Azul woke up in a stone house. No one around him except Dyshana. So it at least was safe, right?
"Dammit, why does everything hurt so much?" Azul asked her.
"Your bones were broken and muscles are torn. Your skin had tears all along the surface area. Your eyes and teeth survive the blast of our own magic just fine." Dyshana said floating over. "I drained the excess.. but it was to much for me currently. I did, however, store it all away so there's that for later."
Galtea: How are you feeling? I suggest you place your gear in your inventory. They couldn't get it off to treat you. Luckily the others knew what to do.
'I am better. How is it for you? Bet it is just peachy there.' Azul said as he sat up. He then looked over. "Thanks, Dyshana. Get some rest." She gave him a nod and floated over and disappeared.
Galtea: Actually it is horrible here. A lot of magic in here. Way more than what you can handle normally. Lettie is absorbing it and helping. Zelda is making sure nothing weird is happening to your soul. So far so good. Also, Jaina is coming out since you are alone. You can explain to them how she got there later.
'Are worried? I can feel it in your voice? I don't know, maybe its from the link.'
Galtea: It will be fine soon.
"Bwoom," Jaina came out of a Rift.
"You are doing a good job with magic. Better than last time. You should be done consolidating in a few days. Are you sure you don't have a knack for magic?
'Hehehe," Dyshana laughed. 'I am gonna break this statue inside you.'
'Dont do that!' Zelda said to her.
"Holyshit your hot!" Azul blurted. He grabbed his mouth and felt what happened. His Devil shouted out. "I am sorry about that. Couldn't help it. I can feel my blood rise and flowing faster. Its causing me to start to pass out again. I will make it up to you some time." He quickly reentered into meditation. "Definitely dumb move on my part."
"Heh, You are really an idiot. Is that the first thing that comes to your mind? But not bad decisions there. Don't worry I will watch over you while you recover. The magic here is so loose and free. What is this information I am receiving?" After a moment everything clique in place. "Oh, the Auxiliary System is still so helpful," Jaina said as she cast an invisible spell on herself. 'I wonder what type of cocoon it will be this time?'
She received the job class change from the auxiliary system. She went about fooling with it, as Azul started to gather more and more magic around himself till it enveloped him in a devil cocoon. Demonic magic was abundant for some reason. Something they didnt notice last time.
After months of mediation, it seemed like it anyway. It was only hours really. His mind was clear again. As he opened his eyes, he was shocked, to say the least. 'Blasted cocoon thing again. I can't believe I forgot about this.' Clawing his way out, he stowed it away into inventory. His body was devoid of scars and seemed more powerful in a way. He just couldn't tell how. The Rune symbol's had a strong magical force around them. Much greater than before. Few traces of biotic strands kept flowing into it. Usuing Observe he was surprised yet again.
Observe: Demonic Magic. Affect of the false Saint Ajora poisoning the world.
Reaching outward, the biotic strands were in flux in the air. Despair and Anger prevalent amongst the lot. With a pull of his hands, they disappeared into him. Funneling it back out was just raw magic that he allowed to float freely.
"Ah well, it still looks cool, to say the least. I should get my gear back on." Azul mumbled and made a note to check into that more later. 'Hey, Jaina you ok over there?'
'I am fine.' Jaina responds still invisible. She watches everything he did silently just now. Just gathering information on the type of magic he now wielded.
"I don't care what is going on. They need to leave now." A female voice said outside the room they were in. It sounded like Mileuda at first, but on the second round it defintely wasnt her. "The princess is close by damn you!"
"Creak," The door opened to reveal a female knight and a few others with her. Argath was in the back trying to explain they were not a threat. The female knight was Agrias. His Agria cousin. Well it looked like they were no others that resembled them here amongst the group.
AzuI looked at them while he continues to put his clothes on. Never stopping or became flustered from there gazes. He pulled his pants up and fastened the belt. Checking the weapon and looked at them while the vest was fastened in place.
"Umm, so. How are you?" Agrias asked blushing a little.
