Ral refused to move. He knew Jace wouldn't say to if it wasn't important but he wasn't going anywhere. They were his friends even if something was wrong right now. He didn't exactly understand what was going on but he knew that all of them weren't acting of their own volition. He looked up and watched Chandra and the other three fight for a moment. He was sure they could handle themselves. Jace, Tessa and Cain were closest to him. He got to his feet and hurried over to where Lily watched the battle uneasily, "Can you talk to Echo?"
Lily looked at him in surprise, "Huh?"
"Echo. Tell her to figure out what's going on. If we can do that then-" Ral. Tessa! Deal with Tessa! If she joins the fight it's all over! Ral whirled around. The purple haired girl was getting to her feet. He froze. What am I supposed to do?
Zap the hell out of her. The brain is all electrical signals. Disrupt that and she'll be down. At least long enough for Chandra and the others to deal with everyone else.
Ral looked pleadingly at Lily before darting back to Tessa, Cain and Jace. He grabbed Tessa's arm and zapped her.
You're gonna need more than that.
Ral growled and wrapped his arms around the shorter girl's shoulders. He drew on mana. He knew it was a stupid idea but it was the only way he could get enough electricity in that moment to successfully knock her unconscious.
"Idiot!" Ral vaguely heard what sounded like Dawn cursing under her breath. Wait...Cat Ears? I thought you didn't have the ability to be in anyone's head at the moment.
It's complicated. I'll explain it when this is over.
The sick feeling that came with drawing mana led to an odd clarity. Ral watched everything happen like he was watching from far away and yet right next to them at the same time. Tessa collapsed and Ral followed. He lost consciousness within moments.
Jace knew this feeling. The feeling that everything he was and stood for was being completely overridden. It'd happened once before. He'd overcome it once before. When he had left for the second time they'd tried activating the protocol but he'd planeswalked before it could successfully take hold. He knew he couldn't planeswalk this time. That would be disastrous. He was glad Ral had managed to take down Tessa. There was pretty much nothing he could do now. Until the protocol was deactivated or he lost consciousness he would have to rely on the others to make it through okay.
Elspeth and the others were there but were unwilling to intervene directly. Elspeth had Gideon on standby. She knew something the others didn't. She knew something none of them did.
Darkness comes with chains of hope and the phoenix shall cease to be.
Jace didn't recognize the voice though he could swear he'd heard it before. Of course the protocol made it difficult to think clearly or focus on anything but keeping it at bay.
Maybe the phoenix won't cease in the way everyone believes. I hear rage and a desire to protect. Another prophecy has been fulfilled.
Who...are...you? Jace was nearly positive he was the only one that heard the voice.
An oracle. An esper created for a single purpose. A single destiny. Otherwise who I am doesn't matter. You'll forget either way.
Tell me. Jace wanted to know. He felt he needed to know. Whoever this girl was she was helping them. She sounded both despondent and hopefully at the same time.
Orriyon.
Which prophecy's been fulfilled then?
One seen a long time ago. There comes a time when flames can heal and protect and in the darkness let the phoenix be your guide.
It was getting harder and harder to think. He barely heard her beyond the ringing in his ears and the pounding of his head. Suddenly he felt Athena push at him, calling on him. He gritted his teeth and pushed back stubbornly. This isn't happening. I'm not a weapon. I'm not going to be used to kill them. I'm not.He squeezed his eyes shut. He could hear Cain getting up but couldn't move.
Jace wasn't drawing on mana. It was more like he was drawing on the highly concentrated power of those around him, draining them. The whole point of the project was that Athena would lend her power to those that served under her. She was in essence a never ending pool of power herself but only her project could draw on her. He however had developed the ability to draw on the power of anyone. If they had more power then he did he could use it. It disturbed him and no one knew about it but it was how he'd stayed alive this long. He often did it subconsciously without really thinking about it. However since arriving on this world he'd actively forced himself not to since the people around him gained power from themselves instead of mana or some other external source.
Lilianna watched uneasily. Cain rose to his feet. Ral had taken down Tessa when she'd gotten up but was now unconscious himself. Chandra, Isabelle, Yuri and Hades were currently busy dealing with Alex, Jason and Jade and would turn to Athena once they were dealt with. Cain's ability to calculate the outcome and all the possibilities in half an instant and change those calculations as necessary meant they were screwed. Like Ral she had no idea what exactly was going on. One minute they're helpful and wanting to fight with them and the next they're on the ground in obvious pain. Lilianna growled, "Fine." Since the redhead's busy I'll deal with you. However, instead of dealing with him directly she turned to Onyx, "Cain."
Onyx studied the smaller boy and nodded, "Gotcha." He, Michael and David engaged the living calculator. Lilianna approached Kurai, "Help me."
The demon nodded, "Of course."
Lilianna looked at Onyx. Be spontaneous. He'll predict your movements with ease.
Onyx slid sideways as Michael leaped over him.
