Side Story The Goddess

[Jeremi]

"This court was designed to give you a chance to repent. A chance to return to the Righteous Path. But now I see that this was a waste of time. You don't want to change. You're stubbornly set in your sinful ways..." The Goddess brought her hands together in prayer for a moment. Another blade extended from her palms as she parted them. She took in her right hand an raised it before her face in a ceremonial gesture. She swiftly swung it down to wards the dirt, cutting through the air with a whoosh. "If you pray for death, I will happily make your wish come true." She drew back her sword. "Should your soul reincarnate, I pray that you come back as a more reasonable creature. A righteous creature!"

With a cry, she prepared to strike.

@Jeremi @Yun Lee @Takumi @Capri @Lucky​

"I am no Saint..." Kolin muttered to herself, though her eyes widened as Mother and the Goddess continued in their squabbling. There was no more time for anything else. The iron would completely freeze now, turning cold and brittle. For the love of God, Mother, there still had to be some fight left in you!

@Sark @Yun Lee @Takumi @Capri @Lucky @Jeremi​

"I pray that when you perish..." Big Mother snapped the chains clear off her wrists. "You'll stay dead." Her maw grew to massive size as she used the spectacle of her shattered chains to move forward, bite down and attempt to rip a massive chunk of the Goddess' side clear off her body. She had never tasted divine meat after all...

@Sark @Yun Lee @Takumi @Capri @Lucky @Jeremi

 

[Takumi]

"Have faith," The Goddess whispered to Beau as she passed her a Righteous Fury. "There has never been a threat in this multiverse that can't be defeated by patience and faith. Welcome to tomorrow," The Goddess bowed before Beau. "Welcome to tomorrow, Saint Quaerentem."


"I always knew would choose the Righteous Path, my son." The Goddess smiled. She placed has hand upon his shoulder and pulled him into an embrace. "Welcome to tomorrow," The Goddess bowed down before Roman. "Welcome to tomorrow, Saint Pius."


"I know this is hard for you, my daughter." The Goddess whispered sweetly. "The situation you have found yourself in its... less that ideal, I know. But I pray that you shall not judge my followers by the worse among us. We can accomplish great things together, you and I. Beyond Luthor. Beyond War and Woe. You and I can change the world. Welcome to tomorrow," The Goddess bowed down before Silque. "Welcome to Tomorrow, Saint Messis."

"And Ashe, my boy. You've remained strong in the face of death, time and time again. Through it all, you've managed to hold on to your soul. You, my boy, are incredible. Welcome home," The Godddess bowed down before Ashe. "Welcome to tomorrow, Saint Totius..."


The Goddess made her way across the stage and passed the Righteous Furies to the rest of her Saints.
To Gohan.
"Welcome to Tomorrow, Saint Iustitia."
To Fate.
"Welcome to Tomorrow, Saint Vaticinium."
To Luthor.
"Welcome to Tomorrow, Saint Fidelitas."

Lex wrapped his fingers around the hilt of his blade. The Goddess refused to let go for a moment.

"Use it wisely, Fidelitas. Though this steel can cut deeply, your words have caused more harm that you know."
Luthor's brow furrowed.
The Goddess released her hold over the weapon. Luthor's body weight shifted back, the force of his pull knocking him off balance a little.

"Now that we're all settled, it's time we got to work..."




"You'll have to forgive us for being being unnerved by this development." Seteth snapped through the black. He bit his tongue and did his best to focus. "Bickering will do us no good."

Despite Jester's best efforts, no light burned in the black.
The void wasn't a dark. They were blind, not from a black of light, but from a lack of anything.
The Secularists has been removed from their bodies. They were just sparks of consciousness floating in an abyss.
There was nothing to light up.

"Wait... What's that?"

"A light?"

"Jester, it's working!"

"Is it the Traveler?"

"Wait... no..."

"What? What is it?"

"That light... it's emerald..."

The Green Spark grew brighter and brighter by the second. Before they could cry out, the Secularists were consumed the by Emerald Glow. The felt their spirits being dragged forth across the void.

They were stretched and twisted and turned inside out and the right way in and mashed and flattened and blown up and shredded and pulped and softened and hardened and frozen and thawed and...

[BOOOM]

When the Saint's took the swords in their hands, several green beams of light rattled and leaped from their blades. Wind roared. The stage shook. The beams struck the floorboards and transformed took human form.

The Angels appeared before the Saints. The Goddess snapped her fingers. Iron chains clamped and bound their wrists.

"Right on Queue. Here they are..."
The Goddess paced the stage. Glaring at the Secularists as she marched.
View attachment 5151
"The War Criminal. He who incited rebellion for his own ends. How many died in your name Urien?"
The Vice President grunted in response.
View attachment 5153
"The Politician. Urien kindled the flames, but you, Seteth? You were the spark. Always wanting things done 'your way'. Always undermining my Goddessians. Always scheming against them. You lead the Secularist Forces in the Battle of the Tomb. You would have sooner seen me dead than liberated. I wonder what is in store for you?"
View attachment 5154
"The Spy-Mistress. The Great Deceiver. Veranke, your ilk betrayed the Fellowship and everything it stood for. Your children infiltrated the council. You impersonated your fellow councilors to spread dissent. What do you have to say for yourself? How do you justify your behavior? How do you explain away your sins?"
View attachment 5155
"The Traitor. He who raised his blade against his brothers. He who, rather than face the consequences of his actions, defected to the enemy. Revel in your shame, turncoat. Revel in your shame..."
View attachment 5156
"The Murderess? Izana's blood stains your hands! You stood with Urien. You would have killed my loyal children were it not for the sacrifice of Noble Ferdinand. You, Mother, are a monster, foul and cruel."

"And Jester... What does destiny have in store for you? You turned her spells against Saint Fidelitas. To raise arms against one of my Chosen... regicide..."

"And the coward.... Maddison! What fate shall befall this accursed child? You, who drank and bathed whilst you brothers and sisters died! How many died for the want of a healers hands? How many died because of this child's cowardice?"

The Goddess turned back to her Saints, her loyal Chosen.

"It is as I said, my Saints. For one Sun to rise, another must set. The New World cannot thrive whilst the old one still lives. The time has come. I trust their fates to you. Death, Eternal Imprisonment, Exile. Take your blades. Make your choice. Rain Righteous Fury upon those who would taint paradise with their sins..."

"Let us start with Urien. What fate should befall he who started it all?"

@Yun Lee @Takumi @Capri @Lucky @Jeremi​

Daughter. The Goddess called her such, and yet Silque did not call her Mother. It was odd, but it did not hurt.

Messis. Harvest. A name that, whether the Goddess knew it or not, had some relation to Mila as the Earth Goddess that brought harvests and crops to Zofia. Silque closed her eyes at this. Letting the words of the Goddess sink in, she turned them over in her head.