"I am fine. A little sore but nothing else. I will be ok. Well, at least I think so anyway." Azul answered calmly. "Thanks for the stay, we will leave immediately. Argath where are the others?"
Argath stepped up and out the way from the group. He looked flustered but other than that completely healthy. "Commander.. well you are not gonna believe this but… we are at the Corpse brigade forward base."
"Well frack me. We need to go. These people are in danger near us right now."
"We were hoping you would join us. Ample fighters like yourselves could definitely help." A female knight asked after whispering to Agrias. "From what I here, your from the Order. Your name also speaks for itself."
"Sorry but I need to get back to my squad. They went on ahead and.. Wait, Argath where are the others?"
"They left. Said something about securing the way for a royal package." Argath said. "I dont know what that means."
"The princess. It means they found her." Azul looked to the Knights. "You should high tail back to her. Especially if you want to keep her safe from certain parties."
"Thank you!" Agrias said and took off running. The others spared Azul a glance before taking off as well.
"Well, that was crazy." Argath said. "How do your people know about the princess?"
"Because there job is to protect her. Along with the Corpse Brigade yah see." Azul said taking a small breath. "Ah boy things are a little cray cray. Argath do you with to help the princess and restore the land?"
"Of course! It is every Knights dream." Argath said saluting. "But the Corpse Brigade are just a bunch of ruffians."
"Shink" The sound of several swords and knives having been drawn fills the room.
"Who are you calling a ruffian?" The door was left open by the Knights and in walked a few Corpse Brigade members. Weigarf was the one who asked the question. "Well speak!"
"Yeah, people really bad idea. You are definitely in over your heads." Azul said towards the group. "I do not want to kill innocent people unless I have to. Stand down now!" His devil power flared out forcing them all to take a knee. All but Weigarf. His legs just bent. He looked on defiant as he recognized the person in front of him.
"Please.. help us," Weigarf asked while he struggled to stay up. "I didn't know it was you. I thought you left to stay with the order."
"That is enough Azul. These people are not your enemies. And from what I gather from my memories you will never forgive yourself if you killed them. This is Weigarf, your brother-in-law." A soft voice came out of the corner. It was Jaina.
Jaina came out of invisibility. She walked towards Azul completely ignoring the suppression field. Placing a consoling hand on his shoulder, she got eye contact with him. The strands that came from here immediately pacified him.
"Thanks for that." Azul smiled. He couldn't believe Jaina of all people was getting him to calm down.
"Let's just say I wanted to pay back someone. You want to help Wiegarf before things get too dangerous," Jaina said as she gave his shoulder another pat. "He is an ally, not a foe. You are on edge."
Azul looked to the man and waited for a bit. "Fine. What do you need help with? Your sister believes you have been taken by the enemy. She has gone almost super postal actually." Weigarf was caught by suprise at that.
"Help us stop the Pursuit Church members." The thief in the group said. "They are breathing down our necks. They are trying to round us all up with threats from the crown. The Knights are putting pressure as well, saying all members of the corpse brigade are rebels. We are running out of options.
"Oh, you have got to be kidding me. So something not to hard just great. Where do you want to start? I can provide food and water that's about it. With the magic, I have anyway and maybe with this woman's help." Azul pointed at Jaina. "Get the people you want and we can leave."
At that, a slight discussion begins about the options to take. Only took 30 minutes to come to a decision. Some wanted to just go. Others wanted to gather as many as they can to join for a final push. Weigarf eyed Azul expectantly.
"Go ahead, man. Speak already."
"My sister and that other woman. The one call Tietra." Wiegarf said with a little hesitation. "Them togethor, does it not bother you?" Azul just shrugged not caring. "I see. Haaa, then let us make sure we get to them in time."
"What are you talking about? Oi, spill man." Azul became agitated then the memory of this being around the time Tietra would be captured along with Alma. 'But Tietra is more trained and said she could handle this. It should be fine. Right?'
A few Corpse Brigade member came in.
"Follow me. We have the location Commander Weigarf. The prisoner's ready to do the exchange. Commander Gustav came through with the kidnapping."
"Oh, boy," Jaina said holding her head. "Explain just to make sure for us."
