Fantasy Hunter's Moon: The Sin & Sentence [IC] [CLOSED]

[Dmaster]

Hudson dove forward and rolled onto his back after releasing his chains around Azgon, pivoting about as he transitioned into a crouch that dragged his hands across the stone flooring. Eyes on the Icon he quickly got on his feet, spreading them apart as he runs his hand across the blade of the angelic sword. From the base to the end it starts to become bathed in a brilliant radiance, the hunter taking a few steps forward as he raised the heavenly weapon upright, gaining speed as he started to sprint into range of Azgon. "Let's see if I softened your shell up enough for this!" the hunter roared, performing a lateral slash he threw the resulting wave of energies up at the Icon of Wrath, aiming for his chest yet again to deal even more damage to his cracking carapace!

SUPER MOVE: SILENCING STRIKE​

 

[Damian0358]

Watching the others either strike for weak or vulnerable points across Azgon's body, Xiaòzhou knew he'd have to capitalize on that too. However, perhaps it was about time he stepped up to the next level. Akin to Hudson, he too ran his hand across the staff he was using. Unlike him though, he was merely charging the staff with his own qi, as to provide an even harder hit.

Waiting for everyone else to get their hits in, Xiaòzhou rushes in to strike with the qi-charged staff! And whether or not he misses, once he moves back aside, he will launch the qi from the staff at Azgon, as though he were using a firearm.

 

[Breadman]

Feeling that the hammer was about to unleash another torrent of complaints for the missed hit, Henderson slammed it into the ground. But there was something else. The demonic weapon was still absorbing the blood from earlier. It was taking it's time with it by the looks of it and the lack of whining. The mutant could feel the echo inside preparing itself for more.

There was another surge, the hammer was ready for another devastating strike as long as he could hit it.

SUPER MOVE: HUNGERING MAUL​

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

Leakhena grunts in pain after being sent flying while taking such a fierce blow; being struck like that isn’t something she’s felt in a while. Thank the Heavens that the armor’s still sturdy after all these years collecting dust within a tomb, otherwise her insides would’ve actually turned into liquid mash instead of merely feeling like they did. It's glowing too as well, looking like Adriel's spirit flipped a switch and activated it.

"A rough hit, young one. Still, my armor protected you. You must get up. Focus, and keep striking at the false Icon."

A rough hit indeed. “You got that right.” she snidely remarks. And she does rise to her feet without wasting another second, ready to deliver another strike towards Azgon.

 

[K0mori]

Her illusion having failed, Mariette's eagerness to see Azgon killed began turning to frustration. She was still trying to trick and outsmart her opponents, despite all the power she had gained since uniting with her servant and through the corruption of her soul. She bared her fangs as the mysterious reddish-violet smoke began to rise with her breath once more, as it had when she faced Ralvas, but this time there were no sparks nor fire to accompany it. "I need your blood..." she hissed.

She took a few steps toward Azgon before suddenly exploding with her newly-acquired demonic speed and leaping into the air, striking with all her might at the demon's face in hopes of catching him in the eyes. Some part of you must still be soft enough to gouge away...

 

[Infab]

The Heartlands (Dis) - Taranoch's Palace Courtyard - Final Boss Battle - TURN 4
Azathor = 2. Misses Azgon.
Hudson uses Super Move: Silencing Strike. D10 used. Chance Roll = 7. Chance Successful. Does 334 DMG to Azgon. Azgon HP = 4190
Xiaòzhou = 6. Does 11 DMG (5 + 6, Butoo Style, Transcendent Warrior) to Azgon. Azgon HP = 4179
Henderson uses Super Move: Hungering Maul. D10 used. Chance Roll = 10. Chance Successful. Does 500 DMG to Azgon. Azgon HP = 3679
Leakhena = 10. CH Roll = 5. Does 17 DMG (7 + 10, Heavenly Blade) to Azgon. Azgon HP = 3662.
Mariette = 6. Does 5 DMG to Azgon. Azgon HP = 3657
Jakob = 4 + 2 (6, With Badge & Gun.) Does 14 DMG (5 + 9, With Badge & Gun, Shadow's Shotgun, BUCKSHOT!) to Azgon. Azgon HP = 3643
Gwen = 1 + 2 (3, Spiteful Survivalist.) Misses Azgon.
Cassandra = 6 + 3 (9, The Crimson.) Does 24 DMG (5 + 19, The Crimson, Abyssal Estoc) to Azgon. Azgon HP = 3619
Riberta = 6. Does 15 DMG (5 + 10, Adriel's Trident) to Azgon. Azgon HP = 3604.
Vincent uses Super Move: Tyrannical Calesvol. D10 used. Chance Roll = 10. Chance Successful. Does 500 DMG to Azgon. Azgon HP = 3104. Due to the nature of this attack, Vincent suffers 10 DMG. Vincent HP = 3.

The Heartlands (Dis) - Taranoch's Palace Courtyard - Final Boss Battle - TURN 4 (ENEMY)
Azgon is stunned! Cannot attack this turn! (A Wrathful Being.)

------
​

As Azathor swung for Azgon's legs, he would find himself missing as Azgon simply moved out of the way of his slashes. He wasn't dumb; he knew they'd be aiming for weak spots now. And they were. Any cracks in his natural armor. Xiaòzhou's rapid physical qi attack left Azgon stumbling for a moment, due to how rapid the burst was, before Leakhena delivered a vicious jab into his chest with the sword she was using. As she moved out of the way, Jakob unloaded more pellets into Azgon just as Gwen let loose another bolt (which missed.) Cassandra and Riberta didn't miss, however, both driving the points of their weapons into the same spots everyone had been hammering away at. Mariette would swoop in, aiming for Azgon's face and connecting. Temporarily blinding the Icon as he tried to swat her away and regain his vision by wiping his eyes.

And then, Hudson let loose a flash of heavenly light which slashed across Azgon's chest. The cut broke through his hardened skin, causing him to bleed more...which was escalated by the follow up Henderson and Vincent delivered with moves of their own. Henderson's hammer collided with Azgon's chest, forcing the Icon to stumble and take a knee as blood oozed from his now open chest wound. Vincent would come in from behind, delivering a hellish slice across the Icon's back which opened up his back wound. It took a moment for the Icon to stand back up, as if the hard hits from the trio knocked the wind out of him. But stand he did, and he looked more enraged than ever.