She didn't see herself as much of a saint, but she would continue to do as she always did. Goddess or no Goddess.

Ashe blinked once spoken to, speechless in the face of her praise. Half of the battle had been a blur of noise and voices as far as he remembered, and he just wanted to protect his friends. To be welcomed home and called incredible was unexpected.

"Thank you, Goddess." He was still rather surprised, but had enough sense to say something.

Silque's eyes opened once the flash of light came from the sword, brows furrowed.

As Kolin and the others spoke, Silque shifted a bit uncomfortably. When it came to Seteth, she had no real problem with him at all. He was willing to listen, and offered to lend an ear to two young women's plight.

"What exactly are the terms for one's exile?" She asked then, glance going to the Goddess then. She didn't want to spill anymore blood, bring about anymore death. She didn't know how to even properly wield a sword. Violence begets violence, as the saying goes.

Ashe meanwhile, had his gaze on Maddie, concerned. He shifted where he stood. He didn't like this.

"This court was designed to give you a chance to repent. A chance to return to the Righteous Path. But now I see that this was a waste of time. You don't want to change. You're stubbornly set in your sinful ways..." The Goddess brought her hands together in prayer for a moment. Another blade extended from her palms as she parted them. She took in her right hand an raised it before her face in a ceremonial gesture. She swiftly swung it down to wards the dirt, cutting through the air with a whoosh. "If you pray for death, I will happily make your wish come true." She drew back her sword. "Should your soul reincarnate, I pray that you come back as a more reasonable creature. A righteous creature!"

With a cry, she prepared to strike.

@Jeremi @Yun Lee @Takumi @Capri @Lucky​

"I am no Saint..." Kolin muttered to herself, though her eyes widened as Mother and the Goddess continued in their squabbling. There was no more time for anything else. The iron would completely freeze now, turning cold and brittle. For the love of God, Mother, there still had to be some fight left in you!

@Sark @Yun Lee @Takumi @Capri @Lucky @Jeremi​

Ashe wanted to intervene, but Big Mother wanted to...it wasn't right. It wasn't right at all.

The Archer noticed the sheen of ice and quickly glanced to Kolin then.

"Kolin?" His voice was quiet and a little uncertain. He was a bit confused, on why exactly she had done that. Did she want the others to try and escape? To fight? If they fought, it would make them look worse than they already did, if they tried to run, where would they go? They'd be caught and probably face something just as bad if not worse than thi-

"I pray that when you perish..." Big Mother snapped the chains clear off her wrists. "You'll stay dead." Her maw grew to massive size as she used the spectacle of her shattered chains to move forward, bite down and attempt to rip a massive chunk of the Goddess' side clear off her body. She had never tasted divine meat after all...

@Sark @Yun Lee @Takumi @Capri @Lucky @Jeremi

"!!" Ashe's eyes widened at this. This...he didn't know what to expect really. This whole thing was a mess, and with Big Mother's actions a full blown fight breaking out looked like the only reaponse.

Things were going to get ugly really fast, and he had no idea what to do about it. One thing was certain: he didn't want Maddie stuck in the cross fire.

@Sark @Yun Lee @Capri @Jeremi @Lucky @Everyone wtf

 

[Capri]

ROMAN HALLIDAY
Roman could only watch in shock at the scene in front of him. A trial... executions... and Big Mother attacking the Goddess.

Roman didn't want to say or do anything to incite any wrath. His status as Saint Pius is already a big enough target.

Roman began to sweat profusely. Praying to whatever trees nearby that Big Mother won't target him.

He didn't want to execute anyone. He didn't want to die.

---

MADDIE PALMER
Maddie smiled, weakly accepting her fate, but Big Mother took all of that and threw it in the garbage.

Maddie doesn't want hope now, at a time when death is inches away from her at all times. But Maddie couldn't look away from this. Maddie couldn't accept hopelessness. Somehow, Big Mother eating The Goddess filled her with hope.

She made eye contact with the saints, but she could tell... some of these newfound saints were doubting themselves.

She looked at Ashe, clearly seeing the humanity in his eyes. He was no Saint Totius, a conquerer who mindlessly serves The Goddess... that was Ashe... the same Ashe that was concerned with her wellbeing, the same Ashe she would totally die for.

Glancing at the bitten Goddess, she muttered one firey insult under her breath.

"Stupid hoe..."

@Takumi @Jeremi @Sark @Yun Lee @Lucky @York @EveryoneElse​

 

[Sark]

"What exactly are the terms for one's exile?" She asked then, glance going to the Goddess then. She didn't want to spill anymore blood, bring about anymore death. She didn't know how to even properly wield a sword. Violence begets violence, as the saying goes.

"To be exiled is to be shunned by the Light." The Goddess bowed her head. "They will be refused harbor by the Empire and all worlds who pledge allegiance to me. As my Empire grows, the harbors that welcome them will be decrease by the day. To cross my path again would earn one a swift death. The Angels abide by the terms of their exile will survive, separate from all that is good."

"I am no Saint..." Kolin muttered to herself, though her eyes widened as Mother and the Goddess continued in their squabbling. There was no more time for anything else. The iron would completely freeze now, turning cold and brittle. For the love of God, Mother, there still had to be some fight left in you!

"I pray that when you perish..." Big Mother snapped the chains clear off her wrists. "You'll stay dead." Her maw grew to massive size as she used the spectacle of her shattered chains to move forward, bite down and attempt to rip a massive chunk of the Goddess' side clear off her body. She had never tasted divine meat after all...

The Goddess' eyes widened once again.
Betrayal.
It was the only explanation.
She clenched her jaw. She tightened her fingers into fists.
She could feel the cold air tickle her skin.
Bile boiled within her.
KOLIN
The Goddess raised her hand before her, ready to meet her opponent. With a thought, the Goddess caught Big Mother out of the air. Raised her above her head bound her in a set of new chains.

"You're right, Kolin..." The Goddess slowly turned to face her Saint. "You're no Saint. You're a Wolf! A Wolf in wrapped in Lamb's wool!"

The Goddess raised another hand. She plucked Kolin from the stage and tossed her across the room. Before she could react, she and Mother would come crashing down into one of the great pillars at the back of the chamber.

A blast of lighting arced through the Goddess' chest. She didn't flinch. Her eyes slowly drifted down to the blast.

"You..."

She turned to face Urien. The Vice President said nothing in response. The Goddess shrugged off his temporal thunder. She flicked the air and sent shock-wave rippling across the stage. It stuck Urien's chest with a crack and tossed him through a nearby wall.

"Traitors!" She howled. As the scene descended into chaos, the Wider Councillors rushed to flee the room. Veranke vanished into the crowd, changing her face as she fled. Seteth shattered his frozen shackles the stumble back through the hole in the wall. "TRAITORS!"

