Yoo-Gisa with a large chunk of his armour missing unleash his golden aura once more and charge ahead shouting:
"Iseon!"
Yoo-Gisa swings his golden sword but before I knew it, Iseon stands behind him frowning at his crimson nails replying:
"Too slow."
I unleash my power and charge ahead trying to save him only to be met by Iseon's glaive swinging down my face. I grit my teeth and strain my muscles to react quickly, Yoo-Gisa has the same idea as he swings his sword back to pull his attention away.
*Pang*
Iseon kicks Yoo-Gisa's sword up and punts his chin while he easily pushes his glaive to my shoulder, cutting me down before my halberd even could block.
(How is that even possible!?)
*Pow* *Bam*
Yoo-Gisa face is met with the back of Iseon's hand while I'm greeted with a kick to which I manage to headbutt.
*Crack*
This timez rather than my head persevering, my helmet shatters from impact as I'm being flung away. I try to get my footing together while the world spins uncontrollably.
(Maybe headbutting is never a good idea...)
Buckling from his attack, I wonder what is currently happening when I notice a shadow coming down fast. I try to move back but it's too late.
*Slash*
I felt pain across my shoulders down to my waist, but...
*Grab*
Knowing I can't dodge it, I simply tilt my head to avoid and let it sink in before grabbing his glaive.
"Y-You're not going anywhere."
*Cling*
A golden light flies past through my vision and I felt the cold steel leaving my body and wonder what happened. Falling to my back, I try to push my other half together and notice two golden glow...
"Tch! I can't believe a day would come that I would help the Silencer."
"A bit too late to say that when she's dead, idiot!"
Hearing a familiar sound and numerous footsteps convene from behind and surround me as if they're shielding me.
"Damn, can she be healed?"
"Look at her, we're too late!"
"Um, body separate in half, will not survive especially Owlian."
"Where did Gisa find such an adorable yet powerful little fluff ball like you? But get ready, this would definitely be the toughest battle in your life."
His usual party that fought at the walls arrives in style, mounting their beasts and displaying their special traits.
"She's an Owlian yes? I doubt any operation could attach that coupled with those black cracks- Oh my fucking God!?"
Feeling my shoulders reattach and my armour sewing itself together, I slowly get back up and look around to see a familiar colourful bunch I met with Juha gawking at my action.
"Wha! How is that possible!?"
(Of course it is! Yoo-Sui put me through much hell so she could make me use this weird powers. And this is all thanks to Mary's gift too. If I can reattach my head, sewing my body back should be fine... She did say something about my brain right? Maybe headbutts are never a good idea).
Yoo-Gisa walks to my side and brush the side that got cut saying:
"Impressive, you should position yourself at the front."
"Ther's no way I wanna suffer intentionally!"
More of his companions that's with the princess joins in as they chime,
"Haha! Straight laced as ever."
"Don't take his words to seriously girl. Just get back if you're that chicken!"
"Logically speaking, our chance of winning against that is below 1% but hey, who cares about numbers at this point?"
"Spoken like a true man! Let's get this shit started!"
"Eep! Why are you all so eager to charge at that monstrous thing! I thought you of all people would hesitate, now I look like a coward!"
Battered, bloodied, and bruised to black and blue, Yoo-Gisa's colourful companions stands side by side with a smile on their faces despite their shaking hands and feet. A show of a brave front amidst the danger beyond...
(I wonder if I would have companions like these?)
Feeling nostalgic and covet by the sight, Yoo-Gisa smiles at his friends and raise his sword shouting:
"Iseon! Your reign of terror is at its end! And... I know you won't be the one to listen so, let's make this a grand show."
Iseon looks at me as he twitch with a certain word, he nods as if he understands and raise his glaive replying:
"I see... Here I am giving everything I have, and it still doesn't change much it seems... Very well, lets make this a good show."
Something click as I remember our conversation back when we beg for food at his residence. A sense of guilt tugs at my strings but I brush it off as I realize all thing either way is not a good path. Choosing the best at the worst is the right word it seems. Contrary to my words, I step up raising my glaive and wait for my helmet to grow back and say,
"I take back what I said, I'll take the lead."
Amidst the falling snow and rainbow coming from the waterfalls, dark clouds gather. It hangs above the imperial palace as winds swirls around Iseon. Iseon's golden pupils shine as he motion his hand to sweep. Something rains from above but,
*Crash*
"Roaaar!"
