New Beginning 21: Awesomeness Revisited

[Marvelous Miscreant]

"Oh, you were invited alright, but there is a certain protocol to this sort of thing. Whats the point of a story if we can just pop on down to the very end? No, its far more interesting to take the long way around if you know what I mean."

[The Narrator]

differ people said differ things.....

but I can reappear later

Give me a ring when I'm needed,

*disappears*

[Zaleramancer]

The bull shrank somewhat as it and the Vizier followed the Vault from the room, down a short hallway into a huge and spotless white room that stretched as far as the mundane eye could see.

A towering silvery metallic tower of some sort stood in the center of the room, swirling with strange white energies. All around it, small figures moved in a swaying dance, guiding energy down and out of small holes in the walls.

"Ah, the Soul Nexus. Good to see the many time redundant backup power sources are functioning. This place catches the souls of those who have recently passed on this dimension and either reincarnates them into physical form or transports them to whatever afterlife they would normally end up in."

"Our master has many psychopomps on his payroll. This would never work otherwise."

He pointed to an exit on the far corner of the room.

"That would be our way out. Haagenti, would you kindly stay to defend this place? It would be a deep blow to have it ravaged."

The golden bull bowed his head and clip-clopped over towards the center of the room, wings flickering absently.

"Shall we continue?"

[Zaleramancer]

It bit a stick from a tree and dropped it, watching as it sank into the mud.

Then it glanced at Marv, then the muddy ground again.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

The Vault skids to a stop. He taps the side of his head.

What?" Asks Peter.

"I'm picking up interference or something. Hello? Someone there? Is this Malphas? You know, you shouldn't be able to talk inside me. It ain't normal."

"You're not normal, you half-mad safe!!!"

[Zaleramancer]

My apologizes. This is one of the semi-serious arcs we have where we deliberately constrain ourselves to make for a better story.

After this, there should be delightful bits of randomness where anyone can do anything without there being problems.  

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Pretty looking." The Vault said, shaking her head. She set the boy down. "Onward to victory."

"Yeah, I guess. Just leave me at the next choke-point, I work something out." Peter said.

"So, Vizier, how do we wake him up when we get there? Bop him on the head?" the Vault asked while she walked.

[The Narrator]

*reappears* Randomness understood, I'd never go straight to a climax without building up to it, it's outside of the Narrator's persona

Crap, popcorns burning

*disappears*

[Zaleramancer]

"I am not certain. What information I have on how he became.. inconvenienced is fragmented. It appears that some sort of infectious energy-being invaded through a window into another newly-explored universe. Such a thing would be one of a kind here.. "

"Simply constraining the creature in some way would enable the Master to make a swift recovery. I know that at least a few powerful beings will take an interest in this manner, so with enough of them.. anything is possible."

They approached a large and forbidding looking door. Behind it could be heard the sounds of scrabbling and hissing.

"Ah. It appears that your small companion will be of use here. "

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"One of a Kind!"

"Oh Frith. Never say that around this thing."

The Vault was starry eyes and smiling wide. In certain forms, this could be adorable. In this one, it only served to show off the many rows of teeth his current form possessed. "It's mine! None of those other guys can have it. They better not touch it until I get there!" She grabbed Peter, lifted him onto her back, and flying kicked the door.

It shattered outward, sending demons flying every which way. She got a bit of distance on them, then plopped the boy down.

"There. Distract whatever that is. This just officially became a race! Vizier, come on! We can't let them beat us to the prize!"

"You left him back there, moron," Peter scolded, then looked back to the things that were forming rank again.

[Philote]

I raise and inch up and glide forward. So, we had a new ally, one that seemed to not hold down any specific position. The Narrator was not the only new being to come into the SPL either, the being I was heading to now seemed different than those I had encountered before.

"Let's hurry then to this Vizier, I'll take care of whatever tries to get in our way."

[Celadon's Penultimate]

"Sounds like a plan. The sooner this library/maze/confusing dimension is a distant memory, the better."

[Philote]

"Alright Wulf" I reply "I'll take the brunt of whatever we are about to face and you can move in to finish it off and rescue the others."

[Celadon's Penultimate]

"Sounds like a plan." I agree, assuming my Wulf Form, in eager anticipation of what lies ahead.