"For Arfoire!!" Another voice joined the mad symphony. CFW Brave and Magic rushed the Goddess, their weapons blazing. She threw a side-eyed stare in their direction. In a flash of emerald, they met the same fate as Hearts. The green butterflies swarmed the Goddess. She barely reacted to their presence. She had no time to admire their beauty. She had a slate to clean.

"Traitors! More traitors!" She screamed, tears welling him her eyes. "I gave you life! I gave you everything! And this is how you repay me?!"

Azrael swung his leg up high and kicked Ashe square in the jaw. Whilst she was stunned, he forced the blade from her hands.

"Mine, thank you!" He kicked and turned, spiriting towards to hole in the wall. "See you around!"

"My Saints! My Goddessians!" The Goddess wailed. "My Loyalists and My Children! Rid me of these troublesome Saints! Hunt down the Angels! Destroy them before their rot poisons us all!"

On the Goddess' orders, Gohan closed in on Mother and Kolin.

"Come quietly." Gohan pleased. "Just... we can still appeal to the Goddess. We could still see you exiled, or imprisoned-- you don't have to die here."

Luthor turned and marched through the hole in the wall, pursuing Seteth.

"Find them! Bring them to me, before they destroy us all!"

@Yun Lee @Takumi @Capri @Jeremi @Lucky​

 

[Yun Lee]

It had taken Kolin a moment to process all that had just happened. The attempt was a failure. Or was it? People were freed, the council was in chaos. And she was now cornered, between a pillar and a saiyan.

"Don't you see, Gohan?" She cried out, using her hands behind her to support her while she got back onto her feet. Her body was aching, but she was not going to surrender. "Don't you see the danger in this? To rule over one or a handful of worlds, that's one thing...but an entire Multiverse? To give her Saints dominion over all others, just for taking her side, and ignoring their mortal sins...men like Luthor and Roman, they aren't meant to have such power! What would they do with it?! And to exile people who were just trying to better things..."

Her fingers curled into fists. "I was given a choice, long ago. A choice to follow my Emperor to a new world. He gives that choice to others, you know. But under the Goddess, there is no choice. What good is a faith that forces you to obey?! That decision should be yours and yours alone..." Kolin looked to the Goddessian. "Please...you have a decision to make, too. We can stop this here and now, before more lives are lost. We can save the Multiverse from more bloodshed...together!" She extended her hand. "I do not want to fight you. I know you can see reason in this as I do. Please..."

@Sark @Jeremi @Lucky @Capri @Lucky​

 

[Takumi]

"To be exiled is to be shunned by the Light." The Goddess bowed her head. "They will be refused harbor by the Empire and all worlds who pledge allegiance to me. As my Empire grows, the harbors that welcome them will be decrease by the day. To cross my path again would earn one a swift death. The Angels abide by the terms of their exile will survive, separate from all that is good."



The Goddess' eyes widened once again.
Betrayal.
It was the only explanation.
She clenched her jaw. She tightened her fingers into fists.
She could feel the cold air tickle her skin.
Bile boiled within her.
KOLIN
The Goddess raised her hand before her, ready to meet her opponent. With a thought, the Goddess caught Big Mother out of the air. Raised her above her head bound her in a set of new chains.

"You're right, Kolin..." The Goddess slowly turned to face her Saint. "You're no Saint. You're a Wolf! A Wolf in wrapped in Lamb's wool!"

The Goddess raised another hand. She plucked Kolin from the stage and tossed her across the room. Before she could react, she and Mother would come crashing down into one of the great pillars at the back of the chamber.

A blast of lighting arced through the Goddess' chest. She didn't flinch. Her eyes slowly drifted down to the blast.

"You..."

She turned to face Urien. The Vice President said nothing in response. The Goddess shrugged off his temporal thunder. She flicked the air and sent shock-wave rippling across the stage. It stuck Urien's chest with a crack and tossed him through a nearby wall.

"Traitors!" She howled. As the scene descended into chaos, the Wider Councillors rushed to flee the room. Veranke vanished into the crowd, changing her face as she fled. Seteth shattered his frozen shackles the stumble back through the hole in the wall. "TRAITORS!"

"For Arfoire!!" Another voice joined the mad symphony. CFW Brave and Magic rushed the Goddess, their weapons blazing. She threw a side-eyed stare in their direction. In a flash of emerald, they met the same fate as Hearts. The green butterflies swarmed the Goddess. She barely reacted to their presence. She had no time to admire their beauty. She had a slate to clean.

"Traitors! More traitors!" She screamed, tears welling him her eyes. "I gave you life! I gave you everything! And this is how you repay me?!"

Azrael swung his leg up high and kicked Ashe square in the jaw. Whilst she was stunned, he forced the blade from her hands.

"Mine, thank you!" He kicked and turned, spiriting towards to hole in the wall. "See you around!"

"My Saints! My Goddessians!" The Goddess wailed. "My Loyalists and My Children! Rid me of these troublesome Saints! Hunt down the Angels! Destroy them before their rot poisons us all!"

On the Goddess' orders, Gohan closed in on Mother and Kolin.

"Come quietly." Gohan pleased. "Just... we can still appeal to the Goddess. We could still see you exiled, or imprisoned-- you don't have to die here."

Luthor turned and marched through the hole in the wall, pursuing Seteth.

"Find them! Bring them to me, before they destroy us all!"

@Yun Lee @Takumi @Capri @Jeremi @Lucky​

Silque frowned softly as the Goddess laid out what would happen to those exiled, but...she supposed it made sense.

And then everything became chaotic. Seeing Luthor go after Seteth she took a breath and followed, her sword left behind. She ran and ran, for Seteth and his daughter's sake more than anything else.

Ashe yelped as he moved to block the attack from Azrael. The knee met his palm at the last second, forcing it upwards into his jaw and causing him to stumble back before he regained his footing. He didn't even care much about the sword. He needed to move. His eyes landed on Maddie then, moving through the chaos to her side and ignoring his aching jaw and hand, he placed a hand on her shoulder and blocked the Goddess' view of her.

"Maddie you...you can't stay here or you'll die." He spoke. He squeezed her shoulder then.

"Die or be imprisoned, and I don't want that for you. You don't deserve it. I don't know where you'll go if you run just..." He let out a frustrated breath. What was he to do? All of this was wrong. How could they make it right?

The Goddess didn't go about it right, it didn't feel right. Couldn't she see? Death wasn't the answer, all of their crimes weren't equal, but...

@Sark @Capri

 

[Jeremi]

"To be exiled is to be shunned by the Light." The Goddess bowed her head. "They will be refused harbor by the Empire and all worlds who pledge allegiance to me. As my Empire grows, the harbors that welcome them will be decrease by the day. To cross my path again would earn one a swift death. The Angels abide by the terms of their exile will survive, separate from all that is good."