"It seems your allies and their...enhanced move sets are proving to be quite effective. Hmm..." said Adriel, her voice trailing off in Leakhena's mind as she repositioned herself away from Azgon. "...I have an idea, but it is up to you as to if you wish it to take place. I must warn you, though...it will be a bit painful for both you as well as your friend, the hybrid. But I have an itch to scratch, and this false Icon would be a perfect target for me."

THREE TURNS BEFORE HUDSON, HENDERSON, AND VINCENT CAN USE THEIR SUPER MOVES AGAIN.​

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

"...I have an idea, but it is up to you as to if you wish it to take place. I must warn you, though...it will be a bit painful for both you as well as your friend, the hybrid. But I have an itch to scratch, and this false Icon would be a perfect target for me."

"Whatever it is you're going to do, make it hurt him!" urges Leakhena. "I don't think it'll get any easier to knock him down again!"

Then suddenly, the armor glows brighter and brighter and brighter, and finally it flares like a flash of electricity surging throughout Leakhena's body. It makes her twitch and convulse slightly until it ceases, leaving her standing firmly upward with a bright glowing coming from her helmet's eyeholes.

SUPER MOVE: ARMOR OF A TITAN​

 

[Dmaster]

Though Hudson landed his holy slash into Azgon he could not relent, immediately starting to sprint closer to him yet again as he tossed his chains and leapt forward. Rapidly he closed the distance, grasping around the Icon's neck once he was forced to kneel before them. Even hellish beings like him could bleed, and the hunter aimed to keep up the relentless punishment so long as he was still standing to deliver it. Swinging closer he attempted to use his momentum to drive his sword deeper into the opened wound - aiming to slash through the exposed sinew and get to Azgon's vital organs. If it would take him a thousand slashes to finish the job, Hudson was still determined to bring the Icon down no matter what.

 

[Damian0358]

Xiaòzhou stepped back to observe how things were going, and noted how once more that blade of Vincent's was draining him. He cringed upon sensing the weakening of Vincent's aura, and instinctively rushed over to him as to heal him. Whilst he was healing Vincent, he'd try his best to meditate standing up right, as to ensure his mind and body remained in balance.

As that was going on, however, he began sensing a sudden rush of energy nearby. Perhaps appropriately, the voice of Zazriel reemerged.

"[...you sense it too, don't you?]" he asked, Takato remaining silent to concentrate, "[Once you're finished assisting your leader, I would really appreciate it if you were to turn around and face that aura,]", he stated with a tone suggesting underlying excitement, the hermit responding with a subtle nod.

 

[K0mori]

Mariette landed from her attack and spun around, expecting to need to dodge, and instead, witnessed her allies finally deliver the sort of devastating blows that were so badly needed against the Icon. She was so thrilled to see him suffer that she nearly forgot how ineffective her own attack had been a moment earlier. Either she had missed his eyes, or his eyelids alone were enough protection to stand against her blade- and the latter idea simply infuriated her. Others draw blood, but I only draw ire... My, love, my love! Cassandra! Don't be ashamed of me! I will show my power another way! She took out her grimoire, her breathing frantic and irregular as she searched for a spell in a wispy cloud of her own demonic haze.

At the same moment, she could sense a powerful aura building within their midst, and knew that someone was preparing some delightfully wicked attack on Azgon, and, unsure of how it would occur, decided she would not allow herself to be in the way. All she wanted to do was render Azgon helpless, like a child, and so she reached for a truly malicious spell. She had robbed her enemies of sight in the past, and now she would do so again, inflicting upon her foe a light so fierce, he couldn't escape it even with his eyelids shut- a torturous blindness!

 

[joshuadim]

Azathor cursed himself under his breath as Azgon dodged his latest attack with a simple sidestep as he slid on his knees before turning quickly about once more. He felt something grow in strength nearby as well, which caused him to still for a moment to look around. What? Who's doing that? he thought to himself in both concern and curiosity before settling on Leakhana. An aura that wasn't hers was rapidly growing in power which caused Azathor to ponder what exactly this entailed before returning his attention to Azgon. He raised his sword to his chest and charged at the Icon once more, stepping forward before before leaping into the air. He readied his blade and aimed to thrust it straight at Azgon's chest where Hudson had successfully struck at with his own artifact.

 

[Infab]

The Heartlands (Dis) - Taranoch's Palace Courtyard - Final Boss Battle - TURN 5
Leakhena uses Super Move: Armor of a Titan. D10 used. Chance Roll = 8. Chance Successful. Does 1000 DMG to Azgon. Azgon HP = 2104.
Hudson = 7 + 1 (8, Velin's Tears.) Does 16 DMG (5 + 11, What I Fight For, Heavenly Blade) to Azgon. Azgon HP = 2088.
Xiaòzhou attempts to heal Vincent. D6 used. Chance Roll = 6. Chance Successful. Vincent regains 17 HP. Vincent HP = 20.
Mariette attempts to blind Azgon. D6 used. Chance Roll = 6. Chance Successful. Azgon has been blinded!
Azathor = 9. Does 15 DMG (5 + 10, Demon Prince) to Azgon. Azgon HP = 2073.
Henderson = 3. Misses Azgon.
Jakob = 7 + 2 (9, With Badge & Gun.) Does 14 DMG (5 + 9, With Badge & Gun, Shadow's Shotgun, BUCKSHOT!) to Azgon. Azgon HP = 2059.
Gwen = 2 + 2 (4, Spiteful Survivalist.) Misses Azgon.
Cassandra = 5 + 4 (9, The Crimson.) Does 27 DMG (5 + 22, The Crimson, Abyssal Estoc) to Azgon. Azgon HP = 2032.
Riberta uses Super Move: A Titan's Retribution. D10 used. Chance Roll = 7. Chance Successful. Does 1000 DMG to Azgon. Azgon HP = 1032.
Vincent = 2 + 3 (5, The Huntsman.) Does 15 DMG (5 + 10, Abyssal Gladius) to Azgon. Azgon HP = 1017.