[Zaleramancer]

"Now, comrades, there's no reason to get violent. I'm sure we can all-" The Vizier leapt with surprising athleticism towards the tall ceiling of the wide hallway, clinging to the top of it gecko-like as he scrambled away.

The horde of demons flowed upwards on wings and springing goat legs and ambling limbs.

[Zaleramancer]

Far off you hear the unholy howl of demons.

Aquilla whoops and sprints off towards them, while Taika gathers up the children.

"You two go on ahead, I'll take care of the children."

[Philote]

"I'll draw their attention Wulf! You grab whoever they are attacking!"

As I fly down the corridor I prepare myself for whatever I'm about to face. A longsword manifests and floats before me and I raise the gear containing the Labyrinth Virus to inscribe a ward onto the blade of the sword. The virus spreads through the longsword, exponentially growing its data, transforming it from a mundane object into an unique artifact.

Purple flames radiate off the sword and I read its data to see what it has become. "Interesting, so you have a name now" I say to myself "Rose King's Shield. A sword named shield." I grab the sword and its energy races up my arm upon contact. As I near the demons, the sword has dyed my skin purple with numerous wards and my hair has grown crystalline.

I swing the sword through empty space as I fly through the cloud of demons and sigils leap from the blade onto their skin. As I move past the demons, I flip and land on the opposite wall, preparing to push off for another pass through the demons.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

I nod at Phi as he departs. I hold my nose up to the air, in hopes of making out the identity of whoever they're attacking, as well as the nature of the demons themselves. Though my choice of forms was fortuitous, I can't seem to discern either. It looks like I'll need something of a boost.

My voice suddenly raspy and hoarse, I call, just above a whisper, "Heart of the Wulf'n Prince..."

My fur darkens from smoky-gray to shadow-black, and a glow of soft moonlight fills my eyes, surrounds my paws. I paw the ground, and sniff. Yes, the scent is much clearer, now. I let out a howl to match the infernal wailing in the distance, and take off with smoke and shadow at my feet.

I'm suddenly feeling quite hungry...

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

*Meanwhile, on the other side of the massive throng of goat legs, wings, and ambling limbs.*

"Well...." Went the Vault. She clapped her hands before him and bowed her head solemnly. "You're death will be avenged, evil Vizier. Eventually. After I get that totally unique thing that shorted out your boss." She then turned on her heel a went to walk down the hall.

"Isn't that guy our guide?" Asked Peter.

She stopped mid step. It was true, she had no idea how to get through this place. "My intuition has never steered me wrong before. It will lead me to the thing."

"But will it lead you to the exit?"

"That's a good point." She turned to Peter, twinkle in her grey eyes. She clapped the taloned hand of a demon on his shoulder. "Peter, I leave this in your capable hands."

He barley got out a "wha-" before all that could be seen was a trail of dust leading up the hallway. He looked back at the writhing horde. They seemed to not have noticed him yet, intent on grabbing their target. He opened and closed his palm. Despite the circumstances, it would at least be good to use his circuits again.

There was what could only be described as an adorable *pop*, before something white and fluffy was tossed into the mass of demons, bumped to and fro another, bounced off one to strike another and another before tumbling to the floor. Then the thing, the creature, the cute little bunny rabbit began to writhe and screech, things, appendages moving into place just under it's skin.

It grew quickly, bursting out of the pile and scattering the demons and scattering them before they could ever comprehend what was happening. Coal black, eyes burning read with pain and hate. Twelve wings, fourteen powerful hoofed legs, sharp angular teeth, and a screech that could put the fierceness of chalkboards to shame. And still, unmistakably, a rabbit. It was a rabbit that lashed out at them.

As a quartet of demons slammed into the bookshelves behind him, he resolved to name it Thumper. Seemed only appropriate.

[Philote]

The demons attacking The Vizier become locked in place as an invisible force binds them from the sigils inscribed on their skin. I push of the wall and fly through the swarm when a large creature grows below me. My wings adjust my path and I angle down towards the growing abomination of a rabbit.

I glide past one of its sweeping paws and my sword flashes as another sigil manifests on the creature. Landing on the floor, I look around. There was a boy, the man on the ceiling, the rabbit and then the demons. I would just have to break up this fight first and escort the ones that could lead us to Zale out after. I turn back to the rabbit to see if it would go on anymore of a rampage.