The Goddess' eyes widened once again.
Betrayal.
It was the only explanation.
She clenched her jaw. She tightened her fingers into fists.
She could feel the cold air tickle her skin.
Bile boiled within her.
KOLIN
The Goddess raised her hand before her, ready to meet her opponent. With a thought, the Goddess caught Big Mother out of the air. Raised her above her head bound her in a set of new chains.

"You're right, Kolin..." The Goddess slowly turned to face her Saint. "You're no Saint. You're a Wolf! A Wolf in wrapped in Lamb's wool!"

The Goddess raised another hand. She plucked Kolin from the stage and tossed her across the room. Before she could react, she and Mother would come crashing down into one of the great pillars at the back of the chamber.

A blast of lighting arced through the Goddess' chest. She didn't flinch. Her eyes slowly drifted down to the blast.

"You..."

She turned to face Urien. The Vice President said nothing in response. The Goddess shrugged off his temporal thunder. She flicked the air and sent shock-wave rippling across the stage. It stuck Urien's chest with a crack and tossed him through a nearby wall.

"Traitors!" She howled. As the scene descended into chaos, the Wider Councillors rushed to flee the room. Veranke vanished into the crowd, changing her face as she fled. Seteth shattered his frozen shackles the stumble back through the hole in the wall. "TRAITORS!"

"For Arfoire!!" Another voice joined the mad symphony. CFW Brave and Magic rushed the Goddess, their weapons blazing. She threw a side-eyed stare in their direction. In a flash of emerald, they met the same fate as Hearts. The green butterflies swarmed the Goddess. She barely reacted to their presence. She had no time to admire their beauty. She had a slate to clean.

"Traitors! More traitors!" She screamed, tears welling him her eyes. "I gave you life! I gave you everything! And this is how you repay me?!"

Azrael swung his leg up high and kicked Ashe square in the jaw. Whilst she was stunned, he forced the blade from her hands.

"Mine, thank you!" He kicked and turned, spiriting towards to hole in the wall. "See you around!"

"My Saints! My Goddessians!" The Goddess wailed. "My Loyalists and My Children! Rid me of these troublesome Saints! Hunt down the Angels! Destroy them before their rot poisons us all!"

On the Goddess' orders, Gohan closed in on Mother and Kolin.

"Come quietly." Gohan pleased. "Just... we can still appeal to the Goddess. We could still see you exiled, or imprisoned-- you don't have to die here."

Luthor turned and marched through the hole in the wall, pursuing Seteth.

"Find them! Bring them to me, before they destroy us all!"

@Yun Lee @Takumi @Capri @Jeremi @Lucky​

"You are a naive fool, monkey." Big Mother replied changing her size to try and escape from her new chains. "When I said we are heading for a world of stagnation I meant it. The Goddess' followers will wither into nothingness as they praise their Goddess to the high heavens, or kill her enemies when they resist. Is that the perfect world you envision?" She looked over to the Goddess. "Look at her! Panicking like a spoiled brat. Is she really someone you can put faith into? Do you want someone like that to descend on your world?"

@Yun Lee @Takumi @Capri @Jeremi @Lucky

 

[Capri]

ROMAN
Roman did what Roman does best, run like the fucking wind.

He ran as far as he could, since he couldn’t even think about the idea of winning against these people.

---

MADDIE
“A-alright...” Maddie said, “I hope this isn’t a goodbye... but if it is... goodbye.”

Maddie then took off, in one final last ditch attempt to save her own life.

@Sark @Takumi @EveryoneElse​

 

[Sark]

It had taken Kolin a moment to process all that had just happened. The attempt was a failure. Or was it? People were freed, the council was in chaos. And she was now cornered, between a pillar and a saiyan.

"Don't you see, Gohan?" She cried out, using her hands behind her to support her while she got back onto her feet. Her body was aching, but she was not going to surrender. "Don't you see the danger in this? To rule over one or a handful of worlds, that's one thing...but an entire Multiverse? To give her Saints dominion over all others, just for taking her side, and ignoring their mortal sins...men like Luthor and Roman, they aren't meant to have such power! What would they do with it?! And to exile people who were just trying to better things..."

Her fingers curled into fists. "I was given a choice, long ago. A choice to follow my Emperor to a new world. He gives that choice to others, you know. But under the Goddess, there is no choice. What good is a faith that forces you to obey?! That decision should be yours and yours alone..." Kolin looked to the Goddessian. "Please...you have a decision to make, too. We can stop this here and now, before more lives are lost. We can save the Multiverse from more bloodshed...together!" She extended her hand. "I do not want to fight you. I know you can see reason in this as I do. Please..."

@Sark @Jeremi @Lucky @Capri @Lucky

"You are a naive fool, monkey." Big Mother replied changing her size to try and escape from her new chains. "When I said we are heading for a world of stagnation I meant it. The Goddess' followers will wither into nothingness as they praise their Goddess to the high heavens, or kill her enemies when they resist. Is that the perfect world you envision?" She looked over to the Goddess. "Look at her! Panicking like a spoiled brat. Is she really someone you can put faith into? Do you want someone like that to descend on your world?"

@Yun Lee @Takumi @Capri @Jeremi @Lucky

Gohan closed in on the pair. He instinctively raised his power to match Mother's. In his last scrap with Mother, he had entered his fighting stance before he so much a considered getting in this close. He was either getting sloppy, or he was getting distracted. He was thinking.

"The Goddess," Gohan spoke sternly. "I can't see how rebelling against her would reduce the amount of bloodshed... She's not about to surrender to your terms. She's... she's not about to listen to the Saints either. Kolin... you're talking about starting a Unwinnable War. At best, you'd be looking at a war without end... But..."

But.

Why was there always a 'but'.

His finger twitched. He had come her to suppress Kolin's revolt, not join it.

But.

But he had never been a fan of the Gods. No matter how sweet the Goddess' promises were, she still kept so many secrets. She had incredible power but he couldn't pretend that he trusted her completely...

Then came to matters of control. And order, and the look in the Secularists eyes when the Goddess raised her sword. That fear...

But

Waves of ki began to pour from Gohan's skin. He raised his fists.

"MASENKO!"

A golden blast soared out of Gohan's palms. It burned through the air between Gohan and Mother. With a furious roar, Gohan threw his hands towards the ground.

The blast curved upwards.

BOOM

The Wider Council's chamber began to collapse around them. The Councillors scurried in all directions, terrified. The Goddess reached out towards the center the blast. A green glow consumed the falling pillars. The Goddess release a quiet whimper of exertion as her extended powers slowed the falling rubble.

"You would turn your back on me too, Saint Iustitia?" The Goddess snarled. "And so the rot spreads!"

"I'm sorry, Goddess, but they're right. This... This was supposed to be able saving people, not killing them! Not Controlling them!"

Gohan turned back to Mother and Kolin.

"It ends here. I'll hold her back as long as I can. If I can't stop here, the World's gonna need you guys. We're going to need someone to fight the good fight." Gohan cracked his knuckles and raised his power to its absolute limits. Gods, it had been far too long since he had been forced to fight like this. It was exhausting. Crippling. He had to finish things quickly.

