Midgardia mystic descent back up

    "A bit...overkill..." says Sekelena looking at the group of spell casters Lahk Fhar has assembled in the dark cabin in the mountains.

   "Not when dealing with problems like this," says Lahk Fhar, "make no mistake I know I can't send any forces of my own...including hired mercenaries directly after the other contestents, but sending our forces after their forces...is perfectly fine...especially as that dragon sorceress clearly had hers in waiting to ambush ours!"

    Lahk Fhar turns dramatically, "and behold the ultimate proof that the treasurey of Hell is vast for I have hired several of the most powerful spell casters in the entire multiverse....according to the book and the Dimension Police files."

   A man with short brown hair wearing white robes with an upside down yellow triangle emblem on his chest, "Holy Rune, the ultimate white magician."

   A woman in a blue witch costume that is armored, even the skirt and hat and looks impossibly heavy to wear, as well as weilding a giant blue with a silver edge sword shaped like a giant wedge, "Ruby, the most powerful spell warrior."

   A woman wearing a black dress and a black veil on her head adorned with black feathers down her temple, "Nefaria, the master of the dark arts, and the perfect name for one as well."

   At the end of the line is a simpler looking smallish woman with short blue hair that frames her face, and standing beside her a humanoid black dragon-man wearing a ragged reaper like cloak and carrying a scythe, "and Mara the Mysterious Magician and her associate the Crypt Dragon."

    ******

    "Mirai has been missing for days," says Shahara looking at the monitor in a talk with Lohln, "while I have no vested interest in this tournament or opposing you directly...I was under the impression given it was one of my offices in which Pamela was working that this was not a kidnapping attempt...especially after hearing how Lahk Fhar had failed in such an endeaver and it only served to anger these cosmic gods...which have now been seen by the public...along with the return of Azuaria...who is apparently also a daughter of Rhulan Rokonaka...they are playing something...and clearly she is arranging pieces like a game...I say this as your ally, business partner, and sister goddess Lohln, we shouldn't be messing with them...I am wholly advising you to back out...go to your realm till the rest are dealt with..."

   "You doubt my power?" asks Lohln.

   "Echidaria," says Shahara coldly, "was taken out in only two moves...inside our office here. I am certain they are toying with us."

  ******

   A bar somewhere in Canada, here various super natural creatures meet, drink, and have fun. Here is a pale Grecian woman whose hair flows up and about as though in a stream, who is adorned by glowing white garments and leaf like armor under-garments. She is flanked by two minotaur bodyguards. Sitting across from her is the black slime queen Hydera Dredge.

   "That was..." whispers the nymph Apole, "very public....your poison must be greater than I thought to harm that demon so..."

   "She wasn't a demon," says Hydera Dredge, "the smell from her, something akin to a vampire I'd say...only...different. Also it wasn't my poison...but you know that."

   "Indeed," says Apole, "the red spheres given to us by the ultimate devil beyond all devils....I have not fought anyone yet..."

   "That why you asked me to come here?" grins the toxic queen.

   "No," says Apole calmly, "our alliance...I still recognize it. However the numbers are thinning out now. It would seem it is time I thinned them out a bit more for you."

  With that Apole and her body guards vanish in a magical whirlwind. Hydera Dredge just smiles as she sucks down a can of beer.

    ******

   Apole is a graceful sight to behold as she glides upon a warm mist in the orchird. With each wave of her hand she unleashes cutting winds, with kicks thorny vines spring forth. Blades of leaves fire about in cyclones. Truly in the Tournament of Darkness against Chupacabra and Slamrock and the others she would have been a force to be reckoned with, possibly even one of the next queens of all dark-ones...however her attacks here only hit shadows, mist, and nothingness. She watches as the trees around her wither and die, the grass beneath her feet as well and a crippling aura over takes her bringing the proud demi-goddess to her knees.

   From a mist before her appears Yi-Natta, the queen of the dead of many worlds. She stands as a somber figure, her katana is sheathed as she floats upon mist, "Why," speaks the apparition of  form before Apole, "I would know why one such as you...who has no dominion over any netherworld and whose very power is in direct contrast would seek to enter a tournament not of your world, a tournament made for the gods of the dead?"

   Apole knows it is not really a question, she is being lectured, she has done it herself to so many lower creatures that wanted to fight her, or challenge her rule.

   "There is no world for you to be sent to nymph," speaks Yi-Natta, "in your defeat you will be sent to rest in a crystal here in this glen, when you awaken the world will not be what you remembered, and you may be a queen yet."

   "What..." says Apole, dust and ash coming from her mouth, her leaf armor has wilted, her hair no longer sways, "what do you *cough* mean?"

  Yi-Natta unsheathes her sword as though in answer and a bright blue light emanates from its surface. In this instant Apole vanishes in red smoke, only to reappear immediatly after, peacefully resting, so regally, inside a large crystal. Yi-Natta sheathes her blade and with a gesture moves the crystal to an open area. It glows as the trees come back to life and vines shoot up around it from the ground, plants growing quickly as though to form a protective structure around her. Yi-Natta leaves not caring to wait for the red sphere to announce this victory. For to her it was not battle, but putting a child in time-out.