As soon as we reached Dark City, Gwen pointed down the office-equipment infested road speaking in the sweetest voice possible, while maintaining the arrogance in her voice,"The traps lie just ahead. I'll only be a few minutes disarming them." She vanished almost instantaneously after she finished that sentence, and almost right after she teleported away, the sound of swarm-infested entities being teleported ended the short-lived silence with the growls of many different beasts.

"I don't think your quest will be going any farther!" Axis shouted mockingly from a skyscraper. He was so confident that we were going to die, that he cackled so loudly, the glass below him nearly broke. The way he mocked me made the powers inside me rage to abnormal levels, covering me with a dark aura and making light orbit around me. I instantaneously summoned my swords, and at the same time teleported towards the nearest swarm-infested monster and sliced it into half, before teleporting once more towards another swarm infested monster, and slicing it into half. I then used a black hole spell, that was designed to only attract things that I chose, and it brought all the swarm-infested monsters together in one spot, where I de-materialized my swords and shot a light beam of immense power through them, killing them and even destroying many buildings that were behind them. I grinned menacingly as I looked at Axis. He seemed surprised at the power I demonstrated; his countenance showed that he was awestruck. That's what I wanted him to feel.

I stand before him, and let my true form show as turquoise diamonds surface and flicker on. I stare at the man through the darkness that is floating around us, my eyes like strong strobe lights, piercing the air. I drop my hoodie to the ground to reveal a sleeveless black shirt. The minerals in my skin grow brighter under the shirt as they are exposed to fresh air.

I stare at him, keeping silent. I cast a shield over his eyes as he stares at the illusion I've cast. I walk behind him, casting off the illusion. I stand there, still.....

Axis:

Pathetic. Necrons were renowned for either battle skills or trickery, the swarm was used to both. Not to mention the Rose commanders idiotic display. I snapped my fingers. The swarm crystals that had erupted from the building suddenly glowed with an eerie humming. The crystals erupted in magenta electricity. A startled shout echoed behind me, the fools metallic body conducted the electricity. I walked up to him and with a punch to his stomach, he tumbled off. I sighed, this wasn't the last I'd see of him, Necrons were hardy. I then directed my attention to the rose commander. I called out telepathically. "My fight isn't with you, I don't waste time with weaklings." With another flick of my fingers, swarm lightning flashed around him. I then teleported, straight to the valkyrie. "So, you're Athena?" I asked mockingly, drawing my sword. I had a bone to pick with valkyries. I actually like valkyries a lot, their severed wings made a great trophy.

"Pathetic." I say casually. The burn from the lightning hurt, the irony. "Don't you see I'm talking here?" I ask, annoyed. I slash out with my sword, land a blow on his right arm, but the metal stops the strike cold. Too bad for him, I learn from previous mistakes. Another electrical discharge spurs from my sword, right onto his shoulder. Plunging my sword into the ground, swarm crystals form, headed to the Necron, a dull crash is all the resposne I need. If he knew what was good for him, he wouldn't get back up. I turned back to the valkyrie, and found defiant eyes staring back.

I plunged my sword into a void wolver's side and twisted. Releasing one last howl, it went limp and its body dematerialized like all vanquished Swarm-monsters do.
Standing up, I wiped the sweat from my brow. And the Order thought Shadow Lairs were difficult. I doubt they ever imagined this!

I rolled to the side, just evading the blast from another bombie. The monsters just kept coming! I was fighting for my life. Drowning in an ocean of magenta and malice. I had no doubts that we would lose more than one of our companions if we didn't get out of here as quickly as possible.

Feeling a searing pain in my leg, I looked down to see a void gel wrapped around my leg. Every contraction of its body dug its thorns deeper into me. Slashing a Void thwacker across the throat, I struggled to come up with a way to get it off. I couldn't touch it without harming myself even more! I was too exhausted to formulate a safe plan though.