"First Zamasu, and now you?" The Goddess growled, letting the rubble fall into the now empty chamber. "The Kais have proven to be more trouble than they're worth. You come from a world of traitors, Saint-- no, you're unworthy of the names I chose for you. You're all unworthy. Once my reign is secured, I'll have to pay your world a visit. Your Angels and your Gods will fall before they can produce any more demons like--"

BOOM BOOM

Too more Ki blasts rippled from the corners of the chamber.

"Look, Lady! We thought we owed you something for taking us in, but honestly? You're just as nuts as those guys in hell!" Kelfa snapped. "We didn't escape their control just to submit to yours! Ready sis?"

"Ready!" Kale replied. The sisters linked their fists and closed in on the Goddess.
View attachment 5177
"EAT THIS!"

The three Saiyans charged the Goddess. For a second or two, it appeared as if their flurry of attacks were actually injuring her. That second passed. The Goddess waved her hand and sent Gohan skidding across the isle seats. He kicked off the steps and leaped back into the fray.

"What are you waiting for?! Go!"

***
As Maddie, Silque and Roman stepped through the hole in the fall, they would find themselves in one of the Temple's long, winding halls. To their left, they could Seteth dragging Urien's unconscious body down the hall. Luthor was slowly closing in on the pair. He wasn't running. He was savoring the moment. He cracked his neck and laughed.

"You can't run forever, honorable colleges." Lex cackled. "There's nowhere to go. Where are you going to take him? The infirmary? Wrong way. The ship bay? Wrong way. You're dragging him towards the High Council chamber, you know that, right? Those doors couldn't keep me inside. They won't keep the Goddess out. Besides, I can't see you dragging the VP up those stairs. Why struggle, Seteth? Why not leave him behind and save yourself? Or, better yet, come quietly. Face the Goddess' justice! If you're lucky, you might get away with a little 're-education'!"

Seteth stopped dragging Urien for a second. He slowly raised his eyes up from the floor. He wiped away the hairs that had gotten stuck to his sweaty forehead. He panted for a moment, before mustering the strength to reply.

"Because I'm not you, Alexander... Because we won't leave our own behind..."

"Idealistic, right up until the bitter end!"

Through the empty windows of the hall, the gathered Chosen could see a path out into the courtyard. The area was unguarded and open aired. Climbing one of the Courtyard's trees could allow the Chosen to reach the Temple's root. Alternatively, they could try heading right down the corridor and try to find a ground-floor exit.

@Yun Lee @Takumi @Jeremi @Capri @Lucky​

 

[Takumi]

ROMAN
Roman did what Roman does best, run like the fucking wind.

He ran as far as he could, since he couldn’t even think about the idea of winning against these people.

---

MADDIE
“A-alright...” Maddie said, “I hope this isn’t a goodbye... but if it is... goodbye.”

Maddie then took off, in one final last ditch attempt to save her own life.

@Sark @Takumi @EveryoneElse​

"Well, there's no telling how this'll end, but if it's goodbye I'm just glad I could help you in the end. I'll be right behind you." Ashe gave her a smile before she left. Then left after her a short while later.

Gohan closed in on the pair. He instinctively raised his power to match Mother's. In his last scrap with Mother, he had entered his fighting stance before he so much a considered getting in this close. He was either getting sloppy, or he was getting distracted. He was thinking.

"The Goddess," Gohan spoke sternly. "I can't see how rebelling against her would reduce the amount of bloodshed... She's not about to surrender to your terms. She's... she's not about to listen to the Saints either. Kolin... you're talking about starting a Unwinnable War. At best, you'd be looking at a war without end... But..."

But.

Why was there always a 'but'.

His finger twitched. He had come her to suppress Kolin's revolt, not join it.

But.

But he had never been a fan of the Gods. No matter how sweet the Goddess' promises were, she still kept so many secrets. She had incredible power but he couldn't pretend that he trusted her completely...

Then came to matters of control. And order, and the look in the Secularists eyes when the Goddess raised her sword. That fear...

But

Waves of ki began to pour from Gohan's skin. He raised his fists.

"MASENKO!"

A golden blast soared out of Gohan's palms. It burned through the air between Gohan and Mother. With a furious roar, Gohan threw his hands towards the ground.

The blast curved upwards.

BOOM

The Wider Council's chamber began to collapse around them. The Councillors scurried in all directions, terrified. The Goddess reached out towards the center the blast. A green glow consumed the falling pillars. The Goddess release a quiet whimper of exertion as her extended powers slowed the falling rubble.

"You would turn your back on me too, Saint Iustitia?" The Goddess snarled. "And so the rot spreads!"

"I'm sorry, Goddess, but they're right. This... This was supposed to be able saving people, not killing them! Not Controlling them!"

Gohan turned back to Mother and Kolin.

"It ends here. I'll hold her back as long as I can. If I can't stop here, the World's gonna need you guys. We're going to need someone to fight the good fight." Gohan cracked his knuckles and raised his power to its absolute limits. Gods, it had been far too long since he had been forced to fight like this. It was exhausting. Crippling. He had to finish things quickly.

"First Zamasu, and now you?" The Goddess growled, letting the rubble fall into the now empty chamber. "The Kais have proven to be more trouble than they're worth. You come from a world of traitors, Saint-- no, you're unworthy of the names I chose for you. You're all unworthy. Once my reign is secured, I'll have to pay your world a visit. Your Angels and your Gods will fall before they can produce any more demons like--"

BOOM BOOM

Too more Ki blasts rippled from the corners of the chamber.

"Look, Lady! We thought we owed you something for taking us in, but honestly? You're just as nuts as those guys in hell!" Kelfa snapped. "We didn't escape their control just to submit to yours! Ready sis?"

"Ready!" Kale replied. The sisters linked their fists and closed in on the Goddess.
View attachment 5177
"EAT THIS!"

The three Saiyans charged the Goddess. For a second or two, it appeared as if their flurry of attacks were actually injuring her. That second passed. The Goddess waved her hand and sent Gohan skidding across the isle seats. He kicked off the steps and leaped back into the fray.

"What are you waiting for?! Go!"

***
As Maddie, Silque and Roman stepped through the hole in the fall, they would find themselves in one of the Temple's long, winding halls. To their left, they could Seteth dragging Urien's unconscious body down the hall. Luthor was slowly closing in on the pair. He wasn't running. He was savoring the moment. He cracked his neck and laughed.

"You can't run forever, honorable colleges." Lex cackled. "There's nowhere to go. Where are you going to take him? The infirmary? Wrong way. The ship bay? Wrong way. You're dragging him towards the High Council chamber, you know that, right? Those doors couldn't keep me inside. They won't keep the Goddess out. Besides, I can't see you dragging the VP up those stairs. Why struggle, Seteth? Why not leave him behind and save yourself? Or, better yet, come quietly. Face the Goddess' justice! If you're lucky, you might get away with a little 're-education'!"