------
​

The group made their attempts to damage the Icon even more, charging in and delivering more vicious blows. Hudson delivered another slash across the Icon's chest, cutting through some of the flesh and muscle on Azgon's chest before Azgon slung him off. Azathor did the same, the sword piercing his chest but lodging in the thick muscle tissue. Azgon swiped at Azathor, forcing him away, before narrowly dodging Henderson and Gwen's attacks. He wouldn't dodge Jakob's barrage of buckshot, however, nor would he dodge the stabs and slashes of Cassandra and a freshly healed Vincent (thanks to Takato.)

Suddenly, Azgon's eyes went white. He looked about, and began to clutch at them as if he had something on his face. Mariette's spell was working, and Azgon couldn't see now. "You WITCH. When I get my hands on you..." he muttered aloud as he moved about, attempting to locate the demon witch. But he started to feel what the others in the group had noticed. The rise in power and aura coming from Leakhena. He could feel the power growing, as the others could physically see the armor Leakhena radiating light and electricity. And then suddenly, Leakhena erupted into magnificent blue flames. There were no burns. No charred flesh. The flames danced around her, lapping at the gleaming golden armor she wore.

And then she spoke...but not with her own voice. Another manifested from her mouth, as she now gazed upon the Icon. "The longer you persist in this realm, Azgon'carna of Linekt, the more you make my soul burn with hatred. I despise you, Azgon. I despise you and all the other false Icons that serve that bastard named Taranoch. You stand for everything wrong with the Abyss of this era." The others looked to Leakhena, confused. But Azgon knew exactly who was talking. He knew for a fact who it was.

And it terrified him.

Suddenly, lightning and electricity began to flow up the trident in Riberta's hands. With a shocked look on her face, she watched it travel up her arms, until it began to crawl up her neck. And then suddenly her expression faded as her eyes began to emit a similar light to that of Leakhena's own. And then, she spoke with the same voice that Leakhena had been. "You are guilty of crimes against the Kingdom of the Abyss. For betraying your true king, Kaizen, alongside Taranoch and the others. You are unworthy of the title of Icon. You have not earned it like those that came before you. In fact, the only thing you do deserve is a painful execution. You and all the false Icons deserve the same fate...as does your bastard of a leader."

Azgon's face shifted to one of true terror. "I shall not be your executioner, Azgon'carna. It would not be just for me, Adriel'toch, to do so. Instead, it shall be one of these individuals. I am only here on borrowed time. But, that will not stop me from beating the hell from you." spoke Leakhena again. Adriel, the first Demon King of the Abyss, stood among them. Possessing two of their bodies through the use of her artifacts. The others looked on in shock and surprise. And then they witnessed Leakhena moving with the speed and raw power that only Adriel herself could possess.

She bolted towards Azgon with such speed that there was a loud crack. A sonic boom had been created in her wake. And when they looked to Azgon, they found that Adriel had driven her fist into Azgon's chest so hard that his entire chest cavity had collapsed. His thick, hard flesh shattered off his back like glass, scattering several feet behind him. As he doubled over in sheer pain, throwing up blood, Adriel simply looked at her fist. "...That was one punch, Azgon'carna. Surely the mighty, so-called 'Icon of Wrath' has more in him than that." she stated, looking down at the hurling Icon. Surprisingly, Azgon also shared the healing abilities that Ralvas had. Adriel noticed it too. "Ahhh...a rapid healing factor...Perfect." she whispered, before pulling her fist back. "I shall hit you five more times. And then, I shall leave you to them. That is all I can spare."

The flames coating her intensified, before she delivered another punch to the icon. The speed didn't even register for most of the group, but how hard Azgon bounced off the cobblestone did. It was as if he had been spiked like a ball. And then, Adriel delivered another punch to his side. He blew through three pillars, each exploding with violent force as he rocketed through them, before colliding with the staircase leading into the palace. Instead of skipping up the steps, he made a massive crater smack in the middle of them, much to Adriel's satisfaction. "That was three." she stated, before walking casually towards where Azgon lay.

As she neared, he attempted to get out of the rubble, cowering in fear. And as he tried to crawl, Adriel grabbed him by his leg. With a show of strength, she slung him over her, right into the ground behind her. And then, she delivered a vicious stomp. "Four." she stated. The stomp inflicted drove Azgon several inches into the cobble stone, leaving a perfect imprint of his body in the ground. She then reached down, picking the Icon up by his hair with one hand.

As she drew back her other fist, she spoke a single word. "Five." Then, her fist collided with Azgon's face, sending him flipping and skipping across the ground into one of the other pillars. As Azgon struggled to get up, Adriel simply walked over to where the possessed body of Riberta stood. Leakhena looked to Riberta, and both nodded. "Six."

Azgon never saw it coming. Really, he hadn't seen anything. All was still white to him. But he sure as hell felt what came next. Adriel bolted over, lifted the Icon over her head, before tossing the Icon into the air. And what caught him was the massive blast that the group had come to know from Adriel's trident. Firmly gripped in hand, Riberta fired the most powerful blast her body could handle at the Icon. The beam hit Azgon, pummeling his body with brutal efficiency. Burning and mangling the Icon before finally stopping and letting his limp body fall to the cobblestone ground.

"Now...I leave him to the rest of you. Finish him quickly, if you would." stated Adriel, looking to the members of the group. And then, as suddenly as she had came, Adriel left. Leakhena returned to her normal appearance, as did Riberta...but both felt crippling pain and almost collapsed as soon as they were released.

Oddly, however, the group would notice that Azgon was getting up. Something had changed, just like with Ralvas before the end of his life. Azgon looked...larger. More demonic. His flesh almost looked as if it was becoming molten rock, twisting and churning before hardening yet again over the wounds the group had inflicted on him. His horns shifted and grew in length. Turning into long, violent spikes jutting off the top of his head. As time went on, he looked less and less human. More horns sprouted from his shoulders and arms, turning into dangerous looking maul like appendages. His claws grew sharper on his hands, appearing almost razor like now. His muscles rippled beneath is flesh, shifting and reforming. And soon, he turned to face them. A low, rage filled growl flowed forth from the depths of his reformed chest...and he set his sights on Mariette first.

------

The Heartlands (Dis) - Taranoch's Palace Courtyard - Final Boss Battle
Azgon'carna, the Abomination of Wrath


Azgon'carna, the Abomination of Wrath (2500 HP)
Trait #1: An Abomination's Might - May strike all players in a turn (depending on how rolls go.) Does 5 DMG normally.
Trait #2: A Hateful Being - When hit by a Super Move, can roll to counter attack afterwards. When hit with a Coop Super Move (two Super Moves at the same time), is stunned for a single turn.
Trait #3: Wrath Unbound - Cannot be held in place, but can be distracted or blinded.