"We will use them as an exchange of them for a bunch of Gil. Enough for the villagers to live off, as we move. Other fighters of ours... uhh." Weigarf was a little frustrated when he spoke next. "The young Beoulve girl Alma.. as well as Tietra were apprehended. Will that be a problem for you?"
"Gustave even grabbed a few others." A thief said. He was a little upset.
Azul pulled on the biotic strand and was happy. The Corpse Brigade members were a little divided. Mileuda had done a good job in converting a lot of them early on. There was resistance from the world but she did a great job it seemed.
Azul shook his head. "It shouldn't be a problem. Tietra can take care of herself."
"Come this way." Weigarf beckoned them to follow.
Azul couldn't help thinking to himself. 'Things have changed drastically. Tietra is a lot different than before. They have captured more than just her. Other nobles. It cant be the ones who bullied her can it?' Walking out, he felt the cold air startup. 'This is so gonna suck. I have a really bad feeling about this.'
After half an hour of travel, they came to a windmill where the hostage would be. It starting to snow. The snow that landed on Azul started to melt turning to water droplets. The water droplets then started to circle around each of them. He had started to use Mental Cleansing on everyone within range.
The haze disappeared and the party became stronger. 'They have demonic blood. How many people have been changed at this? Hey Galtea what are you doing?'
Galtea: Nothing. Well working with the others. You dont need the help. Lluvia is monitoring everything while looking over your vitals.
Lluvia: Your getting stronger to fast. Slow down stupid.
'Your kidding right? Ugh, I have barely fought at all.' Azul opened the door and was not prepared for what was inside. He didnt close it back this time. "Well, bullocks to this." A bunch of the Corpse Brigade members were pinned to the wall. Dead by daggers. All the other captives were just staring intently at him. "So.. were is Tietra?" His eyes scanned the room quickly. He didnt see her. As for the map. It had stopped working for some reason. "Well?"
"Commander, she is fighting Gustav up top." One of the Captive noble women said. Her eyes looked at Azul in a way that actually nerved him a little. "You could have gotten here quicker."
"Fwoosh," Azul had charged her before he thought about it. Gripping her by the throat, he swung her into a wall. Gently of course. "Thump," he held her up and watched her fear wash out. That and her desire.
"Hehe," another Noblewoman started laughing. "Easy, Commander. She did it on purpose. Glad you are here Overlord."
"Yeah now put her down before we jump you." Another said. She was only half-joking. She wanted to fight him, just for the fun of it all. "Or would you like that?"
Azul stared and that them for a bit, then he felt the biotic strands he pulled automatically. It started acting on its own lately and he just noticed it. These women had the presence of Tietra's honor guard. But they had died he thought.
System: Willpower Check 25 Pass
"Finally notice. Heres an extra present." Magna sent all her desires for Azul, causing his nostrils to flare up. "Still able to resist me. How hard will you make a girl work for it?"
"Haa, how did you all get here?" Azul asked not dropping her. "Explain it."
"Easy, there. We came with Tietra. She took out our psyche in when we died in the battle of Terra. While you were fighting on the CItadel. The plan was for us to get revived later on hopefully." Conna said smiling. "Not all of us are back yet. Need better a host sill."
"Or you give the others a new one. Tietra had us take the bodies of the of the girls who bullied her. They never had a chance. It was that or kill them, when they didnt leave her alone." Magna wrapped her legs around Azul's neck. She tried squeezing, but it did nothing. "Ohh, your stronger. Come on, let's play paddy cake without clothes on."
"At least there isn't a bunch of corpses with the hostages," Jaina said speaking as she popped her head in.
"Huff huff, what the living hells did you women do to them?" Wiegarf asked entering. He and the others looked at the women anxiously. "Are any of them alive?"
"We did nothing. Another group did." Magna smiled playing innocent. "Pfft, ok. We did do it. But they had it coming. They looked at us like they wanted to fuck us."
"They just didnt measure up," Conna said pulling the dagger across another's throat. "I mean hey, if your gonna manhandle a girl and try to take something from her, you better be ready for the ones who fight back. We just fight better than the poor little village girls they usually grabbed."