Seteth stopped dragging Urien for a second. He slowly raised his eyes up from the floor. He wiped away the hairs that had gotten stuck to his sweaty forehead. He panted for a moment, before mustering the strength to reply.

"Because I'm not you, Alexander... Because we won't leave our own behind..."

"Idealistic, right up until the bitter end!"

Through the empty windows of the hall, the gathered Chosen could see a path out into the courtyard. The area was unguarded and open aired. Climbing one of the Courtyard's trees could allow the Chosen to reach the Temple's root. Alternatively, they could try heading right down the corridor and try to find a ground-floor exit.

@Yun Lee @Takumi @Jeremi @Capri @Lucky​

Ashe wasn't sure which way to go. They needed to find some way out. How to go about it? He hoped that Ferdinand was okay.

Silque took a breath, then made her way towards Luthor as he went after Seteth and Urien. Casting Nosferatu to slam the clouds of dark magic into the shapeshifter as he advanced towards the two Secularists. Hoping to give him pause, if only for a moment.

"Luthor." She called as she approached, her gaze hard and her lips turned down into a deep frown.

@Sark @Capri @Yun Lee @Jeremi @Lucky

 

[Yun Lee]

"Thank you, Gohan. And you two, as well!" Kolin felt a bit of hope grow within her. If they could turn one of the Goddessians against the Goddess...there was no telling what they couldn't do in this fight. And really, with this tantrum she was throwing, threatening to run off to their own worlds...Kolin's misgivings were all true. To think, Secularist, Goddessian...and the people who had actually been right were the Godless. Such a shame the only Godless they'd met had been chaotic warmongerers, but oh, well. Faiths were not defined by the people who believed in them.

"Mother! Quickly!" There had to be some way out of this place that would keep them safe. Though she'd seen people go through that hole in the wall...

@Sark @Jeremi​

 

[Minerva]

Johanna sat in a well lit office. The office was Seteth's, but she had temporarily arranged it into her office while he dealt with what was going outside. She wrote intently, filling out the entirety of the report. She paused in her writing for a second.

What DID she believe? The precepts of Zakarum didn't exactly allow for a Goddess, now did it? Deities were the modus operandi of monks in Xiansai, of Angels. However, he work dictated her precepts. The Light guided her way, not some Goddess that she never saw evidence of. Her job was to purify the influence of the last deity who tried to take hold in Zakarum. A false corrupting entity who guided them the wrong way.

She momentarily thought for a moment about all that had gone on. The Prison, Hell itself, the ball. She put the writing utensil down and bit the inside of her lip. She was but one Internal Affairs officer. And although she had beaten Diablo and Malthael using the precepts of Zakarum, she knew this would take more to fix.

She stood up from her seat, and knelt.

May Zakarum guide her path now.

 

[Jeremi]

"Thank you, Gohan. And you two, as well!" Kolin felt a bit of hope grow within her. If they could turn one of the Goddessians against the Goddess...there was no telling what they couldn't do in this fight. And really, with this tantrum she was throwing, threatening to run off to their own worlds...Kolin's misgivings were all true. To think, Secularist, Goddessian...and the people who had actually been right were the Godless. Such a shame the only Godless they'd met had been chaotic warmongerers, but oh, well. Faiths were not defined by the people who believed in them.

"Mother! Quickly!" There had to be some way out of this place that would keep them safe. Though she'd seen people go through that hole in the wall...

@Sark @Jeremi​

Karin found herself wrapped in a massive hand. "It's time to leave." The massive frame of Big Mother burst through the walls her large wings extended to reach the skies. It was time for the Chosen to live and fight another day.

@Sark @Yun Lee

 

[Capri]

MADDIE PALMER
Maddie looked behind her and saw Ashe, a smile now present on her face.

"I really don't know where to go... but I'll go where you go... wherever it is."

@Takumi

---

ROMAN HALLIDAY
Roman burst out the window and grabbed onto the tree. He begins to climb it in order to make his way up to the rooftop.

"Maol-Chaluim please help me now... I'm sorry for climbing you... I'm sorry about this..."

Using the tree as a kickboard, Roman kicked off of the tree's trunk in an attempt to reach the roof.

@Sark​

 

[Takumi]

MADDIE PALMER
Maddie looked behind her and saw Ashe, a smile now present on her face.

"I really don't know where to go... but I'll go where you go... wherever it is."

@Takumi

---

ROMAN HALLIDAY
Roman burst out the window and grabbed onto the tree. He begins to climb it in order to make his way up to the rooftop.

"Maol-Chaluim please help me now... I'm sorry for climbing you... I'm sorry about this..."

Using the tree as a kickboard, Roman kicked off of the tree's trunk in an attempt to reach the roof.

@Sark​

"Well, we can follow Roman for the roof or try our hand at getting to the first floor." Ashe smiled back, taking his bow from around his shoulder and an arrow from the quiver along his back, knotching an arrow in place as a precaution.

"I don't know if there's anyone on the first floor, but without Wyvern riders we may be stuck on the roof..." He tried to go through their choices logically throughout all the stress.

@Sark @Capri

 

[Sark]

Ashe wasn't sure which way to go. They needed to find some way out. How to go about it? He hoped that Ferdinand was okay.

Silque took a breath, then made her way towards Luthor as he went after Seteth and Urien. Casting Nosferatu to slam the clouds of dark magic into the shapeshifter as he advanced towards the two Secularists. Hoping to give him pause, if only for a moment.

"Luthor." She called as she approached, her gaze hard and her lips turned down into a deep frown.

@Sark @Capri @Yun Lee @Jeremi @Lucky

After a moment of agony, Luthor shrugged of the Nosferatu blast. He slowly pivoted to face Silque. Whilst his back was turned, Seteth redouble his efforts to move Urien out of harms way. With a final nod to Silque, the pair vanished around the corner at the end of the hall.

"I should've known you would turn tail," Luthor sneered. "All this talk of 'Mila' and 'spells'. You were never one of us. It's a shame..."

In a flash, Lex was upon her. The Apex Predator doubled in size and wrapped his now enormous hands around Silques throat. He wasn't playing games. Not anymore.

"We could have used a healer like you. The Goddess won't be doing it all on her own. She'll be-- no, you don't have to worry about that now, do you?"

A black ring began to close in from the corners of Silque's eyes. She was loosing consciousness...

Slipping...

Slipping...

Slipping...

Roman burst out the window and grabbed onto the tree. He begins to climb it in order to make his way up to the rooftop.

"Maol-Chaluim please help me now... I'm sorry for climbing you... I'm sorry about this..."

Using the tree as a kickboard, Roman kicked off of the tree's trunk in an attempt to reach the roof.

