Meta was rather surprised by the sudden appearance of the Roman-ish girl. She quickly turned into her direction and her fingers curled around the hilt of one of the swords dangling by her hips. She listened to her words, a bit beweirded by them, yet it somehow felt natural to her that people just appeared out of nowhere and started talking to her. "Who are you?" She asked warily. "What is your business with Awai?"

"Oh," said Riul, slightly embarrassed, "My name is Riul. I'm sort of Awai's armor bearer in a sense. There are just a few things I needed to ask him, I had heard he was here..." She eyed Meta's swords with a mixture of curiousity and caution. "I won't harm you," she added, then finished with a small laugh, "I seriously doubt I even could. Most of my efforts are focused in training and helping Awai. Watching him helps me increase my own skills though. Awai and I are focused in the same areas.

“The Seven Perfect Weapons, eh?” Blazen repeated. He looked to the ground with a small hum. He thought about it for a moment and then looked up. He nodded faintly.

“Yeah…kind of.” Blazen replied, a bit unsure. Yes that sounded familiar, but he wasn’t sure if he really heard much of them. Blazen looked a bit frustrated however, still trying to think clearly of the weapons. He gave up quickly, as he got a migraine.

Ellie smirked at Blazen's futile efforts. She pointed a thumb over her shoulder, up at the mountains. "Up there's one of them. I think you two should go get it before someone more... undesirable does."

"Wait," Meta told Riul in a hold-the-phone-for-a-minute manner, "are you related to Awai or something? Is that what you're trying to tell me? Are you his daughter or something, or --the Devil forbid it-- Electra's mother?" She asked, her eyes looking beweirdedly at Riul, her brow frowned.


(OOC: FYI, if you don't know exactly who or what Electra is, she's Awai's daughter who used to be transformed into a giant lightning hawk.)

The blow smashed into Malvettix, rocketing him and R.D. away from Matt as he descended toward Earth. Bearing his fangs, Malvettx grabbed Shell Bullet with one clawed hand. Flattening the other into a knifehand, he stabbed into the Dragon King armor, just above where the ribs would be.

R.D. grunted and snarled as the knifehand pierced his armor, biting into his ribs. He couldn't feel the skin break, and despite the pain, forced his attack. The amnesiac teen struggled to pull his arm closer to him, crossing it over his shoulder and dragging Malvettix with him. The hip cannons swung open again and fired.

X rushed through the enemy forces, mowing them down left and right with his sword. He jumped and kicked off the shoulders of one of them to gain more air. He spotted an empty patch on the far side of the ranks that he decided to land on.

He never did.

Just as he began his descent there was a bludgeoning CRACK! that sent him flying. A shadow passed over X's eyes as he fell to the ground. The shadow swooped over him and picked him up, throwing him to the ground just outside the battle.

X rolled away from the figure, bringing himself up to one knee. The figure became clear. X recognized the insignia on his breastplate.

How could he forget?

Paying no real heed to the cannons firing into him, Malvettix's coat changed again, forming tendrils that coiled around Shell Bullet. "Get off me." The tendrils constricted and held in place as Malvettix pushed R.D. away, with strength that would send him flying.

Damn it! In freefall, Matt glanced down at the bloody slash across his chest. Motherfucker! I'll kill you for that! Currents of air swirled underneath him, stopping his descent until he hovered in the air. As he recovered he shot foward, just as Malvettix tossed away R.D., and landed a vicious punch across his foe that drove Malvettix toward the ground. The same tendrils that threw R.D. extended and drove into the ground to slow the dark one's descent. With exertion, they flung Malvettix back into the air, where he and Matt met in a frenzied grapple that sent them both plummeting back down.

R.D. cried out as he plummeted, his body spinning in freefall before he finally impacted into the ground. Dust filled the air as the ground shattered beneath him. When the dust cleared, it revealed that he had landed upright, his fist hammered into the ground. The visor of his helmet had opened up, revealing an expression of pain and anger. Looking about, he saw something strike X down. Immediately he ran forward towards them, ripping his Phase Scythe from the ground and holding it tightly in his left hand as he passed by it.

