They left the room. Fortunately, the ruined staircase connected to one crawling up the wall, and the Malachi hadn't damaged that during his attack. Still, Matt was careful, because he wasn't stupid about structural damage, he felt. Each step was cautious, waiting for the worst to happen.

As they walked, Alasea decided to communicate with Helena once again, quickly touching her arm in warning before broadcasting. You okay? she asked telepathically. You seemed a bit angry back there in that study.

I just...I just got mad that she kept running her mouth, Helena thought back. And I think my other side took over and ran with it for a moment.

Alasea nodded imperceptibly to herself, knowing that Helena wasn't worried about the kill (as being an anchored demon, Persephone would simply be banished upon her destruction in the mortal realm) but other other things. You think you're losing control? she asked. It looked to me like a loss of temper.

It felt right, Helena thought. A pause. It felt good.

Lots of people do when they kill demons, from what I've been taught, Alasea returned. Maybe its the same for you. Just try to keep your temper in check, and I'm sure you'll be fine.

Personally, though, Alasea felt she was going to have to bring up the subject with R.D. and Matt if this continued to be a problem. If Heresy's mutation involved genetic memory...

"That beat beam was a good trick," Hugo said to Helena, after some silence that Matt was fixing to clear. "How'd you figure out how to do it outside of your dragon form?"

"What?" Helena asked, turning her head towards the Mettaur like she was distracted. "Oh. I don't know. It just happened."

"I hope you can do it again," Hugo said. "I've got a feeling the candidates will have a bunch of those demons as protection, and we'll need all the firepower we can get."

"We'll need to get her to master her Inferno Vulcan again," R.D. commented. "That's probably her most powerful attack so far, but I haven't seen her use it yet."

Alasea bit her lip. We'll talk about this later, she said telepathically to Helena. Let me know if its still bothering you.

Helena nodded curtly, saying or thinking nothing.

The group trekked up the tower, dealing with annoying snake-heads and clanking gears as they went. This tower sucked. With each turn Matt wished they had reached the top, just a few steps away from their destination. Imagine his surprise when Soma finally told them that they were at the end, and when they travelled through the door, they found themselves in a dark hallway lit with candles.

"Oh, I'm feelin' something," Matt remarked. The faint presence of Omega Essence, just as the other end of the hallway. "Looks like we're almost there."

The others looked at Ileyna, who nodded curtly. "They're in there," she said quietly. "We gotta be careful. The power they're emitting..."

R.D. nodded. "We'll take care of it. Just hang back and stay out of trouble," he said. He laced his fingers together and pushed out with them, causing them to make cracking noises as he looked at the others. "We ready for this?"

Matt spread his hands. "Bring it on."

Soma took point and pushed gently on the double doors. They sauntered open easily, and then Soma pushed them apart a bit mroe dramatically. As the doors swung aside, they caught a glimpse of their arena - steel fences flanked both sides, serving as the only walls and protection from the outside cold. Long candelabras ran alongside these fences, in a line where both ends were marked by marble statues of angelic figures. To the right, in the distance, they could spot the massive clock of the clock tower imprinted on the second structure making up the clock tower.

But besides that, nothing else. "Hey, they're not here!" Helena said, glancing to both sides. "Did they run off?"

"I doubt it," Soma remarked. He slid his hands in his pockets as the group entered the room and let the double doors hang open behind them. "They're here somewhere."

"You are correct," a voice boomed. A female one. Matt found himself in his battle stance as a pillar of flaming energy erupted in front of them. A woman appeared within it, her details becoming clear as the fire faded.

"Celia, I'm guessing," Alasea said in a dry tone as the woman teleported in. That dress... isn't doing her any favors, she noted.

Celia had one ice-cold face, so it looked weird to Matt when she cracked a faint smirk. "Of course. You're just in time, Soma. Now we can destroy you and your friends in one swoop."

"You're pretty cocky, lady," Matt remarked, countering with a smirk of his own. "You have to be with a stupid dress like that."