@Sark

Karin found herself wrapped in a massive hand. "It's time to leave." The massive frame of Big Mother burst through the walls her large wings extended to reach the skies. It was time for the Chosen to live and fight another day.

@Sark @Yun Lee

"Thank you, Gohan. And you two, as well!" Kolin felt a bit of hope grow within her. If they could turn one of the Goddessians against the Goddess...there was no telling what they couldn't do in this fight. And really, with this tantrum she was throwing, threatening to run off to their own worlds...Kolin's misgivings were all true. To think, Secularist, Goddessian...and the people who had actually been right were the Godless. Such a shame the only Godless they'd met had been chaotic warmongerers, but oh, well. Faiths were not defined by the people who believed in them.

"Mother! Quickly!" There had to be some way out of this place that would keep them safe. Though she'd seen people go through that hole in the wall...

@Sark @Jeremi

From their aerial perches, Mother, Kolin and Roman could see the entirely of the Temple descend into Chaos. One by one, the last of the Secularist Wider Councillors were being rounded, beaten and shot by their new Imperial Overlords. Citizens were rioting in the streets. Other had formed mobs to assist in the attacks on the Old Ways. Rocks were hurled up towards Mother and Roman. A guard or two turned and took aim at them with their rifles. A flurry of bullets chipped away at the edge of the Temple's roof.

The Fellowship was tearing itself apart to appease the Goddess.

Twisted effigies of Urien were burned upon pyres of books. The Crimson Flag of the Secularist was kindling the flames.

It was a long way back down to the streets. Even if you survive the fall, you'd be jumping head-first into the heart of a riot.

A battalion of Wyvern Rider circled overhead. In the distance, you could see to old ship bay being sent into lock down. Leaving the Temple-City seemed impossible.

A few more explosions sounded from deep inside the Wider Council Chamber. Time was running out.

Trickling away...
Trickling away...

@Yun Lee @Jeremi @Takumi @Capri @Minerva @Lucky​

 

[Capri]

ROMAN
Roman ran as fast as he could across the roof, but trying not to be seen.

He made it to another area, an area away from the courtyard. He hopped from tree to tree in an attempt to avoid detection.

He hopes Maol-Chaluim can protect him.

@Sark

---

MADDIE
“The first floor’s the safest bet to get out...”

She paused, before turning to Ashe.

“First floor...”

@Takumi​

 

[Yun Lee]

Everything had fallen into chaos. Kolin could only wonder if this was what was occurring before even the uprising. But there were only a few ways to get out of here...and if they were to work, they needed to use them fast. "I can make us a pathway to the ship bay," she said. "But we will need to act quickly if we hope to escape."

With that, Kolin brought her hands up, starting to form a path of solid ice, one thick enough to carry the weight of the duo. Her mind went to sone of the others-Ashe, Silque, Beau...where were they? What side had they chosen? She would pray for their safety if she couldn't find them...but first she'd need to save herself.

@Sark @Jeremi​

 

[Takumi]

After a moment of agony, Luthor shrugged of the Nosferatu blast. He slowly pivoted to face Silque. Whilst his back was turned, Seteth redouble his efforts to move Urien out of harms way. With a final nod to Silque, the pair vanished around the corner at the end of the hall.

"I should've known you would turn tail," Luthor sneered. "All this talk of 'Mila' and 'spells'. You were never one of us. It's a shame..."

In a flash, Lex was upon her. The Apex Predator doubled in size and wrapped his now enormous hands around Silques throat. He wasn't playing games. Not anymore.

"We could have used a healer like you. The Goddess won't be doing it all on her own. She'll be-- no, you don't have to worry about that now, do you?"

A black ring began to close in from the corners of Silque's eyes. She was loosing consciousness...

Slipping...

Slipping...

Slipping...




From their aerial perches, Mother, Kolin and Roman could see the entirely of the Temple descend into Chaos. One by one, the last of the Secularist Wider Councillors were being rounded, beaten and shot by their new Imperial Overlords. Citizens were rioting in the streets. Other had formed mobs to assist in the attacks on the Old Ways. Rocks were hurled up towards Mother and Roman. A guard or two turned and took aim at them with their rifles. A flurry of bullets chipped away at the edge of the Temple's roof.

The Fellowship was tearing itself apart to appease the Goddess.

Twisted effigies of Urien were burned upon pyres of books. The Crimson Flag of the Secularist was kindling the flames.

It was a long way back down to the streets. Even if you survive the fall, you'd be jumping head-first into the heart of a riot.

A battalion of Wyvern Rider circled overhead. In the distance, you could see to old ship bay being sent into lock down. Leaving the Temple-City seemed impossible.

A few more explosions sounded from deep inside the Wider Council Chamber. Time was running out.

Trickling away...
Trickling away...

@Yun Lee @Jeremi @Takumi @Capri @Minerva @Lucky​

Silque's eyes widened, her nails digging into the man's hands as they cut off her airway. She wouldn't last long if this kept up, but she found herself smiling in the end.

"Didn't I say...I'd rather die than be one of you? If you're...the one....representing the Goddess' teachings Saint Fidelitas?" She gasped out and spat his new 'name' like a poison much like he had done to Mila's name, letting go of the man to thrust her arms towards his chest, Nosferatu slamming and seeping into it with force. To hurt. To defend. Dark magic festering and noxious. Her vision was fading, she couldn't draw breath, and she started to shake but she kept smiling because she found this funny.

"Yes, a shame....that the Goddess is left with you on her side. An arrogant...ignorant...fool...of a Saint."

Really he was killing a girl who's faith differed from his. This was no different than the war in her own world! It really was funny!

One last spell, one last effort.

Expel.

Given it's nature, she wondered if it'd teleport them both away or simply remove Luthor from his arms? She didn't know where the target would end up, or what would happen. She just didn't know, everything was growing dark, not even the light of her magic could be seen.

@Sark

ROMAN
Roman ran as fast as he could across the roof, but trying not to be seen.

He made it to another area, an area away from the courtyard. He hopped from tree to tree in an attempt to avoid detection.

He hopes Maol-Chaluim can protect him.

@Sark

---

MADDIE
“The first floor’s the safest bet to get out...”

She paused, before turning to Ashe.

“First floor...”

@Takumi​

"Let's go, then." Ashe nodded, moving beside her and attempting to get the two to the first floor with bow drawn and at the ready to protect the other. They should probably find her a weapon to defend herself, but he was happy to fight if it kept her safe.

"Y'know, maybe I could try and teach you some offensive magic sometime? I'm not much good at it myself, but if you're willing to learn once we're out of this mess." He offered, because they would get out of this. They had to.

@Sark @Capri

 

[Sark]

Silque's eyes widened, her nails digging into the man's hands as they cut off her airway. She wouldn't last long if this kept up, but she found herself smiling in the end.