San-Min riding his dragon soar above unleashing a barrage of fireballs across the storming pillars of black water that dwarves San-Min's dragon.
*Psssh*
Mist and fog envelopes the entire area, covering the entire opening in a world of Haze and Smog. Using my heightened senses I swing my halberd to my side with all my might and,
*Clash*
I somehow strike at Iseon swinging his glaive, blowing all the murk around me.
*Krrch*
With only one arm, he easily pushes me back as if my effort means nothing but,
"Haargh!"
"Don't forget about us!"
"Payback time!"
Yoo-Gisa's companions comes along swinging their weapon at Iseon aiding me with their best. The green haired boy swings his shield at Iseon to ease my tension while the Spearman and huge guy wearing barely nothing swing their weapons at Iseon face which he takes head on.
*Bam* *Clang*
Iseon doesn't even flinch from their strike as even the spearman's weapon doesn't leave a dent on his cheek. Iseon gestures with his remaining arm to push up when a torrent emerge and burst forth black water pillars crashing down on them before he then push his glaive down slowly chipping at the shield.
"Hooah!"
"Not over yet!"
"Hmmmu!"
"Eat this!"
"Let me get some of the action!"
The horse lady manage to catch the two that got fling away and throw them back as she charge with her winged beast, the lady with the war flail and folding axe joins as well. Everyone seems to upgrade their weapons, the winged rider had her lance turn into a trident, the guy barely wearing anything has his gauntlets wears horns at his fists, the spear guy spear expands with a chain axe, The war flail lady has two flails now, and the girl with folding axe' scale armour disperse to combined with her weapon barely leaving her with any clothes to tranform her axe into a massive guillotine of some sort.
(I can only wonder how I'm gonna dodge that onslaught).
Iseon scoffs at their attempt and tries to cut it the shield when the beast-kin with the armoured tail comes rolling in.
*Pang* *KRRRR*
She spins her whole body as if she's a ball, crashing unto Iseon's glaive from below. Her whole body grinds against his glaive, thinning her natural armour and chipping away at her tail but...
"Raaah! I'm not gonna cower away!"
"Wha!?"
*PANG*
Her spirit persist and it shows, she somehow parries his weapon up which surprises not only Iseon but everyone else who had their attacks repelled. In the aftermath, the beast-kin got fling far away into the darkness and crashed stuck to the wall but all us who saw this opportunity attack without hesitation. Making sure this chance doesn't escape I cast,
[Lahrie Naxis] and [Retispil Karub]
Astral chains emerge from below to restrict Iseon while giant spears of light similars to when I subdued the Paladins emerge pinning him down from above.
"Not so easy."
*Psssh*
The same black fog from before puffs out from Iseon clouding the entire area with the black mist but,
*BOOM*
Their combined might cause a massive explosion that pushes all of us away from the huge rising mushroom cloud.
*Vwoosh*
Jumping out unscathed, Iseon comes out radiating dangerous energy when all his body turns black. He clenched his fist and open his hand when a barrage of black needles burst out like a needle bomb but,
[Lordow Eresfer]
I cast my spell but rather on myself, I cast it on Iseon before he even open his palm. A thick purple barrier surrounds Iseon followed by another set of blue and red barriers emerge alongside chains clenching them down. I notice the blue haired mage and the girl with many accessories has casted after me with their weapons until their staff breaks.
*Crack* *Boom*
Even then, our barriers crack and shatters but it does its job to reduce and lessen his attack. The blue mage and girl got fling back and knocked unconscious as if they exhausted himself casting that spell. I try to help them up when pillars of red light emerge and branches off to the sky like a net, raining down pillars of light converging to Iseon. Iseon twirls his glaive and swings his glaive upward, cutting the net of light and splitting the darken clouds, light shines through to limelight Iseon when something flies down from the clouds,
*Roaaar!*
San-Min comes flying down with his ride to breathe down a heavy ordinance of Fire that lights up the whole sky. Fireballs rain down like meteors toward Iseon but before Iseon could swing his glaive again, Yoo-Gisa's colourful comrades appears weakened by the black cracks spreading through their body. They surround him once again to unleash their fury but,
"Hmph! Enough of this!"
Iseon easily subdue them all each with a single strike before they could even swing or comprehend what happened. Not wasting any time, he gestures his hands upwards and...
