Second War Battle

At last. The day has come.

Their march was one that could be noticed miles away- the fearsome army of Aetherius were making their way to the Ardent, intending to wipe it off the face of Agartha this time. For good.

The storm was gathering. The sky had grown dark. The thunder of thousand boots marching on the ground, the roars of lesser demons that made up the rest of Gaiar's ranks- it was all an echo that was steadily approaching the eardrums of all that remained in Ardent.

A mortal reminder of their fate.

As soon as they made their way to Ardent's gates, and first attacks were launched against non-magi forces to breach the city, it was only all more fitting for the Archon to address his people in the eve of battle.

With his gaze turned to his army, he spoke.

"Heed my words, Aetherius."

"They tremble as they hear our march. They shiver as they hear our voices. They despair upon the sight of our weapons."

"Then let us feed their fears. Show no mercy to those that stand with Ikkaku- for we cannot co-exist while the serpent of Jianghu maintains its presence on Agartha."

"Today, we shall put an end to this endless charade of lies and hypocrisy."

"Today, we shall avenge every single one of ours that has fallen."

"Onward. Rip and tear until it's done."
(Zaruma)

[19:35] Their bat was in hand, body slowly slinking forward alongside their friends. However as soon as the fighting started, they were immediately split apart. It was horrendous, they had no idea where to fight, no idea where to exactly go. Yet soon they found a large fight going on nearby...Yet it was definitely more then they could have ever asked for.

In the air was an Archon, looking down upon the leader of Ardent. Hermes was suddenly shaken, they didn't know...Do they help, do they try to find another fight? Yet after a moment of inner-thoughts, it was decided...To protect the weak of Ardent, they must go after the leaders of the raid.

Winds would flap around their body, a spontaneous breeze manifesting around them. Compared to the Archon however, the wind was practically nothing, they were a novice at such abilities compared to Zaruma. Yet truly that wouldn't hold back Hermes as with every second they'd start stepping closer to where the battle would take place.

"I'll end you, you treacherous demon...save the weak of ardent..."

Their voice was small, almost impossible to hear under the whispers of the wind around them. Yet even with such a shaken fear...They were still going to battle, for Ardent.
(Hermes)
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[19:36] The bullets of blood sailed downwards, piercing into Gaiar's soilders as sky blue eyes looked through the battlefield. It wasn't just looking for anyone, it was looking for one in particular. A glow surrounds them, blue in color as a hand moved to their belt, producing a potion and downing it. Not much change can be seen underneath the maskings of cloth but the eyes narrow and squint while looking at the Archon.

"Eleven years ago. You stormed Ardent with Gehenna and your armies, aimed at kidnapping civilians. You tore through people, hurt them in ways unimaginable. There is seven of us then, and you wounded us..

No one else remembers that battle. Everyone else is gone.

Past that, there was the time you attacked Ardent while the Coalition was your foe. I stood against you there, and I stand against you now. Back then.. I was weak. I couldn't defeat you. I tried and tried but just couldn't. And another was captured because of me.

No the one who fought with me is gone, though I'm much less fond of them.

Zaruma. You killed Ravan. I killed Somnus. We're both soilders. But you kill only out of selfishness, only out of rage and chaos. I.. intend to kill to protect people, to prevent monsters like you and Somnus from harming others."

The Angelic wings hold Ikkaku aloft as their eyes closed. There was a small inhale.

"Today.. Is the day you die.

I've been waiting for this far longer then you have.

ZAAAARUMAAAAAAA!"

The call was yelled as the Regent dove forwards towards the Archon, a nod towards the one who had come to their side.
(Ikkaku Ukitake)

The Archon was easily overwhelmed; he already knew of Ikkaku's strength, but combined with another magi by his side? Even for Zaruma it was too much.

Receiving hit after another, he could feel his life essence sapping away- essentially, he felt death nearing close, and he could feel how the scythe was getting heavier for him. Blood has covered him in purple shades, and the sounds were ringing in his ears- he wished to fight back, but could not.

Dazed, wounded and on the verge of practically dying, he had to tap into his inner potential. No, he couldn't lose just like that... at least something had to be done.

"No--"

"NO!"

While Ikkaku was a careful fighter with the large experience, Hermes had grown reckless- and that costed him ability to continue the fight. The glow of crimson glared at Hermes with almost a killer intent, enough to solidify his skin and cease his movement - if only for the Tempest to swoop by, strike him with his blade and blast him away with telekinesis.

Essentially, Hermes was out of the fighting. Gasping and gripping his bleeding wounds, he glared at Ikkaku and spoke out.

"This isn't over."

The scythe was drawn.
(Zaruma)

The sky blue eyes narrowed upon Zaruma as if the Regent had tunnel vision. Blood spun across the ground like petals, slicing and slicing into the Archon as Ikkaku themselves worked at putting space between them. There was a moment of pause however, eyes widening as a powerful force of telekinetic power flew their way;

Only for Ikkaku to turn into mist and use the space to their advantage. Tough stone skin covered them as they took several steps back, bullets of blood having knocked Zaruma back but.. Hermes seemed to have been blasted away.

".. It is better to have such a brave soilder out of harm's way." The Regent stated as the blue glow around them grew more fierce. Small unremarkable spirits once more took Ikkaku's side as they drew closer to the tempest, vials of blood opening and forming a whip.