The two angels fought extremely well for being immature tricksters. All three of them had been practicing and honing their abilities for more millennia than even Bolas had been alive. This world had been one of the few, even before it fell out of alignment were multiple forms of magic were practiced. Mages were taught, not only to draw from mana but to draw from themselves in the event that they were somehow separated from mana. It's common knowledge that metals like lead can inhibit if not completely block ones ability to access mana. It's often used in experimentation labs where mages and planeswalkers are used as specimens. Michael and David were surprisingly focused and reliable when they needed to be. Lilianna stored that knowledge away in her mind for later. Cain was hard pressed to predict all three of them and respond in a way that would successfully deter any further attacks from all of them. The three of them used a hit and run tactic. One would attack and then back off while another came in and attacked in their place.
Chandra, Isabelle, Yuri and Hades used a similar tactic but since they were nearly evenly numbered it was altered somewhat. Isabelle remained in the back and used her ability over reality to warp the ground under their opponents' feet, temporarily immobilizing them. Chandra and Hades would then attack quickly and back off before Yuri dropped a ball of flames on their heads. So far Alex was down and Jason was almost there. Jade was incredibly mobile, being a rabbit. Everyone of them seemed to exhibit animalistic features except Cain who had dual colored eyes instead. The "gods" that stood at the head of each project also lacked that particular feature. Alice and Jace appeared to have the features of either domestic cats or small wild cats. Jade had rabbit ears and powerful legs like the hind legs of a rabbit and Alex was a bear. Tessa appeared to have hawk or eagle features. Hawk was more likely given the feathers in the girl's hair. Blake was a ferret and Evelyn was a mouse. Jason had patterns on his skin like a leopard.
"Guys!"
Lilianna turned in surprise. Jenny, Melody, Nix and Erin were running up to them. Jenny stopped dead, "Uh-oh."
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Claire glared at them, "Go back. Now."
"I can help," Jenny insisted, "I learned magic."
"Can you use it now?" Elspeth asked.
Jenny looked uncertain for the first time since Lilianna had met her. Suddenly the girl's face steeled, "There's only one way to find out."
"Are you insane?!" Lilianna hissed.
Jenny looked at her and shrugged, "Can't be helped." She hurried over to where Onyx and the twins fought with Cain. They were struggling to keep up with him now that Athena had enhanced his speed and agility.
Lilianna gritted her teeth but watched the girl carefully. Great. If someone has to rescue that little brat I swear. It's not going to be me. That's for sure.
"Nix, can't you fight?" Melody asked
"Only hand to hand," Nix said flatly.
"Oh," Erin sighed. He started to wrack his mind for an idea. Dammit. I haven't had enough energy drinks for this.
Lilianna shook her head, "Whatever."
Nix shot forward and caught Cain in a surprisingly strong grip. He wriggled and struggled and tried to get free of her grasp but she just moved with him, nullifying the desired affect.
Jenny grinned, "Just hold him a little longer!" She started writing on the ground with her finger. Where her finger passed over the ground began to glow a bright pink color.
Pink. Why am I not surprised? Lilianna looked at Athena. The goddess was having a difficult time keeping her project from being defeated. The necromancer didn't doubt that she was a force to be reckoned with herself but wondered how powerful she was if she was going to rely on her project to fight for her. However, even she knew that Athena was a goddess of wisdom and war. She was the mistress of smart tactical warfare. Lilianna noticed Elspeth watching with a keen eye. Does she have a plan? Is that why she has yet to intervene? It's unlike her to hold Gideon back. The knight was in fact standing between an anxious Gideon and the battle. Kaechia, Kallist and Nissa waited patiently for Elspeth to give a signal. Kaious sat on her head and watched with piercing jade colored eyes.
Lilianna was suddenly very aware of the students' gazes focusing on her. They were watching her, waiting. They were waiting for her to tell them when and where to move. All of the adults grouped with them watched Elspeth. Even the lead Inquisitor watched the knight for what to do. Lilianna turned her gaze to Elspeth and watched her. If we're going to do something it'll be by her direction. She glanced at where Onyx Michael and David watched Jenny finish her magic circle. Instantly Cain froze. The effects of the spell took hold. Lilianna could see him trying to calculate around the spell but was getting no where. The Black Lotus Lily had done as Ral requested and was back that the hotel. Lilianna knew that he'd mentioned speaking with Echo. However she doubted that even the assassin could hack into someone's mind. Yes. The brain ran on electrical signals but no computer on this world had the capability to control and manipulate that. Jenny's spell was already showing signs of Cain's manipulation. He could already clench and unclench his fists.
"Onyx! Michael! David!" Lilianna called them back. The three of them did as she bid them and stood around her. She had never known the stress of being in charge. She decided that she didn't like it. She didn't like the way people looked at her, the way the students obeyed every order she gave them. She turned her attention back to Elspeth. Chandra was at the back of her mind. The redhead knew how to take care of herself and those with her. She realized in that moment just how much she had actually relied on the pyromancer. She suggested things to the redhead but she never actually told anyone else about the plan. Chandra did all of that. She did all of the talking and she was quick on her feet and able to make snap decisions that were unlikely to backfire. Of course, being her roommate everyone looks to me now. Lilianna cursed. Dammit. She took a deep steadying breath. If you panic then you won't be taken seriously. Don't panic. She turned and watched
Chandra knocked Jason into the ground. Instantly a fireball enveloped the kid courtesy of Yuri. He didn't get back up. He wasn't dead. Lilianna would know if he was. She took a deep breath.
"Now things get exciting," Michael muttered.