*Slush* *PSSSH*
The waterfall reverse upward as if gravity has been reversed and a black maelstrom appears to counter back the balls of fire and drown us all in another thick black haze.
*Fssh*
From the dark mist, a darker shadow emerge from that darkness, bursting giant ray of light.
*Roaaar*
San-Min and his dragon got infected by the black cracks yet they still combust with a huge firework display. The dragons aims point blank at Iseon and before Iseon can attack back, San-Min jumps to deliver a massive downward strike that stops Iseon's glaive and the dragon fire a gigantic fire breathe that lit them both and the whole dungeon white.
*Boom* *Pang* *Psssh* *Whimper*
As the light fades, Iseon emerge toppling over both San-Min atop his dragon with black mist rising from his body. Crushing San-Min's face beneath his feet, San-Min still tries to shield his dragon while Iseon raise his glaive and is about to strike. I rush forward once more trying to save him as I wonder,
(Wait a second, where's Yoo-Gisa?)
As I ponder where he is, a golden burst of light exploded in such a fashion that expands the whole dungeon twice its size. Iseon looks at the source with intrigue and ready himself. Meanwhile, Yoo-Gisa looks as if he has emerge from the mosaics windows of the Theocracy, bearing multiple wings on his back, his armour has been restored and improved to look like what a Paladin would wear as his scarf wrap around to become a tunic bearing the Theocracy Cross.
(Huh? Is his ability connected with the Theocracy?)
Wielding a massive golden broadsword that looks like if his 3 swords merge, Yoo-Gisa swings his sword towards the darken skies. Iseon eyes widened in surprise when,
*CLEAVE* *Shine*
A massive canyon is created from that single swing, Yoo-Gisa also cuts open the darkness to let the golden light seeps in. Dusk has come to the city and now Iseon is nowhere to be seen. Even so, Yoo-Gisa doesn't stops and soars outside. The green lady approach me with bathed breathe and sweat pouring down her face saying:
"I'll... I'll take care of them, help Gisa Ssi."
"Mm! Leave it to me!"
I ready myself and as my helmet finish regenerating, I adjust my armour and jump outside following the waterfall trail.
***********************************
Like a scene out of tales from world wonders, all the waterfalls seems to went the opposite side fighting gravity to swirl somewhere. Vortexes of black water emerge where they gather and all I need to do is follow's Yoo-Gisa golden trail. I climb atop steep ridges and ruins, I finally emerge to what seems to be a conference room split in half.
The view that greets me is simply baffling to believe. Cities razes, aqueducts torn down, the sound of people in misery echo around while rivers dried up to form massive black vortexes that roams around the imperial palace dragging those that's not tied to the ground along with it. From the broken windows, I see Yoo-Gisa battling Iseon who now looks more monstrous than before. His skin darken throughout his whole body and harden to form some sort of exoskeleton armour.
And through out all this I can only wonder,
(Where the fudge is Soo-Nari!? Didn't Yoo-Sui said she will be here to help? Or did she actually get taken down before I arrive? That would be very bad).
Unlike before, now I can only wonder how to help as the speed and techniques they use is simply beyond what I can follow. It's like my first experience observing Sis Rubeca beat me half to death.
(No, no, no! You can't sit your ass on this one either! Work your brain and think!)
As I watch them fight on, each of their blows ravage abd tore the city apart, Iseon leaving scars of black cracks while Iseon left trails of golden streaks. Seeing everything from here, I soon realize I'm at the perfect spot to snipe one of them.
(Right! That's it!)
I take in the humid cold weather and start aiming my halberd at Iseon. Clearing my mind, I tap deep into my conscious to remember the feelings I had when I cast that one spell. With an image of the sword, I summon it and hold it with my left hand, casting a large magic circle beneath me I raise my halbert and wait for the opportunity. Remebering what Cheo said, a single fot may not mean much but 2 dots make a line and a line creates a pattern...
As they battle, Iseon seems to gain the advantage as his skill, technique, and experience exceed Yoo-Gisa in many ways...
(Oh? Am I starting to catch up?)
