Enyo moved at such high speeds that Callisto couldn't even follow her movement, and couldn't hope to register what was going on before she kneed Enoch towards the Chimera. His shield blocked some of it, but even with that protection, he was seriously battered.


"Someone help him to safety, I'll keep the Chimera busy!" she said through the mind link, before she used her Vengeful Ursa. It wasn't difficult to shift at all this time, not after witnessing that cheap strike. But instead of going for Enyo, she threw herself at the Chimera. If she could at least distract it, then the others could fully focus on dealing with the corrupted senshi.

He noticed two things: one, Enoch had the really bad habit to speak words that got him in troubles, two, Enyalius was past watching without acting. Hopefully, if nobody else got in their head to challenge the corrupted senshi, maybe would they be safe from her wrath.

If someone could keep her busy as well...

Despite the shuddering images that could almost cripple him in their horror, Oberon's wings unfolded fully, appearing from sight as the fae took off, giving himself a push with his feet. He flew towards Enoch, ignoring Enyo, though aware he was putting himself uselessly on the line. Gripping tight both Enoch and the shield - or as much as he could without thinking and being in a hurry as he was, he kept going, heading straight for Sedna.

For a moment after Enyo had poofed again, Achelois stood motionless.  Finally she took a deep breathe, turned around and began flying around the palace.  Looking for where the other had gone too.  She stopped and was able to get an idea based on sound and energy, and Enyo.  She took off, flying above the stairs, her feet never touching them and popped out to quite the scene. 

Just in time to see an unknown person hurl towards the ground away from Enyo.  The group now seemed to be fighting some mixed together creature.  Oberon and Callisto were on the move.  Nocturnus was safe, Andromeda was alive and so were the others.  It became apparent that the unknown person was Enoch by process of elimination.  Still relief washed over at seeing the apparent state of the group, they were alive at least.

Would Enyo attack again, was it her aim to kill this time?

She skirted around the creature, unsure of how it would respond to her and flew over to the still bloodied warrior.  "Enyo!"  Her voice called out as if she had expected the other to be hurt.  "My dearest, why would you ever take the time to come here?" Her tone dripped honey and curiosity.

He was able to take Enoch and put him down carefully enough for him not to be hurt more than he already was. He was about to ask Panzer to take care of them when Enyalius' voice reached his ears.

Her voice was a prelude to a fear he thought under control. One he felt every time he fought with others. That he knew them or not had very little importance. He felt a similar terror once and it had never left him. The Oberians, though not immune to fear, had an inherent carelessness that made of them quite the natural risk-takers. Not that it mattered when he found himself flying from the moon, followed by feelings of men upon men dying, fear strangling some of them.

But that terror was supposed to be bottled up carefully, away from his logical mind.

Why was it so suddenly back?

His wings trembled and his eyes closed, Oberon put tremendous efforts in keeping his crippling fear out of their link. When his fists closed, anger mixing itself with his fear, Oberon stopping himself from calling his spear and throwing himself at Enyo, or whatever this coward wanted to be called.

He felt sick.

He wanted to rip her to shreds.

Slowly.

But he simply couldn't move.
Or he could, but backwards, towards the fountain. He backed away from the group, stopping only when his wings met the broken thing.

I am... a liability right now... my apologies. You should run. While you still can.

Because he already knew how it would end.
With him running away.
And them dying.

OOC:

Nix had been watching the fight attentively; the failed attempt to communicate with the Chimera, and then the sudden arrival of Enyo. As she proceeded to attack the shapeshifter, Callisto threw herself onto the Chimera—she blinked once when she saw the transformation into a bear—and Oberon took Enoch to safety.

And then suddenly Achelois was among them again. Just her presence calmed Nix somewhat, knowing that she was the only person probably able to temper Enyo’s wrath.

Meanwhile, Callisto was battling the Chimera alone, and though she was a bear, this didn’t seem to be going very well. Since the Chimera was busy with its opponent and Nix was still invisible, she rushed to its other side (T12) and sent Arctic Blizzard toward the Dragon Head and Lion Body, carefully aiming so as not to hit Callisto. If she could just blind that fire-breathing head, maybe it’d make things easier.