The Heartlands (Dis) - Taranoch's Palace Courtyard - Final Boss Battle - TURN 5 (ENEMY)
Azgon'carna = 8, 3, 3, 8, 6, 7, 6, 7, 1, 2, 6. Does 5 DMG to Mariette, Azathor, Leakhena, Cassandra, Hudson, Vincent, and Henderson. Misses Jakob, Gwen, Riberta, and Xiaòzhou. Mariette HP = 25, Azathor HP = 30, Leakhena HP = 20, Cassandra = 10, Hudson = 10, Vincent = 15, Henderson = 10.

------
​

Azgon exploded towards Mariette, quickly driving his claws into her body and attempting to force them apart. Attempting to rip her to pieces, just as he said he would. The problem was...it didn't seem as though her armor would let him. As he forced parts of her body apart with his claws, thick fiber-like blood tendrils pulled hard to piece her back together. Soon, he would grow tired of trying, so he cast her aching body aside and focused on his next target. Azathor, the Demon Prince. As Azathor attempted to run away, Azgon grabbed his leg from behind and slung him at one of the walls surrounding the courtyard. He hit with a sickening slap, creating a spiderweb of cracks that scattered about the wall. Next was Leakhena. Feeling especially spiteful, he simply darted towards her and delivered a brutal punch that sent her skipping rapidly across the cobblestone ground until she collided with Cassandra.

Then came Hudson. As he tried to defend himself using his chains, Azgon simply grabbed onto the maul and jerked Hudson towards him. Right into his fist. Once Hudson hit the ground, it was Henderson and Vincent's turn. Azgon bolted towards Henderson and delivered a series of hellacious punches which rocked Henderson's body as if he was being hit repeatedly with a train. When Vincent attempted to intervene to stop it, Azgon simply back slapped him away, sending the hunter sailing into one of the remaining pillars in the courtyard.

Azgon attempted to attack the other remaining members of the group, but found himself missing as they attempted to dodge or avoid the abomination as quickly as they could.

TWO TURNS BEFORE HUDSON, HENDERSON, AND VINCENT CAN USE THEIR SUPER MOVES AGAIN.​

 

[Breadman]

The hammer's vicious strike had collided with Azgon's flesh had knocked something loose. The spirit within let out a cackle that faded away almost instantly. Henderson didn't think much of it. It wanted blood and gore, so he provided. Looks like it was sated for once. He prepared for another strike when he heard the voice again. This time it exploded inside his brain.

"I'M THROUGH AT LAST!" The sudden boom caused the mutant to veer off balance and miss the icon "I have to admit, beast. Your mind is well structured. There's a certain method to your madness. Chaotic at a glance, but every pile has a purpose. I'll make myself at home rather well here."

"The abyss you will!" Henderson barked back to the voice now inhabiting his head. Almost oblivious to Leakhena's own transformation

"Did you think my power came for free?" The demonic echo taunted "I tethered myself to the hammer specifically for this." It's cackle like nail on a chalkboard to Henderson's mind "But do enjoy the show Adriel will bestow for you."

"Get out!"

"Oh it's too late for that, beast." Vul'galuth continued to taunt "You used my power, which let me step inside your mind. You're thinking of tossing the hammer away, but as you can feel it, my claws are already inside your mind!" A brief pause followed only to be broken by the demon's voice again "You really should stop struggling, you're missing the spectacle. Adriel was easily one of the best."

"Oh I'm not letting you make yourself comfortable in there." Henderson got up on his feet, one eye looking at what was going on in front of him, but barely able to focus. "Get out!" He could feel something else getting knocked loose.

"Bah, you're a stubborn one." Vul'galuth said with an annoyed tone "Fine, keep your mind for now. You're incapable of relinquishing the hammer anyway. I'll just bide my time." Another brief pause "Oh...look up..." Henderson did just that and instantly regretted it as the fists collided with him.

The Icon made him spit out blood. Actually a first in this long trek. Forcing himself up once again, he felt another urge. A deep growl in the pit of his stomach. Bearing his teeth, the mutant let out a growl. He needed to feed.

 

[joshuadim]

Azathor felt blood pool in his mouth as something cracked in his body from the impact against the wall. The wind was knocked out of him entirely as he fell down to the ground from where hew as thrown and tumbled for a bit before coming to a stop. He struggled to breath momentarily as he gathered his bearings and tried to recover. He had never seen Azgon like this before so this was entirely uncharted territory for him. But what was more shocking was Adriel seemingly possessing two of the people he had been helping, which brought plenty of questions to his mind as he slowly got up and recovered his breathing.

He spit out some blood in anger before wiping his mouth and charging forward again towards the Icon. He would pay for that last blow.

 

[K0mori]

Mariette had achieved what she so desperately wanted, if only for a moment. Azgon was helpless, by her own hand. But what came next was so far beyond her expectations that she could barely maintain her focus on the hex: Adriel's possession of Riberta and Leakhena had forced her jaw to drop. No matter what the Abyssal Queen had said, Mariette was convinced the punishment she was delivering would annihilate Azgon completely.

And then, as the dust settled, she realized that not only did Azgon have a true form, unmasked by their brutality, but that the witch no longer held any power over him, and with his vision restored, he wanted vengeance. He stormed on her, as he always did, tearing into her and with his Iconic strength he pulled her in two directions. Mariette cried out in horrific pain, her abdomen ripping open and exposing the viscera.

Be strong, Master! I am with you! I need you!

Inside her flesh, the silvery veins of the servant slithered to and fro, linking her bones and organs together like a web of chords and wrenching against Azgon's power, pulling Mariette back together! The Icon grew frustrated, grabbing Mariette's arms and dislocating them, but as he tried to rip them loose from their sockets, again, the armor resisted it. It's shimmering silver now closed up around her cheeks until only her mouth, eyes, and nose peeked out. Even her hair had taken on an otherworldly, silvery sheen. She and her servant were now fully integrated, inside and out.