The more I focus, the more I see their situation. Even though Yoo-Gisa is on the offensive, each of his strike leaves many to be wanting while Iseon somehow deflects each blows with precise parries and counter back with fluid motion I never knew could work. If Yoo-Gisa tries to strike with a thrust, Iseon would strike by wielding the tip of the pummel to gain a length advantage over Yoo-Gisa before his blade could even touch him snd pushing him back. And while Yoo-Gisa is pulling back to poised himself, Iseon would unleash a technique that looks like multiple javelin strikes chomping down on Iseon from all sides which force him to strike back and ruin his balance again.
(Fighting mid-air is never good and is definitely hard).
With Yoo-Gisa now on the ropes, Iseon takes the reign to counter. Unlike Cheo's wave-like spear techniques, Iseon glaive strikes resembles surges, curving surge burst strikes or something along those line. Usually someones interval of attack reaches only until their sides, but Iseon mastery of his skills increases his interval to behind their enemies. Let alone something possible, but it proves to be very effective since nobody have arms at their backs to block his attack, forcing them to turn around or parry the strike back before it moves past their field of view.
(I don't understand, Iseon's technique would definitely benefit from using a thrust weapon but why does he use a glaive? In fact, the weapon used by Iseon would do wonder for Cheo).
As I wonde that, I soon notice that they're now close enough. I take this opportunity to shout,
"Yoo-Gisa, hold him in place! I have one thing to finish him off!"
They both turn to look at me as I finish my preparation. Power surge as I feel it from my toes to the ends of my ear. For a sec, I feel both of them shiver as they lay their eyes on me and Yoo-Gisa grits his teeth shouting:
"It better work!"
(It will or we would all die anyways! Besides, this is the ultimate technique that finish off my enemies... Except for one).
Iseon twirls his glaive that's slowly becoming monstrous saying:
"You think I'll let you?!"
"I'll make you do!"
Yoo-Gisa unleashes a massive burst of energy that pushes all the debris away and even cause the ground beneath the shake. Iseon does the same as he rush towards me to strike me down, Yoo-Gisa grits his teeth as he dash toward him and tries to hold him in place. The power I gather starts to overflow it seems as the black cracks spread throughout my whole body reaching my face but...
(Knowing what happen to Iseon this might be beneficial since the crack parts doesn't peel off like before).
Their battle heats up when Yoo-Gisa combust in golden flames that raze everything below in fire. All of his aspect from power, speed, and dexterity becomes quadrupled that he starts to let out fire from his mouth. Iseon a bit surprised by the sudden boost in his ability but quickly regain composure.
Yoo-Gisa's golden flames clash against Iseon's freezing black water with no end as I wonder how much longer it will take him to stop Iseon. Yoo-Gisa may have the upper hand for a while but Iseon soon starts to become accustomed to his burst in strength. Iseon blocks one of Yoo-Gisa's attack and repel it my way as I realize,
(Oh schnitzel! If I move now, I'm gonna be incapacitated).
Yoo-Gisa tries to interfere but Iseon blocks his way and with no option I try to unleash my final move,
[Ezurgent-]
*Blast*
Crashing right ahead of me and dispersing Yoo-Gisa's qi blast. He swings his spear and wipe the blood off his shaking arms saying:
"Hoy, Iseon, ready for round two?"
Cheo arrives in the nick of time to save me!
"Cheo! You're here!"
"Of course, didn't I tell you? I'll join up with you soon."
Iseon doesn't seem to pay any mind as he then takes a stance saying:
"It matters not, what can you do?"
"Good question..."
*Swish*
Cheo vanish with a blink of an eye and appear before Iseon and thrust his spear. Iseon easily parries his strike when suddenly Iseon's back got tore apart and staggered forth.
"!?!??"
Iseon panics and swings his glaive around and Cheo simply dash back and Yoo-Gisa appears swinging his sword down from above but Iseon parries it again successfully and blowing him away. Wondering what just happened, Cheo shakes his head saying:
"Come on, Iseon. We've been fighting side by side for more than a decade, you should've known I've figured out about your guaranteed over critical bullshit."
(Critical?)
He stands in the air by making thin ice surface before raising his spear again, pointing at Iseon saying:
"You just caught me off guard with your sudden burst of power before. Don't think this will be the same, I know you more than your future wife will ever be. And most importantly, you look like a rejected album cover! What were you thinking tranforming to that!?"
"I don't wanna hear that from you of all people with your stupid night costume- hm!!"
*Clang*
"Don't look away, Iseon!"
