg and to his torso. Genbu, his black robes fluttering in an invisible wind, stood nearby, the frosty tendrils extending along the ground from him to Shen.

Shut up, you disgrace of the Heavenly Mandate. the turtle God said quietly, the words floating on the wind like shurikens from a ninja's hand.

Shen Lung tried to melt the ice, but Genbu, being literally a god of the colder weather, had such a higher degree of control over it that he needn't even try to stop the dragon's attempt. "I am a dragon, insolent godling." Shen lung turned, snarling, lightning crackling up and down his massive, eight hundred foot form. "For centuries I have fled, but now...why don't you wait just a moment. I'll kill Ryujin, and then you can have your turn, hatchling." He obviously didn't know what he was in for.

[Free Empire of the Low Isles]

Joaquin walked over to her, and he slapped her across the face. "I was hoping I wouldn't have to do that again, witch. Hope you're happy the poor kid's crying in a corner, now. Talk about justice all day long, but all you did is break someone who actually gave a care about you," he hissed, contemptuously. He then marched away and looked at Raven. "Can we leave now? We need to get out of here, this place is disgusting."

Xavier was aghast at Joaquin's actions, and he turned to look at Charlotte. "Charlotte, please...don't freak-out...Please, we're all stressed after this last fight..." he tried to warn her. He knew what was coming, and it was going to be painful.

Falling back, one hand flew to her face.

Or it would have, if it wasn't made of pure light.

Ma'at raised an eyebrow and looked her fellow goddess of Justice up and down.

And then looked away.

"Eh." she muttered to herself, picking a strange, fizzling hieroglyph off her shoulder and flicking it away. "Good riddance."

[Luminesa]

Lux heard the familiar voice, and he bolted to look at Raphael. His eyes glowed gold, as he looked at him in the dark. "...I am...afraid...Why does everything seem so cold?...Why do I feel so alone?..." he whispered, anxious.

"Okay, come here!" Raphael said, immediately hugging his brother. "Everything is fine, shh... It's okay, I'm here. You're just having some sort of anxiety or an adverse reaction to Fuck-Stick McAdam... It's okay..."

The Archangel of Healing started feeding some reassuring energy into his brother.

He wasn't sure what all the pain was. He was a huge knot of confusion and sadness. He had watched Hyperion pummel him, after he knew he was being controlled. Raven did so as well, as did Nyx and others. Now Charlotte was joining in, and God knew there was no changing her mind, if she really thought those awful things about him. He felt tired, aching, and scared. He felt he was losing friends left and right.

Was it something I did?

Am I really not faithful enough?

Do I really deserve all this?

Why am I so weak?

He leaned his head against Raphael's shoulder, not wanting him to leave. He was terrified for the future, wondering if somehow he was going to end-up all alone again. Just like the beginning.

[Free Empire of the Low Isles]

A quiet cracking came from somewhere near Shen.

It was cold ice, slowly working it's way up the dragon's fore leg and to his torso. Genbu, his black robes fluttering in an invisible wind, stood nearby, the frosty tendrils extending along the ground from him to Shen.

Shut up, you disgrace of the Heavenly Mandate. the turtle God said quietly, the words floating on the wind like shurikens from a ninja's hand.

Shen Lung tried to melt the ice, but Genbu, being literally a god of the colder weather, had such a higher degree of control over it that he needn't even try to stop the dragon's attempt. "I am a dragon, insolent godling." Shen lung turned, snarling, lightning crackling up and down his massive, eight hundred foot form. "For centuries I have fled, but now...why don't you wait just a moment. I'll kill Ryujin, and then you can have your turn, hatchling." He obviously didn't know what he was in for.

The snow started drifting down lightly, the large flakes looking peaceful in the leisurely descent to the ground. Suddenly, one was cut into two, and fell to the ground far faster, the poor thing melting on contact.

Genbu sighed and he placed his razor-like katana against the ground, the tip sliding into solid stone like butter. I am a God of the Chinese people. I am the guardian of the North. The Dark Warrior. The Protector of the North Gate of the Holy Capital. he muttered, his eyes not meeting Shen's.