When you’re asked to drop something by someone ten times more powerful than you, generally, the better idea is to put it down. She was surprised that the shield seemed to be trying to protect its bearer by its own accord, but even with that, there was no way Enoch could stand against Enyo. None of them had any chance against her. She noticed Enyo concentrating on it—the shield was making Enoch a target.

As Oberon put Enoch down, Andromeda dashed toward the shield and grabbed it, before moving back to TT20. She held it in front of her, trying not to tremble. “Is this what you want?” she asked Enyo, trying to divert her attention to her.

Then she saw Achelois, and her heart lifted. Achelois! What do we do? she sent through the link, hoping the connection was still there.

And then she heard Nikos. Don’t get close to Enyo, she said quickly. As if he needed more curses heaped upon him. If you want to help, do something about the Chimera.

She heard Oberon, too, but could not do anything about it now.

Running is not an option for me, but if that is what you feel you must do, I will not stop you.

They would lose her extremely valuable contribution of telepathic link, but she could not ask someone who did not want to be there to risk their life.

He wasn't sure he could actually hear her above the noise his own mind and heart were making, but his anger stayed on Enyo and Enoch. He wouldn't run. He wasn't like that and probably should he feel offended, but the only thing plaguing his mind was a terrible fear, one that was his but also irrational for a man who was fighting without any doubts in his mind mere minutes ago.

I am not running!

Who cared really. They were all going to die. They would die right here and then, screaming through their links and he would feel their lights going off one by one. His wings trashed as if he was trying to free himself from some invisible bounds, but he kept to his broken fountain, gripping something strongly enough to be uncomfortable.

Enoch was in a dream-like state, feeling like he was caught somewhere between reality and a nightmare. He felt an incredible connection to Enyo. He was sure how. Was it due to his new transformation? Perhaps the shield in his hands? Or something else entirely?

So he asked:

"Do you know who I am?"

"Yes... and I'm sorry."

He paused for a moment, hearing a distant memory from another life creep into his consciousness. He had asked the same question in an incredibly similar situation to a Chaos-taken Sailor Leviathan centuries ago. He understood now, feeling Enyo's breath on his neck, that the very same question would be the last words he spoke in this lifetime.

But the shield of the unknown soldier spun him around and took the brunt of the blow. It rocked his brain and he only realized he was alive some moments later as he came to on the ground. He heard voices and felt someone carry him. He wasn't sure what to think. Were they running? Fighting? Was exactly was going on? He was slowly coming to when Enyo's fear spell gripped him and the others around him.

The ground felt like an ocean around him and he dreamed that he was sinking into it. There was no escape from this death. All he could hope for was that he could die from his own wounds. He knew of a merciful death from someone who chose Chaos. He couldn't dream of one from someone who was used by Chaos like an animal for sport.

He yelled out in fear when he felt someone try to take the shield from him. His hand was already tightly gripped on its handle and he fought desperately to keep it. He knew the shield had a function or mind to protect him and, for him, it was the only hope he had. For all he knew, it was Enyo trying to steal it from him. She would take it and then she would finish him off once and for all.

He had one desperate thought as the shield left his fingers. He was speaking to someone so he accidentally used the mental channel that all used to communicate with.

Whoever you are, spirit of the shield, protect us... please...

She was there, trying to protect their remaining healer, poised and ready, when the dark one appeared yet again. It all happened so fast that Panzer still couldn't truly say she was sure exactly what she saw. The shield passed hands, the young man transformed into an unknown woman, she tried to talk to the beast they faced, and then suddenly the armored and bloodied soldier returned to them. There wasn't even a moment for Panzer to blink before their opponent moved towards the shield-bearing sailor soldier, swift and nearly silent.

But the others intervened, tried to get the injured party member away from the Chaos-corrupted woman... Oberon was flying, holding Enoch, trying to get him away, and Panzer was watching it... There was a whisper, somewhere; a whisper in the voice of that tainted soldier she hadn't known before arriving here.

Her muscles tensed, the tanned skin visible quivering, but a glance through her mask at her eyes would reveal that Panzer was not bracing for battle. No, her eyes seemed both too small and too large simultaneously—too much white, too much pupil, the emerald iris nearly a thin line. She couldn't hear the battle anymore, only her own heart thudding loudly in her ears. Too fast. Much too fast. Her chest constricted, as though the armored bodice of her uniform threatened to crush her, squeezing all the air from her frozen lungs.