Every second the gel was there, the burning increased. I could feel the poison working its way into me. Without much thought, I stabbed my sword into the gel and began vibrating the atoms of the sword, as well as the bits of metal embedded in my skin. It worked though, because the gel right slid off!
I didn't bother to kill the creature. I needed medical help, or I was finished. Limping into a side street, I scanned the mess of fighting for Winter. I didn't see her, so hopefully that meant she was alright and out helping the rest of us.

The pain was getting worse with every step I took. My vision swam in and out of focus.
Branding
I continued down the alley as far as I could. My pulse was pounding in my ears.
Flaming
I stumbled and reached out to the wall for support. Darkness crept up in the edges of my vision.
Burning
Collapsing, my sword slipped out of my grasp. The last thing I remember was the sound of it hitting the ground.

OOC; Sorry for my inactivity, guys. Have a lump of text as my apology!
----

We finally reached the elevator and descended to the Dark City. The midget Gremlin from earlier struggled, yelling at us, "Yo, get your hands off me, bro!" For obvious reasons, nobody released him. Winter frowned and said in a shocked voice, "No way! You tried to harm the Lady of Light! That's a pretty big deal." The gremlin scoffed, "Lady of my Arse! I'll tear her limb from limb! Lemme at her!" Gwen was unusually quiet. She simply chuckled, and I gave her a withering look. "What are you laughing about?" I asked in an irritated tone. She didn't answer. I sighed and spent the rest of the descent in silence.

As we finally reached the Dark City, Gwen pointed down the concrete road, which was littered with broken office supplies. "The traps lie just ahead. I'll only be a few minutes disarming them." With that, she disappeared in a flash of light. In moments, I heard a voice yell at us, "I don't think your quest will be going any farther!" Looking up, I saw a laughing figure atop a skyscraper and growled. It was that Swarm bastard from Haven. Scowling and beating my spear on my shield, I shouted back, "You can think? Look guys, its showing signs of intelligence!" The man frowned and waved his hand, summoning a horde of Infected. I smirked. This would be easy.

Nobody noticed one of the Necrons venturing off, walking directly towards the skyscraper. In one second, fresh blood flooded the road as the Necron's arm transformed into an ax and lopped off a monster's head. Before I could attack, I noticed Nathaniel had already cut down two monsters with his blades. My eyes widened as he used a "black hole" spell that could only be used by Chaos Angels. He then switched to a Holy Angel's power and incinerated the beasts in a blast of white energy. I saw Nathaniel smile arrogantly at the Infected, confident in his strength. Such a narcissist.

I snapped back to reality and charged at the Infected. I impaled a Bombie on my spear and flung him at a group of his buddies, destroying them with a satisfying bang. Without even looking, I raised my shield behind myself and pushed hard. I was rewarded with the crunch of bone as a Dreadnaught dropped dead to the floor, his skull broken. I gathered up my strength and whispered "Colabit eos flammis", the Latin words for "Purge them with flame". I smirked. Bye bye, Swarm.

An inferno of red illuminated the battlefield, and once the dust cleared, the only remaining Monsters were being taken care of by Winter and one of the Necrons. I frowned as a deep voice behind me inquired mockingly, "So, you're Athena?" I turned around and gave him a glare colder than ice, my eyes a stormy grey. I spit on the ground and smirked, "Yeah. What of it?" The Infected drew his blade and gave me an arrogant look. I stifled a grin as the Necron from earlier dropped down and slowly approached the Infected. His hand crackled and glowed bright blue with electricity, and he sent a wave of lightning into the Infected's shoulder.

Sadly, it barely had any affect. The Infected cracked his neck and hissed, "Pathetic. Don't you see I'm talking here?" His sword lashed out, but it merely scratched the Necron's durable armor. An array of black crystals sprouted from the ground and blasted the Necron. The Infected turned back to me and smirked, but was met with a piercing glare. The Necron slowly rose again and said, "Don't speak as though I'm lower than you." Shaking his head in disappointment, he continued, "Go on talking, I'm just here to watch. You really go by the book's cover, don't you?"

The Infected snarled and turned back to me. Taking a defensive stance, I readied my spear and taunted him.

"Come on, you weakling."

