originally posted in:The New Dojo
[i]The rounds punched through the woman, though now they seemed to do little. Previously, Calypso had been taken by surprise. Now.. she only laughed, as blood dribbled down from her own being, the swords slamming into the shielding and held in place before fading away.[/i]
"You think this inconvenience means anything?" [i]Calypso sneered.[/i] "Ha. No. Time is in my favor, sweetheart. You can't stop this future, as much as you'd love to."
[i]In the background, Niki had begun to stir, clenching her fist. She looked at Rose, mouthing[/i] "Time.."
[i]She was planning something. She needed Rose to buy some time for the two.[/i]
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She could do just that, she trusted the woman, and knew Niki could do what she needed too. So, to buy her love time, she put herself at risk, shooting the shield forward to force it to slam into Calypso, the metal warping to fit her upper torso and head, and squeeze her into submission if possible.
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[i]The shield would split in two as it would come into Calypso's range, as yet another spectral sword came into her hand, only now a mighty longsword.[/i] "I know your tricks now, girl. Your manipulation of metal. I wonder, did Niki give that to you? When you're dead, what power shall she give me?" [i]Calypso would grunt, as she would raise the sword and slash down upon Rose. She intended to cleave her in two.[/i]
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She sidestepped then, avoiding the blow as she slammed the barrel into Calypsos side, the metal still searing hot. She knew bullets wouldn't work, there had to be a surprise. What of Clea? If the girl was still conscious... Retreating then, she pulled her own weapon, transforming it into its staff variant and holstering the pistol.
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[i]Clea had only fallen unconscious in the background, while Niki had taken to rising up slowly, holding a ray of glimmering light in her hand. The light only darkened into a void color, black and starry, as she kept herself out of Calypso's sight.[/i] [i]The woman would yell out, only to then slap Rose across the face, groaning and screaming in her pain as she stumbled back. She was stunned.[/i]
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Rose took the opportunity then to trap the being, her armor rattling from across the room, shooting forward then as she attempted again to slam it around Calypso's head and torso. Anything to buy to, anything...
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[spoiler][url=https://youtu.be/OGr0flqXvA8]Calypso (Damage Phase) - Dark Solas/Trespasser Boss Theme[/url][/spoiler] "[i]Now![/i]" [i]Niki yelled, as Calypso's being crashed against the wall. Niki would throw the void ball at the woman's trapped being as reality began to shift, time being reversed.. only for it all to freeze. Only Rose and her metal could move.[/i] [i]Calypso had reversed time, but Niki froze it entirely. A counter, perhaps gone wrong, and hopefully temporary..[/i] [i]It was proven temporal, as Niki's fingers quivered, as Calypso's yells from under the armor were heard. It seemed to be a disabling spell as well.. one that gave Rose enough time to end Calypso.[/i]
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Rose took the chance then, slamming her hands together with a tired yell, collapsing to her knees at the same time as the metal creaked and then slammed inward in a rapid implosion, crushing Calypso inside.
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[i]Calypso's screams cut short, only followed by the snapping and cracking of bones as her being was forced into a crumpled pulp. Dying squeaks escaped the metal prison, before they fell silent.[/i] "...I-I.. Rose.." [i]Time resumed to it's normal pace, as Niki stumbled over, only to wrap her hands around Rose.[/i] "I-I'm so sorry, I-I got lost on the battlefield and.. oh, Rose, s-she.."
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Rose stood, stunned for a second, before turning to Niki and embracing her in a tight hug, hushing her pleas. The woman was happy that that Niki was still alive, that was all she cared about. Her voice was a bit muffled in Niki's shirt, choking down tears as her eyes started to water. "Niki, its fine, its fine. Your safe now, that's all that matters to me..."
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"S-She's not dead. Well.. physically, she is. She can't come back, not for you nor me.. I.. I think I can help your friend. Is she.. Tribune?" [i]Niki murmured, sniffling a little as she looked at Clea. Clea had cleaned the wound before passing out, though she was pale and sitting in a puddle of dark blood.[/i]
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"Ex-Tribune, she's a fugitive. She helped me get here. If you could I would love it if you could help her. Are you sure you can though?" She couldn't bear to force to Niki to do anything more than lift a finger.