"Jokes won't save you now." Celia lifted her arms from her sides, and Matt reared back, expecting a fireball to zero in on his favorite face. "Dmitrii! Dario!" A pillar of flame erupted on Celia's left and right, revealing two men as the flames vanished.



The man wearing blue humphed, adjusting his collar. "Well, it's about bloody time."

The man in the flight jacket, caught in a sitting position, promptly fell on his ass as soon as the teleportation ended. "Ah, god DAMN IT!" He scrambled to his feet and glared at Celia. "You wanna warn me before you beam me somewhere? I was in the middle of watching a movie!"

"Somehow, I pictured the other candidates to be somewhat more intimidating," R.D. started, talking to his friends. "Not so much like..."

He trailed off, unsure of the word he wanted to use.

"Regular people?" Alasea provided.

"I was going to say idiots, but we can go with that too," R.D. said.

The red hair guy jabbed a finger at R.D.. "Hey, fuck you, kid!"

The other man rolled his eyes. "Dario, can you please go two seconds without spouting profanities like a half-wit?"

"Bite me."

"Both of you be quiet," Celia commanded. "Focus on the task before you."

The man in blue - Matt guessed that was Dmitrii - flipped back a spot of hair from his eyes. "Of course, Celia. Don't worry." He smiled, and it seemed to carry more punch that Celia's smirk. "We'll defeat these children with ease."

"Ehhh, just as long as I get Soma!" Dario said. "You hear that, pretty boy? We're gonna have some fun here in a minute." Soma just brought Claimh Solais before him, ready to attack.

"Focus on the others first, Dario," Dmitrii reminded the candidate. "I know thinking strategically isn't your forte, but neither of us will have a chance to become the dark lord if Soma has his friends to help him."

"Maybe taking care of these morons won't be that difficult after all," R.D. commented. Dmitrii and Dario didn't look like they worked well together, especially with how lofty and condescending the prick in the suit acted.

R.D. clenched the fingers of his armored right hand into a fist, causing the armor to creak. He had two Bullets left to fire... he hoped he could make them count. Behind him, he heard the scrape of metal on leather as Alasea drew the Megami Tsurugi and took it in both hands, holding it at the ready.

"So, what, it's just you three guys against us seven?" Matt said. "That's hardly fair, but then again, I don't really care."

"I will not be fighting," Celia said.

"Oh. Good. Make it easier on me, then."

Celia swept her arms over her chest, her sleeves flowing like water. "But they will."

As a magic aura around her flared to life, demon portals tore open behind her, scattered in the air, along the floor and the ceiling. Demons tore through them - skeletons, medua heads, Malachis...a whole smorgasboard of evil until the back of the room was practically choked to death keeping them in one mass.

Matt felt his eyes force wide. "Ahhhh, fuck."

"Just shut up next time, okay, Matt?!" Helena snapped.

"Damn, Matt," R.D. said, looking around. Ileyna made an 'eep!' and took cover behind the girls. "You don't even need to do the finger-wiggle thing to get us in trouble now."

"Shut up!" Matt shouted at R.D.. He jabbed both pointer fingers at their enemies. "Take 'em out!"

Hugo's G-Stone aura flared to life and he leapt at Dario with a roar, unlocking his blade. Matt followed suit with a kick to Dmitrii, who whoofed and tumbled with the blow, only to be flanked by a pair of Malachis who swung at Matt. Soma summoned a playing card in his hand and flung it at Celia, but she vanished with a flash of light - the card sailed through and cleaved clean through a skeleton's bare skull.

"Let's clear the other demons first!" Helena said at Alasea. "We'll be slaughtered if we let them stick around!"

"Right!" Alasea replied, nodding. "Cover me!"

She spread out her arms, channeling her own power. As the magic began to spread unseen, she could feel the cold air outside of the castle, and the snow that was drifting down from the night sky--that would be her weapon. She focused her power on the tip of her sword, causing a heavy, cold mist to surround it. Alasea swept her sword up and around before swinging it forward, aiming its point at the demons behind the two candidates.