"I think I am going to be sick." A Corpse Brigade member said. Azul dropped Magna and started to walk up the steps. "Do what you will." Feeling the ache he addressed Lluvia. 'So bad or good?'
Lluvia: Good and bad. You desire to know everything coupled with your Devil/Dragon is doing this. Your real desires are pulling everything in. I say wait to see what happens. A countermeasure has already been designed for when you go postal. Trust me.
'Alright.' Azul said reaching the top. Tietra was just finishing killing off Gustav.
"Never again, Gustav!" Her hands burned with hot fire that warped the air. "Double Firaja!" The blast of magic blasted Gustav's body and carried him into a wall.
"Magic Shield." Azul casted the spell before he hit the wall. The shield keeping the corpse from getting blasted out. And keeping it from going out. They both watched as the fire burned him away to nothing. Azul pulled the soul of Gustav into his Nether World. To a special place for later.
Everyone downstairs just heard the yell. They did however hear the yell. "So you guys just let Gustav do what he wanted?" Jaina asked looking at Weigarf. "Well answer me?" Her voice was stern. As if she was talking to children.
"Mostly Gustav men watched over the village. He wasn't a good fighter so we couldn't send him on patrols." Wiegarf said holding her gaze. "There were reports. Mileuda made sure to keep him in line. He always listened to her. But she couldn't be everywhere and none of the women came forward. We had no proof."
"A few members of the Order made it outside. What do you want me to.. what happened here?" Argath asked seeing the bodies. He saw the Noble women looking at Jaina in a form of anticipation.
"So you all did nothing really." Jaina shook her head. She turned to Argath in pitty. "Do me a favor and step back and wait outside. This won't be pretty." Jaina eyes lit up with arcane magic. As she lifted the bodies off the wall.
"Lady Proudmoore, what's the matter?" Argath asked. He had a grim look on his face. It looked like he picked something up really quickly from her tone.
"Just do it, trust me," Jaina said not looking his way anymore. Her thoughts were a little weird even to her. Knowledge on the importance of Argath pouring into her head. 'No way in hell does he need to see what was going on inside here. Or what comes next.'
"Very well." Argath stepped back and waited outside.
"Are you ok?" Azul asked Tietra. "Whats wrong? This is what you wanted right?" He walked closer to her but she stepped away.
"Yes, it is. We should go." Tietra said walking away from him and down the stairs.
'That really hurt.' Azul said rubbing the back of his neck. 'What did I do wrong this time?'
Devil: Nothing yet. Maybe its our aura. You are projecting your distaste for this whole thing.
Dragon: Bah, what person would want to wait for someone they care about as they get revenge on someone they have been grudging over for since.. well forever. We should have been involved. Something weird is going on.
" Sigh, hope there are no more surprises," Azul said walking. 'I did not like the feelings she projected. It was the same as Riku's.'
Dragon: Then we lost another mate it seems.
Devil: Another pillar lost to us. This will not go well.
'True.' Azul stopped as he realized he forgot about Alma. 'Where is she?' A pulse as his map came back online revealed she was furthur up top. 'Alright, I have to get her out of here. She deserves at least that much from being Alistair's wife.'
Azul walked back up and went up to Alma. She looked like crap. But it was only clothing-wise anyway. The white mage next to her, however, had a busted lip and blood coming out all over. How did he survive the beating if not for magic on himself? A few dead servants were all around the room. But they were separated from these people.
Azul looked at the man. He had the making of a well-dressed white mage. Another male with them as well. He got to work and did a quick check-up over them. After seeing who needed to be treated first in the group. Alma's wounds were mostly superficial. The boy's body didn't have a scratch on him. But he was out cold. A sleeping agent was used on him from what one could tell.
'Well forgot about this one. A User that disappeared here. Welp time for you to go bye-bye now.' Azul thought. Waving his hand over the boy, a clear energy came out and the User was Rifted away. Only thing left behind was the body of the him for this world. "On to the next patient."
System: X-Pull awarded for rescuing of User. Paragon awarded.