"I'm going to stop you. I'm going to stop all you Archons from hurting innocent people ever again.. Zaruma.

Let's end this."
(Ikkaku Ukitake)

The battle rages as blood, water, and sound tear into the Archon, the sky blue eyes staring into the creature's sockets as Spirits surrounded them and kept them pinned and open for any attack. Water pushed into the creature, carving through their chestplate and attempting to strike them down with success.

Power flowed from Ikkaku's gloved hands, a barrage slamming into them at every moment. The force of benevolence didn't leave them, nor did let up. And then the final blow connects, sounds penetrating into the Archon's skull.

It was a disorienting ringing which would drag Zaruma to their knees. Eardrums would bleed as if it were a shrieking banshee, and the damage would be quite lasting. Not for years but.. Perhaps for the entirety of the next year, sounds would be blurred or slurred together for the Archon.

With that? The staff Telaman would come down, slamming into the face of the Archon as the Regent stared downwards towards them.

"That was for Ravan."

Blood miasma would slowly rise on the floor, moving towards Zaruma.

"And this is for peace."

Given Zaruma had likely seen Ikkaku in battles before, it was likely known that the rotting blood would very easily spell the end of anyone caught in it. However, it moved and was yet to connect.

Would he be fast enough to escape?
(Ikkaku Ukitake)

Much like approaching a stationary, no matter how fast he was, Ikkaku successfully defended himself with the sound magics and blood magics that constantly circled him- no matter from which direction he approached, he was always met with the force to reckon with.

And before yet another strike could be delivered against Regent, he found himself overwhelmed with the sound; if that weren't enough, the water magics have pushed against his chest, almost aiming to drill through Zaruma and end his existence.

Thankfully, the body of the Archon was durable enough to withstand that and avoid dying. But- it was not enough to keep Zaruma on his feet.

Inevitably, he found himself on the knees, if only to be slammed in the face with a staff. To feel this sick, this vulnerable as Archon... it stung deeper than physical pain alone could do. It was a sense of insecurity, of mortality that was reaching out to Zaruma.

But he cackled. His crimson hues looked up at Ikkaku, their glare only intensifying with a second.

"I remember you younger... so brave, but weak and naïve."

"Now look at you... to force me on the ground like this- I suppose only being naïve stays."

With that said, Ikkaku attempted to finish him off- giving it all, the hatred, the sheer anger he felt was focused down in a wave of Arcane energy, almost solidifying his wrists; if only for the Archon to deliver an upward kick to throw off his aim.

--No doubt Ikkaku would attempt to re-direct blood and still strike Zaruma down, but that move gave him a split second to simply vanish. Much like an embodiment of wind that he is, the Tempest, although wounded, managed to escape the fatal blow.

Speaking from the safe distance and covered in his purple blood, he exclaimed.

"We might meet again, Ikkaku. One of us might fall, too."

"But not today."

Before Regent could hope to chase him down, Zaruma vanished, leaving Ikkaku alone to his devices.
(Zaruma)

What a strange feeling, to be dressed for war yet meeting little resistance. The Archon Tragedy swept through the ranks at the head of the common folk as she always did, but this time... things were different.

No magi of note dared to approach her.

Soldiers died before they could hope to reach her- no blade touched her, no wayward fireball could pierce her defences. Ardent and Aetherius fought as she loomed through the battlefield, a spectre of darkness.

Something caught her attention briefly. Archon, pushed back by Ikkaku- the Order magi seemed well tuned to deal with melee combatants. She watched him disappear in an instant, looking over the man. He was too far to reach... hundreds of soldiers stood in their way, and it was her arcane attunement more than anything that helped her notice them in the first place.

"... It is doomed."

Telepathically, she confronted Ikkaku- the images of the swarming battlefield around them both. The deaths of endless soldiers.

"This place has fallen. And many more will. So long as you live, Ikkaku, we will chase your people to the ends of the earth.

So do the right thing. The thing that Order begs of you. And off yourself quietly.

Let this chapter end. Or continue reading to a bloody conclusion."
(Tragedy)

The Arcane energy managed to throw off the aim of the Order magi and in that time Zaruma would disappear only to reappear a short ways away. The sky blue eyes narrow and squint towards the Archon as the wings give a singular flap. No expression could be read under that mask but.. It would be difficult to imagine anything but frustration.

The chance to kill an Archon, to deal a large blow to Gaiar's morale.. Had failed once more. Blood would fly towards Zaruma, a last attempt to strike them down but as the Archon vanished it would be instead stuck to the nearby buildings.

Only to hear another voice, another foe, though not for this battlefield. The sky blue eyes looked towards Tragedy.

"This place has fallen. But hope will remain alive. You will chase my people down and I will strike you down in turn, and defeat the hordes of Archons that attempt to destroy the world.

You tell me to do what Order begs of me? It begs me to keep fighting, to not give up until I've seen humanity's goodwill protected and not under the reign of Archons.

I'm not one to give up."

Ikkaku would move, darting around the field then to assist non-magi soilders and begin routing attacks or making ways for them to move, more accessable streets and the like.
(Ikkaku Ukitake)