The battle continues on as dusk sets over the horizon and the flames of war stokes higher. Cheo and Yoo-Gisa collaborates and starts a tag team battle against Iseon. As Iseon uses his burst strikes, Yoo-Gisa would take the brunt while Cheo stops the additional attacks while countering back to make an opening for Yoo-Gisa to strike forth.
(Ooh! They're good!)
Even though the tides of battle has turn, it doesn't change that they're risking it all on offense in the hope that Iseon stays on the defensive, cause from afar I can tell Cheo's been pushing himself beyond his capacity as his hands are becoming black and blue, shaking uncontrollably more as everytime he parries Iseon's attack. Waiting for that one chance, it chance seems to come soon when Yoo-Gisa makes a massive downward strike. Iseon tries to dodge but the sheer speed force him to repel it instead. Iseon for once in this battle grips his glaive with both arms and strike to the side alongside massive torrents he pulls from the rivers around.
"Haaah!"
He repels Yoo-Gisa attack that cuts open the entire side of the city and bent to the side, hitting the walls leaving behind a huge trail of golden flames while Iseon strike cuts opens the sky and turning it into night as a similar darkness that absorbs everything appear once again. Flinching from the backlash, Iseon staggered for a while which Yoo-Gisa takes the opportunity to pin Iseon down by plunging his sword to Iseon's stomach.
"Not so simple, Gisa!"
Iseon doesn't let it happen so easily as he gestures his hands and call upon all the nearby rising black vortex and drying up the rivers to fling towards Yoo-Gisa.
*Bwoom*
From my back, pillars of light blast open all the vortex as I notice the little archer firing off her ability. Gisa's vortex burn red and exploded, colouring the whole battlefield red when she fell on her knees sweating buckets and I see Yoo-Gisa speeds up in respond to her help.
"Iseon!"
"Damn prawns!"
Iseon once more motion his hand and summon forth barrages of black vortexes. Unlike before, there's only a few and its smaller than before giving Yoo-Gisa a chance.
*Pierce*
Cheo interferes this time, dispersing few vortexes and breaking his spear and armour as he got fling out of sight.
"Cheo!"
(I hope he lands in a safe place).
Iseon angrily cry out his name but there's still one vortex left and Yoo-Gisa takes on the pressure to blast through. He loses one of his wings and parts of his armour without losing momentum but,
*Crack* *Cleave*
In desperation, Iseon bursting with the dark enegery appraoches Yoo-Gisa before he arrives. Iseon's weapon tranform and doubles in length, cutting both of Yoo-Gisa arm and flinging his sword away.
"Noo!"
Wondering what to do as Yoo-Gisa is being thrown back. Iseon tries to regain his breath when Yoo-Gisa's wings flap and straighten as he kick the sword around so the handle touches his toes to shoot himself down for a drop kick. Stomping the tip of the sword as it swings, Iseon tries to block but his halberd cracks and shatter from impact as Yoo-Gisa's golden sword plunge to his stomach.
"Woaaah! He can move!?"
*Crash*
Staking Iseon into a tall tall aqueduct, Iseon spits out an unhealthy amount of black goo shouting:
"I'm surprised you have this much energy, Gisa- graah!"
Gisa plunge the sword deeper with his feet until his sword's protector push Iseon's stomach replying:
"This form isn't even meant to fight you, so be proud I'm using it!"
"Don't think this is it!"
Iseon doesn't take it quietly as he grabs Yoo-Gisa's leg and push his legs forward, forcing Gisa to split his legs before he plunge his broken glaive at his neck.
*Wrap*
A crimson whip wraps around Iseon's glaive that stops it from swinging further. Wearing a sophisticated crimson armour different from the rest, Soo-Nari finally appears to stop Iseon from beheading Yoo-Gisa.
"Sorry cutie, but this sweet Unnie can't let you do that."
"Soo-Nari!!!"
Seeing him in place, I unleash my powers directing at the immobilized Iseon.
[Ezurgent, Iztroann's Enganre, Dosinisus!]
Multiple magic circles emerge upon aiming at Iseon, I thrust my spear forward with all my might and no hesitation. My attack reaches him, piercing his heart before I could even blink and I follow it up with with a swing of my sword that summons forth more magic circle around Iseon. Before my sword reach him I silently say,
"(Thank you)."
Iseon seeing me closes his eyes as he seems to accept his fate.
*BOOOOOM*