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"I-I can. Calypso, she.. she drew me out. The "real me", she called it. Her.. little dragon, she called me. Dragon.." [i]Niki murmured, before crawling over and praying above Clea's body. Whatever Calypso had done.. it had made the bаstard's magic stronger, as the wound began to visually close over time.[/i] "It'll take.. a while."
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"Dragon....?" She walked up next to Niki then, curious. What exactly did the girl mean by that? What did Calypso do...
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"...I feel like a dragon. That's.. an easy way to put it. I think.. yes, that'd be.. Rose, if you can.. get me and your friend back to the Trayven camp, please? I can get us out of this.. place. It's so pretty, but.." [i]Niki sighed.[/i] "...We should find some new clothes for your friend, too." [i]She murmured, studying Clea.[/i] "All this blood, and a Tribune uniform.."
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"How do you feel like a dragon...? That sounds, amazing I think. That kind of power..." She shook her head then, obeying Niki was she scooped up Clea, grunting a bit from her tired body. Then, she retraced her steps back to the little camp, her mind still adrift. A dragon? How was that possible?
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[i]Niki would stumble after her, hanging onto the trunks of the red trees as she attempted to explain.[/i] "There's just.. so much heat. Spells feel like.. nothing. I feel as though I could lift a house. Yet I'm so.. weak, physically. Gods, I'm.. oh, no. I'm stronger, but weaker.."
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"Is it your magic...? How could you be stronger, but weaker..." She shook her head then. A dragon, could Niki do the same to her? She had to ask, it was nagging her. "Niki... Is there a chance you could do it to me? I know its the wrong time to ask, but its eating away at me. A dragon..." She shook her head, gesturing for Niki to hang onto her shoulder instead of going from tree to tree.
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"...[i]I can try.[/i]" [i]Niki admitted, sighing as she sat down at the camp and studied Clea as she slept.[/i] "...this feels so.. peaceful. Superb." [i]She smiled, studying her hands before she rested her hands upon a pile of small logs, where a fire would be set. Small cinders broke through her fingers, as she released her hands, revealing a flame now sparking in the logs.[/i]
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"I don't want to force you, but can you? That kind of power... I don't know. At least then you wouldn't be alone." She let out a sigh, laying Clea down next to the fire, then sitting next to it "This place though, its not right, even you know that."
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"I know it's not right. I wish we could stay, even then. Us, together.. away from war and death." [i]Niki sighed.[/i] "I.. I can share this power. Through a rune. I think.."
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"If only... You me, alone..." She let out a sigh. "If you think it would work, then you can try it. I trust you, know you wouldn't do anything that wouldn't kill me."
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[i]Niki nodded, as she would cross her legs and hold her hands together, as the winds would slow and come to a steady stop in the background. She was.. calming herself.[/i] "Where would you like the rune to be?"
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She gave it a bit, thinking. Then she pulled her shirt off and sports bra off, knowing the drill. Turning around, she put her back to Niki, the obvious meaning apparent; she wanted it on her back. As much as she hated carvings in her skin, she was fine with it this one time.
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[i]Niki nodded, as she would place her hands upon Rose's back, her smooth hands rushing against her spine. Her palms began to quiver a little, with a warmth surging through Niki's hands and into Rose's back, while the former grunted a little in discomfort. Light issues from her fingertips, as the insignia of a spiked, curled dragon would formulate within Rose's skin.[/i] [i]Raw power would rush through Rose's being, a noise that sounded similar to a dragon's roar filling her ears. Her vision turned red for a few seconds before returning to normal, while Niki continued to quiver a little.[/i] "T-There."
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Rose sat for a bit in silence, the feeling pervading her being, resonating within her. Is this what Niki felt? This unholy power boiling within her?