She couldn't move.

Enyalius!

She couldn't help it. She couldn't stop that initial reaction, that moment of excitement to see someone she knew. It took less than a second for the happy thought to cool, for the reality of the current situation to override the cherished memories. The acute pain that chastised her heart lasted much longer than the elation.

Sailor Nocturnus gasped, nearly silent, her gloved hands pressed to over her mouth as the wide dark eyes watched the resulting show. So much was happening, and so much of it was awful, and still she was so useless. If only she could run forward, letting her wings lift her towards the other figure, and embrace her—prove to the corrupting darkness that this fighting was wrong and they were supposed to be together, not opponents. Wasn't love supposed to overcome Chaos? Maybe if she was powerful. Maybe if Nocturnus was like her mother. Or like the Queen, with that magical stone.

Seeing Achelois alive and well at least meant something. Nocturnus believed in the blonde woman. If anyone could have enough influence, it would be Achelois.

Nocturnus held her breath, watching intently, still trying to keep away from danger.

She accepted the annoyed response without backing down, the coy smile still on her face.  She needed to get Enyo away from the others, needed to calm her down again.  Being back near the others she could hear their thoughts through the link again.  Though she mostly ignored their planning, until one voice called out directly to her. 

Don't provoke her, focus on the others, stay safe.

"I know but we've already been apart for so long, besides, don't you trust the Chimera to handle this small group?  You did say there was no longer any challenge here, let's just see how far they can get."  She hoped she could appeal to the Enyo's desire for more, at least enough to give them time to escape.

The Chimera was down, but they were far from out of danger. Sailor Nocturnus gasped, picking up on the sounds: Footfalls. Shuffling. The swing of weapons. Enyalius—no, Enyo—was calling the undead and spirits to fight with her. Against them.

"Enyalius...!" It was a strangled, half-whispered plea from a child who truly felt like one in this moment, utterly unsure of what was to come next.

Stars... Mother... What can I do? she prayed. It was hard to see them, here below the atmosphere of this planet, but she knew that her guardians would never leave her. They were up there, out there, watching down on her, as her mother had always told her they would. But what, what in the name of all the Cosmos, could she do right now?

She realized her mistake the moment the beast fell. She had only meant to blind it, not kill it, not knowing how tough it was or how close the body was to death. As Enyo’s eyes turned red and the undead in the area stood straight, the princess who never felt cold in her life felt her own heart enveloped with ice, and not in a good way.

Trouble—real trouble—was coming.

If she didn’t do something, death would befall all of them.

She dropped the invisibility and stepped forward as asked, her face neutral, her hands slightly raised in a surrendering gesture.

“If it is I that have angered you, please, don’t take it out on everyone else. Please don’t punish them for my mistake.”

She could take dying because of something she did wrong, but she could not be responsible for the lives of everyone else too.

The blonde's blood ran cold as the warrior's look turned from annoyance and even satiation to hatred.  This wasn't how things were supposed to go.  Achelois had to do something, fast.  However it seemed now that words alone were not enough, not anymore.  Curses, she had brought the others because she had hope, but now it seemed they would do more harm than good. 

She moved quickly, not threateningly, but gently, til she was by Enyo's side.  She was already pulsing her calm energy to her hands as she lifted them to meet Enyo's face.  Gently, slowly, one hand travelled up Enyo's arm, the other from the neck.  The energy radiated from her hands into Enyo as she cupped the other's face, turning the red eyes to her own green.  "You don't have to kill Nix," she says sweetly, calmly, "She's a coward, does she really deserve to die by your sword?"

Don't sabotage this, let me lead her out or-
"Right, you're right," she smoothed Enyo's cheek, speaking calmly through the other's rage, redoubling her magical efforts, "but do you really want her blood on her blade? Let's leave them - your army will get them soon enough, and your pet can still fend for itself. See there? it yet lives. Let's go watch from the palace." Slowly one hand slid back down Enyo's arm.  She takes her hand, repulsed by the feel of the blood, and gently pulls her backwards, her wings maneuvering them towards the stairs back to the palace. "You hadn't finished showing me my room yet, remember?" The room you thought of for me, when you were just taken by Chaos.  Think of me now...  She felt her heart squeeze as she kept the soft, gentle smile on her face.  Nocturnus and Andromeda would have been killed just now.  Would Enyo have regretted that action if she brought their deaths to her attention later?