Tossed aside, it took a while before the snapped bones, torn ligaments, and shredded muscle could be mended, but soon, Mariette climbed back to her feet, shakily. Her horns had reached their full length now, and she could feel a host of new sensations. Her metamorphosis was complete, and she was no longer a chimera. She was a demon, through and through, and that was the only reason she had survived the onslaught.

Master... Are you..?

"BLOOOOOD!!!"

The voice which boomed out of her was as shrill as it was wicked, a banshee's scream. Instantly, the sword was fused with her arm once more, and Mariette, still staggering as her body desperately mended itself, was drooling incessantly through clenched fangs. Sparks of demonic fire turned to glittering flares of reddish-violet abyssal flame that engulfed her, from her feet up to her hair, as she let out one inhuman scream after another, her eyes darting between friend and foe as if she wasn't sure what was happening or who to attack.

She set her sights on Azgon and focused for a moment, and it all finally began to make sense again. "YOU," she declared, "DIE!"

With that, she sprinted at the Icon. His toughened flesh no longer mattered; she had the strength. She was going to pierce it. As he turned to receive her, she stopped, out of his reach, and raised her sword as if to stab. But as she did, it came loose, not from the hand, but from the wrist, flying like a javelin at the Icon as tethers made of the silvery tendrils within her spooled out of her stunted wrist.

SUPER MOVE: ABYSSAL TRANSFUSION​

 

[Dmaster]

Hudson couldn't ever imagine this fight being this batshit insane, especially so soon after the last. One minute he's slashing into Azgon and the next he's flung to the ground while Leakhena and Riberta are being possessed by a demon that was moving their bodies at imperceptible speeds. Fortunately for everyone involved it seemed like that demon had a terrible hatred for Azgon, and it seemed to have weathered him down for the most part - that was until he started to pick up a second wind.

When Azgon arose with his now molten form Hudson attempted to retaliate by swinging his maces into previous wounds, yet the massive being grabbed onto them and simply used them to fling him into one of those boulder-like fists. The hunter gave a shout as he was sent flying through the air and slammed into the floor of the courtyard, vision blurred as he could feel one of his legs had been dislocated in the tumbling fall. Shakily he stood himself back up, peering up at the Icon through his helmet as he stumbled, a hand to his hat to hold it in place as he gave a wheeze of pain.

Undeterred, Hudson began to perform a malicious approach to Azgon, only marred by the slight limp he was doing at this time. "No matter how many times you knock me down, I'm gonna stand back up..." he groaned under his breath, launching himself into the fray with his retracting chains yet again. He caught a glimpse of Mariette in the middle of her episode, turning his head away from her just as his chains tightened and started to pull him upward. This time Hudson was aiming to drive his blade right into that monster's throat.

 

[Damian0358]

Xiaòzhou turned around to face the growing aura before them, and was shocked to see what was happening. What he had barely felt earlier from Leakhena was now emerging in full force, and had seemingly possessed her! Though he was massively intimidated, Zazriel's voice echoed in contrast.

"[There she is! Her Greatness herself!]" Zazriel practically yelled out enthusiastically, to the hermit's surprise.

"[Her Greatness?! Truly, you don't mean...]" Xiaòzhou was confounded, as he hadn't realized these royal artifacts had the ability to possess someone in such a manner.

"[Indeed, O ascetic daimon! Adriel herself has come before us!]" Zazriel proclaimed, "[You may want to help your two compatriots later however, for what Adriel is doing right now... well, it won't really hurt them, but it will feel painful. Some suppression of that would be good.]"

"[...I'll be sure to keep that in mind,]" Xiaòzhou responded in a concerned tone, before Zazriel abruptly spoke once more.

"[Aa, it has been too long since I've been able to listen to her speak as so! To receive the opportunity to hear her speak to such ill-respectable beings such as he, it brings me back to my days as her advisor. I've missed her so dearly,]" Zazriel added, as Xiaòzhou felt a tinge of sadness in his voice. He could sense the appreciation he had for her.

Suddenly, Leakhena moved with such speed and raw power that only Adriel herself could possess, prompting shock from Xiaòzhou and awe from Zazriel.

"[Yes, yes! My queen's might, just as I remember it!]" Zazriel yelled excitedly.

"[...I can already feel how much pain Leakhena is going to be going through...]" Xiaòzhou remarked in response.

At Zazriel's behest, the two continued to witness the absolute demolition of the false Icon of Wrath that was Azgon, all the while he cheered on his Queen. The power and speed at display was absolutely phenomenal in the eyes of the hermit, wondering whether he could be able to match up to that.

"[If you keep things up at your current pace, you might get close to this,]" Zazriel responded to his thoughts, prompting some shock.

"[Are you sure? I sincerely doubt I can stack up to a-]"

"[Modesty, she would've appreciated that, even if this is merely a sliver of what she can do,]" Zazriel cut the hermit off, "[Now, I've been going through your memories, and watching your escalation in power not only throughout your life but throughout this very journey has been in some ways awe-inspiring in its own rights. Even before bringing your shadow to peace, you had been able to use those talismans of yours to enhance your speed, your strength, and add something extra to your mystic attacks. However, you truly didn't need them, and yet you paid respect to those of your time and to the people of your land, and used them anyway. You have the ability to outpace all of them, but rather than overpower them, you seek to be their equal, for them to be able to achieve the same. All I am saying is do not underestimate your abilities, daimon, for you have astonishing potential.]"

Xiaòzhou didn't know what to say, neither to Zazriel's remark nor to Adriel's final strike through Riberta, the latter prompting a cheery chuckle from the King in his mind. The two listened on to Adriel's final statement, before Riberta and Leakhena were returned to them. Feeling their crippling pain, Xiaòzhou immediately set upon sending them qi to quell the pain, though taking his sight off of Azgon in the process.

"[I would recommend watching out in just a moment, daimon.]"

"[Azgon is metamorphosing just as Ralvas had, that much I can feel.]"

"[Yes, but specifically, he's about to attack despite his immense humiliation, and he will take no quarter.]"

Sensing Azgon beginning to move, Xiaòzhou turned his attention to the Icon and watched as he laid waste to many within the group, bringing them as low as Venextos had been during their previous battle. He had managed to avoid attack, and considered concentrating on those hurt, but Zazriel's voice rang through.

"[Hermit, please! Heed Adriel's words! We must finish him quickly!]" Zazriel pleaded.

"[If the others are to die, we won't have the strength necessary to defeat him!]"