A blast of frigid air erupted from the tip of her blade, condensing into a solid spike of ice, still trailing the cold mist behind it. The spike struck against one of the skeletons and shattered in a thick, frozen cloud. It and the creatures in its immediate vicinity were frozen in the burst, while the skeleton itself cracked and shattered almost immediately.

As the others attacked, R.D. was hot on Hugo's trail, keeping his fist clenched tight and ready to strike. Leaping into the air, spun about once and attacked with his fist. "C'mon!" he roared in challenge.

Dario leapt backwards as the fight began, avoiding Hugo's slash and letting R.D.'s fist crack the floor. "That's more LIKE it!" he whooped. He whirled his hands around, weaving fire before unleashing a blast of flame at R.D. head-on.

Helena raised her claws and summon a ball of fire hovering above the demons. As the demons rushed to attack, the ball exploded into seperate streaks of flame, engulfing the charging masses in flame. But this didn't stretch to who Matt was fighting - blocking the Malachi's heavy swings, he kicked them back, trying to force an opening to Dmitrii. Soma swept in with the assist, chopping into a Malachi's arm and causing it to screech.

"Ah, shi--" R.D.'s curse was cut short as the fireball exploded in his face, blanketing him and his opponent in smoke--smoke he was promptly ejected out of by the shockwave of the explosion.

Luckily, he landed on his foot and threw his weight into his momentum, using it to pivot around in a circle into stable footing. He came about with his fist held at the ready, clenched tight. "C'mon, that the best you got!?" he taunted.

As the streams of flames erupted on the other half of the room, more waves of icicles pierced through the openings to burst into clouds of icy mist, freezing enemies solid. One struck the Malachi that Matt and Soma had engaged, and ice began creeping up its legs, halting it in place.

"We'll make an opening, Matt!" Alasea shouted. "Just leave it to us!"

"WHOOOOOO!" Dario whooped. He threw himself into a low stance. "This is gonna be AWESOME!"

"Force Option!" Hugo launched his metal projectile at Dario. Dario shot a gout of flame but the Force Option ignited, throwing Dario across the room and into a living suit of armor, which collapsed under Dario's weight.

"Thanks, Alasea!" Matt called. Facing the Malachis, he summoned heavy rock over his arms. "Kong ANGRY!" He started smashing into any demon limbs that he could, backed up by Soma's skeletal archers pinning them with arrows.

"Take me outside, now!" Dmitrii barked at another Malachi.

"You're not going anywhere!" Alasea shouted, a magic circle extending past her feet and another one appearing before her. A sphere of electrical energy was held in her free hand, and she crossed that arm over her chest, focusing the energy.

"Trident Smasher!" she shouted, swinging and thrusting the sphere into the floating focusing circle in front of her. Lightning erupted from its center, skewering through the air at Dmitrii and the demons supporting him--moments later, two more arms of energy erupted out long either side, forming electrical prongs that streaked out to cut the man off.

R.D.'s fist slammed into the floor, launching him into the air. At the apex of his jump, his arm cocked back, causing the second bullet piece to disintegrate. "Gotcha now, bitch! Annihilating Second Bullet!"

The emerald flames erupted from his back, sending him rocketing down at Dario.

Dmitrii glanced back and forth at the lightning fork surrounding him.

Then he leapt right into the electricity. Something reacted and he was flung towards the fence by the attack, crashing through it and hurtling to the ground below.

"After him!" Matt shouted. He bolted over to the side and leapt through the hole, with Soma in pursuit.

Dario flung himself back as the Bullet smashed in the spot he was standing, sending thundering cracks coursing through the floor. The impact forced him to roll, stopping and lifting to one knee. He growled and threw out his hand, firing a curving line of fire.

Alasea blinked, halting her attack as it smashed Dmitrii out of the clock tower. "What in the... why would he let himself get hit?" she wondered aloud. "Matt, wait!"