Quote :

Achelois and Enyo are leaving the field

All was happening so fast. Using the water from the fountain, she used Ocean's Grace once more on Azazel Knight after Enya's sneaky attack. She watched the scene unfold carefully, nothing that Enya seemed to respond to Achelois and the other senshi was able to calm her down. 

They most likely needed to deal with the Chimera before they did anything else. 

Eshana felt torn. On one hand, she wanted to help her comrades fight the Chimera, either using her Halberd or her magic, but as the groups only healer...while Achelois was with them, it most likely wasn't wise for her to use her healing magic on any of them less she anger Enyalius. 

Mother send me your strength to get through this and get these other senshi through this in one piece. Help us find a way to save Enya and her planet from Chaos. 

Callisto roared at the Chimera as it doused her with a second fireball, and then sank its snake fangs into her flesh. She stumbled under her own weight , her shoulder stinging even after the snake had let go. 

Of course it was poisoned. She backed off a few steps, staring down the Chimera, before it was blasted with a sudden wave of ice. It must have been Nix that had taken the cheap but effective shot, and Callisto was grateful for it, but it seemed to send Enyo into a rage. Callisto couldn't believe that Nix was actually trying to bargain for their own lives with her's, but Achelois appeared again and somehow talked Enyo out of finishing them off herself. But they had a time limit now...

Instead of backing down, Callisto used the brand new burns and injuries to fuel her instead.  She lunged for the dragon head's face with her teeth, taking advantage of its inability to move its body.

She flinched at the harsh, hatred-infused words and the smell of death in the air that followed. For a while, it seemed like all of them would die for sure. But Achelois, as usual, saved the day. She was able to control Enyo, though Andromeda didn’t breathe again until both of them left the field. She was shaking as for the second time that day she wondered if she would die.

Even as the immediate danger passed, the undead still gathered around them, and she knew more would be coming.

Enough.

Her own anger flared to quench the fear; her conditioned response. She was done playing. She was done being terrified, done listening to stupid suggestions, and she was going to focus on their main objective and nothing else.

With an anguished cry, she summoned her Battle Trident and threw it toward the Ram Head.

An army is headed here. No more talking to the beast. No more wasting time. Everyone who wants to go, go home. Everyone who still wishes to be here, focus on killing the Chimera, now.

Her voice through the link was stern, determined, and firm.

Leaving no room for arguments or whining.

Andromeda's command made up Sedna's mind for her. She could still fight, she just had to do it carefully and sparingly. She wouldn't leave until they had either saved Enyalius or been forced to kill her. Her parents had taught her to never give up until you had exhausted every available option. 

Summoning her Halberd, she moved forward several steps. Bringing it down in a decisive swipe in front of her she used Moonlight Kiss on the closest available head to her. 

OCC Because 530 AM:

Quote :

Battle Round Four Begins
8  Callisto attempts to attack the Dragon Head!
Does it hit? The body is immobile, but the head is still able to move independently!
--4
How much damage?
--6 critical damage!
--STR 15*** 17 WHY YOU NO CHECK SHEET?! >C IT'S BEEN WRONG ALL GAME
----Total of 12* points of damage all that was needed
The Dragon Head is defeated!

8  Callisto is burned! Callisto loses 1 HP
8  Callisto is poisoned! Callisto loses 2 HP

9  Andromeda attempts to attack the Ram Head with the Andromeda Trident!
Did it hit?
--3
It missed!
Did it hit another target? (Lion Head, dead chimera body, dead dragon head, callisto?)
--2
It missed!

9  Sedna uses Moonlight Kiss (4 MP) and attempts to attack the Ram Head!
Did it hit?
--4
How much damage?
--3
--CTRL 10
--MP 2
----Total of 15 points of damage

The Ram Head is defeated!