And then suddenly he looked up, and the ice encased Shen's fore arm almost immediately.

The cold, glowing blue of north glared at Shen, the fury of blizzards and Arctic tundras piercing him like no other thing in the world could. Except maybe that blade of ice.

And I will play second fiddle to dragons no more.

[Free Empire of the Low Isles]

"Okay, come here!" Raphael said, immediately hugging his brother. "Everything is fine, shh... It's okay, I'm here. You're just having some sort of anxiety or an adverse reaction to Fuck-Stick McAdam... It's okay..."

The Archangel of Healing started feeding some reassuring energy into his brother.

He wasn't sure what all the pain was. He was a huge knot of confusion and sadness. He had watched Hyperion pummel him, after he knew he was being controlled. Raven did so as well, as did Nyx and others. Now Charlotte was joining in, and God knew there was no changing her mind, if she really thought those awful things about him. He felt tired, aching, and scared. He felt he was losing friends left and right.

Was it something I did?

Am I really not faithful enough?

Do I really deserve all this?

Why am I so weak?

He leaned his head against Raphael's shoulder, not wanting him to leave. He was terrified for the future, wondering if somehow he was going to end-up all alone again. Just like the beginning.

Raphael rubbed Lux's shoulder lightly and rested his head on top of his brother's. "Come on Lux. Everything'll be fine, okay?"

[Ranoria]

Shen Lung tried to melt the ice, but Genbu, being literally a god of the colder weather, had such a higher degree of control over it that he needn't even try to stop the dragon's attempt. "I am a dragon, insolent godling." Shen lung turned, snarling, lightning crackling up and down his massive, eight hundred foot form. "For centuries I have fled, but now...why don't you wait just a moment. I'll kill Ryujin, and then you can have your turn, hatchling." He obviously didn't know what he was in for.

The snow started drifting down lightly, the large flakes looking peaceful in the leisurely descent to the ground. Suddenly, one was cut into two, and fell to the ground far faster, the poor thing melting on contact.

Genbu sighed and he placed his razor-like katana against the ground, the tip sliding into solid stone like butter. I am a God of the Chinese people. I am the guardian of the North. The Dark Warrior. The Protector of the North Gate of the Holy Capital. he muttered, his eyes not meeting Shen's.

And then suddenly he looked up, and the ice encased Shen's fore arm almost immediately.

The cold, glowing blue of north glared at Shen, the fury of blizzards and Arctic tundras piercing him like no other thing in the world could. Except maybe that blade of ice.

And I will play second fiddle to dragons no more.

The dragon blinked. It was all he could do, really, trapped as he was, the ice stained red immedietely with his blood, watching Genbu in absolute shock.

Had he not been panicking, he likely would've thought it ironic to be slain by Ryujin's former servant. But, of course, his thoughts were more along the lines of How do I get out of this?

He did find a solution, somewhat, in shrinking down to the size of a mouse, but the wounds were still there, in the same proportional size, and he gasped, hacking up blood even in that form before swaying and finally collapsing, still massive form shattering the ice even as he faded into mist, releasing the strong scent of tuna.

The great nuisance was fallen.

[Luminesa]

Hamiri turned from the debacle unfolding with Charlotte and Lux, and she happily wrapped an arm around Otohime's shoulder. It was good to see her sweet, gentle little sister-friend again. "Well...you were with this...guy...who stole you from the team, after the whole thing with Thanakron. Luckily, we found you and saved you, before he could do anything with you," she explained.

"Guy..? Who?" She looked even more concerned now, despite the small comfort of Hamiri being there, "What was he planning to do?" She squirmed a bit, nervous, "A-am I alright now? Or..." She looked down, afraid that she was somehow hurt or under some sort of influence after this, biting her lip, "And..." There was something else that was bothering her, though, much more than this was.

"I believe it was Adam, but...I'm not sure if he's still here. Fortunately, I don't think he did anything physically to you...You're not the one he's really after..." she explained, frowning as she looked toward Charlotte and Lux. Yet as she saw Otohime bite her lip, she turned back to her. "And...what? Is something else the matter?" she asked, curious.