Day 85, Evening

[loyallygiven]

Ken braced himself against the wall when he heard the first explosion, followed quickly by the rest, and the rumble of the wall breaking and falling. The floor shook, or maybe he was shaking. It really worked. He wasn't sure it would. He wasn't sure he wanted it to. There was no taking it back now

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[sardonic_beauty]

"You'd want a whore's forgiveness because that will be what you need to survive." He didn't care if Yuuri was there, that Yuuri didn't want people to be killed. Gunter had only one desire right now, and it was as far from sexual as you could get.

He grabbed his sword from the ground and ducked low to run towards the water basin. She could probably hear his running feet or sense his movements. He just hoped that staying low would keep him from getting hit. Once he reached the basin, he brought his sword upon it and cast out a cool wind in her direction, freezing the water as they flew toward her. From there, he ran toward the back of the chapel in search of a torch that was still burning.

His arm was throbbing with a terrible pain and there were a few other spots her maryoku had hit him that were starting to sting. He wanted a better plan than this, but he wasn't going to deny he wanted this fight.

He'd heard Wolfram's explain about Ken and it made a lot of sense as to why she was stronger. Had he not have had to focus, he'd probably have figured it out much sooner. He just hoped the maou would stay out of his fight.

[wolf_kkm]

The Maoh’s voice. He blinked and gazed up at Yuuri, he looked so much like the Yuuri from his world now it caused a sudden blush in spite of the pain. He clung to the other’s arm and fought to regain his senses.

He knew now why Murata had been used and deliberately so. He wanted for some reason to try and make the Moah understand. “He didn’t know.” Wolf said softly as he reached up to touch the Moah’s hair gently. “He’s blinded by loyalty.....” He grunted as he fought consciousness. He wasn’t sure what he was trying to do but he didn’t think Ken deserved death but punishment, most certainly. He was a traitor. Wolf was willing to bet he was just a tool, though. That was all he was going to say in Ken’s defense.

He rested his head for a moment against the Maoh’s chest to listen to the strong beat of his heart while the Demon King decided what to do. It blocked out everything else. Though he was still in pain just the sound of it gave him the strength to remain standing so his King could use both hands.

[empty_blueeyes]

She heard him move. And she tried to catch him with a series of strikes that seemed to fall short of his heels. She pulled her magic inward, and prepared to push it back out, and envelope all of the room in a wave he couldn't outrun. Then something struck metal, and the sound rang loud in her ears.

The first pricks of the cold daggers struck her magic first, and she barely had time to turn her offense into a shield. But it wasn't nearly fast enough to evade all of the projectiles, and the ice bit into her leg, and shoulder, and she felt a trickle down her cheek that meant another must have caught her there too. The one in her leg fell away easily, caught up in the folds of her skirt. The wound was not deep. Her shoulder, however, throbbed, and when she reached up, she found it lodged in deep. There was no point in trying to pull it free; it would melt.

But where was Gunter now? She held still and listened, and sent bursts of her magic out in every direction to find him. She wanted her powersource back as well, but the Maou was like a wall she couldn't penetrate. She couldn't even "see" through him to tell if Ken was still in the room.

[sardonic_beauty]

One of her tendrils caught his ankle and he stumbled briefly as he reached the wall. He sent a burst of air forward from his whole body and recast another barrier. He used the sword as a crutch and reached up to grab the torch. Though he could manipulate all elements, he needed them already present in order to manipulate them. Now with fire at his disposal, he could build more confusion.

He tossed the torch forward, whispering a chant that would separate the air to accelerate the fire towards her. In his future, witches were burned, and this seemed like a suitable attack to try and finish her.

[empty_blueeyes]

She wasn't going to win this. She didn't want to admit it, but she knew. If she could access Ken, or the other demon, she might stand a chance, but she was hurt, and losing strength, and Gunter was darting around like a little rat. Even if she did pin him down and rip him apart, there was the king to deal with. And she had no resources left.

