>>6039396Well, if 19’s going through, you’re gonna back her up! You give her a bit more protection with the Mahou Shield and fly forward with her, leaving your clone to stay behind and shut down the portal, then regroup with Chiaotzu and the others. The other side of the portal is a more desert-like region, with some floating islands in the sky, and a scattered oasis here and there. And it’s dusk, with the sky showing brilliant shades of red, purple, yellow, even a hint of green.
https://youtu.be/3WsMPgmZwQ4?si=0GHWI-rEXXoA-asoA swirl of winds erupt from the sands, and for a moment it’s like a dust devil has appeared out of nowhere, but it eases into a more concentrated flow. Zelos floats in the middle of it, glaring down at the two of you. “You have made a substantial mistake, children.” He tilts his head slightly, observing 19. “…You’re no organic being, yet I can sense Magic within you. Curious.” Then back over to you. “And I see you have chosen… poorly, child. Both of you have committed a blasphemous act. You should know this if you paid any attention to the condemnations of the renegades, but any mercy I may have shown for ignorance is gone. I will teach you both…” A blue and purple and green chaotic aura erupts around the birdman, almost flame-like, and… with Ki that you seem to not really be able to sense all that well, combined with a Magical strength even greater than your own, and even drawing in power from around himself somehow. “…the punishment fit for the blasphemy you’ve committed.”
Okay, that’s enough time for your copy to get over to everyone else. “Talking a big game, bird brain. But I think it’s time for some new management.”
19 bolts towards him, and with a thrust of his palm, those swirling winds return, drawing in sand with it, blasting out towards her. But she’s able to avoid it, and instead holds a palm out. She doesn’t launch an attack, but instead she absorbs some of the Magic he’s blasting off, empowering herself with it. With an angry twitch in his face, he swings his other arm at her several thrusts of sparking, metallic spikes conjured with that, 19 only barely avoiding them and backing away.
You meanwhile launch into the air, trying to fly up higher, but as you do you notice the first attack Zelos let out hasn’t stopped. In fact, it’s still tracking you… and now seems to be electrified, thanks to 19 avoiding the electric spikes. Well… shit. You dodge and swerve around, even getting the Hero’s Barrier up to defend, but it only barely holds back the worst of it. Ow… well, his attention is back on 19 at least. You pull out the Hakkero. “Consciousness Grid, huh…?” you say aloud quietly, closing your eyes to focus. It might not be connected to this planet, but… maybe, just maybe, it’ll prove close enough in concept that you can get some kind of reaction working.
(cont.)