"Didn't I say...I'd rather die than be one of you? If you're...the one....representing the Goddess' teachings Saint Fidelitas?" She gasped out and spat his new 'name' like a poison much like he had done to Mila's name, letting go of the man to thrust her arms towards his chest, Nosferatu slamming and seeping into it with force. To hurt. To defend. Dark magic festering and noxious. Her vision was fading, she couldn't draw breath, and she started to shake but she kept smiling because she found this funny.

"Yes, a shame....that the Goddess is left with you on her side. An arrogant...ignorant...fool...of a Saint."

Really he was killing a girl who's faith differed from his. This was no different than the war in her own world! It really was funny!

One last spell, one last effort.

Expel.

Given it's nature, she wondered if it'd teleport them both away or simply remove Luthor from his arms? She didn't know where the target would end up, or what would happen. She just didn't know, everything was growing dark, not even the light of her magic could be seen.

In a flash, Luthor and Silque were gone. The might of the Goddess' Saint battled against the might of Mila. The fragment of the Goddess that burned within Luthor pushed against the pull of Expel.

Luthor howled in mix of fury and terror and the pair jumped from one dimension to the next.
They shifted through the third dimension of space into the forth dimension of time
From the forth dimension to the fifth dimension of orthoplexes.
View attachment 5190
From the fifth dimension to the sixth, the realm of Hyperbolic Space
View attachment 5191
From the sixth dimension to the seventh, the realm of Vector Space.
View attachment 5193
From the seventh dimension to the eighth, the realm of Euclidean Space.
View attachment 5195
From the eighth dimension to the ninth, the realm of vectors without distance.
View attachment 5197
Luthor and Silque crashed through the barrier of the 10th dimension. The entered into the realm of imagination. The shattered its outer limits. There entered the 11th dimension, the highest point of reality. They entered the realm of inconceivable things. They didn't stop. They were expelled further. And further and further.

The laws of reality acknowledge that the a 12th dimension cannot exist. The existence of realm beyond the realm of inconceivable things would be inconceivably inconceivable. To traveled to the 12th dimension is to enter a world of impossible impossibilities. Were it to exist, it would topple the tower of dimensions. There is no 12th dimension.

The Twelfth Dimension cannot not exist. And yet, Silque and Luthor slipped into it anyway.

They saw a mighty oak tree. It stretched on in all directions as far as their eyes could see. Or, rather, as far as their minds could conceive. Held on to Silque for dear life. His hands remained fixed around her neck. But they had entered into a post-matter world. No matter how tightly Lex squeezed, Silque didn't die. She didn't feel even the smallest sting of pain.

The pair continued to fall through the Twelfth dimension. The Infinity Tree drew them inwards towards its truck. Its binding branches reached out to bind their limps. Luthor stretched out his own arms towards one of the tree's great fruits. He had to reach it. He had to. He had to.

Contact

Luthor crushed the fruit in his hands. The Infinity Tree recoiled and released the past. The Dimension itself recoiled. It spat the pair out.

They came crashing back into the realm of inconceivable ideas. They smashed through the realm of imagination. Through the realm of of without space. Through the realm of Euclidean Space. Through the realm of Vector Space. Through the realm of Hyperbolic Space. Through the realm of Orthoplexes.

Back into the 4th dimension. Back to the realm of time. The pair struck the Earth outside the Temple with a crack. Their bodies were screaming with pain. Their minds screamed louder still.

Luthor tightened his right hand. He pulled it closer to his chest.

They'd done it. They had traveled to an impossibly impossible place and lived to tell the horrific tale.

Or at least, Luthor had.

Dazed and dazzled, Luthor stumbled towards Silque's barely conscious form. As a shape-change, his body was recovering faster than hers. His mind has been trained to endure such things. He staggered forth and threw himself atop of her. He raised his mighty fist above his head and struck down upon the helpless girl.

STATUS: Silque// ???

Silque's body died, but her mind lived on. She was still aware... aware and dreaming...

Dreaming...

Dreaming...

Dreaming...

@Takumi

“The first floor’s the safest bet to get out...”

She paused, before turning to Ashe.

“First floor...”

@Takumi

"Let's go, then." Ashe nodded, moving beside her and attempting to get the two to the first floor with bow drawn and at the ready to protect the other. They should probably find her a weapon to defend herself, but he was happy to fight if it kept her safe.

"Y'know, maybe I could try and teach you some offensive magic sometime? I'm not much good at it myself, but if you're willing to learn once we're out of this mess." He offered, because they would get out of this. They had to.

@Sark @Capri

"Going somewhere?" A bloodied and crazed Luthor spat. His eyes were black and cold. He wan't playing the role of the zealot, nor was he playing the role of the dutiful servant. He was something more than a man now. He was something more primal. He was the Apex Predator.

He tossed Silques' body across the floor.

"Don't you want to stick around for the festivities? No? Fine by me." He stopped his foot. A tremor shook the corridor. The hall came crashing down. The floor above it came crashing down too. Tons upon tons of stone and concrete came crumbling down around Ashe and Maddie. "End of the line, 'Chosen'. Show's over."

@Takumi @Capri

Everything had fallen into chaos. Kolin could only wonder if this was what was occurring before even the uprising. But there were only a few ways to get out of here...and if they were to work, they needed to use them fast. "I can make us a pathway to the ship bay," she said. "But we will need to act quickly if we hope to escape."

With that, Kolin brought her hands up, starting to form a path of solid ice, one thick enough to carry the weight of the duo. Her mind went to sone of the others-Ashe, Silque, Beau...where were they? What side had they chosen? She would pray for their safety if she couldn't find them...but first she'd need to save herself.

@Sark @Jeremi

ROMAN
Roman ran as fast as he could across the roof, but trying not to be seen.

He made it to another area, an area away from the courtyard. He hopped from tree to tree in an attempt to avoid detection.

He hopes Maol-Chaluim can protect him.

@Sark

In a flash of emerald thunder, the Goddess leaped from the wreck of the Wider Council chamber. She landing sent a shockwave rippling across the roof, shattering its tiles and dislodging its gargoyles. Murderous intent danced in her eyes. She held the Gohan and Kale in either hands. She effortlessly dangled their them by their heads for a moment or two. She tossed their unconscious bodies off the side of the Temple.

"I can sense it!" She hissed. "Silque's light has already been blotted out! Ashe and Maddie will be joining her shortly! Your escape has failed! You could have exiled the traitors! Imprisoned them! But no! You sin is the same as Urien's. You've incited rebellion where it wasn't needed. You've gotten your allies needlessly killed! Admit it!" She screeched. "Admit that you never should have defied me! Admit it!"

Storm clouds began to gather overhead. Emerald thunder danced from one cloud to another.

"Admit it, and this all goes away! Return to me, and I'll bring them back! I'll take away your doubt! Things can go back to the way things were! Orderly! Peaceful! Please! Return to me!"

@Jeremi @Capri @Yun Lee​