I double over and cough up blood. I look up at him as I spit out some. "I'M NOT IN YOUR WAY!" I scream, and swing my arm, my metal knocking and making a ringing sound on his head. The electricity was enough. I bend back down and think to myself. I CAN hurt him, but how can I without dying?

Axis somehow telepathically spoke into my head,"My fight isn't with you, I don't waste time with weaklings." I laughed. With the flick of his wrist, swarm lightning flashed around me, though I swiftly dodged them, and ran towards where he was currently at. It would seem that he was currently attacking Athena, and so I decided to intervene, by summoning my swords and teleporting into the midst of their battle parrying a strike for Athena. "You probably, shouldn't have done that." I smiled condescendingly at Axis, before pushing away his sword with both my swords, and readying an offensive stance. I surrounded myself with a dark aura that sent my body into a greatly enhanced adrenaline state, enhancing my physical abilities a hundredfold, but reducing my durability even further. I had to end this battle quickly.

I pull Raechal away from a bombie, and stab it, rendering it uselss, unable to explode. She quickly turned, and killed a Carnavon that was headed towards me. I noticed we were being pulled away from the main group, making us stranded. I yell to Winter, who was glancing around, missing us. Beside her lay the commander, who was unconscious. I duck as Raechal fires a blast at a nearby Carnavon, and I hear it clatter into a pile of bones. I see an evil dude attacking that Valkyrie, called Athena, with Nath helping out. I quickly grab Raechal's arm, shot at a exploding Bombie, then ran. I dodged, leapt then ducked over countless of undead arms and legs, not in a mood to fight without our companions. Just then, I heard a Carnavon growl, and I turn just in time to see the Carnavon use it's signature move, gnaw on Raechal's head. She screamed in pain as the other closed in, just as I unleased the full charge of my sword on them. "You okay?" I asked Raechal, who was a little pale. She nodded, then collapsed into my arms. I have got find Winter.

I lay over the Swarm Portal, awaiting the lady. A Void Lumber shoves it's way out of the Portal, with me on it's head. I bring out my axe blades from my bare arms and stare down at it's head. I bring up my arms, and bring them down with the force to dent a vehicle by six inches. Oil spews everywhere as the Lumber stumbles around, trying to find it's attacker. I hack at it until it drops down. I drop again, and hold the edgs of the Swarm Portal. Nothing, nothing, must break my concentration...

I realize something. Why not retrieve the weed myself? I flex my stretched arms, and will them to lift me upward so I was falling backwards. I land on my feet, reach into the dirt, and pull out the weed from it's roots. I run towards the woman, and as I hold out my arms for her to take it I stare at her hair, and swoon slightly. She has pretty eyes.....and her skin is....so fair....

I drop the weed in her hands as a lumber swings it's arms and hits me upside the head. I am so close to death, I can see lights flutter in my eyes. Everything.....goes dark........

.....Come on, you weakling.....I'M NOT IN YOUR WAY!.....Ready to die?.....Winter! Medic!.....

Winter

A dull ache pounded in my head. I struggled to open my eyes, blinking away a dry filmy substance.
My head rolled to the side, toward the swarm portal, and I witnessed one of my kin take a crushing blow to the head from a void lumber.
He fell to the ground, defeated.....

I blacked out.

The next thing I saw was another knight rushing in, stabbing at the void lumber, hacking at it.
I saw Winter standing nearby, holding a plant in her hands.
I tried to call to her, but nothing came out.
I poured every fiber of my remaining energy into grasping the weed with my mind, hoping to signal Winter.
I saw the leaves of the weed stir before I lapsed back into unconsciousness...

I awake only twenty seconds after the spirit weed is administered. I feel the disease coursing through my veins accept the weed, and circulate it throughout my body in mere seconds. I open my eyes, and my puil and iris grow smaller, bigger, then back to their original size. I blink once, the turquoise in my eyes flickering for a moment before going dim. What was that feeling I had before the Lumber swung at me? How could I feel emotion in such an important moment? I must concentrate to give my body the ability to turn to metal on impact.