---

6 Lion Head attempts to attack Callisto!
Did it hit?
--5
How much damage?
--4
--STR 7
----Total of 11 points of Damage!
Callisto is bleeding! Callisto will lose 3 HP per round for 2 rounds!
Callisto loses 3 HP to bleeding!

Callisto has 1.5 HP remaining!
Callisto cannot move!

Quote :

If HP =1: Unable to stand alone. Cannot attack or defend. Cannot use Magic to attack.

---

Battle Round Four: 
16 Snake Head
9  Nix
9  Andromeda
9  Nocturnus
9  Sedna
8 Oberon terrified until round 5
8  Callisto dex increased to 11 for next rounds; burned until round 6 (3 turns) (-1HP);; Callisto is poisoned until round 5 (2 turns) (-2HP));; Callisto is bleeding until round 6 (2 turns) ((-3HP))
8 Ram Head
8 Dragon Head
6 Lion Head
5  Nikos
3  Enoch - terrified until round 5
1  Panzer - terrified until round 5

Killing that dragon's head was the most satisfying thing Callisto had done in this entire skirmish, and she usually didn't relish violence. The Ram Head was quickly dispatched by Sedna, and just as Callisto was releasing her grip on the dead dragon, the Lion tore at her unprotected flank. 

She collapsed on her side as the wound bled out, the poison and burns taking their toll on her as well. She would have transformed back, but she was afraid the shifting would just make her bleed faster and aggravate the wounds. Callisto struggled to pull in each breath, so she focused as hard as she could on the communication link. She wasn't sure if the smell of death in the air was from the undead city or herself now.

"You need to listen to Nikos and get out of here before the army catches up..." she said, though her voice was weak. If they had to choose between her and reaching Enyo, they needed to prioritize their reason for even coming here.

She had hesitated to attack again after what happened last time, and instead focused on the others to strategize. The Chimera was down enough now for them to easily get past it; only the Lion and Snake heads remained and it could not move. Those frozen would need help—probably, she had no idea what happened to them.

But then the bear collapsed, and she looked close to death. Nix ran toward her, pulling out her HP Potion, uncorked it, and held it up to the bear’s mouth. She would attempt to drag her away from the Lion Head, but she suspected she didn’t have the strength. If it tried to attack again, she hoped she could be the buffer.

“Drink this,” she said, pouring the liquid into Callisto’s mouth.

It was the only one she had, but someone else needed it more right now.



The creature only had two heads left, and neither was fire-breathing. Alright, let’s get to the palace! What is going on with those three? She looked at Panzer, Oberon, and Enoch, who had not moved. We may have to carry or drag them along. Be careful to stay out of range of the remaining heads!

It didn't matter what was going on around her: Enyo. Achelois. Nix. She remained fixed yet trembling, her breath shallow and too quick. Panzer couldn't recognize anything around her. She had been in battle before—she had encountered fear many times in her life, but the panic that suffocated her now was so unlike anything else she had ever felt. She couldn't pull herself out of it. There weren't unsettling questions in her mind or any specific thing to focus her senses on, it was everywhere. Everything.

Callisto was a blur in the distance, fighting against the remaining heads, but Panzer hadn't even realized the Chimera was down. She could see colours and hear sounds, but nothing was distinct. Even Andromeda and Nikos' messages were heard and yet unheard. The threat of encroaching forces didn't even register through the mire of her terror.

Enyalius was gone, Achelois leading her away. Calmed. Better. Not cured, not at all, but their interaction filled her with a glimpse of hope. In her heart, she wanted to save Enyalius. Now she felt a little bit more confident that it was still possible, regardless of what anyone else may have thought.

When Andromeda struck forward at the fallen Chimera, calling out to the others, Nocturnus steeled her resolve and readied herself to run at the command of the group. If the palace was the right defensive place, that's where she would go. Her small translucent wings, the same colours as the stars on her uniform, twitched with the preparation to aid her dash or carry her forward—whatever would be most effective.

"I'm ready," she let the others know.

As she surveyed what remained of the Chimera, her eyes settled on the trio that seemed... strange. Wait, what seemed strange? They... they hadn't moved at all. Not since Enyalius focused on them.

"I think something is wrong with Panzer, Oberon, and Enoch!"

She'd never be able to carry them. And they needed to get moving!