Desperate, and angry, she screamed at the heat rushing toward her. If this was the end, then she wasn't going down alone. She wheeled her arms around, sending an arch of dark energy toward Gunter. It was everything she had. The force of it dispelled some of the flames, but she still felt the heat tear into and past her as she dropped her to hands and knees.

[harajukumaou]

"Enough!" The room seemed to freeze as a deep voice boomed, it's very sound seemed to caste a blast of energy between the two Mazoukus attacks, deflecting their blasts from one another. The power of it all knocked down a few of the pues and they fell back into the wall.

The king stepped forward, his hair tickling his shoulders as he walked. "The worst offence," He began. "Is the one committed under a blind cause. Putting others in the line of danger for your own selfish wants." His anger seemed to vibrate through the air. Even the dust could not resettle.

"To let you escape unscathed would be unacceptable," He spoke with eyes directed at Julia. Had he let Gunter attack her on purpose? "But, bringing the mercy of death is also far too easy an escape for a tainted soul such as yours." He turned his back on Gunter. Not out of disrespect, but it could be taken that way. "There is no easy way out for you. You can only repent for your sins with your own will and your heart. It takes ones own suffering to understand the pain he has caused to others. I hate doing things the hard way- but that is the only way to bring justice!"

With a hand held out wide in Julias direction, water came pouring through cracks in the floor and walls. The chapels basin water pooled together. Serpents with fangs as clear as ice came rushing towards her. They circled her quickly, swiftly, and clamped around her body. One curled around the back of her head and covered her ears like earmuffs. Without her hands, without her ears and with her energy sources cut off how could she make up for the lack of sight?

[sardonic_beauty]

Gunter wasn't sure if he was just scolded, but he assumed he was. Regardless, the air was put back to normal and he was dealing with his target. But no matter how powerful he knew he was, he was no match for this maou and couldn't convince him to let him complete the battle. Instead he collapsed to the ground and simply watched. His body hurt and he was still irritated that he couldn't finish the match, but somewhat relieved that he didn't have to fight anymore. Though, he had to get the toxins from his body, and he was in no condition to walk himself anywhere. He still considered it a bittersweet victory, and somehow knew they would fight again.

[wolf_kkm]

Wolf always liked watching the Maoh in action, it was almost a drug. He gazed from where he was with his eyes bright and shiny. He felt a little woozy still. He knew that if he tried anything involving strength of any kind he would regret it.

So he stood where he was, sword still in hand. The 27th Maoh was a site he would never forget. He'd once had those serpents wrapped around himself and he knew what it was like.

At least he had not done anything to Ken yet... and why did he care exactly?

Wolf had nothing more to say, his body was in too much pain.

OOC: I will be out of it till tomorrow morning, feel free to assume Wolf collapses or something or Yuuri can move him. I will be on again tomorrow morning.

[empty_blueeyes]

She didn't know if she should laugh or cry. She did a little of both. She could hardly hear the king through the road of blood in her ears, but his voice was like a rumble. She could feel everything he said. He should have killed her, because she wasn't going let this be the end.

She didn't get a chance to say so. Or maybe she was just smart enough not to.

Too beaten down to fight off the watery restraints coiling around her, she struggled weakly, only truly panicking when the sound was cut away and she was suspended with nothing. She called him a coward, and weak-willed, and then just spit out profanities - all of which just sounded like a hollow buzz to her.

[harajukumaou]

Her outbursts didn't seem to phase the king. The serpents did well of cutting off her senses. Tapestries that lined the chapel walls came tumbling down, water leading them around and around Julia till she was in a knot. It wrapped over her ears as well. A single thread hung loose on the side as it completed it's job, the stringy shape that it formed on the ground was easily read as 'JUSTICE'.

The air in the room began to settle but not before a water serpent bolted straight at Murata, it looked like it was about to attack; jaw set open and fangs out. But instead it broke away and a tapestry following it similar to the surrounding Julia wrapped around his body tight.

"It is done." Voiced the Maou, satisfied with what had gone down. The strong aura of blue steadily fell and with it his hair began to recede. Yuuri stumbled, his back hitting the wall as he converted back to himself once again. He looked dizzy, about to faint even, but he didn't just yet.