Whatever the case, I'll be better next time. I can't bring myself to look in the woman's eyes. "Thank you," I say as I get up. I look over to the other Necron, and notice his distinct tribe type immediately. I remember our tribe shaman trading with this tribe for supplies during the winter, since we despise(d) having to kill animals ourselves. I instantly realize a design me and him could come up with a long range gun with endless ammo....

No, it's not of any use if he's unconcious. Maybe we can discuss it later. I turn and stare at Axis. "Low-down, useless, spoiled little son of a-" I continue my angery cursing as I walk over behind him. "TOO MANY LIES!" I scream as a mark burns into Axis's shoulder before quickly disappearing. "I almost hope you don't fall asleep. The Core, the Swarm, and all will be ripped from you once you enter my domain." I stand tall again, and fly backwards from the propulsion of my own feet. I land next to the others.

I stand up and sport a sadistic grin. "You REALLY think you can harm me?" I cackle to the necron. I then press my hand to my shoulder, and rip off the skin. "Your marks are weak." I say to him. The skin regrows, the amount of swarm in the air supplements my recovery well. I then rush over to the group. I plant my elbow firmly into the necrons solar plexus. The blood come from his mouth almost immediately. "If you really hated lies, you'd give up any hope of beating us." I say remorselessly to him. I then grab his face, and send a strong pulse of pure swarm energy through it. The screams echoed throughout the hollow city. "We'll settle this later." I say sarcastically to the rose commander. Like that I teleport out, but not with out sending out a pack of void alpha wolvers, and a whole office of devilites.

I kneel next to Raechal, seeing Winter apply some kind of weed to her head. "Will she be alright?" I ask her, when I hear the Necron Quexi laughing like a maniac from a asylum.

He mutters something to himself, then asks us, "What's our next move?" I try to stand from my position, which is actually really hard if you were wearing prothetics, but I manged with help from Winter, then say, " I say we stay here. We got wounded, and it's best we leave them healing. They're very weak, even at this stage," I turn to Quexi and say, "No offense, but yes. You, the commander and my sister should be resting now, not fighting. We should set up camp here, and waiting maybe a day or two." I look around, daring anyone to defy my plan, but it isn't easy to look terrifying when a medic's gripping your arm, like you were going to fall if she wasn't ,which is true.

I sit down weakly, an lay on my back, focusing on the spirit weed circulating along with the disease. I create a stronger beat to hasten the process of healing. Axis may think he's got me beat, but he doesn't know who I am nor what I'm capable of. I feel bound to this disease like it's my mother and I'm an infant...it makes me stronger and more able, but I can't do anything to disobey it. And then there's my...my sister....

MEMORY.

It's a dark night, and its raining black and glowing-green liquid. It pours through the ceiling, drenching an enormous sphere of metal. I lay on the ground of the balcony overlooking the sphere. It wouldn't be much longer until we were absorbed into the water. A small girl with glowing white hair lays next to me, staring at the ceiling. The black water refuses to touch her, bending around her radiance. "Mother is dead, and it's my fault!" tears stream down her face, shining silver in the gloom. I say nothing, as I hug her close with one arm.

Her hands were stained with blood. Not her own...

My eyes flicker as the memory cuts out. I don't remember that happening...? I drop the subject in my head, and think about the light inside that black water. Letters of a sort.....they said, "Exile."

That's what making me see it! I look on the ground, and see Exile scribed into it. It has an arrow instead of the letter "L" that points forward. I look, and see an elevator in the distance. "Look!" I point. "That's where we need to go!"

I grab the man's hand and shake. "I'm Quexi, adopted heir to the Tribe Shaman of the Southern Chapter of the Necron."

"Yes, that's correct. If we kill, it's only if our blood is drawn. It's a religious thing with our...gods." I hesitate on that word. It feels wrong. Why?

I'm excited. "You have a battle sprite with you?! I've always wanted to see one!" I had heard stories of the Isorans companions being terminated after the Wars. They held crafting recipes in their mechanical makeup, and had crippled their troops when they were without their Sprite's abilities. I had heard many tales told of companionships of Knights and Sprites, and the more I heard the more I wanted to see them. "Could you show him?"