"[We have all the strength we need, in you and the sliver that is I!]" Zazriel yelled out.

"[Do you not see how he rushes!? Any attack from afar would help naught at this point!]"

"[Not under my watch! Listen! I've seen your ultimate, what do you call it, 'mystic barrage'? The final card of your personal Butoo Ascetic set, 'Mountain's Peace Under the Setting Sun'! Through my assistance, it would prove strong enough to finish this threat!]" Zazriel revealed enthusiastically.

"[...I can't do my final talisman alone in pair with another,]" Xiaòzhou stated, respecting the rules even at a point like so.

"[Aa, yes, I forgot. Thankfully, it needn't be alone! You carry with you your master's final card of his own set as well, 'Piety to All Families, Beyond Sagely Transcention'. Even now, he watches over you too, no? So, it would be fair to use it as well,]" Zazriel said, but before the hermit could respond, he continued, "[But perhaps it would be ill-fit in your eyes for me to use it. Perhaps, if you would induct me, I can partake with a mystic barrage of my own?]"

"[...you don't have to if you don't want to,]" Xiaòzhou responded in a meek fashion.

"[Then, out of respect to you and your beliefs, and due to my own fascination with this style, I will partake!]" Zazriel responded gleefully.

Xiaòzhou moved back to one side, going through his bag to find the container of his talismans, before pulling out a couple yet-drawn-in ones. Scrapping off the dirt on the floor to act as his ink, he allowed Zazriel to use his artificial arm to create his own set. Swiftly, he wrote down, in a mix of both the characters used now by the oni, and the demonic scripture of his own time.

"[There! I shall declare it the Mingyuanjie (冥淵界, Abyssal Realm/Underworld) Set! Mingyuan may not accurately represent the Abyss of my time (冥淵, 'dark abyss'), but it is certainly more appropriate than Diyu or Yinjian. And with it, its final card, 'Sequestered In The Name of Those Loved'! In tow, we now have three generations' worth of strength behind us! Xiaòzhou, are you ready!?]"

Xiaòzhou paused to take a breath, knowing how this was likely to be intense, with Zazriel channeling his energy into him, and having charged energy earlier himself.

"[...I am]," he responded, as he drew out both his and his master's final cards, and put away all but Zazriel's final card.

The three talisman-like cards floated in front of the hermit, as he aimed them toward Azgon. His artificial arm flared up, his miniscule projectiles coming out to be charged as the cards began to glow. This attack would be a remembrance of the Abyss of yore, an appreciation of the Upper Redonia of now, and a hopeful look-forward to the times ahead. Where all people, whether under the Dou's natural order or Zazriel's Divine Order, are able to transcend and reach their apex in tandem with nature. Where they are all one and everything, and nothing all at once! A whirlwind of qi, in the name of all those who needlessly suffer still!

Xiaòzhou pushed his hands forward, toward Azgon. He remembered all those he had encountered, and all that he had learned, allowing it to fuel his strength in this very moment. In his voice echoing Zazriel, he yelled out this three-card combo attack! "May you be reminder of...!"

SUPER MOVE: THE ONE WAY'S ETERNAL ORDER​

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

A torrent of vomit spills out of Leakhena's mouth as the excruciating pains of being possessed, pushed beyond her limits by Adriel, and consequently being struck again by Azgon is proving way too much for her body to take. Her body's aching all over and had she not have been conscious throughout it, she would've thought Adriel purposefully had her beaten up by Azgon, and perhaps even jumped into a wall or two for good measure. She stumbles onto a pillar for support; otherwise she would've remained on the floor due to the pain.

"G-Gods," she says, wiping her mouth and noticing there was a bit of blood in there too. "I don't know how much more of this I can take!"

Trying very hard to come back to her senses, she spots Hudson limping towards Azgon; fighting through the pain just to get to him. Instead of waiting for him to request aid, Leakhena reaches into her bag and with hurting arms, she throws a canteen of enchanted drink towards him. She yells at him to get his attention.

"HUDSON! TAKE IT!"

 

[Infab]

The Heartlands (Dis) - Taranoch's Palace Courtyard - Final Boss Battle - TURN 6
Henderson attempts to bite Azgon'carna. D6 used. Chance Roll = 3. Chance Failed.
Azathor = 6. Does 15 DMG (Demon Prince) to Azgon'carna. Azgon'carna HP = 2485.
Mariette uses Super Move: Abyssal Transfusion. D10 used. Chance Roll = 9. Chance Successful. Does 1000 DMG to Azgon'carna. Azgon'carna HP = 1485. Due to the nature of this Super Move, Mariette gains 20 HP. Mariette HP = 45.
Hudson = 6 + 1 (7, Velin's Tears.) Does 17 DMG (5 + 12, What I Fight For, Heavenly Blade) to Azgon'carna. Azgon'carna HP = 1468.
Xiaòzhou uses Super Move: The One Way's Eternal Order. D10 used. Chance Roll = 6. Chance Successful. Does 1000 DMG to Azgon'carna. Azgon'carna HP = 468.
Leakhena attempts to heal Hudson. D6 used. Chance Roll = 5. Chance Successful. Hudson regains 5 HP. Hudson HP = 15.
Jakob = 7 + 2 (9, With Badge & Gun.) Does 14 DMG (5 + 9, With Badge & Gun, Shadow's Shotgun, BUCKSHOT!) to Azgon'carna. Azgon'carna HP = 454.
Gwen = 5 + 2 (7, Spiteful Survivalist.) Does 15 DMG (5 + 10, Abyssal Tome) to Azgon'carna. Azgon'carna HP = 439.
Cassandra uses Super Move: Pierce the Veil. D10 used. Chance Roll = 10. Chance Successful. Does 500 DMG to Azgon'carna. Automatic Execution. Azgon'carna is dead.

------​

The group unleashed their barrage of attacks, determined to put the altered abomination known as Azgon'carna once and for all. Henderson attempted to bite into Azgon When he neared him, but the altered beast of an Icon managed to avoid him with remarkable speed. Forcing Henderson to stumble and fall as he missed him. Hudson and Azathor didn't miss, however, as both delivered brutal stabs and slashes to the Icon. He slung them off as quickly as they hit him, both sliding across the cobblestone on their backs. Luckily for Hudson, Leakhena was there to provide some aide with her drinks. She tossed him a canteen, which he downed quickly and felt rejuvenated. At least a bit, anyway.