At Meta's remark Riul forced herself to restrain a giggle. "No I'm not related to him. Though that would ndeed be on honor." Riul wondered why Meta was so curious about who she was. It was possible that she could be considered something other than a helper to Awai, perhaps some sort of stalker or murderer. There would be no way to prove against these accusations though so she hoped that Meta would believe her. "When I said we were focused in the same areas, I was simply referring to the fact that generally our techniques are based on the element of light."

The black-armored man smiled as he saw RD. "My my, X. Seems you found yourself some new allies." He turned to RD and waved. "But I don't really think we should be introduced just yet. I didn't come for them. I think we both know why I'm here."

X got back up and glared at the man. "Go to Hell, Templar."

The man put on a face of mock-offense. "Is that any way to greet me, X? Our organization and you go way back. Now w--"

"Why are you here?"

"All in good time, X. All in good time."

The man grabbed X by the neck and snapped his fingers. The surroundings shifted, and stabilized again, far from the battlefield.

"Now." The Templar said, "Let's get down to business."

"Crossfire..." Extending his hands, Matt thrust them at Malvettix below him. "Hurricane!"

Ankhs of fire shot from his hands, striking Malvettix with burning impact as they moved to form a pillar of swirling fire about the two falling combatants. Over and over, Matt's fists hammered his burning foe, pounding and pounding, until he raised one last fist and punched downward, sending Malvettix into the earth with tremendous impact.

As Helena arced over the wall of blades with Hugo in tow, she saw this blow. It looked like Matt was winning, but for how long?

"Ah." Meta simply said back. "Right, light." She said. I appear to be meeting a lot of light-nutties lately, just like I've been meeting angelic robots and people like that. She thought to herself. "Sooo... what are you really? A fan of his? Student, secret adorer?"

R.D. blinked. One moment, X and the dark warrior had been standing there, the next, they were gone. What the hell? he thought, looking around frantically. The front of his helmet reformed into the dark visor, and R.D. scanned the area for where they were, but it was coming up inconclusive. The amnesiac let loose a rather draconic growl.

He stumbled when the shockwave from Malvettix's impact into the ground and looked over at it. Deciding that he can do something about that battle, he rushed towards the battle.

Malvettix split a grin. "I'm impressed."

"Shut the hell up." Matt's grip tightened, keeping his enemy in place as the dust cleared.

"I'm serious." Malvettix made no effort to struggle. "Last time, there was much to be desired, but now...you've fought me with all of your strength. That's how battle should be fought. Like madmen."

"Do you get off on this shit or something?" Matt demanded, dragging Malvettix closer to his face. "What the fuck do you want with me?!"

Malvettix tilted his head back. "What do you think?" Shadow serpents wrapped around Matt's arms and pushed him away, allowing Malvettix to back up.

"Big shock," Matt deadpanned as the serpents withdrew. "Everyone wants this damn thing."

"Some do." Malvettix stood back to full height, eyeing Matt. "But we've done enough talking. Let's get back to the matter at hand."

They clashed again in a flurry of blows.

Why did Meta keep asking the same thing? Riul decided patience would be the best approach here seeing as Meta could probably wipe the floor with her if she wanted to. "No, I'm not as low as some fan. As I said, I'm in a sense, his armor bearer, an apprentice so to speak." Riul averted her eyes from Meta and cupped her hands. The light around her dimmed, and she opened her hands revealing a small rabbit. It bounded out of her hands happily and hopped up to Meta's foot sniffing curiously. Riul let a small smile creep across her face. Even though things were disturbing in the rest of the world at times, it was nice to have a little friend of light. The rabbit hopped back towards Riul and leapt onto her shoulder. Riul smiled at the rabbit and turned her view back to Meta. "Now you know who I am, tell me more about you."

"Hmm." Meta let out. She wasn't sure if she should tell the girl who claimed to be close with Awai in a student-teacher way. Then again, she had already told the others, so it would be highly unlikely if this Riul girl would not find out about who and what she was soon anyway. Like Riul had done, Meta cupped her hands in front of her, the thought of showing her what she was in the same way as Riul had just done. A small orb shimmered into existence, coloured black, and it shifted and twisted and it was bubbling, until it took an actual, animalistic shape. The orb-creature let out a shriek as it flapped it's batwings and flew around the near area for a bit before landing on the hilt of the broadsword Meta carried on her back. Meta glanced at it for a moment, then turned to Riul. "My name is Meta, I am the daughter of Xastra and the sister of ZetsumeiRyu, both of whom you may be familiar with."