Casting a weak group heal on all of them after finding nothing else wrong. Well only for massive blood loss and missing limbs. Alma woke up and freaked for a little till she noticed the Corpse Brigade members were gone. Recognizing Azul she got up to assist after calming down.
"Only he is left, Commander," Alma said as she gave a check on the former User. "Umm, there is something weird about him. I think he is part of the Northern Sky." She flipped him over and found some damage to his bottom robe.
Azul felt a weird situation and looked over. "Proceed no further. I have stabilized that area already." Reaching over, he pulled her over. "Focus on his chest area. It should help if his breathing can get better."
Alma stifled a cry. She nodded and went back to work.
"Sigh," Azul felt a little melancholy. 'Last time it was Tietra. The despair that came from Tietra was sicking. She wished she never fought back. She cried out for her brother who never came. She cursed her faith and family that led her to this life. She hated most of all, the weakness she felt. Having something so precious of hers stripped away.' Azul wondered if this had to really happen. The answer was no. But the world was different. Not small changes, but big changes. Finishing up they went downstairs to join the others.
"Is this how the Corpse Brigade operates?" Alma asked in a murmur. "I thought they were for the people." She was heard by most in the windmill.
"This is not how we operate! Gustav and Gragoroth may have gotten desperate.... but this..." Weigarf gripped his hands tightly causing the gloves he wore to tear. Most were able to hear it all in detail. ".. this is too far. He will be brought to justice I can assure you this."
"That is good. You are sounding more like the Wiegarf I remember." Azul looked back for a second. Sparing a smiling glance at Tietra. It was not returned as she looked away. "I guess it will be like that then. I am ready to go. How about the rest of you?"
"We should go. Thanks, Azul." Weigarf said. "I just dont know how the Corpse Brigade will survive."
Lluvia: Be carful the world is targeting the area. Something strange is happening.
'Shit that is definitely what I am needing now.' Azul walked up to Weigarf and stopped.
An option of paragon or renegade popped up to him. Redirecting his power, he got a feel for what was going on and what would happen. The World wanted him to take charge. Asking him to show Weigarf his true fate. With Renegade, him dying by the hand of a blonde warrior as a monster of the church. Or leave him to a new fate with Azul with Paragon.
Azul chooses the Paragon option. He was banking on it providing something good. Anything different for her to hold on to. Hopeing the possibility will keep him fighting.
Light wrapped around Weigarf and the other Corpse Brigade members. When it left a Dragon symbol appeared on each of their hands. Azul felt a link through it. His excess magic shot into the men and women.
"Commander, what is going on?" Alma whispered to him as she leaned in. "Where am I? Last I remember some brigades of the Corpse Brigade came in to kidnap me and some others. Tietra was really brave and helped fight off some of them." She cringed when she rembered she did nothing to help. "To think she almost lost an eye-protecting me. She is more of a friend than I could ever hope for."
"It is a long story we will have to save for later. I gave you basic healing. You should be fine just slightly sore. Focus on surviving like the others. And remember, this was the fault of a few criminals who gave in." Azul said neutrally as possible.
"Understood," Alma said. Taking several deep breaths.
A voice came from outside. Several people came inside it was Argath.
"Commander we have trouble. The Northern Sky is coming. They have a few church officials with them. High members." Argath said. His eyes never leaving off Alma. "Do I know you?"
"I dont think so." Alma shook her head no.
System: Bonus scenario unlocked. Teleportation Gate ready... taking mana now.
Lluvia: Get ready to go. The others got the princess where they here to be. Well to where they wanted.
"We will go to intercept them," Tietra said. "Leave this to us. You are not needed here." Her tone was dismissive. She barely gave him a glance as her honor guard left with her. "Alma wait back with Argath. Azul has to run to the church."
"Thunk," the door closed leaving Azul, Argath, Weigarf and Alma behind.
"Something is off with her. I will keep an eye on her and the others." Weigarf said. "Dont worry. We know what to do."
"Right," Azul said a little lost for words. "We will see you all soon." Weigarf left out. Grabbing the other two he left.