Jakob and Gwen also unleashed their own attacks, hitting the Icon with buckshot and magical bolts. The Icon seemed to shrug them off, letting out a low roar of rage at the group. But then came the heavier hits. Mariette, screaming like a banshee at the abomination, seemed to FIRE her entire needle-like arm at the Icon. It rocketed through the air, silver tendrils connecting the weapon to her arm as it flew through the air and impaled into the Icon's chest. He let out a roar as the strange appendage burst through his thick chest, and seemed to struggle for a few moments in an attempt to pull the weapon out. All the while, the abomination's blood was being sucked through the silver tendrils into Mariette. Feeding her the blood she so desperately wanted.

Eventually, he ripped the weapon out of his chest...and bits of his chest came with it. The weapon had embedded itself into him using sharp hooks and spikes, and as he pulled it out, more of those silver tendrils had been injected into his chest. Draining his blood from his body. Once they were out, he slung the weapon back at her...leaving him wide open for Takato's Super Move.

In a magnificent display, Takato pummeled the Icon down to where he was barely able to stand. The Icon couldn't take much more punishment, and as he let out his final dying roars, another individual effectively silenced him. Cassandra, whom had been biding her time and waiting for the right moment to strike, launched into battle.

Like a knight weilding a lance in a jousting match, she lined up her estoc with Azgon mutated head. A sadistic grin on her face, as her eyes burned as red as the blood staining the rest of her body from her injuries. And with a flash, leaving an after image behind her, she rocketed towards Azgon.

And she hit, driving the estoc all the way through Azgon's skull and out the other side. The Icon was silenced near immediately, his body going limp and collapsing as Cassandra gave the estoc a sharp twist and pulled the blade out of Azgon's brain.

The battle was over. Azgon'carna, the Icon of Wrath, was dead.

 

[joshuadim]

It was over. Yet Azathor felt no joy in this victory as he simply watched Azgon's body go limp from Cassandra's final blow that pierced his head. With the fight now finished, he silently walked over to the Icon's corpse and looked it over for a moment before kneeling down and touched what remained of his head. For all the abuse he had endured from him and the hatred he held as a result... he still couldn't help but feel some respect. A truly unflinching enemy that fought to the bitter end, who lived for the fight and for the fight alone. There were things Azathor had learned from him that had made him stronger in the end and helped him put an end to this chapter of his own trauma. He closed his eyes and whispered: "Goodbye."

A few moments of silence passed before he stood up again and sheathed his sword. "...we need to go."

 

[Damian0358]

As he had prepared his attack, Xiaòzhou noted the attack Mariette was doing, to what extent her body had morphed and become demonic. The moment he unleashed 'The One Way's Eternal Order', would be after Azgon had liberated himself from her, when he could strike at him without carrying her with him.

Several massive qi blasts began charging at the Icon of Wrath, bashing him left and right, as he found himself off the floor. Smaller qi orbs forming all over began charging forth and damaging his transformed-yet-weakened body. Zazriel's influence over the attack could be found, as the qi started forming symbols and icons reminiscent to those of found during his and Adriel's time, all while baring their colors. Azgon would be flung to the earth and back into the air as more and more of Zazriel's attacks punctured him. Shan Douzhou's influence could be seen next, with qi in a variety of shapes and sizes, reflecting the pains and tribulations Upper Redonia had gone through during the Age of Darkness, in a mix of the old Imperial colors and reoccuring Douean colors, before giving way to the standardized mystic barrage shapes recognized there today, a reflection on how far the land had come since those time, culminating in a symbolic representation of the Douean taikyokuzu, representing both belief and land.

Finally, with the circle of multiplicity, Gaá Xiaòzhou's influence came through, as Douzhou's qi morphed and improved, joined by new shapes and colors, reflective of both his oni heritage, and his time spent in exile in Adonia. Everything he has lost and gained, echoed in spectacular fashion for all of them to see. Though he was saddened Venextos could not be hear to witness this sight, the hermit pushed through all that he could to maximize the crescendo of his attack. The distant past, the wider present, and now, a look to the days to be, tied by the thread of natural order even between three folk of different pasts, as folks witnessed a metaphorical representation of the character for oni (𣆠), with Butoo Mountain striking Azgon from below and the Sun striking him from above.

In that final moment, where all the qi released would be intensified and concentrated into the floating and disheveled Icon of Wrath, as Xiaòzhou pushed forth and yelled with all his might, in the corners of his eyes, he noted two figures - to his right, he saw his master, Shan Douzhou, while to his left, he saw what he believed was Zazriel himself. In that moment, they too joined him in pushing forth, arms stretched out and palms opened and facing towards Azgon. All three of them together yelled with all their might, collapsing all the qi into Azgon, and slamming him into the dirt!

With the attack finished, Xiaòzhou dropped to one knee, as he looked to his sides once more, only to find the two were never there in the first place. As he breathed slowly to get his bearings, he found himself witnessing Azgon just barely able to stand off the floor. He could sense the Icon's gaze upon him, as he let his final dying roars, but before he could do anything, he was silenced. Cassandra had taken the opening he had left, and taken it all the way. She had killed him.

"[Congratulations!]" he could hear Zazriel cheering him on, "[What a beautiful art this mystic barrage is! Your homeland had really come up with an ingenious solution for magic. Thank you for giving me this opportunity.]"

Xiaòzhou merely nodded and smiled in response, raising his left arm up and beginning to heal all those around him. Whatever they did next, he'd follow, because as Zazriel had alluded to earlier, this wasn't why they came here.

 

[Dmaster]

Hudson clutched the canteen that was tossed to him after Azgon flung the hunter off of him again, coughing as he finished gulping it down and slowly sat himself up. He still remained on his back as he witnessed the end of the Icon, gruesomely ended by Mariette, Xiaòzhou, and Cassandra's attacks. With a grunt he started to begin standing up slowly as the towering Azgon was left with a hollowed head and a hollowed chest cavity, Hudson clutching his abdomen as he knew that between Henderson, Mariette, and Cassandra that they were running out of time.