Even as Matt and Malvettix tore into each other on the ground, Helena could see them clearly. Still she worried-could Matt win, while last time he was reduced to terror by the powers of Malvettix? That's what willed her toward the fight. Though Malvettix was a force she did not want to confront...if she could become a helpful Variable Arm for Matt, then he could take care of Malvettix.

"You ready?" Hugo asked. Sliding back the chamber on his pickaxe, he pointed his weapon at Malvettix below, charging.

"...yeah."

R.D. arrived at the edge of the battlefield as Matt and Malvettix attempted to rip each other apart. He saw a vague, fleeting shadow and looked up, spying Helena gliding on the thermals toward the battle. He smirked. Maybe we have a chance after all.

R.D. turned his gaze back to the battlefield and spread his legs apart evenly, arching his back while he closed the fingers of his right hand, one at a time.

I just need one opening to knock him clear, he thought, I only have one shot left, but that's all I need!

"Oraoraoraoraoraoraoraoraora~!" Matt's punches assualted the air as he attempted to strike Malvettix, but the dark one dashed backwards, and slashed with a shadow blade. A field of energy around Matt's arm allowed him to block the attack-he'd rather not have another deep blade wound. Stabbing and slicing, Malvettix's shadow blades relentlessly struck, but Matt kept knocking them away, waiting for his opening.

Suddenly, it came-right in Malvettix's gut-and Matt took action, smashing into Malvettix with a driving punch. In the brief pause Malvettix took to double over slightly, Matt backed up and his punches drove on, smashing over and over into his enemy's face. With a final "ORA!", Matt fired a solid uppercut, knocking Malvettix to the sky.

It was a resounding blow, for sure. Malvettix could only fly up, eyes widened and teeth clenched at the display of power.

Helena felt her panic fade. Did he...did he do it?

Lifting his left hand, Malvettix thrust his palm at Matt, his right eye narrowed, as if taking aim. "Dark Blast!"

Matt cried out as the beam of darkness tore into the earth, throwing him back toward the wall of blades along with the shattered rocks.

"Matt!" Helena shouted.

The moment Matt struck Malvettix in the stomach, R.D. saw his chance. He chambered his fist back, the side plating spread open. The final bullet piece on his back disintegrated, and when Matt sent Malvettix into the sky, the green flame erupted from his back, and R.D. rocketed up into the sky.

He growled when Malvettix used the same attack that had sent him flying on Matt, but he knew that with his concentrating on Matt, he'd never see him coming. So as the beam cut into the earth, R.D. roared, "Should've seen me coming, bastard! Exterminating LAST BULLET!"

R.D. spun through the air and flashed the Shell Bullet out at Malvettix to smash him so hard he'd fly to the clouds.

Maybe Malvettix hadn't seen R.D.. Exterminating Last Bullet smashed into the dark clone, sending him hurtling toward the clouds with the incredible blow.

"Nice shot!" Hugo laughed, keeping a close gaze on Malvettix's ascent. "That'll teach that bastard!"

But something didn't feel right. Helena hesitated to label it as a woman's intuition, but as Malvettix flew, she couldn't help but feel that something was amiss.

Malvettix suddenly halted in mid-air, readjusting himself so that he floated high above R.D.. He looked down on the armored warrior, ignoring Helena and Hugo.

His grin spread wide, wider until it spread beyond all human limits, like the nightmare he came from. "Demon Drive!"

Helena's eyes shot wide. What?!

An aura of darkness exploded about Malvettix, and he began to laugh.

Particles of light swirled in towards R.D.'s back, and a pair of energy cannons appeared behind him, facing down. R.D. dropped to the ground as the Shell Bullet dematerialized from his arm, revealing the normal armor beneath. He swapped the Phase Scythe into his right and stared up above as the darkness spread out from Malvettix, forming into something he recognized all too easily.

Dammit! he thought angrily, remembering the power Matt wielded with the Dragon Drive. He looked back at the other two and shouted. "Go get Matt! I'll hold him off!"