Too late, though, Alasea noted as Matt and then Soma hurled themselves out of the Clock Tower in pursuit of the dark lord candidate. "Damn!" she swore. "Helena, back R.D. and Hugo up, I have to go after them so they don't get killed!" she shouted at the other teenage girl as she ran after them and leaped out of the hole.

"Hugo, use your bola on him!" R.D. shouted as Alasea took off.

A blast of water dispelled the flames that Dario sent at R.D., and he was already charging forward at Dario, swinging his right fist at his head.

Dario pulled himself away from R.D.'s swing, throwing one of his own.

***

Why'd the hell this guy fling himself off the side of the damn building? It was a long drop - Matt felt the wind shred over him as he soared down toward Dmitrii. Was he trying to take the easy way out? He flung himself into Alasea's lightning, after all.

Well, he wouldn't hurt the guy anymore if he had given up like this. "Hold on, now!" Matt called, swooping in and seizing Dmitrii's body in his arms. "You're not coppin' out on me now!"

"Get your hands off me!" Dmitrii yanked something out of his pocket - a knife revealed itself with a flick of his wrist. Dmitrii stabbed toward Matt's head, but that wouldn't work, of course - Matt just blocked it and drove a knee into Dmitrii's gut for trying. He whoofed with a satisfying noise.

There was a blast of flame as Dario's fist struck R.D. across the jaw, knocking him back. He quickly regained his balance, and punched the floor, causing it to crack explosively in a line that raced at Dario.

===

Magic swirled around Soma and Matt for a moment, alighting around their feet and encompassing them in a soft glow--magical shock absorbers, as Alasea liked to think of the effect. Her own feet were covered in the glow, allowing them to land safely when they'd reach the ground level.

"I think something's up!" Alasea warned them. "Be careful!"

"Shit!" Dario scrambled out of the way of the explosive line that carved a destructive path through the cobbled floor. Hugo's Capture Option fired with a whoof, embalming his legs in net. The candidate fell on his face, crying out in shock.

"Get him now!" Hugo shouted.

Rolling on his side, Dario raised his hand. "You think this is gonna stop ME?!" He slammed his hand on the ground and sent out lines of fire that erupted into focused infernos spiralling towards R.D. and Hugo.

***

Matt was the first to land, followed by Soma. "I wouldn't try anything stupid if I were you!" Matt said to his captive.

But Dmitrii just smirked. "You're the one who's making a great mistake!" He dropped the knife and thrust his now free hand into Matt's side, and with a flash of sudden power, blew him away into a snowbank. The candidate's attack only lingered in the air for a second before dissolving, resembling a vague fork of lightning.

"Matt!" Soma cried out, watching the other boy fly.

Dmitrii stood to his full length and dusted off his jacket. "Perfect," he muttered. "I liked this coat, too. Did that boy even wash his hands? I bet the collar's filthy now." He turned his full attention back on Soma. "But I'll worry about that later. Time to die, Soma!"

An underhanded gesture threw another bolt at Soma, who leapt to the side. Soma followed up with an arcing fireball of his own. Just like the lightning, the attack blasted Dmitrii and knocked him over.

"Shit! Look out!" R.D. shouted as the inferno swept in--soon, the entire chamber was swathed in the deadly flames.

"R.D.! Helena!" Ileyna cried in shock, hovering outside and away from the flames.

The fires ate away at R.D.'s clothing, but he distanced himself from the burning--opening up watering eyes, he grit his teeth and snarled. Behind him, the final bullet piece on his arm began to disintegrate into an emerald blaze that clashed against the red and oranges fires the candidate produced.

With a push of his foot, he took off, spinning about as he charged and flinging the emerald fire about. "I'll crush you!" he roared, readying his fist. "Exterminating Last Bullet!!!"

===

What the!? What was that!?

Alasea didn't understand what had happened as Dmitrii struck at Matt, sending him flying. The energies felt uncomfortably like her own--same flow, same channeling. What in the world just happened??

She ran over to Matt, casting a slowing spell to lessen his fall. "You okay!?" she asked frantically.