[loyallygiven]

When the serpent rushed toward Ken, the man holding him let go and stepped away. Even shoved him foward a little. And Ken's thought, when he saw the serpent's watery - but still sharp looking - teeth was that it was terribly unfair that he was going to die, but they let Julia live. It was all her idea!

But his fate was the same as hers, and he found himself imprisoned in cloth. And withouth the man holding him up anymore, he really couldn't keep his balance. With a short cry, he tumbled backwards onto the floor, and his glasses flew off somewhere (he hoped no one stepped on them - they were the only pair he had).

Julia, at least, had stopped screaming and cursing. Maybe she'd finally passed out.

[orange_mullet]

Julia and Ken were taken care of. The king was safe, but looked about ready to drop. Wolf too. Gunter was still on the other side of the room. He felt a little sad that he didn't a lot of action this time around, but it seemed he was the only one left who could still walk.

Yozak pushed a hand through his hair, and flashed the boys a smile. "Maybe you two should sit down before you fall down. I'm going to check on Gunter." He was going to need help if none of them could make it out of here on their own.

He moved quickly across the floor, sparing a glance at Julia, who had gone still and quiet. When he reached Gunter, he knelt down and looked the other over, frowning and troubled - but they knew this wasn't going to be a pretty fight. "Bet you feel like crap. Can you walk?"

[sardonic_beauty]

Looking around the room, it was a rather depressing sight. But, in the end, the adrenalin was draining and he was now starting to feel his wounds. Her magic lingered within him and there were no proper words to describe the pain it caused.

"Getting hit by a carriage might be a more pleasant feeling." He glanced down at his ankle and tried to wiggle his foot - only to make a terribly pained face. "I sincerely doubt it. Julia's maryoku needs to be removed, but I'm sure Gisela is busy with the collapsed wall. It's rather toxic for her as well."

He tried to offer up a smile for Josak. "I bet you're glad you don't have maryoku now, aren't you?"

[orange_mullet]

"She'll want to look at you anyway. Someone should." He could wrap a bandage and apply salves, but magic was out of his league. "Wolfram too."

He brushed the hair away from Gunter's face and moved it behind his shoulder. It was a right mess, like the rest of him. "Never been gladder. I'm sorry I wasn't more useful.

"Can you handle it if I move you closer to the door?" It would put him closer to Wolf and Yuuri, and also farther away from Julia. She seemed to be unconscious, but there was no telling for sure from this angle, and he had no desire to get up close and find out for sure just yet.

[sardonic_beauty]

He nodded. Wolfram did seem to take a good deal of damage. It wasn't even his fight.

"You were plenty useful, Josak. To be honest, I likely didn't want any interference anyway. In the end, I suppose I'm just a stubborn, proud mazoku." But it was true. Even if they laid out an elaborate plan, he likely would have wanted to fight her for himself.

Gunter looked at the door where the boys were. Usually it really wasn't far, but for him it was looking like a rather long distance. He made a face and shifted to try to stand on his good side. He would do what he could. "I'll give it a try. Though I think what I really need is a bottle of the hardest liquor and a beautiful woman to serve it to me." He'd not be opposed to a lovely man in a dress, either. "We should also find out how much damage occurred downstairs and possibly get some guards up here. And probably find my workaholic double."

[orange_mullet]

"Yeah, and look what stubborn got you." He wasn't sure how to help, because he wasn't sure where Gunter hurt the least. He gently took him by the waist and one arm, trusting the other would alert him if he was making any of his wounds worse as they moved slowly across the room.

"The liquor I can do. The woman..." He shrugged. "I can also do."

He snorted and shook his head. "We nothing. You need to see a healer and get some rest. Or get drunk. Whatever makes this feel better. Gwendal had a handle on the mess at the wall. I can get a report from him. I can track down your double as well." He looked at all the weary bodies in the room and sighed. "Yeah, we do need some help up here."