R.D. turned back to face Malvettix and readied himself for what would soon begin. He held his blade up, then slowly swept it across, holding it behind him to the side. Light broke into his reeling mind, his pupils of his contracted while their irises widened. His foot smashed into the ground suddenly as he spread his legs out and seized the Third Cipher energy.

"EEEAARRRGGGGGHHHH!!!" he roared.

The ground around him exploded as a silvery-blue aura of power exploded around him, giving off the illusion as if he were on fire. The ground shook as he drank in all of his power, dust blowing away around him from the force of his power.

OOC: @Juno: Yes! I do live! XD

"How will we find this 'Perfect Weapon'? And if I may ask, since you are requesting this of me and my companion, what awaits us at our journey's end?"

Kalmar calmly stared at the woman and waited for a reply, looking for any signs she might be hiding the truth from them, or just outright lying.

Edited by Fallen on July 20, 2007 at 1:00:23.

"Explore a bit. You two are tough, a little hike won't kill you," Ellie retorted, grinning, "And you already know what awaits you at the end. One of the Seven Perfect Weapons. Duh."

As she spoke, she rested a fist on her hip and leaned back slightly, a smug grin on her face. "Besides," she continued, "It's not like you have a choice. You owe me now."

Something came to mind, and Ellie brightened, turning to Blazen. "I just remembered!" she exclaimed, "I have something you'd like!"

The Daughter of Dawn made a gesture, and the Pillar brightened for a brief moment. A brilliant flame ignited in the air in front of the God of Fire, molding itself into an object. When the fires burned out, a black-hilted sword hung in the air, infused with the power of fire.



"That," she said, pointing to it, "Is Valermos, the Ancient Sword of Fire."

Blazen gripped the end of the sword and held it, already flames burst from the weapons blade. They were fierce, untamed, wild fire. Blazen tried to calm the flames but they refused him. He growled a bit before the flames finally decided to listen, calming, but remaining present. He examined the blade again and allowed his arm to fall to the side, the tip scratching the ground slightly, burning whatever would be there. The runes in the blade were red hot, as if they were superheated. Not a surprise as the blade was on fire.

“Hmph, a bit wild it is, but I’ll assume it’ll be disciplined soon enough.” Blazen commented, not really complimenting it nor insulting it. Blazen spun it a bit and allowed the flat side of the blade rest against his arm as he held it back-handed.

The end of Malvettix's coat extended of their own accord, changing until the became billowing wings of demonic black that blocked part of the sun. Balls of shadow energy formed from nothingness-as they slowly spiralled around Malvettix, they changed into winged nightmare creatures of fangs and armor. Orante armor flowed over the dark one's shoulder and chest with a flash of black fire, also covering his arms and legs with the cursed wear.

"So...you wish to challenge me?" In a burst of speed, Malvettix shot toward R.D., familiars screeching at their target. "I guess I'll kill you after all!"

The ground ruptured beneath R.D. as a pair of aura wings extended from his back and propelled him to the air, straight at Malvettix like a winged fireball. His right hand held the Phase Scythe over his shoulder, his left was swathed in white and blue energy and golden tines of lightning. Light shone across the azure blade of the Phase Scythe, exloding upwards and around the blade into the large, glowing energy blade nearly four times the size of the weapon.

R.D. roared as he swung the blade around at Malvettix, firing a massive arc of green energy that shredded through the air, "Shin Kougenjin!"

"Nightmare..."

The wings stretched, striking together into one long and wide shadow blade that carved the air. "Sword!" The tip of the blade struck the Sin Kougenjin, struggling against it for a moment until it broke through, continuing on to meet R.D..

*****

"...Demon Drive, huh?" With Helena supporting him, Matt got to his feet without too much trouble. He ignored the tremendous groove his falling form carved into the earth as he fell back from Malvettix's Dark Blast. "Magical."

"If he's as strong as you are when you Drive, we're fucked unless we've got a plan," Hugo muttered, watching R.D. and Malvettix clash.

Helena kept her hand on Matt's arm. "Maybe a Variable Arm can stop him. We have to try."

Matt didn't reply to that. Instead, he looked up toward the aerial fight, as the Nightmare Sword continued toward R.D.. "So...Malvettix likes being a little excessive, eh?" He smirked. "Little does he realize that I am the king of excessive crap."