MEMORY

I watch the flood of black water get higher and higher, closer and closer to the stop of the sphere. I see a light shine, and I get up and turn around, and see the small girl floating into the light. I run over and scream her name, and she looks up at me. I see cold and uncaring dimness in her left eye, while her right eye cries. I beat the door as it suddenly shuts, and beat it and beat it until the flood finally takes the Core...

I struggle back to reality, and find myself on the ground. "It's getting worse..." I mutter...

The Knight goes off somewhere, his Rocket Hammer in his hand and a fiery vengeance in his eyes. Guess he's the White Knight here. I didn't see who shot the bullet, nor could I get up and see what was happening. Everything sounded muffled, and I found myself unable to move, much less sit up. I started drifting off into unconsciousness, when I was jerked awake a little by the man, who had come back. He started healing me for the second time, extracting the poison out of my body. My vision, hearing and movement came back, but before I could sit up or get on my feet, I passed out.

Axis replied sadistically,"We'll settle this later." With that, he teleported out, but left a gift. A few Void Wolvers with a whole office of devilites. Nice present. I saw the others fighting off the enemies; most with ease. I expected no less, since such weak enemies could be defeated easily. Where was Gwen? It then hit me. Whenever Gwen left, trouble followed. The reasons she gave were quite unconvincing, since I could easily have done those 'missions' as well.

Since she's the Lady of Light, wouldn't she already know that I had these abilities? Or is she just testing me to see whether I would suspect the most trusted being on Cradle to be the most notorious criminal in the world, and treat me like a criminal after I would suspect her? This is all too confusing.... I think, to be safe, I'll trust her a bit more...

Just then, Gwen teleported into the battlefield, putting on a surprised expression. I paid no attention to anything that happened after, until Gwen spoke with seriousness in her voice. "So who's with me?" After a few moments of awkward silence, I raised my hand, and my mouth began forming the words,"Yeah. I guess I am."I de-materialized my swords, and teleported towards the elevator, so that I instantaneously appeared on the elevator platform. Gwen appeared astonished that I could perform such a feat; she probably wondered how I could teleport without killing myself. I merely gazed back at her with the coldness of ice, my eyes showing no excitement whatsoever in this journey. It would seem that she was very perceptive of her surroundings, and so she looked back at the group, waiting for more people to join her on this quest.

The elevator climbed back to my RJP. I slammed my left fist into the button and I walked over to my "corner of living". I went through the drawers looking for some bandage wrap and other medical things. Once I found them I started to wrap my arm and apply them to make a cast of sorts. After about 10 minutes, I finished. And I had no idea what I was doing. I REALLY wish I took medical classes. I thought in my mind. I got some food that I was pretty sure had calcium in it, because I'm pretty sure that helps, and ate it. I guess I should just rest for a while, I need to heal.

So I walked over to my bed and slept in it.

Thrynn looked out from the portable wagon, after leading the people here, to see what looked like a necron appearing to be having a headache.
No matter. Thrynn did not care, as he still had to continue working on his blueprints, with whatever he could find to write with or on, patching it all together just like the clockworks.
Thrynn calculated, earlier on in life, that he had a low chance to survive for many human years. He had decided, that if he was going to end his process (and or die) he might as well try to make blueprints of himself, for self preservation. But, there was something else about it. A secret so Important, that he wiped his memory clean at the end of every day, the beginning of every fight. Why, it was his own memory, All put in his control ring. (The thing on a battle sprite's neck)
But the code. . . was not entered in as spirailian, nor morai. Why the code was entered in with some of the oldest valkyrie language in existence. How he manage to ever get an Old Valkeryian Language setting, is for another day.
Someday, he thought, This will all be completed.
Thrynn then finished using the last of his materials, and abruptly left the cart, with the blueprints still in his mouth.
He then spotted the Necron from earlier, sat down next to him and handed him the blueprints, while also opening one of his storage compartments, to hand him some medicine for his headache.