Fortunately the oni formerly known as Takato started to apply healing to everyone that needed it, and he could feel his dislocated leg popping itself back into place. That alone prompted Hudson to grunt before he sheathed his sword and began to walk toward the others. "Yeah, this was a real fucking dead end." he replies to Azathor, looking to the horizon through his helmet. "He mentioned that a demon sorceress named Mazgith had them. Do you know her or where she might be?"

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

Rejuvenated by Takato's healing, though still feeling rather sore, Leakhena's finally able to stand up after the beating she both delivered and endured earlier. With her strength somewhat back, the first thing she does is walk over to what's left of Azgon's body. Just as she did with Ralvas, she also does here. She prods his dead body several times just to be sure he truly is dead, carves out a small chunk of his dead body with her sword, and eats from it. As she eats, she decides to deliver one last insult to him.

"Oh, you poor thing. You couldn't even kill a cook." A firm boot is planted into his side as she kicks him.

Once that's finished, she walks over to Hudson with the intent of checking on him. "Are you alright? I have more." she says, while also opening up another canteen herself and drinking it.

 

[K0mori]

As before, the taste of an Icon's blood was beyond wonderful. Through the use of the armor's tendrils, Mariette had taken far more in than she had with Ralvas, enough to bring the mighty Azgon halfway to death's door before the others could bring final obliteration upon him. She hadn't scored the final blow, or issued any potent parting words, but she found it difficult to be disappointed with the results. In fact, she found it difficult to care about a single thing, really- she was radiant, powerful, and practically glowing as she stared at the aftermath of the violence.

It's over... It's over! It's over!?

Yes, Master. You and your friends have triumphed.

"Oh. Oh my... oh la la, I feel invincible..." Mariette lauded as she held her off hand against her horns, barely grounded in reality. Her aura had grown considerably stronger since taking in the Icon's blood. Her attention suddenly snapped to Cassandra, and in a near blink of the eye, she was face-to-face with her lover, startling her. "Oh Cass, we should never leave this place! I would never have believed that there could be a life more intoxicating than that of a mere pureblood, but this is just... bliss." She turned, and with an arcane gesture, the reddish violet mist swirling all around her became a focused orb in the palm of her hand. She waited for Azathor and Leakhena to move away before blasting the corpse of Azgon, causing it to erupt into hellish flames.

Mariette laughed, darkly. Cassandra, however, didn't share her revelry. She couldn't see the woman she loved anymore. There was still a physical resemblance, of course, but it was as if a different individual were occupying a hollowed out facsimile. And the demon calling herself Mariette didn't seem to notice Cassandra's expression. Or worse, perhaps she knew, and didn't care.

 

[Infab]

Cassadra shifted quite quickly out of her blood crazed state, looking at the estoc. She hated this thing. She hated it so much. It was turning her back into that monster she had been before. Back on Grimtham. But what she hated more was that the suit of armor had morphed and consumed her lover and closest friend, turning her completely into a demon. Horns jutted out of the top of Mariette's head. Her speech was off. Her eyes, yellow. Cassandra's expression shifted to one of true despair. Mariette was to be bound to the Abyss for the rest of eternity, unable to return to her lovely vineyards in Escaria, and Cassandra could do nothing about it. But she couldn't bring herself to say something to Mariette. At least not in that moment.

Hudson's question was promptly answered by a familiar voice. "She isn't here. Not that I can tell, anyway." The group looked about to discover Xager standing near the corpse of Azgon, a short distance away from Cassandra. "Mazgith never strays far from Taranoch, unless he orders her to. And we will not put you in that kind of danger. We must consider this objective on your journey as failed, and get you carefully back to the Abyssal Gate that you came through to get here. You have saved Valeria, so that is a victory unto itself."

When she finished speaking, she glanced down to Azgon's corpse. "...Really, I consider you having four victories here. You have disrupted the balance of power, killed two Icons, and saved Valeria." She nodded afterwards, before looking to the others. "Now, we must move quick--" she managed to get out, before her eyes went wide as she noticed a new powerful aura appear behind the group. Blades appeared in her hands, and she took a battle stance. "SHIT! HE'S HERE!" she barked.

Some of the group shifted about, and there, standing alone, was Sazak himself. "I FOUND YOU MOTHERFUCKERS." he spat, his voice shifting between tones. Sazak looked visibly furious, but his tone shifting was due in part to his vessel visibly cracking and falling apart. Most of the skin on his vessel's face had broken and fallen off, revealing a solid black void with a piercing burning eye. It was the female vessel that Sazak was known to be fond of, a blonde woman with a scarred mouth and black outfit. He was hunched over, and across his shoulder lay what appeared to be a massive hellish zweihander. Sazak's personal blade. He had come to kill them all and reclaim what was his.

------
​

A few minutes prior...

The Keep
Vucrox
The Land of Dead Kings


There it was...an empty cell. The same cell he had been to a countless number of times before. To bring himself a little happiness taunting one of the singular creatures in all of creation that he completely hated with every fiber of his being. Her entire bloodline, he utterly hated. His hatred knew no bounds for that creature and her ancestors. It was absolute.

And here, before him...the one place where he could be happy, peering through the darkness at his creature he hated...had been opened. Valeria had been removed from it, and taken elsewhere. By two specific individuals whom he had kept as servants for the past thirty years, and a group of individuals who he should have annihilated as soon as he found out they had entered the Abyss.

They has taken her from him. And that made him...furious.

His rage was pulsing through his form, breath forcing through his clenched teeth. His eyes were still burning yellow embers, but something new was happening. His rage was burning so powerfully within him that it was starting to destroy his vessel. His favorite vessel was falling apart.

It didn't take long at all for Sazak to emerge back into the cold air at the center of Vucrox. And waiting for him, among the bodies left behind by the group outside the Keep's doors, was Vixas. Sazak glared at the tall, thin demon for but a moment. Vixas went to speak, lifting up his hand, but Sazak didn't allow him to. Sazak darted forth, and Vixas exploded into a mist of blood and gore. Sazak had ripped the guide apart with his bare hands. He needed something to take out his rage on...and Vixas was a prime target. He had lead the idiots to Valeria, he bet. As his vessel broke apart even more, he snapped his fingers. He knew where they likely went. Dis. They probably went after the artifacts. And with Taranoch away, they could search his palace for them. He summoned his weapon, a hellish slab of Abyssal steel that had served him since the Age of Darkness. A weapon the people from Daristein called a zweihander. And then, he stepped through the portal.